Master

Upon catching sight of Lu Benwei's true appearance, the three great overlords scrambled forward in competition.

These three were legendary figures among the seafolk, each of considerable age. Yet now, they dashed ahead without a care, sprinting like ordinary mortals.

The North Sea Emperor, Chang Kun, being the most vigorous, swung his legs with full force and naturally left the other two far behind. The Crab Emperor, already in the twilight of his years, couldn't keep up even if his cane sparked from friction—trailing several yards back!

Chang Kun was the first to reach the long chair, dropping to his knees with a thud. He presented a pot of steaming tea, his face brimming with sycophantic delight.

"My lord!"

"This humble one has prepared ten-thousand-year tea crystals. A mere sip of tea, hardly worthy of your grace!"

Even as Lu Benwei remained deep in slumber, not uttering a word, Chang Kun showed no offense. He continued kneeling reverently, holding the teapot with pride gleaming in his eyes—as if merely being the first to speak was an immeasurable honor.

After a few moments of respectful silence, the other two arrived, dropping to their knees in unison beside him.

They massaged his legs and grinned obsequiously, behaving like dutiful underlings.

For three legendary seafolk overlords to wait upon a long chair like obedient lackeys—if word of this spread, the entire seafolk's worldview would shatter into pieces.

A few more breaths passed.

Finally, Lu Benwei stirred awake, casting only a sidelong glance.

"What kind of lousy teapot is this? Get it out of here!"

Chang Kun's aged face flushed red.

"Yes, yes, of course…"

He nodded in shame and hastily stowed away the ten-thousand-year tea crystals.

The Sturgeon Dragon Emperor, sharp-eyed as ever, seized the opportunity to shuffle closer on his knees. While rummaging in his sleeve, he offered an ingratiating smile.

"My lord—"

Before he could finish, Lu Benwei cut him off impatiently.

"Stop trying to fool me with your worthless junk!"

"You promised to find me some beauties, and it's been days—not a single hair in sight! Are you lot trying to scam me?"

As his hollow eye sockets fixed on them, the three overlords trembled in terror, bowing and pleading for mercy!

"Spare us, my lord! This matter truly isn’t our fault!"

"Please understand, my lord! It’s all because of those damned Sky Dragon Merfolk! Every century, they abduct the most talented maidens from the Eastern Sea. Within thousands of miles, finding a decent beauty is near impossible…"

"Indeed, indeed! Your lordship is peerlessly heroic and dashing beyond compare! How could we dare present some mediocre commoner to you? That’s why it’s been so hard to find a suitable candidate!"

Lu Benwei stroked his chin thoughtfully, sitting up.

"Say that last part again."

Instantly!

The silver-haired Crab Emperor felt the weight of pressure!

After gulping a few times, he cautiously repeated:

"It’s… it’s very hard to find a suitable candidate…?"

Lu Benwei wagged a finger.

"Not that. The line before!"

The Crab Emperor’s eyes lit up with realization, and he piled on the flattery!

"My lord is peerlessly heroic and dashing beyond compare!"

Lu Benwei nodded in satisfaction.

"Mhm, mhm."

"You’ve got a knack for honesty, old-timer. Bright future ahead. Guess this really isn’t your fault!"

Hearing this, the three let out a collective sigh of relief.

They piled on the praise, deftly shifting the blame!

"Your wisdom shines bright, my lord! It’s all those wretched merfolk’s doing!"

"Ah, yes yes, absolutely!"

"To bask in your presence is the honor of our lifetimes!"

After an extended session of bootlicking, the Sturgeon Dragon Emperor produced a small mirror, nervously defending himself.

"My lord, behold."

"This mirror is called the Moonlight Heaven Mirror—a true treasure."

"Of course, it’s utterly insignificant before your magnificence. But it would make a fine gift for a fair lady. Or perhaps you could use it to admire your own heroic bearing!"

"Your grace is transcendent, your aura unparalleled. In all my years, the combined charm of every prodigy I’ve met couldn’t match even a ten-thousandth of your splendor…"

The flood of compliments pleased Lu Benwei, who accepted the mirror with a grin.

"Not bad, not bad!"

"You’ve got a silver tongue too, eh?"

With the mirror handed over, the pressure now fell on the Crab Emperor.

This silver-haired elder, the most ancient of the seafolk, had weathered countless storms. A master of social maneuvering, he wasn’t about to be outdone!

He shuffled closer on his knees and thumped his chest with conviction.

"My lord, hear me! While the nearby talents have been snatched by the Sky Dragon Merfolk, making it hard to find peerless beauties… the merfolk themselves have some rather comely maidens!"

"This unworthy elder happens to know the location of their territory. I shall personally go and fetch the most exquisite mermaid for you, to serve at your side as you savor the world’s splendors!"

The moment he finished, the other two—the Emperor and the Dragon—gasped in shock!

Hiss—

The Crab Emperor played dirty!

While they’d been fumbling with trinkets, he’d gone straight for the merfolk, even willing to cast aside his dignity as a seafolk elder to personally abduct a maiden!

Silent until now, he’d struck right at the heart of the matter!

This old fox was terrifyingly shrewd!

Damn it…

Why hadn’t they thought of that?!

As the other two lamented their oversight, Lu Benwei rolled his eyes dismissively.

"Pass."

"You guys still don’t get it. Beauties aren’t just about the face—the figure matters too! What’s the point if the mermaids don’t even have long legs?"

The trio felt as if struck by lightning, as though a whole new world had opened before them.

They bowed with utmost reverence, their eyes filled with awe as if enlightened by divine wisdom.

"Your insights are truly profound, my lord! We are in awe!"

"Such eternal truths—we shall uphold them as our guiding principles from this day forth!"

"Only after hearing your words do I realize I’ve wasted a hundred thousand years in vain. Shame, shame indeed!"

A chorus of flattery followed, each phrase more elaborate than the last.

Lu Benwei, meanwhile, continued basking in the sunlight, admiring his own dashing reflection in a mirror.

The three attendants kneeled beside him, massaging his legs and shoulders with the utmost deference.

Seeing the great lord in a good mood, the shrewd Crab Emperor seized the moment to speak up with a fawning smile.

"My lord, if I may ask… how much longer will you grace this land with your presence? If time permits, this humble one is confident he can find suitable young ladies to accompany you in enjoying this splendid spring scenery."

"I’ll scour every corner within a million miles if I must!"

The question carried deeper implications, instantly gripping the hearts of the other two.

This skeletal lord was terrifyingly powerful!

Though they had climbed onto his coattails, serving him day and night was nerve-wracking. If they could send him off sooner, it would be for the best.

This cautious inquiry was the extent of their courage—only the Crab Emperor had the cunning to broach the subject so tactfully.

As for his origins or other details? They wouldn’t dare ask a single question!

Under their watchful, uneasy silence, Lu Benwei suddenly grew serious, lowering his mirror.

"I don’t know how long I’ll stay."

"This isn’t up to me. I am merely my master’s servant, acting entirely at his will."

A servant?!

The words struck like a bolt from the blue, leaving the three magnates utterly dumbfounded!

They could never have imagined it.

A being as fearsome as Lord Lu Benwei—capable of annihilating their entire sea clan with a flick of his finger—was someone else’s servant?

They had severed ties with the Celestial Dragon-Mermaid Clan the moment they heard of his displeasure, yet he answered to a higher power?

Then… what kind of unfathomable existence must his master be?

Compared to that being, what were they?

Mere ants…?

Having cultivated for tens of thousands of years, each a legendary figure among the sea clans, they suddenly realized they were nothing. Their entire worldview teetered on the brink of collapse!

What the hell?!

This was beyond absurd—who could accept such a thing?!

Their faces paled with shock.

Decades of tempered composure shattered in an instant, their minds reeling uncontrollably.

No matter how hard they tried, their forced smiles only came off as awkward and strained.

"M-my lord, you must be joking…"

Lu Benwei ignored them, gazing instead at the endless sea.

"Do I look like I have time for jokes?"

"My master resides on Black Island. If not for his arrival, why would I come to this godforsaken wasteland?"

Crack!

Their minds fractured like glass, their bodies petrified on the spot.

It was true!

Lord Lu Benwei really was a servant?!

And his master was on Black Island?!

Holy shit!!!

An overwhelming pressure radiated around them, freezing the three magnates like helpless insects, their breath catching in their throats.

Lu Benwei, however, remained utterly unfazed, as if this were nothing unusual.

He pulled out his mirror again, pleased with his reflection, and even produced a small comb to groom his skull as he issued a casual warning.

"You three morons better find me some ladies next time. Fail again, and it’s lights out for you!"

Only then did they snap out of their daze, nodding frantically.

"Y-yes! Of course!"

By the time they fully regained their senses, Lu Benwei had vanished without a trace.

His mystical movement seemed to merge with the heavens and earth, leaving not a single clue behind.

Though the space before them was empty, it felt as though their heartstrings had snapped.

Their legs gave way, and they collapsed to the ground in utter exhaustion.