Chapter 63: Chapter – 63 - The Ice-Cold Emperor Is Being Nice?!!
Unlike the first and second levels, the third level was comparatively deserted. A heavy and pressurizing aura emanated from all the buildings, putting Rihanna on the edge as soon as she steeped of the stairs to walk on the smooth stone layered path circling around the entire third level. The balustrade on the outer edge of the path too seemed more dignified and heavily carved with the design of a vine and flower running on the thick handrails all across, with stone carved flowers and leaves hanging from the tendrils. It looked so real that one could forget it was actually carved out from stone.
Though wary, Rihanna couldn't stop herself from letting her fingers graze against the flowing vine handrail, loving the smooth chilliness of the stone as it cooled her anxious heart. There was something about old and ornate buildings which always appealed to her soul.....like she too had once been a part of it! She was so lost in the sensation of the tendrils tickling her palm that she failed to notice the entire group turning at a set of large open doors and vanish inside.
By the time Rihanna regained her senses and looked up, all that she could see was the vast, empty and long corridor before her, save for the guards posted at each door. There was large door in front, and another large door behind her, and she couldn't be sure which was the correct one. She stared at the guards, hoping to find some hint as to which door she should take.
"Are you trying to burn the guards with your blazing stare? And why are you still loitering about in the corridor?! Tsk! You can't even keep up with our pace! Your little legs must be very tired, huh?"
And the scourge was back in his elements! Ignoring the smirk hanging from his lips, Rihanna threw Wenzhaobei a wide smile, then whisked past him to enter the door behind.
The door opened to a wide but empty passage, which led to a large chamber. A tall archway was built at the entry to the chamber, with two human-beasts standing on both sides like the guardians to the chambers within. They sort of reminded Rihanna of the minotaur's and other mythological creatures of Greece and Rome.
But these statues were more like a large lions head with the lions mane spiraling outwards like sharp spears, and the entire head was set on the body of a humongous and muscular ape like body. The mouths were wide open, and Rihanna could see the razor sharp teeth set in a double row, and a long snake like tongue wriggled out from the inside of the mouth. The eyes were sharp and hid a bloodthirsty aura beneath a flattish and low set forehead. Two horns twisted out to both side at the front of the head, and the mane stood all around like a halo behind the head.
Rihanna was so mesmerized she forgot what she was doing here. She stared at the bloodshot eyes and the bulging muscles in a trance, feeling like even the slightest movement would disturb the sleeping beast-man, and it would rise out of its deep and long slumber, cracking and tearing apart its outer stone shell. In her trance she raised her hands, her fingers reaching out towards the stone statue on their own, as if wanting to touch and breathe in life into this soulless form.
"It looks like you are smitten by these creatures of death? Do you like them so much that you wish to follow they to the netherworld? I can make an arrangement to suit your liking if you so wish!"
Rihanna blinked and the trance broke. She stared at her raised arms in surprise, then awkwardly pulled them back to her side. Really....what was going on with her?! Mentally cursing herself, she turned and gave Wenzhaobei a 'what-the-hell-are-you-talking-about-I-am-only-an-11-year-old-kid' look.
Wenzhaobei glanced at her frowning forehead and twitching lips and felt like an evil pervert. Had he become too easy-going and laid-back in the past few days to make this little girl become so complacent and brazen? This won't do! Should he increase his intensity of evilness?!...Never mind. this girl would probably just think of him as an even bigger evil pervert! He turned away to hide his embarrassment, strolling into the chamber.
"Well....since we haven't given you the job of a door guard as yet, there is no need for you to dawdle around the entry. Do try to keep up with the pace."
Rihanna made a face behind his back, also wanting to stick out her tongue. But that would probably be too unsophisticated and childish right. No....she needed to keep up her image. She was a 27 year old working woman....albeit in an 11 year old body....but still!
Giving another quick glance at the stone statues, she turned and followed the scourge obediently.
The chamber was not as large as she had comprehended. It looked more like a study room. There was a huge and heavy table at one end, with a long low bench behind it. On three sides of the room, large chests were carved into the stone wall. The lids of these chests slid open to the sides from the centre, and the stone chests themselves were carved with large patters of a beast head. Seeing the same beasts head carved on all the chests, Rihanna wondered if this was some sort of emblem.
Between every two chests, was a thick stone pillar, half merged into the wall, and running all the way to the dome shaped roof of the chamber.
On each pillar, about two or three heads above her, bone lanterns were stuck deep into the wall-grooves, and a warm reddish-yellow light filled the space. A wide panel or flower designs ran all across the base of the walls, and above this panel, on each pillar, a half human-half beast statue was carved, half the body emerging out of the stone columns.
From the center of the dome shaped roof hung a very delicate and ornate stone chandelier. But the stones used for this were of a translucent deep blue color, with a smooth and shiny surface, with golden and red veins running all over them. From this distance it looked more like a crystal chandelier or even jade chandelier!
But instead of candles and holders or bulbs, there were numerous tiny stands rotating above each stone branches of the flowering-vine shaped delicate arc lamp. And floating above these stands were tiny glowing insects. They looked like fire-flies....but the light was much brighter and sharper, and spilled all across the chamber.
At the fourth wall, a little away from the study table and near the two large closed doors leading to the inside rooms, was a long stone couch, set up against the wall, with thick white cushions and red silk drapes flowing all over the stone seats and back-rest. A low table and low stone seats were set up all around it. The table and chairs were heavily ornamented, giving her a feel of furniture found in ancient palaces of India. Rihanna took a quick peek at the scourge walking in front of her, wondering if this seating arrangement was his idea. This kind of luxury was definitely his style of lavish elegance! Unfortunately.....it seemed to completely stick out and apart from the simple and subtle elegance of the rest of the chamber! Tsk! What a horrifying sense of aesthetics!
Though his back was facing her at all times, Wenzhaobei was carrying a transparent water mirror before himself, and kept glancing at the myriad emotions and expressions flashing through the girls eyes, feeling delighted at his new-found past-time. Unknowingly he was so caught up in this show that he didn't realize when he himself had started copying the frowns and lifting of one eyebrow and pursing the corners of his lips to making weird faces and expressions.
The sound of double sniggering brought him back to his senses, and his face flushed red in embarrassment and annoyance, and he quickly dispersed the water mirror, turning a stern and righteous face towards the inner doors.
Rihanna looked at him in suspicion, then turned to look where he was looking. The two women entered leisurely, still smirking and sniggering at Wenzhaobei, as they sat down on the couch and leaned back at ease. Bodus followed in the ice-cold 'Emperor', who went straight to the study table without a single glance at either of them, his sight and senses wholly focused on a pile of scrolls set on the table. As he took his seat to continue with pending work, he gestured subtly to Bodus.
"Since you now serve the Master, you would be utterly useless and a burden to us with your current knowledge and comprehension of the various fields of cultivators. Even if you cannot cultivate, at least you should prove your worth, so we do not regret taking you in. These two chests contain all basic level knowledge on the various subjects and fields. You may choose up to five books and thoroughly imprint them in your mind. We will test you on your understanding and memory later."
Bodus walked over to two large chests placed near one of the walls as he spoke. The thin panel running around the beast emblem was yellow in color on both of these chests. From prior knowledge Rihanna knew that the lowest level of skills was deemed as yellow level skills and techniques, or also known as Basic Level Skills and Techniques. She blinked in confusion, then stole a glance at the cold man sitting behind the table, never raising his head.
Truly....no one could fathom an emperor's mind! What was this guy thinking?! He kept on giving her so many chances and was now even gifting her with books! But was there really any free meals in this world? Then what was his purpose behind doing so much for a commoner like her?! she wanted to keep a distance between them till she was more clear about her fluctuating emotions near him.....but it looked like he did not wish the same...Or could it be that he too felt the same sense from familiarity from her?....No way! It was not like they were fated to be together and this was a destined encounter! Such things only happened in fairy tales!!
Rihanna suddenly shook her head vehemently, trying to dislodge all ridiculous and non-sensical ideas from her mind, but instead eliciting more mirthful laughter from the two women resting against the long couch. They truly found her entertaining...huh?!
Keeping her head lowered, she quickly walked over to the two chests and kneeled down before them to go through the piles of stone strip resting inside. The chests had groves at its sides, and there were seven trays placed inside each chest, one on top of the other, each resting on a groove. And each of these layer of tray held a number of colorful and precious stone panels shaped like long strips, with carved, painted or embedded designs ornamenting their borders. Each strip had a triangular tip at one end, with a hole through which various colored threads were strung.
Rihanna picked up one of the slips and turned it over in her hands. There were no words on the outside. Then did these work the same way as the tokens in the auction hall, where one had to insert spiritual power and the messages preserved inside the slip would become available to the person? But she was 'supposedly' a commoner.....How was she supposed to insert spiritual power into this?!
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