I walk sideways in the game world

Chapter 184: A Cold Welcome in a Foreign Land

As Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin entered the city, the sight before them dazzled them. The wide streets were lined with shops, and the sounds of hawkers rang out incessantly. The customs and practices of this foreign land were completely different from those of the Central Plains. The architecture was rugged and bold, and the people wore brightly colored clothing, brimming with exotic charm.

After asking around, the two finally arrived at the magnificent palace. The towering walls were carved with lifelike golden lions, a majestic and solemn sight. In front of the palace gates, two rows of soldiers in golden armor, armed with spears, watched the passersby with sharp eyes.

"Stop, who are you? What are you doing in the palace?" A guard stopped Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin with a cold tone.

Ren Xiaoyao clasped his fists in greeting and said in a neither humble nor arrogant manner, "I am Ren Xiaoyao, and this is my companion, Xia Lin. We have come from afar and wish to see His Majesty the Golden Lion King on an important matter."

The guard looked them up and down, a hint of contempt flashing in his eyes: "Seeking an audience with His Majesty? Do you have an appointment?"

"We have come from the distant Central Plains. The journey is long, and we didn't make an appointment." Ren Xiaoyao explained, "Please inform them that we have important news concerning the safety of the foreign land."

"How dare you!" The guard's face darkened upon hearing this, and he shouted sternly, "You can't just see His Majesty whenever you want! Leave immediately, or don't blame us for being rude!"

Seeing this, Xia Lin frowned slightly and whispered to Ren Xiaoyao, "Brother Xiaoyao, it seems these people don't welcome us."

Ren Xiaoyao nodded slightly. He had long since sensed that the guards weren't friendly towards them, but he wasn't about to give up. He took a deep breath and spoke again, "We've come all the way to this foreign land to seek an alliance with His Majesty the Golden Lion King and jointly fight against..."

"Alliance?" The guard laughed as if he had heard something funny. "Just you? Are you worthy of forming an alliance with our Golden Lion Kingdom? Don't you consider your own status? Our Golden Lion Kingdom is a powerful country on this continent. How could we ally with you..."

The guard didn't finish his words, but the contempt and disdain in his words were evident. Ren Xiaoyao's face remained calm. He knew that in this world where the strong are respected, without strength, no matter how much he said, it would be futile.

Seeing the guard's arrogance and disrespect, Xia Lin felt a little displeased. She stepped forward and said with a charming smile, "Brother, we have come all the way to your country with sincerity. We are from the Central Plains, and our strength should not be underestimated. Forming an alliance with your country, joining forces, wouldn't that be a mutually beneficial thing?"

The guard glanced at Xia Lin and sneered, "Little girl, stop your sweet talk. How could our Golden Lion Kingdom lack allies? You Central Plains people are the most cunning. Who knows what you're up to?"

Xia Lin wanted to say something more, but was stopped by Ren Xiaoyao. He clearly realized that arguing with these guards was pointless and would only waste time.

"In that case, we will wait here until we meet His Majesty the Golden Lion King." Ren Xiaoyao said in a firm tone.

"Hmph, whatever you want!" The guard snorted disdainfully, and ignored them, continuing to guard the palace gate.

Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin waited in front of the palace gate for a long time, but no one showed up. Passersby gave them strange looks, pointed, and whispered.

"Look, those two people seem to be from the Central Plains."

"Central Plains people? What are they doing in our Golden Lion Kingdom?"

"Who knows? They're probably here to do business, but seeing how poor they are, I don't think they can do any big business."

Ren Xiaoyao was listening to the chatter around him, but he ignored it and simply stood there quietly, his gaze fixed firmly on the road ahead. Xia Lin seemed a little restless. She tugged at Ren Xiaoyao's sleeve and whispered, "Brother Xiaoyao, are we just going to sit there and wait? Or, should we think of another way?"

Ren Xiaoyao shook his head slightly, signaling her to be patient. He knew that if he wanted to attract the Golden Lion King's attention, he had to demonstrate his strength.

He took a deep breath and slowly raised his right hand, palm facing upward. An invisible energy gathered in his palm, gradually forming a ball of light. The light grew brighter and brighter, illuminating the surrounding space.

The guards sensed this powerful energy fluctuation and turned their heads, looking at Ren Xiaoyao in surprise and doubt. Passersby also stopped and stared at the scene intently, discussing it.

At this moment, a cold voice came from a distance: "Who is making a noise in front of the palace gate?"

Along with this voice, an old man in a black robe slowly walked over. He was tall and thin, with a pale face, a hooked nose, thin lips, and a pair of cloudy eyes that flashed with a sharp light, giving people a gloomy feeling.

"State, State Master..." When the guards saw the person coming, they hurriedly bowed and saluted, their tone full of awe.

The old man was the Golden Lion Kingdom's state teacher and the Golden Lion King's most trusted advisor, holding a very high position within the kingdom. He walked up to Ren Xiaoyao, staring sharply at the ball of light in his hand. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, and he slowly spoke, "Who are you? Why are you here in front of the palace..."

Before the old man could finish his words, his attention was drawn to the orb of light in Ren Xiaoyao's palm. The old man was the Golden Lion Kingdom's Imperial Preceptor and the Golden Lion King's most trusted advisor, holding a high position within the kingdom. He walked up to Ren Xiaoyao, staring sharply at the orb of light in his hand. A flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes, and he slowly spoke, "Who are you? Why are you here in front of the palace gate..."

The Imperial Master's words were interrupted when the ball of light in Ren Xiaoyao's palm suddenly shone brightly, so bright that everyone present couldn't help but cover their eyes. When the light faded, everyone discovered that a bottomless pit had appeared on the previously empty ground.

"This..." The guards were stunned and looked at the scene in horror. They had never seen such a powerful force. The contempt they had for Ren Xiaoyao in their hearts had long since disappeared, and was replaced by deep fear.

The Imperial Master's pupils couldn't help but shrink slightly. In his entire life, he had never seen anyone so easily mobilize such powerful energy. He looked at Ren Xiaoyao deeply, his tone becoming more serious. "Who are you? What is your purpose in coming to my Golden Lion Kingdom?"

Ren Xiaoyao put away the light in his palm and said calmly, "My name is Ren Xiaoyao, I come from the Central Plains. I came here to discuss an alliance with His Majesty the Golden Lion King."

"Alliance?" The Imperial Master sneered. "Do you think you're worthy enough? Do you think you can attract His Majesty's attention by playing some tricks? I advise you to give up this idea as soon as possible. Our Golden Lion Kingdom is not something that any random person can afford to marry!"

"Master Imperial Master, we have indeed come here with sincerity, please..." Xia Lin tried to explain, but was interrupted by the Imperial Master with an impatient wave of his hand.

"Enough! You people from the Central Plains are the most cunning. Who knows what you are thinking? I warn you, don't try to use any tricks to deceive His Majesty, otherwise, the consequences will not be something you can bear!" The imperial teacher's tone was stern, with unquestionable majesty.

Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin exchanged a glance, each seeing a hint of helplessness in the other's eyes. They had come all the way to the Golden Lion Kingdom, hoping to seek help, but they had not expected to be treated so coldly.

"We will wait here until we meet His Majesty the Golden Lion King." Ren Xiaoyao said in a firm tone. He knew that if they wanted to achieve their goal, they had to show their value and let the Golden Lion Kingdom see their strength.

The Imperial Master snorted coldly and walked away. The guards also put away their contempt and stared at Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin vigilantly, not daring to neglect them in the slightest.

Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin could only wait outside the palace gates, facing the cold gazes of the crowd, unsure when they would finally see the Golden Lion King. Meanwhile, from a distant high building, a pair of cold eyes gazed upon them, a meaningful smile playing on their lips. "Central Plains people? Interesting..."

Golden sunlight poured down, stretching the figures of Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin to an unusually slender figure on the white jade square in front of the palace. Soldiers and officials passing by cast strange glances at them, whispering to each other with curiosity, suspicion, and even disdain.

"Brother Xiaoyao, the people of the Golden Lion Kingdom are too arrogant. We came here with good intentions to help, but they actually..." Xia Lin lowered her voice, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, obviously very dissatisfied with this cold treatment.

Ren Xiaoyao patted her hand gently, signaling her to calm down, but his gaze passed over the layers of palace eaves and gazed at the distant sky. He knew that the Golden Lion Kingdom was remote, its people were tough, and its founding was based on military force, which naturally fostered its arrogance.

Time ticked by, and the shadows on the square gradually lengthened. Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin stood there quietly, neither humble nor overbearing. Their patience seemed to bore the soldiers who had been waiting to watch the excitement, and their chatter gradually died down.

However, in the dark, pairs of eyes were always watching their every move.

"Is this the envoy from the Central Plains?" A red-robed envoy, perched high up in a building, peered down at the two people in the square through a window, a hint of amusement curling his lips. "They're quite courageous, actually daring to act so presumptuously in the Golden Lion Kingdom."

"Sir, do you want to teach them a lesson?" A man in black asked in a low voice behind him, with a hint of cruelty in his tone.

The red-robed envoy waved his hand. "No rush. The Golden Lion Kingdom is not a kind place. Since they dared to come, they won't leave easily. What's more..." He paused, a cold glint in his eyes, "Some people want them gone even more than we do."

As night fell, the palace was ablaze with lights, filled with singing and dancing, a stark contrast to the deserted square outside. Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin stood in the cold wind all day, without a drop of water, but still no sign of the Golden Lion King. A sense of anxiety rose in their hearts.

"Brother Xiaoyao, what do you think the Golden Lion King means? Is he really going to shut us out?" Xia Lin asked in a low voice, with a hint of fatigue in her tone.

Ren Xiaoyao's brows were furrowed, his heart filled with doubts. Just then, a faint sound of footsteps came from inside the palace gate. The two of them perked up and looked up, only to see a general in golden armor walking out.

"You two, His Majesty invites you." General Black Tiger's tone was cold, without any emotion. After he finished speaking, he turned and walked into the palace.

Ren Xiaoyao and Xia Lin exchanged a glance, each seeing a hint of solemnity in the other's eyes. They knew that the Golden Lion Palace was no treacherous den, and that perhaps even more severe tests awaited them...

"Let's go, let's go meet the Golden Lion King." Ren Xiaoyao took a deep breath, held Xia Lin's hand tightly, and walked towards the palace gate. However, the moment they stepped through the palace gate, an invisible pressure came over them, making their hearts sink...