Lu Muning rode her horse with a look of utter despair, following closely beside the carriage. Before long, the carriage slowly came to a halt.
"Miss Murong, we have arrived at the inn. Let me help you down," Lu Chengze said.
"Thank you," Murong Yunsheng replied.
Lu Chengze stepped down from the carriage and considerately lifted the curtain. Murong Yunsheng stepped out, causing a stir among the people on the street, who immediately began to whisper among themselves.
"Who is this young lady? That's Young Master Lu himself lifting the carriage curtain for her!"
"Could she be the future young mistress of the Lu Family?"
"She's wearing a mask, so who knows which noble family's daughter she is?"
Ignoring the commotion, Murong Yunsheng raised her head to look at the inn before her: Lanyue Inn.
Standing three stories high with an imposing aura, even from the outside one could tell how luxuriously the interior was decorated.
Chiyun couldn't help but marvel in their mental space, "This must be the finest inn in the entire imperial city. It seems this Young Master Lu is genuinely trying to win you over!"
"Once he finds out my purpose for coming to Shuangmeng Continent, he'll probably regret it," Murong Yunsheng thought.
As soon as Lu Chengze walked into the inn with Murong Yunsheng, the innkeeper hurried over with a beaming smile. "Young Master Lu, your esteemed presence brings great honor to my humble establishment! What brings you..."
"Get the best suite for this lady. Put whatever number of Spirit Stones it costs on my tab, and send someone to the manor to collect it," Lu Chengze commanded.
The innkeeper's smile widened so much he looked like a blooming flower. "Right away, right away! Young Master Lu, please, this way to the upper floor."
Watching the two of them head toward the private rooms upstairs, Lu Muning stood frozen as if struck by lightning. A moment later, she quickly followed after them.
Inside the private room:
"Miss, this is the finest room in our inn. Please see if it is to your satisfaction," the innkeeper said.
"Yes, thank you, Innkeeper."
"Innkeeper, Miss Murong is a friend of mine, Young Master Lu. You had better take good care of her. If she suffers even the slightest mishap in your inn, I won't let you off!" Lu Chengze warned.
"Naturally, naturally! Young Master Lu, you can rest easy," the innkeeper replied repeatedly, breaking out in a cold sweat.
It was clear this young lady shared a truly extraordinary relationship with Young Master Lu!
"Well then, Young Master Lu, I'll leave you to your business. I'll take my leave now, and if you need anything, just call for me," the innkeeper said.
"Very well," Lu Chengze nodded.
Once the innkeeper had gone, Lu Chengze said, "Miss Murong, please rest easy here. The auction at the Treasure Auction House will take place in three days, and I will come to take you there then."
"Very well, thank you, Young Master Lu." As she spoke, Murong Yunsheng retrieved a brocade box from her spatial storage and handed it to Lu Chengze.
"What is this?" Lu Chengze asked.
"Those three pills were merely payment for the boat fare. Young Master Lu need not pay for my lodging here as well. Consider this as payment for the inn," Murong Yunsheng explained.
"No, no, I couldn't."
"Take it. I don't like owing favors."
Favors were the hardest debts to repay...
Hearing the unwavering tone in Murong Yunsheng's voice, Lu Chengze had no choice but to accept the brocade box.
Outside the door, Lu Muning had taken in every bit of this scene. The moment she stepped back out of the inn, she hurried straight into the carriage.
Unable to contain her impatience, she blurted out, "Big Brother, Big Brother! Who was that young lady? Is she going to be our future sister-in-law?"
Her eyes seemed to be sparkling with stars.
"Shut up and stop talking nonsense. Your older brother here isn't worthy of that young lady," Lu Chengze replied.
In terms of raw talent alone, he simply wasn't a match for her.
"..." Lu Muning was speechless.
Her expression cracked completely.
Just who was her older brother? He was the young master of the Lu Family, one of the Four Great Families of the Shuangmeng Continent! A business prodigy with a striking appearance—how could there possibly be someone her brother wasn't worthy of?
"That young lady is an honored guest," Lu Chengze continued solemnly. "Moreover, the auction held by the Nangong Family's Treasure Auction House is in three days. During this time, many major factions from across the Shuangmeng Continent will surely flood into the imperial city. You are forbidden from causing trouble for me. There are forces out there that even our Lu Family cannot afford to provoke.
I usually let you get away with your mischievous antics, but this time is different. The Tianluo Ruins are about to open, and this auction is bound to attract hidden factions from all over the Shuangmeng Continent, and perhaps even people from other continents."
Lu Muning pouted and muttered, "Big Brother, you can rest easy. Although I love to stir up trouble sometimes, I know the difference between major and minor matters. I won't cause trouble for our family."
"Good to hear," Lu Chengze said.
"Then, Big Brother, can we discuss the matter of Shuangmeng Academy again?" Lu Muning asked tentatively.
"There is nothing to discuss. Both of you are going whether you like it or not. Do you have any idea how many members of the Gu Family and the Shangguan Family from the Four Great Families are already at Shuangmeng Academy? And it's not just the two of you—I will be attending this recruitment cycle for Shuangmeng Academy as well."
"Big Brother, you're going too? Then what about our chamber of commerce affairs..."
"Father and I will make our own arrangements for the chamber of commerce, so you don't need to worry about it. All you need to do is pack your things and focus on participating in the Shuangmeng Academy entrance trials."
As he spoke, Lu Chengze suddenly thought of something. "Oh, and don't think that you and that brat Chengfeng can just deliberately fail the Shuangmeng Academy entrance trials and coast through life. If you fail to get into Shuangmeng Academy, you're coming straight home to learn how to manage the family's business affairs."
These words shattered the last thread of faint hope in Lu Muning's heart.
Managing business affairs at home? She would rather go to Shuangmeng Academy and study!
Wuuu...
Although Lu Muning was filled with despair at the impending loss of her freedom, she still couldn't suppress her burning curiosity. "Big Brother, is that young lady going to Shuangmeng Academy too? Big Brother, who is she anyway? Is she from our Shuangmeng Continent? Why does she keep wearing a mask all the time?"
A barrage of questions rained down, giving Lu Chengze a slight headache. He slowly closed his eyes. "Ask one more question, and I'll throw you out of the carriage."
Lu Muning pouted, rolled her eyes in silence, and let out a huffy, "Hmph!"
Meanwhile, Lu Chengze found himself wondering just what was inside that brocade box.
***
Night fell.
In the study:
"Father, Mother, I don't know which continent Miss Murong is from, but I met her on the Xuanming Continent. These three grade-nine Soul-Nourishing Pills were given by Miss Murong as our boat fare, and I've already checked the contents of this brocade box—it's a half-life hibiscus flower."
Lu Sui, the current head of the Lu Family, gazed at the items laid out on the desk before him, a hint of solemnity crossing his brow. "Grade-nine medicinal pills... even the most skilled alchemist in the entire Shuangmeng Continent can only brew grade-seven pills at best. Furthermore, according to ancient records, these Soul-Nourishing Pills are exceptionally difficult to refine. As long as a person still has a single breath left in them, taking a grade-nine Soul-Nourishing Pill will guarantee they survive for three more days."