Immortal Paladin

According to Meng Po, the Tower possessed a total of one hundred floors, each one functioning as an independent world. Calling them floors was almost misleading because none of them actually had borders. If someone continued walking in a straight line long enough, they would eventually arrive back where they started, as though the world curved around itself. It behaved like a planet despite supposedly being a flat layer stacked atop ninety-nine others.

The sky obeyed equally bizarre principles. Every floor possessed its own sun and moon that rose and set with perfect regularity, creating convincing days and nights. Yet if someone attempted to fly toward them, there was no outer space waiting beyond the clouds. The heavens stretched endlessly upward, while those celestial bodies continued their endless cycle as though distance itself had ceased to matter.

Meng Po explained that the Laws governing the Tower were unusually strict. Even beings who stood at the peak of existence still experienced hunger, fatigue, and the need for sleep. Most immortal beings considered those limitations an inconvenience. I thought they sounded incredible. Hunger meant food actually tasted satisfying instead of becoming another meaningless entertainment. Sleep wasn't something I merely simulated to pass the centuries. Instead, it genuinely restored me. And perhaps the greatest blessing of all... there wasn't a single mountain of paperwork waiting to ruin my day.

Whoever designed this place deserved a heartfelt thank-you. And then I remembered it was Supreme Heart who created this place. Fuck that guy.

The following week became the closest thing I had experienced to a vacation in countless years. Under the care of Supreme Death and Meng Po, I spent my days eating lavish meals, sleeping until my body naturally woke, painting whatever scenery caught my eye, teaching techniques to curious fellows, helping construct buildings around Woodland Fortress, and generally doing whatever the hell I wanted.

Every morning lacked urgency. Every evening ended with peaceful exhaustion instead of another catastrophe threatening the universe. It almost fooled me into believing this tranquility could last forever.

"Wake up, Da Wei."

Something hard struck my leg.

I cracked one eye open before burying my face deeper into the pillow. "Five more minutes, Mom..."

Whack.

The wooden ladle landed squarely on my shoulder.

Whack.

Then my thigh.

Whack.

My back.

"Fine, fine! I'm waking up! Calm down!" I groaned, shielding my head while struggling into a sitting position. "You're going to beat your favorite guest to death."

Meng Po lowered the ladle with an amused smile that didn't look remotely apologetic. "If I waited for you to wake up naturally, we'd be celebrating next year's festival first."

It wasn't as though I had spent the week idling around. Every spare moment between my leisurely activities had been devoted to summoning as many Ezekiels as I could sustain. The Holy Spirits scattered throughout the lower floors, tirelessly hunting monsters and completing whatever challenges they encountered to earn EXP on my behalf. Individually, they were considerably weaker than I was, but they possessed enough strength to defend themselves against ordinary threats. The greater difficulty came from the Tower itself. Every Ezekiel I manifested consumed a fragment of my existence within this world, forcing me to replenish that expenditure through meditation, divine spells, and the restorative medicines Meng Po prepared for me daily.

There was another complication as well. Ezekiel had become synonymous with the Holy Emperor throughout the Tower, and I remained one of its most wanted individuals. Sending identical holy skeletons marching across every floor would have been equivalent to announcing my location with fireworks.

Fortunately, my First Mystery excelled at deception. Each Ezekiel received an entirely new appearance, complete with flesh, facial features, expressions, and enough individuality to pass as ordinary adventurers. Beneath those disguises remained loyal Holy Spirits waiting for my command, but no casual observer would ever suspect their true identities.

After making certain I was properly awake, Meng Po rested the ladle against her shoulder and regarded me with an unusually gentle expression.

"It should be about time for you to go now," she said. "The other Floor Masters have taken a keen interest in you. Your journey ahead won't be easy, and they will undoubtedly test you in their own ways. Wendell and I can no longer keep you here without creating unnecessary complications. Before you continue climbing, perhaps you should enjoy the hospitality they choose to offer."

I understood what she meant. Woodland Fortress had become a sanctuary, but it had never been my destination. The other rulers governed the remaining eighty floors, each controlling twenty of them, and eventually I would cross into their domains whether I wished to or not.

I rose from the bed and offered Meng Po a respectful bow.

"Thank you for everything, Meng Po. You gave me a place to rest when I needed it most. I'll never forget your kindness."

She smiled warmly before clapping her hands.

"The ladies are waiting."

Several attendants entered with graceful bows before escorting me toward the bathing chambers. The entire routine had become strangely familiar over the past week. They helped wash away the lingering scent of medicinal herbs, dressed me in immaculate robes that somehow fit perfectly every single time, and insisted my hair looked respectable before finally allowing me to leave.

By the time I arrived at the dining hall, lunch had already been prepared.

Supreme Death sat at the head of the table wearing his customary scowl, arms folded across his chest as though the mere act of seeing me had ruined his afternoon.

"When are you going to fuck off?"

I pulled out my chair with a sigh. "Calm down and be nicer to me. I'm about to go just now, okay?"

"Wendell."

Meng Po's voice remained soft, yet it carried enough authority to make even the Supreme Death stiffen.

"Behave yourself."

"...Hmph."

Victory.

Lunch began shortly afterward, and today's feast somehow surpassed every previous meal. The table overflowed with roasted spirit beasts, delicate seafood harvested from lakes hidden within the Tower, fragrant soups simmered with immortal herbs, freshly baked pastries, and enough desserts to satisfy several kingdoms. I suspected Meng Po had instructed the kitchens to prepare something memorable for my departure, and I intended to appreciate every last bite.

Just as we were finishing the first course, Meng Po turned toward the entrance.

"Cheng Bao," she called. "Please usher our guests inside."

The old warrior appeared almost immediately, opening the great doors before respectfully leading two visitors into the hall.

My eyes widened the instant I recognized them. It was the same climbers from the Fourteenth Floor, Yu Han and Li He. The same pair Heart and I had shamelessly treated as pieces during that absurd game of Snake and Ladders.

The two of them wore finely crafted equipment far superior to anything I remembered, yet neither looked remotely comfortable standing before the rulers of Woodland Fortress. Their eyes darted nervously between Supreme Death, Meng Po, and myself, clearly uncertain whose greeting should come first. After a brief exchange of panicked glances, familiarity won out.

Yu Han cupped his fists while Li He bowed elegantly.

"Greetings, Holy Emperor."

A heartbeat later, both hurriedly turned toward the hosts.

"Our respects to the rulers of Woodland Fortress."

Only then did I understand why Meng Po had been so eager to kick me out of bed.

She had found them.

I smiled as I looked between the pair. "Do you two remember me?"

Yu Han answered almost immediately, though his voice carried an unmistakable hint of caution. "Of course, Holy Emperor. I remember you... as the one throwing the die on the Fourteenth Floor."

That... was admittedly accurate.

Li He shrank behind Yu Han almost instinctively, peeking at me from over his shoulder. Meanwhile, Yu Han's hand drifted toward the hilt of his sword without him even realizing it.

Cheng Bao narrowed his eyes.

"It would be very unwise to draw that sword in my presence."

The old warrior's calm warning carried enough weight for Yu Han to freeze. Realizing what he had subconsciously done, the swordsman immediately withdrew his hand from the weapon and bowed apologetically.

I didn't pay much attention to the awkward exchange. Instead, my Ophanim quietly rotated behind my eyes, allowing me to perceive truths hidden beneath the surface. The last time, Heart had been watching, so I had to be careful. The moment I saw their souls, I nearly dropped my chopsticks.

...Well. That explained a lot. Yu Han and Li He weren't merely lovers in this life—they had also been husband and wife in their previous one. Ren Jin, Governor of Yellow Dragon, and beside him, Yue Ruo, his beloved wife.

I let out a quiet breath, unable to suppress the smile creeping onto my face. Hah... So the two of you found each other again. Reincarnation had separated them from everyone they once knew, yet somehow fate had guided them back into each other's arms inside the Tower.

Yeah, I provided a little nudge, but I must say, this was quite something.

Ren Xun would probably cry tears of joy if he ever learned his parents had reunited in another life.

"Let's eat first," said Meng Po.

Everyone naturally agreed.

The atmosphere remained somewhat stiff at first, so I intentionally avoided discussing anything serious. Instead, I steered the conversation toward ordinary topics, asking about their travels, the food they had encountered throughout the Tower, and the strange customs of the floors they had visited.

"You can relax," I said with a chuckle after noticing how rigidly Yu Han sat. "No one's going to execute you for speaking during lunch."

Li He managed a timid smile while Yu Han finally released a breath he seemed to have been holding since entering the hall. Before long, the tension eased enough for the two of them to answer naturally instead of carefully weighing every word.

By the time the meal concluded, the atmosphere had become considerably lighter.

Unfortunately, a completely different question popped into my head.

"So..." I began, resting my chin on my hand. "How far did you two go?"

Li He blinked.

"We reached the Sixteenth Floor," she answered honestly. "But we had to turn back because our supplies weren't sufficient to continue."

I stared at her.

"...That's not what I meant."

The pair looked equally confused.

"I meant..." I coughed into my fist. "Have you gone beyond a kiss already?"

"..."

Yu Han's face turned bright red.

Li He somehow became even redder before lowering her head so quickly I thought she might bury it into the table.

"W-We..."

"I-It..."

Neither of them managed to form a complete sentence.

Meng Po sighed. "Da Wei. That wasn't nice."

"...Fair."

She stood gracefully from her seat.

"Perhaps we should continue this conversation somewhere our minds will be more at ease."

Turning toward Cheng Bao, she instructed, "Lead them to the lakeside pavilion. Have someone prepare our finest tea and fresh pastries."

She then smiled apologetically.

"Wendell and I still have matters requiring our attention, so we'll excuse ourselves here."

With that, the husband and wife departed together, leaving Cheng Bao to escort the three of us through the palace gardens.

The pavilion overlooked a tranquil lake whose surface reflected the afternoon sky like polished jade. A gentle breeze carried the fragrance of blooming flowers across the water while a lady-in-waiting quietly poured fragrant tea into delicate porcelain cups before arranging an assortment of pastries upon the table.

Li He politely picked up one of the pastries and took a small nibble.

Yu Han chose to sample the tea instead.

After ensuring everything had been prepared properly, Cheng Bao excused himself, leaving the three of us alone.

The peaceful scenery made what I needed to say feel even heavier.

I set my cup down.

"First... I owe both of you an apology."

The two looked at me in surprise.

"What happened on the Fourteenth Floor... everything you experienced as part of the game Supreme Heart forced me into..." I lowered my gaze briefly before meeting their eyes again. "There isn't an excuse for what you suffered. The two of you were treated as pieces on a board. You endured far more than anyone ever should."

The Snake and Ladders trial should never have lasted as long as it did. Every agonizing climb, every crushing fall, every impossible obstacle, and every desperate struggle pushed them to the brink. The memories alone would have been enough to haunt ordinary people for the rest of their lives.

Yet they had endured it all.

Li He gently shook her head.

"I have no regrets."

She smiled softly, though there was unmistakable determination behind it.

"That incident made me stronger. I wanted to climb the Tower, and climbing means becoming stronger. It was painful, terrifying even, but I'm grateful I survived it. I'm standing here today because I overcame that ordeal."

Yu Han nodded in agreement.

"I feel the same way. As long as we can continue climbing the Tower and move closer toward our goal, then everything we experienced was worth it."

Their answer reminded me of one of the recent rumors surrounding the Tower.

Countless ruins, ancient murals, broken inscriptions, and forgotten relics repeated the same promise.

Reach the top of the Tower, and your wish would be granted.

Whether the legend was true, even I had no idea.

"So," I asked with genuine curiosity, "what exactly is your wish? As the Holy Emperor, there aren't many things beyond my ability. If it's something I can accomplish, perhaps I could grant it without you risking your lives climbing another eighty-five floors."

Yu Han and Li He exchanged hesitant glances.

After a long silence, Yu Han scratched his cheek awkwardly.

"When I first entered the Tower, I wanted to become rich."

He laughed at himself.

"But the more I climbed, the less certain I became."

Li He slowly nodded.

"I also had a wish that drove me forward in the beginning. Somewhere along the way, it changed. My desire to climb never disappeared, though."

Yu Han smiled.

"I suppose we simply want to keep climbing. If we truly reach the top one day and earn the right to make a wish, perhaps that's when we'll decide what we actually want."

I couldn't help laughing.

The sound echoed pleasantly across the quiet lake.

"You know," I said, grinning at the pair, "the two of you could live comfortably here in Woodland Fortress for the rest of your lives. If you wanted to leave the Tower entirely, I'd do everything in my power to find a way to make that happen. But instead of wealth, safety, or freedom, the thing you want most is an adventure."

My grin widened as I leaned back comfortably to my chair.

"I like the two of you. So I'll only make this offer once. Join me as I climb the Tower."

The reaction was immediate.

"W-We can't!"

"We're not ready!"

Yu Han nearly knocked over his teacup while frantically waving both hands.

"We're nowhere near strong enough!"

Li He nodded so quickly I worried her neck might snap.

"We'd only slow you down, Your Holy Majesty! We don't have the confidence to accompany someone like you."

I shrugged. "I can make you stronger."

The pair exchanged another meaningful glance. It lasted only a heartbeat, yet somehow I understood exactly what that look meant. They didn’t want me to become a third wheel in whatever adventure they could share or perhaps what strange journey I might drag them into. Both could be true.

For a brief moment, silence hung over the pavilion. Then I burst into even louder laughter than before.

“I like you two more and more,” I said, wiping a tear from the corner of my eye before flashing them a wide smile. “Very well. Let’s try something different instead.”

I folded my hands together on the table, leaning forward slightly.

“What do you think… about a job?”