The Princess And The Lord

Soon after Jin Hao, Bei Li Yan, Jin Hua, and all of the Hei Shen sects left the Misty Lake while Tian Meng Ji and Mu Jan Ge continued to teach about purifying Qi against dark forces including filling in their information about Lazarus, the parasitic beast and such. Needless to say, it will take a long time for them to digest the situation, other than that they also need to repair the mess that Jin Kai left behind, Hei Shen will provide some assistants and so will the Jiu Yun sect but for the Misty lake to fully recover it will depend on the people themselves.

"So…they left?" Su Feng's voice hinted with disappointment "Miss Jin as well?"

"Yes, according to Miss Jin this is for the best..." replied Mei Gui who had stayed a while to deliver the news of her master's departure and also provide some assistance to the Misty Lake Clan.

"She doesn't have to leave though..." Su Feng muttered sadly.

Mei Gui was still smiling but in her heart, she was grateful that Jin Hua left because it seems young master Su likes Miss Jin Hua, it could be bad if later Miss Jin Hua develops a certain feeling for this young master considering how slow her master movement is, she doesn't know why did Bei Li Yan suddenly become dense about his own feeling when he used to be smart.

"Is she coming back?" Su Feng asked with an expectant look.

While maintaining her smile Mei Gui replied firmly "No, I think she wants to stay with the only family she has left, Master Jin Hao also has a very close relationship with Master Bei Li Yan he even allowed Miss Jin Hua to stay at Master Bei's residence."

"Oh… is that so" Su Feng smiled but couldn't help to feel down, after all, he saw Bei Li Yan and Jin Hua hugging each other so it's no surprise if they had a close relationship, still he has a hope...

"Yup~" Mei Gui smiled sweetly.

'Master, I got rid of your rival, you must give me a raise!'

____________________________________________________

_The day before going to the Misty lake Clan_

At midnight inside the Pavilion Zhao Li Xin and the four palace kings including the Mong Brothers gathered while Mong Ki put some paper reports on the table explaining the latest news he got, while Mong Yi poured a cup of wine for Zhao Li Xin and the four kings solemnly listening even Bei Li Yan who used to joke around listened attentively.

After the discussion finished Wu San Bo turn his head to Jin Hao, "I have it was too late for a misty lake clan ... Are you okay with that Hao?"

The corner of Jin Hao's lips rose slightly before he casually took a sip of wine then he cooly said: "I have left that place for more than a decade, the place has become a strange place for me then again I never consider that place as my home"

"I had a hunch, you would say that" Wu San Bo smiled "Still, it's not easy to see the place you used to know being destroyed right in front of your face, right"

"Are you being sentimental to me?" Jin Hao gives Wu San Bo side eyes as if he was a fool, "I think Miss Guan change you more than I thought, huh?" he teases.

"Hey, why did you suddenly bring up his name?" Wu San Bo grumbled with a bashful expression but he didn't deny it.

"Yeah because you changed a lot after you met her… I mean lately, you've become more… what is it called… aah, soft?" Bei Li Yan smirked playfully, even though Bei Li Yan was joking with him but honestly, Bei Li Yan never thought that one day he would ever use that word to describe the money-grubber, Wu San Bo.

"Not only me, didn't he also change after meeting miss Yuan" Wu San Bo pointed his finger at Jin Hao "I never thought Jin Hao could care so much for other humans besides our Lord, even Jiang Jin Wei's has changed too, I heard you re-educated your little sister and you are also quite strict too" Wu San Bo raised his eyebrows he appears amused and amazed at the same time.

Jiang Jin Wei placed his wine cup on the table and sighed, "Well I think it's about time, in the past, I had neglected his education for a long time that's why she was influenced by someone like Tang Mei Yi yets he was still Lucky that she didn't get involved with Lao Min Na otherwise I can't imagine what kind of calamity she will face" Jiang Jin Wei said in a heavy tone.

"Yes, nothing ended well after getting involved with Lao Min Na, perhaps the luckiest was Zhao Yi Chen but that was because Master and Madam took steps to help him" Bei Li Yan glanced at Zhao Li Xin.

"In the end, no one has changed as much as milord, isn't it?" Jin Hao smiled as he raised his winecup towards Zhao Li Xin.

"Do I change a lot?" Zhao Li Xin slightly tilts his head his expression was bland as usual.

"Yes, my Lord... but in a good way!" Jiang Jin Wei quickly explained.

Zhao Li Xin sipped his wine in silence for a few seconds then suddenly he took out a round object made of gold, on top of it there was a unique flame carving around it decorated with four symbols a Lion, a Vermillion bird, a Dragon, and a Turtle.

Zhao Li Xin then touches on the secret mechanic under the round object split into four triangles.

With a graceful motion of his hands, the four triangles flew and landed gently in front of the Palace of the Four Kings, they looked at the triangular object with puzzled looks.

"Milord... this?" Jin Hao looked at Zhao Li Xin with a confused look.

"Milord!" Mong Ki was struck with stress.

"When combined, it will become the key to the underground palace," Zhao Li Xin said while taking a sip of his wine in a casual manner.

Immediately everyone became silent, the four palace kings and the Mong brothers were dumbfounded because the authority to let people enter the underground Palace was the Sect master's privilege, without Zhao Li Xin's approval no one could know the exact location of the Underground Palace actually not all of the Hei Shen sect members knew where the underground palace especially the people who were joined in recent years, most of them don't know where the underground palace is.

"Milord, what does this mean?" Wu San Bo's brows arched upwards while his jaw loosened.

"It's about time..." Zhao Li Xin mumbled as she stared at her wine cup watching the moon reflect on the surface of her wine, she raised her head then slowly swept her gaze across the six men around her, and fainted. a smile spread across his handsome face.

"The first time I made Hei Shen was because I wanted a place of my own, a place that would not dictate to me, which was completely under my control, a place where I could build my own strength and it worked...by that place has changed beyond my expectation because of all of you, unlike other sects we accept those who are left behind, those who have no place to return to, those who are forgotten, those who are deemed useless, corrupted, polluted, we accept them rather than based on their talent or background we place more emphasis on their character because we know skills and abilities can be taught as long as the person is willing to work hard unlike characters...there's nothing we could do if the person has bad characters" Zhao Li Xin put down the cup wine on the table then straightened his back while putting his arms on the table.

The four kings Palace and the Mong brothers exchange a glance and their expressions filled with melancholy as they reminiscence the past, unlike other sects most of the Hei Shen sect members had no family even if they had mos of them has disowned by their own family, therefore they treat the Hei Shen sect not only a place to forged their strength and gather experience but instead as home and they treat each other like a real family that's why the relationship between the members far deeper than any other sects members out there.

"You give us a home, Milord" Bei Li Yan's voice filled with gratitude.

"A protection...." Wu San Bo chimed in.

"You give us hopes, Milord," said Jiang Jin Wei solemnly.

"You give us a strength and reason to live" Mong Ki also replied.

Mon Yi did not want to lose he also said "Yes, you give us a future despite our background and past!"

Zhao Li Xin chuckles looking at their worried faces "Don't worry, I don't have the intention to leave Hei Shen, I just share half of my authority just in case...."

"In case?" Jin Hao furrowed his brows showing his displeasure.

The six men stared intensely at Zhao Li Xin, every single one of them has their eyebrows knitted closely expressing their genuine concern. The funny thing is that most other sects would be happy to share their authority with their sect master, they were supposed to be proud, exhilarated, or at least excited however, Jin Hao and the others didn't show any of that reaction instead they all look wary, Zhao Li Xin laughed inwardly, sometimes he forgot how eccentric his subordinates were.

"This battle is like no other we have ever faced, what we are fighting are creatures that we only know from myths and folklore, although I am not pessimistic, however, as usual, I will be prepared for all possibilities that might happen, and in this case. ..if something happens to me..."

"Nothing will happen to you." Jin Hao suddenly interrupted.

Zhao Li Xin raised a hand to calm him down then continued, "If... anything happens to me then my power will fall into Lory's hands and the six of you will be her advisers and protectors... however if Lory and I..."

"It will not happen!" Bei Li Yan subconciously raised his voice.

Zhao Li Xin raised his eyebrows slightly and smiled faintly, "Of course, that won't happen, it's just wild speculation..."

"Still you shouldn't say something like that, my Lord" Mong Ki expressed his dissatisfaction.

Zhao Li Xin sighed, "Lory and I have talked about this so I have to convey it to all of you…." he ignored their disagreement and continued, "If we don't make it… we will leave the Hei Shen sect to all of you, it will become your responsibility to protect the sect and also our members also maintained our relationship with all our allied and I know that you all will not disappoint me, right" Zhao Li Xin clasped his hands on the table.

They exchange hesitant glances without saying anything, neither said anything then in a voice full of authority, Zhao Li Xin repeated "RIGHT!"

Pressured by Zhao Li Xin's choice, Jiang Jin Wei was the first to pick up the triangular object then stood up and cupped his head, soon after the others followed then answer simultaneously "As you wish my lord!"