Chapter 187: Birthday

Li Luo ultimately held back.

He angrily shoved the small vial of Emperor Flow into his chest, but just as he turned to leave, Jiang Jiang Qinge also handed her badge to the exchange tutor.

"I'll exchange for one too," she said.

The exchange tutor glanced at Jiang Jiang Qinge, then took her points and, following the same procedure, handed out a small vial of Emperor Flow.

Jiang Jiang Qinge took it and casually passed it to Li Luo.

"This ranking battle, I only earned enough points for one vial. Don't rush—Emperor Flow can wait. After all, you still have time," Jiang Jiang Qinge said, her golden eyes fixed on Li Luo.

Li Luo stared at the single drop of Emperor Flow she offered, stunned, then shook his head: "This is useful to you too."

Emperor Flow was the top-tier cultivation resource of the Sacred Zhu Xuan Star Academy; outside, it was nearly impossible to buy even with vast wealth. It was said Jiang Jiang Qinge would attempt to break into the Heavenly Gang Realm this year, so she needed Emperor Flow just as much.

"I have more ways to earn points than you do, and rumors say the Dark Cavern might open earlier this year—that's where the real points come from. Don't worry about me," Jiang Jiang Qinge said casually.

"Enough talking. Let's go."

She waved her hand and turned away, leaving a whirlwind in her wake.

Li Luo watched her slender, tall back and sighed helplessly. Beside him, Yan Yan Lingqing leaned over, grinning: "Moved to tears?"

Li Luo sighed: "I'd offer my life in return—but I've got no way to do it."

Yan Yan Lingqing rolled her eyes: "Dream on."

"Hurry up and go—don't you see how many people around here want to swallow you whole?" she reminded him.

Li Luo scanned the crowd and indeed found many students glaring at him with clenched teeth, staring at the vial of Emperor Flow in his hand. They never imagined anyone would willingly give away such a top-tier cultivation resource.

Is Li Luo really eating soft rice this well?

That's Jiang Jiang Qinge!

Just being engaged to her was enough to make anyone heartbroken—and now she's even using her hard-earned points to exchange Emperor Flow for Li Luo…

It was enough to make anyone jealous to the point of madness.

Not just the students—even the exchange tutor wore an expression of profound complexity. After all, he was a man, once a student of the Sacred Zhu Xuan Star Academy himself, and he understood just how great a fortune it was to meet a girl like her.

Did Li Luo save the world in his past life?

Sensing the multitude of complex gazes, Li Luo feared they might lose control and harm him, so he quickly followed Yan Yan Lingqing away.

After leaving the Points Hall, Li Luo, Jiang Jiang Qinge, and Yan Yan Lingqing walked straight out of the Sacred Zhu Xuan Star Academy, where the House Luolan Mansion's carriage had already been waiting amid the bustling crowd.

Around the carriage stood elite guards of the House Luolan Mansion.

After leaving the academy, safety levels dropped sharply; though no one might truly dare act, it was still wise to prepare in advance.

Before the House Luolan Mansion carriage stood a tall, voluptuous figure in a qipao, her figure graceful and curves startlingly alluring. Many passing students of the Sacred Zhu Xuan Star Academy couldn't help stealing glances.

Such a magnificent figure, worthy only of comparison with a Princess, could belong to no one but Cai Wei.

Cai Wei spotted Jiang Jiang Qinge, Li Luo, and Yan Yan Lingqing emerging, and her smooth, lovely oval face lit up with a smile as she waved her flower-patterned fan at the three.

The three walked over to meet her.

Cai Wei first greeted Jiang Jiang Qinge and Yan Yan Lingqing, then turned to Li Luo with a radiant smile: "Young Master, how was your new student experience?"

Li Luo waved his hand: "I just wanted to train quietly, but things didn't go as planned—I ended up taking first place in a team on the monthly exam."

Cai Wei was surprised, then her beautiful eyes sparkled: "Congratulations, Young Master."

"But since you're so happy, can you settle the Mi Fa source water soon? This past month, not only has the Xiyang House in Tian Shu Commandery been pressuring me, but even the headquarters is practically sending people to follow me daily to demand it." Cai Wei said gently.

Under her radiant gaze, Li Luo shivered involuntarily, instinctively clutching his waist—no way, I just got off break and I'm already being drained?

"Cai Wei, don't rush, let me catch my breath," Li Luo hurriedly said.

Cai Wei hid half her flawless, flower-like face behind her fan, teasing: "Young Master, you're young and vigorous—you can't afford to be weak."

Li Luo glared: "I'm not weak at all!"

Jiang Jiang Qinge saw their banter going off-track and quickly stepped between them, scolding Cai Wei: "Cai Wei, stop teasing him."

Cai Wei chuckled: "Jiang Qinge's worried about him."

Li Luo sighed, glancing around and noticing Lü Qing'er wasn't here—he frowned. Hadn't she promised to leave with him?

"Young Master is looking for Lü Qing'er? She was waiting here for you, but then someone from the Golden Dragon Treasure Bank arrived, so she had to leave first," Cai Wei smiled.

Li Luo nodded: "Then let's go."

With that, the group boarded the carriage and gradually departed.

As they left, on a luxurious carriage behind them adorned with golden dragon patterns, a beautiful woman in a red dress withdrew her gaze and studied the girl beside her.

"Qing'er, you're not falling for that Li Luo boy, are you?" she asked.

Lü Qing'er's heart fluttered slightly, but her clear face remained expressionless: "Mother, what are you saying? I'm just friends with Li Luo—he helped me a lot back at Nan Feng Academy."

Yu Yu Hongxi eyed her suspiciously: "Look at the girls surrounding Li Luo—so many beautiful ones. Clearly a flirt. Stay far away from him."

Lü Qing'er felt guilty—after all, wasn't she one of those girls around Li Luo?

"That's not Li Luo's fault. Cai Wei and Yan Yan Lingqing are Jiang Jiang Qinge's friends and work for the House Luolan Mansion. Of course they're near him." Lü Qing'er defended.

"Who knows?"

Yu Yu Hongxi said coolly: "Li Tai Zhu Xuan was no good. His son won't be either."

Lü Qing'er stared at Yu Yu Hongxi in shock: "Mother… did you once… like Li Tai Zhu Xuan?"

Yu Yu Hongxi replied calmly: "So what? Li Tai Zhu Xuan wasn't good, but he was truly outstanding. Back then, how many noble ladies of Great Xia fell for him?"

Lü Qing'er pondered: "And in the end, everyone lost to Dan Tai Lan? Mother, you're so beautiful… you lost too?"

Yu Yu Hongxi reached out, pinched Lü Qing'er's cheek, and said irritably: "You dare mock your mother?"

Lü Qing'er giggled and hugged Yu Yu Hongxi: "I just find it unbelievable. Mother, you're so beautiful and elegant, you run the entire Great Xia Golden Dragon Treasure Bank flawlessly—you're graceful in the hall and sharp in the ledger."

Yu Yu Hongxi snorted: "I just had a little crush on Li Tai Zhu Xuan when I was young. No regrets. Besides, Li Tai Zhu Xuan and Dan Tai Lan arrived in Great Xia together—if I'd met Li Tai Zhu Xuan first, Dan Tai Lan wouldn't have had a chance."

Lü Qing'er suddenly asked: "What about Cao Sheng, the tutor at the Sacred Zhu Xuan Star Academy? You know I became his student, right?"

Yu Yu Hongxi said coolly: "Just a failed admirer of mine. He became a marquis back then only because I helped him. Later, he tried to court me—I refused. He was crushed, retreated into the Sacred Zhu Xuan Star Academy as a tutor, and we haven't seen each other in years."

"This person looks rough and bold, but in truth can't take even the slightest setback — just like a child."

A strange look crossed Lü Qing'er's face; the towering image of Mentor Cao Sheng in her heart seemed to be crumbling a little.

"Still, he's not a bad person, and he has some eye for talent — he knew to take you as his student. Otherwise, I wouldn't have bothered to look at him for the rest of my life," Yu Yu Hongxi said.

Lü Qing'er said helplessly, "If it weren't for Mentor Cao Sheng, with my seventh-rank phase, I probably wouldn't have become a Purple-Glory student."

Yu Yu Hongxi pinched Lü Qing'er's little cheek and smiled. "Where do you get seventh rank? Your birthday is in just a few days. All these years, your mother hasn't stinted on the spirit-water wonders for you. By my estimate, you should be about able to raise your ice phase to eighth rank."

Lü Qing'er was delighted at once. "Really?"

Back when she was in Tianshu Commandery, Lü Qing'er's upper seventh-rank phase had been eye-catching enough, but after arriving at the Sacred Mystic Star Academy, geniuses from all sides came pouring in, and her upper seventh-rank phase could only be counted as excellent — to stand at the very top was already a little difficult.

Lü Qing'er hadn't paid this much attention originally, but lately Li Luo's rise had been so swift that she didn't want to be left too far behind by him.

After all, Jiang Jiang Qinge is a ninth-rank phase!

"Ever since you opened your phase palace, the amount of spirit-water wonders your mother has had you consume over these years has been enormous, so your evolution to eighth rank isn't really anything surprising."

Yu Yu Hongxi smiled slightly and said, "Consider it a birthday gift for you."

Yu Yu Hongxi is the helmsman of the Great Xia Golden Dragon Treasure House. The resources she can mobilize, honestly speaking, will far surpass those of forces like the House Luolan Mansion, so for her own daughter's future, she has spent no small price.

"Thank you, Mother!"

Lü Qing'er hugged Yu Yu Hongxi and started acting coquettishly, but in those eyes like Binghu, there was a trace of regret — because what she had really wanted to ask Yu Yu Hongxi about, from childhood on, was still news of her father.

Only, regarding her father, Lü Qing'er only had some impressions from when she was very small. Later, it seemed her father had left home and gone far away, and there had been no news of him since. Yu Yu Hongxi, too, was extremely stubborn and proud by nature, and truly just acted as if he were dead, neither asking about him nor caring.

Over these years, Lü Qing'er hadn't dared to ask too much, because the moment she asked, Yu Yu Hongxi would lose her temper, so in the end Lü Qing'er could only bury these matters deep in her heart.

"Mother, may I invite some classmates for my birthday?" Lü Qing'er asked in Yu Yu Hongxi's ear.

Yu Yu Hongxi's shrewd gaze swept over her. "That Li Luo is certainly among them, isn't he."

Lü Qing'er said, "Li Luo really helped me a lot in the past. You can't hold a grudge against him just because of the issues between your generation."

Yu Yu Hongxi shook her head helplessly, wanting to refuse, but remembering this was Lü Qing'er's birthday, in the end she said no more.

"Suit yourself."

She gazed at the little face that had instantly lit up with radiance, and her brow couldn't help but knit slightly.

This crooked wind and evil air really cannot be allowed to grow.

That Li Taixuan had made her heartbroken back then, and that was bad enough — must her daughter go through it all over again with Li Taixuan's son?

(First update.)