Chapter 18: The Love of Great-Uncle Yu and My Parents

Chapter 18: The Love of Granduncle Yu and His Parents

Granduncle Yu, whose full name was Yu Wen, was Li Hongshen's distant granduncle. He had served as legal advisor to Li Hongshen’s parents when they were alive, and now acted as the primary world’s lawyer in charge of handling Li Hongshen’s inheritance.

He was not a lord himself, but a ninth-rank scholar of the Confucian path, and was somewhat renowned in the legal circles of Pengcheng.

As mentioned earlier, in the civilization of the lords, less than half of all eligible students could pass the Lord’s Trial each year. Those who failed sometimes chose to pay for another attempt, while others ventured to other worlds to gain power, later returning to serve society in the primary world, or to pledge their loyalty or hire themselves out to a lord of the primary world.

Unlike those who chose direct service under a lord, those who wished to work in the primary world and earn source points instead of civilization coins had to enter professions related to the lords—such as agents, lawyers, stewards, and the like.

Source points could only be obtained from a lord’s territory. One source point was equivalent to a thousand civilization coins, but exchanging coins for source points required government bank approval and was strictly limited.

Granduncle Yu was just such a lawyer, handling contracts and reviews for the lords. Because he was a distant relative, Li Hongshen’s parents had hired him as their private legal advisor. After their passing, he managed legal affairs, held property in trust, and oversaw inheritance matters.

The Lord’s Bank, established specifically for lords, held a monopoly within the civilization, but its quality of service was widely lauded—after all, it catered to lords.

Pengcheng consisted of twelve major districts, each with three Lord’s Banks, but today Li Hongshen was heading to the Pengcheng main branch in the city center.

After disembarking, he walked through the grand entrance, and found Granduncle Yu in the reception area.

“Granduncle, I’m here.”

“Good, I’m glad you made it. I’ve been waiting for your news all day. Fortunately, you passed the Lord’s Trial—your parents’ bloodline is not in vain.”

Li Hongshen merely smiled, saying nothing. He knew very well where his confidence came from, but he still listened respectfully to the elder’s words.

“Let me introduce you. This is Wei Xuan, General Manager Wei, client manager of Pengcheng’s main Lord’s Bank. He’ll help us retrieve your items from the vault.”

“Hello, I’m Li Hongshen. I just passed the Lord’s Trial today. Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“Not at all—you’re a prodigy, a famous contender in Pengcheng. If you hadn’t succeeded, who could have?” Wei Xuan’s words were pleasant, but Li Hongshen did not take them too seriously.

Although the bank’s client manager was not a lord himself, all his clients were high-ranking lords and professionals, like Li Hongshen’s parents.

A few flattering words cost him nothing and might yield another client in the future, especially since Li Hongshen was already his client now.

After some polite conversation, Wei Xuan led Granduncle Yu and Li Hongshen down to the bank’s underground vaults, explaining as they walked.

The Pengcheng main branch had been built alongside the city and expanded many times since, utilizing spatial expansion technology to enlarge the interior while maintaining the original footprint.

They now entered the underground client vault area, reserved for member clients. Each client had a treasury door, each with its own unique way of opening. The items Li Hongshen was to inherit were stored here.

Wei Xuan stopped outside a room with them.

“We’re here. Now we’ll need to verify your identity one more time. I’ll leave you to it and wait in the reception area.”

“Thank you for your help, sorry for the trouble.”

“Granduncle, shouldn’t you give me the key now?”

“Oh, right, I almost forgot. Getting old, I’m not as sharp as I used to be. Here’s the key your parents left in my care. I’ll hand it over to you now.”

Li Hongshen accepted the key with a smile, then said to his granduncle, “I’ll handle the rest myself. You’ve been waiting here a while—why not rest in the lounge and chat with Manager Wei?”

Granduncle Yu’s expression stiffened for a moment, but he quickly smiled again. “Alright, thank you for your concern.”

He turned and left the room.

Li Hongshen watched him go until he was out of sight. Though Granduncle Yu had been close to his parents, Li Hongshen couldn’t help being cautious—especially after hearing that Granduncle Yu’s grandson had barely passed the Lord’s Trial two years ago and now urgently needed resources for university entrance exams.

Once he learned of this, the grandson tried to obtain the vault key, but Granduncle Yu insisted it could only be handed over after Li Hongshen passed the Lord’s Trial.

Other incidents reinforced his wariness toward this distant relative.

Now that he had passed, Granduncle Yu had no further grounds to delay, and soon the rest of the inheritance would be transferred. Otherwise, Li Hongshen could request government intervention, which would make things unpleasant for everyone.

He inserted the vault key into the door, verified his identity, and opened it. Inside lay a letter and a golden, radiant orb.

Li Hongshen picked up the letter:

“My child, by the time you read this, your father and I will no longer be by your side. There is so much I wish to tell you, but I scarcely know where to begin.

Your father was never one for words; I asked him to leave you a message, but he refused, saying it was too sentimental. But know that he loves you.

Do not bear resentment toward our civilization or the Legions. This is the duty of a lord. We are but two among countless lords who have sacrificed for our civilization, and there are millions more striving for it.

I trust that those within our network will care for you. But if you desire a peaceful life, sell the Law Orb beside this letter. With that, and the stipends your father and I left, you can live as a wealthy man in the primary world.

But if you wish to follow our path—to explore the Sea of Worlds and strive for the summit—then fuse this Law Orb with your Lord’s Heart. Simply bring your Lord’s Heart close to it.

This is a wisp of the Law of Data, drawn from a gamified great world, exchanged by your father for his many years of battle merits.

Even a novice lord of zero rank can use it; it will make your journey smoother. I love you. How I wish I could touch your face right now.”

Li Hongshen gazed at the letter, his feelings complex. In just a few lines, a mother’s love for her child was laid bare. Yet he was himself, and yet not.

He exhaled softly. “Don’t worry. I will live well. And… thank you.”

Composing himself, he picked up the golden orb, within which a strand of violet light flowed ceaselessly.

“Name: Law of Data”

“Information: A law from a great world, sealed within a Bloodline Law Orb.”

“Name: Bloodline Law Orb”

“Information: Seals a wisp of law, aiding designated bloodlines in fusing with the law.”

Li Hongshen brought his Lord’s Heart close to the orb. Ripples shimmered across its surface, like a sphere of water. The orb enveloped the Lord’s Heart, and the violet law instantly shot into Li Hongshen’s Lord’s Heart.

(End of Chapter)