Chapter 8 A New Beginning

However, Jiang Qing'e, who was familiar with the other party, understood that the person before her was not to be underestimated. Since she took charge of the Luolan House, it was this very person who had caused her many hindrances. This person was Pei Hao, the named disciple of Li Taiyuan and Dantai Lan, and now a powerful figure within the Luolan House. Beneath him stood three figures, the three pavilion masters he had courted. Opposite them sat six other pavilion masters of the Luolan House; among these six, four supported Jiang Qing'e, while two remained neutral, not leaning towards either side. Just from this point, one could see the chaos within the Luolan House now. Having lost the support of Li Taiyuan and Dantai Lan, the shallow-rooted Luolan House was indeed in turmoil. In the solemn hall, silence persisted for a long time, broken only by the subtle sounds of tea being sipped. At a certain moment, Pei Hao, sitting at the leftmost side, suddenly placed his teacup lightly on the table. The crisp sound echoed in the hall, momentarily freezing the atmosphere. Pei Hao raised his head, cast a glance at Jiang Qing'e, and smiled, saying, "Junior Sister, everyone has been waiting here for quite a while. Why hasn't the Young House Master come out yet?" "Although he is the Young House Master, we have all been striving for the Luolan House. One must know that even when Master and Mistress were here, they would arrive punctually in such occasions, which showed how much they valued us." As his voice rang out, the nine pavilion masters present displayed varied expressions: some remained motionless, others frowned slightly, while some murmured to themselves. Jiang Qing'e coldly replied, "When Master and Mistress were here, I never saw you so impatient." Pei Hao narrowed his eyes slightly, smiled at Jiang Qing'e, and said, "Junior Sister, people ultimately need to look forward to the future." He paused, gazing at everyone, and continued, "Since the Young House Master has yet to make an appearance, I suggest we start discussing matters directly; after all..." Pei Hao seemed a bit helpless and smiled, saying, "Everyone knows the Young House Master's situation; perhaps it would be better for him not to be present today, so let him have some peace." In the hall, everyone had different expressions. Aside from Jiang Qing'e, no one spoke at the moment. "Since no one has any objections, let's begin," Pei Hao said with a smile, waving his hand to make a decision. Jiang Qing'e's expression turned cold; just as she was about to speak, a laughter suddenly emerged from behind the beaded curtain in the hall. "It’s been a few years, but Senior Brother Pei Hao has indeed become much more imposing than before. If my parents knew how well you’ve done, they would surely be pleased!" As the laughter rang out, the beaded curtain was lifted, revealing a tall, handsome young man with a smile on his face. When the people in the hall suddenly saw that face, their bodies involuntarily trembled, and they stood up reflexively. Because that face bore a striking resemblance to the two individuals they revered. Even Pei Hao felt his smile stiffen for a moment, his body uncontrollably bending slightly, but just as he was about to stand up instinctively, he suddenly became much clearer in his mind. Because the person before him was not those two; he was merely an empty shell of a wastrel. Thus, he extended his hand and suddenly slapped the teacup on the table beside him, producing a crisp sound as the cup shattered into pieces. This sound startled the nine pavilion masters present, snapping them back to reality. Then, awkward expressions appeared on their faces, and the three pavilion masters beside Pei Hao immediately sat back down. The other six pavilion masters hesitated for a moment before bowing in salute to the emerging Li Luo. "Greetings, Young House Master." Now, as they calmed down and looked at Li Luo, they realized that although he resembled Li Taiyuan and Dantai Lan somewhat, he lacked the imposing aura that demanded respect, appearing far too youthful and inexperienced. The previous illusion was just a fleeting moment of distraction. What surprised them most was Li Luo's head of gray-white hair. Even Jiang Qing'e paused with a hint of surprise in her gaze, glancing at Li Luo's hair, thinking that this guy had been fine just yesterday. Li Luo nodded at the six pavilion masters, then turned his gaze to Pei Hao, who sat motionless in his chair, and smiled, saying, "It’s been a few years, Senior Brother Pei Hao; you have truly changed drastically from before." The nine pavilion masters exchanged glances, having caught the underlying meaning in Li Luo's words. In the years when Li Taiyuan and Dantai Lan were still around, every time Pei Hao saw Li Luo, he would wear a gentle smile, like an older brother, going out of his way to bring him various gifts. Yet, perhaps even Li Taiyuan and Dantai Lan hadn’t expected that this obedient disciple would reveal such a nature after they had gone missing for many years. Pei Hao wore a hint of a smile, looking up at Li Luo, and said, "Long time no see, Xiao Luo has really grown a lot!" His words suddenly paused, and he furrowed his brow seriously, saying, "But why is your complexion so pale? Your hair has turned white too; you look like you might not have many years left to live?" (End of this chapter)