Their? Li Yuezhou pondered. Did that include Lu Zhaoye as well?
But before he could ask, the phantom dissolved into the air, leaving behind not a single speck of dust to grasp.
Li Yuezhou stepped forward and opened the book, only to find the exact same contents he had read nights before. The tragic ending remained unaltered. Is what I've done still not enough? He felt a wave of bewilderment. What exactly was he supposed to do?
At the very least, he had finally uncovered the true nature of this book. Could this be considered his "Golden Finger", the standard cheat item of web novel protagonists?
He sat cross-legged, flipping through the pages before him. Indeed, he hadn't noticed it earlier, but this could hardly be called a proper "book" because it was incredibly thin.
Just like Li Xiaolian's glorious yet tragically brief life.
With a soft sigh, he slowly pulled himself out of the dreamscape.
---
A few days later, Lu Zhaoye successfully defended the arena, officially claiming the championship.
Li Yuezhou awoke to the cheerful chirping of birds and the fragrance of blooming flowers. A servant boy hurried in to assist him with his clothing, and a short while later, Lu Zhaoye arrived.
As the door swung open, Lu Zhaoye stepped inside, looking strikingly radiant today. He wore a magnificent crimson robe embroidered with intricate gold patterns, where shifting cloud motifs harmonized beautifully with accents of pale, bamboo-moon blue.
As the morning sunlight poured over him from behind, the blue accents seemed to catch the light, creating an illusion of fluid movement. His long hair was tied high into a sleek ponytail, bound by a scarlet ribbon whose embroidered tips perfectly matched the patterns on his robes.
Li Yuezhou stared, momentarily spellbound. Lu Zhaoye was always exceptionally handsome, but his style was usually far too understated and austere. Today, he looked like a peacock displaying its brilliant plumage.
The servant boy, having no time to ogle the Eldest Young Master, busied himself with dressing his own young master. He meticulously styled Li Yuezhou's hair, securing it at the back with a silver hairpin inlaid with a vibrant ruby. The resulting elegance was entirely a match for Lu Zhaoye's striking presence.
Having a desire to rebuild his physical strength, Li Yuezhou chose not to use the wheelchair. Though his steps were somewhat slow, he walked toward Lu Zhaoye with quiet determination.
If Li Yuezhou had been dazed by Lu Zhaoye’s appearance, Lu Zhaoye was experiencing the exact same profound shock.
Previously, Li Yuezhou’s wardrobe had been curated entirely by Li Xiaolian, prioritizing simplicity and convenience. After all, a mindless youth would hardly step foot outside the courtyard a few times a year. Now that circumstances had changed, a batch of brand-new garments had been rushed to completion.
The collection featured a vast array of colors, but Li Yuezhou personally disliked anything overly ostentatious, such as the vibrant crimson Lu Zhaoye wore today. However, his father had mentioned that a momentous announcement would be made today and insisted that he appear looking bright and distinguished. Thus, abandoning his usual muted tones, he had selected a vibrant, soft goose-yellow robe.
The shade complemented him beautifully. Coupled with his naturally fair skin, the fact that he had gained a bit of healthy weight, and his thoroughly rested state, his small face looked wonderfully radiant with a soft, peach-like flush. He looked exquisitely handsome.
Instead of a high ponytail like Lu Zhaoye’s, his long hair was combed smooth and gathered into an elegant half-up bun at the back. The clever servant had woven a few delicate micro-braids framing his face and pinned them neatly to the back, while two small braids rested behind his ears, tied with ribbons that matched his robe.
Yet, the ruby embedded in the silver hairpin inserted at the very end was an intentional touch, meant specifically to match Lu Zhaoye's crimson attire.
The servants had been instructed early on regarding what the masters would wear each day. Recalling Leader Li's explicit command to "display a deep brotherly bond," the servant boy was immensely satisfied with his styling choices.
While the two protagonists remained entirely oblivious to Leader Li's "far-sighted strategy" and the servant's "moment of brilliance," they were both utterly captivated by each other.
Lu Zhaoye felt a sudden warmth creeping into his cheeks. He had always known Li Yuezhou possessed striking features, but seeing him today, it seemed his beauty had reached an entirely new echelon. How can someone look so incredibly vivid and breathtaking?
Li Yuezhou also found himself averting his gaze from Lu Zhaoye, feeling a bit self-conscious. Before his death in the modern world, he had harbored a slight inkling regarding his own sexual orientation. Confronted by such an exceptionally handsome, dashing man standing right before him, it was proving incredibly difficult to keep his composure.
By tacit agreement, neither of them made any mention of their appearance, and the thoroughly pleased servants promptly escorted the pair out.
---
Today marked the official ceremony where Lu Zhaoye would be formally adopted as Li Xiaolian’s foster son. Consequently, Li Xiaolian had required both Lu Zhaoye and Li Yuezhou to attend. Not only that, he had even summoned his closest friends, who had been traveling across the lands, to return for the occasion.
The friends remained entirely in the dark about the fact that Li Xiaolian’s true motive was to announce his son's miraculous recovery; they assumed they had been called back simply to lend their considerable influence and prestige to Lu Zhaoye.
After all, any single one of them possessed a name that could shake the entire Jianghu; helping to pave a smooth path for the promising youth was completely reasonable.
Li Xiaolian sat jovially in the seat of honor, sipping his tea. Though a distinguished line of guests sat in sequence along either side of the hall, the atmosphere lacked the rigid hierarchy of traditional subordinates.
As the Alliance Leader, his absolute authority remained inviolable, but his friends were all reasonable, free-spirited figures who paid little mind to rigid formalities.
"Xiaolian, you have truly expended a great deal of heart and effort for Zhaoye."
A woman clad in a crisp blue-and-white robe spoke with a warm, teasing smile. Judging by the fine lines on her face, she was no longer young, appearing to be around the same age as Li Xiaolian. Yet her eyes were as sharp and piercing as an eagle's, and her posture was remarkably straight. Though her attire was simple, she exuded an innate, commanding dignity.
Kneeling respectfully behind her were three young women dressed in identical uniforms, their long hair gathered flawlessly into immaculate buns, each secured with a silver hairpin carved in the likeness of a peony flower. This intriguing blend of elegant accessories and severe, disciplined aura formed the unique hallmark of their sect.
Li Xiaolian was in an exceptionally grand mood today, refusing to pass up an opportunity to play mysterious with his old companions. "In truth, I didn't summon you all back in such a frantic haste solely for Zhaoye’s sake."
"Oh? What other joyous occasion awaits us?" A man seated directly opposite the blue-and-white-robed woman threw his head back to drain a cup of wine, tossing out the question with a raised eyebrow and a grin.
But Li Xiaolian merely smiled, remaining tight-lipped.
"Ha! Ye Jiyue, just look at him acting like this," the woman laughed heartily. Ye Jiyue, receiving no straight answer, didn't lose his temper either, simply contenting himself with pouring another cup of wine.
"It must be a matter of grave importance," a monk seated just below Ye Jiyue remarked, his eyes curving into gentle crescents as he looked down at the vegetarian dishes arranged before him.
"Grandmaster Daofa, why don't you read the heavens and divine it for us?"
The group conversed with great fervor. As the designated hour hadn't yet arrived, none of the disciples participating in the assembly had entered the hall.
However, the individuals gathered inside possessed incredibly sharp martial hearing. Yun Chuan’s ears twitched slightly, her gaze shifting toward the grand entrance. Watching two approaching silhouettes gradually materialize, her eyebrows shot up in profound astonishment.
"Well, look at you, Li Xiaolian! To think you actually dared to keep a monumental matter like this hidden from us!"
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