LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 28 - Who Do You Think You Are?
The term “tribulation” was not unfamiliar to cultivators.
But a mortal tribulation…
Isn’t that just another term for a love tribulation?
Does such a thing really exist?
Or is it merely something fake cultivators use to deceive women?
But the person in front of him was Lu Ping.
So, Luo Ziqing believed it a little.
‘As expected of the Dao Ancestor—even the tribulations he faces carry the essence of returning to simplicity and truth!’
Luo Ziqing suddenly realized, “The mortal tribulation that Dao Ancestor speaks of, could it be related to one of the two princesses?”
Lu Ping hesitated before nodding.
“Wonderful!”
Luo Ziqing grasped Luo Hongshan’s hand excitedly. “Hongshan! Truly, the heavens have blessed our Luo family. Who would have thought that a descendant of our family could share a lifetime bond with Dao Ancestor? It is indeed the glory of the Luo family!”
His sudden exclamation startled Lu Ping.
‘Isn’t the Luo family in Lingzhou supposed to look down on the royal branch in the capital?’
‘So why are they suddenly acting like they’re one big happy family?’
It just goes to show—relationships and social norms work the same everywhere, depending on what the other party can offer.
Money and power might not sway true seekers of the Dao.
“Scoundrel!”
Out of nowhere, Luo Ziqing suddenly kicked Luo Kun, sending him flying.
Luo Kun’s cheek bore a clear shoe print, and though his face was full of grievance, he quickly scrambled back. “Please calm your anger, Great-Granduncle. What did I do wrong this time?”
Luo Ziqing, seething with anger, demanded, “Let me ask you, are the two princesses not descendants of the Luo family?”
Luo Hongshan quickly signaled Luo Kun with his eyes, fearing he might bring up the old family rule that treated branch members as outsiders.
Fortunately, Luo Kun was alert enough to catch the hint. “Yes, that’s why I let them in.”
Luo Ziqing’s expression softened slightly as he continued, “And if Dao Ancestor is the future husband of one of the princesses, doesn’t that make him part of the Luo family too?”
The logic seemed sound, but it felt a bit off to Lu Ping.
If he was considered part of the Luo family, did that mean he was marrying into the family?
Luo Kun finally broke down, tears of frustration streaming down his face, despite his burly appearance.
“Great-Granduncle, he never said anything about his relationship with the princess!”
“Arguing back? And you wonder why I say you lack insight!”
Luo Ziqing pointed to Lu Ping. “Apologize to the Dao Ancestor immediately!”
Reluctantly, Luo Kun turned around and kowtowed to Lu Ping. “Please forgive me, Dao Ancestor, for my offense. I beg your pardon.”
Feeling somewhat guilty, Lu Ping stepped forward to help Luo Kun up. “It’s not your fault. Please don’t hold a grudge.”
This show of responsibility instantly reduced half of Luo Kun’s resentment.
“The Dao Ancestor’s magnanimity is truly admirable.”
Seeing Lu Ping occasionally glance toward the courtyard gate, Luo Ziqing offered, “Would the Dao Ancestor care to sit inside for a while?”
Lu Ping shook his head. “They should be coming out soon. I’ll wait here.”
Luo Ziqing didn’t press the matter and reassured him, “Rest assured, Dao Ancestor. The current head of the family is my junior. Although he can be prideful, he would never abandon someone of the same bloodline. He’ll provide the medicine.”
At that moment, the courtyard gate creaked open, and Luo Jinxuan walked out, her expression troubled.
Behind her, Luo Yingci seemed visibly upset.
Lu Ping quickly took a few steps forward to greet them, but Luo Jinxuan shook her head at him.
Her expression made it clear—they hadn’t secured the medicine.
But the most embarrassed one had to be Luo Ziqing.
He had just assured Lu Ping there would be no problem with the medicine, only to be proven wrong immediately.
Without bothering to explain to Lu Ping, Luo Ziqing stormed into the courtyard, his anger almost palpable.
Luo Jinxuan and Luo Yingci glanced at Luo Hongshan beside Lu Ping and suddenly froze as if recalling something.
A moment later, the two women exchanged glances and bowed in unison. “Greetings, Patriarch.”
Lu Ping was surprised. “You… know each other?”
Luo Jinxuan explained, “We just saw his portrait inside the ancestral hall.”
Ordinarily, if someone bowed to him, Luo Hongshan would accept it without issue.
But now that he knew who Luo Jinxuan and Lu Ping were, how could he dare accept such a grand gesture?
Luo Hongshan hurried forward, intending to stop Luo Jinxuan from bowing, but recalling her connection to Lu Ping, he didn’t dare touch her and quickly retreated behind Lu Ping.
As long as someone was in between, it didn’t count as receiving the bow, right?
Luo Jinxuan lifted her head slightly, noticing Lu Ping standing between her and Luo Hongshan. Her pretty face showed a hint of annoyance. “Step aside! Don’t block the Patriarch!”
Lu Ping quickly moved to the side.
Luo Jinxuan glared at him again. “This is the ancestor of my Luo family. Why aren’t you bowing with me?”
When it came to Luo Jinxuan’s words, Lu Ping had always been obedient. Without thinking, he instinctively raised his hand to bow.
Luo Hongshan’s eyebrows shot up.
Was the Dao Ancestor really about to bow to him?
How could that be allowed?
Luo Hongshan, moving with a speed uncharacteristic of an elderly man, quickly knelt before Lu Ping, his expression one of deep concern.
Luo Jinxuan felt as if a thunderclap had gone off in her head, leaving her dazed and unsure of what had just happened.
“I’ll take care of the medicine. Let me explain later.”
Lu Ping, genuinely fearing that Luo Jinxuan and Luo Hongshan might start bowing to each other, hurriedly pulled her aside and whispered to her.
Luo Jinxuan wanted to ask more, but she noticed a group of people rushing out from the courtyard.
At the front was the current head of the Luo family, Luo Zhiyan, being dragged out by his ear by Luo Ziqing.
Despite being over forty and the head of the family, it was humiliating to be treated like this, and he kept pleading with Luo Ziqing.
Luo Jinxuan furrowed her brows, puzzled by this young man’s audacity to treat Luo Zhiyan so disrespectfully.
And none of the other Luo family members following behind him made any move to intervene.
She was just about to step forward when Lu Ping quickly stopped her, saying, “You don’t want to mess with him. His rank in the Luo family is very high. Even Luo Hongshan has to call him ‘Uncle’!”
“Uncle of the Patriarch, yet he looks so young?”
As she pondered this, Luo Ziqing arrived with Luo Zhiyan in tow.
Luo Ziqing resumed his earlier respectful demeanor, bowing slightly as he addressed Luo Jinxuan, “Was it this unfilial descendant who refused to give the medicine?”
Luo Jinxuan replied truthfully, “The family head didn’t refuse outright; he just asked me to exchange Luoyang for it.”
Lu Ping, listening from the side, couldn’t help but think it was quite the deal.
A single pill in exchange for a royal city—Luo Zhiyan was certainly ambitious.
But luckily for him, the title of “Dao Ancestor” still carried enough weight to be intimidating.
Might as well keep up the act and secure the medicine!
“Luo Family Head, with such talent in scheming, you should be a merchant, not a family head.”
Lu Ping adopted a lofty tone, his voice cold.
However, Luo Zhiyan didn’t recognize Lu Ping and assumed he was the servant who had accompanied Luo Jinxuan.
Fuming, Luo Zhiyan unleashed his pent-up frustration on Lu Ping.
Getting his ear pulled by his great-granduncle was bad enough.
But now even a mere stable hand dared to mock him.
“Who do you think you are to talk to me like that?”
“Who do you think you are to talk to the Dao Ancestor like that?”
Predictably, Luo Zhiyan found himself at the receiving end of another solid punch.