Vik: "My disciples, you are still too immature to think about these tactics. There can be many reasons for doing this, but that is not important. What matters is that we need to find that person and give him a taste of his own medicine. As for Lin Chen, we are going to attend the party he is hosting for the villagers today. I believe the party starts at 6 PM, so remember to finish your tasks before then. We need to bring him some gifts."
After explaining this to my disciples, I waited for their response. Soon, Lu Xiaoran and Roman nodded and said, "Master, we understand."
Then Roman seemed to remember something and said, "Master, now that you mention this, I recall that some time ago, before Lin Chen and the young masters started their rivalry, someone came to the Lu Family to talk about Azure Mountain with Lu Xiaoran's father. I don't know what they discussed."
Hearing this, Lu Xiaoran asked, "Roman, why did someone come to my Lu Family to talk about Azure Mountain? As far as I know, that area is restricted and belongs to the villagers who live there. My family has not shown any interest in that place until now."
Roman replied, "Young master, you might not know, but the ancestors of the Lu Family came from Azure Mountain and later settled in the city, becoming a prominent family over the years. Around 200 years ago, the Lu Family lived in Azure Mountain just like those villagers."
After hearing their conversation, I finally understood something and said, "Disciple, if I am correct, the Azure Mountain holds a priceless treasure that has not been found to this day. However, the Lu Family, which originated from Azure Mountain, may hold a clue or a map to it. Many people have tried to search for it, but the Lu Family refused. After your clash with Lin Chen, those in the shadows started guiding Lin Chen against you, damaging your family in the process. As a result, your mother is in jail, and your father's situation is unknown."
Vik: "I think even with his immense luck, Lin Chen must have gotten that item or map of treasure from the Lu Family since your cousin and his father act like his servants. As for the ones guiding him behind the scenes, I believe they made a deal with him regarding the distribution of the treasure. To execute their plan, they need the land of those villages. Even with the map, they cannot confirm the treasure's location. From all this, I can confirm that some people in the upper echelons of this city are involved in this matter. That's why Lin Chen got permission to acquire those lands so easily."
With this newfound understanding, I made some adjustments to the upcoming plans for Lin Chen. After explaining everything to my disciples, I said, "Disciples, we will deal with those people later, but first, let's complete today's task."
After that, we all left the manor. Lu Xiaoran and Roman headed toward their target while I took Pushpa in my arms. She was still playing with her doll, sometimes chewing on it. I didn't take it away and brought her with me. We took public transport to the registry office to register my business.
Pov: Lu Xiaoran
Master assigned a task to both of us and also explained many hidden details that we were unaware of. To think that Lin Chen's revenge against me has such a conspiracy behind it—I feel like a fool, only thinking about myself. But the past is the past, and now I need to correct things.
With this in mind, I walked out of the manor with Roman. I need to meet with my mother and see her condition. Thinking about her and my father brought a hint of pain to my heart. Earlier, when I heard my mom was in jail, I thought my father was doing nothing to help her. Now I hear he is also missing. I really thought wrong about my father. I remembered he had a strict personality. He never supported my foolish actions. Even when I lost to Lin Chen, he told me I was defeated because of my own foolishness. Now I understand why he said that.
Thinking all of this, we walked toward a bus stand a little distance from our manor. After getting on the bus, I bought tickets for Ryan District. The jail where my mother is kept is in Ryan District of this city. The bus took an hour to reach that place. After getting off, we walked toward the district prison. While walking, I looked at Roman. He still wore that serious expression, but since I had spent a lot of time with him, I knew he cared a lot about me and my mother. So I asked, "Roman, sometimes I think you are not just a caretaker hired by my mother. There is more to it. You sometimes call me young master and other times Lu Xiaoran. Sometimes you act like a bodyguard, and other times you feel like a kind grandfather."
Hearing me, he stopped and sighed, then started walking again. He said slowly, "You are right. You could say I am your maternal grandfather."
Lu Xiaoran: "What? Does my real maternal grandfather know this? And how? As far as I know, you don't even talk to women. I always thought you practiced some martial arts that forbids you from having relationships with the other sex."
Hearing my words, he looked at me and said, "Hold your imagination, young man. My relationship is not what you think. When your mother, Layla, was 4 years old, she got lost from her parents. Coincidentally, I ran an orphanage at that time, and I found her. She was very clumsy. If not for me finding her, she might not have survived. After that, she joined my orphanage and became part of my family with my other children there. Later, when she was 12 years old, your original grandparents found her and took her away. To me, she is still my daughter."
Lu Xiaoran: "Oh, I understand now. I think I should call you Grandfather Roman from now on."
Roman: "That's why I did not want to tell you this. I don't like being called grandfather. In fact, I don't want to form any other relationships anymore. I only became your caretaker because she requested me."
Lu Xiaoran: "Come on, don't be like a grumpy old man. Why say you don't want to have any more relationships? I'm sure your other children from the orphanage are also your children. Maybe they also call you Grandpa. By the way, where is your orphanage, and who is taking care of it now?"
As he heard my words, he stopped, looking straight ahead without focusing on anything and said, "Destroyed. Everything is destroyed. Everyone died in the fire. Your mother Layla is the only daughter I have left in this world."
Hearing his words sent a chill down my spine. His body looked hollow, and after saying this, he seemed more like a dead man than the serious Roman I knew. I caught a glimpse of his eyes, which showed immense pain. I realized then that I had always focused on my own suffering, but seeing him now, I could see that his pain was unimaginable.