Chapter 9: Young Master of the Cloud Clan

At this moment, the mountain range between the Northern Ning Kingdom and the Southern Zhao Kingdom was wreathed in white clouds and teeming with magical beasts. Deep within these mountains, which stretched for ten thousand miles, and beneath a bottomless, precipitous cliff, lay the base of the Yun Clan, the premier family of the Longhua Continent.

Yun Xu gripped his scimitar tightly, kneeling on one knee. His upright and unyielding face was filled with gravity.

"Young Master, the Black Wind Stronghold robbed the shipment of silver destined for Sunset City yesterday. The branch leader, A'Er, has submitted a report requesting punishment."

In the dim study, a heater crackled, sending wisps of white smoke curling upward.

Through the hazy mist, one could vaguely discern a fiery red figure lounging lazily on a soft couch. His gold-inlaid wide sleeves were folded beneath him, revealing a fair wrist. His slender, well-defined fingers gently swirled a luminous cup. His dark hair flowed like clouds and waterfalls. Within his slightly open collar, his collarbones were slightly prominent—sexy and exquisite—and the well-defined muscles of his abdomen were faintly visible beneath his sturdy chest.

Though his features were not clearly seen, his aura, perfect as that of an immortal, was rare in this world.

He was as enchanting as a demon and as alluring as a devil, yet he lacked even a hint of femininity.

"Oh?" A low, husky voice resonated in the quiet room. He drained the fine wine in his hand, and a few crystalline droplets slid down his sharp, blade-like jawline, looking extremely bewitching.

"Heh, interesting. Daring to rob the Yun Clan’s convoy... This Venerable One should indeed go and see which deity is bold enough to do such a thing." Yun Jingchen’s tall, imposing figure stood up slowly. A shadow flashed in the room, and a black fur cloak was respectfully draped over his shoulders by the newcomer.

His bare, jade-like feet stepped casually onto the white tiger skin covering the floor, looking like a piece of fine jade—beautiful and fair.

"Yes, this subordinate will go and prepare at once." Yun Xu responded respectfully, gripped the sword at his waist, and quickly left the room.

The faint candlelight fell upon Yun Jingchen’s face, making him look like a demon or a phantom, peerless in his elegance.

Standing behind him was a cold-faced young girl. At this moment, she was greedily staring at the man’s profile—which looked as if it had been carved by the gods—with a gaze that was almost scorching, her heart in turmoil.

No matter how long she stayed by the Young Master’s side, she still found it difficult to remain calm when facing this face.

How could a man be this bewitching? One smile could topple a kingdom, two smiles could topple a city; he was truly a calamity to the world!

Yun Jingchen, oh Yun Jingchen, I, Yun Ling, will definitely possess you in this lifetime!

……

One only ever hears that women are as fierce as tigers when shopping, but Zhu Yitou only now realized that accompanying a child shopping was no less than shortening one's life by ten years. His arms were almost filled with large and small packages. They had shopped from one end of the street to the other, yet this brat showed no signs of fatigue; he even waved and greeted the merchants in the shops as he walked, looking quite like he was on a leisurely patrol.

It wasn't until noon, with the scorching sun hanging high in the sky, that Ling Xiaobai waved his hand and walked heroically into an inn called the 'Number One Restaurant Under Heaven.'

"Young Master, shouldn't we head back and set off as soon as possible?" Zhu Yitou struggled to shake the items in his arms, tugged at his robe, and asked urgently, cold sweat dripping from his forehead.

"Don't worry, my mother won't starve to death at home. Once I've tasted the food here, I'll remember to pack a portion for her to take back," Ling Xiaobai said without looking back. Having a walking wallet by his side, it would be a disservice to the silver if he didn't make him bleed a little.

The lobby was crowded with guests, mostly murderous mercenaries. The noisy atmosphere was filled with the boldness and unruliness of those in the martial arts world. Zhu Yitou looked with disgust at a team of mercenaries nearby who were slamming the table and shouting; such wild villagers were simply beneath his notice.

Ling Xiaobai plopped down on a bench, and a waiter immediately rushed over, waving a towel enthusiastically: "Oh my, isn't this the Little Tyrant? What would you like to eat today?"

"Bring me all your signature dishes. I have plenty of money today." He crossed his legs and puffed out his chest triumphantly. His mother had said that when out and about, you might lack skill, but you must never lack presence!

The waiter’s eyes lit up: "Coming right up."

Zhu Yitou’s face was covered in black lines. He leaned into Ling Xiaobai’s ear and whispered, "Young Master, isn't that ordering a bit too much?"

"Hmph, this is only because I didn't want to make you spend too much and specifically reduced the number of lunch dishes. Don't tell me you won't have enough money to pay the bill later? Hmm?" Ling Xiaobai’s face darkened, looking as if he would make him pay if he dared to nod.

"No, no, no." Zhu Yitou shook his head hurriedly, his heart feeling as if it had been stabbed by a knife, bleeding profusely. He wondered if the Master would allow him to report these expenses when he returned to the capital.

Watching his money pouch become lighter at a speed visible to the naked eye, Zhu Yitou truly felt like crying.

"Have you heard? The Yun Clan’s convoy was robbed by the thieves of the Black Wind Stronghold a thousand miles outside the city two days ago." A loud voice suddenly reached Ling Xiaobai’s ears.

He pricked up his ears: Convoy = valuable goods = silver!

"This has been the talk of the town for a long time, do you even need to say it? Who doesn't know now that the Black Wind Stronghold offended the Yun Clan? I got inside information that the Yun Clan’s Young Master is going to come out of the mountains himself to deal with them," another mercenary whispered mysteriously.

"Really? Is that Black Wind Stronghold even worth the Yun Young Master making a move?"

"Maybe this always-flamboyant Yun Young Master has taken a fancy to the bandit queen in the Black Wind Stronghold, hahaha."

Yun Clan? Young Master?

"Pig-head, is the Yun Clan’s Young Master very rich?" Ling Xiaobai asked, his eyes glowing with a green light, filled with extreme excitement.