Lu Gao sat by the white marble stairs. He is very bored lately without any direction in mind. Even farming Exp is getting boring for him. Just why in the world can't he visit the Royal Archives? That place is for royalty, yes, but he is now a cultivator!
He can still remember the way he was looked down on just because he was from some 'unknown' unregistered sect. It hurts his pride, and more so the pride of his sect!
"I swear if I reach 4th stage, I'll definitely return there just to slap that royal prefect magistrate... What was his name again?" He said to himself vindictively.
The only reason he is still farming exp despite it being boring is that he wanted to take revenge on the ugly prefect who is definitely a sleazy bastard.
While waiting for his brother Nee Chen and sister Xiang Ya, Lu Gao took his sweet time reading the many interesting forum threads in the system. There were lots of antics and the like which is quite entertaining for him.
Disturbing his forum reading is an annoying squeal.
"No way, you are alive!? This must mean the resurrection privilege is really true. Senior Lu Gao, this Yin Shu greets you!"
Looking around, Lu Gao was met with another snotty runt. He doesn't remember her, so she must be among the people who heard his speech in the 'tongue'. Lu Gao is now a big guy, so he should be as gentlemanly as possible.
"Greetings, this personage here is Lu Gao, the first mage of the System's Providence Sect. It wasn't an empty boasting, but in Lu Gao's mind, he is actually exaggerating himself.
For all he cares, there might actually be more ancient mages in the sect he doesn't know. But what little harm can a little bragging do? He is still young and needs to brag.
Princess Yin Shu took his words in great strides as she started formulating a scheme in her mind as to how to make Lu Gao her husband. "Greetings, this one here is the 11th Royal Princess of the Biron Kingdom, Yin Shu…" She respectfully bowed her head, seeking to gain Lu Gao's graces.
Hearing her words, Lu Gao panicked in his mind. He showed his agreeing smile. "Greetings to the princess." Though he is lambasting himself for what he has done. She is Royalty! So, it is just right for him to panic.
However, he quickly gathered his thoughts. Lu Gao realized this is an opportunity for him. Maybe he can scam the princess of gaining benefits. Forget an entrance to the Royal Archives! He might easily gain her trust, and in a way, he can accrue resources for himself.
The new skill system with the Builds required a lot of resources. In a sense, a mage would need these resources the most as they have the most prevalent skill branches that span across many schools.
"The youngest princess is definitely as beautiful as they say… I am sure that you would grow into the envy of many princesses…" Lu Gao hurled an empty compliment at the princess.
Beautiful is too much of an exaggeration. The princess is adorable at most, and a cutie at least. That is how young the princess is.
Yin Shu starts blushing thinking to herself that Lu Gao has the hots for her. It was insanely inaccurate, but all the princess can see is an opportunity to strengthen the 'budding' relationship.
"Don't be like that, esteemed Lu Gao... I am surely not a match for you! If there is even someone worthy of you, then that person will definitely be of your equal status, and unlike a lowly woman like me…" Yin Shu lowers herself to the point that she's at the level of a mortal. From what she knows, Lu Gao is a very humble boy, so showing her lowliness might help her endear Lu Gao.
Lu Gao was still standing at the marble stairs, and he realizes he might be appearing rude to the princess. Invisible sweat gathers on his forehead as he stands up, and coughs rather awkwardly. "Princess! That cannot be! Who would think of you as lowly? The Biron Kingdom hailed from the ancient Steel Empire, and has fought and won many wars that seemed against the odds! You came from a bloodline of heroes!"
Lu Gao sighed in relief thankful for the many passing works of literature he heard and read. He started dramatizing what he knew and began boasting of a history that might not even exist. "The heroes of blood and iron are experts of immaculate skills! Though compared to their neighbors who appeared to possess stronger cultivation bases, the Biron Royalty was never undeterred evident by their unyielding attitude! I have heard of farmers who never cared for a sect defeating a whole sect by themselves! An elder who went against the Azuon Empire to challenge the Sandwyrm Desert! And MORE!"
Lu Gao's storytelling ability enraptured Yin Shu and made her think. 'He is so well learned he even knew stories that I don't know! I have read almost everything in the royal archives, but I don't know any of this!'
The misunderstanding just got bigger and bigger.
Yin Shu thought that Lu Gao shouldn't be thinking lowly of her royal bloodline, so she decided to use it to her advantage. As subtly as possible, she hinted at Lu Gao a marriage alliance. "If you don't think so lowly of me… Maybe the sect and the kingdom may come into unity with the foundation of blood?"
Lu Gao sweated more. He felt threatened. Is the princess dissatisfied with his response? The sect and the kingdom to come into unity with the foundation of blood… Does she mean that their sect will be slaughtered in cold blood if he doesn't agree on the unity of the kingdom and their sect?
"I am just a disciple, and it seems that so are you… For you to think of the benefits of your kingdom is wise, but care that I remind you… You are also a member of this sect. While I may call you wise, believe me, that I say it is unwise for you to play both sides…"
Lu Gao is actually just diverting the princess's attention by saying he is just a disciple. If the princess wanted the kingdom and their sect to unite, she has to see the Game Master instead and not him.
However, what Yin Shu heard was different from what Lu Gao intended. Yin Shu's back was drenched with cold sweat as she analyzed the 'threat' in seconds… To play both sides? Wise? Unwise? The meanings of these words fought a tenacious battle in her head.
"F-forgive me esteemed Lu Gao… I hope to invite you to the Royal Kingdom's palace as a form of apology… I hope that we can have a relationship in which the two of us can shred all pretenses… And in a way will be mutually beneficial to the two of us…"
Lu Gao didn't hear the 'forgive me', as his attention was caught exclusively by the invitation to the royal palace. Lu Gao smiled not out of his calculations. It was just an honest smile born from his desire to see the Royal Archive and to slap a certain annoying royal prefect on the face.
"I would love to go to the Royal Palace. I especially would love to see the Royal Archives, and maybe even the Royal King and Royal Queen for I hoped that we can really engage in a mutual relationship more than benefitting the two of us but also our related and loved affiliations…"
Lu Gao simply meant that he wanted to go to the palace in a superfluous and verbose manner. There wasn't any hidden meaning in his words. But Yin Shu didn't think so… What she heard is that Lu Gao wanted to meet her parents and should they approve, they should be put in an arranged marriage that will indefinitely benefit both the sect and the kingdom.
With heat in her nostrils, Yin Shu nodded in approval of Lu Gao's words. "Yes, dear… You are always welcome to the royal palace!"
Lu Gao frowned at the word 'dear', but he ignored it as quickly as his frown vanishes. He thought the royalty is too weird. The way they address people were ever-changing. From senior to esteemed, and now to dear?
Meanwhile, just from behind the two runts are three adults watching curiously… Each of them has unique expressions on their face.
The Royal Bodyguard is wiping her tears away as she murmured to herself. "Ah, the princess is already at that age… Congratulations are in order!"
Nee Chen just looked dumbly not understanding shit. He looked at Xiang Ya for answers.
Xiang Ya nodded with a knowing look. She held Nee Chen's arm lovingly. "Our little Lu Gao just got married. Did you not see?"
"Wait, what?"
Nee Chen wanted to approach Lu Gao and ask what happened, but Xiang Ya clamped her arm so strong Nee Chen thought she might be on a higher level than him. Similarly, Shan Yusin, the bodyguard, has her foot over Nee Chen's, her murderous intent subtly hinting at him not to take a step more.
The two women whispered to Nee Chen. "Don't interfere with the happiness of the two of them."