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--- Chapter 88 ---
Everyone watched the black and white cocoon that once formerly was Lan Rou, grimacing because the surrounding Dou Qi flowed quickly into it.
It absorbs so much Dou Qi that air in a hundred meters radius is stagnant for a moment.
"ROU!!"
Baek Ain racked his head, thinking about what he should do in this odd situation before realizing his essence technically lived inside Lan Rou's body.
He uses the parasitic connection and reinforces it with telepathy, causing a static wave in the surrounding area.
'Phantom, what happened to Lan Rou?'
Phantom, the parasitic suit bonded to Lan Rou, received Baek Ain's question and answered doubtfully, 'I also don't know, my lord...'
'Mistress Rou's body is transforming inside this cocoon, but none of it was negative. Even if she impacted negatively, I'll try to fix it from the inside.'
'An invincible influence surging from her head, triggering this change. The influence doesn't seem bad, so she should be fine.'
'With the energy absorption rate, Mistress Rou needs three days to finish this transformation. So please don't let anyone touch the cocoon because we don't know what reaction could happen to her.'
A solemn expression appeared on Baek Ain's face when listening to the parasite's diagnosis. He calmed himself down because there was no use of panic in the situation.
He sighed and looked at his other lovers, "Rou will be fine."
"Don't worry."
Baek Ain moved his gaze to Su Qian and added, "Senior Su Qian, can you please isolate this room for three days? If feasible, I also want the other guests to move away from this building."
"That would be difficult," Su Qian responded solemnly. "But not impossible."
"I'll talk to other guests first. You better explain what happened later."
Baek Ain smiled and returned, "Much appreciated, Senior."
Closing all the doors and windows, Baek Ain told Yi Xian to guard the cocoon while bringing Yafei and Lan Guan to the other room. They stared at each other awkwardly because this sudden event developed out of nowhere.
Lan Guan opened her mouth first and asked, "How did Orchid Ancestor come to your side?"
"You think we know?" Baek Ain responded helplessly.
"Don't you see how flustered I am just now? My lover is in an unknown situation."
"True, I guess..." Lan Guan mumbled while looking down.
"Wait. Wait a minute."
"Did you say, lover?"
"Any problem with that?" Baek Ain squinted his eyes, leaving Lan Guan speechless.
"N-No..."
As the mood became more awkward, Yafei brought a tea set from her spatial ring and placed it down. She brewed tea and handed a cup to Baek Ain and Lan Guan.
"Let's take things slowly, shall we? Peacefully speaking is better than questioning others like it was an interrogation."
"Senior Lan Guan, we would prefer to listen more about the Orchid Ancestor first. After knowing more about the Orchid Ancestor, Bai Ya and I can assess the situation and tell you our story." She smiled behind her veil, talking like a noble lady.
"Fuck... It's too long if I have to tell you everything." Lan Guan rubbed her forehead. "I will simplify it and leave the unimportant bits."
"Orchid Ancestor is one of strongest Demonic Practitioners to ever exist in the Demonic Faction or Southern Region. People know her legend, but not her origin."
"She's a lady from our Yin-Yang Orchid Clan, having limitless talents and a bright mind. As one hundred years pass, she grows into a Dou Venerate and spreads her name as "Venerable Orchid." by slaying through her enemy gracefully."
"A flick of her wrist enough to blow a mountain apart, parting the sky, and erasing the miles upon miles of sea..."
"She's a genuine expert but perished bizarrely." Lan Guan sighed in defeat.
"When Orchid Ancestor was about to reach the Saint Realm, she found Six Path Reincarnation Flame by chance and lost all her Dou Qi... And all of a sudden, she commits suicide out of madness. That's what everyone thought, but not the truth."
"The truth is..." A painful expression appeared on Lan Guan's face.
"The Six Path Reincarnation Flame swallowed her soul, leaving nothing but an empty husk... The Fallen Orchid Sect protected her body and Six Path Reincarnation Flame, hoping someday she'd return because we believed she was still out there."
Lan Guan stared at Baek Ain and added, "Orchid Ancestor is Peerless Demonic Practitioner. And you possibly dated her reincarnation."
"Reincarnation." Baek Ain doesn't know what to say about this.
"Are you sure Rou is her reincarnation?"
Lan Guan shook her head gently and answered, "I don't, but we have some ancient texts from the Ancient Emperor Tou She's Era."
"It briefly recorded all the abilities of the Heavenly Flame. And Six Path Reincarnation Flame allows its wielder to reincarnate six times."
"We don't have a choice, but believe this text as this is our only duty."
"What about the Yin Yang Orchid Clan?" Baek Ain asked curiously.
Lan Guan had a bitter expression as she responded, "Yin Yang Orchid Clan disbanded because there are no pure-blooded Lan Clan members anymore. All the males were slaughtered in war while the females were "actually." forced to hide and marry into other clans."
"I was the 3rd generation of Lan Clan's young lady. My great-grandmother is the sister of an Orchid Ancestor, and she passed away 369 years ago...."
Silence.
Baek Ain could sense Lan Guan wasn't lying. He stared at Yafei and let her begin, "Fei."
"I know." Yafei nodded calmly.
"Then it's our turn."
She even opened her veils, which caused Baek Ain to smile wryly.
Bowing a little, Yafei introduced herself, "My name is Yafei."
"I'm a noble from the Jia Ma Empire, which is not really significant in the world of strong people. We have an assassination unit called the Shadow Guard solely intended to be trained as our protection in shadow."
"Shadow Guard fetched orphans across the Northwest Region of Dou Qi Continent, where they could barely survive. We take a child who doesn't have a home, food, or power and train them to be a warrior."
Lan Guan listened silently because such an organization is typical in this world. Even the Fallen Orchid Sect has one.
Of course, it's one of many shady things about this world, so she doesn't deny such an act is somewhat disturbing.
Yafei closed her eyes as she remembered her moment with Lan Rou and continued, "My uncle and I found a girl in the middle of nowhere."
"She only has two things at the time... A rag to cover her fragile body and a name."
"Her name is Lan Rou."
"Even though we have different statuses, Lan Rou and I grew near each other. As I become a businesswoman, she becomes my bodyguard."
"She's quite talented, reaching Dou Grandmaster Realm before twenty and becoming one of our best Shadow Guards."
"And then we met this guy." Yafei giggled while tapping Baek Ain's shoulders. "We fell in love with him almost simultaneously."
"Lan Rou is my teacher and lover." Baek Ain admitted with a smile.
"This is too much to digest in one sitting." Lan Guan commented while shaking her head. "Even then, the Orchid Ancestor doesn't forget her roots after reincarnation."
"Her real name is Lan Rouxi."
"Well, I believed she could choose a new name if it's fitting."
They conversed for a few hours until the night came to Jia Nan Academy.
Lan Guan decided to protect Lan Rou's cocoon until she was awakened and refused to attend the Thousand Flame Refinement Ceremony, which was not much different from her original plan.
She has a lady talk with Yafei and Yi Xian, leaving Baek Ain outside alone.
Thankfully, Su Qian allowed them to have the whole hotel, or else people would know about this. Three days aren't long, and other guests could stay in other places as Jia Nan Academy is quite spacious.
"Then, I'll leave." Su Qian patted Baek Ain's shoulders. "You owe me a favor, the Ruler of Black-Corner Region."
Watching the Grand Elder of Jia Nan Academy leave, Baek Ain sighed and responded, "Yeah."
Baek Ain shook his head and looked at the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower, flying there with shadow steps. His presence was "quickly." erased as he approached the tower with some expectation.
[Ding! Do you want to Sign In to the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower?]
"Yes."
[Ding! Congratulation, host]
[You have obtained...]