Chapter 1599: Meeting Old Friends

On the mottled city wall shrouded by the dark red setting sun, many of the old acquaintances who heard this exchange between Li Luo and Seeing Yu Lang, brimming with the air of youth, could not help but burst into laughter, and at the same time the awe and sense of unfamiliarity that had originally come from Li Luo's earth-shaking entrance and his feat of slaying a King suddenly diminished by a great deal.

The person before them, although more mature than back then, and far more powerful than back then, was still himself.

The tempering of these years had not changed him.

The young man before them, handsome in appearance and upright in bearing, had a smile blooming from the heart on his face; he gazed at the stamping Seeing Yu Lang, and the smile in his eyes grew even more intense.

He thought back to many stories that had happened in this South Wind City many years ago.

Those dust-sealed memories surged forth like the tide.

The South Wind Academy of those years, the Empty Phase of those years, the boys and girls of those years.

He still remembered that great examination at South Wind Academy back then.

Seeing Yu Lang, Zhao Kuo, Lv Qing'er.

The yellowed memories surged up from deep within his mind, and it caused Li Luo to smile and stretch out his hand, stepping forward.

"Eh, how sappy." Seeing Yu Lang saw this and could not help but show a look of distaste.

But even as he said this with his mouth, he still spread his arms and gave Li Luo Heavily a hug, his palms forcefully pounding his back twice, his eye sockets inexplicably moistening a little.

"Li Luo, thank you!" Seeing Yu Lang said softly.

That word of thanks contained many things — not only because of Li Luo's return to rescue them this time, but also because of the resources Li Luo had earned for Shenguang Star Academy over these years, from which he had also benefited, gradually gaining the academy's attention and nurturing.

Moreover, there was also that miraculous secret art, clearly capable of defying fate and altering destiny, that Li Luo had sent him after he had suffered the contempt of the Bai family.

The fact that Seeing Yu Lang could now become the youngest Marquis-tier powerhouse in Great Xia — his own tenacity was certainly indispensable, but he understood that it was more because of the help given by this brother who had once walked out of South Wind Academy together with him.

Seeing Yu Lang treasured this friendship dearly, and he knew Li Luo felt the same.

In the end, he revealed that familiar wild and unrestrained smile, patted Li Luo's shoulder, and said: "Although you've now far surpassed me, in the future, if there's any place you need me, you don't even need to open your mouth — I'll come on my own."

Seeing Yu Lang paused, then said seriously: "Even if it's a journey to death, I would still go without hesitation."

Li Luo was stunned for a moment. He could feel the gratitude and emotion contained in Seeing Yu Lang's words, and immediately some ripples rose in his heart. Then he curled his lip and said: "A mere Third Rank Marquis-tier — how many drinks did you have to dare talk so cockily?"

Seeing Yu Lang immediately snapped angrily: "Get lost!"

The heartfelt moment he had finally managed to brew was easily shattered by Li Luo.

Li Luo laughed brightly, then turned to Bai Bai Doudou beside him and smiled: "Classmate Bai Doudou, I've really wronged you — to think you'd actually take a fancy to this guy."

Seeing Yu Lang, he cursed: "I'm a dignified Third Rank Marquis—who have I wronged?"

On Bai Bai Doudou's always dashing and valiant cheeks, a faint blush appeared. Her eyes, carrying a trace of sweetness, gazed at Seeing Yu Lang as she said: "Seeing Yu Lang is very good. This little South Wind Academy, to think it could produce two hidden talents like you two at once — it really is unexpected."

Li Luo's smile stiffened slightly — this kind of praise, why did it feel like it wasn't particularly pleasant to hear?

He shook his head, then looked toward the white-clothed girl beside them, whose beauty was pure to the extreme and who had also become lively and moving, and his smile immediately grew even more radiant as he spread his arms.

"Bai Mengmeng, did you miss your captain over these years?"

Bai Bai Mengmeng's pretty face flushed slightly. In her large, dewy eyes, threads of shyness flowed. Several years had passed; the pure little girl who had once shared a dormitory in the academy had now grown up. In her pupils was reflected Li Luo's familiar and handsome face, and then she summoned her courage, took the initiative to step forward, and lightly brushed against Li Luo's embrace.

Then, like a startled fawn, she retreated back, hiding behind Bai Bai Doudou, and at the same time said softly: "Captain, I'm very glad to see you again."

"Haha, Bai Mengmeng, over these years in the Inner Shenzhou I've collected quite a few formulas for Spiritual Water Wonders for you — I'll send them all to you later." Li Luo laughed.

"Thank you, Captain." Bai Bai Mengmeng said, somewhat pleasantly surprised.

Li Luo waved his hand, his eyes carrying a shade of reminiscence. When he had first entered Shenguang Star Academy, he, Bai Bai Mengmeng, and Student Xin Fu had formed a small team — that was also a memorable period of time.

"By the way, where's Student Xin Fu? I heard he went back to the Lanling Manor?" Li Luo thought of the other member of their three-person team and could not help but ask.

Upon hearing this, Bai Bai Mengmeng's pretty face dimmed slightly, and she said: "Not long after you all left Great Xia, Student Xin Fu was summoned back to the Lanling Manor. Before he left, he asked me to tell you he was sorry."

Li Luo was slightly stunned. He knew that Student Xin Fu was referring to the matter of the Lanling Manor accepting the mission to intercept the House Luolan Mansion during the Mansion Sacrifice back then. At the time, Mentor Xi Chan had resigned her mentor's identity and gone to the gates of the Lanling Manor, blocking the Lanling Manor Lord, which prevented this Marquis-tier powerhouse from entering Ducheng to carry out the encirclement of the House Luolan Mansion.

"This matter has nothing to do with him either." Li Luo sighed. Student Xin Fu's father was that Lanling Manor Lord, but this Manor had always been mysterious in Great Xia — it could be considered an assassin organization, with strict internal rules, and Student Xin Fu had been unable to influence the Lanling Manor Lord's decisions.

"Later, when I stayed behind at the House Luolan Mansion to research Spiritual Water Wonders, I received several pieces of urgent intelligence on multiple occasions. This intelligence helped the House Luolan Mansion avoid several dangerous situations many times. Cai Wei-Zhong Jie and Yan-jiejie didn't know the source of the intelligence, but I could tell at a glance that those pieces of intelligence might have come from Student Xin Fu's hand." Bai Bai Mengmeng said softly.

Li Luo could not help but smile, as the image of Student Xin Fu — always clad in black, hiding in the shadows, a figure hard to notice — flashed through his mind.

"This kid."

"Alright, I got it. I'll handle this matter."

Meanwhile, on another side, Jiang Jiang Qinge walked toward Cai Wei and Yan Yan Lingqing. The two women's emotions were stirred, their eye sockets red.

"Cai Wei-Zhong Jie, Yan Lingqing, you've worked hard for the House Luolan Mansion over these years." Jiang Jiang Qinge gazed at the two women, and her usually composed and calm countenance now also surged with intense emotion. She took hold of their hands and said softly.

Cai Wei wiped the tears at the corner of her eyes, her alluring cheeks full of an excited smile, and her voice became somewhat hoarse because of it: "Jiang Jiang Qinge, it's really wonderful that you're alright."

Back then, Jiang Jiang Qinge had left because of the problem with her own Bright Heart Sacrifice burning, and Cai Wei and the others had naturally worried and prayed day and night, afraid that something had happened to her.

Now, seeing her safe and sound with their own eyes, their hearts were completely at ease.

"Thank you all." Jiang Jiang Qinge's eye sockets reddened slightly, and she sincerely thanked them for their dedication to the House Luolan Mansion over these years. After all, they had absolutely no reason to pour so much effort into this place; the reason they had done so was entirely because of the bond between them.

They understood the position the House Luolan Mansion held in Jiang Jiang Qinge's heart, which was why they had been so devoted.

In Jiang Jiang Qinge's heart, she had long regarded them as family.

The three women embraced together, their affection boundless.

Li Luo smiled as he watched this scene, then turned to the two somewhat ill-at-ease figures behind Cai Wei and revealed a gentle smile, saying: "Elder Yuan Qing, Pavilion Master Lei Zhang, you've worked hard over these years."

Those two were none other than the House Luolan Mansion's Grand Elder Yuan Qing and Lei Zhang — they were also old hands of the House Luolan Mansion, having once followed Li Luo to guard the Mansion Sacrifice back then.

Yuan Qing and Lei Zhang looked at Li Luo with eyes full of awe. That young Mansion Lord who had once been an Empty Phase in their eyes had now reached a level they dared not imagine. Even though their own strength had also advanced over these years, compared to the Li Luo before them, it was the difference between a firefly and the bright moon.

Under the pressure brought by absolute strength, they no longer possessed their former composure.

Li Luo's return this time had brought too great a shock, especially those powerful reinforcements who had come with him — a lineup sufficient to easily annihilate the entire Great Xia. As for the so-called Five Manors of Great Xia, in Li Luo's current eyes, they were probably not much stronger than ants.

Therefore, from the moment Li Luo appeared, Yuan Qing, Lei Zhang, and the others understood that from then on, the House Luolan Mansion was going to soar.

With a Mansion Lord whose strength and background reached the heavens, the House Luolan Mansion's status in Great Xia would become unprecedentedly transcendent.

And they, these old hands who had always guarded the House Luolan Mansion, would probably also get to experience what it meant for everyone to rise with the wind.

"We pay our respects to the Mansion Lord and the Mistress of the Mansion!"

Led by Yuan Qing and Lei Zhang, the group of figures behind them, all wearing the House Luolan Mansion's uniform, respectfully and emotionally bowed to Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge, their voices loud and trembling.

On the city walls, representatives of other factions, witnessing this scene, all felt a surge of intense envy in their eyes; in recent years, though the Luo Lan Manor had maintained some scale under Cai Wei's leadership, lacking a true backbone, its influence and strength had fallen behind the other four manors, and were it not for the full support of the Princess and the Sheng Zhu Xuan Star Academy, the Luo Lan Manor might not even have been able to sustain its former assets.

After all, guarding these prized assets ultimately requires sufficient strength as support.

But all of that is now in the past.

From today on, this once-waning Luo Lan Manor will officially become the most powerful force in Great Xia; both the Sheng Zhu Xuan Star Academy and the Wang Ting will find themselves beneath it.

Many secretly looked up, gazing at the sky above Nanfeng City, for perhaps from today on, the sky of Great Xia would also begin to change.