37: Lu Gui's eyes lit up, and Lin Yi's eyebrows were filled with joy.

While Shen Qing and his group headed to the City Lord's Mansion, Lin Yi, Lu Gui, and Liu Ruyan were also on their way.

However, things were not very peaceful on their side.

At this moment, Lu Gui was driving the carriage, and Lin Yi was accompanying him outside.

Inside the carriage were only Liu Ruyan and her maid who was responsible for taking care of her. Besides them, neither Lu Gui, the legitimate son-in-law, nor Lin Yi, the esteemed guest, was allowed to enter.

Lu Gui did want to ride in the same carriage as Liu Ruyan. He eagerly pulled open the curtain but was immediately chased out.

Helpless, he had no choice but to drive the carriage. After all, driving was, by approximation, still being in the same carriage.

As for Lin Yi, he was originally not interested in Liu Ruyan. He had never even seen her before, and she was his good adoptive father's fiancée, so he had to show proper respect.

But just now, with a fleeting glance, although she quickly went inside, there was no mistake—that was Second Senior Sister!

Liu Ruyan, Ruyan... A thunderclap rumbled in Lin Yi's heart.

There was no mistake, this was definitely Second Senior Sister!

Wait a minute, doesn't that mean Second Senior Sister is now my adoptive mother?

He looked at Lu Gui with a complicated expression.

The horses pulling the carriage were not ordinary, and their speed was very fast. Soon, they arrived outside the City Lord's Mansion.

Lu Gui greeted Lin Yi to get off the carriage, then eagerly lifted the curtain: "Ru..."

"Miss Liu, I will help you down."

Liu Ruyan glanced at him indifferently. With the help of her maid, she got out of the carriage and said expressionlessly, "No need."

The moment she saw Lin Yi, she was a little surprised, but Liu Ruyan did not stop because of it.

Lu Gui watched Liu Ruyan's retreating figure, grinning foolishly.

She looked at me, she spoke to me.

There are still two years, and I will definitely be able to melt this block of ice that is Ruyan!

"Adoptive Father, how did you two get together?" Lin Yi asked, feigning curiosity.

"It was Ruyan's grandfather who set this engagement." Lu Gui said happily, "My senior and I helped him, so he decided to marry Ruyan to me."

"Although Ruyan hasn't fully accepted it yet, I know that's only because she doesn't like such an engagement, not because she doesn't like me."

Lu Gui could imagine their happy life together in the future.

"Oh—" Lin Yi nodded in understanding.

So that's how it is, Second Senior Sister was forced.

Since that's the case, then I have to help Second Senior Sister escape this sea of suffering!

Adoptive Father, you must understand, it's not that your son is not human, but Second Senior Sister is truly beautiful!

The City Lord's Mansion was majestic and solemn, with high walls and deep courtyards, flying eaves and upturned corners. The main hall inside was brightly lit, and although not extremely luxurious, it possessed an air of solemnity and grandeur.

As soon as everyone entered, servants came forward to guide them.

Inside the hall, cups clinked as the city's powerful, wealthy merchants, and celebrities gathered together.

Hua Xiangrong walked gracefully to her parents, Hua Chengyue and his wife, and then breathed a sigh of relief.

She could barely accept it in the carriage, but if she had to be toyed with by Shen Qing at this banquet, it would be fine if no one saw it, but if she were seen, it would be incredibly shameful.

The City Lord sat commandingly in the main seat. To his left was an inconspicuous old Daoist in a black Daoist robe, as if he could blend into the crowd at any moment.

To his right was a cultivator with a long beard and long hair, possessing an otherworldly aura, looking like a true master.

City Lord Mu Jinghai immediately stood up the moment Shen Qing and Ning Zhenzhen entered. He raised his cup and came before them, chuckling, "Presumably, these two are Immortal Lord Zhao's esteemed disciples, Young Friend Shen and Young Friend Ning. I am City Lord Mu Jinghai, the City Lord of Yongning Prefecture."

"To be able to invite you two truly brings glory to my City Lord's Mansion."

With that, he drained the wine in his cup.

"City Lord Mu is too kind." Shen Qing also raised his wine cup and took a sip.

Ning Zhenzhen followed suit, but she drank tea instead of wine.

After greeting them, the City Lord did not linger and turned back to his main seat, maintaining a perfect sense of propriety that would not annoy anyone.

He had no intention of trying to win over Shen Qing and Ning Zhenzhen. Yongning Prefecture was, after all, his domain, and all he needed to do was not offend them.

Soon, once everyone was present, the City Lord stood up solemnly and introduced everyone: "This is Daoist Yulong."

The inconspicuous old Daoist to his left raised a cup to everyone.

"Yulong?"

"This is Daoist Yulong?"

"I heard Daoist Yulong is a righteous and kind-hearted person. If there's any injustice, just find him to mediate."

Shen Qing heard Jiang Lin, Jiang Wanqing's father, say this.

And Lu Gui's eyes lit up.

Others might not know, but how could he not know? This True Person Yulong was clearly the Old Dragon King of the Dragon King Hall, his master!

The so-called True Person Yulong was merely a fake identity he used to conceal his true self when traveling. In reality, he had killed far more people than he had saved.

Soon, the City Lord continued, "And this is Medical Immortal Daoist, famous for his Thirteen Needles of the Ghost Gate."

The otherworldly Medical Immortal to his right also raised a cup to everyone.

"Though I am not very talented, I have achieved a little in medical skills. If any of you have any injuries or illnesses, I can examine you after the banquet."

His words were polite, but his expression was not.

Medical Immortal was quite well-known among the powerful and wealthy in Yongning Prefecture.

He arrived in Yongning Prefecture over a decade ago and cured many people with his Thirteen Needles of the Ghost Gate. Unfortunately, he later went into seclusion and had not descended the mountain for over ten years.

Lin Yi's face lit up with joy.

The Old Man had indeed descended the mountain!

He looked at Shen Qing, who was sitting with the Jiang Family, a hint of malice flashing in his eyes, and a cruel smile spread across his lips.

Pretty Boy, your good days are over!

He had been so focused on Medical Immortal earlier that he hadn't noticed the City Lord personally toasting Shen Qing and Ning Zhenzhen.

But Medical Immortal and True Person Yulong clearly weren't so unobservant. They raised their questions.

City Lord Mu Jinghai briefly introduced Shen Qing and Ning Zhenzhen to them in a few words.

"They are Immortal Lord Zhao's disciples?"

Both were surprised.

That was an Immortal King. In this era where Immortal Emperors did not appear, Immortal Kings were the pinnacle of everything, beings who transcended all living things.

They were not comparable to someone like Medical Immortal, who shamelessly called himself an "Immortal."

Tens of thousands of him would pose no threat to Zhao Mingyue; she could suppress them with a raise of her hand.

True Person Yulong and Medical Immortal exchanged glances, everything conveyed without words.

They absolutely must not offend these two!

"First of all, thank you all for coming." The City Lord stood up, facing everyone.

Consequently, most people stopped what they were doing and quieted down.

"Everyone knows that Daoist Yulong is righteous and benevolent, saving countless lives, and Medical Immortal Daoist possesses superb medical skills. Today, with all of you as witnesses, my City Lord's Mansion and the two Daoists will form an alliance, combining the strengths of our three parties to work together for the welfare of the people."

City Lord Mu Jinghai said with dignity and solemnity.

Meanwhile, the system, based on the close connection of fate, already knew that Daoist Yulong was the Old Dragon King of the Dragon King Hall.

So Shen Qing was very curious if City Lord Mu Jinghai knew True Person Yulong's true identity?

His words were quite pleasant to hear.

Regardless of everyone's thoughts—whether surprised, disdainful, or truly moved by City Lord Mu Jinghai's words—they were now discussing enthusiastically, as if this truly were a great and wonderful event.

When the atmosphere had cooled down sufficiently, Medical Immortal waved his hand, "Next, please allow me to introduce my young disciple, the inheritor who has fully mastered my Thirteen Needles of the Ghost Gate—Lin Yi."