"Before they left, your master and mistress specifically left something for you, saying you were to open it only when you turned seventeen."
Upon hearing this, Li Luo felt a jolt in his heart.
His parents had left something for him?
Chapter 4: The Golden Dragon Bank
In the Great Xia Kingdom, there were many powerful factions and various forces, but two stood in a position of absolute neutrality. Regardless of the various manors or even the Great Xia royal family, no one dared to easily provoke them.
The first was the Saint Xuanxing Academy; the second, the Golden Dragon Bank.
There was no need to elaborate much on the Saint Xuanxing Academy; it was the ultimate dream for countless young men and women in the Great Xia Kingdom. Whether it was the royal family or other major forces, all were desperate to recruit the young talents who graduated from there each year.
The Golden Dragon Bank, on the other hand, handled services like storing and retrieving valuables, as well as auctions and currency exchange. Its immense wealth was enough to make countless factions green with envy, yet no one ever truly dared to plot against it. This was because the scale of the Golden Dragon Bank far exceeded what any force in the Great Xia Kingdom could imagine; the branches within the kingdom were merely a small fraction of the whole.
The true Golden Dragon Bank possessed a prestigious reputation in the vast territories beyond the Great Xia Kingdom, and the Golden Dragon notes it issued were said to be exchangeable for an equal amount of gold anywhere human beings existed.
As the capital of Tianshu Prefecture, Nanfeng City naturally hosted a branch of the Golden Dragon Bank, located in the most luxurious section of the city center.
When Li Luo stepped out of his carriage and gazed at the gilded, magnificent building before him, even though it was not his first time seeing it, he could not help but click his tongue in admiration. For just a branch in a single prefecture to be this grand, the wealth of the Golden Dragon Bank was truly unimaginable.
Compared to such a titan, even Luolan Manor seemed somewhat insignificant.
Jiang Qing'e, however, appeared indifferent. Without giving the building a second glance, she walked straight toward the interior. Li Luo hurriedly followed.
Once inside the exceptionally grand bank, Jiang Qing'e took out a golden slip and handed it to a maid. The maid checked it carefully before respectfully ushering the two into a VIP room.
After waiting for a moment, a middle-aged man with a plump build, dripping in jewelry and wearing gemstone rings on all ten fingers, walked in with a festive smile.
"Haha, so it is the Young Mansion Master of Luolan Manor and Miss Jiang who have graced us with their presence. My bank is truly honored by your arrival." It had to be said that those who worked at the Golden Dragon Bank were incredibly tactful. Since the man recognized Li Luo, he naturally understood his current situation, yet he showed no hint of slight, even placing Li Luo's title before Jiang's in his greeting.
"This is President Lu of the Golden Dragon Bank's Tianshu Prefecture branch," Jiang Qing'e said, apparently acquainted with him, as she introduced him to Li Luo.
"President Lu, take us to retrieve the items."
With the introduction over, Jiang Qing'e displayed her characteristically decisive style.
President Lu nodded with a smile and turned to lead the way. The three of them passed through numerous checkpoints, seemingly descending deep underground.
Guided by President Lu, the trio finally arrived in a completely sealed room. The stone walls were dark and polished, smooth as mirrors.
President Lu placed his palm against the smooth stone wall and tapped it lightly. Immediately, the wall began to split, and a metal chest, made of an unknown alloy, slowly emerged.
"The two of you, this is what the two Mansion Masters left here. To open it, the Young Mansion Master must be here in person, and his blood will serve as the key," President Lu said with a smile before tactfully exiting the room.
Li Luo stared at the safe in front of him, dazed for a moment. He did not know what his parents had left for him that required such secrecy.
Yet, for some reason, he felt deep down that this item was of immense importance to him—something that might change his entire future.
He took a deep breath, stepped forward, and pressed his palm against the safe. A sharp sting pricked his fingertip as a drop of blood was drawn and absorbed into the mechanism.
*Click, clack!*
A moment later, mechanical sounds emanated from the seamless safe. A faint glow appeared on its surface, and then it slowly split open from the middle.
As the safe opened, the sight inside finally met Li Luo's eyes.
It was a pitch-black crystal ball. The surface was incredibly smooth, reflecting Li Luo's own face, appearing faintly mysterious.
"This is..." Li Luo blinked.
"Put it away first. Master and Mistress said you were to open it only on your seventeenth birthday," Jiang Qing'e said, handing him a carrying case.
Li Luo nodded and carefully took out the black crystal ball, placing it into the case. He gripped it tightly, his eyes shimmering with a hint of moisture.
"What's wrong?" Jiang Qing'e looked at him in confusion.
"I have a premonition that I'm about to turn my life around. I'm just excited."
Li Luo shook the carrying case and said solemnly to Jiang Qing'e, "Just you wait—I will definitely succeed in breaking off our engagement!""Senior Sister Qing'e!"
As Jiang Qing'e walked into the courtyard, many of the gathered students stood up, their eyes filled with undisguised respect, admiration, and a trace of awe.
Within Saint Xuanxing Academy, Jiang Qing'e possessed an extremely high prestige. Even among the older students of the First Academy, few dared to treat her lightly.
Facing these respectful greetings, Jiang Qing'e nodded slightly. Her expression was as calm and serene as ever, her flawless face carrying an aloofness that seemed untouched by worldly dust, like a fairy descending from the heavens. She walked straight toward the stone pavilion in the center of the courtyard.
There, Lü Qing'er was already seated.
Seeing Jiang Qing'e approach, Lü Qing'er stood up with a smile. "You finally arrived, Qing'e."
Jiang Qing'e walked into the pavilion and sat down opposite Lü Qing'er, her clear eyes sweeping over the quiet and beautiful courtyard. "You chose a good spot. It's very peaceful here."
"Of course. I had to put in quite a bit of effort to secure this place," Lü Qing'er replied with a smile as she picked up the teapot and poured a cup of freshly brewed spiritual tea for Jiang Qing'e. The tea liquid was clear and emitted a faint, refreshing fragrance.
"You invited me here today. It shouldn't just be for a cup of tea, right?" Jiang Qing'e picked up the teacup, took a light sip, and looked at Lü Qing'er with a faint smile.
Lü Qing'er rolled her eyes gracefully, though the gesture possessed a natural charm that could captivate anyone. "Can't I invite you just to chat?"
Jiang Qing'e smiled softly. "If it were anyone else, perhaps. But since it's the precious pearl of the Golden Dragon Bank's Tianshu Prefecture branch, President Lu's only daughter, you're always busy with myriad matters. If you have the time to sit here leisurely drinking tea, something major must have happened."
Lü Qing'er let out a soft sigh, knowing she couldn't hide anything from this friend of hers. She put down the teacup and said, "Alright, I'll drop the pretense. I actually wanted to ask you about Li Luo."
Hearing that name, Jiang Qing'e's hand holding the teacup paused slightly. Her gaze shifted to Lü Qing'er, and her bright eyes narrowed just a fraction. "Li Luo? What about him?"
Seeing Jiang Qing'e's reaction, Lü Qing'er felt a strange, subtle pang in her heart. She could sense that Jiang Qing'e cared deeply about anything related to Li Luo.
"You know that the preliminary assessments for the Saint Xuanxing Academy's entrance exams are about to begin across various prefectures, right?" Lü Qing'er asked.
Jiang Qing'e nodded. "Naturally. The Nanfeng Academy in Tianshu Prefecture is one of the key branches. As the Young Mansion Master of Luolan Manor, Li Luo should be participating."
"That's precisely what I wanted to talk to you about," Lü Qing'er said, her expression turning somewhat solemn. "I received some intelligence from Tianshu Prefecture recently. It seems that Pei Hao's people have been quietly moving behind the scenes."
Jiang Qing'e's expression remained calm, but the temperature in the pavilion seemed to drop a degree. "Pei Hao? That ungrateful wretch. It looks like he still hasn't given up on causing trouble for Li Luo."
"It's more than just causing trouble," Lü Qing'er said earnestly. "Pei Hao now controls a significant portion of Luolan Manor's internal authority. Although he hasn't dared to make a blatant move against Li Luo—partly because of your deterrent presence and partly because of the Manor's remaining loyal elders—he certainly doesn't want Li Luo to enter Saint Xuanxing Academy smoothly."
"If Li Luo successfully enters Saint Xuanxing Academy, especially if he manages to enter the First Academy and gain your backing, his status as the Young Mansion Master will become truly unshakable. Pei Hao will never allow that to happen."
Jiang Qing'e's lips pressed into a thin, cold line. A sharp, piercing aura briefly flashed through her clear eyes, making the surrounding air hum faintly. "He wouldn't dare lay a hand on Li Luo's life while I am in Luolan Manor. But petty obstructions... Pei Hao always was good at those small, despicable tricks."
"What are his plans?" Jiang Qing'e asked coldly.
"According to my sources, Pei Hao has been pulling strings through local influential figures in Tianshu Prefecture, attempting to pressure the Nanfeng Academy. They want to find a way to disqualify Li Luo during the preliminary assessments, or at least suppress his scores so he can't qualify for Saint Xuanxing Academy," Lü Qing'er explained.
"Disqualify him?" A chilling arc formed at the corner of Jiang Qing'e's mouth. "Does Pei Hao really think the rules of Saint Xuanxing Academy can be manipulated so easily by his subordinates?"
"Saint Xuanxing Academy naturally has strict and fair rules, but Tianshu Prefecture is far away from the Great Xia capital," Lü Qing'er reminded her. "Local officials and academy examiners can sometimes be influenced or pressured, especially when Pei Hao dangles enough benefits or exerts local pressure."
Jiang Qing'e fell silent for a moment, her fingers gently tapping against the rim of her teacup. The faint Resonance Art fluctuations around her gradually subsided, but the stillness in her eyes made it clear that a storm was brewing beneath the surface.
"I understand," Jiang Qing'e said softly after a brief pause. She raised her head and looked at Lü Qing'er. "Thank you for telling me this, Qing'er. If you hadn't used the Golden Dragon Bank's intelligence network, I might not have learned about Pei Hao's little scheme so quickly."
Lü Qing'er shook her head slightly, her tone earnest. "We're friends, and besides... I've always admired Li Luo's resilience. He's been carrying the burden of Luolan Manor despite having an empty resonance. I don't want to see Pei Hao succeed in bullying him."
Having an empty resonance was a fatal flaw for anyone aspiring to walk the path of a Resonance cultivator. For the past several years, Li Luo had endured countless mocking gazes and immense pressure while trying to hold his ground in Tianshu Prefecture. Lü Qing'er felt a deep sense of sympathy and respect for the young man.
Jiang Qing'e looked at Lü Qing'er, a faint, complicated glint passing through her eyes. She knew how outstanding Lü Qing'er was—talented, beautiful, and possessing an extraordinary background. In the entire Great Xia Kingdom, few young women could compare to her.
"What do you plan to do?" Lü Qing'er asked, breaking the brief silence. "Are you going to leave for Tianshu Prefecture yourself? With your current status and strength, if you show up there, Pei Hao's little plots will instantly crumble into dust."
Jiang Qing'e shook her head. "No, I can't leave the capital right now. Pei Hao is currently watching my every move within Luolan Manor. If I leave, he might take the opportunity to purge the remaining loyal supporters. Moreover..."
She paused, a trace of confidence returning to her serene face. "Moreover, I trust Li Luo."
"You trust him?" Lü Qing'er blinked in surprise. "Even with his empty resonance..."
"You haven't seen him recently, Qing'er," Jiang Qing'e interrupted softly, a rare hint of genuine warmth and pride crossing her features. "Li Luo is not the kind of person who simply accepts defeat. Since he dares to face the entrance exams, he must have his own plans. My junior brother... has never been a disappointment."
Looking at the absolute trust in Jiang Qing'e's eyes, Lü Qing'er felt a slight tug in her chest. She couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. To be trusted so completely by someone like Jiang Qing'e was something few people in the world could ever hope for.
"Alright," Lü Qing'er conceded with a helpless yet fond smile. "Since you have such confidence in him, I suppose I shouldn't worry too much. However... just in case, I've already instructed the Golden Dragon Bank's branch in Tianshu Prefecture to keep a close eye on the situation. If Pei Hao crosses any lines, they will provide appropriate assistance to Li Luo, discreetly."
Jiang Qing'e looked at Lü Qing'er, her expression softening sincerely. "Thank you, Qing'er."
"Don't mention it," Lü Qing'er waved a slender hand dismissively. "Just remember to treat me to a good meal next time when you have the chance."
"Deal," Jiang Qing'e agreed without hesitation.
She stood up from the stone bench, her pristine white robes fluttering gently in the breeze. Her gaze drifted toward the direction of Tianshu Prefecture, far off in the distance beyond the capital.
*Li Luo...*
*You must pass this test smoothly. I am waiting for you here at Saint Xuanxing Academy.*Jiang Qing'e couldn't be bothered with him and simply turned, walking out toward the subterranean vault. She knew that Li Luo was feeling rather stirred up right now, which was why he couldn't feel comfortable unless he was being cheeky.
The two of them emerged from the basement, where they once more found President Lü waiting for them. However, standing gracefully beside him this time was a young maiden.
Dressed in cyan, she possessed a slender physique and a strikingly refined appearance. Her raven-hair cascaded like a waterfall down to a waist as thin as a willow leaf. Her eyes were bright and profound, but what drew the eye most of all was her skin—a translucent, snow-white radiance, as if she were truly made of ice-forged bone and jade flesh.Besides, she wore translucent, silk-like gloves on her hands, yet even through the barrier of the gloves, one could sense how slender and delicate her jade fingers were. Surely, if those gloves were to be removed, that pair of jade hands would undoubtedly make anyone drool with lingering fascination.
In terms of appearance and temperament, the young lady before him was evidently a cut above Difa Qing whom he had seen previously.
However, when Li Luo laid eyes on her, his expression twitched with a subtle, almost imperceptible awkwardness before he swiftly restored his composure.
"Ha-ha, this is my little niece, Lü Qing'er. She is currently studying at Nanfeng Academy as well, and she holds Miss Jiang in such high admiration that she insisted on tagging along to meet her. I hope Miss Jiang won't mind," President Lu said, cupping his fists toward Jiang Qing'e with a beaming smile.
"Greetings, Senior Jiang," Lü Qing'er said, executing a poised and graceful bow toward Jiang Qing'e.
Jiang Qing'e looked Lü Qing'er up and down, then nodded slightly and said, "Since you also study at Nanfeng Academy, you and Li Luo should be acquainted, right?"
Lü Qing'er glanced sidelong at Li Luo, gave a light, shallow nod, and said with deep, enigmatic eyes, "In the past, Li Luo offered me guidance in Resonance Art, and I've always been very grateful to him. It's just that these past two years, he hasn't seemed very willing to see me."
Upon hearing this, Li Luo immediately broke into an awkward smile and hurriedly laughed it off. "No, no, don't talk nonsense. It's just that we belong to different academies, so we rarely run into each other, that's all."
Inwardly, however, a wave of helplessness washed over him. The Lü Qing'er before him enjoyed a reputation in Nanfeng Academy a full tier higher than Difa Qing's golden blossom status. This was not only because she was breathtakingly beautiful, but also because she was currently the new figurehead of Nanfeng Academy—undisputedly the absolute number one, even within the fiercely competitive First Academy where talents abounded.Back when Li Luo was still in the First Academy and most students had not yet opened their Resonance Palaces, his innate talent and comprehension in Resonance Art undoubtedly made him the standout figure of the First Academy. Consequently, many students often sought his guidance, and Lü Qing'er was among them.
Their relationship back then had actually been quite good.
It was only later, following those unexpected twists and turns and Li Luo's demotion from the First Academy to the Second Academy, that their relationship became much more awkward.
Of course, the main reason was that Li Luo tended to avoid Lü Qing'er. It wasn't out of dislike for her, but rather because meeting her was simply too awkward—after all, he used to be the top student of the First Academy, and now Lü Qing'er had taken his place.
Li Luo was also a proud and spirited youth, so to spare himself that kind of awkwardness, he generally went out of his way to avoid Lü Qing'er around the academy.
He just hadn't expected to run into her here today.
Lü Qing'er remained noncommittal toward Li Luo's rather perfunctory words, though she didn't say much else either. Instead, she shifted her gaze to Jiang Qing'e and began chatting with her with a gentle smile.
Finally, they escorted Jiang Qing'e and Li Luo to the main entrance of the bank.
"Hehe, Miss Jiang, I hear Luolan Manor is going to be rather lively these past couple of days," President Lu said upon parting, his face beaming with a knowing smile.
Jiang Qing'e's expression remained calm as she replied, "President Lu is certainly well-informed."
"Ah, what a pity."
President Lu let out a sigh, then added, "If there are any areas for cooperation in the future, the two of you should feel free to come to me. At the Golden Dragon Bank, we believe that harmony brings wealth."
Li Luo, standing to the side, felt somewhat puzzled, but he didn't ask any questions. He simply followed Jiang Qing'e into the carriage and they quickly departed.
President Lu rubbed his greasy, chubby face and glanced over at Lü Qing'er beside him, noticing her watery eyes gazing in the direction where the carriage had left.
"Ahem."
President Lu suddenly gave a cough and said, "I say, girl, you—you wouldn't happen to have feelings for that Li Luo, would you?"
Lü Qing'er gave President Lu a sideways glance and replied in a soft voice, "I simply feel it's a pity for Li Luo. Besides, he really did guide me in Resonance Art back then. As for Li Luo, I only hold the admiration I've had since before. If not for his empty resonance, he would have been my biggest rival back at Nanfeng Academy."
President Lu patted his chest and let out a huge sigh of relief. "That's good, that's good then. Qing'er, the man is already betrothed, so it's best not to get involved. With your conditions, which young genius in this Great Xia Kingdom wouldn't be a match for you?"
Lü Qing'er shook her head, paying no mind to her second uncle's rambling, and turned away amidst a drift of faint fragrance, leaving President Lu standing there rubbing his head with a foolish grin.