章 12: Guests

Chapter 12: Guests

Aerich had to wake up early in the morning because the guests would arrive within the next two hours. The servants dressed him in a gold-and-purple robe. The robe was predominantly purple with intricate gold designs, and the character "Yu" was elegantly embroidered in gold on the back in stunning calligraphy. His light brown hair had grown longer, so he decided to tie it into a simple ponytail. His face had started to develop sharper jawlines, with his baby fat nearly gone.

Overall, he really liked this color combination.

Thirty minutes before the guests were set to arrive, Aerich left his room, accompanied by servants and guards who guided him towards the entrance of the Yu Family Estate. There, he saw his father, Yu Zhong, dressed in a white-and-purple robe, standing with the house steward, Li Bo, behind him.

All the servants were lined up in perfect rows to welcome the guests.

Outside the estate, a crowd had gathered, curious about the commotion in the Yu Family Estate. Guards were busy keeping the people in check.

Ding!

[Three targets are within range.]

[Do you wish to bind? Yes/No]

Before Aerich could react, Starry Sky's voice echoed in his mind.

"How could someone this strong be here in a small village?!"

"Shut up! Are you some countryside bumpkin who hasn't seen the world?" Aerich replied sarcastically.

"H-Hey... What did you call me? 'Countryside bumpkin'? What is that? Is it a famous cultivator?"

Aerich nearly burst out laughing but managed to stifle it by covering his mouth. Thankfully, no one noticed.

"Yes, they're a group of powerful cultivators," Aerich said, masking the sarcasm.

What he said wasn't entirely false; anyone called a "countryside bumpkin" by some extra always seemed destined to rise in the future.

Aerich suspected who the first target was, but the presence of two more targets puzzled him.

Soon, a carriage appeared in the distance, heading toward the Yu Estate. As the carriage stopped and its gate opened, Yu Zhong stepped forward. Aerich stood beside his father, though his attention was elsewhere, his eyes scanning the area to identify the other two targets.

Three people emerged from the carriage. One was a man who looked about the same age as Yu Zhong but carried an aura of power that exceeded even his father's. This man's presence felt like a one-man army; the sheer intimidation he exuded was overwhelming. He had short black hair, a slim build, and a light beard, with a long sword hanging at his waist. His russet-colored pupils scanned the crowd with sharp precision.

When his gaze fell on Yu Zhong, a faint glimmer of happiness flickered in his otherwise stoic expression.

Yu Zhong approached him with a broad smile and gave him a strong hug.

"How have you been, Draec?" Yu Zhong asked, placing a hand on Draec's shoulder.

"I can no longer sense your cultivation—you must have broken through to that legendary realm," Yu Zhong said with a mix of envy and pride. His expression revealed a swirl of emotions: happiness for his friend's success, tinged with a trace of jealousy, as he seemed lost in thought for a moment.

Aerich noticed the girl standing behind Draec frown slightly at the sight of her father interacting so warmly with Yu Zhong. It was understandable, given their status difference.

"Meet my son, Aerich. Aerich, this is my brother, Draec," Yu Zhong said, pulling Aerich forward to stand beside him.

"Hello, nice to meet you... Uncle," Aerich said hesitantly, choosing the term the original Aerich had used in the novel.

"Haha, nice to meet you too. Your child is quite shy, unlike you, Brother Yu Zhong," Draec said with a chuckle, patting Aerich's shoulder.

Aerich suddenly felt a foreign energy probing his body, causing him to tense up. However, the sensation vanished within seconds.

"Earth Fate," Draec muttered to himself, shocked.

Initially, Draec had sensed Aerich's Qi Refining cultivation and hoped he might possess rare talent, like his own daughter. However, upon discovering Aerich's Earth Fate, his hopes were dashed. It became clear to him that Aerich's cultivation progress was likely achieved through heavy use of elixirs and pills, which would cripple his foundation and create an insurmountable bottleneck in the Qi Refining Realm.

When Aerich looked up at Draec's face, he noticed a hint of sympathy in his eyes.

"Draec, this is my son, Aerich," Yu Zhong said proudly, though Draec seemed to hesitate.

"Well, Yu Zhong and Aerich, meet my daughter, Tasia, and her personal servant, Berlotte," Draec said, introducing the two young women.

Aerich nodded politely to Tasia and Berlotte, who returned the gesture. He took the opportunity to observe them closely.

Tasia was a graceful young woman with smooth, fair skin and almond-shaped jade-green eyes that radiated quiet intelligence. Her long black hair was loosely tied with a silver ribbon, complementing her understated elegance. She wore a flowing lavender robe adorned with silver floral embroidery, and a simple jade pendant rested at her collarbone, exuding noble refinement.

Berlotte, on the other hand, had a tan complexion with short, wavy brown hair tied back with a plain black ribbon. Her sharp eyes and steady gaze reflected her capable nature. Dressed in a modest gray servant's outfit, she carried a small satchel at her side and wore practical leather boots.

Aerich sighed inwardly, feeling inferior when he realized even the servant girl was more striking than him.

Yu Zhong and Draec, observing the children's first meeting, decided to leave them be, allowing them time to get acquainted.

A/N: Can't wait to see what happens next? Unlock advanced chapters and exclusive content on my Patreon!