Serve tea and bow to a godfather!?
Lin Zhenhai's words were a stunning turn of events.
It left Lu Yu and Ji Xiu stunned.
It also left...
...all the people who had been drawn over by the 'Groom' flogging the Steward stunned as well.
"Father, you're going to take him as an Adopted Son?"
Lin Ruyue was hiding behind a curtain. It had been some time since she last saw him, and her impression had faded quite a bit. She had only rushed over because she was afraid her savior would be treated poorly.
By chance, from behind the curtain, she heard Lin Zhenhai's suddenly resolute words.
She jumped in surprise, stopping her hand from parting the curtain. Instead, she peeked out with half her head, her small hand lightly covering the thin veil.
With just one glance,
the peeking Lin Ruyue caught sight of Ji Xiu.
And when the young lady of the Lin Family saw Ji Xiu's current appearance clearly...
she instantly covered her mouth, seemingly astounded.
'How... how has he changed so much in just a few days?'
Lin Ruyue vaguely remembered when Ji Xiu had reined in the frenzied horse at dusk.
His eyes had been sharp, but his face was sallow and he was rail-thin. No matter how one looked, there was nothing remarkable about his appearance.
This time, however, was different.
As the saying goes, a few days' absence can reveal a completely new man.
The young man sitting calmly on the mahogany chair not far away had undergone a complete transformation. He was vastly different from before.
She saw that,
his hair hung down by his temples, his complexion was ruddy, and his profile was sharp as if carved by a knife. His brows held a faint, cold glint, like the frost of early spring, giving off a distant feeling that warned strangers away.
If not for his slightly shabby clothes,
and if he were to don a fox-fur cloak and a fine coronet in this late autumn,
even the scions of great clans, the Nobles of high birth, would likely not outshine him by much!
The faint impression Lin Ruyue once had of him suddenly solidified, this new face gradually searing itself into her mind.
And at that moment...
"Father, you mustn't!"
"He flogged the Steward and the Nursing Home in the residence! If you elevate his status after that, won't people feel resentful and refuse to accept it...?"
Lin Du, the only male heir of the Lin Family and the Third Young Master born of a concubine, had hurried over.
The moment he entered, he heard Lin Zhenhai's words and spoke out in his haste.
Previously, Steward Lin had mentioned that this boy might have guessed about the plot to frame the Second Miss.
'If this Ji Xiu serves the tea, bows to a godfather, and becomes an 'Adopted Son' of the Lin Family,'
Lin Du didn't dare to imagine what would happen if he exposed the matter one day...
'My future... I'm afraid I'll have no part in the Lin Residence's inheritance at all!'
His father, Lin Zhenhai, had previously expressed his intention to find a husband for the Second Miss, Lin Ruyue.
Although Ji Xiu was a few years younger than his second sister, his age was still acceptable. His bones had not yet set, meaning he could still be cultivated.
When he raised his head and looked toward the inner chamber through the gauze curtain,
Lin Ruyue's gaze fell right into Lin Du's eyes.
When he saw his second sister staring intently at Ji Xiu, he became even more convinced of his own thoughts.
'Proximity breeds advantage, as they say.'
'Second Sister's gaze is making me panic.'
'Letting this kid in...'
'...that would truly be inviting a wolf into our home!'
"Heh."
Lin Zhenhai gave a smile that wasn't a smile.
"Little Third, I didn't ask for your opinion."
"Today, I'll teach you another lesson, lest you be led astray by the servants and have them fill your head with ideas you shouldn't have."
He tapped the table.
"In this Lin Residence."
"What I give you is yours."
"What I don't give..."
"...is not yours for the taking, no matter who says otherwise."
"Who I choose to take as an Adopted Son is certainly not for the courtyard Steward or the Nursing Home to comment on."
"Now, leave."
Lin Zhenhai's light words made the veins on Lin Du's forehead bulge.
A bellyful of retorts was stuck in his throat, unable to come out or be swallowed back down.
'The old man... has he seen through my thoughts?'
'Does he know that I tried to frame Second Sister before?'
'It's fine if he doesn't know.'
'But if he does know...'
A drop of cold sweat trickled down.
'Then this kid cannot be allowed to live!'
'And Steward Lin...'
'...can't be left alive either.'
He buried his head low, desperately trying to keep any hint of his thoughts from showing on his face.
However,
at this moment, Ji Xiu stood up and suddenly spoke.
"Boss."
Lin Zhenhai nodded.
"Yes, speak."
Looking at the warm cup of tea, Ji Xiu pondered for a moment before speaking.
"I am but a mere Groom. Why has the Boss had this sudden change of heart?"
Lin Zhenhai smiled.
"In my youth, I was just a Hunter, and I've even been a Swordsman. I don't care about one's origins."
"When I saw the Young Master of Fire Kiln Lu Manor defending you so vehemently today, even coming to my door to claim your slave contract and change your registration, I knew you were no ordinary person."
"You come from a poor background and have no special skills. If you enter my family, I can teach you a Saber Technique and Pile Skill to help you train your major tendons. You can manage a shop for a while to gain some experience."
"If you show potential in the future, it wouldn't be out of the question to even pass on the Dharma Gate for 'Tempering Iron Bone' to you."
"I've made a point to investigate your family situation. You have no father or mother, only a younger sister who is a burden. For you to take my Lin surname and become my heir would be no mistreatment."
"It could be considered a ladder to the heavens."
He believed the conditions he offered were quite generous.
He was also certain that while the boy had some potential, his limited perspective would not allow him to refuse.
And as long as Ji Xiu accepted,
even if the Young Master of Lu Manor came personally to tear up the slave contract,
as long as the boy remained under his authority,
word would get out, and the reputation and prestige of his Lin Residence would not be damaged. He would also gain a Martial Artist with the Lin surname for free. A win-win situation.
But...
the player is lost in the game, while the onlooker sees all.
If Ji Xiu were just an ordinary commoner, it might have been a different story.
But he happened to have the experience of two lifetimes, and the broad-minded Duan Chenzhou had opened up his 'Spirit'.
Therefore, his eyes saw through it all as if he were not part of the game himself.
In his eyes,
Lin Zhenhai's entire speech was nothing more than empty words.
'If Lu Yu hadn't come to his door,'
'even though I'm a Martial Artist who has mastered Force, once he got his hands on me, he would have a hundred ways to deal with me using the carrot and the stick. I would have had to submit whether I wanted to or not.'
'The only reason he brought up adopting me...'
'...is because he saw someone coming to the Lin Residence to snatch me away. It's a matter of face; he's unwilling to let a 'Slave Groom' like me go so easily.'
'He did indeed think a little more highly of me.'
'But only a little.'
'If for this, he wanted me to cast aside the name I've held for two lifetimes, sever my blood ties, never worship my ancestors or tend their graves, and utterly forget my heritage...'
'...I'm afraid it's not nearly enough.'
This tea, he could serve it to Duan Chenzhou, even kneel, because he was a 'Master'.
But Lin Zhenhai...
at most, he was only a former 'Master'.
But from the moment he became a Martial Artist and tore up the slave contract,
all that was left was a sliver of obligation.
And that obligation was not enough to make him kneel!
Thinking of this,
Ji Xiu gently raised his hand and pushed the cup of tea aside.
This action,
caused the smile on Lin Zhenhai's face to fade slightly.
It also made Lu Yu glance over in surprise.
"Boss."
Ji Xiu lowered his eyelids.
"A parent's surname cannot be abandoned."
"My younger sister at home is still young."
"She cannot be without a brother named 'Ji'."
"As I am a son of the Ji Family, I can hardly become a young man of the Lin Clan."
"If there is a chance in the future to repay the debt for my Slave Registry and the Second Miss's silver reward, I, Ji Xiu, will naturally do so."
"But this time, I'm afraid I cannot obey."
He raised his head, looking straight ahead, even though the man before him had achieved Great Success in Bone Tempering!
At this moment, Ji Xiu felt no fear.
He faced Lin Zhenhai with calm composure. After giving a formal bow, he happened to glimpse Lin Ruyue under the gauze curtain of the inner hall. She was peeking out, stunned into silence, seemingly shocked by his 'audacious' words.
He gave a slight nod, then turned and left.
Lu Yu, at his side, was stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter. He bid farewell to Lin Zhenhai and followed along with the Fire Kiln Steward.
"This junior brother of mine..."
"He has incredible spirit!"
"Not like the son of some poor family!"
Lu Yu's eyes were sparkling with admiration.
'If he had been intimidated by the title of 'Adopted Son' and immediately knelt to serve tea,'
'then where would I, the Young Master of Lu Manor who came to back him up, put my face!?'
'A mere Adopted Son, managing some shabby shop, is nothing but a nice-sounding title!'
'In terms of benefits, it's not even half as good as being a 'Guest' of my Lu Manor!'
'Since my junior brother has such backbone,'
'I can't treat him poorly either.'
'When I get back, I'll beg the old man to give him a superior package, one that puts this Lin Residence to shame!'
"This boy is not like me."
"Back in my day, I would have fought with all my might for the slightest opportunity. If changing my name could have let me soar..."
"...then what would have been the harm in changing it?!"
Lin Zhenhai picked up his tea and took a sip.
He watched the light spill onto Ji Xiu's back, making the poor commoner look as if he were reborn.
When Lin Ruyue walked out, he saw her gaze fixed upon the boy and commented further.
"He gave face to Lu Yu, but he rejected mine."
"Does he think..."
"...that I can't put a few obstacles in his path?"
As the figures receded into the distance, Lin Zhenhai snorted.
However, not long after,
a sudden uproar erupted from the outer courtyard.
"The Eldest Miss... The Eldest Miss is back!"
Hearing this commotion,
Lin Zhenhai shot to his feet, his eyes lit up, and all thoughts of the boy's impertinence were thrown to the nine heavens.
"The Qilin Maiden of my 'Anning Lin Clan'..."
"...is back!?"
...
Stepping over the threshold of the Lin Residence,
Ji Xiu walked shoulder-to-shoulder with Lu Yu, feeling as if the shackles had fallen from his body. There was a spring in his step.
Beside him, Lu Yu was still patting his chest and boasting:
"Junior Brother, you really gave me face! Don't you worry, as soon as you go to the Government Office and change your registration, I'll beg—I'll beg the old man to get you a superior-grade package!"
"You just wait and see!"
The two walked side-by-side out of the Lin Residence. However... just as Ji Xiu passed through the main gate,
he happened to brush past a woman wearing a cloud-patterned narcissus dress, her face veiled with light gauze and a longsword at her waist.
Neither of them paid the other any mind.
Only the woman stopped in her tracks and glanced back.
After a single glance, she entered the residence and disappeared from view.
Immediately after,
the entire 'Lin Residence' was thrown into an uproar.