Night talk

As I sat in the secret chamber, poring over reports late into the evening, I realized there were numerous matters to address before leaving with the Master to the Whispering Gale Sect. I had to resolve who would take over the responsibilities of those who were leaving and decide whether to bring my secretary, Lin Qing, with us. It could be beneficial, but she already had many obligations. Oh, how complicated everything seemed! My head was starting to ache from the burden. Hmm... I came up with a solution. I would task her with finding a way to delegate her duties. If she succeeded, we would bring her along; if not, we would have to find someone else.

At that moment, a knock on the door interrupted my thoughts.

"Come in" I said casually, massaging my temples. Gosh I need some rest.

The door opened, and Lin Qing entered the room, accompanied by Hu Mei, the woman who had tried to approach the Master under the Wei family's orders.

"Madam, I have brought Hu Mei as you instructed" Lin Qing bowed.

I glanced at her companion—dark hair, a pleasant face, and a well-groomed figure. She stood silently with her head lowered.

"Lift your head" I calmly instructed, continuing, "Have you taken the Dao oath?"

"Yes, Madam. From now on, I belong to the young Master and the Xia Clan. I shall not harm you and will strive to be of use to the best of my abilities" she replied wearily.

"Hmm... And how do you view what has happened to you?" I asked.

"I found myself in the wrong place at the wrong time and took a contract I should not have. But what's done is done. I can only hope that by serving faithfully, I can earn a decent life, even if it is in the role of a servant" she answered cautiously, glancing at me and trying to discern her future.

"Well, we are not beasts, after all" I said with a smile, causing her to flinch slightly. After a brief pause, I continued:

"Do not worry. As long as you remain valuable to the young Master and the clan, and serve with dedication, there will be no issues concerning your well-being." I nodded slightly, observing a slight relaxation in her facial expression, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.

Then, I turned my head towards Lin Qing.

"Lin Qing, you are aware that the young Master intends to depart for the sect, right?" I asked, showing mild interest.

"Yes, Madam. I have heard about it" she replied.

"I will be accompanying him, along with my sister and two other individuals. I'm considering bringing Hu Mei and possibly you" I said, watching for her reaction.

"Yes, yes, of course! I'm all for it. When do we leave?" Lin Qing responded enthusiastically.

"Hmm, in that case, I have a task for you. If you want to join us, you must understand that we won't be returning to the clan anytime soon. Therefore, you need to delegate all your responsibilities. You have one week. If you have even one duty left by the end of the week, I will replace you with the first available servant" I said with a smile, observing how she paled slightly and then clenched her fists, fixing her gaze on me.

"Don't worry, Madam. I will get everything done. We'll manage it all, so don't fret" she assured me with determination.

"Very well. The Master's mother is already aware, and you will need to coordinate everything with the head of the main household staff regarding the delegation of tasks and responsibilities" I informed her.

"Yes, Madam. May I go? I need to hurry" she asked, eager to get started.

"One last question—what about the Wei family?" I asked, a hint of curiosity in my voice, accompanied by a smile that could intimidate even the most fearless individuals.

"The Wei family? Well, there is no Wei family anymore. Rumor has it they left the province. At least, they vanished overnight along with their servants, dogs, and cats, taking their entire treasure trove with them" Lin Qing replied, matching my smile.

"Okay, I want a list of everything the Wei family 'took' with them by tomorrow morning. Additionally, bring the ring containing all our spiritual stones and gems, including those the Wei family 'took.' Tomorrow, the Master and I will attend the auction, and I want us to have everything we need. Also, from now on, Hu Mei will be under your direct supervision and guidance. I want her to become the shadow of the young Master, and I believe you can cultivate her in the right direction. As for the others, Hu Mei will serve as the cook for our household and the young Master" I instructed Lin Qing.

"Yes, Madam. I will make sure to compile the list and prepare everything as you requested. Hu Mei will receive my utmost attention and guidance" Lin Qing acknowledged.

"Very well. Now, go and carry out your tasks diligently. We have a lot to prepare for" I said, dismissing her with a wave of my hand.

I finished tidying up my desk and straightened the chair, ensuring it was perfectly aligned. Satisfied with the orderliness, I gathered the scrolls and notebooks, walking over to the cabinet where I stored them. Carefully placing each item inside, I closed the doors, securing them with a soft click. The room now devoid of any scattered documents, I prepared to retire for the night.

Before leaving, I channeled my spiritual energy to dim the glowing stones that illuminated the room. The gentle radiance faded, plunging the space into darkness. With a final glance, I exited the room, making my way to my own quarters for a well-deserved rest.

Tomorrow promised to be an eventful day!