Chapter 633: A Re-Encounter

"White Jade Fan, Jiang Huaixu?" Chu Liang asked.

Lackey A nodded.

Chu Liang continued, "Mountain Tiger, Meng Shouyang?"

Lackey B offered an awkward, embarrassed smile.

Chu Liang felt a strange sense of disillusionment. It wasn't just the passing of time that threw him off—it felt as if he had been transported into another life altogether.

For a moment, he didn't know what to say.

Lackey A and Lackey B just stood there grinning foolishly.

The royal family and subjects of the High Moon Kingdom, standing in front of the grand hall, were equally dumbfounded. Moments ago, they had already been shocked beyond words.

Just earlier, the massive airship owned by the Four Overlords of Mount Shu had appeared in the skies over the High Moon Kingdom for the very first time. The entire capital had looked up in awe, marveling at the grandeur of the arrival of the representatives of the Red Cotton Peak.

Two legendary figures had then descended from the ship, flanked by powerful experts, only to suddenly freeze, wearing expressions of disbelief the moment they entered the hall.

The king, along with the royal uncle and other members of the royal family, quickly stepped forward to greet the newcomers. While these two were technically juniors in terms of age or cultivation, the immense power behind them demanded that the High Moon Kingdom show proper respect.

"The arrival of the two esteemed young heroes brings great honor to our humble High Moon Kingdom," the king said warmly, taking the lead.

But White Jade Fan and Mountain Tiger didn't seem to hear him at all. Their eyes were locked on one spot in the hall. Without another word, they suddenly dashed forward.

While everyone else looked on in utter confusion, the two of them shouted in unison, "Big Bro!"

They moved like the wind and stopped in front of Chu Liang, appearing so excited and agitated.

The crowd turned to look, and there was Chu Liang, standing calmly with a faint smile, waiting for them. His demeanor truly matched that of an older brother.

It was well known that the Four Overlords were among the most powerful and influential figures in the Mount Shu Sect in recent years.

To outsiders, even a peak master of the Mount Shu Sect might not carry the same weight. After all, peak masters generally stayed out of external affairs. But the Four Overlords of Mount Shu managed Red Cotton Peak, whose wealth and influence spread across the world. Their power far exceeded what most could imagine.

Furthermore, with Di Nufeng of the Silver Sword Peak backing them, who could possibly outrank them as a "big brother"?

The royal uncle of the High Moon Kingdom, in particular, had assumed that someone of Chu Liang's age was merely an unremarkable disciple who had left Mount Shu. He never expected that Chu Liang would hold such a high status.

Had he known earlier, he never would have spoken so openly in front of him, supporting Taotie City and badmouthing Red Cotton Peak.

Unfortunately, it was too late for regrets.

"If I'm not mistaken, I know the other two Overlords as well?" Chu Liang said with a smile.

Lackey A scratched his head sheepishly and replied, "Hehe, it's just our boss and Lin Bei. All that Four Overlords stuff is just the martial world giving us too much credit."

Fragrant Tiger, Lin Bei.

Cloud-Turning Book, Shang Ziliang.

White Jade Fan, Jiang Huaixu.

Mountain Tiger, Meng Shouyang.

Hearing these familiar names, Chu Liang felt a wave of nostalgia. Those silly, clueless kids from back then had somehow grown into famous figures in the world of immortality cultivators.

Although... they still didn't look particularly bright.

Chu Liang couldn't help but ask, "With your combined intelligence... I imagine turning Red Cotton Peak into what it is today must not have been easy. Who's actually running things?"

Lackey A chuckled and replied, "Of course, it's your esteemed teacher."

Chu Liang responded, "Then it must have been even more difficult."

"

Cough,

" Lackey A lowered his voice and glanced around cautiously. "Big Bro, it's not convenient to talk about this here. We'll explain everything once we get back."

With that comment, Chu Liang immediately understood.

At first, he wondered if someone like Venerable Wen Yuan or one of Mount Shu's Guardian Elders might be running things. But seeing how hesitant Lackey A was to say anything, it confirmed a surprising suspicion Chu Liang had.

It was quite unexpected.

Chu Liang smiled and said, "We'll catch up another day. Let's settle the matter with the High Moon Kingdom first."

...

In the grand hall of the High Moon Kingdom, three large chairs were immediately arranged, a stark contrast to how Chu Liang had been treated on his first day.

Lackey A and Lackey B initially tried to get Chu Liang to sit in the center, but he casually stepped to the side and said with a smile, "You handle the business; I won't interfere."

The two exchanged glances and nodded firmly, clearly determined to give their best performance in front of him.

Chu Liang hadn't shared what he knew about Taotie City's dealings, as he could see they were confident and well-prepared. He didn't want to steal their spotlight.

It was also a great chance to see just how much they had improved over the years.

Lackey A and Lackey B might be grinning foolishly in front of Chu Liang, but the moment they turned to the royal family of the High Moon Kingdom, their demeanor changed. They exuded boldness and confidence and appeared sharp and composed.

"Your Majesty," Lackey A began in a calm, steady voice that immediately drew everyone's attention. "On our way here, we heard that Taotie City made a special effort to arrive early. I imagine they must have presented you with quite a generous offer."

"Young Hero Jiang, I was not not informed of Taotie City's visit in advance," the king of the High Moon Kingdom replied with a smile. "However, since they are part of the Divine Nine and Terrestrial Ten and they had worked with us for many years, we couldn't refuse to meet them. Young Hero Chu witnessed everything. Their offer was indeed tempting, but our friendship with the Mount Shu Sect is much stronger, so we never seriously considered working with them."

"That's the right attitude," Lackey A said with a smile. "At Red Cotton Peak, we've always believed in mutual support and shared benefits with our allies. As long as the High Moon Kingdom stands with us, I can guarantee that the conditions we offer will always be unmatched."

"Of course, the High Moon Kingdom has always considered the Red Cotton Peak as our closest ally," the king said, nodding repeatedly.

"This time, we have come here specifically to discuss this matter," Lackey A continued. "In addition to the original offer and accepting disciples from Grand Wind Hall, we have another proposal."

"Your Majesty may already be familiar with some of our franchise businesses on the Red Cotton Peak, which are well known for their success. For example, the Red Moon Pavilion has opened branches across the land of the nine provinces of the Yu Dynasty and has thrived in every location. Now, we're looking to expand beyond the Yu Dynasty's borders, and we'd like to choose the High Moon Kingdom as the location for our very first store. What are your thoughts?"

"That would be more than wonderful!" The king nearly jumped up in excitement.

The franchise businesses from Red Cotton Peak were never limited to a single restaurant. Wherever they opened, they always came with surrounding shop renovations. It could be said that wherever Red Cotton Peak developed, the place would immediately become a bustling hotspot and a veritable money tree.

If Red Cotton Peak invested this much effort into the High Moon Kingdom, their rise to prosperity would be just around the corner, and they would undoubtedly pull ahead of the neighboring small kingdoms of the Western Regions.

"Your Majesty, what is your opinion on this?" Lackey A asked again.

"It's settled then! The High Moon Kingdom and Red Cotton Peak shall forge a friendship to last a thousand years!" The king laughed heartily.

Lackey B nodded and said, "Then I will start scouting for a location in the city today."

At that moment, the royal uncle turned his head and whispered to the attendant behind him, "Where are the representatives from Taotie City?"

"I went to look for them. They weren't at the guesthouse. It's said they went out last night to search for the princess and haven't returned yet," the attendant behind reported.

The royal uncle glanced at the cheerful scene unfolding before him and snorted coldly, "Well, there's nothing I can do for them now."

Chu Liang smiled to himself as he watched Lackey A and Lackey B. It was clear that the two had grown significantly; they were no longer the clueless juniors they had once been.

With the deal settled, the two quickly huddled beside Chu Liang, their excitement bubbling over. "Big Bro, we've been looking for you for years! Once you're back, everyone will be so happy!"

"I miss you all, too. I've long wanted to return and reunite with everyone," Chu Liang said.

Just as he was about to say more, he felt a faint vibration.

He immediately took out the United Hearts Jade and, sure enough, saw a message from Jiang Yuebai.

"I am in the Blossom Barbarian Kingdom."