Chapter 15: Am I being pushed against the wall?
Meanwhile, in another part of the Luo residence.
In a side room, candlelight flickered, casting two distinct shadows.
“Father, I don’t understand. Why let Luo Jiutian stay? His position is awkward enough—keeping him is just trouble for the Luo family.”
Luo Chen paced before Luo Changqing, his voice laced with discontent.
His face was still pale, but the sharpness in his eyes had returned.
Thanks to the Luo family’s resources, his injuries were mostly healed.
“And…” Luo Chen turned, “keeping him is one thing, but you, a Nascent Soul cultivator, bowing to a Foundation Establishment junior? What gives him the right?”
The candlelight wavered behind him, his shadow trembling on the wall.
Luo Changqing, seated at the desk with eyes closed, opened them slowly: “If I’d let him leave that day, the Luo family might’ve gained a formidable enemy.”
“Why?” Luo Chen retorted instinctively. “Because he beat me? I was just careless—”
Luo Changqing raised a hand, cutting him off: “Chen, hear me out.”
Seeing his father’s serious expression, Luo Chen shut his mouth.
Luo Changqing’s gaze fell on the candle: “That day in the arena, I probed Luo Jiutian with my divine sense multiple times. Each time, it sank like a stone in the sea—no response.”
He paused, looking at Luo Chen: “Do you know what that means?”
Luo Chen frowned, pondering.
Luo Changqing didn’t wait: “For my divine sense to find nothing, there are three possibilities.
First, his cultivation far surpasses mine—but that’s impossible.
With that kind of strength and the ruthlessness he showed, he’d have razed the Luo family already.”
His face grew grave: “That leaves two options—either someone’s secretly protecting him, or he has a treasure that blocks divine sense.
Either way, he’s not someone we can provoke lightly.”
Luo Chen looked puzzled: “Is it that serious?
Couldn’t you have tested him then? If someone’s backing him, you didn’t harm him—an apology and gift would’ve settled it.
If it’s just a treasure, kill him, take it and that sword. Who’d object?
It was our home ground—who’d stand up for that bastard?”
Luo Changqing sighed softly.
Luo Chen froze, glancing at him: “Did I say something wrong?”
Luo Changqing didn’t answer directly, standing and walking to the window, gazing at the quiet courtyard.
After a while, he spoke: “Chen, before you act, always consider the worst outcome. If you don’t learn this, you’ll fall again.”
Luo Chen lowered his eyes, silent.
“You’re right—it was our turf,” Luo Changqing continued, his tone shifting. “But what if his protector doesn’t play fair and attacks on the spot?
If their cultivation exceeds mine, what then for the Luo family?”
Luo Chen froze, struck as if by lightning.
Luo Changqing watched his reaction, saying no more, returning to his seat.
“As for the treasure,” he added, “you saw it yourself. Despite all the mockery, he stayed calm. Someone with that temperament wouldn’t act recklessly.”
A cold glint flashed in his eyes: “He must’ve had a backup plan, daring to reveal his cards in the arena, even… testing us deliberately.”
The candle flame flickered, as if stirred by wind, casting the room in shifting light.
The light played on Luo Changqing’s face, hiding his expression.
He said: “Given that, would you add a helper to the Luo family, or an enemy?”
Silence fell over the room.
After a long pause, Luo Chen spoke lowly: “I… understand.”
His face still held defiance.
Luo Changqing saw it but didn’t comment, smiling faintly: “Tomorrow’s secret realm expedition—each of the four clans sends ten people. As Young Master, you represent not just yourself but the Luo family’s honor.”
His expression hardened: “In the secret realm, no internal strife. The clan’s interests come first.”
He emphasized “clan’s interests.”
Luo Chen caught the hint, nodding solemnly: “I understand. Rest assured, Father.”
He clenched his fists.
Just wait, Luo Jiutian.
You won in the arena, stole the spotlight, made everyone think you’ve transformed, even earned Father’s regard.
So what?
You may win a moment, not a lifetime.
The secret realm isn’t your stage to dominate with a sword.
I’ll make you falter, fail, and bow before everyone.
Then, Father and all will see—
I, Luo Chen, am the one destined to shine!
…
The scene shifted back to Luo Jiutian’s courtyard.
He leaned against the wall, eyebrow raised, looking at the person before him.
Luo Yunlan stood close, hands braced on the wall beside him.
Her shorter height forced her to stand on tiptoe to meet his eyes.
Even so, her gaze wavered, her ears faintly red.
Luo Jiutian, puzzled, watched her stiff posture.
Is she… wall-pinning me?
But the one pinning was Luo Yunlan, yet she was the shy one.
The scene felt absurdly comical.
He couldn’t help asking: “What are you doing?”
Luo Yunlan’s lips moved, as if choosing her words.
After a long moment, she whispered: “I just… wanted to try.”
“Try what?”
“Do you… like Su Wan’er’s type, the proactive kind?”
Her words were vague but clear enough.
Luo Jiutian paused, then laughed helplessly.
He didn’t say much, just lifted her onto a nearby stone bench.
Luo Yunlan’s shoulders tensed, but she didn’t resist.
He sat beside her, gaze softening: “Yunlan, did Wan’er say something to you?”
She pursed her lips, hesitated, then nodded.
He knew it.
She must’ve run into Su Wan’er leaving and exchanged barbed words, as usual.
Luo Yunlan, losing the verbal spar, resorted to this odd wall-pinning.
He sighed inwardly.
Just two heroines, and it’s already like this.
If more show up, will it turn into a battle royale?
Forget it—deal with the present first.
At least, avoid the yandere or locked-room endings.
Looking at the still-downcast Luo Yunlan, he said patiently: “Yunlan, you’re you, she’s her. Everyone’s different, with their own ways. That doesn’t mean one’s better.”
She slowly looked up.
He continued: “You don’t need to compete or mimic anyone to please someone else.
Living like that only makes you tired, less like yourself.”
“And I—” he paused, “want you to be you. Because the real you is already great.”
His words seemed to untie a knot in her heart.
The confusion in her eyes faded, her demeanor lighter.
Seeing her relax, he nodded, about to say more, when—
Luo Yunlan leaned closer.
Unlike her usual restraint, she reached out, tracing circles on his chest, her movements natural and intimate.
“Xiaotian,” her voice soft, “I’ll remember what you said.”
Luo Jiutian froze, instinctively wanting to pull back, but he couldn’t move.
An invisible pressure hit him—the kind felt only before a vastly stronger cultivator.
How?
At this point, wasn’t Luo Yunlan just at Foundation Establishment’s peak?
Even facing Nascent Soul Luo Changqing, he hadn’t felt this suffocation.
If it wasn’t an illusion, she was at least… Spirit Transformation!
Before he could react, she leaned closer: “I’ll only listen to you, but… don’t lie to me, okay~”
Her voice was sweet, almost coy, but it chilled him, goosebumps rising.
Then, she stopped, stepping back, the pressure vanishing.
She reverted to her usual gentle self, as if it was all a hallucination.
Sweat beaded on his back.
What the hell was that…?
Had Luo Yunlan’s grief over his past “death” broken her mind?
He wondered if he should run, or he’d be doomed.
But he dismissed the thought—
If she’d wanted to do something, he’d have been helpless.
Yet she did nothing.
Besides, he wasn’t sure he could escape a Spirit Transformation cultivator.
If he tried and failed, he might end up in a real undetectable locked room.
Seeing him stare, Luo Yunlan blinked, puzzled: “Xiaotian, what’s wrong?”
He snapped back, shaking his head: “Nothing.”
Before she could press, he changed the subject: “By the way, tomorrow’s secret realm might have chances to break through to Golden Core. You really not going?”
She met his gaze, firm: “No need to worry. I have my own way to advance.”
“And…” she paused, adding, “I have more important things to do, for our future.”
He raised an eyebrow: “Our… future?”
She froze, realizing his implication, her cheeks flushing: “I meant serious matters. You’re teasing again.”
“You said it like that—how could I not overthink?” He feigned innocence, coughing. “I’ll jot this down to tease you later.”
“Keep talking nonsense, and I’ll—” She faltered, raising her hand to bop his head, but he caught her wrist.
“Whoa, why so fierce? I’m the weak, helpless one you wall-pinned.”
“You’re still talking!” Her ears reddened, and she reached to pinch his face.
He didn’t dodge, leaning in earnestly: “Sister Yunlan, don’t be mad. I’m sorry—punish me.”
“Shut up…”
They bantered in the courtyard, playful and light.
The breeze passed under the eaves, shadows falling on stone steps, everything serene, like a dream too gentle to last.