Chapter 232: Bounty Order

Chapter 232: Chapter 232: Bounty Order

At this moment, Yun Mengling lifted her little head, her beautiful, limpid eyes gazing at Yi Xiaoyao beside her as she smiled sweetly.

Yi Xiaoyao, in turn, looked at Yun Mengling with great affection. He had said he would come back for her soon, and now he was here.

Yun Cang was conflicted. Truthfully, Yi Xiaoyao had one major drawback: he lacked a powerful background. This was a factor Yun Cang could not ignore.

But when Yun Cang looked up and saw the look of affection that passed between the two, he could only shake his head and smile.

"Grandfather, is there anything else? If not, we’ll be leaving now," Yun Mengling said to Yun Cang with a cheerful grin.

Yun Cang had never seen Yun Mengling so happy. He nodded and said, "Go on. But do not do anything inappropriate!"

Yun Mengling agreed and pulled Yi Xiaoyao away.

Having witnessed the entire exchange, the steward Yuncheng wore a look of astonishment, naturally understanding the implications.

"Manor Master, are you planning to..."

Yuncheng trailed off, knowing that Yun Cang would understand his full meaning.

Yun Cang nodded slightly and asked, "What do you think of Yi Xiaoyao’s potential?"

"Right now, he’s naturally no match for the Pill King. However, once his Cultivation catches up and he can refine fifth or even sixth-tier Perfect Elixirs, he’s bound to surpass the Pill King! Besides, I don’t think the boy’s Cultivation talent is any worse than Miss Meng Ling’s. It’s only a matter of time before he surpasses the Pill King."

Yuncheng held Yi Xiaoyao in very high regard, and Yun Cang nodded repeatedly as he listened, for he thought the same.

Then, Yun Cang instructed Yuncheng, "Go and find out everything you can about this Yi Xiaoyao. The more detailed, the better."

Yuncheng acknowledged the order and departed.

’If I can use Meng Ling to keep a future Pill King like him by my side, that would be far more valuable than the Shao Family, the number one family in Yunzhou City.’

Yun Cang murmured with narrowed eyes, a smile touching his lips, "Besides, Meng Ling and this boy are in love with each other. They’re a good match."

...

Yi Xiaoyao and Yun Mengling strolled hand-in-hand through a quiet garden, their faces alight with happiness.

"Xiaoyao, you really didn’t lie to me. You came to find me so quickly! I thought I’d have to wait a long time."

Yun Mengling swayed gently, like a flawless white cloud.

"So you had that little faith in me?" Yi Xiaoyao said, feigning displeasure.

"No, no! Ling’Er has always had faith in you. It’s just that you improve way too fast."

Yun Mengling then sighed softly. "These past few days, I used a vast amount of resources and cultivated diligently to escape the engagement. I finally reached the Nascent Soul Realm, but I still couldn’t surpass you."

Yi Xiaoyao raised an eyebrow and asked, "What’s this engagement you mentioned?"

"It’s all my grandfather’s fault. When I was little, he joked with the old patriarch of the Shao Family and promised a marriage. Who would’ve thought the Shao Family would actually bring up that joke recently and demand I marry that profligate scion of theirs!"

Yun Mengling glanced worriedly at Yi Xiaoyao, afraid he would get angry. She continued, "Because the Shao Family is the number one family in Yunzhou City, and my grandfather is the City Lord, there’s a very delicate connection between our two families. Grandfather couldn’t easily go back on his word, so he had to agree."

Yi Xiaoyao nodded, not angry at all. Instead, he smiled. "Don’t worry, Ling’Er. With me here, this engagement will soon be a thing of the past."

At the same time, a cold glint flashed in Yi Xiaoyao’s eyes as he thought to himself, ’Shao Jingyun of the Shao Family, is it? You dare try to steal my woman? We’ll see if you have the life to enjoy it.’

...

「Several hours later.」

"Manor Master, I’ve finished investigating Yi Xiaoyao."

Yuncheng walked up to Yun Cang and handed him a Jade Slip.

Yun Cang opened the Jade Slip, and as his eyes scanned its contents, the astonishment on his face grew.

"A First Realm Nascent Soul killing three Ninth Realm Nascent Souls, and annihilating the number one sect of the Great Shang Dynasty? How is that possible!"

Yun Cang’s brow suddenly furrowed. He reprimanded Yuncheng in displeasure, "What kind of job did you do? You’re showing me this kind of false information? Do you take me for a three-year-old, unable to tell truth from fiction?"

"Manor Master, you... you’ve wronged me."

Yuncheng gave a wry smile. "At first, I also thought it was false, but it’s absolutely true. Everyone in the entire Great Shang Dynasty knows about it. It’s even recorded in the Great Shang Chronicles. It can’t be a lie."

’Recorded in the chronicles?’

Yun Cang’s expression changed. If that was the case, then it was almost certainly true!

"So, this boy’s reputation in the Great Shang Dynasty is that great?"

Yun Cang looked at the Jade Slip containing Yi Xiaoyao’s information, a pleased expression on his face, and nodded in satisfaction.

"A young man of only eighteen has already become the strongest man in the history of the Great Shang Dynasty!"

"From this perspective, the Shao Family’s Shao Jingyun is nothing compared to this Yi Xiaoyao."

"Haha! I’m growing more and more pleased with this boy."

Just as Yun Cang was full of praise and admiration for Yi Xiaoyao, Yuncheng’s expression grew hesitant.

"Manor Master, I presume you are truly planning to let Miss Meng Ling be with Yi Xiaoyao."

Yuncheng finally spoke up, "However, before you make your decision, there is something else I feel I must tell you."

Yun Cang’s expression tensed slightly. He sensed a bad premonition from Yuncheng’s look.

"What is it?"

"Manor Master, this just came down from above."

Yuncheng presented a Beast Hide Map Scroll.

Yun Cang unrolled the Beast Hide Map Scroll. The next instant, his face fell, and his brows knitted tightly together.

"A Bounty Order from the Imperial Army Mansion? Yi Xiaoyao, bounty of one million Spirit Stones!"

Yun Cang read the contents of the Beast Hide Map Scroll aloud, his face pale with shock. His heart sank to the depths.

As a City Lord, he knew exactly what this meant.

Once an Imperial Army Mansion Bounty Order is issued, it’s simultaneously announced in every city of the Great Xia empire. Countless people will hunt down the person on the order to claim the massive bounty.

In other words, Yi Xiaoyao had become an enemy of the Great Xia empire. If anyone found out that Yun Cang was harboring a Bounty Hunter, his own position as City Lord would be in jeopardy.

A moment ago, Yun Cang had been immensely pleased with Yi Xiaoyao, ready to let him be with Yun Mengling. But now, all of that had turned to dust.

"Manor Master, what should we do? Should we capture Yi Xiaoyao, or..." Yuncheng asked cautiously.

Yun Cang’s face was grim. He said, "Delay the release of this Bounty Order. Bring Yi Xiaoyao and Meng Ling to me."

「A short while later.」

Yi Xiaoyao and Yun Mengling stood before Yun Cang.

This time, the earlier smile was gone from Yun Mengling’s beautiful face, replaced by worry.

Meanwhile, Yi Xiaoyao stared at the Bounty Order for him, his face covered in a frosty glint.

He couldn’t help but recall the eight men, led by a chubby one, whom he had met at the Cloud Transformation Sect. They had said they would give him a "grand gift" when he arrived in the Great Xia empire.

’So, this must be the grand gift they prepared for me.’

...