Watching Wang Qingci's retreating figure disappear into the distance, Chu Yuqin stood in silence, lost in deep contemplation.
A ninth-rank warrior… yet she willingly became Chen'er's slave girl?
If Lu Chen were the Crown Prince of the Great Xia Dynasty, it might have made sense. For someone of that status, possessing a ninth-rank servant wouldn't be strange in the slightest—after all, the crown prince held real power in his hands.
But in the eyes of the world, Lu Chen was nothing more than a disgraced royal—a man dismissed as a good-for-nothing, uneducated, untalented, and hopelessly licentious.
So why would Wang Qingci, a ninth-rank expert, voluntarily serve such a man?
Could it be… the powers behind her have seen through Chen'er's disguise? Or perhaps… Wang Qingci herself is part of the force supporting Chen'er from the shadows?
The thought unsettled her.
Driven by a mixture of doubt and concern, Chu Yuqin soon found herself standing before Lu Chen's door, determined to remind him—no matter how much he had changed.
Just as she was about to knock, the door opened, and Lu Chen stepped out. His eyes met hers, and he paused, sensing something was off.
"Aunt Chu, is something wrong?" he asked curiously, noticing the rare seriousness on her face.
She looked him straight in the eye. "Chen'er, is Wang Qingci… part of the force supporting you from behind the scenes?"
Lu Chen blinked.
Force? Supporting me?
He was momentarily taken aback. Did Aunt Chu really think there was some great force backing him?
Then again, perhaps it made sense. His actions of late had been anything but ordinary. Especially with the sudden appearance of modern firearms like the Desert Eagle and the Barrett, it was no wonder she had drawn such conclusions.
Smiling, Lu Chen decided to go along with it.
"Aunt Chu… how did you guess?" he asked with a chuckle.
Of course, he would never reveal the truth about the system. That secret could never be spoken aloud, even if he says it no one believe him it existence is not believable. But if he wanted to put her at ease, he had no choice but to fabricate something convincing.
Chu Yuqin sighed softly, her brows still furrowed. "Chen'er, that woman… she isn't simple. She's a ninth-rank warrior."
"I don't intend to interfere in your affairs. But when it concerns your personal safety… I have to speak up."
She paused before continuing with a weight in her voice, "The force behind you… they must have a purpose. And a big one at that. I don't know what their goal is yet, but you shouldn't blindly follow them."
"If you really desire that position in the capital, just tell your aunt. I'll speak to your grandfather. The Chu family will stand with you. You don't need to rely on shady powers with unknown origins."
The implication was clear.
The Chu family had never abandoned Lu Chen. But truthfully, they had lost hope. After his fall from grace, exiled to the desolate Beijun region, they had no choice but to consider other heirs.
Still, in terms of bloodline, Lu Chen remained the closest royal candidate. If he declared his ambitions, not just the Chu family, but the majority of the Jiangnan clans would surely rally behind him.
From her perspective, there was no need for him to cling to shadowy forces when he had legitimate backing.
Lu Chen smiled gently and walked to her side, taking her hand in his.
Chu Yuqin's slender frame trembled ever so slightly at his touch, but she didn't pull away. After all, they had always shared a close bond. Holding hands while discussing things wasn't unusual between them.
Lu Chen spoke with quiet confidence, "Aunt Chu, I understand your worries. But I promise you… the force behind me isn't controlling me. They listen to me."
"There are secrets I can't speak of—secrets that, if revealed, could plunge the world into chaos. But… I can share one small part with you."
Chu Yuqin's heart skipped a beat. A secret that could throw the world into disorder? Just what had her nephew gotten involved in?
Lu Chen gently raised her hand and traced a single word into her palm:
"Immortal."
The moment the word formed, Chu Yuqin's elegant expression turned pale, and a flicker of panic crossed her eyes.
Everyone knew—this was a world of martial cultivation, not of gods. Immortals were myths.
Even those who reached the legendary realm of Heaven and Man only gained a few centuries of life at best. They would still die.
Countless emperors and sages had scoured the earth in pursuit of immortality, all to no avail. Their obsessions led to wars, the downfall of dynasties, and oceans of bloodshed. And yet… immortality remained nothing more than a tantalizing legend.
But now, Lu Chen had just hinted that the secret within him—was related to becoming an immortal.
How could Chu Yuqin not be shaken?
If it were true, this secret could indeed turn the world upside down. Empires would fall. Nations would burn. Anarchy will rise. Chaos would be inevitable.
"Chen'er!" she whispered, her voice trembling. "Say no more. Don't ever speak of those words again—not even to me."
Lu Chen raised a brow. "You believe me that easily?"
"How could I not?" she answered solemnly. "Those strange weapons you wield… the sudden burst of internal energy… everything about you has changed. There's no other explanation."
Still, her voice lowered again. "Tell me… is Wang Qingci, and the force behind her, also related to the secret you bear?"
Lu Chen shook his head. "No. I have my own way of controlling them. If they ever betray me… they'll die. That's all there is to it."
He paused for a beat, then added with soft emphasis, "And as of now, I'm the only one who knows the full truth. I am the sole inheritor of this legacy."
Those words struck her like a bolt of lightning. Tears welled up in Chu Yuqin's eyes and began to fall before she could stop them.
Lu Chen was caught off guard. "Aunt Chu… why are you crying?"
She hurriedly rolled up her sleeves and wiped her tears, trying to compose herself.
"If your mother knew… that you had such a chance…" she whispered, her voice choked, "she would be so proud… even in the afterlife."
She had once resigned herself to the belief that Lu Chen would live a quiet, forgotten life. But now—he stood on the edge of immortality.
It was a dream few dared dream, and it had fallen into his hands.
How could she not be moved? She had watched him grow up. He was like her own child.
Lu Chen reached out and gently pulled her into an embrace, patting her back in comfort.
"Aunt Chu, don't cry. This is good news, isn't it?"
Her body was soft and warm, her fragrance delicate like jasmine. The moment she leaned against him, a wave of restlessness surged through Lu Chen.
Damn Dragon-Tiger Pill… it's the root of all evil!
Chu Yuqin was just about to speak, but then her eyes widened. Her face flushed bright red.
She quickly tried to push Lu Chen away. "Chen'er! Let me go! You're married now. What if someone sees us like this?"
But Lu Chen didn't loosen his hold. Instead, he leaned closer and murmured by her ear, "What does it matter? You're the person closest to me. I don't care who dares gossip about you."
"We've done more intimate things before, haven't we? What's wrong with a simple hug?"
Chu Yuqin panicked even more, her heart in disarray. She pressed against his chest, trying to push him again—but her strength had mysteriously faded. Her inner power was scattered.
"Chen'er, you can't," she pleaded. "You've grown up now. You're not a child. You should understand propriety…"
But Lu Chen only smiled faintly. "Aunt Chu, no matter how old I get, I'll always be your Chen'er."
With that, he pulled her even closer. Their bodies pressed together in a way that left no distance between them.
The warmth of his breath brushed against her ear, the heat of his body against hers making her feel faint.
Her mind buzzed.
No… this can't continue…
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