65 THE SLAUGHTER OF ZI (2/2)

Apparently, he was once the owner of this mansion, known as Lu Fang, of Lu Clan. He had a cultivation of the mid Sung stage and was also a local lord in the area. Unfortunately, he had offended the Zi Clan after refusing to marry his only daughter to the Clan's young master. Thanks to the help from the Zhao Clan, the Zi Clan suppressed his own.

This caused the current situation, where he had lost his cultivation and his whole family was exterminated. All except for his daughter whom got lucky enough to run away. Even his own mansion which had been passed down to him generation after generation was taken over by the greedy Zi Clan, and he was further humiliated when they gave him the position of groundskeeper.

Basically, he would have to throw out the trash that the people accumulated, clean their rooms the courtyards and the training grounds, wash their clothes and all sorts of things not befitting of a former Noble.

He still didn't know up to today whether his daughter was still alive or not, so when he found out that Cheng Hao also had deep enmity with the Zi clan and wished for revenge, he spared no effort to aid him in his quest.

Just the fact that he brought him to some secret chambers where Zi clan members had hidden, yet had asked for nothing more than for Cheng Hao to kill them all, had caused Cheng Hao to trust in him.

”Nothing. I was just thinking about how your ancestors had good taste when it comes to buildings and rooms. These things, I, Cheng Hao, like them a lot” the child chuckled as he propped himself up, smiling at the old man.

Hearing that, Lu Fang also nodded with enthusiasm ”Young Master Hao truly has good taste in architecture! You see, these are palaces built a few hundred years ago, following the same pattern of those ancient buildings that fell from the Sky Rift a thousand years ago!”

So it wasn't just 'similar', it was indeed in the same stile, pondered Cheng Hao. With this so-called Sky-Rift appearing exactly a thousand year ago, it seems the war with Tian unknowingly reached even the farthest reaches of the Planary System.

”Ahh,” Once Cheng Hao got his confirmation that they were the same as what he had seen in his past life, he couldn't help but sigh reminiscently.

”Very well then, let me make an enticing proposal to you!” Finally he stood up and told to the old man beside him, ”If you give this palace for me to use, I will help you in gaining back your cultivation. Actually, scratch that, I will also help you in breaking through!” The child smiled knowingly, a hint of of a smile flashing deep into his eyes.

”Ahahah, my sides! Young Master Cheng truly knows how to make jokes...” Hearing those words, the old man laughed at first, taking it as a joke.

After a few moments of awkward silence however, he raised his head and saw boy's eyes had no hint of being amused and his expression was as serious as it could ever be.

”Young friend... Are you serious?” Lu Fang's voice trembled in awe but also excitement.

”Do I have any reason to lie to you right now?” A warm smile spread across his face as he spoke with the older man, as if a knowledgeable senior were trying to convince a stubborn junior in believing in his words. ”It would have taken much longer to fully clean up this mansion and learn its history if it weren't for you, Lu Fang. In this time we spoke, albeit short, I believe we have hit off quite well. You call me friend, I would mind if that were in appearance only! I feel like you are more than worth me exerting the slightest effort to help you…”

”Friend…” The old man trembled and bowed to the young man in front of him ”Needless to say, if you really can do what you said, I, Lu Fang, will forever remember this debt with you! I'll be sure to follow you until my bones decay and my organs rot!”

Seeing such an amusing reaction, where he both tried to suppress and hide his excitement to no avail, Cheng Hao couldn't help chuckling, ”Approach me then, stop talking and let me work my magic.”

= = = = = = = = = =

Author's Note

[1] New friend acquired! All according to keikaku (note: keikaku means plan)!

I chose to discard the robe and mask from the original because I realised how childish it was. A certain manga about flesh-eating peeps had me riled up back then.

[2] ”Oh? you're approaching me?”

”I can't heal your ass if I don't get closer!”

”...” (to be continued --\u003e)

~ Cookie