Dark Moon Era

Jim would never let other men near Ro Xin. He had a strong desire to possess Ro Xin to the point that he would feel annoyed when she got too close to her brother, Ro Li. He already viewed Ro Xin as his woman. Firstly, he really liked her. Secondly, if he and Ro Xin got married, the Boride family would righteously take over the Ro Drifter Camp.

Other than that, the Boride family and the other three had agreed to stop the camp from accepting new Drifters, at least before they completely take over the rule from the Ros. It could not be helped because all the individual groups supported the Ros who easily won the hearts of the people with their style. Plus, being a herbal healer, Ro Xin was very popular among the people because she was a much-needed healer in the camp.

In reference to that, accepting new Drifters would mean increasing Ro Yan’s supporters and Jim could not let that happen, hence the urgent meeting. Ro Xin did not only bring someone back. She had brought a man back, much to Jim’s infuriation.

Jim’s question angered Ro Yan, but he could not simply reveal his emotions, so he could only feign ignorance. “Is that so? Ro Xin brought someone back? I don’t know about that. Is it that serious?” Ro Yan answered casually.

“Chief, you should know the current situation. The Stardust Council patrols the Santos Branching Ridge everyday. If the Ro Drifter Camp simply accepts some outsider, we may get on the council’s wrong side.” Jim’s reason sounded righteous and reasonable.

Keeping quiet, Ro Yan changed his pose and leaned on his chair, saying to his aide, “Why not we call Ro Xin over? Oh, and tell her to bring the person here as well.”

Jim lowered his head, hiding a subtle evil smile. Ro Yan will eventually submit.

…

Tang Ling looked a lot better and normal after the second round of makeover.

Ro Xin had removed the beautiful and tender makeup, leaving only the golden hair and blue eyes. On top of that, Tang Ling also suggested stuffing something in his mouth to change the shape of his face, so she helped with that.

As a result, the second makeover turned Tang Ling into a pale, young boy with golden hair, a puffy lower lip, and slightly bulging cheeks that were the usual features of the Light Continent lineage.

His current appearance was considered a drastic change from his own disguise. Tang Ling believed that no one would be able to recognize him anymore unless he ran into someone who had Precise Instinct like him.

As for that, Tang Ling was still baffled by the fact that Young Master Long was able to recognize him. His first reaction was to run away, and it was not because he got scared when Young Master Long recognized him, but that sense of danger stimulated him and caused goosebumps to ripple across his skin. Other than running away, he could not think of anything else. It was safe to say that his sixth sense was what started the fight with Tang Long.

With all that in mind, Tang Ling followed Ro Xin to Ro Yan’s mobile home.

When Jim first laid eyes on Tang Ling, his gaze was shooting sparks of extreme hostility. However, when Ro Xin noticed his gaze, she purposely got closer to Tang Ling and held his hand.

“Ro Xin.” Ro Yan noticed his daughter’s little movement and feigned a fierce warning at her improper behavior.

“Yes, Father, what is the matter?” Ro Xin did not spare a glance at Jim and turned a blind eye to him, looking at her father.

Before Ro Yan could even say anything, Jim stepped up and spoke to Ro Xin, “The chief wasn’t informed about this stranger that you brought back, but the patrols saw him and they are uncomfortable with his presence. They reported it to me, so I called for a meeting with the chief.”

Ro Xin refused to comply as rage boiled in her, but before she could argue, Jim beat her to it, “Everyone is asking for peace now. Ro Xin, you should understand better than anyone that autumn is a precious season. Autumn in the Santos Branching Ridge is always great, except for our safety. We are supposed to settle down for a month here and that was made possible due to the Stardust Council’s generosity.

“Do you know what kind of trouble will come for us if we simply accept and offer protection to a stranger during our short stay? You, as the daughter of the chief, should know better. Why are you acting the opposite now?”

“Jim, do I have to ask for your permission for the camp to take someone in?” Ro Xin was fuming. Her hands were shaking slightly and she interrupted Jim’s words with a challenging gleam in her eyes. The question she asked was a smart one. If he answered “yes”, it would be a brazen attempt to usurp the leader’s position. If he answered “no”, then he had no right to ask questions.

Jim’s arrogant gaze paused on Tang Ling for a second before he said, “Stranger, lift your hood and remove your mask.”

He then looked at Ro Xin and said plainly, “I’m the general captain of the camp guards. It’s a very sensitive time now. Anyone who comes into the camp must get my permission. It is for the camp’s own good and I won’t step down easily.”

“You!” Ro Xin exploded.

Ro Yan believed it was time for him to intervene. Tang Ling’s appearance was a sign that things could no longer maintain a stable course, so Ro Yan had to make his stand now.

It was at that moment that Tang Ling tapped Ro Xin’s hand that was curled around his own. He then spoke with an ancient Light Continent accent and rumor had it that it was Glandish, a type of language that the nobles from the western safety city loved to use, “Ro Xin, I am unable to understand the words of this man. His tone and accent are horrible. It reeks of dirt and violates my ears. It is like the monkeys in the mountains wearing a tie and having to learn the techniques of the prestigious. How outrageously ridiculous!

“Mister, it is not personal, but I suggest you stop speaking in the Glandish accent and revert to your dirty language. I know it’s a virtue to remember your ancestry, but I do wonder if your ancestor is a pig herder from some wretched rural village.”

As he spoke, Tang Ling lifted his hood and removed his mask. He then looked at Ro Xin with slight disgust, “Xin, I have made myself clear that the mask stays on my face. I’m unable to breathe the same air with some petty peasants in such a confined space. It suffocates me and makes me sick. The pig stench is violating my nose now.”

Tang Ling then looked at Jim apologetically. “I’m sorry, Mister. It’s nothing particular but that stench…ugh…”

Pig herder? Pig stench? Ro Xin tried her best to hold back the laughter that threatened to escape her mouth. Even Ro Yan had a smile on his face.

The Boride family always took pride in their noble Light Continent lineage. Ro Xin had unintentionally mentioned it when she was applying makeup on Tang Ling. The family thought they possessed the true and pure bloodline of the nobles from the ancient Light Continent.

Who would have thought that Tang Ling remembered it? He caught everyone by surprise by speaking in an actual Glandish accent which was hard to mimic. He did not hold back at all and thrashed Jim ferociously.

Tang Ling purposely feigned affectation, but the more he pretended, the more he looked like a noble with an arrogant etiquette.

Jim blushed at first when Tang Ling started insulting him, but his face soon turned pale. This man, this stranger that Ro Xin brought back was tramping the pride and honor of the Boride family mercilessly!

If it was in any other situation, Jim would have drawn his sword and cut the man in half. However, they were in front of Ro Yan, so Jim could not act as he wished. Even though the name of the Ros was declining in the camp, Ro Yan was still the number one fighter.

Holding back his rage, Jim said, “I don’t know which noble family you are from, but the Ro Drifter Camp doesn’t accept outsiders now. I’ll send you out right away.” He walked up and wanted to pull Tang Ling away.

Tang Ling feigned a disgusted look and nimbly dodged Jim’s grasp as he said in shock, “Xin, is your father not the lord of this place? What is a lord, you may ask? A lord is someone who gives the command, but this young man here is attempting to act on his own will without consulting your father’s opinion. This is insubordination!

“You, you, and you two, did you see what he is trying to do? Should you not respond to his insubordination? Someone ignored the chief and wants to shoo me out. It should not be this man’s decision. It should be the chief’s! Did you people agree to this act of insubordination?”

Tang Ling was in character, and he was good at it. It was even better and stronger than Ro Xin questioning Jim directly. Without even asking, he labeled Jim’s act as insubordination.

Inside the house, there were two more captains and two aides to Ro Yan. The aides showed obvious hostility and the two other captains responded with an awkward look. Out of the two aides, Sanada cleared his throat and voiced his reminder, “Jim, we know you are doing this for the camp, but you should just listen to the chief’s opinion.”

Jim inhaled deeply and glared at Tang Ling fiercely. He realized that Ro Xin had brought back someone unusual. In this situation, he had to endure the insult and regroup his plans.

Chief? What could the chief possibly say? He would surely favor his daughter! But whatever!

Jim gripped his sword at his waist tightly. He thought of many things in a short moment and even suspected Tang Ling as the external support that Ro Yan had summoned. In conclusion, he decided to move his plans up the schedule and be quick with it.

He originally hesitated though. His family planned to usurp the position as a leader while the camp settled down for a month, but he himself wanted to move slowly. He wanted to marry Ro Xin and slowly move his way up.

If he usurped the position within this month, he would have to give up something that he had his eyes on for a long time. However, looking at how close this punk was with Ro Xin now, the soft approach was no longer necessary. He would have to forcefully marry Ro Xin after he usurped the position.

That particular goal that he had eyes on no longer mattered. Just like what his father told him before, “some things turn out to be problems in your hands, so you might as well give it away and trade it for something better.”

With that in mind, Jim was no longer angry. He let Ro Xin tell her story about how she met Tang Ling and who he was, plus the reason for her to bring him back to camp. Jim did not even want to argue anymore.

As for Ro Yan, he responded as expected. After hearing what his daughter said, he agreed to allow Tang Ling to stay for the time being.

Jim did not object to the decision either. Instead, he left in a hurry with his men after Ro Yan voiced his decision.

After that, Ro Yan’s expression seemed a lot heavier and stricter while his gaze at Tang Ling was complicated. “Ro Xin, no matter what, letting a boy staying in your room is improper. Tang Ling shall stay with me in the meantime.”

“Fine,” Ro Xin answered, but she felt that her father’s decision was strange. There were empty mobile homes in the camp, so why would her father want Tang Ling to stay with him?

Tang Ling did not say anything either. When he noticed the complicated gaze Ro Yan shot him, he strongly believed that the chief of the camp had something to talk to him about.

“Then, about Tang Ling’s condition, I still have to…” Ro Xin said softly.

“As you wish, you can start anytime and that’s that.” Ro Yan simply agreed and settled the matter for the time being.

…

Jim returned to Area No. 19 in the mobile homes. There were a total of nine mobile homes lined up in a row neatly and every single one of them belonged to the Boride family.

The biggest one of them all, House 1, was the meeting area for the whole family. Jim was there with all the important members of the family present.

“I’ve decided to compromise. I’ll accept the Stardust Council’s offer and take over the Ro Drifter Camp with their help.” That was Jim’s declaration after all the members had gathered.

It was the Stardust Council again. Their influences had seeped into the Ro Drifter Camp, and as a matter of fact, they would more or less meddle with any organization that they deemed valuable. Their go-to method would always be dismantling the organization from within, and this time, the Stardust Council had struck again.

Why the Ro Drifter Camp though? What were they trying to get from a bunch of Drifters?

The leader of the Boride family, Sowo Boride, replied, “My dear grandson, is this your final decision? Aren’t you trying to marry Ro Xin and begrudge the Ro family’s teaching falling into the hands of outsiders? Most importantly, the Ros still have the secret to the Ninth Ruins, and you’ve always wanted it for us. If you accept the Stardust Council’s help, you’ll have to give up everything.”

“Grandfather, you’ve said it yourself. A common man’s only crime is to carry a jade! I’ve made up my mind. Even if we Borides get all the secrets, the world is plunging into chaos and we might not be able to keep them for ourselves. The Ros have strong teachings passed down from generations, and now look at what’s happened to their descendants? Throughout the centuries, only Ro Xin alone carried forward the teachings and made use of it.

“As for the Ninth Ruins, hmph! Yes, the ancestor of Ro, the one who founded the Ro Drifter Camp, Ro Ren, attained it a long time ago, but now? They can’t even get close to the ruins, let alone enter it. Let’s do this. Ro Xin brought some punk back and we shall use this as an excuse to make our move.”

Sowo said in relief, “My grandson, you’ve finally understood the situation. I could have made all these decisions a long time ago, but you are the center of the Boride family’s third generation, and if you do not agree, I wouldn’t want to force you to comply.

“It would only make you unhappy and I don’t allow any elements that will sow dissension in our family. Unite the family. That is the only rule that we live by and it has made us who we are today. Nothing can go against it.”

“But, Grandfather, I have one request,” Jim said seriously, “No matter what happens, Ro Xin is mine.”

“As you wish, Grandson.”