Wenren Estate

Aprilis 9th, early afternoon, at the Wenren estate.

The horse-drawn carriage carrying them came to a gentle halt before a massive gate carved from white jade. The air here felt different from that of Clockthon. Thinner, purer, carrying a faint scent of plum blossoms and pine drifting from the mountain slopes.

"This is magnificent, nearly on par with the Winter Palace!" Kirsthendarch exclaimed, his usually sharp eyes now widened with awe.

Leihnbach stepped out of the carriage and looked up. The residence of Duke Wenren Liangshen was neither a castle nor a manor in the European sense. It rose from the rocky mountain slope in a complex of tall towers and multi-tiered pavilions, all interconnected by grand suspension bridges. Parts of the structure were built from aged white stone, adorned with deep blue curved roofs that blended seamlessly with the sky. One tower reached so high that its peak was lost in the clouds, reminiscent of the legendary Tower of Babel.

Leihnbach stared in stunned silence. He knew that Duke Wenren Liangshen descended from immigrants, specifically, the son of a noble from the Zhonghua Empire in the distant eastern continent. That ancestor had once served the Cledestine Kingdom and was granted this territory as a reward. Zhonghua was known for a distinct power system called xiulian, or cultivation. It was the birthplace of the concept of Dao, often referring to the World Essence itself.

"In that case, shall we go in?" Kirsthendarch said, finally managing to tear his gaze away from the architectural splendor.

"Yes, I agree. I'll carry the luggage," Leihnbach replied, moving toward the back of the carriage.

"No," Kirsthendarch interrupted, stopping him. "You must not carry the luggage. It would be disgraceful for the son of a Grand Duke to appear like a servant."

"I don't care what others say," Leihnbach replied firmly, his gaze clear as ever. "I am who I am. If people think all nobles are the same, then that is nothing more than a baseless generalization."

Kirsthendarch sighed, conceding. "Suit yourself."

"Good."

Leihnbach proceeded to unload several items: a large leather bag containing a change of clothes and personal tools, a smaller case for toiletries, and a woven satchel filled with his favorite books.

"Alright then, let's head in," he said, stepping forward with his arms full of bags.

Step, step, step.

Their footsteps echoed softly along the polished stone path.

"Oh, Kirst, I almost forgot," Leihnbach said suddenly, his tone casual. "Are you participating in the Gambit as well?"

Kirsthendarch looked at him strangely. "Of course not. You're the heir, not me. I'm only here to ensure your safety. Besides, I've already taught you several defense techniques, haven't I?"

Silence returned as they arrived at the main gate. The structure itself resembled a masterpiece from a painting, flanked by two colossal bronze Qilin statues. As they approached, the gate opened silently on its own.

Beyond it, the scenery grew even more breathtaking. A vast courtyard unfolded before them, with manicured rock gardens, koi ponds, and small curved-roof pavilions. It felt like a fusion between ancient Greek architecture and Eastern aesthetics.

"Is that Liangshen?" Leihnbach asked, pointing to a marble statue in the center of the garden. The sculpture depicted a man with long hair, holding a book and gazing toward the horizon.

"Based on the description, yes," Kirsthendarch replied, having studied their host extensively. "They say Duke Liangshen is a cultivator at the third tier of the Overlord Array, out of ten. He appears young despite being nearly sixty. His appearance is described as having partially black and partially white hair, with golden-yellow eyes. He always wears traditional Zhonghua robes."

Kirsthendarch's explanation brought Leihnbach's thoughts back to the Eastern cultivation system. Unlike the more structured Archetype, or Order and Channel systems of the West, the Array system in Zhonghua was organic and internal. Cultivators there absorbed Dao energy and stored it within meridians, miniature universes inside their bodies. To advance, they had to undergo internal battles, dangerous processes where they shattered and rebuilt their meridians stronger than before. The Overlord Array was one of the highest tiers, belonging to those nearing immortality.

A servant in dark blue silk approached and bowed deeply. "Young Master Leihnbach, Young Master Kirsthendarch. The Duke has been expecting you. Please follow me."

They were guided through a series of open corridors and elegant inner gardens. Eventually, they arrived at a grand main pavilion. Inside, seated cross-legged upon an elevated wooden platform, was a man with closed eyes.

He matched Kirsthendarch's description precisely. His long hair, half jet black and half snow white, draped down his back. His face looked no older than a man in his thirties, completely unlined. Yet his golden eyes, when they opened, carried the calm power and wisdom of a revered sage. He wore a flowing white silk robe.

"Welcome to Tranquil Cloud Residence, Leihnbach van Reingardt, Kirsthendarch vel Derratch," he said, his voice resonant and regal, filling the entire room. "I am Wenren Liangshen."

Leihnbach and Kirsthendarch bowed respectfully.

"Your father, Grand Duke Albrecht, is among the few men on this continent whom I truly respect," Liangshen continued. "He is a true warrior, and I hope you have inherited part of his strength."

"I will do my best not to disappoint him, Your Grace," Leihnbach replied.

"Good." Liangshen offered a faint smile. "You must be tired from your journey. A servant will take you to your rooms. Dinner will be served at moonrise. Until then, consider this place your home."

Another servant escorted them to the guest wing, a separate building overlooking a mist-filled valley. Their room was spacious yet modest, furnished with dark wood, clean polished floors, and a large balcony offering a spectacular view.

"This place is incredible!" said Kirsthendarch, placing his sword on the weapon rack in the corner.

Leihnbach stood quietly at the balcony, looking out over the valley. "A great man should adorn his home to reflect his wealth. A house is a kind of public ornament, after all. And here… here it's truly peaceful. We can't find this in our world, can we?"

They had a few hours before dinner. Kirsthendarch chose to train in the private courtyard attached to their wing. Leihnbach, on the other hand, wandered through the estate gardens.

He walked without direction, letting his steps guide him. He passed through a silent bamboo grove, where the wind whispering through the stalks created a natural symphony. He came upon an arched stone bridge spanning a clear stream.

There, standing at the center of the bridge, was a girl gazing into the water. She looked about his age. She wore a simple lavender silk hanfu, her long black hair tied up with a jade pin.

As Leihnbach approached, the girl turned around. Her face, perhaps, was the most beautiful he had ever seen. Not the flashy, refined beauty of noblewomen in Clockthon, but something natural and untouched by cosmetics. Her dark eyes resembled a midnight lake, and her smile, honestly, it made Leihnbach feel as though he were standing in sunlight after a long winter.

"You must be Leihnbach," she said, her voice soft like wind chimes. "I am Wenren Zhiqian. Daughter of Duke Liangshen."

Leihnbach bowed awkwardly. "An honor to meet you, Lady Zhiqian."

"Just call me Zhiqian," she said with a smile. "My father's told me about you. Or rather, about the 'Prince with the Idiot Sage Epiphet.'"

Leihnbach looked slightly taken aback. "I'm not as idiot as people say. I'm just… a bit different."

"I know," Zhiqian replied. "People say I'm different too."

They stood together for a moment in silence, the only sound being the gentle murmur of the stream.

"Do you like it here?" Zhiqian asked.

"This place is very peaceful," Leihnbach answered.

"True peace is an illusion, isn't it?" she said. "Just like power. My father built all this to create a fortress that resembles utopia. But he knows that outside these walls, the world is still cruel and chaotic."

They began to walk together along the riverbank.

"Your father sent you to the Sovereign's Gambit," Zhiqian said. "He wants you to understand things like that."

"I suppose so."

"You'll see a lot there," she continued. "Ambition, betrayal, greed. But if you're lucky, you might also find something else."

"Something else?"

"Friendship," she said with a small smile. "Or perhaps the classic thing… I mean… love. Both are far harder to control than any spell or sword."

Leihnbach looked at her.

The sun was setting, bathing the sky in hues of orange and purple. It was time for dinner. Zhiqian walked him back to the guest wing.

"I hope we can talk again," Leihnbach said as they parted.

"I hope so too," Zhiqian replied.

That night, during dinner with Duke Liangshen, Kirsthendarch, and Zhiqian, Leihnbach felt something new for the first time. He felt as if he was among people who might truly understand him.

Duke Liangshen said little, but every word he did speak carried the weight of a great sage.

Later, as they drank tea in a pavilion overlooking the moonlit valley, Liangshen turned to Leihnbach.

"Your father believes in power through order," he said. "I believe in power through harmony. Two different paths, but the same destination. The Sovereign's Gambit will test you. You will be forced to choose your own path."

"I don't know which path to choose," Leihnbach admitted.

"That is the purpose of this journey," Liangshen replied. "To find your own path."

That night, Leihnbach could not sleep. He stood on the balcony, staring at the full moon overhead. His conversations with Liangshen and Zhiqian circled in his mind.

He looked at his hand. Within it, he could feel the Channel power of Beatific Ruin pulsing faintly.

Was this his path? To become a bringer of peace in a world consumed by war? A beacon in the darkness?

It sounded naïve. It sounded impossible.

Yet as he gazed at the perfect moon, for the first time, he did not feel alone.

The journey to the Sovereign's Gambit was no longer just another mission.

It had become a personal pilgrimage, a search for identity, for purpose, for a path of his own.

And he had a feeling this journey would take him to places he never imagined, and transform him into someone he never expected to become.