23. Acknowledging One’s Title.
…
"Mom! Where's Hiro? I can't find him!" Elta rushes into the room yelling.
"Relax, he is with your grandfather,"
"Grandfather is back!"
"Not his main body, and would you stop yelling,"
"Sorry mom,"
"The party is starting but they aren't here yet,"
"They'll be late,"
"Hmph, grandpa's soul clone is annoying. He couldn't let Hiro enjoy his party,"
"Split soul not soul clone,"
"It's the same thing,"
"It's not. Come let's go to the hall, your father is waiting,"
"Okay mom,"
"You three, clean up and join the party," Ming Lu said to the ladies who had helped her out.
"Yes matriarch,"
Ming Lu took Elta's hand and stepped out of the room. They were both dressed in lovely red dresses and had their necks adorned with lovely, sun, moon and star necklaces. Ming Lu's hair was held in place by a golden butterfly comb in a 'Box Shimada Mage' hairstyle. Elta on the other hand, had her hair in a simple bun hairstyle, also held by a golden butterfly comb. One glance at them and anyone would believe they were the stars of the show.
They made their way through the hallway and came to a door. Dressed in a red garment that made him look elegant, was Enji, who gave them a warm smile.
"Hi, hope we didn't take too long," Ming Lu asks.
"You didn't," Enji replies and gave her a kiss on the lips.
"Yuck! I told you guys not to do that in front of me," Elta grumbles.
Enji breaks away and smiles at Ming Lu. "I'm appreciating my wife, if you are so bothered go get a husband,"
"Mom! Father is teasing me again,"
Ming Lu stretches her hand to Enji's lips. Gently, she wipes his lips with her fingers.
"You've got lipstick on your lips,"
"Thank you,"
"I know she's of age but it's still too early,"
"It's fun to tease her. By the way, you look beautiful and magnificent. Dazzling as the sun, yet gorgeous as the moon. You are hotter than the hottest star,"
"Thank you," Ming Lu shies her face away from him.
"Why do you always blush when father praises you?" Elta snorts.
"Okay, that's it, I'm getting you a husband so you can leave my wife and I alone,"
"Mom!"
Ignoring Elta's cry, Ming Lu looks away as her face continues to turn hot red. Enji's words kept ringing in her ears and she just couldn't hold it back.
"Father, if you don't like my talk then don't do anything in front of me,"
"I am free to do what I want when I want,"
"You! You are so confusing. Usually you are strict and patriarch-like but once it's mom, you just change,"
"If I can't change for the woman I love, then who can I change for? She is amazingly good looking, caring, passionate, wonderful and above everything else… Mhmm,"
Ming Lu interrupts Enji by pulling him close and locking his lips with hers. She took his lips forcefully, biting the lower one and tasting it with her tongue. One hand held his nape gently and the other rested on his chest.
"Urgh, if the world knew the great Enji and the ruthless Ming were like this, their eyes will burst and their jaws will fall off. I'm sure their heart will stop pumping blood too," Elta grumbles.
Ming Lu broke free and from nowhere a small napkin appeared in her hand. She placed it on Enji's lips and gently stroked it.
"Sorry,"
"For what? Hehe," Enji asks and moved close to her ear. And as low as possible, so slow she could barely hear him, he whispers. "See you tonight,"
Her lips grew wide, almost reaching her ears. And her eyes sparkles as she fought the urge to pull him away right now. They had a party to attend as the chief hosts and they couldn't be absent. This was the only thing that held her back. Even though, her blood boiled, and her body itched.
"Let's go in," she says.
"Finally," Elta exclaims.
With Enji taking the lead, the trio went through the door. They came onto a stage in a large hall. Elta didn't know when Ming Lu had crossed her arms with Enji's own, but she joined the couples to give a bright smile to the crowd seated or standing in the hall.
"I present to you, the patriarch's family," a loud voice echoed, catching everyone's attention.
Immediately the crowd turned to them and all who were seated got on their feet. Enji led his family to the stage's front. To the right, there stood a man quietly, he was the one who had gotten everyone's attention. He bowed to them and stepped aside.
"Ahem," Enji clears his throat. "I welcome everyone present tonight for this wonderful occasion. It is a good and joyous thing to be alive, and what better way to show it than to celebrate?"
A man with a tray walks up to them and bowed slightly. The tray had three glasses of wine and the trio each took one.
"Thank you. This party was held for two reasons, one being to celebrate over victory against the beast in our region. Although the old ancestor was wounded, and many lives were lost, this victory is worth celebrating. And I assure you, once our defenses have been re-enforced and our people have recovered, we would venture into the unknown lands and cleanse it of those beasts. Tonight, we toast to the fallen, their efforts were not futile. We toast to our victory, there shall be more to come, and we toast to prosperity, humanity will strive no matter what. A toast!"
Enji raises his glass, Ming Lu and Elta followed and the entire hall did the same. After taking a sip from his drink, Enji continues.
"The second reason is to welcome someone new into the Enji's family,"
At Enji's words the crowd murmured interrupting him. They were shocked to hear him say the Enji's family. He smiles and continues.
"My wife and I had adopted a son, and we intended to welcome him into the family with this party. His name is Hiro, son of the great Enji,"
At his words the murmuring ceased and the crowd fell into silence. It was a well known fact among them that the patriarch of the Lu family, Enji Lu was known as the great Enji. The previous ranking war had earned him the title. That was thirty years ago but not once had he addressed himself like that. He had even refute title a couple of times, but here he was acknowledging it.
"Unfortunately, he isn't present and would be coming much later. Please eat, drink and enjoy yourselves, the party will go on,"
Most of the people in the crowd frowned but Enji turned and led his family away. They went down the stage and arrived at a high table meant for five. Beside their table was a huge table that had the members of the Lu family seated.
"We will now proceed to next course of event," the man on stage said. "Since the young master is not available, we would skip a few things and move on to the presentation of gifts,"
He took out a scroll and opens it. "First off, the Silver Moon's auction house presents…"
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Author Here ✍️
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Author ✍️