Chapter 514 - 254: I’m Supposed to Avoid Her Edge?

Chapter 514: Chapter 254: I’m Supposed to Avoid Her Edge?

"Let me tell you something interesting. I went looking for Chen last night and happened to see a woman leaving his room. I couldn’t get a clear look at her face, but from her figure and the way she walked, she must have been one of our senior or junior sisters from the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect.

Heh, Chen really has a way with things, doesn’t he? Mother, what do you think? Should we give this a little push and help things along? It’d be a good way to form a bond and deepen our relationship."

"Last night... you went to see Chen Sheng?"

Lady Lan’s heart skipped a beat, and her fingers curled reflexively inside her sleeve.

"Yes, I was originally going to ask for his help with... ah, never mind that."

Ouyang Ke waved a hand dismissively and got back to the point.

"What do you think of my idea, Mother? Chen is a man of incredible talent, and he’s close with the Nie Family. If he were to marry into our Ten Thousand Poisons Sect, it would be a huge boon for us."

A faint heat rose to Lady Lan’s cheeks. She knew he had completely misunderstood, but she couldn’t possibly tell him the truth. She could only play along and respond vaguely.

"This matter... If you feel it’s appropriate, and Inspector Chen is willing... then I... naturally have no objections."

"Of course I’d be happy to see it happen."

Ouyang Ke said in a serious tone,

"Chen has a limitless future. Tying ourselves more closely to him can only be a good thing."

"Mm, you’re right."

Lady Lan nodded, though her mind was already elsewhere.

"Right. Mother, you summoned me here today. Was there something important you needed to discuss?"

Ouyang Ke, remembering the purpose of his visit, inquired.

Lady Lan cleared her throat, collecting herself, and announced the decision she had long been mulling over.

"There is indeed. I’ve given it much thought, and I have decided that you will take over the position of Master of Ten Thousand Poisons ahead of schedule."

"Huh?"

Ouyang Ke was clearly taken aback. "Mother, what about you?" he asked, astonished.

"The position was always meant to be yours. My taking the role of Sect Leader was only temporary—a measure put in place by the Ouyang Family elders to protect you and maintain stability.

Now, you have grown, and both your Cultivation and your temperament are sufficient to handle this great responsibility."

Lady Lan’s tone was calm and resolute.

"As for me... I’ve grown weary over the years. I want... to live a different kind of life, to rest for a while. I’m sure you can do a better job than I have."

Ouyang Ke stared, stunned. He saw the undeniable exhaustion etched on his mother’s face, and his heart softened. After a moment of silence, he gave a solemn nod.

"I understand. I had hoped for a few more years of freedom, but since you’re tired, Mother, I will shoulder this burden."

’Besides,’ he thought, ’Mother will still be in the sect. I’ll still have her to rely on if I run into trouble.’

It wasn’t as if he’d be completely lost.

"One more thing..."

Lady Lan’s words reached her lips, but she found them impossible to say. She opened her mouth several times, but nothing came out.

It was simply too embarrassing to confess matters of the heart to the child she had raised with her own hands.

"Mother, is there anything we can’t say to each other? You can tell me anything. I’ll do whatever you ask."

Ouyang Ke simply assumed his mother had more sect affairs to entrust to him.

Lady Lan’s fingers unconsciously traced the intricate patterns on her sleeve as her voice dropped.

"Ke’Er, you know my relationship with your birth parents. I’m actually your aunt. Back then..."

"Mother!"

Ouyang Ke cut her off, his expression utterly serious.

"In my heart, you will always be my mother. The bond of nurture is stronger than the bond of birth. I’ve understood that since I was a child."

A warmth spread through Lady Lan’s heart, but it was mixed with a fresh wave of guilt and embarrassment. She fell silent again, unsure how to proceed.

"Mother."

Ouyang Ke finally noticed something was wrong with her expression. Her hesitation was clearly unusual, and a seed of unease began to sprout within him. He pressed on.

"What is it... you really want to tell me?"

Lady Lan took a deep breath as if mustering all the strength she possessed. Then, with great difficulty, she forced out the words that had been circling her mind for so long, squeezing them out one by one.

"If... if I... erm... were to find... another home for myself in the future... Ke’Er, would... would you be able to... accept that?"

As her words faded, the study fell into a dead silence.

A candle flame sputtered with a POP, illuminating Ouyang Ke’s frozen expression and the faint blush on Lady Lan’s cheek as she turned her face away, not daring to meet his eyes.

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