Now that he had decided on his course of action, he needed to make the necessary preparations before setting out.
But before that, there was one thing Xu Luo absolutely could not avoid...
"What were you up to yesterday afternoon?" Luo Xinlan asked, her expression calm as she looked at the son standing before her. She did her best to keep her tone gentle.
In the past, she had doted on Xu Luo endlessly, all because his constitution was too weak for cultivation.
But now, after taking the Seven-Turn Foundation Establishment Pill, Xu Luo's constitution had clearly changed, and his strength was now said to be formidable!
If Lianyi hadn't told her yesterday, Luo Xinlan would never have known that her son had quietly grown into a decent Martial Artist.
Luo Xinlan had taught Lianyi everything she knew, so she was well aware of how powerful Lianyi was.
In the Imperial Capital, for the scions of noble families around Xu Luo and Lianyi's age, reaching the level of an Eighth or Ninth Tier Swordsman was already considered exceptionally brilliant.
Sui Yan and Xu Jie, for example, had not yet reached the realm of a Sword Master, but they were already well-known figures in the Imperial Capital.
Lianyi, however, had broken through from a Swordsman to the Sword Master realm three years ago and was now a Tier Three Sword Master.
Last night, Lianyi had told Luo Xinlan that she had mistaken her young master for an intruder and struck with her sword, using her full strength and holding nothing back.
Even a top-tier Swordsman would have been slain by that strike!
And yet, Xu Luo had dodged it!
Although it had been a hair's breadth escape and he had called out his identity just in time, how exactly Xu Luo had avoided that strike remained a complete mystery to both Lianyi and Luo Xinlan.
"Perhaps... it was a coincidence," Lianyi could only reply in the face of Luo Xinlan's doubt.
She had summoned Xu Luo first thing in the morning precisely to find out how he had managed it.
But before that, she first had to intimidate this little rascal who, despite his shy exterior, was a clever devil on the inside.
Luo Xinlan knew her son well. If the constant mockery over his weak constitution hadn't forced him to conceal his true nature, she knew Xu Luo was by no means a pushover!
"I went to the West Market to buy some medicinal herbs." Facing his mother, Xu Luo had no intention of lying and admitted it frankly.
"Why buy medicinal herbs? Are there none in the residence? And what were you doing dressed so furtively? Lianyi told me she nearly ran you through with her sword! You're my precious treasure. If you'd been hurt, how could I go on living? How could Lianyi go on living?"
'Here we go,' Xu Luo thought. 'This must be what she really wanted to ask...'
"I've caused a lot of trouble recently, and I didn't want to burden the family or worry you any more. That's why I dressed like that. I snuck out because I was afraid you wouldn't let me go," Xu Luo answered.
"I see. And how did you manage to avoid Lianyi's attack?" Luo Xinlan asked slowly, looking her son in the eye.
Beside them, Lianyi also stared at Xu Luo without blinking. Even now, she was filled with lingering fear and relief, but also immense confusion. How on earth had her young master dodged that attack?
At the time, Lianyi had been too preoccupied with fear and relief to give it much thought, but the more she mulled it over, the more something felt off.
She was a Tier Three Sword Master, after all!
She was practically unrivaled among her peers in the Imperial Capital!
An expert capable of felling a Swordsman in a single blow!
Yet her killing blow had been dodged by her young master—a boy who had only been cultivating for a few days!
It was a good thing it was her young master. If anyone else had managed to dodge her killing blow after just a few days of cultivation, Lianyi would have been frustrated enough to cough up blood.
"I..."
"Don't you dare lie to me!" Luo Xinlan's voice turned stern. "Look me in the eye!"
"I really don't know!" Xu Luo said, looking at his mother with a wronged expression. "I was sneaking back, being extra cautious and on high alert so you wouldn't find me. Who knew Lianyi would suddenly pop out of nowhere? I was so startled I nearly fell over, so I quickly shouted out who I was..."
"Is that really all that happened?" Luo Xinlan looked at Xu Luo doubtfully, searching his face for any sign of deception.
But Xu Luo's gaze was clear and pure; he didn't look like he was lying in the slightest.
"Of course. What else could it have been? Mother, what is it you're really trying to ask? Don't you know your own son?" Xu Luo said softly, a wronged look on his face. "I can't help but feel that ever since I took the Seven-Turn Foundation Establishment Pill and my constitution changed... you don't dote on me as much as you used to."
"Nonsense! You're my precious treasure. If I don't dote on you, who would I dote on?"
A flicker of sorrow passed through the depths of Luo Xinlan's eyes, but she just smiled and chided, "Alright, that's enough from you. Go back and cultivate. Now that your constitution has changed, you can finally train. I've already arranged for you to attend an academy. When the term starts, you'll go. You can learn much more there."
"What? An academy? Why do I have to go to an academy?" Having attended the Royal Academy since childhood, Xu Luo had absolutely no fond memories of such places.
His classmates had looked down on him, his teachers had looked down on him, and the rules were strict and inflexible. There wasn't a single thing about it he remembered fondly.
"Xiaoluo, you're already sixteen this year. You're an adult now, and it's time for you to grow up. I can't walk beside you on your future path forever. You need to rely on your own efforts, do you understand?" Luo Xinlan said emotionally, looking at Xu Luo.
"Mother, why are you suddenly talking like this? I didn't mean what I said just now. I'm sorry." Xu Luo's eyes started to redden. He had just blurted out that last comment without thinking, and now he was filled with regret.
"I'll work twice as hard from now on to make you and Father proud of me!"
Xu Luo looked at Luo Xinlan and said with a serious expression, "For the past sixteen years, you protected me. From now on, it's my turn to protect you!"
Luo Xinlan looked at Xu Luo, gratified, and laughed happily. "Alright. Then I'll be waiting for you to protect me!"
Xu Luo then remembered the reason he'd come. He said tentatively, "By the way, Mother, I'd like to go out and gain some experience for a while. Yesterday at the West Market, I saw some Adventurers, and I feel that you can only truly grow by going out and tempering yourself..."
Luo Xinlan frowned slightly at first, but then her expression relaxed into a smile. "You've grown up now. You can make some decisions for yourself. Go on. Just be careful. Remember, no matter what, your life is the most important thing. Material possessions, no matter how valuable, can always be abandoned."
Xu Luo had prepared all sorts of arguments to convince his mother, so he never expected her to agree so easily. This struck him as odd, but he didn't dwell on it.
"Oh, and be back before the end of the month. The Seventh Princess's coming-of-age ceremony is at the beginning of next month, and you are to attend on behalf of the Xu Family." Luo Xinlan sighed. "It's such a pity about the Seventh Princess. A girl of unparalleled beauty and immense intelligence, but she's had a chronic leg ailment since she was a child and has been unable to walk."
"But isn't there a Spirit Medicine in the Black Forest called the Seven-Colored Light that can cure her?" Lianyi asked from the side.
"That's right, the Seven-Colored Light can indeed cure the Seventh Princess's illness. But wherever the Seven-Colored Light grows, a Tier Nine Spirit Beast is sure to be guarding it. A Tier Nine Spirit Beast... imagine how many people would have to die to snatch a Spirit Medicine from right under its nose?"
Luo Xinlan sighed. "Even the Royal Family couldn't bear such a loss. If they did that for the Seventh Princess, they would be immediately buried under a tide of public criticism! As for the other families... they would have even less courage to try."
"A Tier Nine Spirit Beast... that's terrifying!" Lianyi was aghast.
Xu Luo shook his head. He figured it was impossible for him to get a Spirit Medicine like the Seven-Colored Light, so he didn't give it another thought. His heart was filled with a sense of boundless freedom, like a fish leaping in the vast ocean or a bird soaring through the endless sky. He rushed out, full of excitement.
But Xu Luo didn't see that the moment he walked out of the room, tears were already streaming down Luo Xinlan's face.
Lianyi's eyes were also red from crying. She choked out softly, "My Lady, must you really go?"
Luo Xinlan gently wiped the corner of her eye and patted the chair beside her. "Come, Lianyi. Sit down and talk."
"Yes, my lady." Lianyi obediently sat beside Luo Xinlan.
"Lianyi, from now on, I'm entrusting Xiaoluo to your care. The boy is clever, but he has too little experience. As you saw, I didn't want to let him go this time. But if I keep him cooped up at home, when will he ever grow up? He is the son of the Grand General of National Guardian; he needs to have the bearing of a son from a Military Family! He can't be all soft and delicate.
In the past, it might have been acceptable, but now that his constitution has changed and he can cultivate, he must shoulder the responsibilities that come with it!
It was the same for Su'Er, wasn't it? He joined the army at seventeen or eighteen, right after leaving the academy. As their mother, don't you think I worry about him?
But what good does worrying do? He is a son of the Xu Family. That is his honor, and it is also his destiny!"
"But the young master doesn't have the strength to protect himself yet. If you let him go out now, my lady... aren't you afraid he might come to harm?" Lianyi said softly.
"He does!"
Luo Xinlan dried her tears and said with absolute certainty, "He's my son. I know him best! Just think about how he's been acting lately and you'll understand. That Fengyue Building... though I dislike the place, I must admit that its Phoenix Pavilion Master is a remarkable woman. Did you know that Phoenix gave Luo'Er Agarwood Brew to drink that day?"
"What? That damned woman! Does she have a death wish?" Lianyi exploded. Her brows shot up and her pretty face filled with fury. "Is she trying to get the young master killed?" she said coldly.
"But your young master is perfectly fine, isn't he?" Luo Xinlan smiled and patted Lianyi's hand. "Sit down. Don't be so impulsive. Didn't Xiaoluo already say it? From now on, you're not allowed to jump in and attack before he does. You have to give him a chance to be the hero saving the damsel in distress!"
"My Lady... you're teasing me too." Lianyi looked bashful.