1654 The Carriage Ride

The Darkstone city was small when compared to many of the major cities in the Ebony kingdom. With only a handful of sects or families living in the vicinity, there wasn't much need for people to come and expand this city.

One could cross from one end of the city to another in just 3 hours of walk. There were smaller settlements outside, with large fields for crops and pasture lands. Half an hour's walk away from that was the manor house of the Zhan family.

The Zhan family was a small family when compared to many of the different clans and sects, and the only reason it even had any sort of authority about it was due to the young lady of the family.

Zhan Luoyang's engagement with the Crown Prince had placed the standing of the family at a much higher place in the empire, and they were slowly improving with time as well.

Alex and the 5 others rode in the carriage, with the rest following in a carriage in front and a carriage behind. Alex sat comfortably in between his two elders while the Crown Prince sat at the center, with Zhan Luoyang to his right and Long Huogang, the Crown Prince's personal bodyguard to his left.

Alex had only met the man Long Huogang a couple of times despite meeting with the Crown prince so many times. Still, he had come to understand just how strong and smart this man was.

He was part of the Head legion like all of the individuals at the top of any command were. But this man in particular was even at the top of the Head Legion.

The Head Legion had exactly 3 Heads. 

One head was in charge of everything to do with the Royal family, be it the direct blood or indirect ones. Another head on was in charge of the part of the military that involved itself in more politics than anything.

The final Head was in charge of the military that involved itself with war and the safekeeping of the Empire.

Alex had learned that information by chance through the Crown Prince during one of their many talks and knew that this man was the one in charge of the political side of things.

With the Dragon Emperor in closed cultivation, this man helped the Crown Prince with almost everything while on top of being the body guard.

Alex also suspected that the person who appeared to be the Dragon Emperor's bodyguard, a spindly old man with gray hair, was the one who was in charge of the Royal family.

As for the last one in charge of the war, he had yet to find out anything at all. There were no hints of any sort to his presence at all. He hadn't even seen anyone that could fit the criteria.

At times, Alex suspected it was the Dragon Emperor himself. But that wouldn't make much sense from a structure standpoint. The Dragon Emperor could not and should not be regarded on the same level as the other two heads.

He shook away those thoughts. Maybe he would learn in the future.

"How's your pill coming along, lady Zhan?" Alex asked. "Are you close to becoming a Level 10 alchemist?"

A few eyes moved toward Zhan Luoyang at the corner at that mention.

The woman gave almost no change in expression except maybe a glint of embarrassment, and Alex wasn't even sure if he was seeing it right.

"I'm still years away I fear," the woman said. "But I have been making steady progress. So I should have a pill prepared in the near future. After that, it's just preparing for the test."

"Oh, I would've assumed you already made some pills," Alex said, a little surprised. "Still, I wish you good luck then."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," the woman said. "And I have made some pills, but they're just not to my liking. I'm going to try and make better pills."

"She's made so many different healing pills and antidote pills, but she still argues that she won't take the test," the Crown Prince said. "I've tried talking sense into her that she's good enough, but she just doesn't want to bother."

Zhan Luogang gave a sharp look to the man beside her, before looking aside. "I'll do what I want," she said.

The Crown Prince chuckled a little and held his hand. "Okay, okay. Don't get mad," he said quickly. "Haven't I let you do what you want until now?"

Alex didn't know what to say. "Why exactly are you not taking the test, Lady Zhan?" he asked. "Are you not confident or are you planning to make a wave with your test?"

The girl immediately flushed upon hearing the question.

"She's not like that, Your Majesty," the Crown Prince said. "She doesn't look for fame or power. I don't know why she's not taking the test, but I'm sure it doesn't have anything to do with making a wave. As for confidence, she has plenty."

"It's not either," the woman quickly said. "It's just… I have something occupying my time. I am trying to make many pills in the meantime, and hopefully, by the time I am done with what is occupying most of my time, I'll have a pill I can be proud of to take my test with."

"I see," Alex said, nodding to himself as if agreeing. Truth be told, he had no idea why the woman was wasting her time. She could just take the test, be a Level 10 alchemist, and then continue what she had been doing.

But if she was stubborn enough, then he let her be. He had no reason to change her mind. He had his own problems for now.

The carriage slowed down and Alex peered outside of the window to see a flower field with servants standing to look at the carriage that passed through a large gate.

It seemed they had arrived at the Zhan family's manor house.

She seemed to fall into some thought and shook her head. "