Chapter 4: Golden Dragon Bank
Many mighty and influential factions were hidden within the Xia Kingdom. Of which, two were behemoths that held stances of absolute neutrality. These were titans that even officials and the royal family would never dare to aggravate.
The first was the renowned Astral Sage College. The second, the Golden Dragon Bank.
Attending the Astral Sage College was the aspiration of numerous Xia Kingdom youths. The elites that graduated from there were often courted by the numerous powers of the land.
The Golden Dragon Bank, on the other hand, was involved in the trading, safekeeping, and auctioning of all sorts of goods and treasures. Their financial might was so immense that any power would stare at their wealth with reddened eyes. Yet no one dared to even dream of infringing on their interests! The true might of the Golden Dragon Bank far superseded any power in the Xia Kingdom. The branch that existed in the Xia Kingdom was just that, a mere branch!
The main branch of the Golden Dragon Bank was located in a place far more vast than the Xia Kingdom, and they had a resounding reputation across the land. This was because the golden dragon notes issued by the bank could be redeemed for an equivalent amount of skygold at any branch.
ā¦ā¦ā¦
The City of Southwind was the county town of the Tianshu Province. It naturally housed its own branch of the Golden Dragon Bank, which was unsurprisingly located in the most luxurious area: the center of the city.
As Li Luo got off the carriage, he gazed at the glorious and dazzling building before him. This was not the first time he had laid eyes on a building so grand, yet he couldnāt help but exhale in wonder. Even a branch building in a simple county town exhibited grandeur beyond its humble surroundings. The financial resources of the Golden Dragon Bank were truly unfathomable.
Even House Luolanās estate seemed lacking when compared to this behemoth.
Jiang Qingāeās expression was calm and unperturbed. Upon exiting the carriage, she immediately made his way towards the bank with Li Luo in tow.
After entering this magnificent bank, Jiang Qingāe withdrew a golden note from her belongings, which she then passed to an attendant. The note was carefully inspected before the attendant hastily and respectfully ushered the two into a VIP room.
Moments later, a beaming, plump, middle-aged man waddled in. He was bedecked with all sorts of glittering jewels, each and every one of his fingers clad with numerous rings!
āHaha! I am honored to be in the presence of House Luolanās Young Lord and Miss Jiang. You have truly brought great honor to my humble dwelling.ā It is important to keep in mind that anyone who could act on behalf of the Golden Dragon Bank would definitely be socially adept. Since the plump man could recognise Li Luo at a glance, he also understood his current status. Yet he did not slight Li Luo in the least, and he provided him all due respect, even addressing him first.
āThis is the supervisor of the Tianshu Provinceās Golden Dragon Bank, President Lu.ā Jiang Qingāe casually introduced the other party to Li Luo.
āPresident Lu, do lead us to retrieve the goods.ā With the brief introductions complete, Jiang Qingāe reverted to her usual swift and decisive demeanour.
President Lu nodded and smiled, turning to lead the way. The three of them weaved through layers upon layers of restrictions before making their way deep under the building.
Following President Luās lead, the three arrived in front of a completely sealed room with no entrances. Instead, there were smooth, glossy, black stone walls on all sides, making it seem like a room surrounded by black mirrors.
President Lu then lightly patted the wall. His actions made the wall split apart, allowing the group to enter the room. A box made of an unknown metal gradually emerged from the ground within the room.
President Lu smiled as he explained, āMy respected guests, this is the object that the Lord of House Luolan left behind. In his words, the Young Lord has to retrieve this personally, and his blood will act as the key.ā With his job complete, he naturally slunk away, leaving the other two in the room.
Li Luo stared at this safety deposit box of sorts, almost in a trance. Just what were his parents up to, leaving him with all this secrecy and mystery? What had they left behind?
Yet his intuition was screaming at him, telling him that the object in front of him was of utmost importance. Perhaps it could change his ill fate?
He took a deep breath and stepped forward, placing his palm on the strongbox. At this moment, he felt a piercing pain in his finger, as if a drop of blood was forcefully seized from him and absorbed by this strongbox!
Click!
Mechanical clicks could be heard coming from within the strongbox. A faint luster gradually emerged from the center as the strongbox cracked apart.
At this point, Li Luo could finally see what was within.
It was a pitch-black crystal ball. It was extremely smooth, so much so that Li Luo could even see his own reflection. There were clearly some unspoken mysteries surrounding this object.
āJust whatā¦ā Li Luo mumbled as he blinked while inspecting the crystal ball.
āLetās store it carefully for now. Master said that you had to wait for your 17th birthday before you could retrieve this.ā Jiang Qingāe passed a suitcase over.
Li Luo nodded as he carefully placed the black crystal ball inside the suitcase, tightly holding onto it for dear life as his eyes moistened.
āWhatās wrong?ā Jiang Qingāe asked with a puzzled expression.
āI have a hunch that my lucky break is finally here. Iām so emotional, I could cry!ā Li Luo exclaimed as he waved the suitcase towards her. āJust you waitā¦ Iām definitely going to succeed in annulling this marriage!ā
āā¦.ā Jiang Qingāe couldnāt be bothered to respond. She immediately turned around and left the secret room. She could clearly tell that Li Luo was surging with excitement and was definitely itching to irritate her.
The two left the depths of the building and were once again greeted by President Lu. This time, he was accompanied by a young lady.
She was garbed in green and was exceptionally beautiful, with an elegant and exquisite charm to her. Her fine, black hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, reaching her willowy waist. This was coupled with a set of captivating eyes that shone brightly. Her snow-white skin gave off a crystal-like sheen. She was eye-catching, the very embodiment of perfection.
Even though her hands were clad in thin, silk gloves, one could faintly make out her slender, jade-like fingers. If she ever removed those gloves, there would be people drooling at the sight of her ephemeral beauty.
Possessing both beauty and temperament, this young lady was clearly a level above Difa Qing.
Upon seeing her, an unnatural expression flashed across Li Luoās face before he regained his composure.
āHaha, this is my little niece, Lu Qingāer. She has just been accepted into Southwind Academy as a cultivator, and she absolutely idolizes Miss Jiang. When she heard you were here, she was adamant in coming along. I do hope that Miss Jiang will not take offense to this,ā President Lu explained as he clasped his hands respectfully with a smile on his face.
āGreetings, Senior Sister Jiang,ā Lu Qingāer said with deference as she graciously curtsied.
Jiang Qingāe began to size up this new arrival with perfectly symmetrical features. āSince youāre a student of Southwind Academy, I suppose youāre acquaintances with Li Luo?ā
Lu Qingāer shifted her gaze momentarily to glance at Li Luo, who was standing by Jiang Qingāeās side. She beamed as she gently nodded, her deep gaze captivating all. āLi Luo used to provide me with some pointers, and Iāve always been thankful to him. However, it seems like in these past two years, he hasnāt wanted to meet meā¦ā
Li Luo let out an awkward smile as he hastily and laughingly replied, āNo, no, no, no, no, please donāt jump to conclusions! We are in different schools, so itās been very difficult to come see you!ā Deep down, Li Luo felt helpless. Lu Qingāer was exceptionally famous in Southwind Academy. She was in a completely different strata compared to Difa Qing. Not only was she attractive, she was the poster girl for Southwind Academy, being the number one talent in the current generation.
When Li Luo was still attending the First School, many of the students had yet to open their resonant palaces. With his exceptional ability to utilise resonance arts, he was a cut above the rest of the students. Hence, numerous students would approach him for guidance, including Lu Qingāer.
Therefore, they could be considered close friends.
Then came Li Luoās misfortune of blank palaces and his subsequent booting from the First School into the Second School. As a result, their interactions became sparse.
Of course, the most important point here was that Li Luo spent his time hiding from Lu Qingāer. It wasnāt because he hated her, but because he felt embarrassed whenever they met! He used to be number one in the First School, and yet he had been supplanted by herā¦
Who would have thought that they would meet each other again?
Lu Qingāer did not rebut Li Luoās clearly perfunctory words but didnāt say anything else either. Instead, she turned her attention to Jiang Qingāe and began to chat with her with a casual smile on her face.
The Lu duo then proceeded to escort the two out of the bank.
āMiss Jiang, Iāve heard that there will be an event happening at House Luolan,ā President Lu said with his usual, smiley demeanor.
Jiang Qingāeās expression was unchanging as she replied flatly, āPresident Lu is perceptive indeed.ā
āAh, such a pity!ā President Lu sighed before continuing, āDo look for me if there is anything I can assist you with. The Golden Dragon Bank believes that harmony breeds wealth!ā
Li Luo held some doubts in his mind, but he did not voice them. He simply followed Jiang Qingāe onto the carriage, and they swiftly left.
Meanwhile, President Lu rubbed the chin of his oily, portly face as he glimpsed at Lu Qingāer, only to realise that she was still staring wistfully at the direction of the departing carriage with her sparkling eyes.
āCough!ā President Lu interrupted her. āYou little girl! Youā¦ you wouldnāt happen to have feelings for Li Luo, would you?ā
Lu Qingāer batted a glance towards President Lu as she gently replied, āI only feel pity towards Li Luo. In the past, he did guide me in the resonance arts. I merely feel appreciation towards him. If not for his blank palaces, he would have been my greatest rival in Southwind Academy.ā
President Lu patted his chest as he released a sigh of relief. āThank goodness! Thatās greatā¦ Qingāer, oh, Qingāer, he is already an engaged man. Donāt try scoring when thereās a goalkeeperā¦ With your status and looks, just which youth in the Xia Kingdom could be your match?ā
Lu Qingāer shook her head and then turned around to walk away, ignoring her second uncleās inane ramblings whilst he chuckled and continued to rub his chin.
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