Chapter 231: Seeing Yun Mengling Again

Chapter 231: Chapter 231: Seeing Yun Mengling Again

Yun Cang looked completely helpless. He feared no one in the entire Great Shang Dynasty could possibly repay Yi Xiaoyao’s demand.

Throughout their entire exchange, Yi Xiaoyao had addressed Yun Cang as "Senior" without a hint of disrespect. The blame lay with Yun Cang, who had underestimated Yi Xiaoyao simply because he came from the Great Shang Dynasty. That prejudice had led to this very outcome.

Ultimately, it was Yun Cang’s own fault for misjudging the young man, and there was nothing he could do to Yi Xiaoyao now.

’Kill Yi Xiaoyao out of shame and anger because he couldn’t afford to pay him back?’

’Of course, that was impossible. He was Yun Cang, the Lord of Yunzhou City. How could he stoop to something even he himself would find despicable?’

Most importantly, Yun Cang had heard Yi Xiaoyao state with his own lips that he had personally spent several days refining these Five-Stripe Perfect Elixirs. His Alchemy Skill was clearly superior to even the Pill King’s.

A young man of such astonishing talent was destined for achievements far beyond the Pill King. Yun Cang should be trying to win him over, not antagonize him.

However, before he could even think of recruiting him, Yun Cang first had to resolve the current situation.

"Young man, I was in the wrong before. But about these Elixirs..."

Yun Cang gave Yi Xiaoyao a troubled look, hoping the young man might soften his terms.

As for Yi Xiaoyao, his anger had already begun to subside. He reminded himself that Yun Cang was, after all, Yun Mengling’s maternal grandfather. He couldn’t push things too far.

"Senior, as I’ve said, these Elixirs were a gift for Ling’Er. In my eyes, they already belong to her. Whether or not compensation is required is for Ling’Er alone to decide," Yi Xiaoyao stated.

Upon hearing this, Yun Cang’s expression instantly relaxed. This was tantamount to Yi Xiaoyao dropping the matter. However, Yi Xiaoyao’s implication was also perfectly clear: he wanted to see Yun Mengling in person.

After a moment of contemplation, Yun Cang turned to Yuncheng behind him. "Have Meng Ling come here."

Yuncheng acknowledged the order and hurried away.

Not long after, the sound of light, eager footsteps echoed from outside, and a stunningly graceful figure burst into the room.

Yuncheng hurried in behind her, his mind reeling with confusion. He had never seen the young miss act so strangely, nor look so happy.

Especially the sheer surprise and excitement on her face when he had mentioned the name "Yi Xiaoyao"—it was a reaction Yuncheng, who had watched her grow up, had never witnessed before.

In the next moment, Yuncheng froze in the doorway, stunned. He wasn’t the only one; Yun Cang’s eyes also widened in astonishment.

"Xiaoyao!"

The moment Yun Mengling entered the room and saw the familiar figure she had yearned for countless times, she flew into his arms like a gust of wind.

The beautiful young couple, a seemingly perfect match, were embracing right in front of their elder.

"AHEM, AHEM!"

Yun Cang coughed awkwardly, his face flushed with embarrassment. "Have you no sense of propriety?" he chided in a low voice.

At the same time, Yun Cang’s heart was filled with astonishment and doubt. He knew his granddaughter extremely well. She normally avoided all contact with the opposite sex and had even fled to the Great Shang Dynasty to escape her arranged marriage.

Yet here she was, in front of an outsider—and in front of him, her own grandfather—hugging a young man with such intimacy. It was utterly unbelievable.

Hearing Yun Cang’s reprimand, Yun Mengling immediately pulled away from Yi Xiaoyao. Only then did she seem to register her surroundings, her lovely face blushing crimson.

"Grandfather, I..."

Yun Mengling lowered her head shyly, biting her lip as she looked toward Yun Cang. She kept stealing glances at Yi Xiaoyao, her eyes filled with unconcealed joy.

Suddenly, Yun Mengling noticed the Elixirs scattered on the floor. Her eyes immediately fell on the Five Pill Patterns adorning them, and she instantly understood.

"Ah! The Elixirs Xiaoyao refined! Why are they all over the floor?!"

Yun Mengling didn’t even have to think to know that Yi Xiaoyao must have prepared these for her. A flash of anger crossed her beautiful face.

"Ling’Er." The moment Yi Xiaoyao saw the peerless beauty before him, all his earlier frustration evaporated into thin air.

He then briefly explained to Yun Mengling what had transpired.

But before Yi Xiaoyao could even finish, Yun Mengling let out an indignant huff. Pouting, she turned to Yun Cang. "Grandfather! These were a gift from Xiaoyao! He must have worked incredibly hard to refine them. What right did you have to spill them all over the floor? You have to compensate me!"

Compensate!

Yun Cang’s face twitched. He almost coughed up a mouthful of blood.

He had just finished dealing with Yi Xiaoyao and had assumed Yun Mengling would help him put the matter to rest. He never imagined his own granddaughter would side with an outsider and demand compensation from him as well.

"Meng Ling, that’s enough nonsense!" Yun Cang snapped.

Then, he glanced at the Elixirs on the floor and couldn’t help but feel a sharp pang of regret himself.

"These are Five-Stripe Elixirs. Pick them up. They can still be consumed, so don’t let them go to waste."

Yun Mengling pouted, still displeased. Her gaze then fell upon the dark-robed youth standing to the side, and her beautiful eyes filled with genuine disgust.

"You again!" she snapped. "You’re just as detestable as your master!"

The dark-robed youth’s expression turned awkward. He forced a smile. "Heh, Miss Yun, my Young Clan Leader sent me to deliver some Elixirs."

His words immediately reminded Yun Mengling of what Yi Xiaoyao had just told her. If this guy hadn’t shown up to deliver Elixirs, the ones Yi Xiaoyao gave her wouldn’t be scattered on the floor right now.

At that thought, Yun Mengling snatched the Jade Bottle from the table and tossed it at the dark-robed youth.

"Tell that wastrel master of yours to stop sending feed for my Spirit Pet! It’s just one Spirit Pet; the Yun Family can afford to keep it fed!"

Yi Xiaoyao couldn’t help but chuckle at her words.

The dark-robed youth caught the Jade Bottle, his expression frozen in shock.

’Spirit Pet? Feed?’

’Could it be... that Miss Yun has been feeding the premium Elixirs her Young Clan Leader spent a fortune on to her Spirit Pet?’

At this, Yun Cang sighed, his expression complicated. He said to the dark-robed youth, "You should head back."

The dark-robed youth nodded. Clutching his mangled right arm, he limped out of the room.

’Hmph! So much for the "number one beauty of Yunzhou City." She’s already engaged to my Young Clan Leader, yet she’s here hugging another man. I’ll definitely report this to him when I get back!’ the dark-robed youth thought bitterly as he left.

Back inside the room, the atmosphere was peculiar.

Yun Cang stared at the young couple before him—a seemingly perfect, heaven-sent match—with a strange expression, a glint in his eyes.

’He was weighing Yi Xiaoyao, who was clearly in love with Yun Mengling, against Shao Jingyun, the Young Clan Leader of Yunzhou City’s most powerful family. Who was truly a better match for her?’

’The answer was obvious: it had to be Yi Xiaoyao.’

’Yun Cang could tell at a glance that Yi Xiaoyao was about the same age as Yun Mengling. To have a Cultivation at the First Realm of the Nascent Soul at eighteen... And he’d also heard that Yi Xiaoyao had driven back one of his own Guard Captains, a man at the fifth realm of the Nascent Soul.’

’More importantly, Yi Xiaoyao could refine the legendary Five-Stripe Perfect Elixir!’

’That kind of potential was simply terrifying!’

’As for Shao Jingyun... to be blunt, he was just a wastrel heir. In truth, Yun Cang had never been particularly satisfied with him.’

’Thinking of this, Yun Cang realized he had to start making new plans.’

...