Chapter 188: Unreliable

On the carriage carrying Li Luo, Jiang Jiang Qinge, and the others back to Daya City.

Inside the carriage, laughter and chatter filled the air, spring warmth lingering as the three women's beautiful faces complemented each other, offering a sight so enchanting it seemed edible.

Yet among the three, it was mostly Cai Wei who spoke, reporting on all matters of the House Luolan Mansion over the past month.

After all, with both Jiang Jiang Qinge and Li Luo immersed in cultivation at the academy, the operation of House Luolan Mansion's countless affairs fell entirely on Cai Wei's shoulders; without her, Li Luo believed Jiang Jiang Qinge would have been even more burdened and exhausted.

And Cai Wei truly excelled in management—she had organized House Luolan Mansion's myriad complex affairs with perfect order, proving herself utterly worthy of the position of chief steward.

"As for the other industries of House Luolan Mansion, there were no major fluctuations this month, but significant changes occurred at Xiyang House."

"Thanks to the Mi Fa source water provided by the Young Master, Xiyang House's headquarters earned three hundred thousand Tianliang gold this month."

Upon hearing this, even Jiang Jiang Qinge could not suppress her astonishment, her golden eyes turning sharply toward Li Luo.

Previously, Xiyang House's headquarters earned about one million Tianliang gold annually—roughly ten thousand per month—but now, due to Li Luo's Mi Fa source water, the income had tripled?

If this continued, the headquarters alone would generate over three million Tianliang gold per year—nearly half of House Luolan Mansion's entire previous annual income!

Facing Jiang Jiang Qinge's astonished gaze, Li Luo felt an intense surge of satisfaction; after all, the great white goose was simply too outstanding, and Li Luo had never before had any achievement capable of surprising her.

This moment felt deeply satisfying, yet to preserve his composure, he merely smiled faintly and waved his hand with casual ease: "This increase was expected—after all, the Xiyang House branch in Tian Shu Commandery has already achieved similar growth."

Cai Wei then added: "However, due to the Young Master's enormous demand for Ling Shui Qiguang, this month we purchased seven Sixth-Rank Ling Shui Qiguang and over twenty Fifth-Rank Ling Shui Qiguang, resulting in expenditures of thirty-two thousand Tianliang gold—leaving us with a net loss of two thousand."

Li Luo's smile froze instantly. "Sister Cai, I feel you're targeting me!"

"So you're already running at a deficit, Young Master? Your trap is rather deep," Yan Yan Lingqing chimed in with a sweet smile.

Jiang Jiang Qinge smiled and said: "Making money is meant to be spent—it's not useless effort. After all, all those Ling Shui Qiguang were invested in Li Luo. When he one day achieves full Dual Phase mastery and becomes a new Marquis of House Luolan Mansion, it won't be a loss."

Li Luo was moved—still, the great goose cared for him.

Yet for the sake of his future Ling Shui Qiguang, he felt this deficit needed adjustment, so he asked: "Sister Cai, is there still room to increase Xiyang House's headquarters revenue?"

He had achieved such growth in the Tian Shu branch; the headquarters, being larger and stronger, should logically see even greater gains.

"Originally, yes… but don't forget, Xiyang House's headquarters is no longer at its peak," Cai Wei reminded him.

Li Luo froze, then sighed helplessly—he'd nearly forgotten. When he first arrived in Daya City, the Daze Mansion had gifted him a "favor" by bribing the former head of Xiyang House, Han Zhi, and stealing nearly half the alchemists, leaving the headquarters severely weakened.

For Xiyang House, alchemists were the foundation—no matter how much Mi Fa source water or material you had, without alchemists to refine it, everything was useless.

"That Bai Yanlang…"

Li Luo couldn't help cursing. You left, fine—but why steal so many alchemists? They're the very roots of Xiyang House! Your move was too ruthless.

"Have you been recruiting alchemists recently?" Jiang Jiang Qinge asked.

Cai Wei nodded her round, delicate chin. "We've been recruiting continuously, offering competitive terms—even advertised the Young Master's Mi Fa source water as a selling point—but… the results haven't been as good as expected."

Li Luo frowned. Seventh-Rank Mi Fa source water was highly advanced—it should attract many alchemists. How could the results be poor?

Jiang Jiang Qinge spoke slowly: "Are you being sabotaged? By whom?"

Cai Wei sighed helplessly: "Who else? Of course, the Daze Mansion's 'Daze House.' They spent great effort to steal Han Zhi and cripple us—how could they let Xiyang House recover slowly?"

"They've learned of our recent performance and must be shocked—so they've firmly decided to block our recruitment of more alchemists and prevent our recovery."

"Again, the Daze Mansion…"

Li Luo's eyes darkened. Within the academy, the Daze Mansion siblings constantly harassed him; here in Daya City, the Daze Mansion was intensifying attacks on House Luolan Mansion, seeking to dismantle and swallow it whole.

Struggles within the academy still maintained some boundaries, but outside—between great mansions—the competition had no rules, no morality—it was blood on every blade.

The Daze Mansion's goal was to erase House Luolan Mansion from the Five Great Mansions and devour it down to the last bone.

Li Luo even wondered—if not for his and Jiang Jiang Qinge's current status at the Sheng Zhu Xuan Star Academy, and their growing importance there, the Daze Mansion might have already used underhanded means to eliminate them outright; without their leadership, House Luolan Mansion would collapse on its own.

"In Daya City, nearly all the more talented freelance alchemists—especially those who previously contacted Xiyang House—have been approached by Daze House and offered better terms."

Cai Wei's eyebrows knitted in quiet fury. "Daze House is using its deep resources to crush Xiyang House."

And it must be said, Daze House's move was both simple and vicious—Xiyang House was already crippled; without Li Luo's high-purity Mi Fa source water, it might have collapsed entirely under this targeted strike.

Even so, Xiyang House now struggled to recruit more talented alchemists.

Without more alchemists, Xiyang House could not expand—and thus could not revive House Luolan Mansion.

"Let's handle the alchemists slowly. As long as Xiyang House holds steady, opportunities for growth will come," Jiang Jiang Qinge said calmly.

Li Luo and Cai Wei both nodded. Though Daze House pressed relentlessly, they could not panic—they could only wait for the right moment.

"By the way, there's another urgent matter."

Cai Wei's expression grew tense as she looked at Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge.

"According to my intelligence, many alchemists from the Xiyang House branch in Xi Ling Commandery have arrived in Daya City. Previously idle Pang Pang Qianchi has had contact with them—and I sense… they're not here with good intentions."

Li Luo paused. "The Xi Ling Commandery branch of Xiyang House?"

Xiyang House had two branches in Daya City besides its headquarters: one in Nan Feng City, Tian Shu Commandery, and the other in Xi Ling Commandery.

But Xi Ling Commandery was Manager Pei Hao's territory—its Xiyang House branch had long been under his control and no longer answered to headquarters.

So why had these Xi Ling alchemists gathered in Daya City and contacted Pang Pang Qianchi? What were they planning?

"Behind this, it's surely Manager Pei Hao's doing," Jiang Jiang Qinge said coolly.

Whether the Xi Ling alchemists or Pang Pang Qianchi, all were Pei Hao's people. If they gathered now without his orders, that would be naive.

"Pei Hao…"

Hearing the name, Li Luo's eyes flashed with coldness—he was the root cause of House Luolan Mansion's internal strife and external threats, its precarious state.

"Inform Commander Lei Zhang to keep watch on Pang Pang Qianchi and his group… but most importantly, find Pei Hao. I suspect he may have come to Daya City himself," Jiang Jiang Qinge said.

Li Luo frowned. "Pei Hao came too?"

His previous meeting with Pei Hao at the Nan Feng mansion had split House Luolan Mansion's Nine Pavilions. If Pei Hao had returned to Wang Cheng, it was certainly not for tourism—he must be watched closely.

Jiang Jiang Qinge nodded. "I have that feeling."

"If he's in Daya City…" Li Luo's eyes flickered with icy killing intent.

"Can we find an opportunity to eliminate him?"

House Luolan Mansion's current fragmentation stems primarily from Pei Hao. If we could decisively kill him, though chaos would remain, as long as he and Jiang Jiang Qinge held firm, the situation could gradually stabilize—and without Pei Hao as the greatest internal threat, House Luolan Mansion might recover even faster.

Jiang Jiang Qinge said softly, "Actually, Pei Hao has never been the one I fear... What I fear is who exactly is backing him from behind."

A shadow flickered in Li Luo's eyes. Behind Pei Hao, there was most likely a top-tier power providing him assistance; otherwise, he wouldn't have had the audacity to openly rebel right after his parents disappeared.

But who was supporting him?

The Duze Manor? Or the Extreme Flame Manor? These two top-tier powers have always been at odds with House Luolan Manor, and they certainly have the motive. Or could it be some other powers?

Li Luo rubbed his brow. It seemed that with the arrival of this news, this Ci De Jia Qi wouldn't be so worry-free either.

(First update.)