Exploring

Liu Zhengde's mansion was larger than expected, with an initial estimate of at least nearly ten thousand square meters of land. Perhaps this was one of the reasons he chose to build his estate in the suburbs.

The banquet didn't last long. After all, everyone had traveled a great distance and was tired. They didn't want to engage in any extraneous activities. They simply ate a little, and after Liu Tian, who was visiting for the first time, had a chance to get acquainted with everyone, he announced that they would retire for the night.

During the banquet, Liu Tian had the chance to properly sample the cuisine of the Crimson Cloud Empire. He also met his mother, Sophie Lovis, who was about to give birth.

After several months apart, his mother, Sophie Lovis, showed no signs of exhaustion despite being heavily pregnant, far from her homeland, and having not seen her husband and son for a long time. She was being well cared for by servants and even managed a little skip. However, her noticeably large belly served as a reminder to others that she was a woman about to give birth.

This was not solely due to the meticulous care of the servants. More importantly, it was Sophie Lovis's strong spirit. Feelings of homesickness and melancholy seemed to have never existed for her.

Sophie Lovis was not an exceptionally beautiful woman; her appearance could only be described as delicate. However, her ruby-like hair and eyes were what made Liu Yun fall in love with her at first sight.

Later, during their time together, Sophie Lovis, who was gentle, kind, and knew her boundaries, yet could also throw a small tantrum, captured Liu Yun's heart, leading the prodigal son to resolve to settle down in the Hundred Flowers Kingdom.

And Liu Yun, a man possessing bravery, determination, and capability, had, during the time Sophie's parents passed away, unknowingly occupied Sophie's entire heart.

For twenty years, their marital affection had always been excellent, and they maintained an astonishing level of agreement on most matters.

Normally, when Liu Yun was not at sea, the two were inseparable, enjoying excursions and sightseeing, which was quite delightful.

When Liu Yun was at sea, Sophie managed the household impeccably, a standard hostess of the Hundred Flowers Kingdom.

There was just one point: because Sophie had been quite independent since childhood, she also placed great importance on cultivating her son's independent thinking and did not wish to overly control Liu Tian.

Her husband, Liu Yun, was a rebellious son himself and did not like to set any strict rules for Liu Tian. By the time they realized it, Liu Tian, having inherited his father's stubbornness, had already made his own decisions about his future, and it was too late to turn back.

"So, is it a brother or a sister?" Liu Tian asked, looking at Liu Yun, who had his ear pressed against Sophie's belly. "Dad, you've been listening so intently, have you figured anything out?"

"Heh heh!" Liu Yun scoffed. "Of course, I've figured something out—it's a girl."

"A very lively girl. She was just patting my face with her hand! Son, you're going to have a sister soon!"

"A daughter?" Liu Tian raised an eyebrow. "You can tell the gender just by listening? Dad, if you have this skill, why don't you open a shop?"

"A father's intuition tells me it's definitely a daughter, a well-behaved and obedient daughter, unlike you, you rebel!" Liu Yun said with a smile. "Isn't that right, wife?"

"Oh, you!" Sophie lightly tapped her husband's nose with her index finger. "She hasn't even been born yet, how do I know if it's a girl or a boy? Prenatal gender detection can cause some damage to the fetus, and I don't want to ruin that sense of anticipated surprise. Do you only love daughters? Don't you love sons?"

"I love them both, I love them both!" Liu Yun said with a foolish smile. "Whether it's a son or a daughter, I love them!"

"I feel like a giant lightbulb!" Liu Tian shook his head. "Alright, Dad, Mom, you two chat. I'm leaving. I won't be a third wheel—oh, right, someone is watching us. Dad, remember to tell Second Uncle."

"Someone is secretly watching? Son, what are you talking about?" Sophie asked with a frown upon hearing Liu Tian's words.

"Dad, you can explain this to Mom. I'm leaving now, really leaving. Get some sleep early, don't be late for breakfast tomorrow morning." As he spoke, Liu Tian retreated, no longer lingering between the couple, who had been reunited after a long separation.

What should he do next?

The bright moonlight mixed with the lamplight illuminated the mansion, making it as bright as day, with every detail visible.

Thanks to the abundant energy gained from practicing martial arts, Liu Tian now only slept four to five hours a day. It was still early, nowhere near his usual bedtime.

Well, he had nowhere to go.

It had to be said that they were biological brothers. Although Liu Zhengde held a high position and great power, he, like his fifth brother, was a staunch supporter of monogamy.

So, even though Liu Tian roamed around as he pleased, he wasn't afraid of overhearing something he shouldn't or seeing something he shouldn't.

Along the way, many servants and guards who didn't recognize Liu Tian almost stopped him. If Liu Zhengde hadn't given him his jade pendant as a pass and a welcoming gift, there might have been quite a commotion.

But after Liu Tian had roughly toured the estate at a normal running pace, everyone had come to recognize the young master who was wandering around the unfamiliar place on his first day.

Many of them had undergone training, but few practiced Secret Martial Arts. Their strength wasn't impressive; at best, they were like Martial Artists. The weaker ones might not even be able to defeat Liu Wenhan.

However, many of the guards had calluses on their hands, indicating they had practiced with firearms and had steady hands. They weren't novices, so with firearms, they should provide some defensive effect.

Of course, Liu Tian wasn't just aimlessly wandering; he was casually assessing the defensive capabilities of the place.

To be frank, it was much worse than he had imagined. With such defensive capabilities, unless they had some secret ultimate weapon hidden away, Liu Tian was confident he could charge in through the main gate alone. As long as he wasn't focused-fired, trapped in a dead end, and could remember the terrain to circle around a couple of times, he would at most sustain some minor injuries.

And the terrain... thinking of this, he had unknowingly wandered into the courtyard. He looked up and saw a mountain nearby. From the summit or even halfway up, the situation of the estate was clearly visible.

Even though it was so far away, even with specialized Secret Martial Arts, one certainly couldn't see clearly, but there would be no problem with the general situation.

These defensive capabilities were fine for dealing with petty thieves, but if someone was truly determined and capable of launching an assault, these guards would at most serve to delay them.

Perhaps it was because the Crimson Cloud Empire had enjoyed a long period of peace, and the subtle difference between a centralized empire and a noble council led to the defensive standards here not even reaching the level of Gayn Manor.

Regardless, Gayn Manor at least hired two or three Fighters to be stationed there year-round, while here, at best, there were some Martial Artists who practiced second-rate Secret Martial Arts and gunmen. Not a single Fighter could be seen.

One must know that Gayn Manor was located in the royal city, while this mansion was in a remote suburb of Pei Commandery. In terms of constraints and security, the former should theoretically have more.

These defensive capabilities are a bit troublesome.

Liu Tian pondered, and unknowingly walked into the training room.