"Mo Cheng..." Li Luo whispered in disbelief. House Luolan's great ancestral elder was the last person he expected to defend Pei Hao.

These three ancestral elders were highly placed within House Luolan. Although they remained apart from House Luolan's daily operations, they held heavy responsibilities nonetheless.

The three ancestral elders did not even reside at Xia City usually, and Li Luo had not even seen them since he came to headquarters half a year ago.

"Elder Mo Cheng," Li Luo said flatly. "I would love to know why a sworn protector of House Luolan is defending Pei Hao.

"Or were you perhaps bought by him? As I understand, the three elders have special status, and answer only to the House Lords." 

Mo Cheng's wizened face creased in a small smile. "Young Lord, I am not subject to Pei Hao's commands. I simply do not wish to see House Luolan's dirty laundry aired in public. If we cause a fuss here, the whole Xia Kingdom will laugh at us."

Li Luo spluttered a laugh. "Where were you when Pei Hao was poisoning resonance artificers at the Suncreek Villa? Causing a fuss? Dirty laundry? I didn't see your noble self there to stop him."

Mo Cheng's smile did not fade. "Pei Hao is one of the candidates in the running for house lord. As an ancestral elder, I have a duty to see to his safety."

Li Luo shook his head in frustration. Pei Hao had come to them back then with Elder Mo Cheng's plaque in hand. And now the latter had appeared to defend him. They were clearly close.

"In the running for house lord? He isn't even first in line. It was my parents' legacy that was left behind," Li Luo said coldly.

"Young Lord, you make many assumptions. In my eyes, you're a young lord, and Pei Hao is a young lord too... He is the disciple of the House Lords. And back then, the House Lords decreed that anyone who was recognized by two elders and four pavilion masters was in the running. Pei Hao qualifies," Mo Cheng said solemnly.

"Elder Mo, he is a namesake disciple,” Li Luo corrected sharply. “My parents only took one true disciple: Sister Qing'e."

Elder Mo smirked. "A disciple in name is still a disciple. Actually, it really doesn't matter. All you need to know is that Pei Hao qualifies for the running. In the end, all you have to blame is yourself. If only you had shown your dual resonances and potential earlier. Why else would anyone in House Luolan waver?"

Li Luo sighed out loud. "I very dearly want to know which mighty power is backing Pei Hao, to even turn two elders to his side. Still... aren't you worried that my parents will return?"

"We aren't... Our actions don't violate the rules that the two House Lords set!"

"Heh," Li Luo chuckled. "Is that a guilty conscience I smell?"

"Nothing you say matters," Mo Cheng said, recovering his composure. "In half a year, all will be decided at the Housemeet. And according to the House Lords' rules, only Pei Hao and yourself are in the running."

He looked over. "Of course, Miss Jiang is very skilled, but strictly speaking, her status as heir is incomplete... She does not have the support of two ancestral elders."

Li Luo nodded. "I hear you. I'm supposed to go up against Pei Hao at the Housemeet? And Sister Qing'e can't interfere?" 

Mo Cheng smiled and nodded. "After all, that's how house lords are chosen. If you can win at the Housemeet, you'll be formally appointed. At that time, all the wandering hearts will return to your side, and House Luolan will be complete again.

"Even those who are on Pei Hao's side won't have a leg to stand on."

"Well calculated, I must say," Li Luo remarked.

"A second-tier Resonant Master against an Earth Fiend. Is your brain screwed, or is mine?"

Elder Mo smiled infuriatingly. "Seems unfair, doesn't it? Those are the rules though. Or perhaps you could secede to Pei Hao and then challenge him again when you're strong enough."

Li Luo laughed. "It all boils down to the fact that Pei Hao is scared of Sister Qing'e."

"A ninth-grade light resonance is exceptional." Pei Hao spoke up mildly from behind. "It would scare anyone, and I'm not ashamed to admit it."

Li Luo shook his head. "Enough with the crap, Elder Mo. Perhaps according to House Luolan's strictest rules, Sister Qing'e might not qualify, but you know well that she's engaged to me. We are one, and so she is qualified to fight in my place.

"Which means," he said with a taunting smile Pei Hao's way, "if you want to fight me, you'll have to go through her first."

Mo Cheng's eyes narrowed. Li Taixuan and Tan Tailan were noble people... How had their son grown up lacking any scruples?

"You are running away... Even if Miss Jiang takes the win for you, no one will be persuaded. They might follow her, but no one will follow you.

"And how will the other powers in the Xia Kingdom see House Luolan? A husband hiding behind his wife? Preposterous."  

Li Luo rubbed his ear off-handedly. "The easy road is the way of the privileged."

Mo Cheng's sneer was growing by the moment. Li Luo was more pathetic than he had expected.

He thought the son of Li Taixuan and Tan Tailan would have some pride, that he would fight to the bitter end. Outcome aside, he had to convince them with his attitude.

None of that was to be seen. Li Luo had chosen to cower behind his strongest queen on the chessboard. Beat her first!

Manliness? Privilege? He didn't care!

He shook his head with disdain. "Perhaps you'll change your mind when the Housemeet comes, Young Lord."

"Stop right there," Jiang Qing'e said coldly. "You think you will take him away so easily?"

She had remained silent up to this point, content to let Li Luo lead their conversation.

Mo Cheng snorted. "Oh, Miss Jiang. A ninth-grade light resonance is exceptional indeed, but you are no threat to me. Yes, I know that you've marshaled most of House Luolan's forces outside this courtyard, and it will be hard for us to win if we really fight.

"However... are you planning to fight?" he asked smugly. "There are too many eyes in Xia City, and many must already be here..."

"Problems at the Suncreek Villa during the day, and now a fight between the Young Lord's faction and an ancestral elder? Surely not."

"Since the cake is already ruined," Jiang Qing'e pointed out, "there is even less reason to avoid breaking the eggs."

"Do as you please." Mo Cheng shook his head, walking out uncaringly, side by side with Pei Hao.

Her hand tensed on the hilt of her sword, but Li Luo waved her back.

There was really no good reason to fight now, not when they had no guarantee of holding the two.

Pei Hao brushed past Li Luo. "Remember, Li Luo, you have half a year more."

Li Luo cocked his head with a smile.

"Thanks for the reminder. Oh and..."

He licked his lips and nodded encouragingly. "That was a sweet present indeed."