Chapter 89: The Situation in House Luolan Mansion

South Wind City, East Gate.

Li Luo stood before the carriage, gazing at South Wind City, his expression somewhat complicated and wistful. Ever since he could remember, the vast majority of his time had been spent living here, and today, he was finally going to leave.

Scenes of the past flashed through his mind. Finally, Li Luo lifted the carriage curtain and vaulted inside the cabin.

"Let's set off."

At his command, the convoy before and behind the carriage immediately began to move. This trip to Daxia City was quite a long journey; even at full speed, it would take nearly ten days. And as the Young Master of House Luolan Mansion, his safety was naturally the Top Priority, so defensive forces were indispensable.

The convoy rumbled away, trailing a long plume of dust.

The carriage sped along, yet inside the spacious cabin, it was remarkably steady. Li Luo sat cross-legged on one side of the tea table. Across from him, Cai Wei sat elegantly, holding a book and reading it with great interest.

At the very back of the cabin, there was a small workshop, where Yan Yan Lingqing was practicing Spirit Water Odd Light to while away the boredom of the journey.

On this trip to Daxia City, Cai Wei and Yan Yan Lingqing accompanied him; they had already used this period to complete the handover of work in Tianshu Prefecture.

"Sister Cai Wei, how is the current situation in House Luolan Mansion?" Li Luo looked at the trees flying past outside the carriage window, and after a long while, suddenly asked.

Cai Wei lifted her gaze from the book, pondered for a moment, and said: "It probably won't be too good. You should know how tempting this piece of fragrant bread that is House Luolan Mansion is. It has vast industries spread across all the prefectures of Daxia, with annual profits of several million gold. That is enough to make any force green with envy."

"And now House Luolan Mansion is beset by troubles both within and without. This feeling is undoubtedly like a child carrying gold through a busy market, attracting much covetous attention. I think if it weren't for the fact that House Luolan Mansion still retains some power, and that the potential Jiang Jiang Qinge has displayed has deterred some people, perhaps some force would have already moved against House Luolan Mansion."

Li Luo was silent for a moment, then shook his head slightly and said: "If a powerful force whose strength is not inferior to House Luolan Mansion truly covets it, mere deterrence alone is not enough."

Jiang Jiang Qinge does have astonishing potential, but that is ultimately still just potential. In Li Luo's view, if not for the protection afforded by her identity as a student of the Sacred Mystic Star Academy, there would likely be some forces in Daxia willing to take the risk and act against her, attempting to nip her in the bud.

Cai Wei was slightly stunned and said softly: "Then what do you think?"

Li Luo said slowly: "It is because of the lingering prestige of my parents, or rather, those powerful forces with designs cannot truly confirm that my parents have perished. So they worry that if they go too far, and one day my parents suddenly return... how would they clean up that mess?"

Faced with the wrath of two Marquis Realm experts, any force in Daxia would likely need to maintain some caution.

Cai Wei thought for a moment and nodded lightly in agreement: "The Young Master thinks very clearly."

"However, this lingering prestige will weaken with the passage of time. After all, a hungry tiger will not let a fat sheep wandering before its eyes slip away." Li Luo sighed softly and said.

Even he did not know how long the lingering prestige of Li Taixuan and Dantai Lan could last. Or rather, if one day those forces confirm certain news, House Luolan Mansion will likely face a catastrophe.

When would that point in time be?

Li Luo pressed his lips together. He felt it might be next year's Mansion Sacrifice of House Luolan Mansion. At that time, Manager Pei Hao would surely strike first, triggering a chain of destructive actions aimed at House Luolan Mansion.

Looking at it this way, time really is pressing. Right now, he is still just a child at the Ten-Seal Realm. These enemies are truly as ferocious as tigers and wolves—can't they give him a few more years?

A few years from now, he would strive to reach the Marquis Realm along with Jiang Jiang Qinge, and then he'd go to their house to join in a lively banquet!

"Sigh."

Li Luo let out a sigh. Unfortunately, those people probably wouldn't give him such a long time.

"Now, in this Daxia, what is the attitude of the various top forces toward House Luolan Mansion on the surface?" Li Luo asked again.

"The top forces of Daxia, excluding the two special existences of the Sacred Mystic Star Academy and the Golden Dragon Treasure House, in terms of strength, the Daxia Wang Ting is the strongest. However, the Wang Ting has been somewhat chaotic in recent years; the monarch is young, and a Regent Prince assists in governing state affairs. Below the Wang Ting are the various ancient noble clans and the Five Great Mansions."

"Among the Five Great Mansions, Duze Mansion and Extreme Flame Mansion hold the greatest hostility toward our House Luolan Mansion. Lanling Mansion is neutral. House House Jinque can be considered to have a decent relationship with House Luolan Mansion, though perhaps there is also the intention of using House Luolan Mansion to wear down the strength of the other two mansions." Cai Wei said slowly.

"Most of these forces have their headquarters in Daxia City. In the past, the Young Master was in South Wind City, so some storms could hardly reach you. But as you arrive in Daxia City, there will likely be no shortage of trouble in the future."

Li Luo nodded. He had long been prepared for this. After all, although Jiang Jiang Qinge is currently in charge of House Luolan Mansion on the surface, no matter what, he is the rightful Young Master of House Luolan Mansion.

In the past, no one paid him any attention because he was hiding in South Wind City, far from the center of Daxia. Coupled with his previous condition of an empty phase, all the various forces likely regarded him as a cripple, so they paid him no heed.

And as he stepped into the center of this Daxia vortex, it was naturally inevitable that he would be touched by the storms.

But this was also what he, as the Young Master, ought to do. After all, he could not let Jiang Jiang Qinge bear all the pressure alone. In the past, he could not step forward because he truly did not have the qualification. Now that he barely has some strength, no matter what, he would not leave Jiang Jiang Qinge alone to shoulder everything in front.

"I understand."

Li Luo nodded lightly and laughed with some helplessness: "My old man and old lady really did leave behind a rotten mess."

All of this was caused by insufficient strength, so he had to quickly enhance his own power. And within this Daxia, there was no place of cultivation that could compare to the Sacred Mystic Star Academy.

So he was very grateful that this time, he had obtained an admission quota to the Sacred Mystic Star Academy.

The journey was long, yet with beauties for company, it did not feel tedious along the way; instead, it was like touring mountains and waters.

Several days passed in the blink of an eye.

The convoy was about to arrive at the capital of Daxia.

Li Luo stood on the carriage frame, gazing into the distance. At the end of the broad avenue, the outline of an incomparably massive city was faintly visible. Even though they were still separated by a great distance, one could still vaguely sense the oppressive aura emanating from that city.

It made one feel a little breathless.

South Wind City could not compare to even one percent of this.

"Truly worthy of being a royal city." Li Luo sighed.

At this moment, Cai Wei and Yan Yan Lingqing also stood behind him, their pretty faces carrying a hint of cheerful ease. They had finally returned.

"This journey has been quite smooth, better than I expected." Li Luo said with a smile to the two women.

However, just as his words fell, he saw some figures suddenly appear on a high slope not far away, and immediately afterward, what seemed to be a banner was raised.

From a great distance, Li Luo could see that on that banner, a golden sparrow with spread wings was embroidered, shining brilliantly in the sunlight.

"That is... House House Jinque?" Cai Wei beside him said with some surprise.

Li Luo was slightly taken aback. His trip to the royal city had not been overly secretive; it would not be difficult for anyone with the will to know his whereabouts. However, he had originally expected some hostile forces to come and block or mock him, but he did not expect that the first to appear would be House House Jinque, which was said to have a decent relationship with House Luolan Mansion.

What were they trying to do?

While Li Luo was wondering, the convoy moved forward, and then he saw a person on the high slope riding a fiery red horse beast charging down. As they approached the convoy, a loud voice came: "Our Young Lady invites the Young Master of House Luolan Mansion up the mountain for a gathering."

"The Young Lady of House House Jinque?"

Li Luo looked at Cai Wei. The latter pondered slightly and said: "It should be that daughter of House House Jinque, Si Si Qiuying. She is the same age as you, and should also be entering the Sacred Mystic Star Academy with you."

"But what does she mean by waiting for you here? You shouldn't have met her, right?"

Li Luo pondered for a moment and said: "Could it be another person who admires my looks?"

Cai Wei and Yan Yan Lingqing simultaneously shot him a look.

Li Luo smiled and said: "Thinking too much is useless, we'll know once we meet."

His figure leaped, and he vaulted onto a sturdy red horse beast.

"No need for an escort?" Cai Wei asked.

Li Luo waved his hand. No one would truly be foolish enough to do anything to him outside Wang Cheng, after all, no matter how much the Luo Lan Mansion had declined, it still retained some measure of power.

The red-maned beast let out a long neigh as it galloped away, then kicked up a wisp of dust and climbed up Gao Po.

On Gao Po, in a stretch of grass, an expensive velvet carpet was spread out, with a long table placed upon it. Behind the long table, a green-haired girl knelt, her gaze quietly watching Li Luo as he dismounted.

(End of chapter)