As Lucas and Lira walked through the grand halls of the estate, the flickering lanterns cast long shadows against the stone walls. The estate had always felt too big for Lucas' liking, with its endless corridors and vast courtyards. Tonight, however, the space felt smaller, filled with whispers and curious eyes.
The other servants, clad in their usual dull robes, stopped in their tracks as they spotted Lira walking beside Lucas. Their eyes darted toward the elegant dress she wore, a stark contrast to the plain garb she had always been seen in. Some gasped, while others exchanged envious glances.
Lira noticed the stares but kept walking, keeping her head high. She had served in this estate long enough to know how quickly gossip spread. The moment she returned to her quarters, the rumors would already be running wild.
However, something else was weighing on her mind. She hesitated for a moment before finally speaking.
"Master… are you not worried about what the prince will do?" she asked, glancing at Lucas. "He's a proud man, and I doubt he'll let this slide. You humiliated him in front of so many people."
Lucas, who had been lost in thought, let out a small chuckle. "The prince is nothing to worry about," he said calmly. "You should focus on cultivating. By tomorrow morning, I want to see significant progress."
Lira bit her lip, clearly still uneasy, but she bowed deeply. "Yes, my lord," she said obediently before turning and heading toward her quarters.
Lucas watched her disappear down the hallway before making his way to his room. He was about to settle in, eager to examine the items he had bought, when a firm knock came at his door.
Before he could respond, the door opened, and his father and mother stepped inside.
Lucas straightened immediately. "Father, Mother," he greeted respectfully, bowing deeply.
"Good evening, son," they said in unison, their voices carrying warmth.
Lucas noticed the way his mother's eyes flickered with concern, while his father's expression was more measured.
"We heard about your confrontation with Damian and the prince," his mother said quickly, unable to hold back.
Lucas' mouth twitched slightly. News really does travel fast. He had expected some attention, but not for it to reach his parents so soon.
His father's gaze sharpened. "Son, how did you do it?" he asked. "We're concerned… Can you cultivate properly now?"
Lucas studied his father's expression. There was no anger, only curiosity—and something else. Hope. They weren't here to scold him. If anything, they were eager to confirm the rumors.
He let out a small breath. No point hiding it now.
"Yes, father," Lucas admitted. "I'm an adept-ranked cultivator now."
His mother gasped, and in the next moment, she had rushed forward, wrapping him in a tight embrace. "Oh, my dear boy!" she exclaimed, caressing his hair as if he were still a child.
His father, though far more composed, couldn't hide the pride gleaming in his eyes. "That's… incredible," he said, nodding approvingly.
But then, his gaze turned serious. "How did you manage it, son? Your meridians and dantian were weak before."
Lucas had expected this question. He had spent enough time reading about cultivation methods in his past life to know that no known elixir could permanently strengthen one's meridians in this era. The ones that did exist only provided temporary boosts—and they had long been banned due to their severe side effects.
He forced a small smile. "I don't know, father. Maybe the coma did something good after all," he said vaguely.
His father narrowed his eyes slightly, clearly not fully convinced, but he didn't press further.
His mother, still overwhelmed with joy, gently cupped his face. "I'm just so glad, my son. This is a miracle!"
Lucas nodded, feeling a slight pang of guilt for not telling them everything.
"I need some time to cultivate, father," he said. "I don't want to waste this lucky opportunity."
His father nodded. "Of course. We'll leave you to it."
He turned toward the door but then paused. "One last thing, Xavier."
Lucas tensed. He only calls me Xavier when he's being serious.
"Remember we're going to see the King tomorrow, we'll be visiting the palace," his father said. "The king has requested to see you when he heard you are awake from your coma."
Lucas frowned slightly.
"But… while we're there, you will apologize to the prince." His father said.
Lucas' expression stiffened. "Apologize?" he echoed, his voice flat.
His father nodded firmly. "We don't want unnecessary trouble. The prince may be spoiled, but he's still the only son of the king. You humiliated him today. If we don't handle this carefully, it could escalate into something worse."
Lucas clenched his jaw. "So, I have to apologize to that wimp of a prince?"
"Understood, Father," he said through gritted teeth.
His father gave him a warning glance but said nothing more. His mother, still beaming with happiness over his newfound cultivation abilities, gave him one last loving squeeze before they both left the room.
As soon as the door closed behind them, Lucas let out a slow exhale.
He glanced at the sack full of items he had bought earlier. Without wasting another second, he grabbed it and began sorting through the herbs, talismans, and elixirs.
He sat on the edge of his bed, the dim candlelight flickering against the stone walls. He reached for the sack beside him and emptied its contents onto the wooden table in the center of his room. Various herbs, small pouches of powdered ingredients, talismans, and different-colored vials clattered against the surface.
His eyes settled on a smaller pouch filled with seeds. These will be useful later. He carefully picked out the ones he recognized—Bloodroot, Moonshade Grass, and Frost Petal. All of them were rare, useful in alchemy, and had strong Qi-enhancing properties. He separated them into a neat row, making a mental note to plant them once he found a suitable location.
Once the seeds were sorted, Lucas turned his attention to the vials. Some contained basic medicinal elixirs, while others had ingredients that, when mixed correctly, could enhance his cultivation. He carefully unsealed a few, sniffing their contents to confirm their quality.
He reached for a small, empty bowl and started mixing a concoction using the powdered herbs he had purchased. The aroma of crushed Spirit Lotus and Dragonvine filled the air as he carefully ground them together, adding small drops of liquid from one of the vials. He stirred the mixture, watching as it thickened into a deep golden paste.
This should help strengthen my meridians even further. He thought to himself. He dipped his finger into the mixture, tasting it slightly. It was bitter—almost unbearably so—but he knew it would do its job.
Just as he was about to consume the elixir, a sudden, sharp pain shot through his head.
"Ah—!" Lucas gritted his teeth and clutched his temples, his vision blurring. His breathing became ragged as fragmented images flashed through his mind.
—A grand courtyard, filled with cheering spectators.
—A young man, standing opposite him with a smug smirk.
—Selene, watching intently from the stands, her expression unreadable.
—A duel, Qi flaring as two figures clashed.
—A voice sneering: "You really think you stand a chance against me, Xavier? You're nothing but a waste of talent!"
Lucas' breathing hitched as realization struck him like a bolt of lightning.
The prince… he was Xavier's rival.
More images surfaced—Xavier and the prince had competed for Selene's favor. The so-called prince had mocked Xavier, belittled him at every opportunity. And Selene… she had been at the center of it all.
Lucas' fists clenched involuntarily. So that's why Damian and Edric were laughing earlier. They had known about the past rivalry, and seeing him today had only made them more confident that he was still the same weakling as before.
But they were wrong.
Lucas exhaled slowly, allowing the pain in his head to subside. His heartbeat steadied, and the fragmented memories faded back into the depths of his mind.
Selene… I need to figure out where she stands in all of this.
He glanced at the now-finished elixir in the bowl and, without hesitation, drank it in one swift motion. The bitterness spread across his tongue, but he forced it down. Almost immediately, a wave of warmth coursed through his meridians, soothing his
inner Qi flow.
Let's see how things play out tomorrow. He thought, closing his eyes and beginning to cultivate.