Walker Of The Worlds

Chapter 2763  The Banquet Prep

”Amitabha… He is beyond salvation,” Monk Hushuʼs voice drifted in from another room, his disappointment evident.

”Whatʼs going to be there?” Meng Bai asked, still unfamiliar with what exactly a grand banquet entailed.

”Come with me! Iʼll tell you all about it!” Daoist Chu declared, placing a hand on the boyʼs shoulder. ”And most importantly—we need to pick an outfit for you!”

”We did buy a lot of clothes,” Meng Bai nodded thoughtfully.

”Iʼll make you look like a prince! All the girls will be swooning over you!” Daoist Chu said with a grin as he ushered the boy away.

SIGH

Lin Mu shook his head, praying that Daoist Chu wouldnʼt corrupt Meng Bai too much before the banquet even started.

With everyone so excited, with the exclusion of Monk Hushu, even Lin Mu did a little preparation. Of course, this was nothing like preparing an outfit, as that could be easily done by simply using the Silver Mirage Circlet.

Rather, Lin Mu spent his time reading up on the people of the Capital City, particularly the noble clans and some well-known figures.

ʼIʼm heading to one of the Imperial Palaces, so I should at least know about who I might meet there,ʼ he reckoned.

He first read about the palace itself: the Western Shore Palace.

It was one of the many palaces within the capital city and was considered the second most beautiful, only after the Grand Palace where the Imperial Court resided. Located just north of the Grand Palace, it was built upon the shore, extending nearly a kilometer into the ocean.

It was the third largest palace and could actually be seen right from the Water Dragon Villa.

”So thatʼs the place…” Lin Mu muttered as he gazed at the towering palace just a kilometer away.

He was sitting in his usual cabana and could see it clearly, his sharp eyesight picking up on the people moving about in the outer courtyard of the palace. Hundreds of servants scuttled about like ants, carrying various materials.

ʼThey sure look busy,ʼ Lin Mu thought to himself.

Banners and flags were being set up while decorations were being carefully arranged. The entire place was abuzz with activity.

Lin Mu observed it for a few minutes before returning his attention to the book in his hands.

He next read about the Imperial Court and the noble clans themselves.

The Shanxi Imperial Court consisted of the Imperial Family, the twelve major noble clans, and dozens of minor noble clans. In total, there were around a hundred noble clans in the capital city alone.

ʼThis is even more than the Dao Wind Empire,ʼ Lin Mu assessed.

By comparison, the Dao Wind Empire barely had thirty noble clans.

Each of the major noble clans was closely tied to the Imperial Clan, forming alliances through both marriage and business. Several elders from these clans held positions in the Imperial Court, with a few even serving as ministers of various divisions.

It was also from these major noble clans that the Twelve Beauties of the Capital City emerged.

ʼHuh… So it was them,ʼ Lin Mu recalled a few of the women he had seen on the balcony before.

The most beautiful woman of each clan was granted the title of one of the Twelve Beauties, a long-standing tradition. These young ladies were famous across the empire—not just for their looks, but also for their strength. The strongest among them had already reached the Fifth Tribulation Stage of the Immortal Realm.

ʼHmm… I suppose they were holding back when they were there,ʼ Lin Mu mused. ʼThe green-robed woman should be the one at the Fifth Tribulation Stage—Song Ruxue.ʼ

One by one, he read all their names, realizing that this might complicate things.

ʼI donʼt know what I would do if I come across them at the banquet,ʼ Lin Mu thought. ʼBut then again, the seating area for external guests like those from the Imperial Ocean Quay should be separate from the major clans, so I should be able to avoid them for the most part.ʼ

Yet, there was one woman he couldnʼt identify.

ʼWho was that woman? Her gaze was the strongest…ʼ Lin Mu remembered her vividly.

He had only caught her eye once, but her presence was the most striking. Even in terms of beauty, she surpassed the other Twelve Beauties.

ʼShe was on the same level as Crown Princess Shang, Mei Nienzhen…ʼ he thought, placing her just a step below Lady Kang.

As for the Saintess? That was simply incomparable.

But something about this woman puzzled him.

ʼSomeone with her appearance isnʼt among the Twelve Beauties?ʼ Lin Mu found it odd.

Even after scouring the book for information, he found no mention of her—despite the fact that it contained details about nearly all the well-known individuals in the empire.

ʼIs she perhaps from the Imperial Clan?ʼ Lin Mu wondered, but no descriptions matched. ʼSheʼs definitely not a princess. The ones listed here donʼt match her at all.ʼ

Was she someone with a special identity? Or perhaps not part of the noble clans at all?

Lin Mu continued reading until he reached the section about the Emperor himself.

ʼA Transcendent Immortal who has ruled the Shanxi Empire for nearly ten thousand years. He has over two hundred heirs, but the position of Crown Prince has not been decided yet,ʼ Lin Mu read.

ʼLooks like thereʼs still quite a bit of conflict over it.ʼ

The politics and internal dynamics of the Imperial Court fascinated Lin Mu, enough that he lost track of time, engrossed in reading for the entire day. He only stopped when it was time for dinner.

As he closed the book, he took a deep breath, stretching his stiff limbs.

ʼThis banquet is going to be interesting…ʼ he thought with a small smirk.

Somewhere in the villa, Daoist Chuʼs voice rang out.

”Meng Bai! You look dashing! I swear, if I were a girl, Iʼd fall for you myself!”

”Daoist Chu! Donʼt say things like that!” Meng Bai groaned in embarrassment.

Lin Mu simply chuckled as he walked toward the dining area, fully prepared for whatever awaited them at the grand banquet.