??Chapter 56: 056 Silly Bear_1
Chapter 56: 056 Silly Bear_1
The pale blue sky is clear and vast, while restless clouds sway and swirl with each gust of wind, their ethereal forms disrupted by small rows of black birds darting across the sprawling expanse.
Oak City is built with large stone bricks lining the wide main thoroughfares, forming a grid-like pattern underfoot.
The roads are mostly clean, unlike the litter-strewn narrow alleys that occasionally give off the stench of piled excrent.
The Oak City central administration is unyielding on the matter of urban cleanliness, hiring cleaners to tidy up the city streets on a regular basis.
The roads are frequently traveled by carriages. So were notably luxurious, with golden motifs adorning the wheels and canopies, while the reins leading the horses and the carriage driver’s clothes are ornanted in a similar manner.
These carriages belong to wealthy rchant families—not to nouveau riche, but to families with deep-rooted history. These families maintain several carriages and professional drivers as status symbols, endeavors as much about show as they are about practicality.
At the crossroads, two middle-aged policen in blue uniforms stand chatting. One passes a cigarette to the other, and they take turns surveying pedestrians while puffing leisurely.
During the 71st year of the Hong Li Federation, the council established a police force in order to maintain order. Since then, it has remained a new and ergent force as police departnts needed to be established in every county. The police force is ultimately under the authority of the Minister of the Interior.
Near the sidewalk on the right, a black carriage halts. A man and woman alight.
“What ti is it?” The woman, Lixia, turns to Casio and inquires.
Casio retrieves a pocket watch gifted to him by Lixia.
“Eleven oh five.”
” We’re on ti. The banquet probably starts at half-past eleven and it’s going to be quite grand. Other than the core disciples from the Wind Elephant Gate, rchants and gentry from Oak City and nearby areas will be attending. The influence the Wind Elephant Gate holds is not little…”
she finishes with a laugh: “Co over here, let
fix your clothes.” Casio moves two steps forward while straightening his back and puffing out his chest. As Lixia smoothes the wrinkles in Casio’s clothes, she advises, “Try to look as spirited as possible. You guys are the stars of tonight’s banquet…”
“Other core disciples of the Wind Elephant Gate have so relationships with powerful and wealthy figures, while you, who beca a core disciple late, have been practising behind closed doors. So, most likely, the attention of the people at the banquet today will be focused on you and your eldest brother.”
Outside of winding the roads, the womantsmiles teasingly: “There will probably be many beautiful girls at this banquet. If you see soone you like, rember to let your teacher know, and I’ll keep a lookout for you.”
She smiles, full of satisfaction as she gazes at the handso and imposing Casio. Ever since that lancholic air dissipated, the more confident Li Wei grew, the more he exuded a calm, and mature charisma.
“You look great! Don’t embarrass . Off you go.”
Lixia gives a soft pat to the button on Casio’s light blue waistcoat.
“Yes,” Casio replies solemnly. He moves slowly forward, only to glance back after a few steps. A solitary silhouette is hunched over on the ground, plagued by a severe coughing fit.
The figure’s back violently shakes with each cough, as if intending to expel a lung.
Casio freezes mid-step and watches intently, only regaining his composure at the sight of Lixia’s attention in the distance, following which he continues forward.
He knows he cannot save her, and he knows her illness is now incurable. With this knowledge, he mustn’t beco overwheld with despair.
What would Lixia like to see? Naturally, she would love to see a confident, determined, brave, industrious, shining and dazzling Li Wei.
Casio decides to do so; to take on the role she has envisioned for him, at least until this round of retrospection ends.
Because, after all, this path could not be wrong, could it?
After ten minutes, Casio halts and looks up.
A grand building, similar to a theater in appearance, towers above him, its decorations exquisite and bold. By the entrance stands a gigantic signboard bearing a line of golden text: Ferro Hall.
Surrounding the building is a white enclosure, beyond which a few ornantal trees can slightly be seen protruding from the top of the enclosure.
At the entrance, two burly n clad in black stand guard.
After a glance, Casio strides towards them. The two guards make no move to stop him; they even respectfully greet him while he enters through the door, and return to their stations afterwards.
It turns out these two n are fellow disciples from the Wind Elephant Gate.
“Stop! Where’s your invitation?” one of the guard suddenly demands.
At the entrance, a pale youth, dressed in a formal suit and top hat, cos to a halt, holding a black cane in his hand.
“The man who just went in didn’t show an invitation, did he?” The youth asks.
“You’re unreasonable. Can you even compare yourself to the fifth disciple of our sect, Wind Elephant Gate? This banquet is held for our disciples! If you don’t have an invitation, then stop wasting our ti and scram,” the Roman guard retorts, crossing his arms across his chest, his bulging biceps tensing under his tight sleeves, a display of extre oppression.
“…” The youth opens his mouth but doesn’t utter a word, he helplessly withdraws.
He doesn’t dare to reveal his family na at such a grand banquet, as it would instead cause havoc for his family.
Inside the courtyard, Casio moves along a cobblestone walkway.
Midway, he cos across two servants dressed in black waistcoats and white shirts, who also sported blue bow-ties. One of them, spotting Casio, quickly cos forward to greet him.
“Excuse , are you Mr. Li Wei?” He asks.
“Yes” Casio confirms with a nod.
“Please follow ,” the servant says graciously after he turns and whispers sothing to his companion, who then scurries off, likely to relay the news.
Following the servant’s lead, Casio traverses the cobblestone path. Instead of leading him into the banquet hall, they stop at a tall building behind the banquet hall. It is a long building with black tiles and white walls.
At the entrance, the servant bows out, unable to proceed further.
Casio steps inside alone, climbing the stairs and pushing open the towering bi-color door. Instantly, an extrely spacious hall unfolds before him. The ground is stitched together with multicolored marble, with square columns extending to the ceiling.
Green potted plants are occasionally placed near these columns.
Scattered all over the walls are landscape paintings at regular intervals. Sticking out conspicuously is a gigantic deer skull with two axes lodged in its hollow eye sockets, hung directly in front of the entrance on a white wall.
In front of the skull, a burly, bald man with muscles akin to a bulky tire and a physique as sturdy as a bear, turns around.
A fierce face suddenly appears before Casio. The rugged face, partly covered by a black eyepatch, belongs to a man with muscles bulging from every corner of his face, adding to his raw and wild aura.
Not only does this man resemble a bear physically but his combativeness radiates a bearish hostility.
Just when the eye contact between the two n risks making the surrounding air freeze, the burly man speaks. “So, you’re the junior brother! I’m Moses,” he pauses, scratches his shiny bald head, and adds, “You should call … Fourth Brother.”
Great, turns out it’s just a big, naive bear…
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