Once they entered the Palace Guard Barracks, they couldn’t go home until their training phase was over.
No one knew when they’d see their parents again.
“Alright!” High Goddess Vivian Lu took Lucia, Luna, and Ryan by the hands, gently reminding them, “Lucia, Luna, and Xuan-yang—nothing matters more to me than your safety. Remember that!”
All three nodded obediently.
With tears in their eyes, they bid farewell to their parents. Luckily, a spirit ship was heading back, so the three joined the others and boarded together.
After the three little ones left, Ethan Lu frowned and asked Quentin Lian, “Father, you said she has good taste. Do you mean…?”
“That child’s always had nerves of steel, but now she actually stammered when she spoke!” Quentin said. “And the way she looked at the Fifth Highness… I’d bet eighteen out of ten.”
“I think he’s just good-looking, that’s all,” Ethan grumbled.
Quentin raised an eyebrow. “Oh, really?”
“The Celestial Emperor spoils his youngest son—he even gave him the Puresteel Sword!”
"That's it?"
"Well, his cultivation is decent, and his talent is... not bad."
"None of that is what matters most," Quentin said.
"Then what does?" Ethan asked.
Quentin patted his shoulder. “Think it over.” Then he walked away.
Ethan frowned so hard his brow nearly knotted. After a long while, he still couldn’t figure it out, so he asked Vivian, “Mother, what did Father mean?”
Vivian replied, “Didn’t your father tell you to think for yourself? Go ponder it on your own.”
She left too.
Ethan: "..."
With two unreliable parents, his childhood psychological trauma was pretty severe.
......
On the spirit ship, Luna Lian and Adrian Drake stood by the railings, chatting.
After a while, Adrian spotted Sean and dashed off to greet him.
Luna watched his retreating back, feeling a little disappointed. She sighed and headed back to the cabin to find Lucia and the others.
Just as she turned the corner near the side of the ship, she overheard two Saint Maidens from the same barracks whispering to each other.
“Luna Lian obviously likes Adrian Drake,” one of them said. “Her eyes are always glued to him.”
“Really? I never noticed.”
“I’m sure of it!”
“But does Young Lord Adrian even like her?”
“From what I see, probably not.”
The other Saint Maiden scoffed, “Of course he doesn’t like her! She’s just a vice-general’s daughter. How could she ever be good enough for Young Lord Adrian?”
“Exactly! She may have the Lu surname, but she’s not actually blood-related. Her status is still a notch below.”
“Plus, she’s always trailing after Lucia Lu. She looks more like her Divine Attendant than a sister.”
“Hahaha! Exactly!”
The two walked off, still giggling.
......
Luna paused for a moment, then entered the small cabin.
Only the three siblings stayed in this little cabin together.
Ryan Lu was in the middle of badmouthing Ethan Lu.
Seeing Luna come in, he got even more fired up. “Ethan’s always so harsh or cold with us. But with Luna, he’s all soft, gentle, and considerate. We’re all his siblings—why does he treat us so differently?”
Lucia shot him a look and ignored him.
She’d heard this so many times her ears had grown calluses—why bother responding?
“Luna, I’m right, aren’t I?” Ryan pressed.
“Bro, that’s just how people are. They’re casual with family, but polite with outsiders,” Luna replied.
“Out—wait, that’s not what I meant!” Ryan’s eyes widened.