Chapter 394: Same Person, Different Status
Chapter 394: Same Person, Different Status
Translator: Panda_Penn Editor: Chrissy
Lu Li didn't send Ye Cha out to command those surrendered families. Yu Huashen alone was enough as he had the power and methods, being an overlord himself in the past.
Lu Li had other plans for Ye Cha and the others. The four patriarchs were secretly sent out. What they needed to do was to search for information and have the intelligence of the entire Northern Desert in their hands.
Lu Li could use more hands. Unifying the Northern Desert wouldn't be the most difficult thing. However, he wouldn't rest his mind until he had all the information he could get.
The Cyan Phoenix Race's speed was horrifying, and their assassination skill was well-known in the world. Sending them to collect intelligence was actually making them underemployed. Also, Lu Li had given them Illusions Masks which could facilitate them to go in and out of the city freely.
Lu Li didn't send Ming Yu out. For one thing, Ming Yu was a person with an alienating personality and he was not fond of noises and crowds. He was used to being on his own so he was no army leader material. It would be inappropriate to send him on those errands.
The next day came and the Teleportation Formation kept glowing. Family Patriarchs from families big or small continued to come in. Lu Li didn't make an appearance. He asked Yu Huashen to organize them.
Yu Huashen was quite good at cozying up to people. He named the two Family Patriarchs of fifth rank families as chief generals and several warriors at the peak of the Eternal Realm as generals. Then he started to organize the rest of warriors into troops.
Warriors from all families were teamed up together, which was a better way to organize. Those warriors from different families could keep an eye on each other, which would deter the occurrence of defection and increase the level of loyalty.
Yu Huashen issued several military orders and intrigued those warriors with potential benefits. This was the first army Lu Li had. After the Northern Desert was unified, the first army would have rich benefits to harvest.
At dusk, the Teleportation Formation glowed again. This time, it was not one or two people coming. There were dozens, and the lowest realm they were at was the Fate Wheel Realm.
Among them was a middle-aged man with snow-white hair, a lady with dazzling beauty, and a young lady like a fairy.
The lady saw that order was kept in the city and every soldier was excited. She nodded and said to someone, "Please go and tell Young Master Lu that Bai Yan is here to welcome him with Bai Leng, Bai Xiashuang and all the other patriarchs of the Bai Family."
Madam Yan was here, together with Bai Leng and all the patriarchs of the Bai Family. Bai Leng's hand was cured, good as new. Bai Family was extremely wealthy, so curing Bai Leng's hand was a piece of cake. Unfortunately, he hadn't reached the Noble Lord Realm yet.
"Lu Li has put on such an air!"
Bai Xiashuang twitched her pretty nose, feeling unhappy. Madam Yan threw her a scolding look and whispered, "Shuang-er, I don't care how you talk to him in private. You must respect him in public. This is related to the future of the Bai Family."
Bai Xiashuang was wearing an emerald green dress which accentuated her slim and delicate figure. She stuck her tongue out, feeling annoyed.
After a moment, the gate of the imperial palace was opened. Lu Li strode out with Ming Yu, Ye Cha and Yu Huashen. Madam Yan and Bai Leng looked at each other with a smile. It had been more than half a year. Lu Li was the same person as before, the person that valued friendship.
"Lady Shuang, Lord Leng, Madam Yan!"
Lu Li walked over, smiled but he didn't salute them. Him coming out was a gesture enough. He didn't have to be as polite and respectful as before. The two sides' status had changed. Lu Li had made it clear that he wanted to be the emperor of the Northern Desert so it would be inappropriate for him to bow to others now.
Madam Yan and Bai Leng bowed at once and said, "Greetings, Young Master Lu."
The patriarchs of the Bai Family bowed as well. Only Bai Xiashuang didn't bow. She stared at Lu Li with anger, pouted and then said after a while, "Lu Li, you have changed…"
"I haven't!"
Lu Li smiled, looked into her eyes and said, "You will understand it later. If it was your sister here today, she would understand. Come on in."
Bai Xiashuang tried to say something, but Lu Li had already walked inside. Her eyes reddened. She stomped her feet, having the urge to walk away right now.
Madam Yan immediately took her hands and said in a low voice, "Lu Li hasn't changed. It's his status that has been changed. Shuang-er, you are too young to see it. A person has to adopt behaviors suitable to his status. If Lu Li acted in the old way, he wouldn't be worthy of our help. Come on now."
Bai Xiashuang still seemed to be confused. She walked in with Madam Yan, feeling wronged. Bai Leng squinted. Looking at Lu Li with majestic gait, Bai Leng felt a bit suppressed even though Lu Li was only at the Fate Wheel Realm. Bai Leng exclaimed, "He once was such a green-hand, but he is going to be the ruler of the Northern Desert soon. He has grown so quickly. That is impressive."
Lu Li walked into the hall and sat on the elevated throne, giving him a more majestic feel. He was young, but he already looked like an overlord.
Lu Li said nothing. He looked downward at Bai Leng and Madam Yan coldly. Without any hesitation, Madam Yan took the lead and knelt down and said, "Bai Yan is here to pledge allegiance. We will be on your side forever and we will assist you in unifying the Northern Desert and establishing an empire!"
Bai Xiashuang didn't want to drop to her knees but she was pushed down by a patriarch. She was on the verge of crying and she raised her head to stare at Lu Li.
Lu Li was emotionless and said nothing. His expressions was so cold that Bai Xiashuang was startled. All of a sudden, to her, Lu Li was no longer the young man she once knew. He was now an emperor with high status, an emperor that could decide the fate of people at the Northern Desert.
At this moment, Bai Xiashuang suddenly had an understanding. Lu Li hadn't changed but his status had. Therefore, he was forced to do something he was not willing to do. But otherwise, he wouldn't be able to rule the warriors or have the air of an emperor.
Lu Li suddenly stood up. He solemnly raised his hand and said, "I, Lu Li, accept you. I swear as long as I am alive, I will not let you down."
Madam Yan and Bai Leng abruptly raised their heads, feeling stunned. Lu Li made a vow in public? He needn't say anything. Even if he wanted, he didn't have to do it in public. Those words pretty much guaranteed the fast advancement of the Bai Family.
"Lu Li is the same as before!"
Madam Yan said nothing even though she was utterly excited. She bowed again and Bai Leng seemed more determined than ever.
He tried to reach the Noble Lord Realm but failed. The Bai Family was suffering from domestic strife and foreign aggression. To grow and develop now was not easy, but it had been turned around by Lu Li's oath. The Bai Family could go on expeditions with Lu Li. By the time Lu Li unified the Northern Desert, the Bai Family would benefit substantially and then develop.
Bai Xiashuang's eyes became misty again!
She was a girl pure in thought but she was not thick-headed. She soon understood why Lu Li had done this. He was telling her and Bai Qiuxue in a concealed way that he remembered what they had done for him, and as long as he was alive, not only would the Bai Family be kept intact, the family would achieve a lot as well.
Lu Li turned to Bai Xiashuang with a gentle smile. It flashed away in an instant but she did see it.
She smiled as well—a very enchanting smile.