She Is Raising Hex Worms

"You had a million ways to help him," Ethan Lu said. "You could've just handed the Taiching Charm to His Majesty the Celestial Emperor after the fact, or let me deal with it! Why did you have to embarrass the Celestial Empress's clan in front of everyone?"

"His Majesty is totally whipped! If you did that, everything would just get swept under the rug," Lucia Lu fired back. "People might even think Sean set up the Empress, and she'd look all magnanimous for letting it go!"

Ethan Lu took a deep breath. "Behind the Empress stands the most powerful force in the Drake Abyss—the Azure Dragon Clan!"

"So what if it's the Azure Dragon Clan? I don't care!" Lucia Lu stuck her chin out, clearly ready to go to bat for Sean. "Sean's being framed! I want everyone to see exactly how the Empress treats him!"

Ethan Lu's gaze could cut glass.

Lucia Lu felt her heart do a nervous little tap dance under his stare, but she still refused to back down.

"Pack up. You're leaving the Palace Guard Barracks." He turned and walked away.

"Big brother! I'm not going! I want to stay in the Palace Guard Barracks!" Lucia Lu chased after him, voice full of protest.

Ethan Lu headed straight for His Majesty the Celestial Emperor.

As soon as he saw His Majesty, Ethan brought up having his three younger siblings withdraw from the Palace Guard Barracks and come home.

"Why?" His Majesty the Celestial Emperor asked.

"It's a family decision," Ethan Lu said.

"I'm afraid that's not possible," said the Celestial Emperor.

"Why not?"

"Ethan, you're High God of the Lumina Realm Divine Guards—why are you asking me something like this?" the Celestial Emperor said. "Is the Palace Guard Barracks some kind of market stall, where people just come and go whenever they please?"

"But they're not really official Divine Guards," Ethan Lu replied. "They're just—"

"Once they finish the three-year assessment, they're officially Divine Guards." The Celestial Emperor pulled out a Military Pledge. "Take a look."

Ethan Lu took it, his expression shifting just a bit.

On the Military Pledge, it said: They have to complete formation training for enlisted soldiers. If they quit halfway, it's straight to court-martial.

Everyone had signed their name at the bottom of the Military Pledge.

"High God Ethan Lu," said the Celestial Emperor, "I know what you're worried about. But do you really not trust me at all?"

Ethan Lu stayed silent.

The Celestial Emperor turned to Lucia Lu. "Divine Lady Lucia, do you want to leave?"

Lucia Lu shook her head. "Nope."

The Celestial Emperor spread his hands at Ethan Lu. "See?"

Ethan Lu frowned. "Why did Your Majesty make them sign that Military Pledge?"

"Because the training is brutal! They're all spoiled, and I was afraid they'd run off!" the Celestial Emperor said. "With this, no matter how tough it gets, they'll stick it out."

"Fine. But when the three years are up, they have to come home," Ethan Lu said. "Will Your Majesty allow that?"

"Sure! If they don't want to keep training after that, they can go home! I won't stop them!"

Ethan Lu bowed his head in salute and took his leave.

After a few steps, he turned back to Lucia Lu. "Come with me."

Lucia Lu followed him.

"Big brother, is there something else?" Lucia Lu asked, a little nervous.

"Your invisibility spell is pretty good."

"Huh?" She let out a breath, suddenly cheerful. "What, you want to learn it? If you do, I'll teach you!"

"No. Tonight, use your invisibility and go see what Auntie is up to," Ethan Lu said.

"Auntie?" Lucia Lu instantly looked wary. "Is she up to something weird again?"

"I think she's raising Hex Worms," Ethan Lu said. "Go check it out."