High Elder Qisi didn’t bother accompanying Luo Ming back to his own courtyard.
She left him the moment they stepped out of the Main Treasury, offering one last click of her tongue before disappearing.
Luo Ming didn’t mind at all. In fact, he was quite pleased with it.
He’d used Soul Record on the High Elder a second time to check for changes. And there were.
Her Demonic side was growing stronger than her Righteous one, for once. There was also a new line about how she found him insufferable.
Yet amid all that, one thing remained constant: the fact that she found him far too beautiful.
Honestly, Luo Ming couldn’t blame her. His beauty was more than enough to impress even himself. He wasn’t particularly vain about his appearance, but there was a well-known saying that people should use every advantage they had to succeed.
Soul Record was a great advantage. But paired with his looks? Luo Ming knew he could achieve great things, if he played it smart and stayed patient.
’Not to mention Affinity of the Damned. I’m still conflicted about that one. But this Soulblade will help me get Wei Bing on my side.’
Though, if she walked the Demonic Path, and was a regressor on top of that, it meant she was dangerous. Especially to someone as annoyingly weak as him right now.
’Still, no matter how evil she may be, she wouldn’t hurt someone close to her, right? Like me, right? Well, not yet, but I will be.’
His lips twitched.
’Hopefully.’
He sighed under his breath and refocused on his path. Around him, servants and guards strolled leisurely, unable to help sneaking glances at him and whispering under their breath.
Luo Ming noticed they were looking at him differently than they had yesterday.
"I told you the second young master would never do that! You never believed me!"
"You know, Hue Jing, if you’re going to lie, at least make it believable! You said it loud and clear, in front of all of us."
"We’ve wronged him! We must seek his forgiveness. And look at him, his ever-present smile is gone! My heart’s breaking!"
"True. But he’s still the most beautiful. His eyes make me weak, every time."
Luo Ming was trying his absolute best not to let his face twitch. It was harder than anything he’d faced yet.
He picked up his pace, walking faster toward his room, eager to see what he’d obtained.
’It seems my innocence has been proclaimed. By High Elder Qisi, I’d guess?’
Either way, it was good news. Still, the damage from the false accusations had already spread.
He clicked his tongue and focused on his path.
Soon, he arrived at his own courtyard.
There, Luo Ming paused for a brief moment. He arched an eyebrow, spotting his mother speaking with a middle-aged man.
Black hair streaked with crimson at the tips. Equally crimson eyes burning like bloody fire, framed by a warm face.
He wore the black robe of the Luo Clan, the clan’s symbol etched across his back. His perfectly groomed mustache was crimson, and a long sword rested at his belt.
Luo Ming recognized him instantly from his memories.
His uncle, Luo Zitang. His father’s older brother, and one of the Elders.
His presence didn’t go unnoticed, both his mother and uncle turned toward him, smiling at once.
Luo Ming mirrored them, remembering that his uncle had always been closer to him than his own father.
"Good morning, Mother. Good morning, Uncle." He greeted, approaching.
"Ming’er, you’re already back." Meng Lin beamed with overwhelming joy, hugging her son tightly. "I hope the High Elder didn’t touch a single hair on your head!"
Luo Ming coughed at that, smiling wryly, "Not at all. She was quite courteous with me."
"She’d better have been. I’ve let them off the hook for far too long already." She hissed.
"I see you haven’t changed a bit. Still as protective of Nephew as ever, sister-in-law." Luo Zitang said, his voice warm and calm, chuckling.
He turned to Luo Ming, "You’ll never grow up at this rate."
Luo Ming was tempted to shrug. But that seemed impolite, so he attempted a smile instead.
"My mother isn’t that protective." He said, knowing full well it was a lie, "And I can grow up just fine this way, Uncle."
"You’re talking back?" He said, mildly surprised, eyes narrowing slightly, "You never used to answer things like that."
"That’s what happens when someone accuses you and you have no choice but to defend yourself. You learn to speak up."
"I’m sorry, Nephew." Luo Zitang said immediately, reaching out to squeeze Luo Ming’s shoulder reassuringly, "I was away on a task for your father. I didn’t know. And by the time I found out, it had already been resolved. I’m glad, but I regret not being able to do anything."
"It’s fine, Uncle. Truly, it’s fine." He murmured, then softened his voice to something more fragile, "At least you’re here now, checking on me."
Meng Lin’s expression darkened at those words. A flash of anger lit her eyes at the thought of her husband.
That useless husband who thought of nothing but cultivation.
’Useless bastard!’ She growled inwardly, doing her best not to let her son see her anger.
Luo Ming, meanwhile...
’Hm. Need to keep acting cute and harmless. I’m still a target in this house.’ He thought shamelessly, feeling nothing much over his father’s absence, and decided to use Soul Record on his uncle while he was at it.
A panel flashed before him.
[Name: Luo Zitang]
[Age: 67 years.]
[Cultivation Realm: Unknown.]
[Alignment: Righteous Path.]
[Description: He loves someone he shouldn’t, and that love is the root of all his actions.]
Luo Ming blinked at the description, unable to fully grasp its meaning without more context.
’Loves who?’ He wondered, but was pulled back to reality as Luo Zitang smiled and tapped his shoulder.
"I’ll always be here for you, Nephew." He said warmly, "And Yuze feels bad too, for not being here with you. He’s currently training hard to enter the Descending Sun Sect. I hope you’ll forgive him."
’Descending Sun Sect...isn’t that the sect Mother secured a spot for me in, through bribery or connections or whatever?’
"There’s nothing to forgive." Luo Ming said, "and I have no doubt he’ll get in. Elder Brother Yuze is one of our clan’s top talents."
Luo Zitang laughed heartily, nodding repeatedly. It was clear he loved hearing his son complimented.
He gave Luo Ming one last pat, exchanged a brief but meaningful glance with Meng Lin, and excused himself.
Luo Ming found himself alone with his mother, who studied him closely, examining every inch of him for anything amiss.
"I’m fine, Mother."
"You already told me that."
"Then what are you doing?"
"Making sure you told me the truth."
His eye twitched, but he stayed quiet. Once satisfied, she smiled broadly, her beauty far too radiant and flawless for someone who was already a mother.
’That’s cultivation for you. Still, I suppose I know where my looks come from.’
"Did you get things you liked?" She asked.
"Yes, and I want to examine them right away. I’m eager to see exactly what they do."
"Alright. I’ll let you get to it, then, Ming’er. But let me tell you, I received a letter from the Wei Clan this morning."
He tilted his head, "About?"
"They told me when you’d be visiting to formalize your engagement to Wei Ting."
"I recall telling I no longer want that childish girl, Mother."
"I recall that too." Meng Lin shrugged, "but I also recall the Wei girl seemed to have changed her mind."
"Only because of her pride. She doesn’t care about me. I know that."
"I’m not blind either. But are you sure you want to cancel the engagement? You always wanted that girl, and I trust you could make her yours. You’re my beautiful son, after all. Oh, unless..." Meng Lin put on a sly expression, "...you want her older sister instead?"
Luo Ming’s face twisted strangely. Meng Lin’s grin widened.
"Oh! Spot on?! So you do prefer the older sister?" She laughed, looking like a young girl who’d just heard some juicy gossip. "I prefer her too, Ming’er!"
’If only you knew that woman, Mother.’
"But Wei Ting seems serious about it. She probably doesn’t want to disappoint her family. Girls like that tend to be persistent." She tilted her head, her eyes lighting up like stars, "Well, why overthink it? You could just marry them both!"
Luo Ming froze.
He snapped his head toward his mother and blurted out, in deep, profound shock:
"...Say that again, Mother?"
—End of Chapter 15—