“House Luolan?” Li Luo and Jiang Qing’e repeated. They had no idea what Ox Biaobiao was talking about.
The defensive power over House Luolan that stopped other Dukes from entering… came from House Luolan?
How did House Luolan have such power?
Ox Biaobiao smiled at their confusion. “Well, more accurately, it comes from House Luolan’s presence.
“It sounds fantastical, but the wards indeed have such a power. They were calibrated at the time that House Luolan was built. The stronger House Luolan is, the greater its presence, which in turn strengthens the defenses. It’s quite a marvelous trick.
“But conversely, the weaker House Luolan is, the smaller its presence, which diminishes the strength of the defensive wards. When House Luolan ceases to exist, the defensive ward will vanish completely.
“The intruder was able to send an energy clone in precisely because House Luolan has been in trouble for the last two years. The Luolan presence must have weakened quite a lot.
“This is the main reason why I’m telling you all this now. The defensive wards need a stronger presence, and the only ones who can get it done are you two.”
They sat up straight. So the fortune of House Luolan directly affected the protection of the House and its underground palace…
It sounded crazy, but Ox Biaobiao had no reason to lie to them. And they were not arrogant enough to think themselves the best judges of what was possible in the world.
Still, stabilizing and strengthening House Luolan had been their goal all the while.
Which meant that they had to get House Luolan more people, money, and reputation.
That was good. Both were pleased that their goals now had an additional purpose: they actively had to keep Li Taixuan and Tan Tailan safe, rather than just passively awaiting their return.
“Uncle Biao, since you could kill that Duke intruder, you must be a Duke yourself, right? If you could use that power, a lot of House Luolan’s problems would be solved,” Li Luo pointed out.
House Luolan was beset by hyenas because they lacked a strong Duke to stand up for them. If Ox Biaobiao could plug that gap, the situation would be much better.
He sighed. “You’ve overestimated this old ox…”
They cocked their heads curiously.
“Too much past history, and I won’t tell you all of them one by one. Just know that I can’t leave House Luolan’s headquarters.
“My strength is limited in many ways as well. I won’t act unless the situation is extremely dire,” he said, a shadow of helplessness flitting across his face.
The two were a little afraid to hear this, but it was to be expected. If Ox Biaobiao could really intervene, he would not have watched House Luolan decline to its current state.
With a little flex of his powers, Pei Hao would be put in his place.
“One more question… Who did the intruder represent? House Duze? House Jiyan? Or another elite power?” Li Luo asked.
“Also, was the death lottery of both my parents a conspiracy?”
These were important questions. They had to figure out who was out to get House Luolan.
Ox Biaobiao smiled ruefully. “I have no idea who the intruder represents. It’s all too easy for a Duke to hide their own signature. And there is quite a number of Dukes in the Xia Kingdom…
“As for the death lottery, I have no idea either. But there is certainly a mysterious agent out to get House Luolan…
“In recent years, they have been snooping around House Luolan, although the defensive wards had kept them at bay in the past. But after a few years, I’m afraid that they might have figured out the limits of the defensive wards. The attacks have been more frequent and forceful lately…
“A few months ago, when Pei Hao threw House Luolan into confusion… Perhaps it was calculated to weaken the defensive wards further.”
Jiang Qing’e was quiet for a while. “Uncle Biao, I have another big question…
“Why would this unknown agent be after House Luolan and the natal fires?”
Li Luo’s heart raced. There had to be some bigger plot afoot.
Ox Biaobiao sighed.
“Firstly, I have something important to tell you… Li Taixuan and Tan Tailan are not from the Xia Kingdom. They came from beyond.”
Li Luo and Jiang Qing’e froze.
“Outside the Xia Kingdom? You mean, other kingdoms?” Li Luo asked.
Ox Biaobiao smiled but did not reply.
“As for this dark organization…”
He walked forward and tapped lightly on a spot near the dragon and phoenix carvings. A black stone compartment opened silently, revealing a sharp stone needle. There was a rhombus crystal on its point.
It sparkled with an otherworldly light, pulsing with a rhythm that seemed to reflect the breath of the world around them, worldly natural energy passing in and out at a measured pace.
Ox Biaobiao stared at the rhombus crystal with admiration.
“This is the core of the underground palace. When Li Taixuan and Tan Tailan are in trouble, it is this thing that transmits energy to them…
“I think the dark organization is after this thing.
“It’s called ‘divine matter.’ You guys might not have heard of it before, but all Dukes in the world dream of it. They would give anything for it. The legends say it allows them access to the secret of Kings…”