Chapter 9

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 kind to Li Luo, could now utter such vicious words.

Although Li Luo's face was indeed pale and his complexion not good, it wasn't as if he was cursed to have only a few years left to live, was it?

The three Pavilion Masters under Pei Hao's command looked slightly embarrassed but said nothing, their eyes flickering as they stared at the ground, as if the patterns on the floor were particularly attractive.

The other six Pavilion Masters, however, looked angry.

"Bang!"

A loud sound suddenly rang out, startling everyone. They looked over to see Jiang Qing'e's jade hand slap the table, her delicate face covered in frost.

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 and then smiled. Although he had seen many people's true colors over the years, those people were ultimately outsiders. As for Pei Hao, if it weren't for his parents' life-saving and nurturing grace, he would have long been crippled and left to die in a ditch, rather than enjoying his current glory.

However, the Pei Hao before him now showed no gratitude to his parents, but rather deep resentment.

This made Li Luo sigh. His parents, who had been wise for so many years, had still made a mistake this time.

"Palace Master Pei Hao, this is just your true nature. What's there to blame? Besides, even if I were to blame you now, 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, because 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 those two pillars of support, he, Pei Hao, was no longer afraid of anyone in the Luo Lan Manor.

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

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

Jiang Qing'e's face was expressionless as she said coolly, "Then tell me why none of the three pavilions under your jurisdiction have paid any Heavenly Quantums 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 pavilion storerooms were suddenly burned down. I suspect it was the work of forces coveting the Luo Lan Manor. I investigated thoroughly, but there were no results, so we couldn't pay the tribute this year."

Li Luo listened quietly. Although he knew Pei Hao's reason was laughably absurd, he didn't interrupt further because he understood that he had little influence in the Luo Lan Manor now. The so-called young Manor Lord was perhaps just a decorative figure to the various people in 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, Young Lady and Young Manor Lord... The three pavilions will not pay any tribute this year, and from now on, they will not pay any tribute at all." Pei Hao's voice was light, but it was like a thunderclap to the people in the living room.

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's no true Manor Lord in the Luo Lan Manor, these tributes might end up in the wrong hands. It's better to wait until a truly credible Manor Lord appears before I pay the tribute."

The atmosphere in the living room was oppressive, and the other six Pavilion Masters also looked unhappy. If Pei Hao really did this, the Luo Lan Manor would become a laughingstock to 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 get any benefits?" A middle-aged man on the right side said sternly. This man 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 be silent for a moment, then his gaze turned to Li Luo, who had been silent, and he smiled, "Actually, if I were to follow the rules and pay the tributes from now on, it's not impossible... Of course, the condition is that the Young Manor Lord must agree to one of my requests."

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 also want to know, what request does Palace Master Pei Hao have?"

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

"I hope the Young Manor Lord will dissolve the engagement with Young Lady."

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

Although Li Luo didn't fly into a rage, his face became expressionless. Although he had previously discussed the dissolution of the engagement with Jiang Qing'e and even reached an agreement with her,

But... the engagement was a matter between him and Jiang Qing'e. They could talk about it and do whatever they wanted...

But what was Pei Hao, anyway?

"Boom!"

Just as Li Luo's heart was filled with a cold chill, a powerful energy wave suddenly erupted in the living room.

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

Then, Li Luo vaguely saw Jiang Qing'e's figure, like a flash of lightning, shoot 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 on his right earlobe quickly fell off and expanded into a golden longsword in the wind.

The golden light on the sword surged and flickered, 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, the blade glowing brilliantly. The light was so dazzling that it hurt the eyes just to look at it.

And the pure, sacred, and scorching sensation 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 Metal Phase Power.

The 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. Although you are only at the initial stage of Earth Fiend General, the power and dominance of your Phase Power are not much inferior to my later stage Earth Fiend General."

"Your Metal Phase should have reached the Seventh Rank, right? It seems you haven't been short of privately embezzling the Luo Lan Manor's tributes." Jiang Qing'e said coldly.

Pei Hao's Metal Phase was previously at the Sixth Rank, but in this confrontation, Jiang Qing'e noticed that his Metal Phase Power had become even sharper. For a Sixth Rank Metal Phase to advance to the Seventh Rank, a significant amount of Spirit Water and Odd Light was required.

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 made both of them retreat several steps.

"Pei Hao, you are being too presumptuous!" At this moment, Lei Zhang and several other Pavilion Masters immediately appeared behind Jiang Qing'e, their faces ashen as they shouted.

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

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

"Young Lady, 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 beautiful eyes filled with killing intent, "Pei Hao, if you don't want to die, you should swallow those words. Our affairs are none of your business."

Pei Hao was silent for a moment, then frowned, "Young Lady, why be so stubborn? That engagement is probably just a burden to you. I know you are 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 coolly.

Pei Hao shook his head, then turned his gaze to Li Luo, "Li Luo, you are quite smart, so I think you should know what it means to be envied for your possessions. The Luo Lan Manor is a beautiful jade to you, and Young Lady, a celestial being, 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 Qing'e Sister?"

"If you are smart enough, you should do so." Pei Hao nodded, saying with a pitying tone, "I am 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 their expressions.

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..."

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

"And you... have nothing left."