The Mirror Master

Lu Bai left Willow Shade Courtyard and went straight to the County Government Mansion.

"What can we do for you?"

The government constables at the gate recognized Lu Bai and one of them asked the question.

Lu Bai asked, "Is Mo Shaohan of the Xuanjian Sect in the mansion?"

The government constable replied, "Daoist Mo is a guest in the mansion. But if Young Hero Lu wishes to meet him, I’m afraid it won’t be easy. You’ll have to give advance notice."

"There’s no need for a meeting."

Lu Bai said calmly, "Please pass on a message for me. I am issuing a challenge to Mo Shaohan. We will meet on the Martial Arts Discussion Platform in three days at noon."

"What did you say?"

The government constables stared, wide-eyed. For a moment, they couldn’t believe their ears.

"But isn’t the Xuanjian Sect looking for someone from the Luo Family to fight?"

Lu Bai said, "I’ll be the one to fight him. You all just need to pass the message along."

"Young Hero Lu, this is no child’s play! Third Master Luo, an Innate Martial Artist, was already crippled. You must think this through!"

One of the government constables frowned deeply, offering a well-intentioned warning.

"Thank you, but my mind is made up. I’ll have to trouble you."

Lu Bai cupped his hands, turned, and left.

"Leave someone here on guard! The rest of us are going inside to report this!"

The government constables watched Lu Bai’s departing figure and took a long moment to come to their senses. After leaving one man behind, the others turned and rushed into the County Government Office.

Before long, the news spread throughout the County Government Office!

"Lord Li."

One of the government constables hurried to find Li Tianxing and said, "Young Hero Lu just came by and issued a formal challenge to Daoist Mo of the Xuanjian Sect. They’re to meet on the Martial Arts Discussion Platform in three days!"

"Which Young Hero Lu?"

Li Tianxing froze.

’There seems to be only one Young Hero Lu in Bluestone City.’

’But Lu Bai only just reached the Inner Strength Realm. He can’t be *that* foolish.’

"It’s Lu Bai from the Luo Family."

"What!"

Li Tianxing’s heart jolted. He asked hurriedly, "Where is Lu Bai? Quick, stop him! I’ll go talk to him. Don’t report this matter up the chain yet!"

The government constable said, "Young Hero Lu has already left. Besides, the news has already spread. Someone has informed the Lord Governor. I’m afraid it’s too late to stop it."

"This is bad!"

Li Tianxing’s heart sank, and he hurried toward the County Government Mansion.

’The only hope now is that Daoist Mo of the Xuanjian Sect will consider it beneath his station to entertain Lu Bai’s challenge and will disdain to even show up.’

’Then again, knowing Mo Shaohan’s character...’

Li Tianxing’s brows furrowed, and he thought to himself, ’Young people are just too hot-headed and impulsive. The signs were already there back at Bluestone Academy.

’If I’d known, I never should have backed him up that time. Maybe he wouldn’t have grown so arrogant.’

-----------------

The Luo Family Estate.

After Lu Bai left with Black Dog in his arms, Luo Qing and her brothers stayed for a while longer to keep Madam Lu company.

However, with the Luo Family having suffered such a blow, Luo Qing was weighed down by worries.

Madam Lu could only comfort her in a low voice, though she herself also felt uneasy.

’If the Luo Family falls, my son and I won’t be much better off.’

Luo Ben, still as boisterous as ever, stared at the big rooster in the courtyard with great curiosity.

Luo Ben muttered, "Why did Brother Xiaolu bring back a big rooster? Is he planning on eating chicken?"

Hearing this, Ah Ming shuddered, snapping its head up to glare sideways at Luo Ben, the feathers on its neck bristling slightly.

"Haha! This rooster’s pretty feisty!"

Luo Ben pointed at Ah Ming and laughed loudly. "What are you looking at? If you piss this young master off, I’ll scald you, pluck you, and toss you in the pot before Brother Xiaolu even gets back!"

Ah Ming lifted a claw. ’I should just jump up there and crack his skull open.’

’But on second thought, that would expose me.’

’Forget it.’

’I’m not going to lower myself to this moron’s level.’

Luo Xiao, on the other hand, was quite calm. He analyzed, "I don’t think so. If he wanted to eat chicken, he could just order a servant to buy one and stew it."

Ah Ming glanced sideways at Luo Xiao, thinking to itself, ’This one seems a little smarter.’

Luo Ben shook his head vigorously. "Third Brother, you don’t understand. The meat from those hens is loose and not chewy. It’s not as good as the firm meat of a big rooster like this one.

Of the three great ’yang’ creatures—tigers, stags, and big roosters—this big rooster is the easiest to find. Eating it is highly nourishing.

Speaking of which, we haven’t had chicken stewed in an iron pot for a long time."

Luo Xiao licked his lips. "Second Brother, now that you mention it, my mouth is watering too.

But I guess Brother Xiaolu bought it as a pet for Black Dog. Ah, a pity about that black dog..."

Ah Ming: "..."

’A pair of morons.’

Ah Ming couldn’t be bothered with them and sauntered off to one side.

’I’d better stay away from these two. Otherwise, I’m afraid I won’t be able to stop myself from cracking their heads open to see what’s inside.’

’All a villain’s schemes are no match for a single stroke of genius from an idiot.’

’It’s never wrong to stay far away from morons.’

Madam Lu persuaded them, "Qing’er, you should all go back. With so much happening in the family, you don’t need to stay and keep me company."

"Okay, Madam Lu. We’ll come see you again another day."

Luo Qing nodded and left with Luo Ben and Luo Xiao.

Luo Qing said, "Just now, a guard mentioned that the Xuanjian Sect sent a letter. I wonder what it’s about?"

Luo Ben curled his lip. "Let’s go to the council hall and ask. I bet they’re up to no good."

As Luo Qing and her brothers approached the hall, they heard voices coming from inside.

They even heard her name, "Qing’er," being mentioned.

"Father, Daoist Mo’s proposal is perhaps the best solution we have right now."

Luo Hongyuan said, "If we keep resisting, we’ll truly be left with nothing."

"Absolutely not!"

Luo Tianxiong rejected it flatly. "That Mo Shaohan just crippled both of Mingzhao’s hands, and now he comes with a marriage proposal, wanting to take Qing’er as a concubine? If we agree to this, it will be the shame of our Luo Family!"

Luo Yunxuan said, "But he’s a Cultivator, after all. Mo Shaohan is at the Ninth-Layer Qi Refining, and we’ve all witnessed his methods. They can only be described as terrifying.

Moreover, he’s a disciple the Xuanjian Sect is heavily invested in, and he will very likely reach Foundation Establishment. To be the concubine of a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator would be a blessing for Qing’er, and an opportunity for our Luo Family.

Luo Hongyuan also said, "With Third Brother’s hands crippled, we definitely won’t be able to hold on to that Tier Two Profound Iron Ore mine. Who knows how many people in Bluestone City are eyeing our family’s businesses.

After this incident, if we don’t find a powerful backer, I’m afraid the Luo Family won’t last much longer.

If Qing’er can marry a Cultivator, with that connection, other powers will have to be more wary of us."

Luo Yunxuan added, "I heard that the young lady from the Xiao Family abandoned her childhood sweetheart to marry Mo Shaohan as a concubine. She even gave birth to a child with a Spirit Root. The mother’s status rose with the son’s, and the Xiao Family has been thriving in the city these past two years."

Luo Hongyuan sighed. "Father, the situation being what it is, some grievances are unavoidable. This is truly a move born of desperation."

Luo Tianxiong fell silent.

After a long while, Luo Tianxiong finally sighed and said, "Actually, my original intention was to match Qing’er with Lu Bai."

Hearing the conversation inside, Luo Qing was both shocked and furious, her eyes filled with grief and indignation.

Her two brothers, Luo Ben and Luo Xiao, were burning with rage.

But when she heard that last sentence, Luo Qing froze.

Luo Ben and Luo Xiao were also taken aback. With strange expressions, they stole a glance at their older sister.

"Father, I actually figured out what you were thinking long ago."

Luo Hongyuan said, "Lu Bai certainly has a great deal of potential, but how many years will it take for him to mature? The Luo Family’s crisis is imminent."

Luo Yunxuan looked at Luo Mingzhao, who had remained silent the entire time, and said, "Third Brother, if Qing’er can give birth to a child with a Spirit Root, this might be her own fortuitous opportunity.

Even though the child born wouldn’t have the surname Luo, they would still be half a Luo. Our family would then effectively have a Cultivator."