Chapter 805

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Main Character:

Shen Yao

Everyone has their own secrets; a sense of boundaries between people is very important.

Fan Gui Qi is not a person with heavy curiosity; he knows some things cannot be investigated too deeply, just like how exactly Huaiqing City ended up in Lu Yan's hands — what use is asking? Could he even imitate it? The Fan Family doesn't have that trump card; managing Yuan City well is also a benefit for the Fan Family.

With Fan Gui Qi's arrival at Huaiqing City, aside from handling Huaiqing City's affairs, Lu Yan's daily routine was chatting with Fan Gui Qi about the situations in Yuan City, Lian Tang City, and Huaiqing City.

Among them, Lian Tang City was their back garden, long since on the right track, fundamentally not requiring too much energy investment; Yuan City was deliberately engineered by them, wanting to watch those people make a mess; Huaiqing City was the problem needing to be solved right now — the personnel inside were related to the previous City Lord, a complete hidden danger. Lu Yan could not possibly hand over Huaiqing City again, so he joined forces with Fan Gui Qi to actively clean up Huaiqing City inside and out.

As certain destabilizing factors were driven out of Huaiqing City's core area, the originally messy affairs became orderly. Lu Yan proceeded step by step according to plan; by the time Lian Tang City's forces rushed over, he had already sorted out Huaiqing City's situation and could hand it over at any time.

However, Lu Yan temporarily still did not want to leave Huaiqing City; the reason naturally had nothing to do with these people who came over, purely because Yan Ying and the others who left earlier still had the possibility of a temporary change of heart.

"You want Yan Ying and them to temporarily not come disturb, so you stay in Huaiqing City first, until Yan Ying cannot bear the loss of giving up halfway," after all, resources are limited. Yan Ying left Huaiqing City a step earlier to find things before Lu Yan, but Yan Ying never believed Lu Yan's words.

If Lu Yan rapidly headed toward a route completely opposite to Yan Ying's after Yan Ying left, then Yan Ying would, for safety's sake, continue her own plan on one hand while personally coming over to track Lu Yan on the other.

"Yeah, the Jin Jue City we're going to isn't suitable for bringing an enemy along."

Because Jin Jue City is dangerous; they came for the Flaming Lion's spiritual resources. Once they run into trouble, there's no guarantee Yan Ying won't jump in and interfere. After all, Array Masters have a huge advantage in Jin Jue City — who let the jade mine be top-grade array material.

Array Masters who can source materials locally are still too overpowered. Lu Yan didn't want to add this kind of meaningless risk to himself, especially since doing so would also expose Shen Yao's abilities. Without keeping Yan Ying, those old grudges of the Floating City, the Lu Family's past, his mother's hatred... Lu Yan would find revenge really difficult.

"No need to overthink; when the cart reaches the mountain, there will be a road. Besides, Yan Ying and them have already left Huaiqing City a thousand li away; unless they get definite news, they won't have the chance to verify what's in hand. Just to track Lu Yan, and it's not even guaranteed Lu Yan won't play tricks."

"Theoretically that's indeed true, but we also can't judge these people by common sense.

The secret Mother left behind has long whetted everyone's appetite, including the Lu Family."

This was Lu Yan explicitly mentioning the direction of the clues Mother left behind. Shen Yao didn't feel much difference; after all, Lu Yan certainly knew the situation. Otherwise Yan Ying wouldn't have ruthlessly handed over Huaiqing City, and Lu Yan wouldn't have forced himself to cultivate hard to return to the Floating City. All these bits and pieces pointed to the past events being extraordinary.

It's just that compared to Yan Ying, who held the wooden box and was certain, the Lu Family of the Floating City might not have that much definite information. They didn't take coercive measures against Lu Yan; instead, they let Lu Yan jump out relying on himself.

Once you jump out, it's not so easy to go back. Shen Yao was still pondering whether Lu Yan, upon returning to the Floating City, would continue feigning civility with the Lu Family or actively tear face with them. Unexpectedly, Lu Yan switched topics and brought up Jin Jue City again.

Shen Yao:...

What exactly does Jin Jue City have? Even if there's more jade, and spiritual resources the Flaming Lion needs, Lu Yan's attention on Jin Jue City is really too high.

Back then, for the Gale Wolves they went to the Qingchuan Secret Realm, and they just journeyed normally. Now, for going to Jin Jue City, Lu Yan on one hand brought people to handle Huaiqing City affairs, on the other arranged servants to purchase supplies needed for Jin Jue City, even increasing the number of carriages and horses from the original.

"Jin Jue City, is it also related to your mother?" Sorry, Shen Yao could only think of this possibility.

Lu Yan raised his eyebrows. "Indeed related, but there are even more clues to longevity there."

Longevity?

Is it the longevity she's thinking of?

Lu Yan nodded, indicating the reason Fan Gui Qi didn't leave was because the Fan Family Head, Fan Sheng, took the token and letter he gave in Lian Tang City and went to a place with intricate connections to Jin Jue City.

"The reason I know is also because Fan Gui Qi took out Fan Sheng's latest letter."

Lu Yan still remembered Fan Sheng's ultimate pursuit of power and longevity, traversing mountains and ridges seeking the truth. The result was one mystery nesting inside another; the puzzles appearing became more and more numerous.

Fan Gui Qi coming out of Yuan City this time, on one hand was indeed because Yuan City was too chaotic. Although the forces inside had been integrated together, they were superficially harmonious but internally discordant, needing heavy-handed discipline.

Another aspect was Fan Sheng's letter. Fan Gui Qi had few people he could ask for help; Lu Yan happened to be the most powerful among them.

Moreover, Fan Gui Qi had always understood his birth father's pursuit; this was the entirety of Fan Gui Qi's considerations for coming to Huaiqing City.

Shen Yao:...

Alright, so Jin Jue City actually has a connection to the Lian Tang Secret Realm back then.

How come all matters are strung together? It always feels like they're some novel characters, whether actively or passively being pushed along.

"Fan Sheng's letter mentioned Jin Jue City, and you happen to need to make a trip there. Then, what is Fan Gui Qi's request?"

Shen Yao raised her hand and clung to Lu Yan's arm, feeling that given Fan Gui Qi's behavior style, he most likely just wanted Lu Yan to conveniently look after them a bit, rather than trying every means to contact Fan Sheng.

"Just asking me to bring some Fan Family manpower on the road. They have special means to contact Fan Sheng. Once we get near Jin Jue City, we'll separate."

Fan Gui Qi couldn't be said to distrust Lu Yan, but compared to Lu Yan, he still trusted his own family more. Lu Yan also didn't want to participate too much in Fan Family matters. Both sides' current strategy was very good — just a convenient matter; Lu Yan wouldn't refuse.

"What trouble did Fan Sheng run into?"

"The letter doesn't mention it. Maybe Fan Gui Qi didn't take out more content. Since the Fan Family is willing to send people over, they must have anticipated Fan Sheng's situation isn't optimistic."

Fan Sheng is very arrogant — a common ailment of those in high positions. They've always been confident in their own strength; Fan Sheng can be said to be the standout among them.

Right now, Fan Gui Qi doesn't hesitate to expose Fan Sheng's situation before Lu Yan. One is trust; two is a probe.

The token and information Lu Yan gave out — are they really not moving his heart at all?

"Perhaps. This person Lu Yan, I can't figure out," Fan Gui Qi placed both hands behind his back, a pair of eyes blandly gazing at the scenery outside the window.

Fan Gui Qi had already stayed in Huaiqing City for a period of time. He mostly didn't move from his room, not going out. Occasionally going out was only when invited by Lu Yan.

Yuan City's matters are currently largely still under control. Although some forces have passed the trembling-with-fear stage and just want to kick them out and call the shots themselves, Fan Gui Qi anticipated this early on; it's impossible he wouldn't leave a back hand.

Right now, Yuan City's every move is within Fan Gui Qi's expectations. Fan Gui Qi is also waiting, waiting for those forces to make an inextricable mess, then descending like divine soldiers to easily subdue them while tightening their reins again.

"Young Master, the Old Master once spoke of the Lu Family's situation. This Young Master Lu could retreat unscathed from the Floating City — not simple."

The steward following Fan Gui Qi is an old person. Occasionally Fan Sheng would also tell them about situations in various places. The Floating City is the Fan Family's base camp; Fan Sheng inevitably mentions it a few sentences. This might involve other aristocratic families of the Floating City; the Lu Family is merely one of them.

Lu Yan originates from the Lu Family. Several years ago, when he came alone to Lian Tang City, it made Fan Sheng secretly alarmed. Now several years have passed; Lu Yan has grown to this extent. Even the Lian Tang City being split in two by the Fan Family willingly was his open stratagem. One can only say the strength Lu Yan has shown is insufficient to reflect his true ability. The Fan Family, as firsthand experiencers, has the most say.

"Regardless of simple or not, our Lian Tang Fan Family will not return to the Floating City." The Floating City Fan Family also won't provide them too much assistance.

It's merely a surname. Both sides rely on that bit of bloodline family affection not yet completely dissipated to mutually raise the stakes, until one day both sides tacitly cut ties.

"Prepare, prepare. Once Huaiqing City's matters are done, if Lu Yan leaves, we should also return to Yuan City."

Although Fan Gui Qi really didn't want to face that rotten stall in Yuan City, behind the rotten stall is the cruel division of various forces. Yuan City has already started anew on Shanglu's foundation. By the time profits come in later, the current chaos will all not be a problem.

"Brother Fan is leaving?"

"Brother Lu, Yuan City cannot be without a steward. My time in Huaiqing City hasn't been short. If I don't go back, Brother Lu might not be able to leave either."

"Heh heh, Brother Fan has worked hard for Yuan City; should Yuan City ever have need in the future, Lu will certainly not be absent."

"Brother Lu is too courteous. Yuan City is the fruit of all our heart's blood; to offend Yuan City is to offend everyone, and I imagine ordinary people would not commit such a foolish act."

"..."

The two exchanged courtesies back and forth, and in the end Lu Yan saw Fan Gui Qi off with his gaze.

Shen Yao raised her hand and tugged at Lu Yan's hem, looking as if she wanted to carve the words "bored" onto her face.

Raising his hand, he gently rubbed Shen Yao's head; Lu Yan's tone was gentle: "In another two days, they will leave Huaiqing and rush to Jin Jue with all speed."

Hearing this, Shen Yao let go of his sleeve. "You mean no stopovers on the road?"

Lu Yan smiled. "From here, rushing to Jin Jue takes at least three months even at the fastest.

Jin Jue has abundant jade stone, and every autumn is when the most jade stone is born.

If one can discover new jade stone at that specific time, one will also obtain the corresponding mining rights."

The City Lord of Jin Jue City is the Jin Yu Shu Clan; what they like most is all kinds of jade stone, and they never tire of stone-prospecting activities.

At that time, not only Jin Jue City's people, but also people from surrounding cities and exotic beasts and exotic plants will join in, for the sky-high rewards offered by the Jin Yu Shu Clan.

It sounds a bit like 'a thousand gold to buy a horse's bone'? New types of jade stone — how could they be so easy to find?

As Jin Jue City is developed more and more extensively, the varieties of jade stone inside become more and more numerous; wanting to find new jade stone again will become increasingly difficult.

The Jin Yu Shu Clan are professional beasts for this work; it is because they like it that they manage Jin Jue City and continuously develop and strengthen it.

The age and race of exotic beasts give them a considerable advantage over humans; the reason Jin Jue City has developed so well has a great deal to do with the Jin Yu Shu Clan.

However, no matter what, a basic contradiction still exists between humans and beasts; it is said a force in Jin Jue City wants to replace the Jin Yu Shu Clan in managing these jade stone mines, and though it has never succeeded, it has caused the Jin Yu Shu Clan no small trouble.

Perhaps one day in the future, the Jin Yu Shu Clan will sooner or later fight a battle with those forces coveting Jin Jue City's jade stone mines; it is just unknown what the victory or defeat outcome will be then.

"Hmph, Host, why think so much? Who wins or loses is the World Consciousness's worry; they are merely a passerby."

The System persuaded the Host to be magnanimous; the most pressing matter right now is still to seize time and complete the mission.

Shen Yao:...

"Right now? Lu Yan is thinking of revenge; he has to resolve those troubles before he can talk about the next step." Shen Yao rolled her eyes at the randomly commanding System and followed along waiting for Lu Yan to set off.

Two days later at dawn, carriages lined up in a long dragon set out from Huaiqing City, destination Jin Jue City at the westernmost part of Zhongzhou.

Alas

"What a pity Jin Jue City borders Qing Zhou and Huang Zhou, and we have to return to the Floating City; otherwise it would be just the thing to drop by those two states for a stroll."

Qing Zhou has much water, Huang Zhou has much snow, unlike Zhongzhou with its four distinct seasons.

System:...

The System felt the Host was truly idle to the point of panic; moreover Qing Zhou and Huang Zhou are not impossible to go to — at worst, arrange it after settling the Floating City's matters.

But are the Floating City's matters easy to settle? It always feels Lu Yan's problems are a bit big; the Host says she will unconditionally stand on Lu Yan's side, but who knows if Lu Yan is concealing something, and then catch them off guard later.

Whether the Floating City's matters are easy to settle or not can only be mentioned later; right now they still have to put more of their gaze on this trip to Jin Jue City.

Because this time they brought the Fan Family's people and horses on the road, not only did the personnel configuration increase, but even the incidents encountered on the journey increased considerably.

Although Lu Yan had already emphasized in advance that they must speed up and rush to Jin Jue City, some things were not within their expectations — for example, they had just arrived at a desolate village, and before they could even stop to rest, they ran into Spirit Devouring Rats appearing in the village, forcing them to immediately turn the carriage heads and leave.

There were many similar incidents; Shen Yao and Lu Yan sitting in the carriage, though not to the point of being as frightened as the ordinary people in the caravan, the long inability to rest and the road's jolting still left Shen Yao like a bok choy out of water — limp and listless.

Lazily sprawled in Lu Yan's embrace, Shen Yao whined and didn't want to get up.

"How much longer until we reach Jin Jue City?" All along the way they were either eating dust or eating sand; if one speaks of scenery there certainly is some, but more numerous are the various crises and risks encountered.

Shen Yao still remembers the danger when poisonous snakes crept into the camp while they slept soundly, the bewilderment when the road ahead was cut off halfway, the torrential heavy rain encountered when setting out at dawn, the greedy bandits coveting the carriage's goods... when will such bitter days ever end?