*knock* *knock*

Ashen knocked on the door before a beautiful lady wearing a green loose top that revealed her shoulders and a matching long skirt opened the door.

"Ah, young master Ashen. What brings you here?" The green-haired mature woman asked. with a polite smile.

She didn't expect him to visit her alone. She thought one of her daughters was here to talk to her.

Ashen, smiling kindly, replied: "Mam, I have something that I need to discuss with you. Can I come in first?"

The blue-eyed beauty was reluctant, however, she agreed. This was his house after all and he was only going to talk.

Ashen went in before making himself comfortable on the bed. Veli's mother was quite surprised at Ashen's boldness, however, she kept quiet as she sat on a chair before asking: "What do you need to discuss, Young master Ashen? Please tell me"

Ashen, revealing a serious expression, leaned forward as he asked: "Mam, I need to ask you something very important. Can I?"

Shiyue's mother, getting serious, nodded, giving her permission.

Ashen, maintaining his seriousness, continued: "Mam, Since yesterday, I've been addressing you as mam..."

Shiyue's mother leaned a little forward, listening carefully. She was fully focused when Ashen revealed a bright smile before asking: "Can you tell me your name?"

"What?" Shiyue's mother asked with an incredulous expression: "Why were you so serious to ask this? I thought it was something important"

Ashen, however, shook his head as he met her gaze with his: "It is important. For someone as beautiful as you, your name must be equally beautiful and I do not dare to not take it seriously!"

Seeing his serious and confident gaze when he called her beautiful, a little blush crept up on her face before she hid it. Who wouldn't like to be complimented?

"Beautiful? Aren't I an old woman now?" She asked with a puzzled expression.

"I'm 20 right now!" Ashen answered with a smile.

"Origin realm at 20... What kind of talent is this?" She murmured with wide eyes open.

"Wait, if it is him, can't he stand on his words? His talent is enough to make me trust him, however, what if he went back on his words? Wouldn't it spell doom for us?" Her mother pondered as her eyes widened in realization.

Though, Ashen was worthy of her trust but she just couldn't hand her and her daughters' fate in his hands.

Wouldn't he be able to act as he liked with them?

At least her family couldn't decide her fate on a whim, right?

Contemplating this, She expressed her concern to Ashen: "Young Master Ashen... I trust that you can protect us from the Bi family, but what if you suddenly decided to retrieve your support from us? Wouldn't we be unable to save ourselves from the Bi Family? I don't want to take such a risk"

Ashen nodded, acting as if pondering on the solution of this before lighting up his eyes in realization: "How about I take an oath? Would that make you trust me?"

Lady Suying's eyes widened in surprise before nodding to show her agreement: "Of course, if you take an oath then there is no need to doubt you"

"Alright!" Ashen smiled at her before raising his three fingers in the classic position of oath-taking.

He declared: "I, Fang Ashen, take an oath to protect Lady Suying and her daughters from the Bi family to the best of my capabilities till they stay under my care. I'll not ask them to leave my care, however, if they leave on their own then they aren't my responsibility. If I break my oath, let my cultivation be stagnant and my heart turn demonic. Let the heavens bear witness to my oath!"

"Fang Ashen? Young master, I think I heard you say Fang instead of Wang!" Lady Suying asked with concern on her face.

Ashen shook his head before replying with a smile: "No lady Suying, I think you heard wrong because wang and fang are similar to pronounce"

-----------------------------------

(A/N - Thanks for reading. ^..^)