Gu Zhi and Gu Xiao were then brought to an opulent bedroom by the guide.
"I hope you find the accommodations suitable, we will have breakfast in the morning at the dinning hall and then move on to the next trial afterwards" the stone guide said.
Gu Zhi looked around the room, it had a bed draped in curtains, with soft silk sheets to it. Rugs around the room with a soft but firm feel to them, perfectly clean as well. The room had no hint of dust, the wooden furniture looked like it was recently polished, with smooth slick shine to them. Paintings hung on walls, like artistic masterpieces each with their own unique style and flair. vases were full on perfectly healthy plants with vibrant colors and small exotic smells to them. Sunshine shone through the windows painting the room in a golden hue, with a beautiful veiw overlooking the city from beyond the palace walls.
Space seemed to be consistent and inconsistent in the palace. The city itself seemed to be under a strange grand spell.
"its hard not to appreciate life with a view like this" Gu Zhi said.
"*Sigh* it seems many people don't share our views, they would rather kill each other over some coins" Gu Xiao said.
"Oh well, less competition for us, what do you think the next trial will be"?
"I don't know, it could be a lot of things, let's just rest, we will know soon enough" she said.
They did exactly that, the bedroom had a gorgeous bathroom next to it made with all the amenities. They relaxed themselves and woke up the next day to eat breakfast.
"Hello dear guests, breakfast awaits, please follow me to the dinning hall" the stone guide said.
They followed the guide and met up with the other couples at the elevator before it brought them to the ground floor. They then exited the elevator and headed to the dinning room.
With an astounding high celling and painted glass all over the walls the dinning room was a sight to see. Grandiose chandeliers hung from the callings with sparkling crystals and lights on them. Where previous rooms used white marble this room used Blackstone, giving it a contrasting atmosphere. With a long table one side of it ended in a throne like seat while the other end had a normal seat. along the table were chairs and a long cloth was rolled onto the table with a mix of foods already on it.
"Grab a plate and take what you would like, just don't sit at the chair at the end" the guides told them.
Gu Zhi and Gu Xiao did as they were told and went to go grab a plate and fill it up with some food. It was a little awkward eating in the same room as the other couples but humans were very adaptive creatures.
"So how are you guys doing" Ji Long asked.
"Good"
"Fine"
"Alright"
people around the table gave their own answers.
"That's great, why don't we go around the table and everyone can share their names, I can go first my name is Ji Long".
"..."
No one answered him, no one wanted to give a potential enemy their names, just looking at the people here if they passed their next trial the rewards would be enough to have them hunted down. No one was stupid enough to expose themselves at this point in time.
"Well then, keep to yourselves I was just trying to lighten up the mood" Ji Long said.
Nobody believed him for a second, the moment you treat your enemies word as fact was the moment of your doom.
After breakfast the guides came back in the room to escort them to there new destination.
"I hope the contestants enjoyed their meal, you won't be getting another one for the next 24 hours. The next trial will take 24 hours and will not be interrupted by anything... it will be taking place in the prison" the guide said in a heavy tone at the end.
Almost everyone but Gu Zhi and a few exceptions had a absolutely horrified look on their faces.
"SHIT... Shit" he heard someone curse.
"Let's move" the guide said in a commanding tone waking people up from their stupor.
Everyone quickly followed the guides as Gu Zhi asked in the back.
"I don't remember everything about the palace what's so bad about the prison." Gu Zhi asked.
He drew some sharp eyes from the remaining couples as one of them said "It's were the hardest trials take place... or rather the notoriously hard trials. Very few if any, leave alive and intact" a women said to him.
They made there way into the elevator as it made its way down, deeper into the basement of the palace. Deep underground the elevator came to stop as the guide stepped forward and said "I will now explain the rules of this trial: the trial of lust. The trial of lust is as follows, two couples will be chosen, one male of the first couple will match with the female of the other. The female of the first couple will match with the male of the other couple. They will then be locked in a prison cell completely cut off from the world for 24 hours".
'Seems pretty easy' Gu Zhi thought to himself.
"The room will then be gassed with one of the strongest aphrodisiacs we have".
'I spoke to soon'.
"If one of the couples mates then both couples will have their rewards forfeit but will make it out of the palace alive. If both groups mate however, then both will be killed in their prison cells. If both the male and the female don't mate in both of their respective cells then both of those couples will pass the trial of lust".
Rumbling was heard as stone walls moved releveling hidden rooms.
"Now, let's begin the trial of lust".