Practicing cultivation knows no concept of time. In the blink of an eye, a thousand years had passed. For Haruki, whose life was endless, a millennium was but a fleeting moment. But for ordinary people, it was long enough for countless events to unfold.
The civil and military officials who once followed the founding emperor through campaigns across the land, offering strategies and counsel, along with the once-glorious families they built, had mostly vanished into the dust of history. Now, aside from a few scattered mentions of Haruki found in the scrolls of those ancient families that managed to endure, no one remembered his existence. Even within the Royal Palace, only the most classified scrolls held detailed records of him.
Over the past thousand years, the Imperial Capital had transformed beyond recognition. Towering buildings now filled the skyline, streets stretched in all directions, and the city bustled with endless crowds. During this time, the Royal Palace also underwent multiple large-scale renovations. The current palace stood at the heart of the capital, occupying a vast area, with pavilions and grand halls glittering in gold and jade, overlooking the entire city.
Yet, despite all the changes, the tower where Haruki resided had always remained at the center of the palace. For generations, emperors had designated the area within a kilometer of the tower as strictly off-limits. No one was allowed near except for the occasional palace maids sent to tend the grounds. Even the emperor himself was only permitted to enter once—on the day of his coronation. As a result, the tower became one of the most secret places within the Royal Palace.
Just as people wither and fade, nations too must one day fall. The empire, once glorious with a civilization spanning a millennium, had already begun to decline. In recent generations, the emperors—lulled by comfort—lost all sense of purpose, indulging in pleasure and placing their trust in corrupt officials. The lives of the people slipped into hardship, and darkness slowly crept into every corner of the empire. Still, Haruki said nothing.
For a thousand years, Haruki had remained in the tower, mostly in deep sleep or training, only waking once every few decades when a new emperor took the throne.
Through centuries of training and enlightenment, his power had become unfathomable, and his control over it near flawless.
Only in recent decades had Haruki begun to emerge from that state. As a True Ancestor Vampire, he was extremely sensitive to darkness—and he could feel the shadows in the Imperial Capital growing stronger with each passing year. It was a sign: this thousand-year-old empire was nearing its end.
A thousand years ago, just before the First Emperor passed away, Haruki had promised to guard the empire for a millennium. At the same time, the First Emperor ordered the crown prince that no future ruler could ascend the throne without Haruki's approval. Since then, Haruki had remained in the tower, continuing his cultivation.
"Brother, what are you thinking about?" A clear, melodious voice—like a nightingale—interrupted Haruki's thoughts.
Though disturbed, Haruki wasn't annoyed. Instead, he gently patted the little girl's head.
"Stop it! I told you not to touch my head, or I won't grow tall," the girl protested. But judging by the look of contentment on her face, she didn't seem to mind it at all.
The girl's name was Nina, eight years old, the youngest daughter of the current emperor. She was lively, cheerful, and full of mischief. With her long golden hair, round cheeks, and large sparkling eyes, she was undeniably charming. The emperor, now old and indulgent, placed his full trust in Minister Honest, leaving almost all state affairs in his hands. Eager to stay in the emperor's good graces, Honest managed everything with flawless precision. Meanwhile, the princes were too preoccupied with their battle for succession to pay her any mind. Despite her status as a princess, Nina was largely ignored in the palace.
Two years ago, driven by curiosity, Nina took advantage of a moment when the guards were distracted and secretly slipped into the tower where Haruki was cultivating.
The moment she laid eyes on Haruki, she gasped in amazement.
"Wow, such a beautiful big brother!"
She was only eight, but Haruki's appearance captivated her instantly.
Hearing the word "beautiful" used to describe him, a row of black lines practically formed on Haruki's forehead.
But what she said next truly left him speechless.
"Big brother, you're so pitiful. Why did they lock you up in here?"
She looked at Haruki with sympathy as she spoke.
"Locked up?"
Even Haruki couldn't help but want to comment.
Do I look like someone who's been locked up? Who in this world could even manage such a thing?
Maybe it was because no one in the palace ever sat down to talk with Nina like this, but she quickly turned into a little chatterbox, telling Haruki all about her life in the palace—occasionally saying things that left even him unsure whether to laugh or cry.
After so many years of solitude, Haruki had grown somewhat withdrawn. But in talking with Nina, he felt a flicker of warmth in his heart. He began to develop a soft spot for this bright and carefree girl.
Unfortunately, Nina was soon caught by the patrolling soldiers. The emperor, furious, prepared to punish her harshly. Just then, Haruki appeared, shielding Nina and telling the emperor that he liked her and that she would be allowed to visit his tower freely from then on.
The emperor was so shocked he nearly collapsed. From that day forward, no one was allowed to stop Nina from entering the tower at the palace's center. At the same time, the emperor sternly warned Nina never to speak to anyone else about what was inside.
After two years together, the bond between them had grown strong. Nina had long since realized that the "big brother" before her wasn't an ordinary person—anyone could see that from the way her father treated him with such respect. Yet despite this, Nina never felt afraid of Haruki. She felt drawn to him, as if there were something about him that made her instinctively trust him.
In those two years, Haruki had also been deeply affected by Nina's sunny, energetic nature. He had grown truly fond of this little sister figure.
"Brother, in two more days, Minister Honest will bring my seventeen brothers to meet you," Nina chirped.
"Oh?"
Nina's seventeen brothers were the emperor's youngest sons, the same age as her—only eight years old.
It was worth noting that the old emperor had passed away just last month. Before his death, and under Honest's influence, he had appointed his youngest son as the next emperor and entrusted Honest with the top-secret scrolls about Haruki stored in the palace. He also instructed Honest to visit Haruki before the young emperor's coronation and gain his approval.
As for how Nina felt about the emperor's death—children have long memories. She still remembered how he'd once tried to punish her severely two years ago, so she didn't feel much grief over his passing.
"Nina, would you like to leave the palace and see the world outside?"
Haruki suddenly asked.
"Really? But princesses aren't allowed to leave the palace…"
At first, Nina lit up, but her expression quickly fell as she lowered her head.
"It's fine. Once your seventeen brothers are crowned, I'll take you out to live with me."
Haruki said, gently patting her head.
He had already made up his mind—after the new emperor's coronation, he would leave the palace.
After all, the story's original plot was about to begin...