Chapter 9: Deliberations Within the Manor

Pei Hao’s voice spread through the living room, instantly causing the atmosphere to freeze. No one had expected that this person, who had always been quite amiable toward Li Luo, could now utter such vicious words.

Although Li Luo’s complexion was indeed pale and his health poor, surely it wasn't to the point of cursing someone for having only a few years left to live?

The three Pavilion Masters under Pei Hao’s command had slightly awkward expressions, but they said nothing, merely staring at the floor with flickering gazes, as if the patterns on the tiles were exceptionally fascinating.

The other six Pavilion Masters, however, wore expressions of anger.

"Bang!"

A loud sound suddenly rang out. Everyone was startled, and as they looked over, they saw Jiang Qing’e’s delicate hand striking the tabletop, her exquisite face covered in frost.

However, before Jiang Qing’e could speak, Pei Hao hurriedly patted his mouth and laughed, "My apologies, my apologies. My mouth really is too unrestrained."

"I hope Little Luo will not take offense."

Li Luo stared at Pei Hao, examining him carefully. He then smiled. Although he had grown accustomed to the duplicitous faces of people over the past few years, those people were outsiders to the manor. As for this Pei Hao, it would be no exaggeration to say that his parents had saved his life and given him a new start.

Without Li Taixuan and Dantai Lan, Pei Hao would likely have had his limbs broken by enemies long ago and been left in a gutter to die; how could he have the glory he enjoyed today?

Yet, what Pei Hao was showing now clearly revealed not a shred of gratitude toward his parents, but rather deep resentment.

This made Li Luo sigh; his parents, wise for so many years, had still misjudged someone once.

"Manager Pei Hao is just revealing his true nature, so there is nothing to take offense at. Besides, to be honest, even if I were offended now, what could I do? So, there is no need for such nonsense," Li Luo shook his head and sat down in the empty head seat.

Pei Hao wore a smile, casually rotating a thumb ring on his finger. He did not show anger at the sarcasm in Li Luo’s words because there was simply no need. Just as Li Luo said, even if he wanted to be offended, what could he do?

The current House Luolan was not what it used to be.

Without those two great mountains pressing down, he, Pei Hao, feared no one within House Luolan.

A young House Master with no future was nothing more than a puppet. If not for the fact that Jiang Qing’e was still here, he, Pei Hao, would likely have completely seized control of House Luolan long ago.

"Since the young House Master has arrived, can the meeting begin now?" Pei Hao turned his gaze toward Jiang Qing’e.

Jiang Qing’e was expressionless and said indifferently, "Then you should first explain why the three pavilions under your jurisdiction have not submitted a single Heavenly Amount Gold to the manor treasury this year."

Pei Hao sighed lightly and said, "The situation in my three pavilions has been extremely poor this year. Little Junior Sister should have heard before that the warehouses of the three pavilions were suddenly burned down. I suspect that forces coveting House Luolan are playing tricks, and I have conducted a thorough investigation, but there have been no results yet, so there is no tribute money to submit for the time being this year."

Li Luo listened quietly. Although he knew Pei Hao’s excuse was ridiculously laughable, he did not continue to interrupt because he understood that he currently had no significant authority in House Luolan. In the eyes of the various figures in the manor, the so-called young House Master was perhaps just a mascot on display.

Since that was the case, there was naturally no need to speak up and invite humiliation.

Jiang Qing’e took a deep look at Pei Hao and said, "Pei Hao, is this your reason?"

Pei Hao smiled slightly and said, "Since Little Junior Sister wants a reason, I can only find one for you at random. Why is there a need to ask for things to be so clear?"

"Very well... since we have reached this point, I might as well give an account to Little Junior Sister and the young House Master. Not only will those three pavilions not submit tribute money this year, but from now on, they will not submit any either." Although Pei Hao’s voice was soft, it fell upon the ears of those in the living room like a thunderclap.

The cold air radiating from Jiang Qing’e seemed to freeze the very air. She said in an icy voice, "It seems you intend to set up your own faction?"

Pei Hao smiled and said, "I cannot bear to leave House Luolan... It is just that there is no true House Master in House Luolan right now, and I don't know whose hands these tribute monies would fall into if I handed them over. Rather than that, it would be better to wait until a truly convincing House Master appears in the future; then it won't be too late for me to submit them."

The atmosphere in the living room was oppressive. The other six Pavilion Masters also had unsightly expressions. If Pei Hao were truly allowed to do this, House Luolan would likely become a laughingstock in the mouths of the other four houses.

Because this act of Pei Hao’s already counted as holding troops to command respect and intending to split House Luolan.

"Pei Hao, are you trying to ruin House Luolan? If House Luolan falls, how much benefit do you think you can get?" A middle-aged man on the right said in a deep voice. This person was named Lei Zhang, one of the Pavilion Masters who supported Jiang Qing’e.

Pei Hao shook his head, "I said, I don't want House Luolan to fall."

He seemed to be silent for a few seconds, then turned his gaze toward the silent Li Luo and smiled, "Actually, it is not impossible for me to follow the rules and submit the tribute money truthfully from now on... provided, of course, that the young House Master can agree to one condition of mine."

Everyone in the living room was startled; clearly, they had not expected Pei Hao to suddenly drag the topic onto Li Luo.

Li Luo retreated from his state of introspection, stared at Pei Hao, and asked with apparent curiosity, "I would also like to know, what condition could Manager Pei Hao possibly have?"

Pei Hao’s gaze shifted from Li Luo to Jiang Qing’e. Looking at her exquisite, cold face and slender figure, a flash of burning greed passed through the depths of his eyes.

"I hope the young House Master can annul the engagement with Little Junior Sister."

Once these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the living room dropped to freezing point.

Although Li Luo did not fly into a rage, his expression became blank. Although he had previously discussed returning the engagement with Jiang Qing’e, and had even reached an agreement with her on the matter...

But the engagement was a matter between him and Jiang Qing’e; the two of them could say or do whatever they wanted about it...

And what kind of thing was this Pei Hao?

"Boom!"

Just as a chilling intent surged in Li Luo’s heart, a powerful wave of energy suddenly erupted directly within the living room.

That energy was as brilliant as light; the light swept across, obscuring all the light in the living room.

Then, Li Luo vaguely saw the figure of Jiang Qing’e, who was sitting to the side, shoot out like a streak of lightning.

Aimed directly at Pei Hao.

The sudden attack also made Pei Hao’s eyes narrow. The next instant, sharp golden light erupted from within his body.

The sword-shaped earring hanging from his right earlobe quickly fell off, and as it expanded in the wind, it transformed into a long golden sword.

On the long sword, sharp golden light Qi surged and flickered, like countless golden rainbows.

Clang!

The sound of metal colliding rang out, and a violent energy shockwave erupted, instantly shattering all the tables and chairs in the living room.

The nine Pavilion Masters hurriedly took action to neutralize the residual energy, then fixed their eyes on the scene.

There, two figures stood in confrontation, sword tips pointed at each other—it was Jiang Qing’e and Pei Hao.

Jiang Qing’e held a heavy sword, and brilliant light flowed over the blade. That light was extremely dazzling; just looking at it made one’s eyes sting.

Moreover, that pure, sacred, and scorching sensation also made their hearts tremble.

What an overbearing Light Qi!

Opposite Jiang Qing’e, Pei Hao held the long golden sword, and the golden Qi surging from his body appeared exceptionally sharp and fierce.

That was the power of the Metal Qi.

As the two swords collided and the Qi clashed, the floor began to crack.

Pei Hao narrowed his eyes and smiled, "A ninth-grade Light Qi, it truly lives up to its reputation. Little Junior Sister is clearly only at the early stage of the Earth Fiend General, yet this Qi is so vigorous and overbearing that it is not much inferior to my late-stage Earth Fiend General."

"Your Metal Qi must have already risen to the seventh grade, right? It seems you haven't skimmed less of House Luolan’s tribute money in the past," Jiang Qing’e said coldly.

Previously, Pei Hao’s Metal Qi was sixth-grade, but during this exchange, Jiang Qing’e noticed that the opponent’s Metal Qi had become even sharper. The amount of Spirit Water and Strange Light required to advance from a sixth-grade to a seventh-grade Metal Qi was no small number.

Pei Hao was noncommittal. The next moment, he and Jiang Qing’e simultaneously erupted the Qi within their bodies and clashed their sword tips fiercely.

Clang!

The sound of metal was accompanied by an energy shock, and both their figures retreated several steps.

"Pei Hao, you are presumptuous!" At this time, Lei Zhang and the other few Pavilion Masters immediately appeared behind Jiang Qing’e, shouting with livid faces.

However, three Pavilion Masters also appeared behind Pei Hao, looking guarded.

Outside the living room, the commotion here caused some chaos in the old manor. Two groups of people rushed out from various places like a tide and then stood in confrontation.

"Little Junior Sister, do you intend to let the entire Great Xia Kingdom know that there is internal strife in House Luolan?" Pei Hao said with a faint smile.

Jiang Qing’e’s face was cold, and killing intent swirled in her beautiful eyes: "Pei Hao, if you don't want to die, you had better swallow those words back into your stomach. You have no right to interfere in our affairs."

Pei Hao was silent for a few seconds, then frowned and said, "Little Junior Sister, why must you be like this? That engagement is probably nothing but a burden to you, right? I know you are grateful to Master and Mistress, but there is no need to commit yourself to Li Luo. He really is not worthy."

"A person with a wolf’s heart and dog’s lungs naturally doesn't understand what gratitude is," Jiang Qing’e said indifferently.

Pei Hao shook his head, then turned his gaze to Li Luo and said, "Li Luo, you are actually quite smart, so I think you should know what it means to be guilty of a crime because of one's treasure. House Luolan is a beautiful treasure to you, and a heaven-gifted talent like Little Junior Sister is even more of an untouchable object to you."

"Believe me, if you want to use Little Junior Sister’s gratitude toward Master and Mistress to bind her, it will only bring you disaster in the end."

Li Luo said calmly, "So, according to you, I must give up both House Luolan and Sister Qing’e?"

"If you are smart enough, that is what you should do." Pei Hao nodded and said with some pity, "I am doing this for your own good. If you don't have the ability, you must restrain your greed; that way, you might still be able to be a wealthy idler."

Li Luo smiled and said, "Pei Hao, are you really not worried that one day, my parents might suddenly return?"

Pei Hao’s pupils shrank slightly, and the three Pavilion Masters behind him also had shifting expressions.

Finally, Pei Hao shook his head gently and said, "Li Luo, don't hold onto such pathetic and childish expectations. From the news I have received, I am afraid Master and Mistress will not be coming back."

He looked at Li Luo and sighed with sympathy.

"So... your greatest backing is gone."

"How are you any different now from me back then? No... you might not even be as good as I was at that time..."

"After all, although I had no background and was at a dead end back then, at the very least, I still had some potential."

"And you have nothing left."

(End of chapter)