Chapter 20: The Ding Clan: I Am Just a Part of Your Master-Servant Roleplay

Ginseng Wolfberry Soup, Eel Mutton Stew.

Duck meat was used for the wolfberry soup. Luo Yao claimed it balanced cold and heat, supplementing both Yin and Yang.

Ding Nan finished the lunch accompanied by Luo Yao.

“Well, lunch — fortunately, it was lunch.”

“About my engagement with Ji Lanruo… how does the Luo family plan to handle it?”

Ding Nan asked.

Hearing this, Luo Yao’s chopsticks paused.

“Please rest assured, Young Master. I will handle it properly,” Luo Yao said.

“I should also mention it to my father to avoid becoming a laughingstock when the time comes,” Ding Nan said, adding a thought in his heart: ‘Although breaking an engagement at the speed of light is quite a joke in itself.’

With Luo Yao’s guarantee, Ding Nan felt at ease.

He believed that since Luo Yao could produce a first-class cultivation technique, the family behind her could certainly hold their own against the Xishan Sect.

“Young Master, when do you want to get married?”

Luo Yao lowered her head, her face flushing crimson.

“Let’s wait a while.”

“Wait? Does Young Master not want to get married quickly?”

Luo Yao grabbed Ding Nan’s arm, her dark eyes staring at him like a deep abyss.

“No, did you forget? The Tianfeng Dynasty follows a system of monogamy! Do you want me to end up behind bars?”

Ding Nan said.

Luo Yao stared at Ding Nan for about 10 seconds.

Although Ding Nan’s expression remained unchanged and serious, he had long been unnerved by Luo Yao’s gaze.

He was terrified that she might suddenly beat him into kneeling like she did that night, forcing him to be her man.

His small physique at the Body Tempering Realm was far too weak compared to Luo Yao, who could easily crush someone at the Early Qi Refining Stage.

“Oh, how could I forget such an important thing?”

Luo Yao’s expression shifted from gloomy to bright. She pressed her palms together and spoke with an apologetic face.

Ding Nan narrowed his eyes.

In this era, there were no marriage certificates or digital networks. It was actually quite simple to commit bigamy.

However, getting married to another woman after already exchanging marriage posts was practically asking for trouble.

“Then, it should be fine for us to discuss the wedding details in advance, right?”

“Mhm.”

Since he had learned the Luo family’s heirloom technique, his position as a matrilocal son-in-law was definitely set. He really did need to tell his father.

Luo Yao lightly patted her chest and said, “In a moment, I’ll go find Uncle Ding Wen to discuss it.”

“Alright then.”

Before long, the two finished their lunch.

“I’m leaving now. You must study hard,” Luo Yao said.

“Mhm. I’ll wait for your good news, Yao’er.”

“Yo—Yao’er…”

Upon hearing this, Luo Yao’s head practically emitted white steam with a *poof*.

She then lowered her head and nodded with an incoherent “Mhm.”

She left.

Ding Nan returned to his room to enjoy the shade and began reading the Danxia Manual.

“Mhm, the Danxia Manual comes with its own Fire Control Method. Besides forging equipment, it should be usable for alchemy as well,” Ding Nan murmured.

The Fire Spirit Method within the Five Elements Spiritual Fire was essentially a Fire Control Method.

Ding Nan flipped through the Danxia Manual idly.

Because he had just eaten his fill, it was inconvenient to exercise.

Since the afternoon wasn’t ideal for reading, he usually spent that time practicing martial arts.

“Mhm, the Five Elements Spiritual Fire all have corresponding Five Spirit Methods. It’s quite comprehensive… wait?”

The sleepiness he felt after the meal was suddenly replaced by a flash of inspiration.

‘Soulfire is the manifestation of life and soul. Isn’t that just human life itself?’

—

Luo Yao walked briskly to the Patriarch’s study and lightly knocked on the door.

“Uncle Ding Wen, are you in the study?”

Luo Yao’s voice was as pleasant as an oriole’s, but whenever it reached Ding Wen’s ears, it always made his sturdy frame shudder.

He hurriedly stood up and said loudly, “I’m here. Come in.”

Luo Yao pushed open the door with one hand.

Inside the study, Ding Wen sat behind his desk, poking his head out to see if Ding Nan was behind Luo Yao.

“Uncle Ding Wen, the Young Master is still in the courtyard studying the technique.”

“I understand.”

He put down his brush and walked toward Luo Yao.

“Miss Luo Yao, I wonder what matters you have to arrange?”

Ding Wen asked.

“I’m here to talk about my relationship with the Young Master.”

Ding Wen paused.

‘Relationship? What relationship?’

“Young Master is already learning the Luo family’s technique.”

In a mere second, Ding Wen understood the implication behind Luo Yao’s words.

Many years ago in winter, this graceful girl before him had appeared in the Ding Clan’s Council Hall.

Back then, she was just as exquisite and beautiful as she was today.

And Ding Nan was only a 9-year-old child.

“My name is Luo Yao, and I am a maid of the Luo family head in Qingzhou. Now, I am the maid of the young clan leader of the Ding Clan in Qingquan City.”

After intimidating all the high-ranking members of the Ding Clan, she turned back into Ding Nan’s maid, acting as the 10-year-old child Ding Nan had picked up.

Since then, the entire Ding Clan had become a part of the master-servant roleplay between her and Ding Nan.

When Ding Nan was present, she was a harmless maid.

When Ding Nan was away, she was an insurmountable mountain for the Ding Clan.

Having spent so many years with Luo Yao, Ding Wen could tell that she cherished the past, which was why she played the role of a lowly maid.

Now that Ding Nan had begun learning the Luo family’s technique, their relationship was clearly no longer that of a simple master and servant.

Based on Ding Wen’s understanding of Ding Nan, given the boy’s overly cautious nature, there was no way he would take the initiative — especially since he was already engaged to Ji Lanruo.

In the Mandarin Duck blankets, they spend the night as a pair; a tree of pear blossoms presses down on the begonia.

Ding Nan was the begonia, and Luo Yao was the pear blossom.

Thus, Ding Wen understood.

“What about Sect Master Ji?”

Luo Yao did not answer. Instead, she said, “Later, when the Young Master asks you about the marriage post, just tell him it has already been taken back.”

“Ah, this…”

Ding Wen looked troubled.

The Ding Clan could not afford to offend Ji Lanruo, but they couldn’t afford to offend Luo Yao either.

“Don’t worry. The Young Master is a man of honor and sentiment; that brat won’t move against the Ding Clan,” Luo Yao said.

“Unless she wants to sever all ties with the Young Master. By the time she shows up at our door, I will have already flown far away with him.”

Hearing this, Ding Wen’s expression softened.

“Now then, please write a marriage post yourself, Uncle Ding Wen. The Young Master has agreed to the matrilocal marriage.”

Ding Wen’s expression changed slightly.

The name Ding was certainly closer to him than the name Luo.

However, even though he was dissatisfied, he still nodded and agreed.

There was no other way; the Ding Clan’s strength was simply too weak.

He pushed the reports on his desk aside.

Luo Yao and Ding Wen each wrote a marriage post with gold ink on red paper and kemudian exchanged them.

“Alright. From today onward, we are in-laws,” Luo Yao said happily as she held the marriage post in both hands.

Ding Wen nodded with a forced smile.

“Then, Luo Yao will take her leave.”

“Good, good…”

Luo Yao left the Patriarch’s courtyard, growing more delighted the more she looked at the fresh, glittering marriage post in her hands.

‘No, Luo Yao, it’s not over yet. This is just a marriage post!’

Thinking this, Luo Yao steadied her mind and carefully tucked the marriage post into the necklace she wore close to her skin.

She ran to the kitchen next to the Patriarch’s and Young Master’s courtyards.

Thinking of the hot weather, she decided to make some mung bean soup to help the Young Master cool down.

A short while later, she carried a tray with two large bowls of mung bean soup, intending to enjoy them with him.

When she arrived at Ding Nan’s courtyard, she saw him with both palms raised, practicing the Flowing Cloud Manual.

“Eh?”

The tray in Luo Yao’s hands crashed to the ground.