The Mirror Master

"Mingzhao, what are your thoughts?"

Luo Tianxiong looked at the ever-silent Luo Mingzhao and asked.

"I disagree."

Luo Mingzhao’s hands were crippled and his face was pale, but his tone was exceptionally firm.

"Third Brother, Mo Shaohan did injure you, so it’s natural you hold a grudge. But as long as Qing’er marries him, you’ll be his father-in-law, a generation his senior."

Luo Hongyuan consoled him, "Besides, the Xuanjian Sect is one of the Cultivation Sects. They’re bound to have some Spiritual Elixirs that might be able to heal your hands."

"My disagreement has nothing to do with Mo Shaohan injuring me."

Luo Mingzhao shook his head. "First, Mo Shaohan is a man of deplorable character and a lecher. In Bluestone City alone, he keeps several concubines. The one from the Xiao Family who bore him a child with a Spirit Root gets some attention, but the rest of his concubines are left to languish alone.

Second, you’ve all been discussing this for so long... First Brother, Second Brother, have any of you considered Qing’er’s feelings? Have you ever once cared about what she wants?"

Luo Mingzhao knew his daughter’s temperament well.

If she found out about this, she would rather take her own life than marry Mo Shaohan.

Hearing her father’s words from outside, Luo Qing felt a surge of grievance, and tears streamed down her face.

Just then, Lu Bai walked in from the courtyard.

Seeing Luo Qing’s tear-streaked face, Lu Bai walked over and asked, "Sister Luo, what’s wrong?"

Luo Ben said indignantly, "Brother Xiaolu, that Mo Shaohan has gone too far! He sent a letter demanding to take my older sister as a concubine!"

"It’s fine."

Lu Bai smiled. "He won’t get the chance."

Luo Qing didn’t understand what he meant and just thought Lu Bai was trying to comfort her.

However, thinking of her grandfather’s earlier words, she subconsciously avoided Lu Bai’s gaze.

The voices outside caught the attention of Luo Tianxiong and the others.

"Qing’er, Lu Bai, come in."

Luo Tianxiong called out.

Lu Bai, Luo Qing, and her two brothers walked into the main hall.

Luo Hongyuan said, "Qing’er, you’re just in time. There’s a matter concerning your marriage that we were just about to ask you about..."

"I refuse!"

Luo Qing’s tone was icy as she cut him off directly.

Luo Yunxuan coughed lightly. "This might not be a bad thing, Qing’er. Think about it. In the future, Mo Shaohan will become a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator..."

"He has no future."

Just then, Lu Bai spoke up, cutting in again. "I’ve already issued a challenge to Mo Shaohan. In three days, at noon, we’ll meet on the Martial Arts Discussion Platform."

As soon as he said this, the hall fell instantly silent.

The members of the Luo Family were stunned.

Their stunned expressions quickly turned to shock and disbelief.

Luo Qing’s heart and spirit trembled. She looked at Lu Bai in disbelief, her eyes filled with worry. "Xiaolu, you..."

The two brothers, Luo Ben and Luo Xiao, jumped in fright.

’Brother Xiaolu is too intense!’

’He actually dared to challenge Mo Shaohan, a Ninth-Layer Qi Refining cultivator.’

After a long moment, Luo Hongyuan finally came to his senses and asked hesitantly, "Lu Bai, you must be joking, right?"

"Is Lu Bai here!"

Just then, someone shouted from outside the door.

The next moment, Li Tianxing rushed in, his expression grave.

"Lord Li."

The members of the Luo Family all rose to their feet.

Seeing Lu Bai, Li Tianxing walked straight toward him and asked with a frown, "Lu Bai, what were you thinking? You just entered the Inner Strength Realm, and you’re challenging Mo Shaohan, who is at the Ninth-Layer Qi Refining. Are you insane!"

Lu Bai knew Li Tianxing was worried about him, so his tone was understandably harsh.

He didn’t mind and just shook his head.

"If your opponent were a Martial Artist, even one at the Nine Acupoints of Inner Strength, I wouldn’t stop you."

Li Tianxing said, "But Mo Shaohan is at the Ninth-Layer Qi Refining! Third Master Luo knows his strength best, just ask him! A challenge on the platform is not something to be taken so lightly!"

Hearing Li Tianxing say this, the Luo Family members finally confirmed that what Lu Bai had said was true.

Luo Mingzhao stood up and advised, "Lu Bai, I know you want to seek justice for me, but this is truly inappropriate."

Lu Bai said, "It’s not just for Third Uncle Luo."

"Then why?"

Li Tianxing asked with a frown.

Lu Bai fell silent.

’Even if I said it was for Black Dog, no one would believe me, and I’d just get a lecture.’

’An explanation like that would be pointless anyway.’

’The Martial Arts Discussion Platform is where we’ll see who’s right!’

The two brothers, Luo Ben and Luo Xiao, exchanged a look, as if they had thought of something.

They secretly tugged on Luo Qing’s sleeve, winked at her, and then glanced toward Lu Bai.

’Only two people in the Luo Family were hurt. If it’s not for Dad, then it must be for our older sister.’

Luo Qing understood what her two younger brothers were implying. She blushed and shot them a glare.

It wasn’t just the two brothers, Luo Ben and Luo Xiao.

As the other Luo Family elders thought it over, they naturally came to the same conclusion, their gazes shifting back and forth between Luo Qing and Lu Bai.

Luo Tianxiong thought to himself, ’No wonder Lu Bai was so impulsive. He must have heard that Qing’er was injured and that Mo Shaohan wanted to take her as a concubine. That’s why he got so worked up.’

’I hadn’t noticed. When did those two get so close?’

At that moment, a servant came to report.

Dean Feng Yang of Bluestone Academy had come to visit.

"Quickly, invite him in."

Luo Tianxiong said.

Dressed in a wide scholar’s robe, Feng Yang entered the main hall, greeted the Luo Family members, looked at Li Tianxing, and then at Lu Bai, sighing. "Judging by the looks of things, the challenge on the Martial Arts Discussion Platform in three days is really happening."

"What are your thoughts, Dean Feng?"

Li Tianxing asked.

Feng Yang said, "I was shocked when I heard the news just now. I came, first, to see if it was true, and second, if it is true, to persuade Young Hero Lu not to act on a moment of reckless bravery."

Li Tianxing stared at Lu Bai. "See? Dean Feng says the same thing."

Luo Tianxiong asked, "Lord Li, Dean Feng, what should we do in this situation?"

After a moment of contemplation, Li Tianxing said, "Lu Bai, how about I decline the challenge for you? We’ll say you had a mishap during your training and are unable to fight.

You’ll inevitably attract some criticism and ridicule, but you’re young and hot-blooded. A small setback will do you good. It’s better than getting on the Martial Arts Discussion Platform and being crippled by Mo Shaohan!"

"Thank you for your kind intentions, Lord Li."

Lu Bai said flatly, "My mind is made up."

Seeing Lu Bai so stubborn and unyielding, Li Tianxing was so angry he wanted to turn and leave, washing his hands of the matter.

Seeing Lu Bai’s composure, Feng Yang felt a flicker of doubt and asked, "If I may ask, Young Hero Lu, what is your current Cultivation?"

Lu Bai replied, "Six Acupoints of Inner Strength."

Everyone present was startled.

’Lu Bai only entered the Inner Strength Realm a few days ago, and he’s already opened six acupoints?’

Li Tianxing said, "Your talent in the Martial Dao is so incredible, why must you compete with a Qi Refiner right now?

If you one day become a True Master of the Martial Dao, I definitely won’t stop you. But you’re at six acupoints now. Even if you opened all Nine Acupoints, so what? Could you dodge Mo Shaohan’s Flying Sword? Could you even get close to him? Could you break through his Protective Talisman?"

"Young Hero Lu’s talent in the Martial Dao is truly rare."

Feng Yang said in a low voice, "I can write a letter of recommendation to Jingzhou Academy. You could enroll there to cultivate and conveniently avoid this battle. How about it?"

Lu Bai had some minor conflicts with Bluestone Academy in the past, so for Feng Yang to make such an offer truly showed how much he valued Lu Bai’s talent and couldn’t bear to see him fall to Mo Shaohan.

"Thank you for your kind intentions, Dean Feng."

Lu Bai was still polite, but his next words were the same: "My mind is made up."

"Grandpa, Dad, Second Uncle, Third Uncle, something’s wrong!"

Luo An’s voice came from outside.