Chapter 640: The Clouds Stir

In the council hall, as Yu Yu Hongxi's slightly cold voice rang out, the original murmuring whispers instantly died down. The high-ranking members of the Golden Dragon Treasury seated there exchanged glances, all sitting up straight.

"Hehe, has the President forgotten? Elder Han Long escorted a batch of goods to the West Flame Prefecture branch half a month ago. Counting the time, he should still be on his way back now." Amid the silence, a burst of laughter rang out.

Yu Yu Hongxi's gaze swept over; the one speaking was Vice President Ning Kuo.

Yu Yu Hongxi stared at Vice President Ning Kuo, her gaze somewhat sharp, and said slowly: "Is it really that he hasn't returned yet, or is there some other matter?"

Vice President Ning Kuo was taken aback. "What other matter could there be?"

Yu Yu Hongxi couldn't be bothered to beat around the bush with him and said flatly: "Today is the Luo Lan Mansion mansion-sacrifice ceremony. I don't want our Golden Dragon Treasury to get mixed up in it. That would violate our neutral stance. So I'll say it outright—anyone who dares to meddle in Luo Lan Mansion's affairs can pack up and get out of the Golden Dragon Treasury."

Hearing Yu Yu Hongxi's icy words, the high-ranking members of the Golden Dragon Treasury present all felt a chill in their hearts and dared not speak.

Yu Yu Hongxi had presided over the Great Xia branch of the Golden Dragon Treasury for many years, and her authority had long since been deeply rooted in people's hearts.

Vice President Ning Kuo's face remained impassive. He smiled and said: "What are you saying, President? How could we possibly meddle in Luo Lan Mansion's affairs for no reason... However, President, you also know that our Golden Dragon Treasury's stance is neutral, but from your words, why do I get the feeling that you are always favoring Luo Lan Mansion?"

Hearing Vice President Ning Kuo's slightly pointed words, the people present felt a slight tremor in their hearts and all fell silent. Although Yu Yu Hongxi's authority in the Great Xia Golden Dragon Treasury was deeply rooted, Vice President Ning Kuo was equally senior. He had once been a strong contender for the presidency, and it was said that behind him, he also had backing from the headquarters.

Yu Yu Hongxi looked at Vice President Ning Kuo and said: "If the Vice President feels that my actions violate the Treasury's rules, you may directly lodge an impeachment with headquarters."

Vice President Ning Kuo chuckled and said: "The President overstates it. I was merely asking, nothing more."

Yu Yu Hongxi neither affirmed nor denied.

Standing behind Yu Yu Hongxi, Lv Qing'er's eyes flickered with a trace of worry. Elder Han Long's departure was far too convenient.

She hadn't expected that the one causing trouble this time would be this Elder Han Long. From what she knew, Han Long had always been quite low-key in the Treasury, and could be considered part of the Zhongli Sect, not really getting involved in the struggles between her mother and Vice President Ning Kuo.

However, Han Long's departure to deliver goods at this particular juncture was highly suspicious.

It seemed this person's previous low-key stance and neutrality had all been an act. He might have long since secretly thrown in his lot with Vice President Ning Kuo.

"What a bunch of cunning old foxes." A trace of coldness flashed through Lv Qing'er's eyes.

"Mother." She called out softly.

Yu Yu Hongxi didn't turn around, just patted Lv Qing'er's small hand, then began presiding over the meeting.

In a forest quite far from Great Xia City.

A large contingent had set up camp, bonfires were lit, and a Golden Dragon Treasury banner was raised.

Beside the bonfire were many figures. Amid the crowd, there was a green-robed elder, chatting with everyone with a kindly smile on his face, while the others responded with respectful expressions.

The liveliness continued for a while before the crowd dispersed to rest.

The green-robed elder glanced up at the night sky, then unhurriedly set down the roasted meat in his hand, and returned to his tent under everyone's gaze.

The camp gradually became desolate and quiet.

A blurry figure silently slipped out of the camp, then darted through the forest, about to tear through the air toward Great Xia City.

However, just as he was about to set off, a burst of laughter suddenly rang out from not far away: "Hehe, isn't this Elder Han Long? Are you planning to leave alone? What about the caravan?"

The blurry figure stiffened sharply. The green-robed figure's gaze shot toward the source of the laughter, and he saw a figure standing there at some unknown time, watching him with a smile.

"Branch President Lu Cao?!"

The green-robed elder named Han Long stared at that figure in astonishment. The newcomer was precisely the branch president from the prefecture city they had passed through earlier. Why was he here?

"Oh, it's like this. I previously received instructions from President Yu, saying that if I encountered Elder Han Long's returning caravan, I should travel with you all to Great Xia City to report for duty. President Yu also instructed me to definitely travel together with Elder Han Long." Branch President Lu Cao explained earnestly.

slkslk.

Elder Han Long's expression flickered between dark and light. This Branch President Lu Cao was also a very senior figure in the Great Xia Golden Dragon Treasury, and in terms of both strength and status, he was no weaker than Han Long himself.

And Lu Cao's appearance here was clearly Yu Yu Hongxi's arrangement.

So she had been guarding against him all along. He had thought he had hidden himself well on a daily basis.

This woman was truly deeply scheming.

"Hehe, is Elder Han Long in a hurry to return to Great Xia City now? If you're in a hurry, I'll accompany you." Lu Cao asked considerately.

Han Long's emotions churned within. Finally, he forced a smile and said: "No, no, I was just feeling restless staying in the tent, so I wanted to come out and look at the night sky."

"I see."

Lu Cao walked over with a smile and said: "The long night stretches on, so let me keep Elder Han Long company for a chat to pass the time."

Han Long's mouth twitched, and he could only nod helplessly.

This Yu Yu Hongxi was truly deeply scheming. He had left Great Xia City more than half a month in advance, yet she had still sensed something and arranged countermeasures to restrain him.

Holy Mystic Star Academy.

Among the lush tree shadows, a black figure darted past like an agile cat. When moonlight pierced through the dense leaves and fell, it happened to illuminate that slender figure in tight black clothing, revealing a sexy, fiery curve.

Her figure leaped lightly down from the woods. When she raised her head, a coldly beautiful face was exposed—it was none other than Ye Ye Chengying, one of the Seven Star Pillars.

Ye Ye Chengying looked at the academy gate not far away, but did not continue forward. Instead, her icy gaze shot into the shadows ahead and she said: "With your level of strength, you still want to hide from me?"

The shadows there writhed, then transformed into a human figure.

It was actually Student Xin Fu.

He looked at Ye Ye Chengying, a wry smile appearing on his somewhat pale face. "Sister Ye, why must you get involved in tonight's matter?"

Ye Ye Chengying said coldly: "Don't you know this is an order from within the mansion?"

"You don't have to go." Student Xin Fu said.

"Can you stop me?" Ye Ye Chengying slowly raised the dagger in her hand, black cold light flowing across it. The instant her voice fell, her figure had already vanished from the spot. The next moment, the black blade tip hovered at Student Xin Fu's throat.

The cold light pulsed; the slightest movement could pierce through Student Xin Fu's throat.

Yet Student Xin Fu didn't move at all, just watching her quietly with his gaze.

Ye Ye Chengying said coldly: "You really think I wouldn't dare kill you? You're obstructing a mansion mission. Even if I killed you, the Mansion Lord wouldn't blame me."

"Li Luo is my friend." Student Xin Fu was silent for a moment, then said.

"The notorious Lanling Mansion actually has a righteous young mansion master?" There was a hint of mockery in Ye Ye Chengying's voice.

"After all, I'm from the Justice Squad." Student Xin Fu said, laughing at his own joke. Then he stared into Ye Ye Chengying's icy eyes and said: "You know I don't like Lanling Mansion, nor do I like its heartless and cruel rules. Just like back then in that brutal elimination tournament, when I risked being stabbed to death by my heartless father, I still brought you back when you were on the verge of death from elimination."

Ye Ye Chengying's icy, killing-intent-filled gaze shifted at this moment, the fingers gripping the black dagger slowly tightening.

The frozen atmosphere lasted for a moment, and Ye Ye Chengying finally moved the dagger away from Student Xin Fu's throat.

"Tell all your friends to come out. A bunch of little friends from the One-Star Court, and you still think you can stop me? When did you become so naive?" Ye Ye Chengying glanced toward the woods behind Student Xin Fu.

And at this moment, one figure after another walked out from there.

Seeing Yu Lang, Bai Bai Doudou, Qin Qin Zhulu, Bai Bai Mengmeng, Zhao Kuo, and others.

Seeing Yu Lang said with a grin: "Student Xin Fu, you should've said earlier that you and Senior Sister Ye were old acquaintances. You had my poor little heart going thump-thump-thump the whole time."

Ye Ye Chengying swept a cold glance at him, then suddenly stirred, looking toward the last figure walking out of the woods.

"Qiao Yu?"

That was a long-legged girl in plain clothes with silver ear-length short hair. At the sight of her, surprise finally appeared in Ye Ye Chengying's eyes, because this Qiao Yu, like herself, was one of the Seven-Star Pillars within the academy. She hadn't expected her to appear here as well.

"Looks like you've really made quite a few preparations, even bringing her in." Ye Ye Chengying glanced at Student Xin Fu. It seemed he had also prepared himself—if persuasion failed, he planned to forcibly intercept her.

Qiao Yu's expression was calm, but she paid no attention to Ye Ye Chengying. Instead, she looked at Bai Bai Mengmeng and held out her hand: "Mission complete. Pay up."

And while Student Xin Fu and the others were intercepting Ye Ye Chengying, outside the academy, Mentor Xi Chan, who had changed out of her usual mentor's robes, was already walking down the academy's stone steps.

The night wind blew past, lifting the veil over her face and revealing Bai Xi's delicate chin.

She did not enter Daxia City, but instead headed toward the southwest.

The headquarters of Lanling Prefecture was hidden deep in the mountains over there.