The Rise of the White Lotus

527 Churu\'s dangerous mission

"Lou..." From the other end of the line, a faint sigh was heard. "Just come home, okay...?" Victoria Tang worriedly reminded that was answered by a baritone hum.

After that, Louis Lu hung up the call. His face was devoid of emotion. On the other hand, Churu floated and scrutinized his front.

"I knew there\'s something wrong with you the first time I saw you," Churu stated while nodding her head in acknowledgment.

Back then, Churu\'s senses deteriorated to Yael\'s meddling in the system. Hence, she couldn\'t smell the danger lingering around Louis Lu. However, Churu now that she could smell the dangers within this man — no doubt he\'s a dangerous lad.

Earlier, Louis Lu and Ethan Lu met. Their meeting was brief, it was short that they only exchanged envelopes containing information that held each of their interests.

The few words that Ethan Lu said to his cousin were, "I\'m sorry..." Louis Lu just nodded his head in understanding without a word being said.

"Boss, we\'ve arrived." The driver maneuvering Louis Lu\'s car lowly announced as he glanced at his boss via the rear mirror.

Louis Lu glanced outside. The foreboding aura of the house where he grew up refreshed his memories in the residence. The memory flashed across his eyes like a bolt of lighting before he blinked — erasing it in his mind in an instant.

Without a word, Louis Lu departed the car while Churu followed from behind. "Your parent\'s house smell filth — jeez!" Churu commented as she scanned the grandiose mansion.

The mansion was amazing just by its structure. However, no matter how beautiful it was, if the people who lived in it were animals — the stinking smell would cloud its beauty.

"Young master," from the entrance of the mansion, a butler in his mid-50s bowed his head and greeted Louis Lu.

As usual, Louis Lu was a cheapskate in words hence, he just gave the butler a side glance before he entered the manor. Used by the usual cold treatment of the young master of the house, the butler courteously followed from behind.

"Where is he?" Looking around at the gloomy living area, Louis Lu inquired.

"The master is in his study. Young master —" The butler answered, but before he could finish his warning, Louis Lu began walking towards his father\'s study room.

"Young master," The butler rushed to follow him but Louis Lu raised his hand, gesturing the elderly to stop tailing him as he paused in his tracks.

Louis Lu slowly turned his emotionless pair of eyes to the elderly butler. Upon meeting his eyes, the butler bowed his head as his shoulders trembled, swallowing a mouthful of saliva at the dominant aura emanating from his young master.

Well, the butler thought that Lincoln Lu must have expected that. Still, the butler was mostly concerned about Louis Lu.

"Young master..." The butler murmured as he raised his head to the direction where Louis Lu headed.

****

"This place is really creepy — it\'s relaxing!" Tired of flying, Churu rested on top of Louis Lu\'s head as she yawned.

Well, she\'s a fallen angel after all. Hence, places that emanated danger and dark aura made her more relaxed than ever.

She sensed the odd interaction Louis Lu had with the butler and the fear that glinted across the butler\'s eyes. Churu was somewhat intrigued by what\'s ahead of them because she could not guess just by studying the emotionless expression on Louis Lu\'s face.

Soon, Louis Lu stopped at the wood door, carved with a flower design in the middle. Just coming close with the room, Churu\'s spotless forehead creased.

Within a second, Louis Lu\'s cold expression sharpened, revealing a different vibe as if another soul took over his body. Without further ado, Louis Lu reached for the door\'s handle and the wooden door creaked open.

"What? What? What\'s going on here?" As soon as the door opened, Churu rushed inside to see what shocking scene would welcome them.

However, there was no one inside. Only antique furniture, bookshelves, a desk, a lounge for guests, and anything inside a normal study room could be seen.

"Ehh?!" Appalled and disappointed, Churu frowned as she turned to Louis Lu\'s keen front. "That butler lied to you, chu!" Displeased, Churu grumbled. Yet, the emptiness of the study room didn\'t surprise Louis Lu.

Resuming in his tracks, Louis Lu headed directly towards one of the old shelves. He raised his forefinger, seemingly choosing which book he has to pick; his finger then stopped at a particular book.

The next moment, he placed his finger on top of the book and exerting no effort, he pulled it. As soon as he did, a loud creaking noise assailed both their ears.

Unlike the unsurprised reaction of Louis Lu, Churu gasped as she saw the wall behind the desk opened — a secret passage!

"Wow, these things surely exist in real life, huh?" Amused by the surprise, Churu\'s cheeks blushed, excited to venture the secret passage Louis Lu opened. "Come on, Lulu! I want to see what\'s down there,~! I need a company though because I\'m scared,~" Churu shamelessly said as she giddily poked his lean cheeks.

Well, no one could blame the little dumpling as she was automatically drawn to dangerous people. She would literally do everything to bewitched them or turn coquettish — although they couldn\'t see her.

Louis Lu stared at the passage before a mocking scoff escaped his mouth. Only he could understand how deep that single scoff meant.

Slowly, he took a step forward, yet; it was a heavy one. Every step towards the secret underground basement, faint screams assailed Churu\'s ears. The voices soon turned clear and audible — adding creepiness to the place they were heading.

"That Ethan Lu sure doesn\'t worry about me for sending me to a dangerous mission~! I\'m scared, ~!" Churu hid and clung on Louis Lu\'s shoulder as she murmured her lies.