Chapter 96: Is it Too Late for me to Back Out now?
With Kim Simona's condition stabilized and his commitment to take her place on the Hanz Clan Estate task looming, Lordi Payne slipped back to his lab room at the alchemy hotel under the cover of night. He retrieved his Blade of Life Hater, its cold weight a reassurance in his hand, along with other belongings.
By morning, as the first rays of dawn crept over the horizon, Lordi Payne had just completed a system-hosted one-click-cultivation session, his body humming with fresh energy. A sharp voice cut through the quiet from outside the courtyard. "Ahem! Wake up. It's time to set off,"
Lu Ruru Rosa stood outside, her tone as cold as her expression. Lordi Payne quickly grabbed Kim Simona's sect nameplate and stepped out, finding her already hovering midair atop her floral lantern.
"Come. Hop on," she commanded, not sparing him a glance.
Lordi Payne climbed aboard, the floral lantern swaying slightly under his weight. The lantern—a rare Dao Artifact used for transportation—had limited space, forcing Lordi Payne to stand embarrassingly close to this senior sister.
Ruru Rosa stood before him, clad in an elegant violet gown that accentuated her slender waist and graceful figure. Sensing Lordi's embarrassment, her long, dense eyelashes fluttered slightly, and her lips, painted an exotic shade of vivid green, curved into a faint mockery. Twin Dao buns adorned her jet-black hair, giving her a youthful charm that made her appear no older than twenty. As the lantern lifted into the air, the sweet fragrance of her hair drifted toward him, subtle yet intoxicating.
Ruru Rosa first indifferently guided him through the process of using his sect nameplate to officially register for the Hanz Clan Estate task. Then with a series of deft hand seals, she steered the lantern southwest, its petals shimmering as it sliced through the morning mist.
Ruru Rosa kept her gaze fixed ahead, deliberately avoiding his eyes. "I informed Senior Brother Garrick Blackthorn you're replacing Junior Sister Kim," she said, her words sharp. "He and the squad weren't pleased, but for the sake of her refining the Foundation Establishment Pills, they agreed to let you join." She paused, then added colder, "Expect challenges. Some might test your strength soon. Don't hold back."
Her voice hardened, carrying the weight of unspoken rules. "In our Holy Sect, strength commands respect. Sect comrades bow to the strong. Prove your power, and you'll claim greater rewards. The stronger you are, the more you gain. Don't shame Junior Sister Kim's reputation."
Lordi nodded, his expression calm. "Thank you, Senior Sister, for your guidance."
Ruru maintained her icy demeanor, but his silence grated on her as the lantern glided onward. Finally, unable to bear it, she snapped, "You. When did you meet Junior Sister Kim?"