Only I Cultivate
Chapter 48: The Ball (4)

Chapter 48: The Ball (4)

"Luo Ri, it’s good to see you well."

A middle-aged man with striking golden hair approached where Luo Ri was seated with his family. His smile was amicable, and his presence exuded an approachable aura—the complete opposite of Luo Ri’s imposing demeanor. He extended his hand toward Luo Ri for a handshake.

"Jia Ai, I hope you and your family are doing well," Luo Ri replied, gripping the man’s hand firmly.

Jia Ai didn’t let his attention linger on Luo Ri for long. After the greeting, his gaze shifted to Luo Li. His polite smile didn’t betray any hint of disgust—though Luo Li, with her sharp instincts, noticed a barely perceptible twinge of disgust in his expression.

The stronger the Hunter, the higher their resistance to curses. Besides, her mask not only concealed the ghost bride tattoo but also partially suppressed its effects. It wasn’t just an ordinary mask, but a contaminated object.

"And this must be my daughter-in-law, Luo Li. I’ve heard many amazing things about you."

Luo Li gave a slight nod in response, but to those around them, the gesture came off as somewhat disrespectful. Luo Ri’s brows furrowed, but Jia Ai merely laughed it off.

"A little shy, I see," he said with a chuckle. "Let me introduce you to my son."

Behind him, a younger man stepped forward, sharing similar features with his father—golden hair and a gentle, refined look. He offered Luo Li a polite smile.

"Lady Li, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you. I’m Jia Cheng. You’re even more beautiful in person. May I have the honor of taking you to a dance?"

He extended his hand toward her, his posture flawless and courteous. Luo Li hesitated, her eyes darting to her mother, who gave her a stern glance. Suppressing a sigh, Luo Li reluctantly extended her hand, allowing Jia Cheng to take it.

But to everyone’s surprise, Jia Cheng wasn’t the one to take her hand—someone else did.

"Luo Li, let’s dance!" Feng Fan appeared between them, took her hand, and without waiting for a response, led her to the dance floor.

Luo Li’s eyes widened in surprise, but her body didn’t resist. With her current cultivation realm, Feng Fan would never have been able to take her if she didn’t allow it.

The temperature around the Jia and Luo families dropped a few degrees.

"That bastard again?!" Luo Ri spoke, his tone laced with annoyance.

Irritation flashed in Jia Cheng’s eyes, but he didn’t let it show. ’Dared to take my fiancée’s hand in front of me? You have a death wish!’

He wasn’t irritated by Luo Li’s interaction with that man, but by the humiliation their interaction brought to him. He could already hear people murmuring around him.

He forced a smile and asked Luo Ri, "Uncle Ri, who is that man?"

"Hmph," Luo Xiu, Luo Ri’s wife, was the one who answered. "A lucky peasant who survived a ghost encounter and awakened by pure luck."

Jia Cheng’s eyes gleamed with cruelty. If Feng Fan were from a Hunter family, he might have hesitated, but an unknown person dared to humiliate him? He would make sure he disappeared from this world before the end of the week.

Luo Li felt a pang in her heart but maintained a cold expression while facing Feng Fan. "Feng Fan, what do you think you are doing?"

Feng Fan didn’t let his smile falter. "That bastard wanted to steal my wife right in front of my nose and give me a green hat, how could I allow it?"

Her cheeks flushed as she lowered her head, unable to meet his gaze. "W-Who’s your wife?" she muttered, her voice barely audible.

Seeing her cute reaction, Feng Fan couldn’t help but smile. He slipped his other hand around her thin waist and pulled her body closer to his. Though he wasn’t a skilled dancer, he moved in sync with the music, his steps surprisingly steady.

To his surprise, Luo Li didn’t resist and let him guide her. They danced in silence for a few minutes, while Jia Cheng’s face grew uglier by the second.

’How long does this bastard plan to continue?’ He clenched his fists tightly, struggling to suppress his growing rage. He couldn’t afford to make a scene here.

Luo Li didn’t know why, but dancing with Feng Fan made her feel at peace. No matter how much she looked at him, she could never feel the same disgust she saw in the eyes of others.

But the silence and warm atmosphere were soon broken by Feng Fan’s words. "Luo Li, do you... want to marry him?"

Unknown to Feng Fan, a sad smile flashed beneath her mask. Even without seeing her lips, he could feel her sadness.

"I... don’t have a choice. That’s just how things are between Hunter families... Not to mention, who would want to marry me with this accursed tattoo?"

Feng Fan suddenly stopped dancing, his expression hardening. "Luo Li, you are so beautiful. Whoever marries you will be the luckiest man in the world. This tattoo can’t diminish your beauty in the least."

Luo Li looked at his serious expression, her eyes growing watery despite her efforts to suppress her tears. She knew he wasn’t lying; he was the only one who had never looked at her with disgust.

"I—"

Before Luo Li could answer, the lights abruptly went out, plunging the hall into darkness.

"You idiot Hunters!" A thunderous voice echoed through the hall. "The common people deserve no protection from us; they should be our slaves! We are the elite! We are the revolution!"

Unbeknownst to both Feng Fan and Luo Li, the man who had just made such a bold declaration was already approaching them. In his hand, he gripped a syringe filled with a strange, murky liquid, its contents swirling ominously.

His eyes flickered with unhinged madness, wide and unblinking. Faint traces of ghostly spiritual energy seeped from his body, wrapping around him like invisible strings, pulling him forward like a puppet controlled by some sinister force.