エロゲ喵绅HCMOIC

"You are a witch?" he blurts out his thought.

"No, a witch doesn't have innate power like mine instead they forcefully absorbed from another unscrupulous source then turn it into dark power while someone like me was born with this type of power that we called a Gift" Lory open her palm and water from around them sucked and float on Lory's hands, the water twirl like a small whirlwind as it sucked more water around them and transform into an ice flower.

"We called ourselves as the Gifted, some call us the caster or Mage but the Gifted is more well-known terms" Lory  Squeeze the ice flower and it transforms into a drip of water then it evaporated to the air living not a single trace.

Seeing Tian Meng Ji Lory's surprised expression smiled "Just like our cultivation can also manifest objects of our own power but the source is different and so is the way to control it"

"Everyone in your world has the same power as you?" Tian Meng Ji was intrigued.

"No, just like cultivation, not everyone is born with this power and also likes cultivation, the power of their gift varies depending on the person itself but unlike cultivation, we can't change the amount of our power that was given to us, let's just say if you were born with weak mana which is Qi in your terms then we can't change it other than accept it. Meanwhile, Qi can be altered by using pills and elixirs from there you can slowly build your strength to a higher level, of course, there was a lack of basic foundations and breakthrough speed for people who used pills and elixirs to forcefully raise their cultivation nonetheless Qi could still have the possibility of being improved. Maybe that's why it's called Gift in the first place" Lory wryly smile, she always thought that cultivation is much better than gift.. 

Tian Meng Ji heard Lory's explanation in awe as he slowly lost his vigilance toward her. Listening to Lory's words was like opening a new world to an elder who thought he had seen everything in the world so how could he not be so excited. Tian Meng Ji didn't notice his face shining like a light bulb as he started to question Lory more about this newfound world.

Lory patiently explained everything to the curious old man, she knew the first step to acceptance was understanding so she helped any way she can for Tian Meng Ji to understand it, Lory hoped that after this Tian Meng Ji would understand her, Tian Meng Ji didn't have to like her but at least he understands that she didn't mean any harm to anyone especially to Zhao Li Xin and after this, she hoped someday Zhao Li Xin and Tian Meng Ji will be reconciled.

after a long chat, Lory took a sip of her tea, and her brows furrowed again. Tian Meng Ji also took a sip of his tea as he fell silent while digesting all the information he had heard.

Tian Meng Ji glanced at the strange-looking woman in front of him, after a while he somewhat got used to her appearance and she didn't look strange, she exuded a noble and dignified aura, she looked quiet but not shy, she was an honest woman and kind-hearted but most importantly in her eyes, she can see toughness, strength, and wisdom beyond her years, compared to Tang Mei Yi this woman wins with flying colors.

No wonder his disciple is crazy about her.

"They said you were born royalty?" Tian Meng Ji asked.

"Yes," Lory nodded.

"What is your real name?"

"Lorient...Lorient Jean Frau Lucient, but people call me Lory" she replied.

"Lo-Ri?" Tian Meng Ji spell her name awkwardly as he stroked his beard then looked at Lory again "Why are you here Lo – Ri?"

"Fate, I guess?" Lory shrugged.

Tian Meng Ji pursed his lips feeling unsatisfied by her reply and he continued, "Then what is your purpose here?"

Lory smiled deeply "That's what I'm trying to figure it out"

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Jin Hao heard the news about Tian Meng Ji visiting the manor and talking to Lory, he was worried that the stubborn old man would do something stupid and make the situation worse than already is therefore Jin Hao who used to be lazy had no choice but to drag his feet into the Manor, when he arrived he expected a tense or at least awkward atmosphere between Lory and Tian Meng Ji but what he found is Tian Meng Ji alone sitting on a chair with a complicated look while Lory was nowhere to be seen. 

"What are you doing here?" Jin Hao's sudden call startled Tian Meng Ji from his contemplation.

"Oh, you…" he scoffed at Jin Hao.

"Are you talking with young madam?" Jin Hao threw a rhetorical question. 

Heard Jin Hao probing voice, Tian Meng Ji pout his lips "I didn't do anything, she invite me in" he clarified himself.

Of course, Jin Hao knew if not there's no way Tian meng ji could enter the manor with so many shadow guards lurking and the protection array that plant in every corner of the manor if Lory didn't personally bring him inside Tian Meng Ji would be able to step foot into the Manor.

"So you talk with young madam…" Jin Hao take a seat on the couch where Lory sit was.

"Uhm" Tian Meng Ji answer vaguely.

Tian Meng Ji looked complicated and Jin Hao snorted in mockery "Are you still thinking about Tang Mei Yi and Lu Yao" he sneered.

"No...me" but their deaths still bothered him even though he knew it was all Lu Yao and Tang Mei Yi's fault.

"Lu Yao has used you for so many years and so has Tang Mei Yi, she shamelessly used our Lord's name to make a name for herself but our Lord didn't do anything because of you, and when she found out my Lord married another woman, she cannot take it she tries to killed young madam and not only that she also want to ruin her honor before young madam dies, it was by sheer of good luck that young madam was able to avoid that predicament" Jin Hao's eyes flaming when he recalled Zhao Li Xin numbed expression when he thought Lory die.

"I know!" Tian Meng Ji exclaimed, he does feel guilty because he was the one who forced Tang Mei Yi to be with Zhao Li Xin.

"Then you should know that young madam is the only one who can make my Lord smile, because of her My Lord finally found a reason to be happy, to be alive again but that moron Tang Mei Yi and Lu Yao tried to kill the only important thing in my Lord's life, for that they deserved to die!" Jin Hao's face was tense with anger.

Tien Meng Ji took a deep breath, it wasn't that he didn't know how painful Zhao Li Xin's life was, ever since he knew Zhao Li Xin he could feel there was something missing in the boy's heart.

Something was broken and there was nothing he could do to fix it, alas, it made their relationship never go deeper even though is not shallow either but there was a clear line between them that he could not cross, no one could until that woman… until Lory appears.

Jin Hao notice the empty teacup on the table, he pick up the teacup and sniffed it "You both drink this?"

Tian Meng Ji lifts his head "Yes.." he doesn't understand why Jin Hao asking.

A smile blooms on Jin Hao's face as he stares at the teacup, "It's Longjin tea" he mutter.

"What's wrong with that?" Tian Meng Ji didn't think anything wrong with the tea since they drink from the same teapot.

"Young madam cannot stand bitterness, she really couldn't so she never drink normal tea" he put down the teacup back on the table "Milord need to plead and beg for young madam to drink Pu-erh tea to help her digest her food" Jin hao chuckles, Longjin tea is much higher quality than Pu-erh tea but it's much bitter compare with Pu-erh tea and Lory cannot stand both and yet she drink casually with Tian Meng Ji to honor the old man.

"She's a good woman," Jin Hao said in low voice.

Tian Meng Ji looks down at the teacup, she now understands why Lory's brows knitted every time she drinks her tea turned out she can't handle the bitterness, she could drink other tea or say something although it was a bit rude, but no one would dare to blame her yet Lory never said anything because she wants to honor him as the elder, feeling resigned Tian Meng Ji mutter quietly "She is…"