CHAPTER 1452: A NEW NAME

Inside the Mystique Realm, Lucas found himself standing in awe, his gaze sweeping over a world that felt both dreamlike and startlingly real.

Every detail seemed touched by a master’s hand. He wandered through the manor’s grand halls, his footsteps echoing softly against the polished wooden floors. With keen curiosity, he examined every corner, taking in the craftsmanship and hidden nuances.

Then, in one room, he came upon a curious piece of furniture. It was a large wooden chair with a small table placed in the middle. Upon the table lay a board game that resembled chess, but it had round pieces and each one bore an unfamiliar letter etched on top, along with symbols he could not read or understand. Nevertheless, it looks very interesting; he might have asked Zhao Li Xin how to play it.

Lucas’s gaze caught a few tall, ancient vases that stood like silent sentinels in the corners, their glazed surfaces whispering of centuries past. The mingling scents of sandalwood incense and aged cedar wrapped around him, warm and familiar, pulling him deeper into the illusion.

For a moment, Lucas felt as though the outside world had fallen away, and he had stepped into a place that existed beyond time, a fragment of memory made flesh.

As he continued on, Lucas stepped into a study steeped in quiet elegance. Dark wooden bookshelves lined the walls from floor to ceiling, heavy with scrolls and silk-bound volumes.

A big black wooden desk gleamed under the lantern light, its surface set with an inkstone, bamboo brushes arranged neatly, and crisp sheets held in place by a jade paperweight that screamed ’expensive’.

Then he smelled a faint curl of sandalwood smoke drifting from a bronze incense burner, mingling with the scent of aged paper and wood. Shadows from the latticed windows stretched across the polished floor, wrapping the room in a stillness that felt both timeless and alive.

But then his gaze was drawn past the desk to the wall behind it. There was a painting hanging behind the massive dark wooden chair, a black and white ink painting that was hauntingly vivid.

The painting showed the back of a woman seated on a garden bench, the vast beauty of a night-cloaked garden stretching endlessly around her.

She wore a gown unlike any Lucas had ever seen, wrapped in a delicate shawl draped loosely over her arms. Her head tilted toward the stars, her posture serene but tinged with a subtle melancholy, an unspoken longing, a solitude that reached out from the canvas.

Though her face was hidden, Lucas knew instantly who she was.

"You like the painting?" Zhao Li Xin’s voice startled him.

Lucas turned and saw Zhao Li Xin approaching with his hands clasped behind his back, dressed in dark robes embroidered with golden flames. He looked like a man who had stepped straight out of an ancient painting.

"It’s Lory’s painting, right’s" Lucas said, glancing back at the artwork.

"En...that’s how I used to see her in the past. In my garden, she used to sit alone in the middle of the night just like that, she would stare at the sky with melancholy in her eyes. The truth is, even before I knew her true identity, I already suspected she wasn’t someone from this world. At that time, I thought she might be a moon goddess or some sort, a fairy who had been stranded here by chance, and now longing to return home." Zhao Li Xin’s lips curved into a faint smile.

"Well, you’re not entirely wrong," Lucas chuckled.

"That’s why I’ve always been afraid, afraid that one day she would return to where she truly belonged and leave me behind. So I pampered her, indulged her every wish, showered her with wealth, power, and anything she desired... a desperate attempt to bind her to me. Sadly, she’s never cared for such things...she stayed because she chose to stay, and she would leave if she wanted to, I know I could never stop her..."

"But you have her heart," Lucas said. "And for a Lucient, that’s more than enough to bind them forever."

Zhao Li Xin’s dark eyes shimmered with quiet tenderness. "I’m lucky... and I will never take that for granted," he said, the words carrying the weight of a vow—half to Lucas, half to himself.

"

And that’s all you need, brother." Lucas grinned broadly, patting Zhao Li Xin’s shoulder. His violet eyes glimmered in the light, so much like Lory’s that it was almost uncanny.

"Hey, what are you guys doing?" Lory’s head popped around the doorframe. "Stop wasting time—we should go now!" She clapped her hands a few times for emphasis.

Lucas and Zhao Li Xin exchanged a glance, smiling with a deep sigh.

"Okaaay," Lucas replied lazily, stepping toward the door.

Lory smacked his back. "Stop running around! You’ll have plenty of time to check this place out later!"

"Ouch." Lucas rubbed his back, muttering under his breath, "You nag like an old lady... well, you kinda are."

"What?!" Lory snapped.

"Nothing!" Lucas picked up his pace to escape.

"Hey, I heard that!" Lory stomped her feet and chased after her brother.

Zhao Li Xin chuckled softly, following at a calm pace.

Once they stepped outside, the fire spirit’s exasperated voice echoed:

[Master! That stupid kid jumped into the pond again! Now he’s soggy, freezing, and smelling like a wet shrimp!]

"Oh no, what happened to you, sweety?" Lory rushed over to the small Scion, who was drenched from head to toe. His curly hair was plastered to his face like strands of seaweed.

Spotting a cloth nearby, she grabbed it and began wiping him dry. The little boy’s cheeks flushed crimson from the cold water.

Lucas crouched down in front of the dripping boy, curiosity sparking in his eyes. Up close, the kid was undeniably adorable...like a little elf, or rabbit.

However, there was something about him that felt oddly familiar but unfamiliar as well. He had no way to describe it; it was like a hazy fragment from a dream. Was he imagining it?

Without thinking, Lucas waved his hand, and in an instant, the boy and his clothes dried completely, returning to their pristine state.

The little boy stared at himself, wide-eyed, then turned to Lucas with sparkling eyes full of gratitude and awe. Lucas’s heart softened at that innocent gaze, and he reached out to ruffle the boy’s hair.

"T—Thank—You," the boy stammered before breaking into a beaming smile, clearly thrilled he could voice his thanks.

"Oh, so cute!" Lucas felt as though an arrow had just struck him straight through the heart.

"He is, isn’t he~" Lory squealed, sweeping the boy into a tight hug. The little Scion didn’t quite understand what was happening, but he liked being hugged by this pretty lady who also smelled nice.

"What’s his name, anyway?" Lucas asked.

Lory tilted her head. "I don’t know." She turned to the fire spirit.

The fire spirit glanced at Zhao Li Xin, who said calmly, "He doesn’t have a name yet."

"Can I give him one?" Lory said with hopeful eyes.

Zhao Li Xin shrugged, didn’t feel anything wrong with that. "Of course."

"Great!" Lory’s eyes gleamed with excitement as she studied the boy’s round face, green curly hair... then her face lit up. She clapped her hands. "I know!" She raised her index finger. "Okay, I name you... Broccoli!"

"..."

"..."

"..."

"I’ll take that as child abuse," Lucas said flatly, giving her a disapproving look.

"What? Why? Isn’t it cute? It matches his hair color." Lory looked genuinely offended. "Fine! You name him, then!"

"Hmph. You really have no taste. Alright, I’ll name the boy." Lucas studied the Scion carefully—chubby cheeks, big amber eyes—then nodded with confidence. "From now on, you’ll be... Pochi."

Lory smacked the back of his head. "That’s a dog’s name!"

"So what? It’s still a cute name!" Lucas shot back.

The little boy didn’t understand their words, but instinct told him neither option was good. He turned his pleading eyes to Zhao Li Xin, begging him to step in.

Zhao Li Xin massaged his forehead, turned out Lucas and Lory were not only similar in their feature but also tastes.

After contemplating for a few seconds, Zhao Li Xin looked at the boy, "Just call him Jade. Hopefully, he would always remain as strong and pure as the jade stone."

Everyone froze for a moment, then turned to the boy with an excited look.

"That’s a good name!" Lucas admitted.

"Master, you are the best!" The fire spirit gives him a flaming thumb.

"Your name is Jade now, sweetie," Lory said warmly, pinching his cheek.

The boy’s face lit up. Of course, it was a good name, after all, his father was still the best.

After a few distractions, they resumed their journey with Zhao Li Xin leading the way. With a flick of his hand, he opened a rift to Oblivion, and this time, the boy and the fire spirit came along.

It was Lucas’s first time entering Oblivion, and immediately, an uneasy feeling prickled down to his spine.

As he walked deeper, he felt like walking through endless pitch darkness, where every step threatened to vanish into the void. Thankfully, the fire spirit floated ahead like a living torch, casting warm light that pushed back the oppressive gloom.

"This place is scary," Lucas muttered.

"Yes... It does feel different when you enter with your consciousness intact," Lory agreed.

"Girsha’s here?" Lucas’s voice tightened with concern.

"Yeah," Lory replied softly, her tone heavy with sadness.

Lucas’s expression darkened. "Now I understand why you were so determined to set him free. For a creature that soared through the endless blue sky, freely and unruly. This kind of fate was indeed too cruel."

Sensing Lory’s mood sink, Lucas reached out and gently took her hand. "Hey, don’t worry. We already have the solution, so now we just need to make it happen, okay."

"Yeah, I know." Lory took a deep breath and nodded.