First Meeting with Yunque

Inside Cloud City.

The group of five jumped down from the Somersault Cloud and began wandering the streets.

Ming Xuan looked left and right, then suddenly turned to ask, “By the way, they say a talisman has been really popular in the city lately, one that lets you cultivate while just lying down. Is that true or fake?”

Ye Qiao, standing beside him, quickly chimed in, “Second Senior Brother, don't buy it. It's definitely fake.”

Ming Xuan was still a bit puzzled and was about to ask further, “Little Junior Sister, how do you—”

Before he could finish, Ye Qiao didn't wait for him to ask more and directly dragged him forward at a brisk pace.

How did Ye Qiao know? Because she had drawn it herself out of sheer boredom.

“Second Senior Brother, let's find an inn first. Once it gets crowded later, we won't even have a place to stay.”

Just as they stepped into the inn, the idle chatter of several cultivators drifted into their ears.

“Did you know? The Yueqing Sect has been making quite a splash lately.”

“I know, you mean that genius Little Junior Sister the Yueqing Sect took in recently, right?”

“Yeah, she has a top-grade Water Spiritual Root and is incredibly beautiful too.”

Listening to others constantly praise the Yueqing Sect's Yunque, Ye Qiao's lips couldn't help but twitch.

So what if she was pretty? In terms of looks and temperament, she was far from matching her own Fourth Senior Brother. Besides, Yunque wasn't even as rich as Fourth Senior Brother.

Luo Qingyu hadn't paid attention to her surroundings when she first entered. Just as she raised her head, her gaze locked right onto the inn's Manager Li.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she wondered in surprise: Why did Little Junior Sister and the others have to come to the very inn I own?

Helpless, Luo Qingyu shot Manager Li a look, signaling him to pretend they didn't know each other.

Manager Li understood instantly. Immediately wiping the surprise from his face, he stepped forward to greet them and asked politely, “Dear guests, are you looking to stay the night?”

Mu Zhongxi said, “That's right, we want five standard rooms.”

Manager Li looked apologetic. “I'm terribly sorry, young master. The standard rooms on the first floor are already fully booked. We only have four deluxe rooms left on the second floor.”

“How many spirit stones for one deluxe room?”

Manager Li silently held up a single finger.

Mu Zhongxi's eyes widened instantly, and he cried out in shock, “What? Is your place a rip-off joint? A single deluxe room costs a hundred high-grade spirit stones? Why don't you just rob us instead!”

Ming Xuan, standing aside, found the scene rather embarrassing. He quickly cut in and said to Manager Li, “Manager, we'll take all four of those deluxe rooms.”

Just as he spoke, several figures in blue slowly walked into the inn. It was the group from the Yueqing Sect whom everyone had been gossiping about.

Su Zhuo, standing at the front, stepped forward and ordered Manager Li, “Manager, we want five deluxe rooms.”

Manager Li was caught in a dilemma. On one hand were the Yueqing Sect disciples before him, and on the other was his own boss's group. He could only reply with an apologetic face.

“I'm terribly sorry, young master. The only four deluxe rooms left in the inn have already been booked by these guests.”

Su Zhuo sized up the clothes worn by Luo Qingyu's group. A flash of disdain flickered in his eyes as he gave a light chuckle and said to the manager, “We'll pay double. Give the rooms to us.”

Manager Li's forehead broke out in a thin sweat, making him hesitate. No matter how high the other party's offer was, the person standing before him was his own boss. He absolutely could not give the rooms away.

Just then, Yunque, who was in the Yueqing Sect's group, swept her gaze over everyone. Her eyes locked onto Ye Qiao and lit up instantly. She quickly stepped forward and called out, “Is that you, Second Senior Sister?”

She looked at Ye Qiao and pleaded softly, “Second Senior Sister, could you spare two deluxe rooms for us? We can pay double the price!”

Ye Qiao had heard Yunque calling her "Second Senior Sister" over and over, and she was thoroughly annoyed.

“Who is your Second Senior Sister? These rooms are first-come, first-served. Why on earth should we give them to you?”

Su Zhuo also recognized Ye Qiao in the crowd. He stepped forward to shield Yunque. “Second Senior Sister, how can you speak to Little Junior Sister like that? Her body hasn't fully recovered yet. As her Second Senior Sister, you should yield to her.”

This absurd moral kidnapping made Ye Qiao laugh out of sheer anger.

Before Ye Qiao could even speak, a figure quickly stepped in front of her.

Luo Qingyu stood at the front, shielding Ye Qiao behind her. She looked up at Su Zhuo and Yunque, the usual smile completely absent from her face.

“Don't the disciples of the Yueqing Sect understand the concept of first-come, first-served?” Her tone was calm, yet carried an innate pressure.

Ming Xuan stood to the side with his arms crossed, watching the drama unfold. He leisurely added, “Exactly. Everything goes by order of arrival. If you're really short on rooms, why don't you try your luck at another inn.”

Mu Zhongxi also took a step forward, gripping his Zhaoxi Sword. He stared directly at the Yueqing Sect group, making it crystal clear that he wouldn't back down even half a step.

Seeing this, Manager Li hurriedly stepped forward to smooth things over, cupping his hands to Su Zhuo.

“I'm terribly sorry, young master. Our humble establishment really has no other rooms. Why don't you check with other inns in the city?”

Su Zhuo swept a cold gaze over Luo Qingyu's group and demanded arrogantly, “They haven't even paid their spirit stones yet. What right do they have to claim these deluxe rooms?”

Luo Qingyu stepped forward slowly. Her expression was calm, and her voice rang clearly throughout the lobby: “Because I am the owner of this inn.”

Standing behind Su Zhuo, Yunque stared at Ye Qiao, who was protected in the center of the crowd. Intense jealousy welled up in her heart.

Hearing Luo Qingyu reveal her identity, Manager Li quickly bowed and spoke respectfully, “Greetings, Boss.”

Su Zhuo's face instantly turned red and white in turn, utterly embarrassed. He stood frozen on the spot, at a complete loss.

Standing at the back, Song Hansheng could no longer bear to watch Su Zhuo make a fool of himself. Frowning, he said in a deep voice, “Let's go.”

Once the Yueqing Sect group had gone far, Ming Xuan immediately leaned in close to Luo Qingyu and teased with a look of amazement.

“Who would have thought, Fourth Junior Brother! This inn actually belongs to you! By the way, with the room prices being so expensive, you weren't the one who set them, were you?”

Luo Qingyu gave him a flat look and replied unhurriedly, “Second Senior Brother, all the inns in Cloud City are at this price right now.”

“If you really think it's too expensive and don't want to stay, then I won't pay for your room tonight.”

Hearing this, Ming Xuan immediately waved his hands and quickly yielded, “No, no, no, Fourth Junior Brother! I'll stay, alright?”

Xue Yu quickly walked over to Ye Qiao's side and asked with gentle concern, “Little Junior Sister, are you alright?”

Mu Zhongxi stood to the side, his heart bursting with curiosity, but he couldn't easily press for answers.

Ye Qiao waved her hand dismissively to her senior brothers and said calmly, “I'm fine.”

In truth, she just felt it wasn't worth it for the original owner of her body.

Mu Zhongxi immediately stepped forward and patted his chest, saying to Ye Qiao, “Don't worry, Little Junior Sister. If they dare to bully you, I'll beat them up for you.”

Luo Qingyu casually lifted a heavy pouch of spirit stones and stuffed it directly into Ye Qiao's arms, speaking warmly, “Here, take this. Buy whatever food you want.”

Ye Qiao's eyes lit up instantly. She said to Luo Qingyu, “Thank you, Fourth Senior Brother!”

Mu Zhongxi felt a bit envious watching this. He quickly leaned close to Luo Qingyu and wheedled, “Fourth Senior Brother~ I want some too!”

“Scram, you get nothing!”

Mu Zhongxi: ...

Fine, fine, fine. Little Junior Sister is a treasure, while a junior brother is just trash.