"Since the Young Mansion Master has arrived, can our meeting begin now?" Pei Hao's gaze shifted to Jiang Qing'e.
Jiang Qing'e maintained a blank expression and said indifferently, "Then why don't you first explain why the three pavilions under your jurisdiction haven't handed over a single sum of revenue to the manor's treasury this year?"
Pei Hao gave a light sigh. "The situation in those three pavilions has been extremely poor this year. As the Junior Sister probably heard before, the warehouses of the three pavilions were suddenly burned down. I suspect it was the work of those forces coveting Luolan Manor. I thoroughly investigated the matter, but haven't found any results yet, so there is temporarily no revenue to hand over this year."
Li Luo simply listened quietly. Although he knew Pei Hao's excuse was ridiculously absurd, he did not interrupt further. He understood that right now, he didn't have much real say within Luolan Manor. In the eyes of the various figures in the manor, the so-called Young Mansion Master was probably nothing more than a decorative mascot.
That being the case, there was naturally no need to speak up and make a fool of oneself.
Jiang Qing'e gave Pei Hao a deep look. "Pei Hao, is this your reason?"
Pei Hao smiled slightly. "Since the Junior Sister wants a reason, I can only find one for you at random. Some things, why bother asking so clearly?"
"Very well. Since we've already reached this point, I might as well make it clear to both the Junior Sister and the Young Mansion Master: not only will those three pavilions not hand over any revenue this year, but from now on, they won't be handing over any at all." Although Pei Hao's voice was soft, falling into the ears of everyone in the living room, it was undoubtedly like a thunderclap.
The chill emanating from Jiang Qing'e's entire body seemed as though it would freeze the air solid. Her voice was icy. "It seems you intend to set up your own household?"
Pei Hao smiled. "I couldn't bear to leave Luolan Manor. It's just that Luolan Manor currently lacks a true Mansion Master, after all. Handing this revenue up only for it to end up in unknown hands—rather than that, it's better to wait until a truly convincing Mansion Master appears in the future, and then I'll hand it over."
The atmosphere in the living room was oppressive. The expressions of the other six pavilion masters also looked rather grim. If Pei Hao were truly allowed to do this, Luolan Manor would likely become the laughingstock of the other four major manors.
Because Pei Hao's action already amounted to building up military power for himself and attempting to split Luolan Manor.
"Pei Hao, are you trying to ruin Luolan Manor? If Luolan Manor falls, how much benefit do you think you can gain?" A middle-aged man on the right said in a deep voice. This person was named Lei Zhang, and he was a pavilion master who supported Jiang Qing'e.
Pei Hao shook his head. "I said before, I don't want Luolan Manor to fall."
He seemed to fall silent for a few breaths, then turned his gaze to the silent Li Luo and smiled. "Actually, wanting me to abide by the rules and faithfully hand over the revenue from now on is not entirely out of the question. Of course, the premise is that I hope the Young Mansion Master can agree to a condition of mine."
Everyone in the living room was startled. Clearly, no one expected Pei Hao to suddenly drag the topic onto Li Luo.
Li Luo stepped out of his state of watching his nose and contemplating his heart, staring at Pei Hao with a hint of curious amusement. "I'm also wondering what kind of condition Manager Pei could possibly have."
Pei Hao shifted his gaze from Li Luo to Jiang Qing'e. Looking at her exquisite, frosty face and slender figure, a flash of fiery greed crossed the depths of his eyes.
"I hope the Young Mansion Master can annul his engagement with the Junior Sister."
As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the living room instantly dropped to freezing point.
Although Li Luo had not flown into a rage, his expression turned utterly blank. Even though he had previously discussed returning the engagement with Jiang Qing'e and had even reached an agreement with her regarding it—
That engagement was a matter between him and Jiang Qing'e. The two of them could freely say or do whatever they liked about it.
Yet what kind of thing was this Pei Hao?
"Boom!"
Just as a bone-chilling intent surged within Li Luo's heart, a violent wave of energy suddenly erupted directly within the living room.
That energy was as brilliant as light, and the radiance swept outward, blocking out all other light in the living room.
Immediately afterward, Li Luo vaguely saw the figure of Jiang Qing'e, who had been sitting to the side, shoot forth like a streak of startling hong.
Her target was none other than Pei Hao.
The sudden attack also caused Pei Hao's gaze to narrow. The next instant, sharp golden light erupted from within his body.
The sword-shaped earring hanging from his right earlobe quickly detached, expanding rapidly in the wind as it transformed into a golden longsword.
On the longsword, sharp golden light resonance power surged and flickered uncertainly, resembling 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 into dust.
The nine pavilion masters hurriedly made their moves to neutralize the aftermath of the energy, then fixed their gazes on the center of the room.
There, two figures stood in confrontation with sword tips pressed against each other—none other than Jiang Qing'e and Pei Hao.
Jiang Qing'e wielded a heavy sword, its blade flowing with brilliant light. The light was so dazzling that merely looking at it caused a stabbing pain in the eyes.
Moreover, that pure, sacred, and scorching sensation caused their hearts to skip a beat.
Such an overbearing Light Resonance power!
Opposite Jiang Qing'e, Pei Hao wielded a golden longsword, and the golden resonance power surging from his body appeared exceptionally sharp and fierce.
That was the power of the Metal Resonance.
With the double swords colliding and their resonance powers countering each other, even the floorboards began to slowly crack.
Pei Hao narrowed his eyes and smiled. "A Ninth Grade Light Resonance, truly living up to its reputation. Even though the Junior Sister is only at the Earth-Fiend General Initial Stage, this majestic and overbearing resonance power is hardly inferior to my Earth-Fiend General Later Stage."
"Your Metal Resonance should have already advanced to the Seventh Grade, right? It seems you haven't embezzled little of Luolan Manor's revenue in the past," Jiang Qing'e said coldly.
Previously, Pei Hao's Metal Resonance was at the Sixth Grade, but during this exchange, Jiang Qing'e noticed that the opponent's metal resonance power had become even fiercer. For a Sixth Grade Metal Resonance to advance to the Seventh Grade, the amount of Spiritual Water and Strange Light required was no small sum.
Pei Hao gave a noncommittal response. The next moment, he and Jiang Qing'e simultaneously and abruptly unleashed the resonance power within their bodies, their sword tips fiercely clashing once more.
Clang!
Metal clashing sounds accompanied energy shockwaves, and both of their figures stepped back several paces.
"Pei Hao, you are being presumptuous!" At this moment, Lei Zhang and the other pavilion masters immediately appeared behind Jiang Qing'e, shouting with livid expressions.
However, three pavilion masters also appeared behind Pei Hao, wearing guarded expressions.
Outside the living room, the commotion here leaked out, causing some chaos in the old estate as two factions of people rushed out like a tide and locked into a standoff.
"Junior Sister, are you planning to let the entire Great Xia Kingdom know that civil strife has broken out in Luolan Manor?" Pei Hao said with a faint smile.
Jiang Qing'e's face was icy cold, and killing intent swirled in her beautiful eyes. "Pei Hao, if you don't want to die, you'd better swallow those words back into your stomach. Our affairs are not something you have any right to meddle in."
Pei Hao fell silent for a few breaths before frowning. "Junior Sister, why must you be this way? Isn't that engagement likely a heavy burden and constraint for you? I know you are grateful to Master and Mistress, but there is no need to subjugate yourself to Li Luo. He truly doesn't deserve it."
"A wolf-hearted ingrate naturally doesn't understand what gratitude is," Jiang Qing'e said indifferently.
Pei Hao shook his head, then turned his gaze to Li Luo. "Li Luo, you are actually quite smart, so I think you should know what it means to harbor a treasure that brings trouble upon oneself. To you, Luolan Manor is a priceless treasure, and a proud daughter of heaven like the Junior Sister is an even more untouchable existence to you.
"Trust me, if you try to bind her using her gratitude towards Master and Mistress, it will ultimately only bring a disaster upon yourself."
Li Luo said calmly, "So according to you, I must give up both Luolan Manor and Sister Qing'e?"
"If you are smart enough, that is exactly what you should do." Pei Hao nodded, saying with a hint of pity, "I am doing this for your own good, too. If you lack the ability, you must rein in your greed. That way, you might still have a chance to live the life of a wealthy idler."
Li Luo smiled. "Pei Hao, aren't you worried that what if one day, my parents suddenly return?"
Pei Hao's pupils shrank slightly, and the expressions of the three pavilion masters behind him flickered as well.
In the end, Pei Hao gently shook his head. "Li Luo, you shouldn't hold on to such a pathetic and naive expectation. From the information I've gathered, Master and Mistress are likely never coming back."
He looked at Li Luo and sighed sympathetically.
"So your biggest backing is gone."
"What makes you any different now from me back then? No, the present you might not even compare to the me of that time."
"After all, although I had no background and was at a dead end back then, at the very least, I still had some potential."
"While you have nothing left."
Pei Hao's words were like sharp blades, every single one piercing straight to the heart. Hearing them, the pavilion masters who supported Jiang Qing'e wore angry expressions.
They couldn't help casting their gazes toward Li Luo, but to their astonishment, the latter's expression did not show any furious rage. This caused them to heave a sigh of relief while also feeling a trace of admiration; although this Young Mansion Master was born with an empty resonance, at least his temperament was quite commendable.
Pei Hao similarly noticed that Li Luo remained unmoved by his words and couldn't help being slightly surprised, but he quickly understood, figuring that the changes over the past few years had long since made Li Luo understand these cruel facts.
"Are you done talking?" Li Luo asked in a calm voice.
Pei Hao smiled faintly.
"Actually, I find it rather strange. Clearly, my parents treated you with great kindness, so why do you seem to harbor an even deeper resentment toward them?" Li Luo asked.
Hearing this, Pei Hao fell silent for a few breaths before saying flatly, "Master and Mistress did treat me quite well, but they always knew what I wanted. I wanted to become their true disciple, not just some so-called registered disciple.
"To achieve this goal, how much bitter toil did I put into Luolan Manor? Yet they never once spoke up. Do you know how many of my hopes ultimately turned into disappointment?"
Li Luo smiled. "Is this what they mean by 'aid a pauper and you make an enemy'? But looking at it now, my parents actually did the right thing. I hardly think that with your ingrate personality, if they had really taken you as their personal disciple, you would have reined yourself in because of it.
"Giving you the status of a personal disciple would only have intensified your ambition, making it easier for you to usurp Luolan Manor for yourself."
Pei Hao shook his head, not wishing to entangle himself too much with Li Luo on this topic. He simply said indifferently, "It seems you aren't very interested in my proposal."
Li Luo nodded. "You can spare yourself the trouble. The engagement is a matter between me and Sister Qing'e, and it won't change because of any threats from you."
Hearing this, Pei Hao let out a light sigh. "Li Luo, greed comes with a heavy price. Times are different now; you no longer have the capital to be willful."
Li Luo stared at Pei Hao. Although he was vastly inferior to the latter in terms of aura, the intent contained within that gaze made Pei Hao feel somewhat uncomfortable.
"Pei Hao, I return these exact words to you." When Li Luo said this, his expression was exceptionally earnest.
Pei Hao was taken aback, then laughed. "Li Luo, do you really think the Junior Sister can protect you forever? You are still too naive.
"However, since you don't agree with my proposal, so be it. Just as I said before, starting today, the three pavilions under my jurisdiction will no longer hand over their revenue to the manor's treasury. Similarly, whether the three pavilions will implement any orders issued from within the manor will depend entirely on my mood."
The expressions of the other six pavilion masters in the living room gradually turned cold and stern.
Although two of the six pavilion masters belonged to the neutral faction, if Pei Hao truly intended to split Luolan Manor, it would inevitably affect their own interests as well.
If that happened, they would probably have no choice but to follow Jiang Qing'e's orders to encircle and suppress these three pavilions and Pei Hao.
Only, once things reached that step, the split of Luolan Manor would be exposed to the various factions in the Great Xia Kingdom.
"What? Want to make a move against me?" Pei Hao seemed to perceive the chill in their eyes and immediately let out a light chuckle.
Looking at the smile on Pei Hao's face, Lei Zhang and the other six pavilion masters couldn't help a flash of wariness crossing their eyes. One of Pei Hao's statements from earlier was indeed true: during the years Luolan Manor was rising, he had truly made significant contributions, and quite a few of the formidable enemies that blocked Luolan Manor's path had died at Pei Hao's hands.
Today's Pei Hao was at the Earth-Fiend General Later Stage, whereas among these pavilion masters, aside from Lei Zhang who was at the Earth-Fiend General Intermediate Stage, the rest were all at the Initial Stage.
Among everyone present, perhaps only Jiang Qing'e, who possessed the Ninth Grade Light Resonance, was capable of contending with him.
Of course, the most important thing was that Pei Hao was not alone; he also had forces loyal to him, extending far beyond the three pavilion masters who had defected to his side right now.