As soon as he spotted the panel floating into view, Luo Feng felt what amounted to an electric shock sizzle through his chest. There was no hesitation, no wavering. His composure up until now was shattered in an instant, and his excitement welled up like an unchecked tidal wave. He didn't twitch a single facial muscle, and yet his mental command was loud and clear, as if he were saying it out loud in his own mind.
Yes.
The response came back with immediate clarity.
[Binding Successful]
These were plain words, but to the ears of Luo Feng, they held meaning far beyond anything he had ever listened to since his arrival in this new world. His breath caught in his throat for a brief moment, his heart beat faster, and the heavy feeling he had been saddled with since his transmigration slowly began to fall away.
A system.
It was not only one, but one that owed allegiance to someone else, rather than himself. It was enough to distinguish it from every other story he remembered vaguely. Whatever this system may be, it evidently did not centre on his own cultivation.
That awareness only further agitated his thoughts.
Before he could spend more time thinking about it, a subtle pressure asserted itself around him. Even before he could realise where it came from, Luo Feng felt it. Several eyes had already focused on him, out of curiosity, out of impatience, and with a hint of derision.
It was only then that he realised he was still at the entrance to the main hall. And even worse, his stare had been locked on Huang Lei's face the entire time.
Cursing his own foolishness, Luo Feng put his shoulders back and stepped forward, and slightly lowered his head in greeting to the Patriarch. This action of his was controlled and proper, and he did not want to attract any unnecessary attention.
The murmurings in the hall began again soon. Luo Feng was nothing more than background noise to most people in the hall, a descendant in name only, an existence that did not matter.
He sat down unnoticed by anyone in the room.
Talk continued for a brief while before the result had already been reached.
Huang Fang's face was steadfastly expressionless, his obvious annoyance well-hidden under his calm exterior. Huang Fang opened his mouth to say more words, the words clearly heavy on his tongue.
Even before he could speak, a tug came at his sleeve.
He turned his head.
Huang Lei stood beside him, his hand clutching hold of the fabric. He shook his head, a slow and deliberate movement, a calm expression in his face, steady eyes, but a resolute look that made Huang Fang hold back.
Huang Fang remained quiet for quite some time.
The anger in his chest had not dissipated; in fact, it flamed with the same intensity, and yet he forced it down. His shoulders squared, his hand tightened briefly before relaxing.
Finally, he spoke, his tone under control, yet chilling.
"I do hope the Luo Patriarch will not come to regret this matter in the future,"
The hall fell silent.
Luo Bo's lips curled up into a muted, low laugh. There was no uncertainty, no doubt in his eyes.
"In my life, I have never regretted anything."
The gaze of Huang Fang hardened, but he did not utter another word. He turned and walked towards the exit, while Huang Lei followed him closely, his steps deliberate and his face unruffled.
As the doors shut behind them, the tension in the hall dissipated like smoke.
Luo Feng watched silently as they walked away.
An unusual numbness crept into his chest.
He had received the call for no particular reason. The decision had already been made when he arrived, and his presence had not altered anything. The truth of the matter was, he might as well not have been present at all.
This realisation did not anger him. Neither was he surprised by it.
This had always been the way of the original Luo Feng.
Nevertheless, when he gave the matter further consideration, his eyes lingered on the spot where Lei had been standing. A faint, complicated emotion arose in his chest.
The words of the Luo Patriarch were echoing in his mind: regret.
Luo Feng was almost laughing at the irony.
Had this system not emerged, he would have merely labelled this conversation just another forgettable embarrassment. However, this was different now. Huang Lei was someone the system had taken note of. Someone who was deemed worthy enough to bind.
Such a person could not be simple by any means.
Whether the Luo family realised it or not, they had parted ways with someone who would one day loom very high above them. When that day finally arrived, Luo Bo's arrogance might very well turn into bitter regret.
This idea did not delight Luo Feng. It was only a sense of inevitable consequence.
As family members started getting up from their chairs, people began leaving the hall. Some conversations were sparked, but they soon died out.
Luo Feng also stood up and walked out unnoticed. No one halted him. No one spoke to him.
The way back to his courtyard felt longer than usual. The words echoing through his head were: 'Binding Successful.' The simplicity of it all bothered him. There were no guidelines, no explanation, no wave of data pouring over him—just the simple message.
Having entered his courtyard, Luo Feng closed his door behind him and finally felt able to relax. He slowly sat down, his back leaning up against a wooden chair.
The panel appeared before him with no struggle.
[Bound: Huang Lei (Qi Refinement Level 2)]
[Karma: 0]
That was all.
Luo Feng read those words, and his excitement turned into confusion.
Qi Refinement Level 2.
Little else was made clear.
There were no explanations, no descriptions, no other functions exposed. The system did not react to his efforts to delve further into it. Whatever he concentrated on, nothing changed on the panel.
"So it seems," said Luo Feng, leaning back and exhaling. Disappointment crept in despite himself. He had expected more, some guidance, some indication about what binding actually meant, or how karma was accumulated, or what it could be used for. Rather, he was left with more questions than answers. However, he made an effort to compose himself.