Chapter 62: The Yun Family of Yuxi in Miaonan Province

Luo Changning had already seen the signal smoke rising in the night sky from Ma Qingyun, knowing that his aunt had been rescued, so he felt no urgency. Instead, he became intrigued by Yun Ruoyi, who had returned after leaving, and was eager to tease her a little.

With a mocking look on his face, he spoke in a cheeky tone, "What, you wrongly accused a good person and not a word of apology?"

"I did not exactly accuse a good person," Yun Ruoyi replied coldly, her tone distant and impatient.

Moonlight cascaded over Yun Ruoyi’s delicate, handsome face. For some reason, Luo Changning found her indifferent manner deeply irksome, and his urge to tease her only grew stronger.

"Heh, I was about to save the young lady of the Bai household, only to be captured by you. Had you not taken me away, I would already be the honored guest of Magistrate Bai, hailed as his daughter's savior."

"Now, I'm left to stand in this godforsaken place, shivering in the cold for ages. Tell me, haven’t I suffered a loss? Shouldn’t I blame you?"

Yun Ruoyi pressed her thin lips together, her brows knitting slightly as if lost in thought.

Seeing the conflicted look on the beautiful, ethereal youth before him, Luo Changning felt a twinge of pity and was about to forgive her.

But Yun Ruoyi spoke up cheerfully, "This was my mistake. Since you missed out on earning Magistrate Bai’s gratitude because of me, I, Yun Ruoyi, owe you a favor."

"Yun Ruoyi?"

Luo Changning savored the name, then laughed. "Your name suits your face—just as effeminate as you look."

Though he spoke thus, in his heart he agreed wholeheartedly: the name Ruoyi, ‘delicate garment’, could not be more apt. That frail figure seemed as though a gust of wind could topple her—indeed, just like a delicate garment.

Hearing this teasing remark about being effeminate from the "shadowy" boy in front of her, a flash of embarrassment and annoyance crossed Yun Ruoyi’s face. Unwilling to linger, she pulled a small wooden token from her robe and tossed it to Luo Changning before leaping away into the night.

He glanced at the token in his hand and saw a red auspicious cloud carved at its center, marking its owner’s identity.

"So you’re actually from the Yun family of Yuxi in Miaonan Province," Luo Changning murmured softly.

He had always paid attention to the martial factions of Yaohua Continent, especially within the Qianwu Kingdom, and naturally knew what that red cloud symbolized.

The Yun family of Yuxi—Qianwu Kingdom’s most mysterious hidden clan, with profound heritage and a long history. No one truly knew the extent of this family’s strength. The annals of the martial world from ten thousand years ago recorded: the Yun family of Yuxi was the foremost clan under heaven, its prestige unassailable.

Yet, for millennia, the Yun family had not left their secluded spiritual mountains, and whether they remained as glorious as before was anyone’s guess.

Luo Changning had suspected that Yun Ruoyi’s background was unusual—after all, such an exquisite youth could hardly be born to a common family. That cool, orchid-like elegance was all the more captivating. Still, he had not expected she hailed from the legendary Yun family of Yuxi in Miaolan Province.

He slipped the token into his robe with a soft chuckle. "So we are fated, after all—both hailing from Miaonan Province. Had I not been chasing that white-robed flower thief tonight, I would never have met you. Fate... what strange fate..."

"But, I forgot to tell you my name. Never mind, there will be a next time. My aunt is still waiting for me at the inn."

Remembering his aunt Su Meng, Luo Changning set aside thoughts of the intriguing Yun Ruoyi and used his lightness skill to speed back to the Ding family inn.

Ever since he had practiced the Dog Beating Stick manual, his lightness skill had improved considerably. In less than half a cup of tea’s time, he was back at the inn.

Stepping inside, he saw the main hall filled with people.

The most striking among them was the burly Xiang Yinglong, sprawled broadly across a bench. At the sight of Luo Changning, he leapt up and hurried to greet him.

"Brother, where have you been? We’ve been waiting ages for you!"

Luo Changning awkwardly scratched his nose. "I got held up by something."

He looked around the hall, recognizing both familiar and unfamiliar faces. With a cupped fist toward the man seated at the center, he respectfully said, "Uncle Xiang, thank you for going to all this trouble."

"You are Long’er’s good brother, which makes you half a son to me. Besides, the Su family clinic and I have longstanding ties. Since Master Su is in trouble, I’d come to help whether for public or private reasons."

Hearing this, Luo Changning was deeply moved. To have gained so much in this new lease on life—he knew he must cherish it well.

After exchanging a few words with the disciples of the Luoyang Martial Hall, Luo Changning excused himself and went upstairs.

He knew his aunt’s temperament: had there not been so many strangers in the main hall, she would surely be waiting there for him.

Seeing his good brother Xiang Yinglong looking so relaxed, Luo Changning was reassured about Su Meng’s safety. He opened the door to his own room and, as expected, found his aunt sitting elegantly at the table, sipping tea.

When she saw Luo Changning enter, Su Meng’s face softened with a gentle, calm smile—a smile that put his heart at ease.

He sized her up from head to toe and, seeing she truly was unharmed, finally relaxed and collapsed onto a stool.

He asked, "Aunt, how did you end up getting captured by the mountain bandits?"

A flash of cold light passed through his eyes, a chill in his voice.

Su Meng smiled. "I made you worry, Ning’er. The other day when I went out shopping, I drew the attention of those bandits from Tianmen Mountain. They followed me to a deserted area and knocked me out before taking me."

"But don’t worry, Ning’er. I was only locked in a woodshed for two days. They didn’t lay a hand on me. And if they’d tried, the poison I carry isn’t something to be trifled with."

Hearing that his aunt had been knocked out and imprisoned, Luo Changning seethed with anger, his fists clenching hard.

But seeing the calm expression on Su Meng’s face, he understood she didn’t want him to worry, so he changed the subject.

They chatted for a while longer before Su Meng retired to her own room to rest.

The night passed in peace.