LIGHTNOVELONLINE The small pagoda, nestled in a corner of the Royal Sect, was a serene haven surrounded by blooming peonies, their soft fragrance drifting in the air. The distant murmur of rushing water from a nearby koi pond served as a calming backdrop. A sturdy bamboo table with two matching chairs were the only furniture in this open-aired structure, offering a clear view of the tranquil garden.
The morning sun was bright as ever, casting shadows that danced upon the polished bamboo flooring of the pagoda. Olivia and Xulan sat facing each other, the day's studies and scrolls sprawled across the table.
"I appreciate your insights, Xulan," Olivia began, her delicate fingers brushing through a parchment scroll detailing a complex martial art technique. Her eyes, however, held a spark of mischief. "Your expertise in martial arts is unparalleled."
Xulan, a touch surprised, stuttered his thanks, "I-It's my pleasure, Olivia..." He nodded, his cheeks turning a soft shade of pink. After a moment of silence, Olivia leaned forward, her eyes focused on Xulan's. Her soft voice broke the tranquil atmosphere.
"Xulan, I have a favor to ask of you."
He blinked, taken aback, his round eyes reflecting pure innocence. "A favor?" he repeated, confusion lining his features. He had never heard Olivia request anything, at least not from him. She was the princess, strong, independent, capable. What could she want from him?
"Yes," Olivia's gaze remained unwavering. She bit her lower lip, a sign of anxiety creeping into her otherwise composed demeanor. "Would you... would you pretend to be me for a few hours?"
Xulan froze, his jaw dropping in shock. "Pretend... to be you?" He echoed, the absurdity of the request not lost on him.
"I know it sounds strange," she said quickly, reaching out to place a gentle hand atop his. "But I need this favor. I want to participate in the Labyrinth of Doom. But even if my parents allowed me to roam around alone, I am sure they must have sent someone to follow me in secret. So if I suddenly go missing, they will notice. But if they think you are me, then I can slip away unnoticed. All you have to do is wear my disguise and whoever might be following me wouldn't suspect anything."
"But... but, Olivia!" Xulan sputtered, his eyes wide as saucers, his face draining of color. "You can't be serious! The Labyrinth of Doom is... it's..." He trailed off, words failing him as he recalled the numerous stories of brave warriors and naive adventurers who ventured into the labyrinth, never to be seen again.
He knew the Labyrinth of Doom was a mystical portal that opened up in the outskirts of the kingdom a few years ago. Warriors and even less seasoned ones had tried their luck in the labyrinth since there were so many tempting rewards to be gained inside. But it was so dangerous that out of 100 only 1 returned. Even the ones who returned didn't come out in good shape. Because of this, over the years people just started avoiding it, considering the labyrinth as something the demons put up to lure them to their deaths.
Olivia, however, seemed to be far from deterred. Her blue eyes shone with determination and excitement, her lips curling into a confident smile. "I am serious, Xulan," she responded, her voice calm and composed, so starkly contrasted with his alarm. "I've been waiting for an opportunity like this."
"But... why?" He couldn't understand, his mind spinning with worry and confusion. "Why would you want to risk your life for... for a place like that?"
The smile never left her face, her eyes sparkled with an inner fire. "I need this," she said, her voice barely more than a whisper. "I've been thirsting for some danger, for a challenge. The thrill of adventure, the prospect of finding something powerful within the Labyrinth. I've been waiting for this for years."
Xulan could only look at her in disbelief, his heart pounding with worry for the woman in front of him. He knew Olivia was someone who never shied away from challenges and sought them out, no matter how daunting they were. It was the very reason she quickly rose to the top in the sect and others including powerful men were terrified of challenging her.
"But what about tonight?" Xulan questioned, still unable to grasp her reckless determination. "Your parents... they're receiving that important guest. What if you don't make it back in time?"
Olivia shrugged, a playful smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Don't worry about that. I have no plans to go too deep into the Labyrinth. I'll be back before anyone even realizes I'm gone."
Xulan blinked, taken aback by her assurance. He sighed, running his fingers through his hair. "You... You should be careful, Olivia," he said, his voice softer than before.
He was silent for a moment, looking at her, his thoughts wandering to the 'Wandering Saint' that had all the girls in the kingdom excited. He had half-expected Olivia to express her interest in meeting him, but of course, she wouldn't be swayed by such things. She was Olivia, after all, always finding her own path, always seeking her own adventures.
"Promise me you will be careful," he found himself repeating, his gaze filled with concern.
Olivia simply laughed, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Don't worry, Xulan. I promise."
****
Under the slanted shadow of a cherry blossom tree, Xulan was making his way towards the entrance, where he knew Olivia would be waiting. But just as he was about to round a corner, the crude laughter of young men wafted over to him. He paused, hiding behind the humble structure of a brick garden shed.
"Have you seen Lady Celia in the city today? I did for the umpteenth time and man, she's one of the hottest milfs I've ever seen," came a husky voice, laced with undisguised lust.
Xulan recognized the voice as Jian's, a young nobleman from a mid-tier family. He was the so-called leader of their little band, quite good-looking with a rough, carefree hairstyle, but lacked the manners and respect that his upbringing should have instilled in him.
"But the interesting thing is that she does special favours whenever her husband asks for it, including doing weird things," said a second voice, wheezy and a little nasal. That was Zhen, a scrawny, below average looking guy who always clung to Jian's coattails. He had a reputation for twisting the truth, making it juicier for the ears of those who would listen.
The final piece of this unsavory triad was Bo, a young man with a large belly and beady eyes. His family owned a sizable fortune, gained through dubious means, making him bolder than most.
"Imagine getting a 'special' favor from her," Bo roared with laughter, his stomach shaking with the effort.
A wave of rage crashed through Xulan, his hands curling into fists upon hearing all this disgusting nonsense.
He stormed out from his hiding place, confronting the trio. "How dare you defile my mother's name!" he spat out, his voice shaking with anger. Not even he realized how loud his voice was.
The three men, taken aback, looked at each other before Jian began to chuckle. "Easy there, young master Xulan," he drawled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "If you're thinking we were talking about your dear and respected mother, you're wrong. We were talking about a Celia from some other place.."
Xulan took a deep breath, his lips quivering. He wanted nothing more than to wipe those smug looks off their faces, but he knew he wouldn't be able to.
Instead, he spun around, frustration etched into his features. This wasn't the first time he heard bullies like these talking about his mother like that and confronted them whenever he could since he hated people talking about his gentle and loving mother like that.
He refused to believe there was even any fraction of truth in their talks and that they were talking like that because of how perfect his mother was.
He put these thoughts away as he had to meet up with Olivia and didn't want her to think anything was wrong.