Absolute Resonance

r>”Uncle Biao, there are only two months left until the Housemeet.
That will also be when the defensive ward around House Luolan will be weakest.
The wolves in the dark will definitely take the opportunity to bare their fangs.” 

Ox Biaobiao gave a cold snort.
“Those prancing clowns! When your parents were around, they wouldn't even dare to let out a fart in their presence.
Now that the two have gone missing, all sorts of unsavory characters have popped out of nowhere.
Do they really think that House Luolan is a soft persimmon?”  

“Uncle Biao, did my parents leave behind any other protective measures? For example, are there a few hidden Dukes waiting to pop out and smash these pests to death?” Li Luo asked optimistically.

Ox Biaobiao responded with an awkward scratching of his nose.
“Well…
How do I put it? No? Umm, I'm the only Duke remaining in all of House Luolan.
Also, I can't go too far from the house or my strength will fall drastically.
However, you can relax.
So long as we remain in the core regions, even a fourth-grade Duke will have to reconsider their actions if they want to face me and my knife.”

As he spoke, he lightly patted his gleaming pig-butchering cleaver that emanated a terrifying air.
 

“A fourth-grade Duke, huh…” Li Luo's gaze flashed as he had already known that the Duke Stage consisted of nine grades, similar to the secular world.
First-grade was the weakest and ninth-grade was the strongest.
A Duke had to establish nine Duke Platforms within their body during the Duke stage, and it served as their foundation and source of power.[1]

“Uncle Biao is still quite mighty.
A fourth-grade Duke is considered a top-tier fighter in the Xia Kingdom.
Based on what I understand, only Vice Principal Su Xin has reached that stage of cultivation within the college.
The rest of the Violet Vibrance mentors are merely at the first or second-grade,” Jiang Qing'e added from the side.
Li Luo nodded.
He had not paid much attention to this information originally as the grade of a Duke didn't matter to him.
All of them could swat him into meat paste with a casual blow.

“The First Princess has informed me that she will be deploying a Duke expert to assist us during the Housemeet.” Li Luo raised this particular topic at this time. 

“The First Princess…?” Jiang Qing'e sighed deeply.
“Her assistance has tightly bound us to her ship.
However, it doesn't really matter.
If we can't get past this ordeal, House Luolan will be no longer.
Other matters are of no concern.” She clearly saw through the truth of the situation in a moment.
The Regent wouldn't even be concerned with them with the destruction of their foundation and support.

“Well, we still don't know how many Dukes will have their eyes on House Luolan during the Housemeet.” Li Luo sighed in tandem with Qing'e.
Pei Hao was just a minor distraction now.
The real crux of the matter lay with the danger that hid below the surface, the dark hands that used Pei Hao as a blade, those who had plotted for countless years in the dark.
Their true target was the divine matter that was hidden away within the underground palace of House Luolan. 

That day's shocking confrontation would inevitably reverberate throughout the Xia Kingdom.

“No matter.
Different situations call for different actions.
We will react accordingly.
If anyone wishes to break into House Luolan, they'll have to see if my blade here permits it.
Speaking of which, it has not tasted the blood of Dukes in quite a while now.” Ox Biaobiao laughed as he spoke.
His fleshly and rotund visage coupled with that diabolical cackle only seemed to make him look even more ferocious. 

Yet to Li Luo, his savage appearance only brought him a greater sense of safety.

Ox Biaobiao continued to chat with the two for a while more.
“Well, it's no longer early, so you should head back and rest.
Qing'e can assist you with the medication.” He beamed gently before he took his leave, shooting Li Luo a naughty wink as he closed the door behind him.

Li Luo stared at the tightly shut door before turning to face Jiang Qing'e and awkwardly speaking his mind.
“I think Uncle Biao was just kidding.
There's definitely no need for someone else to help me.
I'm a grown man, I can do it myself!” 

Jiang Qing'e expressionlessly grabbed the jade bottle containing the miracle paste, her chin slightly raised as she commanded, “Back to the room.
Take off your clothes.
Lie down.”

1.
TL Note: Strictly speaking, a Marquis had 19 sub ranks in ancient China.
The top 9 of which were ranks achieved through military prowess, which is what is referred to here.
Also we've translated Marquis as Duke, but that was originally due to story related context (from the Author himself).
As the novel is ongoing, we may or may not readjust this retroactively. ☜