Azrail knew the feelings that his mother was hiding behind her calm smile, even with the issue of Yurou she was deeply afraid for him, listening to his journey she was filled with dread for him, it was just that he was blind not to notice or see any of it.
She was his mother and he was her son, how could he not tell what his mother was feeling? she was afraid for him, she herself has gone through the difficulties of life, and she knew the dread of weakness, hence she dreads what he would go through.
Her mixture of emotions was completely complex, on one hand, she loved his desire to climb above all and never give up but on the other hand, she wishes for him to just reign over this realm such that he won't face any problems above, she didn't want him to go through pain, yet once again she knew that pain and suffering is one of the greatest ways for growth.
Its a couple of several emotions holding his mother down and she had been hiding this to the best of her emotions, even with the bits of information about the higher realms, the truth is the fact that she really doesn't have any idea of the world above this realm, only myths and legends were heard, yet that's more than enough to fill her mind with worries.
"Mother, what if I can find out a way to increase your talent?"
Azrail asked, prompting his mother to focus on him,
"Then I will grow strong enough to protect you"
It was a light yet powerful answer, bringing a smile to Azrail's face, his mother wasn't one to back down, if he gave a gift she will take it, fully knowing that he won't do something stupid, that is the ultimate trust that his mother has one him.
He said laying back on his mother's lap, a dangerous smile splitting his face as he spoke.
"Mother, you and Xuanyin will most likely leave this world in 2 to 3 years"
"Oh? tell me more...."
Lan got hooked by his words as she started to ruffle his hair, the serious atmosphere between the two of them getting light, Azrail's words had taken away most of the inner fear within her, it also reminded her that her son wasn't one to be messed with, he had his secrets and she respected those boundaries, she would keep waiting for the day he reveals them all.
"I have my ways and if all goes well then both of you will be part of a very powerful force in the third heavens"
Lan's eyes lit up at those words,
"With what I have applied your talents will also be extremely capable in the third heavens, plus the place the two of you will be joining is thriving in business too"
Azrail continued, bringing a competitive smile to Lan's face, most would be appalled or extremely frightens at the prospect of jumping from the first heaven to the third but all Lan felt was the innate desire to get stronger, her mindset was cold and unmoving, she dreamed of getting stronger and she didn't even doubt any words of her son.
"Let me guess you won't be coming with us?"
She lightly asked and the silence was worthy enough answer for her,
"You know it's horrible to tell a mother that she only got three years more with her son?"
Lan teased, hiding her loneliness, to this Azrail caught his mother's hand placing a light kiss on it, his beautiful eyes peering into his mothers,
"It's not a goodbye mother, I just have to deal with some things here, plus I have ways such that even if we are afar we could still always meet, it won't be any different"
"Sigh...you are growing up so fast"
Lan said with an indulging smile, while she didn't support the decision she wasn't going to speak against her son for it, as a mother she must watch her son grow, and if he makes a mistake she will make sure to be beside him and guide him, even if it meant going against the world.
"Plus we can't leave this untapped realm free, can we?"
Azrail asked, the mad splitting smile of greed taking his place, seeing this a similar one came upon Lan, the two are definitely mother and son.
"What do you have planned?"
"Control and power, within three years I plan to have our products and power deeply rooted on all continents"
Azrail spoke, his greed leaking out.
"You think we can do it?"
Lan asked, the idea sounded out of the world, something also impossible to achieve within just 3 years time but knowing about everything her son went through she can tell a lot of surprises is in stall for her.
"We can and we will, I have a plan"
Lan was starting to like the greed-filled smile of Azrail more and more.
"So, mother you might want to start preparing your replacement, make sure to have a perfect one that could control the greatest hidden empire in the lower realm and still remain unwaveringly loyal to us"
Azrail said, his eyes starting to shine extremely bright, from now on there would be no more running away, he wouldn't do anything alone, why should he when he has people he can truly trust and rely on? he knows his mother better than anyone else, she would deal with the darkness Empire he's creating, his trust in his mother being 100% at completing any task.
"Speaking of son you look much more charming today...."
Lan said in a confused tone, her eyes traveling through him up and down, seeing this Azrail's smile turned more controlled, his connection with Valencia granted him her charms too.
For now, it's light and controlled as his body is just getting used to it but as time goes by, his level of charm would content against Valencia!
That is definitely frightening, he was already made into something extremely attractive due to the constant refinement of Omega Asura's Wrath, plus the touch of deathly aura gave him a mysterious and desirable vibe, adding onto this, he's sure that showing his face itself will become a very tragic in the future, people with low mental strength will especially fall with a loo and the truly terrifying part is that he has mental powers, capable of breaking others with his mind, add that to charm and Azrail truly started to feel like a gigolo.
"Valencia became mine...."
Azrail muttered widening the eyes of Lan, that quickly turned inquiring,
"What position are you giving her?"
"She will be my wife"
Azrail directly spoke, making Lan raise an eyebrow at it, understanding her question Azrail spoke.
"She's a worthy mother, there's a lot you don't know about her"
"Well I will surely be learning more about my daughter in law"
Lan said, her eyes sparkling with unknown emotions.
She asked and Azrail nodded his head at it.
"How special is she?"
He said. This brought a silence between the two as Lan kept moving her hands through Azrail's hair, something which he found comforting, it was then that Lan spoke.
"What about Xuanyin? you know she won't take it well"
This was the true problem that Azrail was dealing with, he knew how attached that girl is to him, and with his probing, he understood that her attachment to him is deeper than he imagined but he can't let her be with him after her unsealing, not because he hated it because she needs to be in the environment of coldness.
In the past Xuanyin only got to be the heir of the place she was taken to but in this life, Azrail plans to make her something more than that, with his knowledge he knows of there are places that can grant her greater talent and power, he will make it such that she will earn the right to the Ice Pheonix shrine!
His sister will rule over great powers beyond imagination, he will make sure of it and he already has a plan for it.
"Don't worry mother I will deal with her"
Azrail promised his mind flashing with a dangerous plan.