Chapter 7 - Meeting New People

Even if it might be the size of a city, the royal palace does not have the same facilities as a city.

Most city’s infrastructure is based on its economy with places of manufacture and trade that stimulate the economy as its centers. After that, the next step is housing for the workers of those generators of economic growth and suppliers of necessities for these workers. Last in line comes entertainment and luxury which in itself start a new economic cycle like the last one but smaller.

The royal palace, if likened to a city, does not add anything to the economy on the manufacturing level. Every day endless amounts of resources are transported from the close by capital city and it is all consumed by the palace occupants.

What the palace does have however is lots of those later facilities of luxury and entertainment.

Theater stages, pleasure houses, training grounds, and an endless amount of pavilions are scattered around the huge compound.

It is these pavilions that the court’s occupants prefer to use for their gatherings and along the path to one of them, two well-dressed young boys are walking.

Du Jun is dressed in flame red pants and a shirt of a fine cut with an open white robe on top for easy removal in case he engages in a spar. Aiden is wearing a blue Taoist robe with black and silver accents and looks every bit the prince he is.

After doing combat practice for two days the boys had the presence of mind to change to new clothes. It still took Cui Zhong accidentally overhearing they were going to a gathering for someone to acquire suitable attire for the occasion.

It annoyed Aiden to no end to admit it but Du Jun’s combat prowess was way above his. Du Jun having access to a martial manual was a big part of it but the fact that he had practiced it daily since the day they went to the library also helped. If Aiden is honest with himself he had barely spent any time in combat training until two days ago but he had been focusing on catching up with Du Jun in cultivation.

It did however put him in a predicament now as they were on their way to a gathering with the intent to have friendly spars between kids their age. If he did not want to learn his brother’s ever-flowing robe technique so much he could just skip the event.

“Brother Du”. Aiden breaks the silence that has been accompanying their walk up the small hill the pavilion is located on.

“What is it, Brother Tian?” Du Jun answers.

“If we are asked to exchange pointers at any point today, could you please take on the challenger?” Aiden asks with a grimace.

“Do not talk like that, you are a great fighter. You just have to put in a little more time practicing so that you do not show off what you plan to do so obviously” Du Jun keeps talking before he notices Aiden has stopped and turns around.

“Brother Du, you have way more talent in fighting than I have and even if I catch up to you with more training it does not help me right now. If I embarrass myself here it will be way harder for us to gather allies in the future.” Aiden says while fixing Du Jun with his eyes.

Du Jun stares back and then nods “Of course, I will help you out, that is what brothers are for.” Du Jun says and breaks out in a grin.

Grinning back at him, Aiden starts to walk again. The two boys soon arrive at the party that is already in full swing.

-

The Turtle pavilion is the sort of spot that is perfect for a small gathering with a focus on sparing. A stage is set up in the middle under the pavilion's low domed roof. It lacks any walls which are by design to show off the spectacular view afforded to it by its location at the edge of the royal palace. The surrounding mountains protrude from the ground like teeth encasing and protecting the palace. In the only opening in the mountain range, the capital can be seen spreading out on the lowlands further than any city on earth.

Two kids in the early Qi Gathering Realm are on stage, sparing at a level Aiden does not think he could keep up with. One of them is using a vicious claw-hand technique and is seemingly trying to rip out the other kid's throat. However, the other kid seems to have some sort of ever-flowing style, probably a water affinity. He just keeps himself out of reach from the claw-shaped appendages.

Children between the age of seven and fifteen stand around awkwardly. Some are talking with people they know but the atmosphere feels more like a martial arts tournament than a kid’s party. It does not feel like a party at all and the atmosphere is weirdly somber.

Aiden is wondering if he made a faux pas since most of the children are accompanied by a servant standing guard a few steps behind them when Tian Feng and Xiao Long approach him and Du Jun.

“Little Brother, I am so glad you were able to attend.” Tian Feng says, throwing an arm over Aiden’s shoulder.

“You are late so I was starting to get worried, I have a few people I want to introduce to you too.” Tian Feng continues.

Being dragged along by his older brother Aiden tries to answer “Who are your friends you want me to meet?” but most of the words get lost in the bustle of keeping up with Tian Feng.

Tian Feng seems to understand however and laughs. “They are not my friends, they are children that will grow up to inherit positions of influence that I want to bring in to support me early.”

They arrive at a gathering of three teens and a child accompanied by three servants with severe looks. The atmosphere is just as tense here as around the rest of the place.

“My friends! It is good to see you all again, I hope you have enjoyed the entertainment so far, the big event is coming up.” Tian Feng says.

The boys and girls shift around a little and Aiden notices a young girl of a similar age to himself being pushed slightly behind a teen girl. The young girl has an oval-shaped face and shoulder-length hair is covering her cute face.

“We thank the 29th Prince for so generously inviting us.” The one who just spoke looks like the oldest of the group. Not a boy any longer, this young man with close-cropped hair and a very angular face gives off the feeling of a hard-working youth.

This only confuses Aiden further as the young man seems to barely keep fear out of his voice when he answers Tian Feng.

“Let me introduce you all to my little brother. This here is the 42nd prince Tian Yan. Tian Yan, this is Wei Chen, Jun Ying, and the Zhu sisters. Zhu Kui is the older and Zhu Mei the younger.” Tian Feng introduces.

“The Zhu clan is one of the three merchant clans of the capital, they are one of the main suppliers of the palace.” Tian Feng says and gestures towards the two girls. The older sister is probably around thirteen like Tian Feng and resembles her younger sister but with no trace of leftover baby fat.

“Jun Ying’s family has provided trainees for the palace guard for nine generations and he is preparing to join the training program as soon as he reaches Core Formation in a few years.” Tian Feng says about the boy who spoke earlier.

Turning his attention to the last person of a similar age around Tien Feng continues. “And Wei Chen here is from a clan in charge of the Qi-crystal import from the northern continent. I think they have some connections with your mother’s Cheng family if I am not mistaken.”

Wei Chen also seems to be of a similar age to Tien Feng but has a thin gaunt look with glasses adorning his face.

Standing there trying to keep the confusion off his face, Aiden tries to organize all the information he just received. It is good information to have and he should probably take a page out of his older brother's book and try to get close to these people while he has the opportunity but why do they all look so uncomfortable?

Wei Chen seems to be sweating while the other teens look like they are sucking on lemons but are trying to hide it. Only Zhu Mei looks as confused as Aiden feels.

“It is nice to meet you all.” Aiden says, falling back on being polite when one is uncertain seems like a wise choice.

Among them Zhu Kui gathers herself first and responds with a bow “Greetings to the 42nd prince, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

Happy with that first interaction Aiden throws out the first follow-up he can think of. “I have never been to the capital, is it nice?”

Zhu Kui looks confused for a moment then exchanges a glance with Jun Ying before answering. “Yes, it is very nice but far more chaotic than the organized beauty of the palace. Interesting things happen all the time like tournaments, auctions, sect recruitments, and other events.”

“Ohh, I guess I will have to visit soon then.” Aiden answers.

“It would be my pleasure to come along and show the 42nd prince some of the sites in the capital if you so require.” Less sweaty now, Wei Chen chimes in.

“That would be great!” Aiden exclaims. Feeling like he is hitting his stride in this whole making new friends thing, he notices that he can not see Du Jun anywhere.

He did come along when they walked over here right? Noticing that Xiao Long is also missing, he hears Tian Feng’s voice. “Looks like some real entertainment is about to start.”

Turning around he notices everyone is looking towards the stage where the nasty kid with claw techniques from the fight earlier is standing in a ready position waiting for his next fight to begin. On the opposite side, also in a ready position without his white robe is Du Jun.

The fight begins.