The eting ended there and Lind returned to the hall to find many nobles wanting to talk to him. Mills stayed near him but Chu danced with quite a few people. She seed to enjoy making them uncomfortable.
Lind frowned at so conversations he overheard but he refused to push more than he already had.
Haro had already returned the orphanage to its proper place while Lan and Bori moved the kids back.
It would make for a hell of a conversation starter tomorrow.
The Marquis Song was still with the 5th Prince and his companion. Lind realized he did not get her na but he felt she tried to examine him more closely than before.
When that failed she slowly made her way to him while many nobles talked to him about training their experts if he had ti. Lind made no commitnts and relayed all inquiries to the Prince or the Marquis.
They smiled at him but their greed was clear as day to him.
"Lord Erald Immortal, may I have this dance?" The request made the crowd look annoyed but then they paled as they saw the blind folded woman was the source. The music was a slow dance and he inford Chu in advance before accepting.
She glared hard at the woman but he smiled at her.
"You play with fire but I am happy to accept." She smiled at him. They danced amicably for a ti until she finally spoke once more.
"You hide such a powerful beast well. Where is it?" Lind smiled but stayed silent.
The dance changed to a faster pace but the woman stayed with him.
"It is rude of
not to ask for your na. May I know it?" She smirked back but nodded at him.
"Piercer of the Veil Immortal." A Dao title. He smiled and nodded at her. He would not pry but he noticed the prince seed bothered by how much fun the woman was having with him.
"Am I stepping on toes here?" She smirked at him but shook her head.
"His Highness and I have been together all his life but I am only a servant to him." Lind glanced over and doubted that. Still, he did not correct her and sent a ssage to Chu. She smiled at his suggestion.
The Piercer of the Veil Immortal smirked at him.
"You are an, Erald Immortal." Lind actually enjoyed the dance but stayed cautious. "You could beco a great supporter of the kingdom. His Majesty would reward you handsoly."
Lind smiled but said nothing. To accept or decline would invite issues down the road but silence committed him to nothing.
The night was not unpleasant with her but he could tell she was chagrined at him. He avoided traps and did not get baited easily. He was suprely grateful for his ti as an Emperor at that mont as a sect master did not face such political landmines as she laid out.
"You see with a Talent as opposed to your eyes?" She nodded as there was no need to hide it.
"My family is known for it but it is relatively rare for us. If you are born blind but can move without issue it is a sign of the gift." Lind nodded and felt respect for her.
"You are highly skilled but I must frustrate you. Soul reading is useful but I feel I have challenged you." Her face beca surprised but then laughed at him.
"It is refreshing to not know everything about soone. The king is beyond
but I suspect even if you were a World Realm, you would defy ." He smiled back and both felt the hard stares of Chu and the 5th Prince.
"He loves you. Surely you know." He saw a frown mar her face but he would not let her deny it. "It does not take a seer to know. I am not sure of the kingdom's stance but if he is not an heir, you should at least hear him out. Trust , death can co at any ti."
Lanbao flashed through his mind and his pain seed to make her sad. She seed troubled and he relayed only that he lost a loved one in war. She had saved his life but they could never get the ti back.
"May I know her na?" He told her and she prayed for her. Lind appreciated that.
"So, what will you tell the prince?' He saw her smile but then shrugged at him.
"I cannot see through you. I am not sure how you are doing it but you are invisible to . I have never had such a feeling before." Lind smiled but then bowed out of the next dance.
Chu took him over and he indulged her. Their love shone clearly which made so nobles sad but not inconsolable.
The rest of the evening passed with relative peace but Lind kept an eye on the trio of powerhouses.
The 5th Prince was looking hard at him. Lind simply smiled and waved at tis. He knew he had a massive hill of issues but the plain truth of Mills' situation was impossible to deny.
Gilgash seed to be drinking hard liquor but not participating in the dances.
"Chu, please go get Gilgash to burn so of that nervous energy." She smiled at him and raced off to do so. Mills ca up to him in concern.
"People are asking
questions I find hard to answer. What should I do, Master?" He smiled at her and took her to the dance floor. She had nervous energy but he guided her as the music picked up its pace.
"Your physique will draw people but Battle Auras are rare. It will likely be only a select few you can help. As I am proficient in the Battle Aura, I will guide you as best I can. Still, your ti as orphanage protector will end either way." He could not let her stay and the kingdom had no one as good as him in Battle Aura.
The Heavens were laughing at everyone when a Yin Nurturing Physique acquired the thod to aid others through Battle Aura of all things!
Still, he thought it appropriate. The 2nd layer was rife with conflict and needed powerful cultivators that could respond to various scenarios. Battle Aura was the epito of such a thought.
It was only a guess on his part but he felt the direct stares of the trio that knew the truth. Gilgash simply accepted it as his Battle Aura was nothing compared to either of them.
The night had been laced with landmines but he had danced around them. He only hoped he could get the information he badly needed and exchange it with his gifts of knowledge.
The party moved to a feast that Lind enjoyed imnsely.
He was in the midst of a massive steak when The Piercer of the Veil Immortal ca to his table.
"Lord Erald Immortal, his Highness would like to have you join him at his table." Lind sighed internally but kissed Chu before sending a ssage for her to watch over Mills. The kiss bought him her indulgence.
He followed her and the prince raised a glass to him as he sat at his table. Several nobles stared holes into his back but he ignored them.
"Lord Erald Immortal, I have not had a chance to consult my Father but you know we cannot give up a citizen like that surely?" Lind bowed but then his dark green eyes were firm.
"She needs training. She has an aura on par with mine. Do you have soone that can match ?' Mills had the aura but not the skill to control it. She could kill soone if she was not careful!
The prince smiled at him but Lind only felt a sigh building again.
"So you will join our kingdom to train her for us?" He sipped at the wine before looking firmly at the prince.
"You cannot hold
here, your Highness. I have a goal and I will not be dissuaded. Mills can be trained by
and I will not withhold her from your kingdom, yet she needs the training. She will kill far more powerful cultivators until she is able to control it." It was not a lie and even the prince knew it.
"My Father will not let her go. Do you have sothing worth such a rare person?" Lind frowned at that. He hated people that tried to put a price on others.
"It is not a question of trade. I already offered my services to help with your foundations but Mills is a separate issue. She needs an expert in her thod. Others can only benefit once she can teach them. Am I wrong?" The prince frowned but could only nod in agreent.
"Are you trying to steal my woman from ?" His question was quite frank and made the Piercer of the Veil Immortal choke on her drink. Marquis Song suddenly got up and left but Lind just smiled.
He looked at the woman who was recovering in amusent.
"Actually, I told her to talk to you but it seems I was wrong to be concerned. Your Highness is forthright about his heart. I encourage you to talk to her directly with my blessing." The prince froze and then blushed as he realized he had spoken so bluntly to an honored guest.
Lind then bowed and left the table in great amusent.
Of all the traps laid out for the evening, he had not expected the prince and his companion to walk into their own! He enjoyed the rest of the evening until they returned to the inn and awaited the next step.
There was no way they were leaving the city so easily anymore plus an orphanage needed a new protector. He sighed and turned in for the night with hopes it could all work out peacefully.
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