536: Chapter 536 Slow, Deliberate, and Planned Distribution

Inside a tastefully furnished side hall of the East Sea Chamber of Commerce, the atmosphere was anything but tasteful.

Ju Yunluo sat in the guest seat, wearing a moon-white cross-collar deep robe, covered by a pale cyan gauze shirt.

Her usually gentle and delicate face no longer held any softness, only a simmering anger that had been suppressed for a long time.

"Elder Mu, I have waited for another half a month."

Ju Yunluo's voice was cold.

"You previously brushed me off, saying that the turnover was tight, and I was understanding. Now that half a month has passed, you tell me—there is still no Blood Essence?"

Mu Yongchang, with a slightly chubby figure, sat in the main seat. He picked up his teacup and took a slow sip. When he set it down, a troubled look hung on his face:

"Elder Yunluo, do not be impatient. Would our East Sea Chamber of Commerce ever renege on a debt to your Giant Clan?"

He spread his hands.

"It's just that the Chamber of Commerce is large and has many dealings; it is common to be unable to reallocate resources in time. The Blood Essence will certainly be given, it just needs to be delayed, slowed down, and given according to a plan."

Ju Yunluo tapped her fingertip on the table.

She took a deep breath. Ever since the Moonshadow Sect brought the Sheng-Sheng Creation Spring and lunar essence, Blood Essence was no longer indispensable for the Giant Clan.

But the problem was that the resources used to exchange for the Blood Essence—Fusang Amber and Jadeized Mulberry Leaves—had already been handed over to the East Sea Chamber of Commerce in advance. The Giant Clan, based on years of trust, hadn't intended to ask for them back, but they never expected the other party to renege on the debt!

"Very well,"

Ju Yunluo stood up, her light amber-gold pupils tightening slightly in the light.

"Since you cannot produce the Blood Essence, then return my Giant Clan's resources. Let's part ways; neither side will owe the other."

Mu Yongchang's expression changed for a moment, then he immediately piled on a smile:

"Elder Yunluo, what are you saying—I said it was just a temporary delay, not that we wouldn't give it..."

The door was suddenly pushed open.

Shopkeeper Shen Qingci stood at the doorway, wearing a simple and elegant moon-white long dress covered by a pale cyan half-sleeve, her hair held in place by a bamboo-joint hairpin. Her face was delicate and upright, and she was filled with coldness.

She strode into the hall and looked straight at Mu Yongchang:

"Elder Mu, before I left Fusang Main City, there was clearly enough Blood Essence in the warehouse. Why have you been dragging it out and not giving it? It has already been a full half month!"

"On the way back, we encountered the True Demon Army. If the Giant Clan hadn't stepped in to save us, the entire ship's cargo and everyone's lives would have been lost on the Tanggu Plain. You are here, withholding the resources meant for the Giant Clan—are you trying to ruin the East Sea Chamber of Commerce's reputation, or the Mu Family's reputation?"

Mu Yongchang's expression darkened. He put down his teacup and adopted the air of an Elder:

"Shopkeeper Shen, you are merely a shopkeeper under the Mu Family; the Chamber of Commerce's decisions are not for you to interfere with. I said there is none, so there is none."

Before his voice faded, a voice drifted out from behind Shopkeeper Shen Qingci, unhurriedly:

"She says there isn't, but what about me? Fourth Uncle?"

Mu Xiyao walked out slowly from behind Shopkeeper Shen Qingci, the hem of her sea-blue wide-sleeved dress swaying gently with her steps. Her coral branch hair ornament gleamed with a warm luster under the candlelight of the side hall.

She stood beside Shopkeeper Shen Qingci, her face calm, her bright eyes shining astonishingly in the candlelight.

Mu Yongchang's expression changed slightly, and the air he had been putting on loosened immediately:

"Xiyao, why have you come as well... Fourth Uncle is doing this for the good of the East Sea Chamber of Commerce. The Golden Crow Holy Land is also in urgent need of Blood Essence. If we don't prioritize supplying them—"

"The Golden Crow Holy Land?"

Mu Xiyao interrupted him,

"Everything follows a first-come, first-served basis. The Giant Clan's items should have been delivered long ago according to our agreement. As for the portion the Golden Crow Holy Land wants, we can talk about that after we have given it to the Giant Clan."

"If you have any objections, you can tell my mother."

Mu Yongchang's face turned from red to white, then from white to green. He glanced at Mu Xiyao, then at Ju Yunluo, stood up, and flicked his sleeves as he left.

Mu Xiyao turned to Ju Yunluo and bowed slightly:

"Elder Yunluo, I apologize. This is a mistake on the part of the East Sea Chamber of Commerce."

"Whether you want to take back that batch of resources or exchange them for other items of equal value, either is fine."

Ju Yunluo's expression was cold, but her tone was not as sharp anymore:

"Return them."

Mu Xiyao nodded, turned her head, and said to Shopkeeper Shen Qingci,

"Sister Qingci, please trouble yourself to go and count them."

Shopkeeper Shen Qingci acknowledged and went. When Mu Xiyao turned back, a trace of a smile appeared on her face:

"Counting will take some time. If Elder Yunluo is not in a hurry to leave, why not accompany me to meet someone?"

Ju Yunluo had wanted to refuse. At this moment, she only wanted to take the items and leave; she did not want to stay in this courtyard of the East Sea Chamber of Commerce for even a moment longer.

But looking at Mu Xiyao's sincere face, and thinking of the decent relationship between the two families over the years, she nodded in the end.

Mu Xiyao led her through several courtyards, finally stopping in front of a quiet, secluded small garden.

A man in green robes stood in the courtyard, looking sideways at the wisteria blooming lushly under the corridor.

When Ju Yunluo first saw him, her heart skipped a beat.

This person had an indescribable aura, gentle yet deep, like warm water vapor wrapped in a spring breeze, making her want to lean in involuntarily.

She was stunned for a moment, her thoughts stirring, and she suppressed that inexplicable impulse.

Her gaze fell on the few figures not far behind him—Baili Rou, Zhu Jin, Bai Zhi, and Shu Lan.

She had seen these faces before; they were Disciples of the Moonshadow Sect. Seeing them standing so quietly behind this man,

her heart suddenly understood: this person was the "honored guest" the Clan Chief had mentioned!

Good thing she had followed!

Ling Hao turned around, his gaze sweeping over Ju Yunluo, and a gentle arc appeared at the corners of his mouth.

His first impression was that she was petite—of course, by the standards of the Giant Clan.

She had a slender and resilient figure; even standing there, she was taller than the average Human Race, with a gentle and delicate face, soft features, long hair in thick braids, and bells tied at the ends of the braids.

This appearance, if placed within the Giant Clan, could indeed be called a "loli," just like her name.

Of course, this was her shrunken state; if she were to return to her normal state, she would be much taller than the Human Race.

"You must be Elder Yunluo? When I sent the voice transmission earlier and didn't get a response, I guessed that perhaps you were tied up with something."

"That is correct."

After finishing, Ju Yunluo took out the voice transmission talisman from her sleeve to check.

Sure enough, there were several unread messages; it was Ling Hao who had contacted her earlier.

A trace of apology appeared on her face:

"I was arguing with the East Sea Chamber of Commerce just now and didn't notice. I have kept you waiting, Sir."

She briefly explained what had happened—Mu Yongchang had withheld the Blood Essence and brushed her off for half a month.

Ling Hao nodded thoughtfully. There were indeed conflicts within the Mu Family.

He turned and asked:

"Elder Yunluo, I heard that the Giant Clan has arranged a place for me to stay in Fusang Main City?"

Ju Yunluo quickly said:

"Yes. I will take you there now, Sir Moonshadow."

She paused,

"But perhaps we must wait a moment, until the East Sea Chamber of Commerce returns my clan's resources."

Ling Hao waved his hand: "No rush, you handle your affairs first. I believe the East Sea Chamber of Commerce will give the Giant Clan a proper explanation."

Before long, Mu Xiyao and Shopkeeper Shen Qingci returned to the courtyard together. Mu Xiyao handed several storage rings back to Ju Yunluo with both hands and apologized sincerely once more:

"Elder Yunluo, this was absolutely not the intention of the East Sea Chamber of Commerce. Today's matter was an error within the Chamber of Commerce, and the Mu Family will definitely investigate it thoroughly."

Ju Yunluo took the storage rings and replied politely, "It is no matter." This effectively brushed over the tension from earlier.

Ling Hao glanced at Mu Xiyao:

"It is getting late; I should be going."

"Remember what we discussed before."

Mu Xiyao nodded solemnly: "Rest assured, Senior, I will handle it well."

Ling Hao took Baili Rou and the others and left with Ju Yunluo. After exiting the gate of the East Sea Chamber of Commerce, Ju Yunluo walked by his side, her peripheral vision unconsciously assessing Ling Hao's profile.

She always felt that this Sir Moonshadow's relationship with the East Sea Chamber of Commerce was unusual.

People who could be invited directly into the backyard by Mu Xiyao were few and far between in Fusang Province.

He even spoke for the East Sea Chamber of Commerce.

And regarding his final instructions, Mu Xiyao was also respectful, even carrying a hint of an indescribable meaning.

Perhaps the reason the East Sea Chamber of Commerce returned the resources so readily this time was not entirely due to a sudden discovery of conscience within the Chamber.

Then what was this gentleman's status to the East Sea Chamber of Commerce?

Mu Xiyao stood at the courtyard gate, watching the backs of Ling Hao and his group as they gradually moved away, and the same thoughts were turning in her mind.

She remembered that the Giant Clan had always been in great need of Blood Essence, especially after the major Sects stopped supplying it.

Just now, she had given Ju Yunluo two choices—return or exchange.

Ju Yunluo chose to return without hesitation. This indicated that the Giant Clan was no longer as dependent on Blood Essence.

And the source of this change was likely because of Senior.