— — — — — —
After Lu Yinghua dropped to his knees, he suddenly realized—there was no pain.
That made him panic even more.
This could only mean his master had just realized she'd caused a massive misunderstanding… and was now in that groggy, dangerous "just woke up" mood.
And once she was fully awake? The outcome would be worse than death.
Lu Yinghua was already imagining whether he'd be slowly dismembered or roasted alive.
Or maybe she'd go all out and wipe out his entire family.
The thought made him burst into tears on the spot, though he didn't dare wipe them away.
Luo Hao didn't say a word for a long time. She just kept staring straight at Ryo.
There was even a faint look of… was that asking for help?
Ryo cleared his throat, straightened his face, and said: "Just kidding."
"From now on, the Heavenly Court will take over all matters of the Holy Cult. And as for me, I, Ryo Yagami, will naturally be its first Leader."
When she heard that, Luo Hao let out a nearly imperceptible sigh of relief.
Thank goodness—her dignity was intact.
In over two hundred years of life, this was by far the most humiliating thing she'd ever experienced.
As for Ryo taking control of the Holy Cult? That was a minor issue in comparison.
And what about the one who was secretly raised by the righteous sects and Japan to challenge her dominance?
Turns out it was all smoke and mirrors, and she had come charging in for nothing.
She had never been this embarrassed.
Expressionless, Luo Hao turned around, ready to leave.
But the gathered followers immediately dropped to their knees, crying out: "Master!"
"No need to call me that. From today onward, I am no longer your master."
With a wave of her hand, Luo Hao silenced them all with a spell before they could plead further.
Then she turned back, her eyes sharp as she looked at Lu Yinghua. "Yinghua, you know what it means to respect your master for life, don't you?"
Lu Yinghua's body trembled like he was having a seizure. His voice shook as he answered: "Yes… Master."
"Hmph." Luo Hao gave a cold snort, flicked her sleeve, and left.
She could have punished Lu Yinghua right here in front of Ryo, but that would make it look like she couldn't take the loss. And Luo Hao had been humiliated enough for one day.
Better to leave and cool her head.
Once Luo Hao disappeared with divine speed, Ryo turned toward the kneeling followers. He walked over, patted Lu Yinghua on the shoulder, and said. "Take these people and get them settled. Have the sect members continue life as usual."
Lu Yinghua looked up at him, eyes full of desperate pleading.
"I get it," Ryo nodded with a smile. "I'll prepare a coffin for you—nice and comfortable, I promise."
Hearing this, Lu Yinghua's voice was croaky. "T-Thank you!"
Tears streamed down his face as he was helped away by the other followers, looking like a man who'd already lost his soul.
Liliana walked up beside Ryo, still staring at the shell-shocked Lu Yinghua.
"So… he's the reason all this started?" she asked, surprised.
"Not really."
Ryo shook his head. He knew Lu Yinghua didn't have the guts to provoke Luo Hao into starting a war.
After all, the guy had been drilled by Luo Hao's hellish training since childhood. He had a severe case of Luo-Hao-phobia... just seeing her made his legs go weak. The idea that he'd deliberately manipulate her was laughable.
"Probably just a misunderstanding," Ryo said.
With so little information, that was the only conclusion he could make.
Liliana didn't press the matter, though she hesitated before asking. "So what now, my king? Are we really taking over the Holy Cult?"
"Taking over?" Ryo gave her a strange look. "What makes you think that?"
"But just now…" Liliana stopped mid-sentence, thought it through, and then her eyes lit up.
"Oh—you were just giving Luo Hao a way to step down gracefully?"
Ryo chuckled and patted her on the head. "Look at you, Lily, getting smarter already. Guess hanging around the Goddess of Wisdom really does raise your IQ."
Liliana glanced at Athena, who was smiling faintly nearby, then looked down, blushing.
"Don't tease me…"
"Alright, alright."
Ryo brushed it off and turned just in time to see a lizard standing upright in front of him.
Athena was watching the creature, amused.
"Incredible," she said with admiration. "To refine mystic arts to this level… it rivals the power of some gods themselves."
"Fascinating. You are the strongest spellcaster I have ever seen."
"I'll take that as a compliment, goddess," Luo Hao said with a cold snort.
The lizard illusion dissolved, revealing the stunning woman in ancient robes once again. She glanced arrogantly at Athena and Liliana before focusing on Ryo.
Her expression softened; the haughty air vanished, replaced with a level, serious tone. "Come with me. This is no place to talk."
Ryo nodded and followed her, bringing Liliana and Athena along.
Luo Hao led them across several dozen kilometers to a small hermitage deep in Mount Lu.
The place was little more than a hundred square meters—an old-fashioned brick-and-tile house, impeccably clean but clearly aged.
Hard to believe that someone who had ruled China, founded a sect, and toppled regimes lived in such a humble place.
Even harder to imagine that Luo Hao—of all people—chose to live here instead of a palace of gold and jade, spending decades without stepping outside.
Once they were inside, Luo Hao said. "The house is simple. I hope you don't mind."
She went to the courtyard, drew water from a bamboo pipe, and asked. "What tea would you like?"
"Anything is good."
Ryo glanced around. Aside from a stone table and stools for resting, there were only a few practical tools lying about.
"Did you choose this place on purpose, to calm your mind?" he asked.
Luo Hao frowned as she boiled water with her palm.
"Calm my mind? I don't need that kind of nonsense," she said flatly.
"This is just where I've gotten used to living."
Then, with her back to him, she said quietly. "Society has no place for an old relic like me anymore."
"I see."
Ryo couldn't quite grasp her feelings. Maybe only after he lived as long as she had would he understand what it was like to feel like the world had moved on and left no place for you.
When the tea was ready, Luo Hao picked up her cup, raised it slightly, and said. "I don't drink wine, so take this tea as my apology. My disciple may have been at fault, but as the master, I bear the blame."
Then she calmly raised her right hand.
"If you're still not satisfied, Ryo Yagami, you can take this hand."
Liliana nearly choked.
Cutting off your own hand to apologize?! No wonder the world called her Sect a demon cult—this was insane!
Ryo frowned. "It's the 21st century. Can we not pull out these barbaric rituals and embarrass ourselves?"
Luo Hao didn't reply. She just stared at him, waiting.
Ryo sighed, picked up his tea, and drank it in one gulp.
Seeing this, Luo Hao frowned slightly, then silently lowered her hand and drained her own cup.
"You know," Ryo said with another sigh, "your whole way of doing things really doesn't fit in with the modern world."
He wasn't just talking about her behavior—he meant her entire worldview.
She still lived by the laws of the old world. No wonder she said there was no place left for her.
"..."
Luo Hao didn't argue. Born into a martial arts family in the 1700s, she knew he was right.
Ryo sat down on the stone stool, letting his gaze drift toward the distant city.
He looked at the lively bustle of urban lights and chuckled softly. "But I do admire one thing—you had the self-awareness to step back from the world and let people develop on their own. I respect that."
"Admire?"
Luo Hao frowned. She didn't like the flippant tone of that word.
Exactly the kind of thing you'd hear from men who spent too much time in brothels.
She glared at him, clearly annoyed. "If you've taken a fancy to me, then propose properly and marry me. Why bother with this kind of talk?"
"Pfft!"
Liliana nearly spat out her tea all over the floor.
Athena raised a brow in genuine curiosity. "Oh? So if he brings a proper dowry, you'll marry him?"
Luo Hao narrowed her eyes, clearly displeased with what sounded like mockery. "Of course. I, Luo Hao, have never gone back on my word."
Athena took a slow sip of tea and cast Ryo a sidelong glance.
'I've said what I needed to say—now it's up to you to decide.'
Ryo stared at his tea cup, suddenly wondering.
Luo Hao was breathtakingly beautiful — even the MC of this world described her as a transcendent beauty and the most stunning woman he had ever met.
She had pale skin, long black hair, and a slender figure with generous curves, looking like she was in her late teens.
So should he?
.
.
.