Inside the clan’s main hall…
Luo Luo stood timidly by the side, her head lowered, stealing glances at Qingi Niang, who sat on the throne.
Chen Yin stood respectfully at the foot of the platform, waiting to be scolded.
“Young Master Chen, you’ve caused us quite a bit of trouble.”
Qingi Niang’s alluring eyes narrowed as she looked down at him. “If your Master finds out about this, she’ll definitely hang you upside down from a tree and spank you.”
“I know I was wrong.”
“Is that all? Just admitting you were wrong?”
“Mother!” Luo Luo said anxiously, “It’s Luo Luo’s fault! I didn’t want to guard the seal, it has nothing to do with Young Master!”
“I’ll accept any punishnt, Madam Qingi.” Chen Yin looked up at her calmly.
He didn’t seem to care about the trouble he had caused.
Qingi Niang smiled faintly. “You brat. Even your mischievous nature is just like your Master’s.”
“…How did you figure it out?”
Chen Yin confessed honestly, “When you didn’t try to stop with your full strength.”
Qingi Niang sighed and put a hand to her forehead. “So I’m a bad actress?”
“Or maybe I’m just smart?”
“Cunning doesn’t equal smart.”
“Don’t be shy, Madam. You can praise .”
Luo Luo looked back and forth between them, completely confused, and scratched her ear.
“Mother, Young Master, what are you talking about?”
“Silly girl.”
Qingi Niang chuckled and shook her head. “If you were half as clever as Young Master Chen, I wouldn’t have to go through all this trouble.”
Chen Yin added, “I assu, Madam Qingi, you were serious about Luo Luo awakening her bloodline, but not about her guarding the seal?”
“That aura from the clouds last night wasn’t a seal at all. It was just you connecting to so ancient secret realm through the void, trying to scare with its power.”
“If there was truly sothing world-ending trapped there, you wouldn’t have let off so easily.”
Luo Luo froze, then turned to her mother.
“That’s right. It wasn’t the void seal last night.”
“But… then where is the real seal?”
“It’s not in Qinglian City, of course.” Qingi Niang scoffed. “Who would build a city near such a dangerous place?”
“You don’t have to worry about the seal. Mother can handle it.”
“Th-then why—”
“My daughter is determined to leave. As her mother, I have to make sure the person she chooses is reliable.” Qingi Niang said casually.
Luo Luo’s face flushed as she slowly understood.
“I only have one simple requirent.”
“My daughter must be more important to him than anything else in the world.”
“If he’s willing to hand over Luo Luo just because of so ‘world-ending threat’,” Qingi Niang said playfully, “then I’d rather keep her locked up in the city.”
“So, are you satisfied now, Madam Qingi?”
“No.”
Chen Yin was taken aback. “Why?”
“You renewed the master-servant contract and you dare ask why?” Qingi Niang’s eyebrows shot up in mock anger. “How can my daughter, the daughter of the Lord of Ten Thousand Demons, be soone’s servant?”
“At least marry her properly!”
Chen Yin: “…”
“Mother!”
Luo Luo, her face burning with embarrassnt, covered her mother’s mouth and said, on the verge of tears, “D-don’t say such things…”
“Alright, alright, Mother was just joking.”
Qingi Niang rolled her eyes playfully, then turned to Chen Yin.
“I can entrust my daughter to you, but I have two conditions.”
Chen Yin nodded without hesitation. “Please speak, Madam.”
“First, she’s still too young. I know you young people are eager, but at least wait until she’s of age before you…”
Chen Yin: “…”
Luo Luo punched her shoulder repeatedly, her eyes filled with tears.
“Mother, stop it!”
Qingi Niang, as if she didn’t feel a thing, continued:
“Second.”
“Tell your Master to co visit when she has ti.”
“…I have sothing to discuss with her.” Her playful expression faded, replaced by a serious look.
Chen Yin bowed respectfully. “I’ll be sure to relay your ssage.”
“Then it’s settled.”
Qingi Niang sighed dramatically. “A married daughter is like spilled water. Now this old woman is all alone again.”
Luo Luo tugged at her arm playfully. “Mother, it’s not like Luo Luo won’t co back.”
“Don’t lie to . With your Young Master, will you even rember to visit your mother?”
“O-of course I will!”
Qingi Niang smiled and stroked her hair gently. “Alright, enough with the jokes.”
“Now that your bloodline has awakened, you have the power to protect yourself.”
“Don’t slack off when you’re out there. One year to consolidate your cultivation, and within two years, you must reach the Grand Clarity Realm.”
Luo Luo’s ears drooped. “Grand Clarity Realm… that’s so difficult.”
“No whining! It won’t work.”
Qingi Niang chuckled and flicked her nose. “If you don’t listen, you’ll have to co back and inherit the title of Lord of Ten Thousand Demons.”
“Then I’d rather not…”
Seeing Luo Luo’s obedient and slightly intimidated deanor, Chen Yin couldn’t help but smile.
“What are your plans, Young Master Chen?”
“I have an appointnt. I’ll be going to the Azure Cicada Ancient Domain.” Chen Yin didn’t hide anything.
Qingi Niang nodded slowly. “The Azure Cicada Ancient Domain is a dangerous place. Be careful.”
“And go visit your Master as soon as possible.”
“Understood.”
After Luo Luo and Chen Yin left the hall, hand in hand, Qingi Niang propped her head up with her hand, a sigh escaping her lips.
Her eyes were filled with a mixture of relief and amusent.
“My biggest worry has finally been resolved.”
At that mont, an Azure Fox servant whispered, “Madam Qingi, are you sure about the seal? Your bloodline is weakening. I’m afraid—”
“You believed that too?” Qingi Niang glanced at her servant.
The servant froze.
“Those were just lies. My bloodline is as strong as ever.”
“Then why—”
“…There are so things within the clan that need to be cleaned up.” Qingi Niang’s voice lost its usual playfulness, replaced by a hint of authority. “Those words were ant for certain… old friends.”
The servant instantly understood. “Should I investigate within the clan, Madam?”
“No need. Let those rumors spread.”
“Besides,” Qingi Niang sighed softly, “the situation with the void seal is indeed becoming more critical.”
“It’s not that my bloodline is weakening. It’s that whatever is trapped on the other side is becoming more restless.”
“The reason I helped you this ti is because suppressing the seal is beyond Luo Luo’s capabilities now.”
“Perhaps… we’ll have to rely on that woman.” Her gaze drifted towards the distance.
And…
The thing that woman has been searching for so tirelessly.
…That’s strange.
The System had said that she was supposed to guard the seal after her bloodline awakening.
But Mother said she didn’t have to.
Was Mother lying to ?
System? System, are you there?
“Luo Luo?” Chen Yin’s voice ca from beside her.
“Ah?”
Luo Luo turned her head and saw Chen Yin packing his things.
“What are you thinking about?”
“N-nothing.”
Luo Luo blinked and asked softly, “Young Master, did you know from the beginning that Mother was lying?”
“Not at first.”
Chen Yin admitted honestly, “But I felt that Madam Qingi’s actions were a bit strange, so I took a gamble.”
“What if… Mother wasn’t lying?”
“It wouldn’t have changed anything.”
He turned to her and ruffled her hair gently. “I told you, you’re my only servant.”
“If you don’t want to guard the seal, then don’t. I’ll take care of the rest.”
“If necessary, I’ll personally go and see what’s so ‘world-ending’ about that thing behind the seal.”
Luo Luo narrowed her eyes and looked at him carefully.
“Then… what you said last night, was it all true?”
“What did I say?”
“That you… didn’t want Luo Luo to leave…” Luo Luo’s head drooped, her face burning with embarrassnt.
Chen Yin couldn’t help but chuckle. “Then let ask you this. Were your words at the Wooden Leaf Illusion Realm true?”
“Ah!”
Luo Luo rembered her innocent and heartfelt confession and let out a soft whimper.
“Mmm! Don’t say it, Young Master! It’s so embarrassing…”
Seeing her blush all the way to her ears and neck, Chen Yin decided not to tease her any further. He gently took her hand.
“Since you’re already here, you’re not leaving until you give a few little foxes.”
Luo Luo’s ears burned, and she looked at him shyly.
“Then… you can’t abandon Luo Luo, okay?”
“I’ll abandon you when I can no longer afford to feed you, you little glutton.”
“No, don’t~” she pouted, her eyes watering. “Luo Luo won’t eat that much.”
Chen Yin burst into laughter. “Just kidding, silly girl.”
“You always bully Luo Luo, Young Master.”
Luo Luo snuggled closer to him, her eyes closing as she rubbed her furry head against his chest.
“Am I cute, Young Master?”
“Yes, you’re cute.”
“Do you like Luo Luo?”
“Yes, I like you.”
“Then…” she whispered in his ear, her face flushed, her ears a lovely shade of pink, “what are you waiting for?”
Chen Yin took a deep breath.
Hmm…
He had promised Madam Qingi that he wouldn’t do anything with Luo Luo while she was still young.
But a little interest wouldn’t hurt, right?
He was still hesitating when Luo Luo wrapped her arms around his neck.
Her lips tasted as sweet and delicate as a Rainflower Cake.
This ti, it wasn’t just a peck on the cheek.
“…Silly girl, you should wait for the boy to make the first move.”
“I know.”
“But compared to being confessed to by Young Master,” Luo Luo smiled sweetly, her eyes crinkling, “I just wanted to tell you that I like you first.”
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