Trap 5: The Direct Provocation
Finally A young noble stepped forward.
Bold and arrogant. "Lord Jin He," he said loudly. "Some say your success comes from taking advantage of others' misfortune." The hall quieted again.
Mulan's hand tightened. But Luo He raised his hand slightly. Stopping her. Luo He responded. He looked at the young noble calmly.
"Indeed that's exactly what bought me to where I am today" Luo He replied calmly. "Opportunity favours those who can see it." He said. No anger. No raised voice. Just clarity.
The young noble stepped back. Defeated. By the end of the night all the traps had been sprung. And all had failed. But the most dangerous part was not the traps themselves.
It was what everyone realized. Luo He was not just strong. Not just clever. He was untouchable in this arena. As they left. Mulan walked beside him quietly.
"You saw everything coming, didn't you?" She asked. "Yes." Luo He answered immediately. "Were you ever at risk?" she asked curiously. Luo He paused briefly.
Then said "Only if I reacted emotionally." She looked at him. Understanding now. "This wasn't a wedding," she said. "No." Luo He replied. "It was a war." He said.
"And tonight we have all most won." "Almost?" Jin Mulan asked with a raised browed. "There is one more thing yet to come, physical humiliation." Luo He said.
"Something like a waiter crashing in with water glasses. A girl claiming to have slept with me coming and sitting on me. Or maybe someone will laugh with a drink inside their mouth spraying it on to us." His confidence surprised her.
A waiter rushed at Luo He and Jin Mulan. Carrying glasses of Wine. He directly dashed at Luo He who was Standing amongst commoners. Jin Mulan stepped forward and kicked the tray of drinks flying towards them.
It flew past and fell to the other side. "Now we have won completely." He said to his wife. With that the battle came to an end and so as the Lin families wedding.
As the wedding came to an end, the Jin family left without a scratch. Luo He as sharp as ever, had seen through almost all the schemes laid before him.
What was meant to humiliate him had instead revealed the weakness of his enemies. Meanwhile as the wedding festivities concluded, another storm quietly began to form.
The father of Lin Xuanli's husband sat in his chamber, his expression dark. "This is unacceptable," he said coldly. "They are far poorer than we were led to believe."
One of his trusted aides replied cautiously. The old general's eyes hardened. "My son will not be tied to a sinking house." He said coldly. "And Lady Lin Xuanli?" the aide asked.
A long silence followed. Then "Remove the problem." The general said coldly. The decision was made. Cold yet final. Though his son had knowledge of the plan, his heart was conflicted.
At the night of the wedding, he had already consummated his marriage with his new wife. Now to simply accept her death, he couldn't let that happen.
"Xuanli, we don't have much time." He said in a low voice. Lin Xuanli frowned. "What do you mean husband?" She asked totally confused. "They are coming for you tonight." He said solemnly.
Her face went pale. "Who?" She asked. "There is no time to explain," he interrupted. "You need to leave. Now."
When the assassins arrived, they moved like shadows.
The mansion was set ablaze. Flames rose into the night sky as screams echoed through the estate. Servants ran in panic. Guards were cut down silently.
The Lin family was erased in a single night.
Amidst the chaos, Lin Xuanli managed to escape with the help of her new husband. But once outside reality struck. She was no longer a noble lady. She was alone. Vulnerable. Unprotected. Unfamiliar with hardship, she wandered blindly.
Days passed. Her clothes dirtied. Her strength weakened. And the world showed her no mercy. She was deceived. Taken advantage of.
Her pride shattered after being violated three consecutive times, by there different factions. Until nothing of here pride remained, but anger found it self deeply rooted into her bones in places of her pride.
"I will not let this end like this." She whispered to herself. Her eyes burned with hatred. "I will have my justice." She made her way toward the Count's mansion.
Luo He already knew this through his spies, every detail of her misfortune had reached him. Yet, he did nothing. "As long as she does not come to me willingly," he said calmly.
"I cannot expect her loyalty." On the third morning after her wedding. Lin Su arrived at the gates of the Magistrate's mansion. Weak and utterly exhausted. Broken but not defeated.
"I demand justice!" She said, her voice trembling yet firm. The guards exchanged looks. Then took her to see the magistrate any way. "Do you have proof?" He asked.
"No," she admitted. "Do you know who did this?" He asked. "No." She said. The guard sighed. "Then we cannot help you." He said. Rejected by law. Ignored by power. She turned away.
As she walked back toward the cruel city, a voice stopped her. "You look like someone who has lost everything." She turned. A man stood there. Calm. Ordinary. Unassuming.
"What do you want?" She asked coldly.
"My master said, he knows every face that wronged you." Her eyes widened slightly.
"He can help you to get your revenge." The man said. A pause. "What do you want in return?" She asked. Her days at the cruel city taught her one thing, there is nothing in this world called a free meal.
"A meeting." The man said. Driven by anger, she agreed. She was taken to Luo He. The moment she entered, her eyes locked onto him. "So," she said. "You're the one." Luo He studied her quietly.
"You've suffered," he said calmly. "Don't pretend to care," she snapped. "Tell me what you want." She said. Luo He didn't react. "You only need to pledge loyalty to me," he said, "and become my servant.
And do what I ask of you." He said calmly. Her expression hardened. "In return, I will give you revenge." He stepped slightly closer.
"Not just against those who harmed you in the streets," his voice lowered. "But against those who destroyed your family." Heavy silence.
"No. I don't want anything to do with you." she said finally. Then she turned and left. Luo He didn't stop her. He simply watched. "She will return," he said calmly. And he was always right.
Meanwhile...
Luo He continued his training. His swordsmanship improved daily. Now at level 134. This is as far as it goes, his swordsmanship had now maxed out.
He also practiced with the spear whenever he had time, due to fully mastering the sword. At night, he studied medicine. His knowledge grew rapidly.
One day he unlocked a new skill.
[Skill Unlocked: Scan] The system activated within his armour. It allowed him to analyse both people and objects.
He could see age, composition, and even scan through opaque materials. Curious, Luo He decided to test it. Before he could find a subject someone approached. Who else but his wife.
Now he finally found a subject, or rather she found him. "What are you doing?" she asked, looking at his gaze focused deeply on to her. "Testing something," Luo He replied.
Without warning he activated his new skill. He froze. Then said calmly. Directly like a, bomb shell. "You're pregnant." Jin Mulan blinked.
"What…?" Her body swayed. She nearly collapsed. But Luo He caught her instantly. "Don't fall honey," he said calmly. "It may be harmful for the baby."
Her heart raced. Her hands trembled.
"Am I… really?" She asked. "Yes," Luo He said calmly. "I confirmed it. You are pregnant." He said. Silence. Then shock, then fear, then happiness.
All at once, with that the Jin family entered into new territory. Protection became the priority. Jin Su personally prepared special meals for Jin Mulan.
"You must eat properly now," she said gently. "For the child." Meanwhile
Luo He completed his first major silk production. Various types and colours.
Each more refined than the last.
Merchants from across the continent gathered. Bidding wars erupted. Prices soared. When all stock was sold. They had earned nearly 100,000 gold coins.
Normally, such production would only bring 20,000 to 30,000. This changed everything. A new reign of prosperity began.
Far away. The Xu family received news.
"He anticipated our attack?" one member said to the patriarch in disbelief. "And no retaliation?" another asked.
They waited. Days passed. Nothing came. "He must not know," someone concluded. The tension eased. They relaxed.
Then the letter arrived. It bore the Jin family's seal. The Xu family head had opened it. His expression darkened as he read.