"The balls on that guy, taking in all the Xiling artificers…" Duze Beixuan frowned.
"He wants them all at the Suncreek headquarters."
Duze Honglian smirked. "Thanks to our manipulation, they haven't been able to get the resonance artificers they want. With such a big influx of them right before him, of course he's tempted."
"Ambitious and charismatic."
"Pei Hao has held Xiling under his independent rule all these years. If headquarters can absorb them back, it'll be a welcome relief for them."
Duze Beixuan nodded. "Pei Hao's a smart guy with a plan. I don't believe he's here to give Li Luo a care package."
"Me neither."
Duze Honglian's eyes narrowed in pleasure. "No matter what he's planning, we can just sit back and watch. The more chaos at House Luolan, the better for House Duze."
"Send people to watch the Suncreek Villa and inform us about any news. We'll definitely help them spread it." Duze Beixuan nodded eagerly.
…
Suite of the inn.
Pei Hao watched emotionlessly as Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e ushered the artificers into the Suncreek Villa. Although he was some distance away, he could make out the conversation that had just transpired.
"Cocky after getting your dual resonances, eh?" Pei Hao said to himself with a mirthless chuckle.
He recalled how important Li Luo had been while Li Taixuan and Tan Tailan were around. Each time he visited the house lords, he would prepare precious gifts for the young Li Luo.
Especially in the first few years of his birth. Everyone had rejoiced at the heir of House Luolan, who would definitely lead the house to many more years of continued greatness.
Li Luo had been the center of attention back then.
Li Luo, born with a silver spoon in his mouth. The destined heir of House Luolan. While he, Pei Hao, had been treated like a slave, sent wherever he could be used best.
He had not shown these emotions back then, but the fires of jealousy had been lit in his heart, and they burned at him every day.
So what if Li Luo was higher-born!?
Why should he become the master of House Luolan?! Moreover, Li Taixuan and Tan Tailan had even arranged his marriage to Jiang Qing'e while he was just a child, the perfect bride that many sought.
How they loved him!
But karma worked in strange ways. Soon after, the house lords were sent to the Nobles' Battlefield, and nothing was heard of them again. As for Li Luo, his blank palaces had surfaced, and the weight of everyone's hopes had crushed him into oblivion.
Pei Hao usually stayed away from alcohol, but when he heard that news, he drank three jugs of wine that night.
His ambitions started to whisper in his ear again. He started to pull others to his side. Li Luo's blank palaces were his strongest weapon. No one wished for the future house lord to be weak.
Who wouldn't want a brighter future, a better life?
With a bit more time, he could well have had House Luolan under his thumb.
But…
Jiang Qing'e had intervened.
She stood at the fore of the house, running it with deft skill and charm. She justified her position as the personal disciple of Li Taixuan and Tan Tailan, a more authentic position than an honorary disciple like he was.
Her ninth-grade light resonance dazzled and impressed, and she drew supporters like moths to her brilliance.
Soon enough, Jiang Qing'e had stabilized the situation at House Luolan, and pitted herself against him.
If not for his iron grip over a few of the Pavilion Masters, he would probably have been ousted directly by Jiang Qing'e then.
Too brilliant.
She might well be on track to break the speed record of making Duke, set by Li Taixuan and Tan Tailan previously.
A few months ago, Pei Hao had moved decisively, marshaling all of his supporters in a decisive split against Jiang Qing'e and Li Luo.
But the bad news did not stop.
Li Luo had solved his blank palaces problem!
He was the champion in the Tianshu Province and was headed for the Astral Sage College. He had even revealed dual resonances!
The useless cripple had now risen to glory.
Pei Hao felt like a fool.
If Li Luo had just revealed his dual resonances earlier, Pei Hao would have hidden his ambitions… Was the guy just toying with him?
In that case… Let's go at it!
A violent streak flashed across his face. He might not have Li Luo's dual resonances or Jiang Qing'e's ninth-grade light resonance, but at least he still had some power to call upon.
House Luolan swayed with each breeze the world's changes brought. How could it stand on such broken foundations?
Besides, did they really think that he, Pei Hao, was working alone?
His struggle against Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e had only just begun, and the resolution was far in the distance.
Suddenly, the lights in his room dimmed, and a crack slowly opened in the wall nearby.
He rose and entered the crack, stepping carefully along the gloomy staircase until he emerged in another brightly lit room.
The room was clean and empty, save for a figure sitting at the window where the light fell.
The person's back was turned to him, while the view of the window was framed such that the Suncreek Villa was just out of sight.
Pei Hao stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"Your work?" The figure chuckled.
Pei Hao nodded. "A little appetizer for Li Luo."
"Li Luo is not the person he once was."
Pei Hao clenched his fists. "I don't know if he was faking the blank palaces," he said slowly, "but it's naive to think he can save House Luolan.
"Besides, Great One… your powers are great. If you had but consented to take a hand, House Luolan would not have stood for so many years."
"We have our own considerations. Focus on your own tasks. Since you've come to Xia City yourself, you must be prepared.
"Our goal is very simple. We simply need you to continue weakening House Luolan. I await your good news. Do this, and you shall have everything you want.
"Do not disappoint me."
Pei Hao looked at the figure, and his eyes drifted out to the window. Just out of sight, the Suncreek Villa was there. He lowered his head again.
"Rest assured, Great One. What I cannot have, I will destroy before I let Li Luo enjoy it."
The figure laughed. "Why the hate for Li Luo? Li Taixuan and Tan Tailan treated you well, I presume?"
Pei Hao fell silent. "I have nothing but love and respect for the two house lords."
"Keke, and so you hate Li Luo? Is this jealousy? To receive their unconditional love from birth, doting on him in a way that you would never receive, no matter how hard you tried."
"Should I not be jealous?
"All that affection, and then to be engaged to a world-class girl like Jiang Qing'e while he was still swaddled…"
The figure chuckled again. "Indeed, it would make one jealous.
"So… let us destroy him."