I Am Extraordinary Alone
Chapter 136 - 135 Zhao Ling

Chapter 136: Chapter 135 Zhao Ling

Wei Tianyang snapped back to reality as the helicopter flew over the palace, and it was only then that he could make out the ding-shaped layered structure at the center of the city—a hollow shape.

The Emperor’s Lingxiao Palace seemed like a pavilion in the sky, where crimson corridors spanned and, together with a series of floating pavilions, formed a complex network of sky islands. Wei Tianyang could even see tiny government officials moving inside the pavilions.

In the heart of the city, countless black skyscrapers emerged from the ground, their height and width breaking through Wei Tianyang’s conception. The exteriors had no windows, and projected advertisements leaped on the walls like colorful makeup covering staircases, featuring youthful, beautiful women and exaggerated artistic typefaces.

Sky rail lines and elevated bridges wrapped around these skyscrapers. Maglev trams shuttled between the buildings, with shorter structures nestled beneath these elevated bridges, stacking the city like a forest.

As the helicopter approached the sunny side of the city, it suddenly dipped downward, heading toward the helipad beneath Lingxiao Palace.

The crew members escorted the two off the helicopter. On the platform, a woman in her 30s awaited them. She wore a deep blue cheongsam with slits and a velvety coat. Nearly 1.8 meters tall, she had black hair down to her waist, sharp brows over eagle-like eyes, stood with her hands lightly clasped in front of her in a squared-off shoulder posture. The form-fitting cheongsam accentuated her perfect chest shape, and the exquisitely ornate velvet coat bore complex, beautiful patterns. Encased in glossy, black silk stockings, her strong, slender legs were exposed through the slits of the cheongsam while chilling thigh muscles and white over-the-knee leather boots completed her imposing appearance.

"Wei Tianyang, I am Zhao Ling, the head of the Inner Guards of Lingxiao Palace, ordered by the Emperor to escort you to the Jade Pavilion for rest," Zhao Ling said.

Her voice was softer than her appearance suggested, yet her tall, upright figure couldn’t hide the poised lethality and inner strength she possessed.

"Alright," Wei Tianyang nodded, tightening his grip on the wandering Yaha.

Behind Zhao Ling followed six men dressed in brocade, each with a remarkable presence, their auras contained, their eyes on Wei Tianyang, watchful and cautious.

Truly worthy of being called the "Heaven on Earth"... Compared to Li Fei of Chicken Snake Country, this Emperor certainly knows how to put on a grand show. Meeting him requires getting past three challenges first.

Wei Tianyang thought to himself, then followed Zhao Ling’s inviting gesture toward the main doors of the helipad.

The group entered the building majestically.

The building seemed to be a hotel-like place, though sparsely populated and notably quiet. Paintings hung on the walls, corners and ceiling edges bore carvings of dragons, tigers, and leopards. The warm yellow lighting and the soft sounds of an erhu created a tranquil ambiance that was relaxing and comfortable.

The Inner Guards maintained a distance front and back, leaving room to speak.

"When will we meet the Emperor?" Wei Tianyang asked.

"You have traveled by train overnight, surely without proper rest. Coincidentally, the Emperor also has some vexing matters to deal with. Therefore, you will first rest well in the Jade Pavilion, and tomorrow morning, the Emperor will specifically make time to meet with you," Zhao Ling explained.

Wei Tianyang nodded. Since he was already in Yin Country, there was no rush. He indeed hadn’t rested well last night; sitting stiffly through the night had made him uncomfortable, and a rest would do him good.

They reached an elevator, and while Wei Tianyang expected them to descend, Zhao Ling pressed the button to go up.

Already located in a higher tier of the urban area, going further up seemed to imply reaching the top.

They entered the glass elevator. Apart from Zhao Ling, the other Inner Guards waited outside, peering through the glass into the building’s interior, revealing, astonishingly, an indoor park beneath.

The park featured lakes, artificial hills, and woods. Circular trails weaved through it, with just a few people leisurely walking below. Wei Tianyang looked up toward the ceiling, spotting a digital sky created by several large screens.

The elevator numerically indicated reaching the twelfth floor, and the doors slowly opened to a spacious floor.

This was utterly unlike the narrow corridors of the five-star hotels in Chicken Snake Country or even broader than those in Pei Guode Hotel. Wei Tianyang suspected this floor might have only a few rooms.

Zhao Ling led them to a room door—a set of double-stained mahogany doors, decorated with ancient horizontal wooden latches, but electrically operated. The door plate bore a plaque with four characters in a flourishing ink style, unrecognizable to Wei Tianyang.

Zhao Ling stood beside Wei Tianyang and pushed open the door, saying,

"This is your room. Rest here before the court session. If you need anything, just call me through the TV in the room."

She said this with a secretive smile, then bent her head towards his ear and whispered softly, "If needed... I can come over at night."

"No need," Wei Tianyang shook his head.

Zhao Ling was not offended; she still smiled warmly, her hands clasped in front of her abdomen, her legs slightly bent as she performed a formal Yin-style bow before leaving.

Over the course of the day, Wei Tianyang and Yaha stayed in the room, going nowhere.

The room’s environment was even more luxurious than Li Fei’s mansion. Standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, he looked down at the sprawling megacity from a high vantage point but could not find any sense of home.

He closed his eyes, recalling what home was like—the sound of a flowing, foul-smelling ditch to his ears, the indescribable stench of corruption in the air, but at the same time, he felt the mildly warm and spicy touch of the sun on his face. Before him, a muddy slope emerged where children chased each other behind him. Rows of low, dilapidated hovels were both decrepit and endearing. He felt as if his soul had traversed back to that place; he approached a small shack, lifted the door curtain, and saw his mother sitting at the table, meticulously picking through scavenged vegetable leaves...

He opened his eyes, his eyes slightly moist; the prosperity outside the window was utterly unrelated to his life.

Wei Tianyang took a deep breath, turned around, and saw Yaha sitting on the edge of the bed, entranced by the television.

The television was off, the dark screen reflecting her crippled body.

For a moment, her expression changed, as if the Yaha of the Black House was back again, but soon, she started to smile foolishly, waving her bare forearms at her own reflection.

After lunch, the two of them turned on the television and sat in front of it to watch the news.

An announcer from Yin Country’s Dragon Platform was broadcasting the news.

"...The United Council has convened an emergency assistance meeting regarding the earthquake issue in Wuliang City, Chicken Snake Country..."

"Chicken Snake Country has formed a temporary government; Yin Country will send a team of experts to provide assistance."

"...Recently, the Western Alliance and the Sethiyan Federation among other nations have stated that Yin Country is providing shelter to ’a dangerous individual with superpowers, known as Wei...’"

"The United Council has commenced an investigation into Tiantai Pharmaceutical for illegal human experimentation, having obtained the relevant evidence. This case has been transferred to the United Pharmaceuticals Court for trial, and if found guilty, Tiantai Pharmaceutical will be stripped of all medical licenses..."

The news continuously reported on recent events. Wei Tianyang knew that some truths were suppressed; the public would never know what exactly happened in Chicken Snake Country.

While watching the news, a small window suddenly popped up in the top right corner of the screen with three men in black suits standing in front of the room door.

The sound from the television program was muted, and the man leading the group said to the camera, "We are sent by Elder Gu. We have brought what you asked for; it’s right outside your door."

The man held up a brown envelope in front of the camera and shook it, then slipped it through the door gap before leaving.

Wei Tianyang went to the door and opened the envelope, discovering it contained six A4 documents that were not very thick.

He spread the documents on the table and looked them over carefully; they were from the group that had charged high-interest loans in the past.

They were all members of a violent gang, led by Brother Cong who was now over 60. He operated a gambling den in the lowest levels of the dark streets of Fengrao City, and several members were core members of his gang. One had died from cancer last year; the others were mostly over 50, either retired or had become behind-the-scenes bosses.

On the last page, Venerable Gu indicated that these people were now under control and were being transported in a truck to the suburban area of Fengrao City. If Wei Tianyang wanted to personally take action, he should contact Zhao Ling, and she would make the arrangements. Otherwise, Venerable Gu’s men would shoot them directly.

Without further thought, Wei Tianyang picked up the TV remote and pressed a few buttons, calling up Zhao Ling.