Ox Biaobiao’s words hung in the air, and Li Luo and Jiang Qing’e looked at him with a mixture of confusion and surprise.
They had no idea what he was talking about.
“What are they looking for at House Luolan?” Li Luo asked hoarsely.
“Something your parents left behind… and also if they are still alive.”
A sharp intake of breath from the pair.
“Aren’t the master and mistress at the Nobles’ Battlefield? Why would they come to headquarters to ascertain their fate?” Jiang Qing’e pressed.
Ox Biaobiao smiled wryly. “That’s why those two are awesome. Did you really think they would go to the Nobles’ Battlefield without any backup?”
They stared at him. It felt like every new sentence Ox Biaobiao dropped unlocked a whole new world.
He smiled at their stunned expressions. “Come with me.” He rose.
They hurried after him through the house, finally reaching… the kitchen.
Where Ox Biaobiao always was.
He walked towards a wall, flicking a jet of resonant power at it. Immediately after, it shone with bright lights that arranged themselves into a neat set of lines.
Clack, clack!
Strange whirring and clicking sounds filled the room, then the patterned lights formed a staircase leading underground.
Li Luo and Jiang Qing’e stared in wonder.
“This is the entrance. The key is my resonant power. Of course, both of yours work too—I just never told you about it before,” Ox Biaobiao said as he led them downwards.
The pair were speechless as they followed him.
After they entered, the lines faded away, and the wall returned to normal behind them.
As they walked deeper onwards, the light eventually faded away, and they saw that they were in a spacious, underground palace.
There were even more glowing runes here, arranged in some sort of pattern that eluded their grasp.
In the center of the underground palace was a stone dais. A dragon and phoenix had been carved into it, and there was a candle burning at the head of each mythical creature.
One flame was crimson, the other a deep blue.
Li Luo gasped. He could feel a blood connection with the aura from the candles.
“These… are?”
Jiang Qing’e seemed to be sensing the same thing, her eyes wide as she waited on Ox Biaobiao’s answer.
“You guessed it,” he smiled. “These are the natal fires of Li Taixuan and Tan Tailan. They represent their current condition. If the flame burns bright, they are in no mortal danger.”
Li Luo felt a great weight lift off his chest. He shivered with relief, feeling the goosebumps prickle across his skin.
All these years, it had been a worry that he had carried with him. Of course, he proclaimed his confidence that they were alive and well, but the Nobles’ Battlefield was a great unknown. Over time, the seed of doubt had grown within him.
After all, the Nobles’ Battlefield was fraught with enough danger to scare even Duke experts like Mentor Chi Chan. And it was so feared by Dukes that they had to choose fighters by lottery.
He had thought that there was no way to assuage his worries, but now these flames were burning brightly before him, warming his heart.
He felt a pure joy come to life within him, and he smiled.
“That’s great…” Jiang Qing’e’s voice broke, her golden eyes watery as well.
All these years, she had been just as worried as he was.
“Uncle Biao, why didn’t you tell us earlier?” Li Luo asked with no resentment. There had to be a good reason.
“Because there are people in the Xia Kingdom even more interested in their condition than the two of you.”
His words had a sinister ring to them.
Could it be that the mysterious Duke intruder last night had been trying to find the underground palace?
“Do you think this underground palace is just a simple house for the two natal fires?” Ox Biaobiao gestured to the complicated light runes that covered the walls in a dizzying scrawl.
Li Luo and Jiang Qing’e looked around them. Their meager abilities were definitely not going to be able to understand the mysteries of this place.
“Actually, throughout all these years, Li Taixuan and Tan Tailan’s natal fires have been severely weakened time and again. In the worst cases, they were barely flickering. After all, the Nobles’ Battlefield is one of the most dangerous places in the world, and even Dukes can only try and defend themselves.
Both children shuddered as they imagined the terrors that ran wild out there.
“But eventually, they were able to make it through because of this underground palace… It was a secret they left behind. I really have to hand it to those two, they’re extremely resourceful.
“See the dragon and phoenix carvings? They were handcrafted by Li Taixuan and Tan Tailan. If they’re in serious danger on the battlefield, these two carvings can transmit an emergency burst of power. Their trump card for survival.
“This trump card has saved them more than once in these years.
“You might not fully appreciate just how miraculous this is. The Nobles’ Battlefield is special, and not even Kings can easily channel energy within. Yet Li Taixuan and Tan Tailan pulled it off.”
Li Luo and Jiang Qing’e nodded humbly.
“They’re really wise,” Li Luo said with an approving nod.
“Is this what the Duke intruder was after?” Jiang Qing’e asked. “Did he break into this place to ascertain that they are alive?”
House Luolan had been beset by many misfortunes in the last few years, but the threat of Li Taixuan and Tan Tailan returning had held their enemies at bay.
“Not just to ascertain… Once they break in, they can snuff out the natal fires. Li Taixuan and Tan Tailan would be severely injured.
“A severe injury in a place as dangerous as the Nobles’ Battlefield could very well be fatal,” Ox Biaobiao said.
Their eyes went flat. Who was this stranger, and why was he so vicious?
“But don’t worry yourselves about it. The underground palace is divided into two parts. The external wards covers the entire House Luolan headquarters. No Duke intruder will be able to enter without seeing their strength severely compromised.”
“Why have I never sensed its presence?” Jiang Qing’e asked doubtfully.
She had been at House Luolan’s headquarters for many years.
“Because it isn’t of much use to those below the Duke Stage. There is no way you would have felt it.
“Do you know what the source of the defensive ward’s strength is?”
They shook their heads.
Ox Biaobiao grinned. “This one should shock you. It’s…”
He pointed upwards.
“House Luolan.”