Chapter 93: Appointed by Heaven

The streets of Great Xia City were far more spacious and grand than those of Southwind City. Paved with neat, seamless bluestone, the streets crisscrossed in every direction, while towering buildings rose from the ground, giving one a sense of being lost within them.

The dense flow of people seemed endless, the clamor and noise rising like muffled thunder, echoing over the city.

This was Great Xia City, the center of Great Xia.

As Li Luo sat in the carriage, his gaze passing through the window to observe this city that exuded a sense of majesty, Si Qiuying ascended a street-side restaurant on another street and entered a private room.

"Yo, you're back?"

In the private room, a young man was sipping tea, leisurely watching the people coming and going on the street. Turning back to see Si Qiuying, he couldn't help but smile.

The young man had a slender build and a rather heroic appearance, with sword-like eyebrows and star-like eyes, though his hair, like Si Qiuying's, was a vibrant green—likely a family trait.

He was none other than Si Qiuying's older brother, Si Tianming.

"How was it? You met that Young Mansion Master, right?" Si Tianming asked with a smile.

Si Qiuying gritted her teeth and said, "I met him, he's just a little rascal! He has no real ability, all he does is tattle, he's as childish as a kid!"

"And Sister Qing'e is too biased; she actually gave me a beating." Si Qiuying said, feeling somewhat unhappy. In the past, Jiang Qing'e had a good relationship with her, treating her like a younger sister, but now she realized that Jiang Qing'e clearly valued Li Luo much more.

"I think you're the childish one. What kind of relationship do they have? You want to go and compete with Li Luo? Isn't that just asking for humiliation?" Si Tianming said helplessly.

"I wasn't competing with him. It's you, Big Brother, even Sister Qing'e said she wasn't interested." Si Qiuying rolled her eyes at her brother and said.

However, Si Tianming just laughed it off, saying, "Does that even need to be said? When we interact, can I not feel it?"

"Besides, someone as outstanding as Jiang Qing'e has the right to say such things."

But Si Qiuying said with some displeasure, "Big Brother, you certainly can't compare to Sister Qing'e, but at the very least, you're a hundred times stronger than that Li Luo, right?"

"You are now a Four-Star Hall student at the Saint Profound Star Academy, with the strength of a Earth Fiend General. Even some of the Golden Brilliance Tutors in the academy say that you have a high probability of becoming a Marquis in the future, becoming one of the top powerhouses in our Great Xia!"

"But do you think becoming a Marquis will earn you Jiang Qing'e's favor?"

Si Tianming sighed softly and said, "Qiuying, I told you long ago, the engagement between Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e—the power to annul it doesn't actually lie with Li Luo, but with Jiang Qing'e. As long as she is unwilling, no one can touch this engagement."

"Besides, although I like Jiang Qing'e, it doesn't mean I must pursue a specific result."

Si Qiuying curled her lips and said, "Big Brother, you're quite the romantic saint. Then let me ask you, if you had the chance to win over Sister Qing'e, would you want to?"

Si Tianming revealed an awkward smile; the answer was self-evident.

Si Qiuying gave him a look of disdain, then immediately cheered him on: "Big Brother, believe in yourself. Your talent, strength, and fame are all considered top-tier among the younger generation in Great Xia. As long as you persist, I believe Sister Qing'e will one day discover your excellence!"

"And with that Li Luo there for comparison, it will only highlight that you are the better match!"

Si Tianming smiled helplessly and said, "Don't worry about these things. Also, don't think about looking for trouble with Li Luo in the future; there's no need. After all, he is the Young Mansion Master of House Luolan. If you provoke him and Jiang Qing'e decides to deal with you, I won't be able to intervene."

"I have no interest in looking for trouble with him." Si Qiuying said lazily.

"But he made me unhappy this time, so next time Duze Beixuan wants to cause him trouble, I won't help him block it again."

Si Tianming shook his head and didn't say anything more. Besides, that Young Mansion Master should have some ability to deal with trouble, otherwise, the title of 'Number One in Tianshu County' would have too much water in it.

Though, come to think of it, House Duze seems to have been making some moves recently; I wonder if they are aimed at House Luolan...

The carriage passed through wide streets and finally stopped outside a manor.

This was the headquarters of House Luolan.

Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e stepped out of the carriage. He looked at the manor before him and couldn't help but click his tongue. The old residence in Southwind City was already considered vast, but compared to this headquarters, it lacked a certain imposing air.

Around the manor, guard teams patrolled back and forth, and on some watchtowers, sharp eyes scanned the surroundings.

"I have already notified all the managers of House Luolan in Great Xia City to gather at the headquarters later. Since the Young Mansion Master has come to Great Xia City, you must get to know these backbone forces of House Luolan," Jiang Qing'e said.

She glanced at Li Luo and said, "These managers are in charge of House Luolan's various industries in Great Xia City. You should know that of House Luolan's annual income, all the branches outside of Great Xia combined only account for sixty percent, while the other forty percent comes entirely from the industries here in Great Xia City."

Hearing this, Li Luo was quite surprised. He hadn't expected that the income from Great Xia City would account for such a high proportion of House Luolan's total.

It truly lived up to being the center of Great Xia.

"A few years ago, when I first took over House Luolan, these various industries in the Royal City were heavily interfered with by Pei Hao. However, after these years of rectification, many of the hands he reached in have been severed, and things here in the Royal City have stabilized," Jiang Qing'e continued.

Li Luo heard this and said, "That must have been hard on you, Sister Qing'e."

House Luolan's industry proportion in the Royal City was too large. If this had all been eroded and controlled by Pei Hao, the House Luolan headquarters would truly be a name without substance. Fortunately, Jiang Qing'e acted quickly, otherwise, House Luolan's situation would be even worse now.

As the two were talking, they had already walked into the manor gate. Suddenly, a sturdy figure rushed toward Li Luo, and at the same time, a heart-wrenching wail rang out: "Ah, my Young Mansion Master, you've finally come to Great Xia City! Old Niu has missed you to death!"

The wailing exploded in Li Luo's ears, leaving him completely stunned. He felt as if his entire body was locked in an iron hoop, and he could barely breathe.

Moreover, the thick, greasy smell coming from the person in front of him drilled into Li Luo's nose and went straight to his brain.

"Uncle Biao, he's about to be suffocated by you." Jiang Qing'e's voice, filled with a smile, came from the side, saving Li Luo.

Hearing this, the sturdy figure hurriedly released Li Luo. Only then did Li Luo see his appearance clearly: he was a particularly burly, bald, middle-aged man. The man was covered in grease, his face exuded a fierce air, and at his waist, a pig-slaughtering knife reflected a cold light.

"You are..." Li Luo looked at this person, having a vague memory, but unable to call out his name for a moment.

"Young Mansion Master, I'm Niu Biaobiao! Don't you remember? When you were little, I was the one who cooked for you," the bald man said hurriedly.

Hearing this name, Li Luo's memory became slightly clearer. In his memory, when he was young, there was indeed a bald man who accompanied him, but later, with the relocation of the House Luolan headquarters, he had no more impression of him.

"Uncle Biao is the person with the most seniority in House Luolan. When Master and Mistress founded House Luolan, he was already there. His cooking is famous in Great Xia City, and he is now in charge of the food here at the headquarters," Jiang Qing'e smiled at Li Luo and said.

Li Luo suddenly clapped his hands: "I remember now!"

"You're Uncle Biao! The Uncle Biao who looked so fierce but didn't even dare to kill a chicken himself! The Uncle Biao who tricked me into the kitchen when I was little and made me help him kill a chicken!"

Niu Biaobiao's expression stiffened, and he said awkwardly, "Young Mansion Master, your memory is truly excellent, remembering things from so long ago."

Li Luo couldn't help but laugh out loud, because the contrast between this person's fierce appearance and his personality was just too great. Who would have thought that someone who could stop a child from crying just by his looks wouldn't even dare to kill a chicken himself?

People always said that the pig-slaughtering knife at Niu Biaobiao's waist had probably never seen blood in its life and was purely for show.

However, after laughing, a sense of intimacy welled up. After all, the person in front of him was indeed an old member of House Luolan, someone truly worth trusting.

"Uncle Biao, I'll have to trouble you to take care of me from now on," Li Luo said, reaching out to pat Niu Biaobiao's greasy, thick arm.

Niu Biaobiao touched Li Luo's hand, moved, and said, "I've long wanted to go to Southwind City to take care of the Young Mansion Master, but Little Jiang wouldn't let me. Now that you've come to Great Xia City, I will definitely feed you until you're plump and white."

He touched Li Luo's arm and sighed, "Young Mansion Master is still a bit weak. I'll go make you a pot of nourishing soup right now!"

After saying that, he turned and hurried away in a flurry.

"This Uncle Biao, he's still as impatient as ever," Li Luo said, looking at his sturdy back.

Jiang Qing'e said, "Uncle Biao is a trustworthy person. I originally intended to let him take charge of other House Luolan industries, but he wasn't willing; he only wanted to stay in the kitchen."

"As long as he's happy, there's no need to force him," Li Luo said.

Jiang Qing'e nodded and said, "Let's go, I'll take you around here first. After we eat later, those managers should arrive. It might be a bit tiring today."

Li Luo smiled and said, "What kind of tiring is this? You've been holding things up for several years, wouldn't you be even more tired?"

"You're getting better at talking. You must have said that to plenty of little girls at the academy, right?" Jiang Qing'e said with a half-smile.

"Jealous?"

Jiang Qing'e gave a light scoff and walked forward with her long legs, her voice, carrying a hint of pride, coming from ahead.

"Jealous? I haven't experienced what that feels like yet. You keep working hard; I hope you can make me experience it."

Li Luo looked at her beautiful back and chased after her, feeling somewhat indignant.

What should I say? Jiang Qing'e, don't go too far, thirty years east of the river... no, that's not right...

The "you ignore me today" atmosphere isn't right either.

Sigh, forget it.

"What's for dinner?"

(End of chapter)