Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Luo Hong safely returned to the Luo Residence.
Right after he stepped into the courtyard, he saw Yao Jing standing in the center in her long yellow dress, waiting for his return.
When she saw Luo Hong and Zhao Donghan, she finally sighed a breath of relief after crying her eyes red. She blamed herself and was worried for the whole night and with their return, she finally put on a bright smile.
She was relieved that Luo Hong could come back safely.
Luo Hong did not greet her or whatsoever, he looked around the courtyard and realized that Butler Chen and Luo Xiaoxiao were not around. Only Yao Jing was there to welcome him back.
‘The little imp must have gone to bed, but Butler Chen…’ Luo Hong fell into deep thought. He remembered that Butler Chen had appeared extremely calm when he was arrested. Maybe his safe return had something to do with Butler Chen.
Nevertheless, he still could not grasp Butler Chen’s background for now.
“Whatever, it’s late. I’ll talk to Uncle Chen tomorrow.” Luo Hong shook his head.
He glanced at Zhao Donghan. “Zhao, come with me to the study.”
Zhao Donghan nodded with a grunt.
When the two arrived at the study, the servant lit up the candles that illuminated the dark study.
“The constable from the yamen said you were an Entry Martial Cultivator. Is that so?” As Zhao Donghan stood straight, the scar on his face twitched slightly.
“Yes.” His tone sounded rather heavy as if he had something he did not want to talk about.
However, it piqued Luo Hong’s interest. He did not expect his guard to turn out to be a cultivator. “Can you tell me more about it?” Luo Hong asked curiously.
Zhao Donghan looked at Luo Hong and realized that his curiosity was overflowing. It put him in a difficult situation since he was conflicted about whether to tell the truth or not because he had promised Butler Chen to keep it a secret.
Just as he was struggling internally, a voice as soft as a fly’s entered his ears, “The young lord has started cultivating. Just tell him. It’s fine.” The voice sounded bland and devoid of any emotions.
Zhao Donghan’s eyes shone and he looked up in delight when he recognized Butler Chen’s voice.
Then, he looked at Luo Hong in surprise. ‘The young lord…has started cultivating? Is Butler Chen teaching him?’
If it were true, Zhao Donghan would not feel burdened to tell the truth.
“My lord, I’m an Entry Martial Cultivator, currently at the Eighth Rank of the Steel Bone State,” said Zhao Donghan.
“Eighth Rank?” Luo Hong’s eyes widened.
“The Ninth Rank Martial Cultivation is Copper Skin State, and 10 Ninth Rank Copper Skins might not even be as powerful as one Eighth Rank Steel Bone,” Zhao Donghan proclaimed proudly. “In the Great Xia Military, an Eighth Rank Steel Bone Martial Cultivator is eligible to become a centurion!”
Luo Hong breathed deeply. ‘Does it mean that 10 of me might not even defeat one of him?’
“What about those beyond the Eighth Rank?” Luo Hong asked.
“The Seventh Rank is above the Eighth, and its state is Violent Blood. As for anything higher than that, I only know of its rank, not the state.” With Butler Chen’s permission, Zhao Donghan did not hold back at all.
Copper Skin, Steel Bone, Violent Blood…these were all the lines that separated the Martial Cultivators, and it was Luo Hong’s first time hearing it.
“Other than Martial Cultivation, are there other cultivation methods?” Luo Hong leaned on the chair as he asked with an interested gaze. He was just testing Zhao Donghan with the question, but the answer surprised him.
“Yes. There are a lot of cultivation systems in the world, and Martial Cultivation is the most common but also the lowest state.”
Luo Hong sat up straight when he heard that.
Zhao Donghan looked at Luo Hong as he added, “Other than Martial Cultivation, there are three more widely-known systems in the world, which are Taoism, Buddhism, and Ruism. These are the big three though they aren’t as common as Martial Cultivation.
“Other than that, there is also Sword Cultivation, which originated from Martial Cultivation, but it has gone independent and is as strong as the other four systems.”
The cultivation knowledge from Zhao Donghan opened up new doors to Luo Hong. He had been in the dark about the extraordinary powers of this world, and now, with the explanation, he had understood the general idea of cultivation.
“10,000 years ago, the idea of cultivation was vague. Taoism, Buddhism, and Ruism were already strong back then, and they created the cultivation ranks, separating them into nine ranks. Martial Cultivation also adapted their ranking system, and was followed by other minor cultivation systems.”
“So, the cultivation ranks are generally split into nine categories.”
Zhao Donghan suddenly looked regretful when he added, “Unfortunately, I’m not strong enough to learn the deeper knowledge of the cultivation world.” He could sense the young lord’s desire to know more, but that was all he could provide.
“My lord, have you…started cultivating?” Zhao Donghan asked with a bright smile.
Luo Hong was surprised by the question. ‘Have I been busted?’
He thought about it and decided to confess since he had enough of hiding. “Mm-hmm. I…am fortunate enough to start my cultivation path.”
Zhao Donghan was in deep thought. ‘Maybe it is Butler Chen who guided the young lord on this path.’
A moment later, he sighed. “Actually, being a normal person is quite good. Cultivation is dangerous. A slight mistake and everything will fall beyond repair. Becoming a cultivator might not be a blessing.”
Luo Hong did not comment on Zhao Donghan’s words.
“I see your yin energy is rather vague and your yang energy is obvious. Are you taking the path or Ruism?” Zhao Donghan exclaimed.
Despite Butler Chen being one of the top-tier Sword Cultivators, he did not actually guide the young lord down the path of Sword Cultivation.
However, Ruism might be more suitable for the young lord because of his righteous and humble presence. Sword Cultivation could be used as support instead.
Zhao Donghan’s words shocked Luo Hong again, and he reacted strongly to them.
‘My yin aura is vague and my yang energy is obvious?! Is he really talking about me? Luo Hong? I’m cultivating the Demon Cultivation Arts, Ninth Rank Jusha. Shouldn’t I look like an evil person instead?!’
Luo Hong was hoping that his cultivation would change his life and erect his image of an evil person in public.
‘Gather the ominous energy at my dantian…Does it mean that the ominous energy turns passive and breaks the balance of yin and yang, causing the yang energy to be obvious?’
After a quick thought, the sour look on Luo Hong’s face grew heavier.
With the yang energy showing, people would consider him as a good guy at first glance. He would have nothing to do with an antagonist now!
The consolation prize was indeed a lousy piece of sh*t! Damn it! It only increased his difficulty of being an antagonist!
Luo Hong finally realized what had happened earlier at the yamen. The emissaries from the court had let him go that easily because of his overflowing yang energy that came from within his body, and he had no way of hiding it!
If he was emanating ominous energy, he might not have been able to leave that easily.
“Zhao, you can go rest now.” Luo Hong retracted his thoughts and told Zhao Donghan to step down.
Zhao Donghan noticed that the young lord did not seem well though he did not know what could have caused the fluctuation of his mood.
Regardless, he did not stay. He bowed and left the study.
…
Zhao Donghan left the study and was shuttling through the corridors of the Luo Residence. All of a sudden, his sight turned blurry and a man in a green robe appeared before him.
It was Butler Chen!
Shocked, Zhao Donghan bowed right away. “My lord!”
Butler Chen put his hands behind his back as he stood in front of the lotus pond of the backyard. As he looked at the moon, he said, “Did the young lord ask you about cultivating?”
“Yes, he did,” Zhao Donghan said.
Whoosh! A small manual flew out from Butler Chen’s hand and landed into Zhao Donghan’s palm.
“Give this Sword Qi Manual to the young lord when the time is right. Amongst all cultivation, only the sword is unrivaled. And remember to tell the young lord that the path of cultivation is dangerous. A slight misstep and everything will fall beyond repair.”
Butler Chen looked at Zhao Donghan profoundly before he stepped onto the lotus pond, moving across the water. He then disappeared into the backyard.
With the little manual in hand, Zhao Donghan realized that Butler Chen was the one who was protecting Luo Hong.
…
After Zhao Donghan left, the study fell into silence.
Luo Hong was quiet for a long while. It was late and the emptiness shrouded him like the rising tide.
“Whatever! At least, I’ve started cultivating.” He sighed.
Even though it increased his difficulty of becoming an antagonist, it should not be a huge problem. He believed that if he could commit heavy crimes, his righteous image would not be able to cover his sins.
He was still quite confident about becoming an antagonist!
Moreover, when this lousy piece of cultivation art reached its potential and he could unleash the ominous energy, he would be able to summon a shadow. Then, he would still be the most graceful antagonist out there!