"I will be leaving with him as I have been ordered to serve Young Master Lu Feng from the beginning. He’s willing to have me, so why not?"
Those declarations still rang in Lu Bao’s ears even after Han Lin had left, making his fury rise with every breath he took. He turned around looking for an outlet to take his fury but all he could see was a smiling Lu Feng.
With no other option in sight, Lu Bao decided to let out his fury on Lu Feng. "You! You little freak! You caused this, didn’t you?! You’re the cause of her madness!"
Wrong move.
Lu Feng’s smile turned into a small frown. "Listen, Third Uncle," he said, emphasizing his uncle’s position in the family, "Everyone knows your kind, especially Han Lin. Even your guards, the ones currently standing behind you. They know your intentions toward Han Lin and even a child can see it written all over your face. Try to hide your perversion and maybe you’ll have better luck next time."
"Oh!" Lu Feng’s smile returned and he beamed it fully in front of his uncle. "There won’t be a next time since she’s decided to leave with me. Maybe the next woman then. Han Lin has made it clear she wants nothing to do with you."
There was an awkward silence around after Lu Feng’s statement. Even the guards were speechless. They hadn’t said or done anything and yet, Lu Feng had included them in his fight with his uncle.
They couldn’t afford to act rash though. Even among the family hierarchy, although Lu Feng was a failure, he still had a better claim to the family head position than his third uncle since his father was the next in line to be the family head.
Lu Feng wasn’t done though. While the guards were still contemplating what to do in this situation, Lu Feng walked forward, closing the distance between himself and his uncle. "Third Uncle, let me make this clear."
Although he could see the rage boiling on his uncle’s face, Lu Feng was the least bit bothered. If anything, he was feeling ecstatic at the moment. "You will never be able to own Han Lin. Not as a wife nor as a concubine. And not even as a mother. She would never birth someone like you. You’re nothing but a greedy old man who relies on his family’s wealth and status to do any and everything. Take those away and you’re way below average. Han Lin is mine and mine alone so keep your filthy hands off her."
Even though they didn’t show it in the slightest, the guards were beginning to side with Lu Feng. Their master was overbearing in every sense of the words and he liked to flaunt his authority at every given opportunity he saw.
There was a deep scowl on Lu Bao’s face. His frown was so evident that it made his whole face change. He was about to say something furious when Lu Feng attacked again.
"If that’s all, then please make your way back to your quarters. We have some packing up to do before we leave and your presence only ruins the mood further."
Lu Bao’s expression sank but he did not utter a word. By now, he’d accepted the fact that he was not on the same level as Lu Feng when it came to a battle of words. Every sentence Lu Feng spoke was like an arrow shot into his very heart.
He turned, signalling his guards that it was time to leave. Staying here any longer wasn’t going to change anything. He could as well sleep over and Han Lin’s mind still wouldn’t change. He hated the fact that he had failed to claim her but he wasn’t going to sulk about it. At least not in front of his little freak of a nephew.
The guards also turned under his gestured command and as they took their first step, Lu Feng called out one last time. "Third Uncle, please don’t forget my request at the family hall. My cousins look really malnourished and they deserve good food. Please, feed them with the coins I donated earlier."
Lu Bao snapped, turning towards Lu Feng with surprising speed with a dagger in his hand. "You little...!"
"No, my Lord! You can’t do that. Not here." It was his guards that stopped him, pleading with him that it was against the family rules to kill another family member.
Although Lu Feng had practically been exiled, he was still within the family estate. Killing him would only result in the same punishment. Lu Bao would be killed if he killed Lu Feng. Here in the family estate that is.
Nothing stopped him from doing so outside of the estate. Lu Bao understood this.
He sighed, controlling his anger and sheathing his dagger, he replied Lu Feng. "Count your poverty stricken days. I can assure you, they won’t be long and when the news of your death reaches me, I’ll be sure to take Han Lin. Even if I have to use force."
"I’d love to see you try." Lu Feng said, unbothered by the threat he’s just received from his uncle.
"Hmphh! We’ll see about that." Having nothing else to say, Lu Bao turned and left with his guards flanking him on the left and right.
Lu Feng remained where he stood, watching them leave until he couldn’t see them again. Then he turned towards his small shelter and sighed. "I just put us in danger."
He very well knew what his uncle meant by that threat but he’d bravely put up a front refusing to show the slight sign of panic. He’d done a great job.
A few seconds later, Han Lin walked out of the building with a bundle containing her clothes and some other belongings, and asked. "Is he gone?"
"Yeah, I basically told him to get lost." Lu Feng replied with a grin forming on his face.
They stared at each other for a few seconds and then burst into laughter. What had just transpired was perhaps one of the funniest encounters Lu Feng had ever had and definitely the most satisfying one.
Seeing his uncle unable to do anything to him while he continued to shower the man with insults was definitely satisfying.
"Well, now we’ll have to leave as we agreed. I’m worried he might do something stupid so let’s not give him the chance to do that." Lu Feng explained as he also headed inside to pack up some clothes for himself.
A few minutes later, he was out with a small bundle holding the clothes he felt he would need.
"Where are we headed to?" Han Lin asked, eager to go on the adventurous journey with her master.
Lu Feng thought for a moment before answering. "I need to see my aunt before we leave. If there’s anyone that deserves a farewell from me, she’s the one. After that, we’ll head out."
With that, they both headed toward Lu Ruoxi’s quarters. It was on the luxurious side of the estate and when they arrived, they noticed she was also packing up. She served them a warm meal and Lu Feng began explaining.
He narrated all that had happened from why the Elders had summoned him to how he’d told Lu Bao off minutes ago.
Lu Ruoxi listened to his story, her expression shifting from time to time until it finally rested with a hint of pride. She was proud of what Lu Feng had done to protect Han Lin.
"You did very well, Feng. That perverted brother of mine doesn’t know when to call it quits and I’m glad you did that on his behalf."
"As for being kicked out, I can boldly tell you I know how that feels because the same was done to me when I failed to meet up with their expectations years ago. Now though, they’re the ones calling for me another I found a good stroke of luck." Lu Ruoxi completed with a smile.
Hearing that Han Lin was leaving with him made her wink at them saying they looked like the perfect couple which caused them both to blush so hard that they turned red.
However, Han Lin quickly clarified that they were more like siblings than couples.
After their playful exchange, Lu Ruoxi explained to them why she was getting ready to leave. "The reason why I was summoned here was because of my stroke of luck. You see, I married a very wealthy merchant at Cloud Mist City. They’re looking to establish a connection with my husband and decided to get to him through me."
She paused for a moment, studying their expressions before adding. "Would you like to come with me? I honestly wouldn’t mind the company and it’ll be relatively safer there."
Lu Feng didn’t hesitate to decline though. "As much as I would love to come, I can’t. I want to explore the world with my own eyes and legs and if I stay with you, although I’ll be safe, I won’t get to go on my adventurous journey. I would’ve loved for Han Lin to go with you but she has also made it clear that she wishes to remain with me and I want to respect her wish to the best of my ability."
His aunt sighed but smiled afterwards. She nodded, understanding where he was coming from. She then pulled out a polished gold plaque and handed it to Lu Feng. It has the drawing of a hawk with open wings on it.
"Whenever you visit the Cloud Mist City, feel free to show this to any official and they’ll bring you to my estate." There was a proud smile refusing to leave her face even as she spoke.
Lu Feng received it with warmth, a smile also finding its way to his face. "Thank you, Aunt."
Soon, they were ready to leave and after hugging them both, she bid them farewell.
Lu Feng and Han Lin both headed for the Estate’s gate while she remained behind trying to finish her preparations before departure.
However, the moment Lu Feng’s leg stepped outside the gate and onto the main raid, he heard it in his head.
Ding!
[Host has successfully left his "Cocoon"!]
[Initialization Completed!]
[System Realization Completed!]
[Congratulations Host! You have awakened the Investment System!]
[Investment Mode: 10,000x Investment Returns Activated!]