Chapter 9

Pei Hao's voice echoed in the living room, instantly causing the atmosphere to freeze. No one had expected that this person, who had always been quite amiable to Li Luo, would now utter such venomous words.

Though Li Luo's complexion was indeed pale and his health poor, it wasn't as if he deserved to be cursed with a short life, right?

The three Pavilion Masters who had been targeted by Pei Hao looked somewhat embarrassed but said nothing, their eyes flickering as they stared at the ground, as if the patterns on the floor were particularly captivating.

The other six Pavilion Masters, however, looked angry.

"Bang!"

A loud sound suddenly rang out, startling everyone. They turned to see Jiang Qing'e's delicate hand slamming on the table, her beautiful face cold and stern.

However, before Jiang Qing'e could speak, Pei Hao quickly patted his mouth and laughed, "Sorry, sorry, my mouth is just too loose."

"I hope Little Luo won't hold it against me."

Li Luo's gaze fixed on Pei Hao. He carefully observed the latter, then smiled. Although he had grown accustomed to people's two-faced nature over the years, those people were outsiders. Pei Hao, on the other hand, owed his life and everything to Li Luo's parents. Without Li Taixuan and Dantai Lan, Pei Hao would have long been crippled and left to die in a ditch, rather than enjoying his current glory.

However, the resentment Pei Hao now displayed clearly showed no gratitude towards his parents. This made Li Luo sigh. His parents, who had been so wise for so many years, had made a mistake in judgment this time.

"Pei Hao, this is just your true nature. There's no need to blame you. Besides, even if I were to blame you, what could I do? So there's no need to say such empty words." Li Luo shook his head and then sat down in the empty seat at the head of the table.

Pei Hao smiled, casually twirling a ring on his finger. He didn't show any anger at the sarcasm in Li Luo's words, as it was unnecessary. As Li Luo said, even if he wanted to blame him, what could he do?

The current Luo Lan Manor was not what it used to be. Without the two towering figures, Pei Hao no longer feared anyone in the manor.

A young Master with no future was nothing more than a puppet. If it weren't for Jiang Qing'e, Pei Hao would have already taken full control of the Luo Lan Manor.

"Since the young Master has arrived, can we start the meeting?" Pei Hao turned his gaze to Jiang Qing'e.

Jiang Qing'e's expression was indifferent as she said, "Then tell me, why did the three pavilions under your jurisdiction not contribute a single Tianliang Gold to the manor treasury this year?"

Pei Hao sighed lightly, "The three pavilions under my jurisdiction had a very bad year. As you might have heard, the warehouses of the three pavilions were suddenly burned down. I suspect it was the work of forces eyeing the Luo Lan Manor. I investigated thoroughly, but there were no results. Therefore, there was no money to contribute this year."

Li Luo listened quietly. Although he found Pei Hao's excuse laughable, he didn't interrupt. He understood that he had little influence in the Luo Lan Manor now. The so-called young Master was perhaps just a decorative figure to the various factions within the manor.

Since that was the case, there was no need to speak and invite trouble.

Jiang Qing'e looked deeply at Pei Hao and said, "Pei Hao, is this your reason?"

Pei Hao smiled slightly, "Since you want a reason, I can only give you a random one. Sometimes, it's better not to ask too many questions."

"Very well... Since we've come to this point, I'll also inform you, Little Sister and Young Master... The three pavilions will not contribute any more money to the manor treasury, not this year, nor in the future." Pei Hao's voice was light, but to the ears of those in the living room, it was like a thunderclap.

The cold aura emanating from Jiang Qing'e seemed to freeze the air. Her voice was icy, "It seems you're planning to set up your own faction?"

Pei Hao smiled, "I'm not willing to leave the Luo Lan Manor... But since there is no true Master in the manor, I don't know who these contributions will end up with. It would be better to wait until a truly credible Master appears before I make any contributions."

The atmosphere in the living room was oppressive, and the other six Pavilion Masters also looked uneasy. If Pei Hao were to do this, the Luo Lan Manor would become a laughingstock among the other four major manors.

Because Pei Hao's actions were tantamount to amassing power and attempting to split the Luo Lan Manor.

"Pei Hao, are you trying to bring down the Luo Lan Manor? If the Luo Lan Manor falls, do you think you'll gain much?" A middle-aged man on the right side spoke sternly. This was Lei Zhang, a Pavilion Master who supported Jiang Qing'e.

Pei Hao shook his head, "I've said it before, I don't want the Luo Lan Manor to fall."

He seemed to pause for a moment, then turned his gaze to Li Luo, who had been silent, and smiled, "Actually, if I were to follow the rules and contribute the money from now on, it's not impossible... Of course, on the condition that the young Master agrees to one thing."

Everyone in the living room was surprised, clearly not expecting Pei Hao to suddenly bring up Li Luo.

Li Luo came out of his meditative state and stared at Pei Hao, seemingly curious, "I'm also interested in what condition you have, Master Pei Hao."

Pei Hao's gaze shifted from Li Luo to Jiang Qing'e, his eyes lingering on her exquisite and cold face and slender figure. A hint of intense greed flashed in his eyes.

"I hope the young Master will dissolve the engagement with Little Sister."

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the living room plummeted to an icy point.

Although Li Luo didn't fly into a rage, his expression turned blank. While he had previously discussed the dissolution of the engagement with Jiang Qing'e and even reached an agreement with her, the engagement was a matter between him and Jiang Qing'e. They could discuss and decide on it freely...

But what right did Pei Hao have to interfere?

"Boom!"

Just as Li Luo's anger was rising, a powerful energy wave suddenly erupted in the living room.

The energy was as brilliant as light, sweeping across and obscuring all the light in the living room.

Then, Li Luo vaguely saw Jiang Qing'e's figure, like a streak of lightning, shooting out from her seat.

Directly aiming at Pei Hao.

The sudden attack made Pei Hao's eyes narrow. In the next moment, a sharp golden light erupted from his body.

The sword-shaped earring hanging from his right earlobe fell off and rapidly expanded into a golden longsword.

The golden sword was filled with sharp and fierce energy, like countless golden rainbows.

Clang!

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

The nine Pavilion Masters quickly acted to dissipate the energy shockwave, then focused on the scene.

There, two figures stood facing each other, swords drawn, precisely Jiang Qing'e and Pei Hao.

Jiang Qing'e held a heavy sword, its blade glowing brilliantly. The light was so intense that it hurt the eyes just to look at it.

The pure and scorching energy also made their hearts tremble.

What a domineering Light Phase Power!

Across from Jiang Qing'e, Pei Hao held a golden longsword, the golden Phase Power emanating from his body was exceptionally sharp and fierce.

That was the Golden Phase Power.

The two swords clashed, and the Phase Powers collided, causing the floor to crack.

Pei Hao smiled with narrowed eyes, "Ninth Rank Light Phase, truly deserving of its reputation. Little Sister is only at the initial Earth Fiend General stage, yet the power and ferocity of her Phase Power are not much weaker than my advanced Earth Fiend General stage."

"Your Golden Phase must have reached the Seventh Rank, right? It seems you've been embezzling the Luo Lan Manor's contributions for a long time." Jiang Qing'e said coldly.

Pei Hao's Golden Phase was previously at the Sixth Rank, but in this confrontation, Jiang Qing'e noticed that his Golden Phase Power had become even sharper. To advance from the Sixth Rank to the Seventh Rank required a significant amount of spiritual water and strange light.

Pei Hao neither confirmed nor denied this. In the next moment, he and Jiang Qing'e simultaneously unleashed their Phase Powers, their swords clashing fiercely.

Clang!

The sound of metal and the energy shockwave sent both of them staggering back several steps.

"Pei Hao, you're being too presumptuous!" At this moment, Lei Zhang and several other Pavilion Masters immediately appeared behind Jiang Qing'e, their faces livid with anger.

However, three Pavilion Masters also appeared behind Pei Hao, their expressions wary.

Outside the living room, the commotion caused some chaos in the old residence. Two groups of people rushed out from various directions and faced off against each other.

"Little Sister, do you want the entire Daxia Kingdom to know about the internal strife in the Luo Lan Manor?" Pei Hao said with a faint smile.

Jiang Qing'e's face was cold, her eyes filled with killing intent, "Pei Hao, if you don't want to die, you should swallow those words. This is our business, and you have no right to interfere."

Pei Hao was silent for a moment, then frowned, "Little Sister, why be so stubborn? That engagement is probably a burden to you. I know you're grateful to Master and Mistress, but you don't have to marry Li Luo. He... is not worthy."

"A person with a wolf's heart and a dog's lungs naturally doesn't understand gratitude." Jiang Qing'e said coldly.

Pei Hao shook his head, then turned his gaze to Li Luo, "Li Luo, you're actually quite smart. So I think you should understand what it means to be a target of envy. The Luo Lan Manor is a beautiful jade to you, and Little Sister, a heavenly talent, is even more out of your reach."

"Believe me, if you try to bind her with her gratitude to Master and Mistress, it will only bring you disaster."

Li Luo said calmly, "So, according to you, I should give up the Luo Lan Manor and Sister Qing'e?"

"If you're smart enough, you should." Pei Hao nodded, saying with a somewhat pitying tone, "I'm doing this for your own good. If you don't have the ability, you should restrain your greed. That way, you might still be able to live a life of leisure and wealth."

Li Luo smiled, "Pei Hao, aren't you worried that one day, my parents might suddenly return?"

Pei Hao's pupils constricted slightly, and the three Pavilion Masters behind him also showed some changes in expression.

In the end, Pei Hao shook his head lightly, "Li Luo, don't hold onto such pitiful and childish hopes. From the information I have, Master and Mistress are unlikely to return."

He looked at Li Luo, his face showing a sympathetic sigh.

"So... your greatest support is gone."

"What's the difference between you now and me back then? No... you might not even be as good as I was back then..."

"After all, back then, although I had no background and was at the end of my rope, I at least had some potential."

"And you... have nothing left."

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