Night of the Broken Gliph

Southary, South Imperial City, Evergreen Palace. 

The main courtyard of Three Thousand Hall was still as dark as before; so dark that one wasn’t able to see their hands. Under the dim candlelight, a figure was revealed to be kneeling on the ground—it was none other than Lau Fa Ming, the most popular figure and the chief eunuch of Evergreen Palace, whom even the ministers and officials had to greet when they met. Lau Fa Ming was usually a mighty person, but not currently. Kneeling on the ground, he was trembling badly. 

“Did you just say that you aren’t able to find them?” A voice soft enough to melt one’s bones rang out. 

“Yes… Your Highness… I secretly got Mo Yung Kwong to go after them. Mo Yung Kwong is the only four-chambered glipher whose speed is comparable to Kan Hang. I even sent a huge number of spies to all sixteen cities between Southary and South Imperial City, so that if Kan Hang enters any of them…” 

“I will ask you again…” The marshmallow-like voice repeated itself, cutting Lau Fa Ming off. “You aren’t able to find him now, right?” 

Lau Fa Ming gulped on hearing her. “Yes… Your Highness… After sending Mo Yung Kwong after them three days ago, we recently found his corpse in the wild, between Night Lion City and Hidden Spear City.” 

“Your Highness!” Suddenly, a shout could be heard from outside the Three Thousand Hall’s main courtyard. “Kan… Kan Hang has returned to the palace!” As if losing all his energy, Lau Fa Ming shook violently on hearing him. He knew what it meant for Kan Hang to return. 

When he looked up again, the darkness that previously fell over the main courtyard was gone. 

Kan Hang made his way forward silently. His arms were hidden in his black, embroidered robe which left a long black shadow as he walked. Kan Hang’s looks are average, but his robe was just like the crown of the night king, making him recognisable with one glance. However, the eunuchs and palace maids felt that something was off as Kan Hang, the king’s shadow, rarely appeared in public alone without Emperor Lam. Everyone knew that Kan Hang possessed a powerful teleporting gliphility called Nightwalk, and he could go anywhere immediately as he wished. 

Thus, the scene of him making his way slowly to the Hall of Affairs was a weird scene to see, but nobody stopped him. 

The Hall of Affairs was the place Emperor Lam held his morning court meeting and got his paperwork done, and so that was where its name came from. 

“Kan Hang asks for permission to meet Your Majesty.” 

Before the eunuch passed on the message, Emperor Lam’s voice was already heard. “I think I already mentioned that Kan Hang never has to ask for permission to enter or leave the Evergreen Palace, enter.” 

Kan Hang stood up and walked into the Hall of Affairs. 

The Hall of Affairs was huge. The ceiling was made up of numerous dimly lit gems that could light up the hall brightly, as bright as daytime without any sunlight. Many only knew of its purpose to light up the hall, but as a member of the palace, Kan Hang knew the secret story behind it.

The Evergreen Palace was designed by Wai Yi, a great architect a few hundred years ago. Even today, the palace was still being expanded, refurbished and maintained. Just that it was on such a small scale that it would go unnoticed by commoners. Those allowed into the Hall of Affairs wouldn’t be nobodies. The gems on the ceiling all contained natural gliphs, and the Hall of Affairs could be said to be a formation of its own. 

As soon as it was attacked, it would activate the gliphs and defend the palace automatically. In fact, the gorgeous and luxurious Hall of Affairs was a killing formation hidden beneath its splendid appearance. 

Immediately after entering, Kan Hang exchanged glances with Emperor Lam, who was slightly shocked. His blue gem-like eyes shone and he waved his hand after a short moment. “All of you stand down, I have something to discuss with Kan Hang.” 

The maids and eunuch hesitated before bowing and retreating. 

Boom.

The door to the Hall of Affairs was shut tight. Being in such a huge space, even their whispers echoed throughout the entire hall. Kan Hang vomited blood instantly when the door was shut, and his magnificent robe disappeared without a trace. A girl appeared out of nowhere and wiped the blood off of Kan Hang’s mouth worriedly. 

Emperor Lam stood up and hurried towards Kan Hang. “Are you alright…” But just before he could call for the imperial physician, Kan Hang grabbed onto him immediately.  

“Don’t…Your Majesty…” Emperor Lam furrowed his eyebrows at his hand being grasped by Kan Hang, not because he found it rude, but because of the weak grasp and how grey Kan Hang’s hands were. A four-chambered glipher isn’t supposed to be this weak! 

“What happened? Didn’t I ask you to protect Sit Ting? Why did you come back seriously injured…” But Emperor Lam paused abruptly. Seriously injured… Kan Hang is a four-chambered glipher, and yet he’s seriously injured. So what happened to Sit Ting who’s only in the one-chambered state? 

The thought of this makes him turn deadly pale. “What happened? Where’s Sit Ting?” He trembled. 

“Kan Hang didn’t have the ability to protect Sit Ting.” Kan Hang, who was very pale, looked down in shame. Thunderstruck, Emperor Lam nearly fell onto the ground. Tears flowed down his gem-like eyes as memories of him and Sit Ting flooded through his mind. He met many different women in his life and even had numerous wives, but the only woman he really fell for was Sit Ting. 

Emperor Lam was unable to accept Sit Ting’s death. Seeing this, Kan Hang immediately shouted, “But Your Majesty, Kan Hang managed to bring Sit Ting’s daughter back.” 

“Daughter?” Emperor Lam shot up, only now looking at Lam Ming Sum. Lam Ming Sum wasn’t a beauty, but just an ordinary girl. She had small eyes and messy hair, making her look like a boy… But Sit Ting wasn’t beautiful to begin with. 

One could see Sit Ting’s features in Lam Ming Sum clearly. “Your Majesty… She’s ten years old… this year,” Kan Hang spoke slowly. 

“Ten…” Being the leader of many, Emperor Lam was extremely intelligent. He immediately realised the link. Ten years ago, Sit Ting left without a goodbye… This child is ten years old… And Sit Ting has always loved me deeply…

The very possibility made Emperor Lam’s eyes widen. He stared at Lam Ming Sum with his teary eyes, making Lam Ming Sum uncomfortable that she hid behind Kan Hang subconsciously. But she also felt a sense of closeness to the man in front of her, deep inside her heart. Emperor Lam reached out to Lam Ming Sum just above her crown. A soft and bright light shone down onto Lam Ming Sum’s messy black hair, which became silky in no time and dark blue in colour.