Chapter 16: The Tardy Protagonist

The next morning.

The sky had yet to brighten, distant mountains were wreathed in clouds and mist, and a thin layer of dew still clung to the ground.

On a grassy clearing outside the Qingyun Secret Realm, dozens of people had already gathered.

The contingents from the Su, Li, and Xiao families had all arrived; only the Luo family was late.

“It’s almost Chen Shi,¹ why isn’t the Luo family here yet? Are they trying to put on airs?”

A tall young man complained with a frown, his words immediately drawing the attention of many.

His name was Li Daming, the eldest son of the Li Family Head and the leader of the Li family group this time.

“Brother Li, don’t be anxious. The secret realm has not opened yet, so we will have to wait regardless.”

Not far away, Su Zimo approached slowly, fanning himself with a folding fan, his voice gentle and a smile hidden in his eyes.

He was a direct descendant of the Su family, his robes neat and his posture poised, a stark contrast to Li Daming’s restlessness.

Li Daming shot him a glance and snorted coldly.

His gaze swept across the Su family members as he said, “Speaking of which, isn’t each family allowed to send ten disciples this time? Why are there only nine people on the Su family’s side?”

Hearing this, Su Zimo paused his fan, as if carefully choosing his words.

Before he could speak, a young woman in a purple dress next to him cut in, “The last one is my cousin, Su Wan’er.”

She wore a smile, but her tone was sarcastic and mocking, “But she’s with the Luo family right now. After all… she can’t wait to cling to them.”

The people nearby who heard this immediately began to whisper among themselves.

Su Zimo frowned slightly and turned his head to speak in a low voice, “Xinyuan, watch your words.”

Su Xinyuan smiled faintly and said no more.

Li Daming raised an eyebrow and asked with great interest, “Su Wan’er? Isn’t that the Su Family Head’s daughter? How did she end up staying with the Luo family?”

Su Zimo closed his fan, the smile on his face unwavering, “Brother Li, you’ve just come out of seclusion, so you may not have heard. Not long ago, the Luo family held a recognition banquet, and at that time…”

He gave Li Daming a rough account of that day’s events.

After listening, the expression on Li Daming’s face became quite colorful.

After a few moments, he finally said in a deep voice, “This Luo Jitian… is quite a character.”

“Luo Jitian?” A voice suddenly piped up from the side, “Where is Luo Jitian?”

Everyone followed the sound and saw a plain-looking but seemingly foolish young man who had sidled up to them.

His eyes sparkled as he looked at Su Zimo, “He sounds so strong, I want to fight him. It would definitely be fun!”

Su Zimo didn’t speak, but Li Daming’s expression changed, “Second Brother, no fooling around!”

That person was the Li Family Head’s second son, Li Zhongjie.

He flinched at the rebuke and muttered under his breath, “I was just saying… it’s not like I’m really going to fight…”

Before he could finish, yet another figure walked over.

The man was dressed in a long black robe, his eyes sharp and severe, clearly not a simple character.

“Your second brother isn’t exactly wrong,” he said in a calm tone. “If this person’s reputation is not unearned, he is indeed worth meeting.”

Seeing the newcomer, Li Daming’s face darkened even more as he said coldly, “Xiao Yan, my second brother has something wrong with his head, are you going to join in his nonsense too? This Luo Jitian sounds like bad news. If you want to provoke him, do it yourself, don’t drag us into it.”

The only son of the Xiao Family Head—Xiao Yan, the prodigy who was the fastest among Tianyuan Kingdom’s younger generation to reach the Grand Completion of the Foundation Establishment stage.

“You worry too much. I simply feel that… capable people deserve respect.” Xiao Yan stood with his hands behind his back and, after speaking, shot a deliberate glance at Li Daming.

Li Daming was already fuming, and his face instantly fell, “What do you mean by that? Are you implying that I’m not capable?”

The atmosphere immediately tensed. Several disciples from the Li family stood up, and a few from the Xiao family’s side also took a step forward.

Seeing this, Su Zimo snapped his fan shut with a ‘pa’ and stepped between the two.

“Alright, alright, let’s not get angry so early in the morning.” He mediated with a smile, “Today is the day the four families enter the secret realm together. Starting a fight before we even go in, how would that look if word got out?”

With that, he tapped the air lightly with his fan, “Besides, the Luo family hasn’t even arrived yet. If you two start a commotion here, wouldn’t you just be making a joke of yourselves for them to see?”

Rumble—!

Speak of the devil and he shall appear. The low sound of a flying boat breaking through the wind came from the distant sky.

Everyone looked up to see a long, bronze-colored boat cutting through the clouds and landing not far from the edge of the clearing.

The Luo family crest on the flying boat was clearly visible, its golden patterns glinting, orderly and calm.

The boat’s door opened, and nine figures walked out one by one.

The person in the lead wore white robes and had his hair tied back, his expression cold and stern.

It was Luo Chen.

Beside him were several other talented young men from the Luo family, including Luo Yuanshan and Luo Yan.

Luo Chen subconsciously straightened his back, secretly savoring the gazes that fell upon him, a sense of exhilaration filling his heart.

‘That’s right, this is the feeling.’

‘Everyone is looking at him.’

He, Luo Chen, was finally standing at the center of everyone’s attention once again.

At this moment, he had rediscovered his former confidence.

The next moment, Su Zimo slowly walked up to greet him, his folding fan swaying gently, “I have long admired the Young Master Luo’s reputation. Seeing you today, your bearing is truly extraordinary.”

After speaking, his tone shifted as he said with a smile, “The Luo family held a banquet a few days ago. I had intended to pay a visit, but alas, I was swamped with affairs in my own household and couldn’t get away. I hope you’ll forgive me.”

These words perfectly expressed respect and a desire for friendship.

The words were very pleasing to Luo Chen’s ears, though he maintained an indifferent expression, “It’s no matter. Family affairs come first.”

Following that, Su Xinyuan also stepped forward and curtsied slightly, “Young Master Luo is truly one of a kind. The first glance at you is enough to captivate anyone.”

Luo Chen glanced at her and did not speak immediately, merely nodding his head.

Seeing that he didn’t refuse her, Su Xinyuan took the opportunity to move a little closer, “I’ve heard that the secret realm is fraught with danger. If I could travel with Young Master Luo… this humble girl would feel much more at ease.”

“Oh?” Luo Chen raised an eyebrow, his tone playful, “Is the fair lady inviting me?”

“I dare not hope for Young Master Luo to agree, I was just thinking…” She paused, seemingly lowering her head in shyness before peeking at him again, “With someone to rely on, no matter how difficult the path, I won’t be afraid.”

Hearing this, a flicker of movement appeared in Luo Chen’s eyes.

He turned slightly, leaned close to her ear, and whispered a few words.

Su Xinyuan was taken aback for a moment, then her eyes lit up, and a grin she couldn’t possibly contain spread across her face.

‘Luo Chen agreed, he agreed!’

Her heart leaped with wild joy.

‘This time, Su Wan’er is going to lose to me.’

She had long been unable to stand that woman’s high-and-mighty attitude.

Just because she was the Family Head’s daughter, she acted so self-important, and even now, she couldn’t see the situation clearly, hovering around that Luo Jitian all day long.

‘Can he be relied on?’

‘Absolutely not, not in a million years.’

Luo Jitian was neither a direct son of the Luo family nor did he have any background. Did he really think he could change anything just by winning one match against Luo Chen?

Luo Chen had status, background, extraordinary talent, and a steady mind.

Even if he suffered a temporary setback, it was only temporary.

Before long, he would trample Luo Jitian under his foot.

Time would prove that her choice was the right one.

‘Heh, you can cry your eyes out then, Su Wan’er.’

Standing next to Su Xinyuan, Luo Chen was also in high spirits.

Prodigies taking the initiative to greet him, beautiful women willingly getting close—this was the treatment a Young Master deserved.

A moment later, more people began to approach Luo Chen, either to pay respects or to make conversation, their words full of reverence.

Li Daming watched this scene with a look of contempt, “A bunch of sycophants, they’ve really mastered the art of flattery.”

His voice wasn’t loud, but everyone present had a decent level of cultivation, so they naturally heard him clearly.

The few people who had just been talking to Luo Chen’s expressions changed, but they dared not say anything and could only pretend they hadn’t heard.

Su Zimo smiled faintly, ignoring Li Daming.

Fanning himself, his gaze swept over the Luo family’s group, and after a full circle, he suddenly stopped, his brow furrowing slightly.

“Young Master Luo, my Su family’s eldest young lady… why do I not see her with you?” Su Zimo asked with a puzzled expression.

Hearing this, Luo Chen was also stunned.

He had been so immersed in everyone’s compliments just now that he hadn’t noticed.

He turned to look back towards his family’s flying boat.

The boat’s door was still not fully closed, and only now did two figures emerge, one after the other.

“Brother Jitian, you’re walking so fast, are you trying not to wait for me?”

Su Wan’er was trotting behind, chasing after Luo Jitian with a pout.

Luo Jitian, who was in front of her, didn’t even turn his head, “You were the one dawdling, and now you’re blaming me.”

Su Wan’er bit her lip, her eyes filled with grievance, “Husband, you’ve changed. You were so gentle to me last night.”

Only then did Luo Jitian turn to look at her, his face wearing a deadpan expression, “Yesterday was yesterday, today is today. We have proper business to attend to now. How can you compare it to yesterday?”

Su Wan’er huffed, “You’re just a heartless man, you change your tune faster than flipping through a book.”

The two bickered back and forth until Luo Jitian noticed a pile of gazes fixed on him, and only then did he look around.

He saw that Luo Chen, Su Zimo, Li Daming, Xiao Yan, and the others were all staring at the two of them.

[TL Note: Chen Shi (辰时): An ancient Chinese timekeeping unit, corresponding to 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM.]