Chapter 114: Relative Silence

  Knowing that Zhuge Yun was trying to ease the atmosphere, Zuo Xiao Yao smiled and followed the three of them, not taking it to heart. They walked along the small path paved with stone slabs, and there were no formations set up in the valley. The courtyards and houses were all built according to the terrain, and many ancient trees with thousands of years of age towered above, covering them from view. No wonder they didn't discover this place when they first arrived at Donghua Ridge, scanning it from top to bottom, it was easy to overlook this place.

  As I stepped up, before even reaching the courtyard gate, I saw a dozen or so men and women with different attire coming out of the gate. Of course, it was obvious that there were more women than men.

  Seeing a few people, the first one was a young woman wearing a light yellow dress who immediately quickened her pace and said, "Husband has old friends coming to visit, we should welcome them properly, how can you not even greet us and leave us behind? Fortunately, Qiner came later to inform us!"

  The lotus-like face was filled with a hint of shyness and displeasure, yet it was also overflowing with smiles. Without making any sound or expression, she glanced at the three men, her eyes revealing a subtle scrutiny. As she approached with her entourage, a flash of discomfort flickered in her eyes. Lu Hongtian cleared his throat to introduce her: "This is Ci Xiu, my... wife! She's in charge of managing all household affairs. These gentlemen are old friends of mine - Brother Zhuge, Brother Qin, and Xiao Yu, they'll be staying at the Reflection Lake Manor for a while, so please treat them well!"

  She could be appointed as the general manager of this mountain villa, which was not small in size and had a considerable number of people. Whether it was her mind or ability, she was not ordinary. Ci Xiu lowered her eyes to cover up the confusion and vigilance in them, and responded with a warm and polite bow. However, she saw that Zuo Xiao Yao and the other two were simply nodding their heads and clasping their fists as a greeting, which made Luo Hong Tian seem completely unaware. Although his spirit was exceptionally good, his expression was obviously not as carefree and natural as it used to be, causing her smile to slightly freeze with suspicion.

  Then, with a gentle smile, he said: "Don't worry, husband. Your old friend is our honored guest at the Yinghu Mountain Villa. Our whole family welcomes you warmly. I'm afraid we might not be able to entertain you properly, how could we dare to neglect you? Let me introduce you, this is my second sister Yurong, and this is..."

  Although he didn't have three wives and four concubines, with Lian Cixiu added in, he had a total of five wives, each one more stunning than the last. Every single one of them was a beauty that could dazzle a man's eyes, and they were all uniquely beautiful in their own ways. From an ordinary man's perspective, Luo Hongtian was truly blessed with good fortune.

  Ever since they confirmed that the Shifu in their mouths was indeed Ruo Hongtian, the three of them had mentally prepared themselves for the possibility that he might have married and had children. However, when they actually found out that not only did he indeed have a wife and children, but also quite a few of them, they couldn't help but be shocked once again, feeling rather uncomfortable in their hearts.

  Qin Xiao, who grew up in the modern Xianxia world, and Zhuge Jinyu, were accustomed to men taking wives and concubines. However, Qin Xiao's past avoidance of women was changed by Lu Hongtian's sudden indulgence, which unexpectedly led him to find five women for himself. But having grown up in the mortal world, influenced by the monogamous ideology of modern society, he had always firmly believed that monogamy was the norm. Even after living in this otherworldly realm where polygamy was allowed for many years, his views never changed. At this moment, Zuo Xiaoyao's emotions were extremely complicated.

  If it were a stranger, it would be fine, but now it's happening to Rong Tian, someone she knows and has always admired, it can't help but give her a sense of discord, even if he looks like a playboy. In fact, he is indeed very suitable for being a playboy, as he can't bear the loneliness in this strange world and is surrounded by women on both sides. Xiang Yu also finds it somewhat acceptable to think about it, recalling the Rong Tian who had once been so courteous to the rarely seen great beauty, she secretly sighed.

  Indeed, change is the only constant truth in this world!

  Fortunately, thanks to their mental preparation, the three of them were able to adjust their mood relatively quickly and followed Rong Hongtian into the mountain villa with a calm expression. Along the way, they listened to Ci Xiu's introduction to the situation in the villa, maintaining a proper distance with enthusiasm but also restraint. The maids and servants along the way stopped to pay their respects, which was similar to some of the wealthy families in this world. However, the scenery inside the villa was far superior to that of some imperial palaces, with a subtle luxury that permeated every detail, whether it was delicate, grand, or simple.

  Built on the mountain, the pavilions and buildings are layered one after another. Only by walking into the villa and seeing it with your own eyes can you truly feel that the scenery inside is breathtakingly beautiful, bringing even greater shock. Of course, in the eyes of Zuo Xiaoyao and the other two who have seen much of the world, it's just pretty good.

  "Sir, aren't you going to take these three honored guests to the hall to sit?"

  Jian Hong Tian walked silently with the three people towards the back of the manor, not intending to bring them to the Cheng Li Tang, which was specially used to receive noble guests. Ci Xiu subconsciously reminded him.

  Hong Tian smiled faintly and said, "No need, they are my close friends. Just go straight to Wangdao Pavilion and I'll take care of them. You don't have to follow, if there's anything, I'll send someone to call you."

  Her smile froze, and not only the dozen or so people following behind her were shocked, but Cixiu was also momentarily stunned, until she saw Rong Hongtian's slightly furrowed brow, which revealed a hint of doubt and impatience. Her heart skipped a beat as she smiled in response, "Yes! It's getting late, I'll have someone arrange dinner right away, don't you..."

  "Tea, water, and meals are all unnecessary; if I need anything, I will instruct you myself!"

  After saying a few words with a frown, Hongtian took the three of them to the left side of the mountain villa without any explanation. Ci Xiu could hear the impatience in his tone and felt a chill in her heart, somewhat at a loss for what to do. However, she heard several meaningful laughs by her ear, and a voice said, "Sister, don't be offended. According to Qiner, they are old friends from husband's hometown, so their status is naturally different. Being able to enter the Wangdao Pavilion, which we can't even enter, is normal!"

  Although the words were comforting, they were actually veiled with sarcasm. Ci Xiu's face turned cold, and her smile faded a lot. "Yu Rong's sister is right, husband and several noble guests have been reunited after a long time, it's normal to talk about past separations. But I think, husband should also let the noble guests meet our son first, especially since his 100th day celebration is just two days away!"

  Yu Rong's face changed slightly, just as she was about to retort, a petite and delicate woman with porcelain-like skin, dressed in a bright red dress, spoke up first: "Elder sister is right, if the husband can attach such importance to these noble guests who have come to our doorstep, then even if Yinger and Huier are not present, we should at least see our brother Ruo, after all, he is the eldest son of the Luo family, and it's only proper that he makes an appearance!"

  "What's the point of arguing, husband must have his own plans in mind. In my opinion, sisters should prepare themselves mentally in advance. Not long from now, we might have another sister, look at that noble guest, she's a stunning beauty, not only does she glare at us with an unfriendly gaze, but husband treats her differently too!"

  As soon as this was said, the scene fell silent, with seven of the nine women looking embarrassed and four men deep in thought.

  Not to mention the arrival of the three, which caused Ci Xiu, who had always been quite prestigious in the mountain villa, to lose face. It also led to Rong Tian's five wives each having their own thoughts, as if they were about to tear off the harmonious mask of the past, and even produced a sense of crisis in their hearts.

  As the protagonists of the topic, the four naturally didn't have the heart to pay attention to these things. They walked into the most mysterious and forbidden place in everyone's eyes in the mountain villa, and inadvertently became someone else's imaginary enemy, Zuo Xiaoyao was completely unaware.

  And not to mention that Hong Tian, after experiencing the great surprise of being reborn, thought about his current situation and was torn apart in his heart. Although Liu Xiao Yao and the others were overjoyed when they first reunited, but afterwards, when they personally confirmed that Hong Tian had fallen into the mortal world and was entangled with family ties, it would be false to say that they didn't feel a chill of regret. They couldn't advise him to abandon his wife and children and take the risk of death to leave together, but if not, having one less person meant having one less share of strength, and the hope of leaving decreased again, their hearts were full of contradictions!

  Sitting in the middle of the mountain villa, three feet high on a giant tree with a thousand years of age, the second floor of the Wangdao Pavilion, four people suddenly had nothing to say to each other.