Only I Cultivate
Chapter 42: Yes… Luo Xiu

Chapter 42: Yes... Luo Xiu

Luo Li stepped into her house after a long day of work. She had spent the afternoon buried in bureaucratic tasks.

Tedious? Yes, but far better than being at home.

As a butler closed the door behind her, the first thing she saw was Luo Xiu, her mother, sitting on a sleek black three-seater couch, engrossed in a book.

Luo Li moved cautiously toward the staircase, hoping to slip by unnoticed. But how could she go undetected? Her mother was also a Hunter—one far stronger than her daughter.

"A ball will take place in two days. Your father and brother will return from the capital to attend," Luo Xiu’s cold, detached voice echoed through the room as she calmly shut her book.

Luo Li’s hands trembled slightly at the words. It wasn’t the reaction one would expect when hearing that a father was coming home—especially not one fueled by fear and anxiety.

"Many husband candidates from the capital will be attending as well," Luo Xiu continued, not even pausing to gauge her daughter’s reaction, as if her feelings didn’t matter. "Your father will choose a suitable husband among them. Because of your curse, it may be more challenging to find a proper match, but most Hunter families won’t care about that."

While SIF was the ultimate authority, the Hunter families were like the aristocrats of the old world—powerful, untouchable, and governed by their own rules. SIF, a coalition of governments, protected humanity and held the highest power in Blue Planet.

The Hunter families were just below them, beyond the reach of ordinary government control; only SIF could keep them in check.

"A maidservant will make sure you’re presentable for your future husband," Luo Xiu went on. "She’ll also choose a better mask. You can’t attend a ball wearing the same mask you use in battle."

Luo Li’s anger surged, her spiritual energy rippling around her like a rising storm. Yet, after a breath of time, the fury subsided, replaced by a sad, bitter smile hidden behind her mask.

Lowering her gaze, she said the only thing she ever dared to say to her mother.

"Yes... Luo Xiu."

👻👻👻👻👻

Wu Yunru, Feng Fan, and Luo Li stood inside Director Mao’s office, waiting for his orders. Director Mao took a deep breath, his fingers massaging his temples as he finished reading Luo Li’s report. A headache was already brewing inside his head, a minor ghost case had spiraled into something much bigger than anticipated.

’How did such a small ghost case turn into such a massive problem?’

Shaking off his thoughts, he focused on the three members of Luo Li’s team standing before him.

"I believe Wu Yunru and Luo Li might already know this, but tomorrow night, a ball will take place. Many Hunters and some important non-Hunter personnel from SIF will attend, including quite a few from the capital."

Feng Fan frowned, confusion evident on his face. "A ball? What for? What a waste of time and resources."

A bitter smile tugged at Director Mao’s lips. Just hearing Feng Fan’s reaction, he knew more trouble was coming. ’If the president finds out that the person he wants to see the most won’t attend his ball, he’ll skin me alive... Not to mention the ball was my idea...’

"All three of you must attend, no exceptions," he declared firmly.

Feng Fan’s expression darkened. "Why would I waste my personal time and money? I don’t even have clothes for that."

Coming from Earth’s modern society, Feng Fan has always drawn a clear line between his personal and professional life.

In Feng Fan’s opinion, people who gave their blood and time, sacrificing their personal lives for work, were fools.

"I get it," Wu Yunru chimed in. "If my family didn’t force me to go, I wouldn’t bother either. Aristocrats are boring as hell. The only good thing about it is the food."

Feng Fan’s eyes lit up, practically sparkling. ’Good food?!’

He slammed Director Mao’s wooden desk, startling the others. "Count me in! But you’re paying for my clothes! Unless you want me to go in the same clothes I wear to the office."

Luo Li and Wu Yunru looked at him with disdain. How could someone be so easily bribed by food?

Director Mao couldn’t help but glance at Feng Fan’s current outfit—a pair of casual, worn-out jeans and a faded black T-shirt that had clearly seen too many washes. The fabric was stretched thin in places, and the color had long since lost its vibrancy, giving it a tired, almost grayish hue.

’This brat wants to shame me!’ Director Mao thought, furrowing his brows in irritation. ’Showing up at the ball looking like that? I’ll be the laughingstock!’

Eventually, Director Mao rolled his eyes. "Aren’t you getting paid enough? What’s wrong with spending a bit of your own money to buy clothes?"

"Hmph," Feng Fan snorted. "Using my own money for work attire? You must think I’m an idiot."

Director Mao was about to argue when Luo Li cut in first. "Then let me pay for your clothes. I’ll help you choose them. How does that sound?"

Luo Li felt indebted to Feng Fan. After he had saved her and spared her the humiliation of bringing up what happened during the chase after Prostitute Killer, she felt that helping him with this was the least she could do.

Feng Fan gave her a bewildered look. "You... want to pay for my clothes?"

’Is this what having a beautiful sugar mommy feels like? This sensation... isn’t bad at all!’

Luo Li hesitated for a moment, slightly caught off guard by his reaction, but didn’t think much of it. "Consider it a thank you for helping me before," she said simply.

"Well... alright. Let’s go now, then. Since it’s work attire, we should handle it during work hours!" Without waiting for Director Mao’s response, Feng Fan strode out of the room.

Seeing that there was nothing left to discuss, both Wu Yunru and Luo Li followed him out. Director Mao, who should have been the one in charge, just sighed, feeling defeated.

"Damn it," he muttered. "I could really use a smoke right now..." He grumbled at the fact that he couldn’t light one up inside.