The night passed quickly, and by dawn, Jason Ji was already at his desk, working meticulously on a series of sketches. He spent the entire day immersed in his drawings, creating at least a thousand sketches with no sign of stopping. Sitting beside him, Henry Hong had initially been fascinated by his dedication. However, like any sixteen-year-old girl, she quickly grew bored with the repetitive task. Instead, she focused on Jason's face, becoming more captivated with each passing minute. Her delicate face lit up with a smile that never seemed to fade.
As dusk fell, Jason finally finished the last stroke of his sketch, producing an image of a veiled woman wielding a sword.
"Thank goodness I still remember some sketching skills," Jason murmured, examining his work with satisfaction. "Still, something's missing..."
After a moment's thought, his eyes lit up. Picking up his brush, he added a short poem to the paper. As he wrote the final word, Jason couldn't help but smile slyly—his verse had a touch of flirtation to it.
"Brother, are you done drawing?" Henry Hong asked, a hint of disappointment in her voice. If she could, she'd sit and watch him draw all night.
Jason reached over and gently ruffled her hair. "It's enough for now," he said softly, rolling up the finished sketch. With a thoughtful smile, he gazed at the warm hues of the evening sky.
At that moment, a maid called from outside the room, "prince consort, the Princess is ready for you. The birthday banquet for Princess Changle is about to begin."
Jason nodded, giving Henry Hong a quick explanation before leaving the Dong Residence.
The birthday banquet for Princess Sarah Long was held in the grand Purple Smoke Pavilion within the imperial palace. Upon arrival, Jason presented the invitation Sarah had given him, and he was granted entry without delay.
On his way to the pavilion, he carefully memorized each corner and turn, taking note of his surroundings.
"A one-minute, thirty-second gap in the guards' patrol rounds… at least nine concealed presences in the palace… That means there are even more legendary cultivators here than just the Eight Directions Winds and Rains... The Lingyan Pavilion is in the northeastern corner of the palace…"
Finally, Jason arrived at the Purple Smoke Pavilion. Just as he had expected, the pavilion was extravagant, befitting the grand events of the Sacred Tang royal family. The golden pillars were carved with spiraling dragons, rich red carpets blanketed the floor, and priceless gemstones adorned every corner, casting a brilliant light.
Inside, the elite of Sacred Tang had already gathered, each dressed in luxurious attire. Although Jason knew none of them, his entrance did not go unnoticed. Many nobles turned to observe him with curiosity, wondering who this striking young man might be.
The young ladies from prestigious families stole glances, secretly admiring his handsome features and graceful demeanor, wondering if he was unmarried.
Unfazed by the attention, Jason proceeded to the seat marked on his invitation, which was near the head of the table—one of the most honorable spots in the pavilion. Gasps rippled through the hall as people took note of his seating arrangement. Seating was strictly determined by rank and influence, and Jason's place was reserved for the elite of the Dong family, the most powerful military family in the Sacred Tang.
"So, this is the Immortal Slayer Sword Master, Jason Ji, who has been the talk of the continent lately!"
"Rumor has it that his Tang Lotus of Buddha's Fury has become legendary already!"
"I was wondering who this remarkable young man could be—no wonder, it's the Immortal Slayer Sword Master!"
Amidst whispers and glances, Jason remained unbothered, sipping from his wine and contemplating the next steps of his plan.
"His Highness, the Crown Prince, arrives!"
"The Chancellor's son, Victor Li, arrives!"
The guard's voice resounded through the hall as a young man in an elegant white brocade stepped in, accompanied by a refined, scholarly figure—none other than Victor Li, son of the Chancellor of Sacred Tang. The nobles and guests rose to greet the newcomers.
"So that's the Sacred Tang Crown Prince, Adrian Long (Alternate for Emperor), whom Livia once shaved bald!" Jason chuckled to himself. His attention shifted to Victor Li, the famed "First Scholar of Sacred Tang," who had long admired Sarah Long. The evening was bound to be interesting.
"His Majesty the Emperor arrives!"
"Her Majesty the Empress arrives!"
"Princess Changle arrives!"
At the announcement, the entire pavilion fell silent as the doors opened to reveal the Emperor, the Empress, and Sarah Long. Dressed in imperial robes, Emperor Adrian Long entered with his elegant prince consort on one arm and Sarah Long, the celebrated princess, on the other.
All guests immediately rose, then knelt in respect.
"Long live His Majesty!" they chorused.
Jason, however, remained standing. Instead of kneeling, he offered a slight bow in respect to the Emperor and Empress. His actions made him stand out, drawing everyone's attention. Murmurs of disbelief spread among the nobles—who would dare not kneel before the emperor?
With a calm smile, Jason explained, "Your Majesty, my mentor has instructed me to kneel to none but Heaven and Earth and only to honor my parents and teacher. I hope you understand."
The emperor chuckled lightly, waving his hand dismissively. "No offense taken. Everyone, please rise."
Despite his casual tone, a glint of caution flashed in Long Yuan's eyes. He had long suspected that Jason had powerful forces backing him. After all, it was rare for a young man to become the Immortal Slayer Sword Master and to defeat legendary cultivators. If Jason was receiving guidance from a powerful master, this confirmed it for the emperor. The Tianji Pavilion's failure to uncover Jason's origins only strengthened his suspicions. There were only two explanations for their silence: either they truly couldn't find anything, or they knew but dared not reveal it.
The Empress, Snow White, regarded Jason with a faint smile. "So, you must be the famed Immortal Slayer Sword Master, Jason Ji?"
"Indeed, Your Majesty," Jason replied with a polite nod.
The Empress seemed pleased. "What a fine young man," she remarked, her gaze lingering on him with approval.
Jason, however, felt a shiver down his spine. The look she gave him reminded him of the way his future father-in-law, Raymond Dong, had eyed him—a speculative, assessing look.
Could it be? Jason wondered. Does the Empress also intend to pull me into the royal family?
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]