Yan Lie spoke frankly.
“In the past year, the Golden Jade Chamber of Commerce has taken the initiative to partner with the City Lord’s Mansion on several business deals, conceding massive profits on every one. At first, I thought they had some request for the City Lord’s Mansion, but that wasn’t the case at all. When my birthday came around this year, the Chamber’s store manager personally delivered gifts to our door—two of them, in fact. One was from the Branch President, and the other was said to be a gift from the Chief Manager to City Lord Yan himself. When I opened it, I found a Tier 5 treasure medicine of the fire attribute.”
His voice trembled as he reached this point.
A Tier 5 treasure medicine could tempt even a Mystic Lord powerhouse, let alone a mere Mystic General like him.
He had only plucked one leaf and consumed it, which allowed him to smoothly advance to Two-Star Mystic General. The medicinal efficacy was extraordinarily potent, so he had sealed away the rest, planning to save it for Yan Zhen.
Yan Lie took a wooden box from his storage ring and opened the lid to show it to Yan Zhen.
Inside the wooden box lay a spirit herb that was entirely crimson, its leaves resembling flickering flames. Yan Zhen recognized it at a glance and laughed.
“Grandpa, this is a top-quality Five-Leaf Fire Ginseng. Consuming it brings tremendous benefits to fire mystic cultivators. Since it’s a gift from their Chief Manager, you should use it soon rather than letting the potency waste away.”
Yan Lie casually closed the lid and glanced at his beloved grandson, speaking in a wistful tone.
“The Golden Jade Chamber of Commerce’s Chief Manager is no ordinary figure. For her to send a birthday gift to an old codger like me, after racking my brains, the only possibility I can think of is you, Zhen’er. Rumor has it that the Chamber’s current Chief Manager is a kingdom-toppling beauty. Zhen’er, be honest with me—what’s your relationship with that Chief Manager?”
Yan Zhen blinked, taking in his grandfather’s suspicious expression. Suddenly, it clicked.
—Grandpa doesn’t think that Good Big Sister is keeping me as a boy toy, does he?
“Grandpa, I do know the Golden Jade Chamber of Commerce’s Chief Manager. She was suffering from a strange ailment before, with no cure in sight. I happened to have learned a bit of the Technique Refining Art and healed her, so we became friends. She even took me on as her sworn little brother.”
Suspicion lingered in Yan Lie’s eyes.
“Just a sworn little brother?”
Yan Zhen puffed out his chest.
“Of course! What else would it be? Grandpa, you don’t seriously think Sister Ji Ya and I have that kind of relationship, do you? Don’t joke around—we’re worlds apart in age.”
Hearing him declare it with such utter conviction, the doubt gradually faded from Yan Lie’s face.
“Zhen’er, don’t blame Grandpa for being naggy. You already have a betrothal with Wenqing, so you mustn’t get too entangled with other women. Otherwise, how could I ever face my old brother Huangfu Xiong?”
Yan Zhen’s mouth twitched. He thought of how his grandfather, as City Lord, had never remarried or taken concubines after Grandma passed away years ago. Clearly, the old man was a staunch monogamist, the deeply nostalgic type. At most, he could tolerate someone like Meng’er or Cousin Ruyu taking the initiative to become a concubine, since they were practically family.
The key point was that his betrothal to Huangfu Wenqing had been arranged by Grandpa himself with his good friend. If Yan Zhen did anything to wrong her, the old man would have no face left to see Huangfu Xiong.
Fortunately, the Long Ying he had brought back this time was just a one-meter-tall little loli with a perpetually cutely innocent look on her face. No one would get the wrong idea.
“Ahem, rest assured, Grandpa. I’ll keep things in check.”
“You know that’s for the best. This treasure medicine is yours now.” Yan Lie placed the wooden box on the table. “Grandpa’s just an old bag of bones. Even if I took it, it wouldn’t do much for me. It’s better suited for you.”
“Grandpa, this is a birthday gift from Sister Ji Ya meant for you. Why give it to me? I don’t lack pills for cultivation at the Holy Land Academy—in fact, Grandpa, to be honest, I’ve already become a Pill Refiner.”
Yan Lie’s eyes lit up at the words.
“A Pill Refiner? Really? You little rascal, you’re not pulling Grandpa’s leg, are you?”
Yan Zhen nodded.
“It’s true, and not just any rank either. From now on, whatever pill Grandpa wants, I can refine it for you.”
Yan Lie was overjoyed and was about to heap praise on his grandson when a servant came to report.
“Master, the Golden Jade Chamber of Commerce’s Branch President is outside requesting an audience.”
Yan Lie immediately frowned.
“What business does the Golden Jade Chamber of Commerce have at the City Lord’s Mansion so late at night? Zhen’er, come with Grandpa to see what’s going on.”
Yan Zhen shook his head. He was still in his sleep robe, hardly fit for guests, and he couldn’t be bothered to change.
“Forget it, Grandpa. I’m a bit tired.”
“Alright then, rest up. Grandpa will come find you tomorrow.”
“Good night, Grandpa.”
Yan Zhen watched Yan Lie leave the courtyard, then closed his room door. He sat back down on the bed and let out a long sigh, as if expelling all his weariness in one breath. His mind was filled with thoughts of Cloud Heaven Palace.
The plot had veered off course—no matter how he tried to patch it, it wouldn’t come together perfectly. Even System-chan had no reaction, which left Yan Zhen deeply uneasy.
And there was no way he could discuss something like this with his beautiful female master.
—What a headache.
“Forget it. I’ll go ask Beautiful Female Master for a lap pillow. Maybe relaxing will help me think of a solution.”
Just as Yan Zhen prepared to enter the Fire Refining Starry Sky again, he suddenly sensed a familiar aura of shadowy darkness. But for the moment, he couldn’t place who it belonged to.
Yan Zhen reopened his room door and extended his spiritual sense, scanning the entire courtyard. Finding no one there, he pushed it further outward. Soon, he locked onto the figure, and he froze in surprise.
The other party knew they had been spotted and swiftly made their way over, emerging from the shadows in the corner of the wall.
“Little Uncle, it’s been over a year, and you’ve gotten so much stronger.”
Yan Zhen’s head throbbed at the sight of the beautiful mature woman in her purple-black gauze dress.
“Aunt Mu, w-what are you doing here?”
“I naturally came with the young miss.”
“So the Golden Jade Chamber of Commerce visitor they just announced—”
Aunt Mu nodded with a faint smile.
—Holy crap! Sister Ji Ya has come calling?
Thinking back to what he had just said to his grandfather, Yan Zhen went numb all over. He bolted past Aunt Mu straight toward the main hall, starlight coiling around him and leaving a brilliant trail in the night. His speed was so blindingly fast that no one could react in time.
Aunt Mu blinked in astonishment. She was a newly advanced Mystic Lord powerhouse who cultivated Shadow Mystic Force, yet she had almost lost track of Yan Zhen’s movements. With that in mind, she hurriedly melted into the shadows and gave chase.
In the City Lord’s Mansion’s main hall, a foxy beauty in a grand red dress, with a fluffy shawl draped over her arm, sat in the guest seat. Beside her stood the twin bodyguards at the Mystic General Realm, their faces impassive as ever. Across the tea table sat a middle-aged wealthy man who looked exceedingly nervous, constantly dabbing at his sweat with a handkerchief.
Yan Lie sat in the host’s seat and cupped his hands.
“To think the Chief Manager has graced our mansion in person. This old man failed to welcome you properly from afar.”
Ji Ya smiled faintly.
“City Lord Yan is too polite. It is I who have intruded upon you so rudely and improperly at this late hour. Please do not take offense.”
“May I ask what important matter brings the Chief Manager here?”
“To be frank, I share a deep bond with Young Master Yan Zhen at first sight and have presumptuously become his sworn big sister. Upon hearing that he has returned from the Holy Land Academy, I have come specifically to pay my respects. I beseech City Lord Yan to allow me to see my little brother Yan Zhen.”
The middle-aged wealthy man—the steward of the Golden Jade Chamber of Commerce’s Martial Tang Branch—stared wide-eyed. He never imagined his superior had such a sworn sibling relationship with that Young Master Yan. No wonder she had instructed him to look after the Yan Family’s business and send such an extravagant birthday gift.
Yan Lie, however, wore a troubled expression.
His grandson had only just returned, and here this beautiful Chief Manager was, showing up unannounced in the dead of night without regard for propriety. Were they really just ordinary sworn siblings?
