Douluo Continent: Martial Soul Young Gilas, Sandstorm King!

Chapter 124 The Empress!?
An hour later.

In front of the massive, imposing main gate of the Gengjin City Blacksmiths' Association, cast from fine iron and engraved with forging hammers and flame totems.

Zhu Yu stood quietly waiting, her moon-white gauze dress fluttering gently in the wind carrying a metallic scent, her bare feet still spotless.

She watched as Lin Xia, carrying a simple bag, arrived on time with Young Gilas, and a gentle smile appeared on her face.

She handed a heavy soul guide bag, radiating soul power fluctuations, to Silong.

"Vice President Silong, this is the deposit for the first batch of core military equipment components commissioned by the Empire to your association, as well as a list of the rare metals required. Please check it. The Imperial Ministry of Industry will send a specialist to handle the follow-up matters."

Si Long accepted the bag with both hands, feeling its weight and the scent of the precious materials within, and solemnly said:
"Miss Zhu, rest assured, the Blacksmiths' Association will certainly live up to your expectations!"

Zhu Yu nodded slightly and turned her gaze to Lin Xia.

"Little Xia, let's go."

Lin Xia took one last look at the familiar outline of Geng Jincheng's chimney and the concerned gazes of her senior brothers, then took a deep breath.

"Ah."

The journey from Gengjin City, the metal capital, to Xingluo City, the heart of the empire, is long.

Even traveling at full speed, it still took a full ten days.

For Lin Xia, while it's simple to get in touch with and study the mysterious "Star Crown," learning it directly might require a lot of time and insider knowledge.

So he deliberately used the time they spent together to display emotional intelligence and communication skills far beyond his years.

Lin Xia sometimes acted like a thirsty young man, asking Zhu Yu about the customs and traditions of the Star Luo Empire and anecdotes about Soul Masters.

At times, he acts like a child filled with affection for his elders, sharing anecdotes from the blacksmiths' association, as well as his admiration and concern for his teacher, Lou Gao.

Lin Xia also subtly reveals her concern for the growth of Young Gilas, showcasing her warm side as a "Martial Soul Partner".

Lin Xia speaks eloquently yet retains a youthful spirit; she is intelligent and perceptive yet knows how to conceal her sharpness; and occasionally reveals a pure yearning for great power and unknown knowledge.

Zhu Yu already held Lin Xia in high regard because of his extraordinary talent and status as a disciple of Lou Gao. With Lin Xia's subtle and deliberate cultivation of his character, her goodwill towards him grew quietly and increasingly luxuriantly, like spring vines.

The way he looked at Lin Xia gradually changed from admiration and recruitment to a tenderness that was unique to elders, almost doting.

In this seemingly warm exchange, Lin Xia successfully extracted a lot of key information, one of which struck him like a thunderbolt.

It was during a rest at dusk that Zhu Yu gazed at the distant, rolling mountains, his expression tinged with reminiscence and a touch of sadness, and softly murmured:
"Xia, do you know? Seeing you always reminds me of my poor child... If he were still alive, he would be about your age by now..."

Lin Xia's heart skipped a beat, and she keenly grasped the key point, feigning surprise and concern.

"Sister Zhu Yu...you...you have a child?"

Zhu Yu gave a bitter smile, a smile that was heartbreaking.

“There was once… He was a prince of Xingluo, and my only bloodline… Unfortunately, he didn’t live long…”

She paused, seemingly unwilling to delve into that painful past, and then changed the subject.

"So now I am not only the daughter of the Zhu family, but also His Majesty's Empress, and the mother of Mu Bai and Weiss... although, not their biological mother."

Her tone was somewhat complicated, clearly indicating a rather delicate relationship with the two princes, Dai Mubai and Davis.

A tidal wave of emotions had already surged within Lin Xia's heart!
Zhu Yu!

She is not only a core member of the Zhu family! She is the younger sister of Zhu Zhan, the current head of the Zhu family!

She is the Empress of the current Emperor of the Star Luo Empire!
She is the nominal legal mother of the eldest prince, Davis, and the third prince, Dai Mubai!
She... was once the biological mother of a prince who died young!
The prestige and complexity of this identity far exceeded his previous imagination!
No wonder she was able to represent the Empire to invite Lou Gao, no wonder she was able to directly promise the Empire's compensation!

She herself was one of the people at the very top of the imperial power pyramid!

Aunt of Zhu Zhuqing and Zhu Zhuyun!
The "mother" of Dai Mubai and Davis!
This network of relationships instantly became clear in Lin Xia's mind.

What alarmed Lin Xia even more was that Zhu Yu's gaze towards him became increasingly strange as the journey continued.

The tenderness and concern in his eyes went beyond the appreciation of an elder for a talented junior; it was mixed with a deep, compensatory attachment and tenderness, almost like a mother looking at her lost child who had been found again!
Lin Xia realized that she seemed to have... gone too far in trying to win people's favor!

That deliberately cultivated intimacy and excellence precisely struck a chord with the immense emptiness and regret left deep within Zhu Yu's heart by the loss of her son.

As the rising sun of the tenth day cast its golden rays upon a vast plain far more prosperous than Gengjin City, the outline of Xingluo City, crouching on the horizon like an ancient behemoth, finally came into clear view.

The majestic city wall, hundreds of feet high and built from a single block of black basalt, exudes an aura of iron will and majesty.

Banners fluttered on the city walls, and the imperial guards, clad in bright armor, stood like sculptures.

Within the city, countless tall and magnificent buildings stand side by side, wide streets crisscross, bustling with traffic and noise, and the air is filled with a unique atmosphere of power, wealth and powerful spiritual energy.

In the distance, a magnificent and breathtakingly grand palace complex gleamed in the morning light—the very heart of the Star Luo Empire's power—the Imperial Palace!
Zhu Yu, leading Lin Xia and Young Gilas, did not head directly to the palace, but stopped when they approached the outer city area.

"The palace has strict rules. As a young official from outside the capital, and with such heavy responsibilities, it would be very inconvenient for you to live in the inner palace."

Zhu Yu explained, her tone gentle.

"I have made all the arrangements. You will come with me to stay at the Zhu family's residence for the time being. The Zhu family's residence is not far from the palace, which will also make it convenient for you to access the Ministry of Works' secret treasury to study the 'Starry Crown' in the future."

Lin Xia had no objection to this arrangement.

The Zhu family's mansion is located in one of the most central areas of Xingluo City's inner city, adjacent to the Imperial Palace and Forbidden Garden. It covers an extremely vast area, and its prominent status is self-evident.

When Lin Xia stood before the massive gate of this mansion, even though he was used to the rugged grandeur of the Gengjin City Blacksmith Association, he couldn't help but marvel at the sight before him.

The first thing that catches the eye is two enormous gates, each five feet high, made entirely of an unknown dark purple metal!
Instead of the usual animal head rings on the door panel, it features an extremely exquisite relief carving depicting a lifelike, enormous ghostly cat that seems ready to pounce at any moment!
The spirit cat was entirely black, with smooth, powerful lines. Its eyes were set with two deep black gems, as dark as the night sky, and it gazed at the newcomer with a mysterious and powerful aura.

An ancient, profound, restrained yet powerful aura belonging to the Martial Soul Clan swept over us.

On either side of the mansion gate stand two enormous stone beasts of the same material, not the usual lions or unicorns, but two sharp-eyed, poised black panthers, echoing the Netherworld Cat totem on the gate, adding to the solemn and majestic atmosphere.

The vermilion walls stretch out to both sides, seemingly without end, and are covered with intricate and exquisite glazed tiles that gleam warmly in the sunlight.

Above the wall, the canopy of ancient trees could be faintly seen peeking out, their branches and leaves lush and green, adding a touch of life to this solemn mansion.

Zhu Yu did not go through the main entrance, but led Lin Xia to a side entrance that was relatively smaller, but still spacious enough.

Several guards dressed in uniform blue outfits, exuding a calm and capable aura, stood waiting.

Upon seeing Zhu Yu, everyone immediately knelt on one knee in unison, their voices filled with utmost respect.

"Welcome back to the Empress's residence!"

Zhu Yu nodded slightly.

"No need for formalities. This is my young friend Lin Xia, a personal disciple of Lord Lou Gao, and also a distinguished guest of mine. She will be staying at my residence for some time. Please serve her well and do not neglect her."

(End of this chapter)