Chapter 0619: Meeting Pei Hao Again
With the Three Revolutions Draconic Breath Five Fiends Art in hand, Li Luo left. There was something extremely important to be done. He had to attend Pei Hao"s banquet at the Spring Lake Villa.
A banquet laced with no good intentions towards him.
Still, Li Luo and Jiang Qing"e planned to pop by. All the more since this was being hosted right outside the headquarters of House Luolan. It was clearly a provocative act, and if they did not respond in kind, that would also speak badly of them. A tarnished reputation and hindered fame were not beneficial, considering how the wards of House Luolan worked.
Most importantly, Pei Hao had also invited the two neutral Pavilion Masters with the intention of winning them over. This was something that Li Luo and Jiang Qing"e could not idly let by.
Pavilion Masters were the elders of House Luolan, and they possessed significant influence within. They could also be considered as the upper echelons of the house"s strength. When Li Taixuan and Tan Tailan were around, these p.a.w.ns could do no more than fawn over the duo without the slightest trace of disobedience. Yet with years pa.s.sing by and no hint of information to be heard, they naturally began to foment ideas of their own. Even Li Luo and Jiang Qing"e"s constant efforts were not enough to sway them to reconsider, as they had yet to grow into their own might.
With regards to the neutral Pavilion Masters, there was no love lost between them and Li Luo. They had not chosen to follow Pei Hao outright, but their actions spoke louder than words. Attempting to become their own independent powers also infuriated the duo.
However, this fury had to be stomached. With the current state of affairs, their strength was simply not enough. After they stepped into the Duke Stage and consolidated control over the house, there would be a full accounting for everything that had been done. Li Luo and Qing"e finished their breakfast and left for the outer hall. Ancestor Yuan Qing and Lei Zhang were already waiting for them within. "Young Lord and Mistress, we have gathered House Luolan"s forces and surrounded the Spring Lake Villa. Once you give the signal, we"ll slaughter those beasts!" Lei Zhang thundered.
Li Luo nodded. If Pei Hao showed himself, then he"d better have made his own preparations. The best case scenario was getting rid of the rot now to prevent any further complications during the Housemeet.
.
"Young Lord and Mistress, Pei Hao is a cunning and cautious rat. He"s hidden within the depths of Xia City for a long time, and now that he"s chosen to show himself, it can only mean that he is confident. You have to be cautious," Yuan Qing chided.
Jiang Qing"e nodded. "Ancestor Yuan Qing, you can rest a.s.sured. We will definitely be careful."
Yuan Qing nodded and knew there was no further need to remind them.
After the preparations were complete, there was not much time till the appointment and thus they directly left for the venue.
Right outside the headquarters of House Luolan was an eye-catching and lavishly decorated building known as the Spring Lake Villa. The two locations were separated by just a single road.
"It looks like the place is infested with spies," Li Luo commented as he glanced at his surroundings. He could distinctly feel that there were countless eyes focused upon the headquarters, and Pei Hao had clearly decided to spread the news. Every faction had their eyes focused on the event today.
Seen another way, this banquet was the first probing confrontation between the two parties before the Housemeet.
Jiang Qing"e"s expression remained icy, completely ignoring the probing gazes. Together with Li Luo, they sauntered down the street and entered the vicinity of the Spring Lake Villa.
The main doors were ajar, but the usually boisterous location was now devoid of all life. Pei Hao had very kindly decided to reserve the entire location, and with the news of their confrontation public, no one in their right mind would join the celebration. After all, they could possibly end up as collateral damage.
Yuan Qing, Lei Zhang, and a group of House Luolan guards surrounded and escorted the two into the building. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the entirety of the first level was vacated, and so the group made their way upwards.
Upon reaching the top floor, the view was panoramic, overlooking all of the nearby streets. It was here where many figures were already seated, all cautiously observing the duo who had made their way up.
Li Luo"s gaze swept across the group, and sitting right in the most central position was a certain Pei Hao, who was all smiles. A small, l.u.s.trous, golden sword earring hung loosely from his earlobe, complimenting the cold, sharp aura emitting from his slightly sunken eyes.
Right beside him was Ancestor Mo Cheng.
There were also three familiar figures—the Pavilion Masters who had defected.
Following which were two more individuals, one male and one female. The duo stared at Li Luo and Jiang Qing"e a little stiffly and unnaturally. These two were none other than the neutral Pavilion Masters.
The atmosphere immediately took a turn for the worse and things became tense with their arrival.
"Hehe. Young Lord and Miss Jiang, you two possess astonishing bravery that far surpa.s.ses that of lesser men. You knew that this was clearly an ambush, but you still walked in willingly." Pei Hao sn.i.g.g.e.red.
"I wanted to personally set eyes upon a hiding rat that has chosen to reveal itself. Just what sort of backing would allow such a spineless coward to finally poke his head out?" Li Luo parried with a verbal thrust.
Pei Hao"s gaze immediately shrunk as he glared at Li Luo. He could still remember that just a year ago, this insect was a blank palace wastrel, yet he had miraculously been reborn. Pei Hao was even beginning to feel an uncomfortable sensation around him.
In other words, he could feel a slightly threatening presence coming from Li Luo.
This revelation caused Pei Hao"s thoughts to fog up in shock. He had heard of many of Li Luo"s accomplishments throughout the year. Recently, there was even news that he had obtained the t.i.tle of the strongest student in the One Star Hall across the East Divine Continent... which was no empty t.i.tle. It had to be backed up with strength and potential.
Pei Hao might not have entered the Astral Sage College, but he was very clear on the strength that the students of sage colleges possessed.
Being able to differentiate and triumph over all of those similarly talented students spoke volumes of him. Li Luo was no longer some insignificant weakling.
After resolving the issue with the blank palace, Li Luo had demonstrated talent that anyone would be envious of.
In the past, Pei Hao could prance around like a clown before him, consoling himself with the fact that Li Luo was a useless blank palace individual. Unfortunately, things had changed, and Li Luo had flaunted his mind-boggling cultivation speed to the world. He could finally live up to the expectations of a young lord of a prestigious house.
Li Luo was now the hope of House Luolan"s revitalization, a resplendent sun in the sky.
"How can a single person monopolize all these benefits?" A furious killing intent arose from the depths of Pei Hao"s jealous heart, and he tightly gripped a ball that he had been holding the entire time. Li Luo was blessed with a silver spoon in his mouth, and Pei Hao was nothing compared to him no matter how much effort he put in! He had a deep respect and reverence for both Li Taixuan and Tan Tailan. It was because of his undying loyalty and care for House Luolan that he had received their attention. Yet everything he did, no, perhaps not even the entirety of House Luolan was worth a strand of hair on Li Luo"s head. Veins started to protrude on his forearms.
He knew that he was envious of Li Luo. Incomparably envious. Yet it was this envy that had pushed him so far!
There were no regrets. This was the path he had chosen for himself.
Since the two of them had ruined the House Luolan that he cared so much about... then no one else was to blame if he were to be the destroyer of this hated symbol.