While there were often many people waiting to enter the palace grounds, they usually waited in a proper line.
But what Lin Mu was seeing in front of him was a disorganized crowd.
"What's happening?" Lin Mu asked one of the persons standing there.
"You don't know?" The man replied looking at Lin Mu.
"No, I just arrived." Lin Mu denied it.
"The Crown Prince is recruiting people!" The man said with excitement clear in his tone.
"Recruiting people? For what?" Lin Mu raised his brows.
"We don't know yet. But a missive was sent out to the city. It said that the Crown Prince is offering a chance to the cultivators who are willing to stand with him and brave through dangers." The man explained.
Hearing this, Lin Mu was a bit confused as it didn't seem like a thing the Crown Prince would need to do.
'He has the support of the entire empire and its army. Why would he need to recruit others?' Lin Mu wondered.
"Everyone is waiting for their turn. The guards are bringing a few in at a single time." The man replied.
"So the entry isn't allowed right now?" Lin Mu asked.
"Unless you are a noble, you can't enter." The man shook his head.
~Sigh~
"Looks like I'll have to use another way…" Lin Mu muttered.
The man heard his words and chuckled.
"Best not do it, or the guards will throw you in the prison. A few tried and got a couple of years sentence already.' The man said. "Just wait in line for your turn."
"Ah, nothing like that." Lin Mu shook his head before taking out his communication jade slip.
He held it for a few seconds before putting it away.
The man saw Lin Mu doing that and couldn't understand it. But then, just fifteen seconds later something happened.
"Give way! Palace official is coming!" the guards called out.
The crowd quickly parted, not wanting to offend someone like that. A few seconds later they quickly saw a man dressed in a uniform appearing. He looked to be rather important and was none other than the Palace official.
The Palace official looked around the crowd before spotting Lin Mu.
He walked up to Lin Mu and cupped his hands.
"The Crown Prince has been waiting for you, Daoist Mu Lin." The palace official said in a cordial tone. "Please come with me."
"Lead the way." Lin Mu said before going along the palace official.
Meanwhile, the man who had spoken to Lin Mu earlier was stunned.
"Who the hell was that?" He couldn't tell.
The man was sure Lin Mu wasn't a noble, or he would have taken the route for the nobles. Plus he wouldn't have asked him either as the nobles would know how to enter on their own. Which meant that it was someone different.
'But for the Crown Prince to call for him personally… just what kind of big shot did I talk to?' the man trembled slightly.
Lin Mu didn't care nor think about any of this and simply continued on with the Palace official.
They walked through the palace grounds and soon arrived at a smaller palace that was meant for the guests. It was different than the one Lin Mu had met the Crown Prince in before and looked to be a lot bigger. At the same time, the security here was higher.
There were guards everywhere, but there were also commoners present there.
"The Crown prince is picking them personally?" Lin Mu asked.
"Yes… We advised him against it, but the Crown Prince insists." The palace official replied.
"Strange…" Lin Mu muttered before they came to a stop.
"Let us in." The Palace official spoke to the guards, who promptly allowed them entry to the palace.
~CREAK~
Two large doors opened up, allowing them to enter. Inside, Lin Mu saw what was basically a small court. There were two rows of seats with one large throne at the end of them. The Crown prince was sitting on the throne, while on the seats near him, four people were sitting.
Three of these were familiar to Lin Mu and were the Companions of the Crown prince. But there was a fourth person whom Lin Mu had never met before.
'Looking at the armor he's wearing… An Army commander?' Lin Mu guessed, seeing the fourth person's armor and cultivation base.
The armored man was at the Fifth Tribulation Stage of the Immortal realm and had a strong presence. It was clear that he was a man who had been in many battles and was strong. The aura he exuded was also such that it carved out a presence for him in the hall.
All those that looked at him would feel wary and think twice before doing anything.
The said man was also looking at the commoners who were waiting to be picked by the Crown Prince and was possibly pressuring them. Lin Mu was unaffected by it though and simply walked towards the Crown Prince.
"Daoist Mu Lin! It's a pleasure to see you again." Crown Prince Feng Shun said out loud while spreading his arms.
"Likewise, Crown Prince." Lin Mu cupped his hands in greeting.
"Oh! The little kitten is with you too." Crown Princess Shang's attention immediately went to the beast on Lin Mu's shoulder. "Come here!" She patted her lap.
"Can I go?" Little Shrubby asked with a mew.
"Go," Lin Mu permitted.
~shua~
Little Shrubby jumped off his shoulder and landed on the lap of the Crown Princess.
"Aww, you're so good." The Crown Princess cooed. "Here are some treats for you." She said before taking out a few immortal fruits.
"Crown prince…" The Armored man spoke up. "Should I?"
"Ah yeah, can you dismiss the others for now, commander?" Crown Prince Feng Shu replied. "I have a few things to talk to Daoist Mu Lin." He added.
"Of course." The armored man cupped his hand and stood up.
Merely his standing was enough for people to understand, and all those that were there in the hall turned around. The man didn't even need to speak, and the others obeyed the orders without a word.
They had heard the Crown Prince and it was more than enough for them.
"Please, take a seat." The Crown Prince gestured to one of the empty seats.
"Thank you," Lin Mu sat down before taking a look at the other companions of the Crown prince.
The Daoist named Chu was calmly sitting while the Monk had his eyes closed in meditation similar to before.
Lin Mu's eyes wandered over to the prayer beads in the Monk's hands and saw the man's grip tighten. It was barely perceptible but didn't escape Lin Mu's eyes.
'It really was like what Senior Xukong had said. The beads were reacting to me, huh…' Lin Mu thought to himself.
He didn't linger on that for long though, and quickly turned to Crown Prince Feng Shun.
"You're doing a recruitment?" Lin Mu inquired.
"Ah yes. It has been going on for a week now." The man replied.
"Why though? I don't think a man of your position would need some random cultivators." Lin Mu couldn't help but ask.
"Do you remember what you helped me with before?" The Crown prince asked instead.
"The stele…" Lin Mu muttered as an idea appeared in his mind. "You're recruiting people for that? Isn't there still time for that?" he was doubtful.
"There is indeed time. But the preparations will take a while." Crown Prince Feng Shun replied.
"We also need to recruit the good ones out of the cultivators that come. Hence why we are judging them personally." Daoist Chu spoke this time.
"I see… And you cannot use the Empire's army?" Lin Mu inquired.
"This is my personal endeavor and I do not wish to make use of the Army for my personal matters." The Crown prince said with a smile. "It would be a misappropriation of funds and manpower."
"I see…" While Lin Mu still had doubts, he reckoned it was still a bit reasonable. 'For a risky venture like that, perhaps it is a better option to not send his own army and make use of volunteers.' He thought.
"It'll be a while till we have the right people and after selecting them we would still need to prepare for the expedition. Thus, it is necessary that we finish it now." Daoist Chu explained.
"That does make sense." Lin Mu nodded his head.
"Well, what about you Daoist Mu Lin?" The Crown Prince asked. "What brings you here today?"
"The Tournament… or more accurately a few things associated with it." Lin Mu replied.
Hearing that though, the others didn't seem to be surprised.
"The delay in the tournament, I assume?" Daoist Chu spoke.
"Indeed… due to the interfering of certain individuals." Lin Mu nodded his head. "At first I thought it was the people from the Black Fin Island, but now there seem to be more things happening."
