"As you command, Your Majesty!"
The captain of the guards lowered his head in acknowledgment. His gaze quickly and respectfully swept over Lin Xia and the unusual Larvitar at his feet. A trace of surprise flashed in his eyes, but it was swiftly concealed.
Stepping through the side gate of the Zhu residence felt as though they had instantly crossed from the bustling imperial capital into another world.
Beyond the gate was not a courtyard, but a wide passage paved with snow-white stone etched with cloud patterns.
On both sides of the passage stood rows of towering ancient trees, their canopies spreading like umbrellas. Their thick, gnarled trunks and weathered bark spoke of the passage of countless years.
The dense shade filtered the scorching sunlight into scattered patches of light, casting them upon the clean stone path and bringing a refreshing coolness.
At the end of the passage, the view suddenly opened up.
Before them lay a vast courtyard that instantly lifted the spirit!
The ground was paved with neatly cut azure stone slabs, with fine grass growing between the seams, soft and springy underfoot.
At the center of the courtyard was a large circular pool. Its water was crystal clear, rippling gently, with dozens of rare koi of various colors and shapes swimming leisurely within.
In the middle of the pool stood an artificial rock formation with an ancient and elegant design. Jagged stones rose upward, and from its peak, a clear spring flowed continuously, forming a small waterfall that fell into the pool with a crisp, pleasant sound.
Surrounding the courtyard were several buildings of different styles, yet harmoniously unified.
The main structure was a majestic three-story pavilion, with upturned eaves and intricately carved beams, covered in dark green glazed tiles that shimmered with a solemn and restrained brilliance under the sunlight.
On the pillars, window frames, and railings, finely carved Netherworld Hellcat motifs could be seen everywhere, some leaping, some lurking, seamlessly integrating the clan's martial soul glory into every architectural detail.
On both sides stood slightly lower auxiliary halls and winding corridors, equally grand and meticulously crafted.
The corridors curved and connected all the buildings, with exquisite palace lanterns hanging between the pillars. Though unlit at the moment, one could easily imagine their dazzling brilliance at night.
The air was filled with a faint fragrance of flowers and fresh vegetation, blended with the scent of premium wood and fine incense, soothing to the senses.
Within the courtyard, maids dressed in simple and elegant attire quietly tended to the plants. Their movements were light and graceful. Upon seeing Zhu Yu and Lin Xia, they immediately stopped their work and bowed respectfully from a distance, their posture refined and disciplined, without making the slightest noise.
Every detail of this place reflected the profound heritage, supreme authority, and refined elegance accumulated by a thousand-year-old noble clan.
It was completely different from the rugged, industrial grandeur of the Blacksmith Association in Gengxin City, filled with metal, fire, and raw power. This was the domain of a top-tier aristocratic family—where strength, wealth, art, and ultimate comfort were perfectly fused.
"Larvitar…"
Larvitar was also captivated by the grand and exquisite surroundings. Its crimson eyes looked around curiously, its small nose twitching as if trying to distinguish the complex scents in the air.
It seemed particularly interested in the pool and the swimming koi, its little claw unconsciously reaching in that direction.
Lin Xia could not help but marvel inwardly once again.
"As expected of one of the top noble clans of the Star Luo Empire. This grandeur truly surpasses Gengxin City."
This luxury and deep foundation made him even more aware of the Zhu family's immense influence within the Empire.
At that moment, Zhu Yu suddenly stopped.
She turned around, no longer looking at the courtyard, but focusing entirely on Lin Xia's face.
In her eyes, clear as a starry sea surged an extremely complex and intense mix of emotions: admiration, tenderness, sorrow from cherished memories, and an almost overflowing, cautious longing.
The breeze in the courtyard seemed to still, leaving only the gentle sound of flowing water from the rock formation.
Zhu Yu looked at the travel-worn yet bright-eyed young man before her, gifted beyond measure, yet composed and measured in his actions. She looked at the extraordinary young creature on his shoulder, and thought of how he had come alone from his teacher's side to this unfamiliar center of power.
She thought of the child of her own blood who would forever remain young.
A powerful impulse, impossible to suppress, finally broke through the defenses of her heart.
Zhu Yu took a deep breath, as if gathering all her strength. Her voice carried a faint, barely noticeable tremor and an unprecedented solemnity as she asked clearly.
"Xia…"
"Would you be willing to become my godson?"
Lin Xia froze in place. For the first time, deep within his dark golden pupils, unmistakable disbelief and shock were reflected.
He had anticipated all kinds of possible requests from Zhu Yu asking for promises, inquiring about Lou Gao's whereabouts, even probing his secrets indirectly but he had never expected something like this, a proposal filled with intense emotion, almost akin to acknowledging kinship!
Become her godson?!
What kind of joke was this!
Lin Xia's first reaction was absurdity.
Having lived two lives, his soul was already mature and independent. The pride rooted deep within him, born from his extraordinary experiences and his encounter in the dragon tomb made him instinctively resist this kind of relationship, one that carried a strong sense of attachment, almost like acknowledging a mother.
This was entirely different from accepting recruitment from the Spirit Hall or Zhu Yu's earlier invitation. This was practically placing himself within the core power lineage of the Star Luo Empire!
However, when his gaze met Zhu Yu's star-like clear eyes, that sense of absurdity was forcibly suppressed.
There was not the slightest hint of jest or probing in her eyes, only a nearly devout expectation, a deeply buried sorrow, and a careful earnestness, as if she were holding a fragile treasure.
It was the gaze of a woman who had endured the pain of losing a child, who had struggled within the vortex of power, yet had unexpectedly projected her emotional attachment onto him, this "monstrous" young talent, sincere and burning.
Lin Xia fell silent.
He neither rejected her immediately nor accepted with overwhelming joy.
A torrent of information surged within his mind, clashing, analyzing, and deducing rapidly.
The first thing he considered was the benefits.
The godson of the Empress of the Star Luo Empire.
The political prestige and social status that came with such an identity would instantly elevate him into the highest ranks of nobility on the continent, far surpassing that of merely being a "disciple of a Divine Blacksmith."
Within the Star Luo Empire and even across the western regions of the continent, this would be an almost invincible protective shield.
The vast wealth, connections, intelligence networks, and Soul Master resources accumulated by the imperial family and the Zhu family over a thousand years would be fully open to him.
Whether it was top-tier resources for cultivation or the development of the Blacksmith Association, he would receive unimaginable support.
Even the convenience of repairing the Star Glory Crown would increase significantly.
But the drawbacks were just as clear.
Conflict with the Spirit Hall would almost be inevitable.
The protection of the Zhu family, especially Zhu Yu, as the Empress could buy him precious time to grow and provide strategic depth.
This relationship itself was a powerful deterrent.
And Zhu Yu clearly held a special affection toward him, almost a form of emotional transference.
Though complex, if properly maintained, this bond could become a powerful and even irrational source of support.
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