Chapter 1607: Meeting Old Friends

As the waning sun illuminated the mottled walls, the old friends couldn't help but burst into laughter upon hearing the youthful conversation between Yu Lang and Li Luo. At the same time, the sense of awe and slight aversion they felt towards the latter due to his feat of slaying a King gradually melted away. Although the youth had grown older and was now a powerhouse in his own right, he hadn't changed as a person.

The years of hardship had not changed him.

The tall and handsome youth had a heartfelt smile on his face. Watching the prancing Yu Lang made his eyes light up even more joyously. He was reminded of everything that had happened between them throughout their childhood.

The dusty memories flooded him like a tide.

The memories of Southwind Academy, his blank palace, the young boys and girls. He could even remember the final exam.

Yu Lang, Zhao Kuo, and Lu Qing'er. These hazy memories emerged from the depths of his mind, causing him to grin before he stretched his hands out and took a step forward.

"Ah, you're so pretentious." Yu Lang revealed an expression of disgust.

However, his words didn't match his actions—he stretched his hands out as well to give Li Luo a heavy hug. After which, he pounded his back twice heavily as his eyes moistened.

"Thank you, Li Luo," Yu Lang almost whispered.

He was thankful for many things. It wasn't only because Li Luo had rescued them from the cusp of defeat, but also the resources he had managed to win for the Astral Sage College. He had benefited from those resources and gradually gained the attention and nurturing of the college as well.

Furthermore, after he was looked down upon by the Bai family, Li Luo had sent him a heaven-defying secret art that literally changed his life.

That was the reason why Yu Lang had become Xia Kingdom's youngest Duke expert. Although his own tenacity had certainly played a part, he also understood that it was more so because of the help given to him by the brother who had graduated from Southwind Academy with him. He prized this relationship and knew that Li Luo did too.

In the end, he revealed a carefree smile as he patted Li Luo's shoulder. "Although you've long surpassed me, if you ever need me in the future, just say the word and I'll be there."

He paused and added grimly, "Even if it's a journey into the maws of death, I will walk down that path resolutely."

Li Luo paused as he could sense the gratitude and emotions in Yu Lang's words, causing him to feel touched. That said, his lips curled up into a smirk. "Aren’t you just a piddly third-grade Duke? How dare you act so arrogantly."

Yu Lang roared in response, "Scram!"

The atmosphere was filled with brotherly affection that had been created with much difficulty... and yet it had been torn apart by Li Luo like it meant nothing.

Li Luo smiled resplendently before turning to Bai Doudou. "Doudou, my friend, I feel sorry that you've fallen for this guy."

Yu Lang retorted in annoyance, "I'm a third-grade Duke, what's there to be sorry about?"

A faint blush appeared on Bai Doudou's cheeks as she sweetly looked at Yu Lang. "Yu Lang is great. It's amazing that an insignificant school like Southwind Academy managed to produce two talented prodigies. That is very unexpected."

Li Luo's smile froze. Why was it that he didn't feel particularly happy about hearing her praise and being lumped together with his friend? He shook his head and turned towards a girl in white robes with extremely pure eyes and a charming face. Then he opened his arms.

"Mengmeng, have you missed your squad leader?"

Bai Mengmeng's face turned red and her large, lively eyes filled with shyness. She was no longer the little girl who once shared a dormitory with him. She was all grown up now. As she took in Li Luo's handsome and familiar face, she mustered up her courage and gently hugged him.

However, she immediately bounded backwards like a frightened deer after a brief moment of contact, hiding behind Bai Doudou as she timidly said, "Squad Leader, I'm super happy to see you."

Li Luo smiled. "Haha, Mengmeng, I've collected many recipes for refining spirit liquids and purifying lights in the inner divine continent. When we return, I'll send them all over to you."

"Thank you, Squad Leader," Bai Mengmeng replied happily, a little taken aback.

He then waved his hands casually, indicating that this wasn't a big deal to him. He reminisced over the memories of when he first entered the Astral Sage College, when Bai Mengmeng, Xin Fu, and he had formed a small squad.

"Oh, yes, where is Xin Fu? I heard that he returned to House Lanling?" Li Luo asked.

Bai Mengmeng’s expression dimmed. "Not long after you left the Xia Kingdom, Xin Fu was ordered to return to House Lanling. Before he left, he asked me to apologize to you."

Li Luo was slightly startled. He knew that during the Housemeet, House Lanling had accepted the mission to attack House Luolan. Chi Chan had stepped up, discarding her position as a mentor to obstruct House Lanling's House Lord, preventing him from entering Xia City and sieging House Luolan.

"That matter didn't involve him." Li Luo sighed. Xin Fu's father was none other than House Lanling's House Lord, and they had always had an air of mystery around them. They were considered assassins with strict rules and thus, Xin Fu was unable to influence the decision of his father.

"I remained in House Luolan to research on spirit liquids and purifying lights and occasionally received important information that helped House Luolan avoid disaster. Sister Cai Wei and Sister Yan couldn't discover the source of the information, but I could see from a glance that it had come from Xin Fu," Bai Mengmeng said.

Li Luo burst out into a smile as the image of the black-clad and often skulking Xin Fu appeared in his mind. "That brat. Alright, leave it to me."

Meanwhile, at the side, Jiang Qing'e had approached Cai Wei and Yan Lingqing, who were on the brink of tears.

"Sister Cai Wei and Lingqing, taking care of House Luolan must have been hard on you." Jiang Qing'e's usually icy expression had softened, her emotions on full display as she held the two girls’ hands.

Cai Wei wiped away the tears in the corners of her eyes and beamed happily, her voice hoarse. "Qing'e, I’m so glad that you're fine."

Jiang Qing'e had sacrificially ignited her Heart of Light and had no choice but to leave. The rest worried over her day and night, fearing that something had happened to her.

Seeing her return safe and sound caused the burden on their hearts to be lifted.

"Thank you, truly." Jiang Qing'e's eyes started to redden as she thanked them from the bottom of her heart. They had sacrificed their own time and lives to keep House Luolan running when there was no need to do so. Thus, everything they had done was for the sake of their friendship. They knew how important House Luolan was to Jiang Qing'e and had done their best to make it thrive.

In Jiang Qing'e's heart, the two of them were no different from family. The three girls huddled together, expressing their affection for each other.

Li Luo grinned when he saw this scene, then he looked at two men with a warm expression. "Ancestor Yuan Qing and Pavilion Master Lei Zhang, these years must have been tough on you as well."

These two were House Luolan's elders. They had pledged their allegiance to Li Luo and had done their best during the Housemeet.

Yuan Qing and Lei Zhang looked at Li Luo with eyes filled with respect. The Young Lord who once had a blank palace had reached unimaginable heights. Even though their own strength had advanced in his absence, the gap between them was akin to a firefly and the bright moon.

They could sense the incredible pressure Li Luo was emanating, and it made it impossible for them to remain calm.

His return had been shocking, especially since he had returned with an army that was capable of destroying the entire Xia Kingdom. In Li Luo's eyes, the five Great Houses were probably no different from ants.

Thus, they knew that the Young Lord's reappearance would inevitably lead to House Luolan ascending into the heavens.

With a House Lord of such strength and repute, House Luolan's position would experience an unbelievable transformation. The elders like them who had continued to defend House Luolan would finally experience the old saying. “When one ascends, even their figurative chickens and dogs will fly with him.”

"Greetings, House Lord and Lady!"

A group of people led by Yuan Qing and Lei Zhang who were garbed in the uniforms of House Luolan greeted Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e with a bow. When the other powers saw this scene, envy filled them. Although House Luolan had managed to grow under Cai Wei's management, they still fell behind the other Great Houses in terms of both momentum and power because of the lack of a proper foundation. If it weren't for the First Princess and the Astral Sage College's support, House Luolan would have long lost its businesses.

After all, one needed strength to protect what belonged to them. This was an ironclad rule that had weathered the ages. However, everything was in the past now.

𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

From today onwards, the declining House Luolan would become the unquestionably strongest power in the Xia Kingdom. Whether it was the royal court or the Astral Sage College, neither could compare.

Many secretly looked up above the City of Southwind. Perhaps even the skies might experience a heavenly change today.