157: Return to White Cloud City

"Hmph, what's there to be ashamed of?"

Xin Yuelan hugged him even tighter, the corners of her mouth curling up smugly beneath her mask.

"I am now the Young Master's 'maidservant,' isn't it only right to serve him closely?"

Fairy Lin, don't you agree? Or... are you jealous?"

"Who—who's jealous!"

Lin Qingxue, her thoughts exposed, grew even more embarrassed and annoyed. She stomped her foot in anger, her eyes turning slightly red as she looked at Yao Delong.

"Senior Brother! Look at her!"

Yao Delong looked at the two women before him—one fuming and the other acting pitiful—and felt a massive headache coming on.

After a brief reflection, he said to Lin Qingxue, "Junior Sister, how about this: you carry her on your sword."

He pointed at Xin Yuelan. "Her cultivation is currently sealed, making her no different from a Mortal. She truly cannot fly on her own."

Hearing this, Lin Qingxue immediately summoned her Flying Sword without hesitation.

It was a longsword, ice-blue throughout and radiating a piercing cold, perfectly complementing her aloof temperament.

She completed the action almost the instant Yao Delong finished speaking,

as if deathly afraid that if she were a step too slow, that demonic woman would jump straight onto Yao Delong's Flying Sword.

"Hmph!" Xin Yuelan snorted in dissatisfaction at the sight, but she also knew this was the best arrangement for now.

She rolled her eyes at Yao Delong and reluctantly moved onto Lin Qingxue's ice-blue Flying Sword,

deliberately standing far away from Lin Qingxue with her arms crossed, looking for all the world like a "Young Miss deigning to descend."

Yao Delong watched his Junior Sister's rare "protective" behavior and shook his head with a helpless smile.

Wasting no more time, he activated his Flying Sword and transformed into a streak of light, taking to the sky first.

Lin Qingxue also immediately followed on her ice-blue Flying Sword. The two lights, one following the other, sped toward the Yin Yang Sect.

At this moment, Yao Delong was unaware that because of the signal Xin Yuelan had left in Canglan City,

throughout the Ba Xia Dynasty, a vast number of sleeper agents belonging to the Heavenly Demon Sect were like sharks scenting blood,

swarming frantically toward Canglan City from all directions. An invisible net was being hastily spread.

Yao Delong chose the most direct route, flying straight toward the mountain gate of the Yin Yang Sect.

This route did not require crossing the Yao Beast-infested Heavenly Demon Mountain Range, making the journey much smoother.

Combined with his eagerness to return home, he pushed his Flying Sword's speed to the limit. Whether it was exceptional luck or the slow gathering of demonic cultivators,

he didn't encounter a single demonic Cultivator along the way. In just a few days,

a familiar and grand city once again appeared in his sight.

White Cloud City!

Looking at the familiar silhouette below, Yao Delong felt a wave of emotions.

The last time he came here, he was still a Qi Condensation Cultivator at the end of his Lifespan, old and frail,

staking everything to find the life-extending Spirit Medicine, heavenly vein ganoderma.

But now, he was a great Cultivator at the Middle Golden Core Stage, his Lifespan vastly extended and his spirits high,

with beauties by his side, though one of them had a special identity.

In just a few short months, his lot in life had been completely upturned.

The Flying Sword landed outside the city. Yao Delong noticed that the inspections for entering the inner city were much stricter than during his last visit.

Long queues had formed at the city gates. The guards not only carefully checked identity documents,

but also used some kind of detection Magical Artifact to scan those entering, their gazes vigilant.

"It seems the last attack on the City Lord has caused City Lord Mu Long to strengthen the security."

Yao Delong understood. The three of them passed the inspection smoothly.

With Yao Delong's Golden Core Stage cultivation and his Yin Yang Sect Core Disciple identity token, the guards did not dare to be negligent.

Upon stepping into the city, Yao Delong felt an even more obvious change.

The houses and streets destroyed in the last great battle had long since been restored, becoming even cleaner and more spacious than before.

Shops lined both sides of the streets, crowds bustled about, and the cries of vendors rose and fell—a scene of prosperity,

with no trace of the Nascent Soul-level battle that had occurred not long ago.

"It seems City Lord Mu has invested quite a lot," Lin Qingxue remarked softly.

Yao Delong nodded. "Having survived a catastrophe and been reborn from the ashes, White Cloud City seems even more full of life."

The three of them found an elegant-looking restaurant, planning to take a short rest and eat something before continuing their journey.

This place was only seven hundred li from the Yin Yang Sect's mountain gate; at their speed, they could arrive in half a day.

They sat by a window on the second floor and ordered several local specialties.

While tasting the food, Yao Delong listened to the chatter of the surrounding diners.

As expected, most of the topics revolved around the City Lord's Manor.

"Have you heard? City Lord Mu's sworn brother, Lord Liu Tiezhu, successfully broke through to the Nascent Soul Stage a few days ago!"

"Really? That's wonderful news! White Cloud City finally has two Nascent Soul powerhouses guarding it!"

"Indeed, thanks to City Lord Mu's diligent governance and the investment of massive amounts of Spirit Stones to rebuild the city,

as well as bringing in many merchant caravans, our White Cloud City has become more and more prosperous!"

"Exactly. Before, the inner city always felt aloof, but now the whole city feels alive..."

Listening to these discussions, the corners of Yao Delong's mouth curled up slightly. It seemed City Lord Mu had not disregarded the simple words Yao Delong had spoken that day.

After finishing their meal, the three of them rose to leave.

Just as they reached the restaurant's entrance, they saw a young man dressed in a brocade robe with a much steadier aura,

running over breathlessly from across the street. His face held a hint of uncertain doubt, and his gaze fell directly on Lin Qingxue.

"May I ask... are you Fairy Lin?" the young man asked tentatively, his voice lacking its former frivolity.

Yao Delong and Lin Qingxue turned back at the sound.

The newcomer was none other than the son of the City Lord of White Cloud City—Mu Baitie!

Mu Baitie had noticed Lin Qingxue when the three of them entered the restaurant,

after all, Lin Qingxue's appearance and temperament were far too outstanding.

But Yao Delong's appearance had changed drastically—he was now young and handsome, with a cultivation level that was unfathomable—so he didn't recognize him at all.

The masked Xin Yuelan beside him, with her white hair and red eyes, was even more mysterious.

He didn't dare to approach them rashly, and only when he saw them leaving did he muster the courage to run over and confirm.

Lin Qingxue naturally recognized him as well and gave a slight nod. "Young Master Mu, is there something?"

Seeing Lin Qingxue respond, Mu Baitie's face immediately lit up with joy,

and he scratched his head somewhat bashfully, completely devoid of his former arrogant and overbearing playboy demeanor.

He hurriedly asked, "I wonder... has Fairy Lin's Senior Brother, Great Master Yao, come to White Cloud City?

My father has been constantly mentioning him, wanting to thank Great Master Yao in person for saving his life!"

Hearing this, Lin Qingxue's gaze naturally turned toward Yao Delong beside her.

Mu Baitie also followed her gaze, feeling that this extraordinary and richly dressed young man before him looked somewhat familiar,

but for a moment, he couldn't recall where he had seen him, assuming he was just some highly respected Core Disciple of the Yin Yang Sect.

However, the young man smiled slightly and spoke:

"What is it, Young Master Mu? After not seeing each other for a few months, you no longer recognize This Yao?"