Applause followed as everyone escaped the illusion. "Big brother Ludwig's Violin is even greater than it is said!"
Ye shook his head "Lu… Big brother Ludwig, you have become much better than the last time you performed at my birthday, it seems my father is right and you are indeed a musical prodigy." Ludwig was happy that Ye also called him respectfully, this was his intention, after all, being a servant wasn't his style, no matter how much it would benefit him. Now it seems he is an elder accompanying the young out to experience the world and help them with that.
Ludwig sat on his seat, and everyone kept praising him, but another servant didn't dare take the space and the guests knew it was the steward's way of telling them that it was time to present the gifts, so they stood up and one after another presented a gift.
Some, Ludwig knew, and he was surprised at the generosity, others he didn't, nonetheless, he didn't react at all. It wasn't difficult since he had no eyes and being a serial killer for a long time made it easy for him to keep quiet and not move his face or make any expressions if he didn't wish to, so when the youngsters looked at him with a mocking smile, he didn't react.
He might not know how they looked at him, but his soul perception was strong enough for him to feel the obvious disgust towards him, though he also saw that some people were wary.
When everyone was finished, it was his turn, so he just turned instead of standing up, took out a little bottle from his ring and used his spiritual power to carry the bottle towards Ye. Ye didn't know what was inside the bottle, the note on it was removed, but he didn't ask, since he knew Ludwig would have told him directly if that was his intention.
Ludwig turned to the servants and told them "Why don't you serve the meals now?" No matter what, Ludwig's position was still authoritive in many regards, his relationship with Ye naturally allowed him to command the servants.
The servants seemed to hesitate, but before they could turn and look at Ye, they suddenly felt a strong murderous energy, instantly bowing their head and cupping their hands as they agreed and left the room.
As the banquet proceed and people were eating, they would more and more neglect the presence of Ye and he would only talk to his fiancée as well as make short sentences with Ludwig.
Once the eating was over, people left one after another, but Ludwig stayed behind. When everyone besides the fiancée was out, Ludwig looked at Ye before he entered again. This time they went to a side room which was much smaller and seemed more traditional, typical wooden pillows put on the ground where one could sit cross-legged.
Wei kept close and set next to Ye while Ludwig sat on the opposite side. His smile wasn't shown anymore and instead he talked indifferently "None of them is suitable, little Ye, you should choose your friends more closely."
Ye nodded and thought about it before he mentioned a few names of the people that seemed to fit him "They are the ones I focus on, the rest I only invited out of politeness to their elders."
"They're even worse." Ludwig shook his head "The wariness in them is greater than you can see, behind that is a hidden ambition that will strike when the chance is presented. None of the ones present were the ones you want, because their background is the largest reason to reject them. If they didn't bring the little benefit, they would have been the last people you should take."
Ye was curious and asked, "Then who should I take?"
"The ones with no background but a lot of talent. Ones that will be truly loyal to you because of the benefits you can give them, this is a different kind of benefit, a dependence. You need people who would do bad without the help. Little Wei here should know what I mean…"
He thought of the memories he received before his transmigration "Doesn't the Rogue Cultivator Alliance like those kinds of people the most? Desperate ones that would be ready to join the demonic path if that helped them accomplish their goal, only a thin line separating them." Then he shook his head once again "But the rogue cultivators only think short-term, missing out on a great many talents."
Lin Wei was shocked Ludwig knew these things. It wasn't a secret for anyone who had a status, Ludwig didn't really lack in that regard, but he was so young and shouldn't have been told this, since even Ye was surprised of this and looked at her questioningly.
"I also only got to know this recently, it is something we do when we need things to get done by outside hands." She didn't elaborate anymore.
"We need something similar but long-term, the clan does it too if you look at the stewardship, but you already have me, so we need a different approach. My idea would be to firstly take two custodians from my side, and when we find a place to open a branch, we should look for them there. This also means that there is no need for an additional force currently."
Ye was considering this idea, he had other thoughts, but decided to think about it deeper before he speaks of a rejection.
"Also, I will be going into seclusion for the next three years, so I won't be able to attend. When I come out, we can start planning the deeper aspects of the branch."
"You will go into seclusion?" Ye was surprised at this, three whole years was a lot for their age.
"It is indeed so, I am not as talented as little Ye, so I have to work harder, but little Ye should not neglect hard work just because he is talented. When I come out…" he glanced at Wei and continued "the three of us should have entered the Foundation Establishment realm, by then it will be somewhat easier to make a refined and possibly successful plan."
They chatted some more till Ludwig stood up, cupped his hands and left. Just before he was about to leave the building fully, he turned around and said, "You should check the bottle, it's a gift of the Steward Palace." Then he left, outside his custodians were waiting by the carriage.
Ludwig entered quickly and told them to go back. He was not interested in staying any longer, time was precious and no matter how important the little young master is, he put his cultivation above everything else.
…
Back at the Steward Palace, the first thing Ludwig did was go to the school and put a notice of his 3year seclusion on the table of his assigned teacher. He didn't bother checking whether it would be approved.
He saw that the custodians were still moving behind him, so he said "If you do well, I will take you with me. For now, go and report to the inner affairs elder in the steward palace that the mission was successful and that I am sorry that I can't say it personally, but I will be entering seclusion and have no time to waste."
He didn't bother with them either now. One could say his behaviour was indeed somewhat domineering and rude, but at the same time, in the cultivation world, if someone had a sudden enlightenment or was in a heightened state of cultivation, no one should stop them, and if you do, then you will be their greatest enemy.
Ludwig was exactly in this state, so when he finished giving the orders, he instantly left and soon arrived at his residence. He didn't hesitate and entered his meditation room.
…
Time passed, soon after Ludwig entered seclusion, he managed to achieve fourth stage of qi refining, but he didn't stop and kept cultivating. He cultivated pure spiritual power from the ethereal world and didn't need any items for his cultivation. The only struggle was to keep advancing his body, but he managed to do that somewhat through many of the exercises he knew in his past life, while also using a few items he exchanged for his contribution points.
They weren't much and more medical in nature, so they weren't expensive, only their effectiveness was low, but combined with the exercises, it was fine.
This was, two whole years passed, and Ludwig had reached the perfect state of Qi Refining, this is way faster than he was supposed to reach it, but he had a cheat after all. The numerous memories gave him the experience of many cultivators, so reaching such a realm so soon is expected, and would be embarrassing if he didn't reach it.
His next goal was to advance. He had reached the perfect state of qi refining, in factual terms it meant he was the ninth stage of qi refining and was ready to advance, which didn't hesitate to do. The seclusion till now was already long, but he didn't care and went once again into it.
The first thing did was enter the ethereal world, this world was the closest to his soul cultivation, much closer than the physical world, so his breakthrough there was easier.