Reading People

After the road was cleared, the capabilities of the Demonbeast horses were fully unleashed. The sound of hooves beating against stone was like thunder and the carriage seemed to fly through the air. The wind blew vigorously against Song Lusi's face.

To the side, passersby only had a moment to look up before the carriage was already out of sight. Many of them had been preparing to line up a moment ago, before being scattered.

It was a matter of seconds before they reached the outer border of the Song Manor. 

There was no gate or wall that delineated the boundaries of the manor from the rest of Brightsteel Town, but the residents who lived nearby knew the street lines by heart. For those who did not belong to the Song Family, it was a matter of life and death.

Every hour, guards from the Song Manor passed by, patrolling to catch any trespassers. It was one thing if a trespasser had a background. If they came from an ordinary family, then a harsh beating would become the least of their concerns.

In the box, Song Lusi knew that it was time for him to disembark.

Any guards who were on patrol would have already seen him, and avoided the area, so his purpose as a guide had run its course.

The Master Steward felt somewhat relieved. Throughout the interactions, he purposefully maintained a subservient posture while keeping his distance. He did not take any steps to befriend the representative or either of the retainers.

The decision was made of his own volition. 

There were many reasons why he had risen from low stature to his current heights. Luck played a role, but he also developed skills that set him apart from the thousands of others who were at the bottom of the family. 

Above all, Song Lusi prided himself on his ability to read people. When he was insignificant, he greased the palms of the corrupt, flattered those who were vain, and demonstrated his worth to the clever.

Even now, after climbing near the peak of the family, he had not forgotten the skills that had been so faithful to him before. He employed them in every interaction, including those he just had with the new Mo Family representative.

Song Lusi could only think that it was a shame that the last representative from the family was no longer coming to the Song Manor. From everything he had seen, none of the new Mo people were easy to get along with. They had no intention of forming bonds and establishing friendships.

Even with that being the case, Song Lusi might still have made an attempt. But the representative in particular seemed someone for whom the wrong word might actually worsen the relationship, rather than improve it.

So, the Master Steward decided to keep his distance.

Usually, the representatives were not so unapproachable, and he had a penchant for trying to befriend them, no matter the family they came from and no matter the reason for their presence.

In his eyes, the more relationships he could cultivate, the better. Life was full of uncertainties, after all. 

Song Lusi glanced over at the retainer who was at the reins. 

There was silent acknowledgement. The retainer pulled back on the reins.

The well-trained Demonbeast horses immediately slowed down and heeled. The carriage rapidly decelerated.

Song Lusi knew not to make the representative wait. The moment he sensed that it was safe to stand up, he did not hesitate to do so. He gave a polite bow in the direction of each retainer and the cabin, before walking down the steps of the carriage box.