Chapter 40: Conspiracy
A long corridor stretched into the dimly lit hall, its walls adorned with murals depicting battles long past. The paintings, illuminated by faint candlelight, cast shifting shadows that seemed to whisper secrets of a bygone era. The air carried a subtle scent of aged wood and incense, mingling with something heavier—something unseen yet suffocating.
At the far end of the hall, seated upon a throne-like chair, Luo Xuan watched the entrance with a gaze as sharp as a blade. His fingers idly traced his mustache, a habit he indulged in when deep in thought. His brown eyes gleamed—not with warmth, but with quiet calculation, as though every detail before him was another piece on a vast board of strategy.
Perched upon his shoulder, Nyx, his Blood Shadow Raven, remained unnaturally still. The creature's crimson eyes pulsed faintly, the glow flickering like dying embers. Though the hall was bathed in soft golden light, the entrance remained shrouded in deeper darkness—an intentional design. Here, even the architecture played a role in the unseen battles of influence and power.
A sound broke the silence.
Slow, deliberate footsteps echoed from beyond the shadows. The rhythm was measured, each step carrying an eerie weight that sent ripples through the still air.
From the darkness emerged an aged figure. His back was slightly hunched, his gait unsteady, yet his presence was anything but frail. Elder Jinyu, a man who had stood by the Luo Family's side for decades, possessed an air of quiet authority. The black symbol etched into his forehead—its meaning long lost to time—marked him as someone who had walked paths others dared not tread.
He stopped just short of Luo Xuan's throne and inclined his head.
"Patriarch, you have visitors."
Luo Xuan's fingers stilled against his mustache. His smirk was faint but knowing.
"Let them in, Elder Jinyu."
The old man gave a slow nod before retreating, his figure dissolving back into the shadows from which he had come.
A pause.
Then, new footsteps—heavier, purposeful—filled the hall.
Two figures stepped into the light. Xiao Yang and Elder Xiao Feng.
The younger man's expression was unreadable, his steps steady, shoulders squared. At his side, Elder Feng exuded the quiet composure of someone who had spent a lifetime navigating unseen battlefields.
Seated at his throne, Luo Xuan greeted them with the ease of a host welcoming old friends, though his eyes held none of the warmth one might expect.
"Welcome to the Luo Family's ancestral home, esteemed guests."
Both Xiao Yang and Elder Feng clasped their fists in formal greeting.
"Greetings, Patriarch Luo Xuan."
Luo Xuan gestured toward the empty seats across from him.
"Please, have a seat."
Without hesitation, the two men took their places.
Servants, their movements ghost-like, emerged from the periphery, placing ornate cups of tea before the guests before vanishing once more.
A silence settled between them—not awkward, but heavy with unspoken intent.
Luo Xuan finally broke it, his voice calm yet carrying a weight that pressed into the air.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"
Xiao Yang exchanged a subtle glance with Elder Feng before answering.
"We are both men of wisdom, Patriarch Luo. There is no need for false pleasantries. You already know why we are here."
Luo Xuan chuckled, his fingers tapping against the armrest.
"Ah, direct and pragmatic. A trait befitting the future leader of the Xiao Family." He took a slow sip of tea, his eyes never leaving Xiao Yang. "Very well, let's not waste time. The Xiao Family's Martial Spirit Awakening Ceremony was… interesting, was it not?"
Xiao Yang's posture remained rigid. "Indeed."
Luo Xuan tilted his head slightly. "Your nephew… Quite the unexpected talent."
Xiao Yang's fingers curled against the wooden armrest of his chair.
Elder Feng, ever the steady presence, interjected smoothly. "And what is your opinion on the matter, Patriarch Luo?"
Luo Xuan leaned forward slightly, a smirk playing at his lips. "That depends on perspective. For the Xiao Family, it is either a blessing… or a complication for you."
Xiao Yang's eyes sharpened. "And for the Luo Family?"
Luo Xuan laughed softly. "That remains to be seen. But let us not dwell on possibilities. Instead, let's talk about what's real." His gaze deepened. "You have come to propose an alliance, have you not?"
Xiao Yang did not deny it. "We both know that the current situation in Clear Water City is shifting. The Xiao Family is not as it once was. If we do not adapt, we will be left behind."
Luo Xuan's fingers tapped against the table rhythmically. "You wish for the Luo Family's assistance in your own personal internal matters… A rather bold request."
Elder Feng spoke next. "It is not simply a request, Patriarch Luo. It is an opportunity. You and I both understand that the royal court, the Alchemy Association, and external forces are eyeing this city."
Luo Xuan's smirk widened. "Ah, so you are not merely here to discuss Xiao Chen, but the broader game." His eyes flickered with amusement. "And what, pray tell, do you offer in exchange for our… cooperation?"
A heavy silence filled the room as the true weight of the discussion settled upon them. In the shadows, Nyx's crimson eyes glowed brighter.
The air inside the grand hall seemed heavier now, the weight of ambition and hidden schemes pressing against its ornate walls. The soft flickering of candlelight did little to dispel the growing tension, casting long shadows that danced like specters of unspoken betrayals. Luo Xuan, still seated upon his throne-like chair, watched his guests with quiet amusement, his brown eyes gleaming with interest.
Across from him, Xiao Yang leaned forward, his gaze sharp as he finally spoke.
"Help me erase Xiao Chen and Xiao Han, and I will help you achieve what the Luo Family has always wanted—becoming Clear Water City's number one family."
A smirk tugged at the corners of Luo Xuan's lips. He reclined slightly, fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest of his chair, his expression unreadable. Then, after a brief silence, he let out a soft chuckle.
"So, you would go through all this? Betray your own bloodline? Shame your ancestors? Just for the sake of a dream?"
Xiao Yang's eyes did not waver.
"So what if I shame the ancestors? What if I betray the Xiao Family? The family has been in decline for centuries. At least I will achieve my dream."
The conviction in his voice echoed through the chamber, but Luo Xuan's smirk only deepened, his eyes glinting with something unreadable—mockery, perhaps, or genuine amusement.
"Heh." Luo Xuan exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "You truly are outdated, Xiao Yang. Do you believe I still care about such trivial rivalries? My ancestors always sought to surpass the Xiao Family. But me?" His voice turned colder. "I don't care about the goals of my ancestors. I care about my own goals."
He leaned forward slightly, his gaze pressing down on Xiao Yang like an immovable mountain.
"And what I seek is to raise the Luo Family to become a Grade Three Family."
The room fell into a stunned silence.
Xiao Yang's jaw tightened. Elder Feng, usually composed, visibly stiffened.
"A Grade Three Family?!" Elder Feng blurted out, barely able to contain his shock. "That's on the same standing as the Royal Family of Lingshui Country! But… isn't the Luo Family allied with the Royal Family?"
Luo Xuan's smile was thin, his gaze sharp as he studied their expressions. He savored the moment before answering, his voice carrying the weight of unshakable confidence.
"Like your Patriarch, Xiao Hao, I am a Peak Stage Martial Lord. I have a long life ahead of me, and I will one day step into the Martial King Realm. When that happens, the Luo Family's rise will be inevitable. And by the time the Royal Family realizes it, it will already be too late to suppress us."
His brown eyes flashed dangerously as he continued.
"Unlike your Xiao Family, mine operates with absolute discipline. Betrayal is nearly impossible. The Royal Family may hold power now, but their control over Lingshui Country is not unshakable."
A cold sweat ran down Xiao Yang's back. Beside him, Elder Xiao Feng clenched his fists, his fingers trembling slightly.
"A Peak Stage Martial Lord…"
The realization hit them like a crashing wave. Luo Xuan was not just a schemer. He had the power to back up his ambitions.
A chuckle escaped Luo Xuan's lips as he observed their reactions.
"You see," he continued, his voice calm yet piercing, "the Xiao Family itself does not hold my interest. I have been toying with you, Xiao Yang. My ambitions are set far beyond mere rivalries. You have no real value to offer me."
His words cut like a blade.
Xiao Yang's jaw tightened, his veins bulging as he clenched his fists. Never had he been so blatantly looked down upon. But as much as his pride burned, there was nothing he could do. Luo Xuan was an entire realm above him in cultivation.
Elder Xiao Feng, still reeling from the weight of Luo Xuan's words, felt a deep unease settle in his chest. "What have I gotten myself into?" he thought, dread creeping into his mind.
Just as silence threatened to stretch on, a voice broke through the still air.
"I will do anything," Xiao Yang said, his voice low yet unwavering. "Whatever it takes to achieve my goal."
Luo Xuan's lips curled into a slow, knowing smile as he leaned back, his fingers idly tracing the armrest.
"Very well," he mused, his tone laced with amusement. "You have my cooperation."
Then, his eyes darkened, a shadow flickering across his gaze like a passing storm.
"But remember this, Xiao Yang..." He paused, letting the weight of his next words settle like an unseen blade against the young man's throat.
"You have my cooperation—not the Luo Family's."
A chilling silence followed, as if the very walls of the hall had absorbed the unspoken danger in his words.