My entire perception of the Dual Cities Nation shifted during the journey; Flyhawk Prefecture, I realized, was merely a backward border town. Everything there paled in comparison to the cities nearer the continent's core.

Since both horses and the escape pods were such novelties to the Dual Cities populace, coupled with a generational phobia of horse bandits, many commoners mistook any horse for an attack. To avoid unnecessary trouble, we generally skirted major cities, displaying the banner signifying our tribute from Fei-yu County only when necessary.

Even traveling the back roads dramatically altered my initial impression of the Dual Cities Nation as backward, almost primitive. Agriculture here was highly developed, and mechanical devices utilizing water and wind power were employed even in the larger cities. Approaching the continent's center opened up vast plains covered in rippling fields of year-round rice. Village women toiled among the crops, occasionally gathering with curiosity to stare at the spectacle of our procession. It was then that my impression of the Dual Cities beauties finally solidified; they were truly beautiful, especially possessing a mature charm unique to women of the fields, which I found immensely alluring to a man. The only drawback was their monotonous attire—a fact I, accustomed to city girls changing outfits three times a day, found hard to accept.

Though beautiful and mature, these women no longer held my attention. I held Yun Yao close, and in Hulu Village, Zhou Ni and Cheng Susu awaited me. The unique allure possessed by Zhou Ni and Yun Yao was something these village women could not match.

Around noon that day, a colossal mountain became visible on the screen—the first high peak we had seen since reaching the continental heartland. The mountain was immense, its summit blanketed in pristine white. A closer look revealed it was snow! This was my first sighting of snow on the Twin Star Continent, prompting a degree of wonder.

Ma Xiaoda excitedly introduced it: "In just over a day's ride, we’ll be back in the Dual Cities. That is Mount Taibai, and our capital lies at its base. Zhao Qian, I want you to meet my father, the Emperor. I will ask him to name you Grand General of Might, giving you command over training our nation’s military. Then, we will sweep the continent, and see who dares defy us."

"Save it, Xiaoda," I countered. "Do you think becoming a general is that easy? Besides, I won't do anything until I find my five friends."

"What if I help you find them?" he pressed. "Will you obey me and help fight the Ten Thousand Horses Nation?"

"Once I find them, I'm leaving. If possible, I will return, bringing you advanced technological civilization. Then you won't have to fight just to survive."

"That's likely a long way off," Ma Xiaoda conceded. "Let’s talk about now. If I help you find one or two friends, will you help me defeat the enemy?"

"Fine," I agreed. "If you can truly help me find a few of my friends, I will do my utmost to assist you until I locate them all. Just don't make things sound too simple. Warfare, especially fighting against a stronger foe, is something I’m not confident about. My past victories were always achieved by the strong overwhelming the weak; now it's the reverse. Don't blame me if we fail."

"No general in this world is ever victorious," Ma Xiaoda argued. "We are extremely weak right now, but I believe in you. You absolutely have the ability to defeat any powerful enemy. Think about how you defended Fei-yu County with less than a hundred men against five hundred bandits, and how we slew a hundred bandits in the jungle swamp with fewer than ten of us. Doesn't that prove your capability?"

I dropped the subject. I would play it by ear when the time came. "Is Grand Tutor Pang a formidable figure?" I asked, realizing I would soon meet him and needed to understand the man.

Ma Xiaoda spat out the name with venom: "That dog isn't a good man. He uses my father's favor to control the court. He has framed many officials and sent them to prison. Moreover, he is building his own faction within the court. His influence is gradually eclipsing that of the Left and Right Prime Ministers; essentially, no one dares oppose him now. Once the two Prime Ministers fall, all Five Ministries will be in his hands, and even my father will have to defer to him."

"Hasn't your father noticed Grand Tutor Pang’s ambition? With his astuteness, wouldn't he allow Pang to grow so powerful?"

"Sometimes the wisest man can be momentarily blind," Ma Xiaoda sighed. "Though my father is incomparably brilliant, Pang has blinded him. He trusts Pang implicitly and consults him on everything. If I bring this up, he harshly scolds me, disregarding my status as Crown Prince. He even publicly calls me disrespectful to the Grand Tutor, warning me not to be misled by others into misunderstanding a loyal minister. Bah! If Pang is loyal, then there are no wicked men in this world."

"If the internal situation is this dire, then this task will be difficult. With your father pressing down from above, and Pang, who is no saint, below, perhaps we should postpone your plans for reforming military discipline and expanding territory."

"No!" Ma Xiaoda insisted firmly. "According to our nation's custom, when I turn twelve next year, I can enter the court to assist Father in handling state affairs. Once we take down Pang, we’ll face no resistance. How about this: we send someone to assassinate him. Then we have Sister Three dispose of the body in the sea. We keep it quiet, no one can find his corpse, and we find an opportune moment to frame him for colluding with an enemy state, claiming he fled in guilt. Even if he has remnants of support, they won't dare rebel using that excuse. Once the tree falls, we deal with the monkeys slowly."

I soothed him: "You absolutely must not act on impulse. If Pang has established deep roots in the court, one wrong move in the assassination could damage the nation’s vitality. Think about the emperors I told you about; every one of them endured humiliation before finally becoming a wise ruler."

Ma Xiaoda considered this. "You are right. Pang controls over half the troops, and they are fiercely loyal to him. If we cause national turmoil, forget building a strong army; we might collapse the entire country."

"It's best that you think that way. Let's wait until we enter the Dual Cities and meet the man before deciding anything. I’ve already made an enemy of him; Cai Hua certainly won't let me go. Confronting Grand Tutor Pang seems inevitable sooner or later. Since we don't understand the situation, there's no need to rush."

Perhaps the troubling thoughts weighed him down, because Ma Xiaoda didn't bring up Grand Tutor Pang again until the convoy reached the outskirts of the Dual Cities. At that moment, I barely noticed him; the sheer scale of the astonishingly vast Dual Cities had utterly stunned me.

I had watched many historical dramas, including documentaries, but I had never seen a capital city of this magnitude in ancient times. I suspected even the capital of the Great Dragon Nation couldn't rival this. Although most buildings here were lower, those near Mount Taibai gradually ascended the mountainside, making the entire urban area resemble a single colossal skyscraper.

The presence of snow on Mount Taibai’s peak indicated extraordinary height. A mountain of such altitude must possess a commensurate base, and indeed, the entire circumference at the mountain’s foot was ringed with buildings, densely packed like a beehive. Despite the sheer number of structures, the city planners showed remarkable foresight: the entire city radiated outwards from Mount Taibai, with central avenues perfectly straight and orderly, showing no signs of clutter.

The Outer City was defined by a massive stone wall, two meters thick, encircling the vast base of Mount Taibai, forming an impregnable defensive line. Ma Xiaoda informed me that inside the Outer City lay the Middle City, protected by another wall, and further in was the Inner City—the residence of the Imperial Family. The entire Inner City was built directly onto Mount Taibai, looking down upon the myriad subjects below. The highest structure housed the Emperor.

Due to excessive population growth in recent years, makeshift shelters had sprung up outside the Outer City walls. Fortunately, it was not wartime, or these commoners would receive inadequate protection. The defense of the Dual Cities was managed by the Imperial Guards, divided into five metropolitan garrisons: Front, Rear, Left, Right, and Center. Peng Tian was the Commander of the Left Garrison. The Central Garrison was responsible for the security of the Inner City and consisted of the Emperor’s most trusted personal guards.

Since word of our successful journey had preceded us to the Dual Cities, our arrival at the Outer City gate caused no panic among the garrison, nor were we delayed. After inspecting the official documents stamped with the seal of Fei-yu County, our horse train and escape pods were allowed entry.

The streets of the Outer City were vibrant and bustling, a stark contrast to the scenes in Fei-yu and Flyhawk. While those places had markets and shops, the difference here was comparable to that between the countryside and the metropolis. The sheer volume of traffic rivaled that of Wangfujing Avenue.

So many people crowded to see the horses and escape pods that soldiers eventually had to clear the civilians away. Upon reaching the Middle City gate, we were stopped. This area was reserved for princes, high officials, and wealthy gentry, serving as the final outer checkpoint guarding the Inner City. We were not permitted entry without an imperial summons.

However, the Ministry of Rites maintained an inn near the Middle City gate specifically for tribute bearers, offering free accommodation and board, with expenses reimbursed by the Ministry of Revenue. After all, they couldn't neglect the basic needs of guests traveling such a distance bearing gifts.

Ma Xiaoda had become notably reserved since entering the Outer City, keeping his head down and refraining from looking around. Once we reached the Middle City gate, Bai Shi flashed his credentials and gained us passage. Though reluctant, Ma Xiaoda followed them forward. Apparently, the Imperial Palace had its rules; Xiaoda could be unrestrained outside, but here he had to conform. He did assure me not to worry, saying he would speak to his father about my situation.

Both the gates of Fei-yu County and the Outer City of the Dual Cities were wide enough to accommodate the escape pods; even the gates of the Fei-yu County Yamen were slightly wider than the pods. It was only in the precious, crowded confines of the Dual Cities that we encountered our first issue: the inn's doorway was too narrow for the escape pods.

A steward from the Ministry of Rites, specifically tasked with receiving guests, gave a sharp command. Several subordinates quickly worked together, forcibly dismantling the inn’s doorframe so the escape pods could be pulled into the courtyard. After all, these were tribute items personally noted by the Emperor. This minor official dared not be careless; if anything happened to the pods left outside overnight, he would face immense trouble.

Just as I, Da Li Wan, and the others settled into our rooms, we heard a commotion outside, seemingly involving Ah San and Ah Si. Thinking they might have already started a fight upon arrival, I quickly led Da Li Wan out to investigate.

Sure enough, Ah San and Ah Si were grappling with someone in the back courtyard. I stepped forward: "What’s going on? We just arrived; don't stir up trouble."

Ah San huffed indignantly: "Divine Doctor Zhao, it wasn't us brothers provoking trouble! This man here," he pointed, "was trying to take our horses. How could we agree to that?"

Robbery in broad daylight in the capital? I glanced at the man; he appeared to be wearing official robes, so he probably wasn't a common bandit. I asked, "May I ask your title, Sir? Why are you trying to take our horses?"

The man tossed his head up: "I am Steward Ding of the Ministry of Rites' postal relay station. I heard there were tribute horses from Fei-yu County for the Emperor, so I came specifically to inspect them."

I bowed slightly: "If Steward Ding is here to inspect, then inspect them. Why must you take our horses away?"

Ah Si whispered to me: "The tribute list states seventy horses, but we brought five extra. Horses are rare here. Previously, only Magistrate Wu of Flyhawk Prefecture presented eleven stallions, which delighted the Emperor immensely. He showered Wu with rewards and commendations and even established the Imperial Stables. So, these five extra horses drew unwanted attention. Scarcity dictates value here."

I immediately understood: this was a demand for a kickback. But these five horses were our private property; we couldn't give them away as tribute. I needed them for transport once I started searching for the five women, as the escape pods would likely be kept in the Imperial Palace for royal inspection, accessible to me only in emergencies. Therefore, the horses could not be relinquished.

At that moment, Steward Ding of the Ministry of Rites answered me: "You must be Zhao Qian, in charge of this tribute? Everyone calls you a Divine Doctor, but I see no evidence of it. I suspect your alleged belly-cutting and child delivery was pure luck. Wu Rong must have been delirious to worship you like a deity. Your tricks won't work here. In the Dual Cities, you follow Dual Cities rules. Politeness takes you everywhere; rudeness gets you nowhere. Don't you understand that principle?"

I flatly rejected him: "I do not understand! Steward Ding, these five horses are my private property. Please stop coveting them. If you like horses so much, ask the Emperor to keep two from the seventy tribute horses for you."

"You…" Steward Ding’s face flushed a sickly green. If he had the influence to ask the Emperor to keep a horse for him, he wouldn't be stuck as a minor station steward.

Ignoring the fuming steward, I addressed Ah San and Ah Si: "Everyone, stay alert and be vigilant. The Dual Cities is full of people and hidden dangers, and we are newcomers unfamiliar with the environment. If any petty thief tries to steal our horses, knock them down first, then hand them over to the Judicial Division of the Dual Cities."

"Yes, Divine Doctor Zhao!" Ah San and Ah Si boomed, deliberately casting glances at Steward Ding. Enraged, Ding glared at me, then snorted and left. "Hmph! We'll see how high you fly when you fall!"

Ah Gou stepped forward: "Divine Doctor Zhao, offending officials right after arriving in the Dual Cities—perhaps that wasn't wise?"

"But we certainly can't bribe them with our horses, can we?" I retorted. "If this minor steward can take five of our horses, I doubt we'll even keep the seventy horses intended for the Emperor tomorrow."

"That is true," Ah Gou conceded. "Greed is boundless. If we give him horses, we won't be able to refuse others. But that young man doesn't seem like a decent sort; we need to be careful not to be plotted against immediately after entering the city."

The mention of the frame-up by Cai Deng and Guan Tong—a case still unresolved—prompted me to agree with Ah Gou: "Yes, you speak wisely. We'll take shifts guarding the horses so they have no opportunity to strike."

We maintained extreme caution, and thankfully, nothing untoward happened overnight. The next morning, an imperial edict arrived, summoning me to the Inner City to meet the Emperor, bringing the escape pods and the seventy horses. Da Li Wan and Ling Long were barred at the Middle City gate. Yun Yao tried to sneak into the Inner City to protect me, but I stopped her. While swords were forbidden, they didn't recognize the laser pistols. I managed to deceive them by claiming they were specialized medical tools.

The Middle City walls were as formidable as the Outer City's, but the Inner City walls were even thicker. The gates were not wood like those outside, but incredibly heavy iron. This was the first time I had seen iron gates in the Dual Cities Nation, indicating the immense security prioritized within the Imperial Palace.

Since I had only walked along the main street in the Middle City, I hadn't fully grasped its appearance. However, once I stepped into the Inner City and began ascending the winding Z-shaped path toward Mount Taibai, I got a clear view of the Middle City below. Opulence—those two words described it best. Never mind the grand mansions and towers; the soaring memorial arches lining the streets and the pairs of imposing guardian beasts before the gates were clearly beyond comparison with the Outer City, let alone the luxurious pool-like water storage systems atop the roofs.

As the altitude increased, the earlier muggy heat vanished, replaced by a faint, refreshing coolness. I leaned over to look down again; half of the Middle City was already visible beneath me. It was then I realized that the roofs in the Inner City lacked water storage systems; they were flat. I would later understand: it wasn't that the nobles were detached from mundane needs, but they simply needed only the meltwater collected from the snow atop the mountain peak.

According to Ma Xiaoda’s explanation, we were currently climbing the West City, the Old City. I didn't know the rationale behind the Emperor facing west and having his back to the east—perhaps they feared the dazzling morning sun. The West City occupied half of Mount Taibai’s slope, while the East City occupied the other half. These two Inner City sectors were originally separate, as deep ravines cleaved the mountain on its south and north sides. Connecting the two cities by filling these gorges would have required an enormous labor cost that the Dual Cities Nation might not have borne.

Yet, the skilled artisans of the Dual Cities Nation had managed to erect a bridge over each ravine—wooden bridges, each supported by a single, massive wooden pillar. To span two hundred meters of bridge with just one pillar was a feat of engineering I had never witnessed. Furthermore, the bridges were roofed with timber to create sealed, weatherproof structures—no wonder Ma Xiaoda called them aerial tunnels.

At the center of the West City was a rising stone staircase, leading directly to the Grand Hall where the Emperor held court. However, that path was reserved for ministers ascending for audience. Flanking the staircase on either side were two Z-shaped pathways, reserved for commoners like myself.

The horses, naturally, could not enter the Inner City. A newly established Imperial Stables in the Middle City housed them, managed by men specialized in pig husbandry. In Flyhawk Prefecture, there were no pig farmers, but here in the Dual Cities, I saw domesticated breeds of those white pigs. Because they lacked harsh outdoor life, a strain resembling Earth's domestic pigs, with shorter legs, had evolved. The Emperor had temporarily conscripted the keepers of these animals to manage his horses—logically, raising livestock should be broadly similar.

I sweated profusely by the time I reached the imperial audience hall. I truly admired those ministers who attended court daily; they must all possess superb health, free from colds and fevers. Climbing up here every day was more rigorous than running a marathon.

The official who brought me in instructed me to wait in a side room and then departed. I had always assumed there would be eunuchs here, and I had even suspected Bai Shi was one. But one time, encountering him in the latrine, I saw his considerable manhood, confirming that this place likely had no eunuchs. I wondered, though, what the consequences would be of having so many intact men within the palace walls.

I held my posture, eyes fixed, breath steady. After the sun had reached its apex, and I felt my hair was nearly smoking, someone finally called out: "Zhao Qian of Hulu Village, Fei-yu County, enter the hall to meet the Emperor!"

A small attendant draped in yellow cloth immediately led me toward the main hall. Since the Inner City was built on a mountainside where space was scarce, many rooms were excavated directly into the rock. The audience hall was one such structure, likely the result of efforts spanning several generations and wearing out tens of thousands of chisels bought from the Jin Nation to achieve its current scale.

Someone chanted a formal announcement outside the hall, and then another attendant emerged from within. He guided me inside and quietly instructed me on kneeling. I did not kneel, instead offering a bow: "Citizen Zhao Qian of Fei-yu County pays respects to His Imperial Majesty, long may he live, long may he live, for ten thousand years!"

Huh? The hall fell silent. I thought perhaps the officials were intimidated because I hadn't knelt, unaware that my pronouncement of "Ten Thousand Years" was jarring. They evidently didn't use the term "Wansui" (Ten Thousand Years) here.

"Insolent Zhao Qian! Why do you not kneel before the Emperor, and dare utter such rash words!" a standing Martial Guard suddenly shouted.

Just as I prepared to offer a defense, a gentle voice sounded from the dais: "Enough, enough. Mr. Zhao is not an outsider; let us dispense with some formalities. However, his cry of 'Ten Thousand Years' is quite appropriate. Who does not wish to live a long life, coexisting with the sun and moon?"

Immediately, a sycophant chimed in: "Reporting to Your Majesty, under your wise leadership, our nation enjoys prosperity and peace. Every citizen of the Dual Cities Nation wishes you live ten thousand years, shining as brightly as the sun and moon!"

The voice on the dais chuckled: "It was just a joke. Who can truly live for ten thousand years? And what would that make one? An undying turtle!"

When the speaker compared himself to a turtle, no one dared utter a sound. He continued: "Mr. Zhao, please rise. Do you recall me?"

I raised my gaze from my hands. Though the great hall faced away from the sun, some unknown contrivance managed to flood the space with brilliant, natural light. High upon a massive chair, a vibrant old man regarded me, chuckling softly. It was indeed Ma Da, the man I’d encountered that night at the magistrate’s office in Feiyu County.

I replied, "Of course, Your Majesty remembers. A subject never forgets the Emperor’s divine wisdom and might."

Ma Da laughed, "You flattering rogue, I don't recall hearing any such sycophancy from you that night."

His easy dismissal of his presence outside the palace suggested his absence from the Forbidden City was hardly a secret. I countered, "A humble subject speaks according to his audience; one speaks human words to men, and spectral words to ghosts..."

"Hmph..." A displeased murmur arose from the assembled officials, their authority beginning to surface.

I continued smoothly, "...and one speaks Imperial language to the Emperor."

"As long as you avoid falsehoods, that is acceptable," Ma Da conceded. "Tell me, is the rumor circulating outside—that escape pod can truly fly unaided—fact or fancy?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, it is true," I confirmed. "However, it requires external assistance to achieve true flight. According to the Heavenly Tome left by my master, the pod malfunctioned upon its descent from the heavens. I have managed to repair a portion of this damage—specifically, the anti-gravity system..."

Ma Da cut in sharply, "Anti-gravity system? What sorcery is this now?"

I began my explanation. "I have observed the Twins star system. It is nearly a perfect sphere, rotating once daily, circling its sun yearly. People stand upon its surface, and buildings rest on that surface. Why, then, do they not fall off when the sphere turns to its far side? This is due to gravity. Gravity is quite complex to explain in detail, so let me offer a simpler illustration: imagine a person seated beneath an apple tree. When an apple falls, it drops toward the ground, not soaring into the sky. This, too, is gravity. Furthermore, the exhaustion felt when climbing a mountain is also a result of gravity’s persistent pull..."

Explaining the true nature of universal gravitation was proving monumentally difficult. I intended to demonstrate its existence through several practical examples, but before I could finish, I was interrupted by a sharp voice. "Nonsense! Utter fabrication! Ancient texts state that vast oceans exist beyond the dry lands. If, as you suggest, this world is a sphere, how can the water remain fixed? Have you ever seen someone manage to hold water upon the surface of a solid ball?"

The speaker was an elderly man sporting a magnificent, large beard, giving him the appearance of a painted warrior from the Peking Opera. His words immediately found favor with the court; several courtiers began citing classic texts to argue against me.

I responded, "Esteemed sirs, I am not here to debate scripture. If you believe the world is square and you are the universe’s center, then I have nothing more to say. I was merely answering the Emperor’s questions based on my knowledge. If you possess a better explanation, I urge you to present it to His Majesty."

The crowd fell instantly silent. The previous night, they had heard the impossible—how such massive objects could move through the air unsupported. They had no explanation other than supernatural interference. And suggesting that mere spirits were responsible would surely displease the venerable Emperor.

Ma Da mused, "Master Zhao’s words are profound. The escape pod has already been brought outside the hall. Will Master Zhao favor us with a demonstration?"

The assembled officials chimed in, "Yes, a demonstration! Let us experience it firsthand, or we shall never believe these legends."

"As His Majesty commands," I agreed, "then let us demonstrate."

The Emperor took the lead, and the retinue filed out of the great hall. Behind me, I heard a hushed exchange. "Grand Tutor Pang, do you truly believe such a thing is possible—an object remaining aloft indefinitely without visible means of support?"

The bearded man from before replied quietly, "Of course, I do not believe it. This boy is likely merely charming the Emperor. If the contraption fails to fly, we shall hold him accountable. Hmph."

So, that elderly gentleman was Grand Tutor Pang. It seemed he truly was a scoundrel. On my very first day meeting the Emperor, he was already arrayed against me, foreshadowing a future rife with necessary political maneuvering.