The Mirror Master

"Huh?"

Lu Yao froze, clearly not expecting this reaction from Lu Bai.

Lu Yao came back to her senses and smiled. "Ah Bai, you’ve misunderstood. I just want to borrow your doggy for a couple of days, not take him from you. You wouldn’t refuse to even lend him to me for two days, would you? That would be so stingy!"

"Not happening."

Lu Bai watched Lu Yao with a half-smile, but his tone left no room for argument.

’Lu Yao was secretly annoyed.’

’Her cousin had always been meek and indecisive. When had he ever refused her?’

Although Lu Bai had a smile on his face, she couldn’t help but feel a sudden chill for some reason.

"Oh, so, little Ah Bai, you’ve learned to joke around with your big cousin, have you!"

Lu Yao feigned anger, swinging a fist toward Lu Bai’s shoulder.

Lu Bai sidestepped slightly to dodge it, his expression impassive.

Lu Yao furrowed her delicate brow.

’If this were before, Lu Bai would have definitely let her hit him square on, then pretended to be in pain and beg for mercy.’

But now, Lu Bai clearly had no intention of playing along with her.

"Ah Bai, are you serious?"

Lu Yao’s eyes reddened slightly, and she looked aggrieved. "I was nice enough to bring you some silver to spend, but you won’t even lend me a dog to play with for a few days..."

Lu Bai suddenly cut in, "Cousin, at dusk this evening, tell my uncle and aunt, and your husband, to bring the drafted contracts for the four pharmacies over. You can all stay for dinner."

Lu Yao blinked, a little confused. "But isn’t the next seventh-day ritual still a few days away?"

The Lu Bai of today gave her an indescribable feeling.

His every word and action was unexpected, making him feel like a stranger.

"Mhm."

Lu Bai nodded. "A few days won’t make a difference. It’s better to get this over with sooner rather than later."

"Alright then, I’ll go back and tell my parents."

Lu Yao waved to Lu Bai. "See you tonight."

"See you tonight."

Lu Bai nodded with a smile.

Watching Lu Yao’s retreating figure, Lu Bai’s eyes flickered as he fell into silent contemplation.

He hadn’t originally planned to have a showdown today.

But Lu Yao’s visit was clearly about the Black Dog!

’If she took the Black Dog, he most likely wouldn’t come back.’

’She could just make up an excuse, claim he ran away, and that would be the end of it.’

The Mourning Brick had been discovered. The evil presence on the Locust Talisman had been revealed. Carpenter Zhang and his entire family had been silenced. Yet through it all, he had remained unharmed. This would inevitably make Lu Ziyuan’s family—or whoever was backing them—suspect the Black Dog.

Lu Yao’s visit this time was perhaps just a probe.

If she failed, there would probably be more underhanded tricks to follow.

Rather than being on guard day and night, it was better to act preemptively!

While he had been practicing the Martial Dao these past few days, Lu Bai had also been contemplating his future path. He had already formed some rough plans and a general direction.

Lu Bai beckoned to the Black Dog, which got up and followed him.

Mistress Wang was in the courtyard burning joss paper.

Just then, Uncle Fu hurried back from outside, looking exhausted and covered in sweat.

"Uncle Fu, did you go to my uncle’s house to borrow money?"

Lu Bai asked.

Uncle Fu had run into Lu Yao on his way back and guessed she might have already told Lu Bai, so he didn’t hide it any longer. "We’ve had too many expenses recently. The family truly has no money left."

"Did you manage to borrow any?"

Lu Bai asked again.

Uncle Fu’s expression turned grim, as if he’d recalled something unpleasant. He gave an embarrassed smile. "I borrowed two mace. If we’re frugal, it should be enough for now."

Two mace of silver was practically what you’d give to a beggar.

In Lu Bai’s current state, if he bought some meat and wine in addition to rice and flour, that amount wouldn’t even last a single day.

Just from Uncle Fu’s expression, one could guess what kind of humiliation he had just endured at Lu Ziyuan’s home.

"Fusheng, you’ve been wronged."

Mistress Wang sighed.

"Mistress, Young Master, please don’t worry."

Uncle Fu forced a smile. "I’ll try to think of something else in the next couple of days."

"Mother, where is my marriage agreement with the Chen Family?"

Lu Bai suddenly asked.

"It’s still here at home..."

Mistress Wang hadn’t expected him to ask such a question. On second thought, she couldn’t help but sigh to herself.

’With the family in this state, Ah Bai is still thinking about his engagement to the Chen Family.’

Mistress Wang said, "Ah Bai, given our family’s current situation, it’s not a suitable time to get married. It’s better to wait."

There were certain worldly customs she couldn’t explain too bluntly.

Even if the Lu Family wanted to push the marriage forward now, the Chen Family would surely refuse.

"I don’t intend to get married."

Lu Bai said calmly, "Bring me the marriage agreement. I’m going to cancel it."

"What?"

Both Mistress Wang and Uncle Fu were stunned by his words.

"This marriage isn’t going to happen anyway. Might as well do the Chen Family an easy favor."

In the original owner’s memories, Hall Master Chen’s daughter had never liked him in the first place; it was simply an arranged marriage, a command from their parents and the words of a matchmaker.

Pausing for a moment, Lu Bai added, "And while I’m at it, I’ll get our betrothal gifts back."

Mistress Wang: "..."

Uncle Fu: "..."

When the two families had arranged the engagement, the Lu Family had indeed sent over a substantial number of betrothal gifts.

Although not as lavish as the gifts sent to the Luo Family, they still included precious medicinal herbs, silks and satins, and several hundred taels of silver alone.

That was, indeed, the situation.

But wanting the betrothal gifts back was a bit of wishful thinking.

If the Chen Family were the ones to break the engagement, there would be grounds to demand the gifts back.

But now, with Lu Bai going to them to return the marriage agreement and terminate the engagement, how could he possibly get the gifts back?

’Uncle Fu shook his head to himself.’

’Something like this was too humiliating. An ordinary family could never afford such a loss of face.’

’Just imagining the scene was awkward. It would probably be even more mortifying than what he had just gone through at Lu Ziyuan’s house.’

After a moment of internal struggle, Uncle Fu gritted his teeth and said, "Young Master, I’ll go with you. Don’t you say a word—I’ll do the talking! I’m willing to risk my old face for this today!"

"No need. You stay here and take care of Mother."

Lu Bai’s expression was calm. "I’m just returning the marriage agreement and asking for the betrothal gifts. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. It’s no big deal."

In his view, it was only right and proper to get the betrothal gifts back when an engagement was terminated.

Besides, they were in desperate need of money right now.

"Young Master..."

Uncle Fu tried to persuade him further, but Lu Bai cut him off with a wave of his hand. "Say no more. It’s decided."

"Sigh."

Mistress Wang let out a soft sigh. "I’ll go get the marriage agreement."

With that, she turned and walked toward the inner hall.

A short while later, she returned with a sheet of paper—the marriage agreement.

Mistress Wang clutched the agreement, her expression a mixture of sorrow and helplessness. "Ah Bai, you were about to start your own family, but now..."

"Hall Master Chen’s daughter and I never had any feelings for each other. It was just an arranged marriage, a command from our parents and the words of a matchmaker. It’s fine if it doesn’t work out."

Lu Bai’s tone was carefree, as if he didn’t mind at all.

’Now that I’ve come to this world where the Martial Dao and Cultivation coexist, a world teeming with evil spirits, it would be a true waste of time to get caught up in romantic affairs.’

For now, he only wanted to practice the Martial Dao and gain the power to protect himself as quickly as possible.

If he ever had the chance to seek a sliver of immortal destiny, he wouldn’t miss it.

To him, stunning beauties were far less substantial than a single evil spirit or Ghost Soul.

Besides, going to the Chen Martial Arts Hall to return the marriage agreement and ask for the betrothal gifts was only one of his objectives.

He had other plans as well.

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