Chapter 161 – 『Yunliu Chamber of Commerce』

Xu Family Estate, Main Residence Study.

When Yun Langyue emerged from the study, Uncle Wu, who had been quietly waiting at the doorway, immediately approached her.

“Young Miss.”

Yun Langyue had initially wanted to catch her breath, but upon seeing Uncle Wu approach, she abandoned the thought and regained her composure.

Uncle Wu noticed this, his eyes reflecting both affection and concern.

He knew that his Young Miss was putting on a brave front, unwilling to show vulnerability in front of others.

Even in his presence, she maintained this demeanor.

After all, she had grown accustomed to doing so.

“Have the discussions concluded?” Uncle Wu inquired gently, like a caring elder.

“More or less.” Yun Langyue didn’t conceal anything, nodding casually as she replied. “Just as we speculated, Xu Yongfeng indeed wants to collaborate with us, asking for our help in dealing with the Xu Family’s eldest young master.”

“So that’s how it is?” Uncle Wu chuckled. “But given Young Miss’s temperament, you likely didn’t agree, did you?”

“Of course not.” Yun Langyue smiled. “Although Xu Yongfeng promised us considerable benefits, I have no interest in the Xu Family’s affairs.”

The benefits Xu Yongfeng offered weren’t entirely unappealing to Yun Langyue.

But while they were tempting, they weren’t substantial enough to make her want to wade into these troubled waters.

Especially when there was a possibility of dragging Su Ming into the situation, Yun Langyue had no desire to allow Xu Yongfeng frequent contact with their side.

Otherwise, if Xu Yongfeng were to grasp any leverage, he might exploit the relationship between Su Ming and Xu Qianqian to pull the Yun Family Estate into the fray.

Don’t think Xu Yongfeng wouldn’t do such a thing.

A shrewd political figure would undoubtedly seek to utilize any available means when faced with exploitable opportunities.

After all, it wouldn’t harm Xu Qianqian—merely leveraging her relationship with Su Ming. Why wouldn’t he take advantage?

At the very least, Yun Langyue believed Xu Yongfeng was capable of such actions.

However…

“This Councilor Xu is quite resourceful. When his primary objective couldn’t be achieved, he actually made an alternative request.”

Speaking of this, Yun Langyue couldn’t help but sigh in admiration.

“Oh?” Uncle Wu raised an eyebrow. “What request?”

“Simple.” Yun Langyue began walking forward, squinting slightly as she spoke. “He said that since cooperation wasn’t possible, he was willing to exchange the promised benefits for a letter of introduction from 『Cloudflow Commerce』, asking us to recommend him to several leaders of major factions.”

Upon hearing this, even Uncle Wu was taken aback.

“I see.” Uncle Wu expressed both surprise and realization. “So what he truly values is 『Cloudflow Commerce』’s network of connections?”

“Exactly.” Yun Langyue replied with a faint, ambiguous smile. “He probably anticipated my refusal to cooperate from the start and was ultimately aiming for 『Cloudflow Commerce』’s letter of introduction.”

It had to be admitted, Xu Yongfeng’s maneuver was indeed clever.

After all, a letter of introduction from 『Cloudflow Commerce』 was no ordinary document.

Although 『Cloudflow Commerce』 wasn’t a Hunter Family or a major clan, it could unquestionably be considered an influential and significant faction.Because ‘Cloudflow Commerce’ does not engage in ordinary business, but specializes in the trade of Extraordinary Items.

Whether it’s alchemical potions, alchemical tools, or alchemical weapons—as long as it’s an Extraordinary Item—’Cloudflow Commerce’ handles it.

‘Cloudflow Commerce’ is also the largest commerce guild among the Four Coastal Base Cities. Their business isn’t limited to just Longyao City; they operate in the other three Base Cities as well.

And it goes without saying that a commerce guild capable of freely traveling between the Four Base Cities, unafraid of the threats from the Wilderness Danger Zones outside the Base Cities, cannot consist solely of merchants.

‘Cloudflow Commerce’ has used its immense wealth and abundant resources to attract a large number of Professionals, including some Upper-Rank Professionals, gaining their protection.

Thus, ‘Cloudflow Commerce’ is filled with experts, and its strength is no weaker than any major Family or powerful faction in any Base City.

If we’re talking solely about wealth and connections, ‘Cloudflow Commerce’ far surpasses those so-called major Families and powerful factions, and is even regarded by many as the wealthiest entity in the Four Base Cities.

Many people in the Four Base Cities believe that if ‘Cloudflow Commerce’ were willing to spend all its assets, it could even buy an entire Base City.

This commerce guild is truly wealthy enough to rival a nation, and one can imagine how many powerful individuals it can attract and how many connections it can build.

If such a ‘Cloudflow Commerce’ were willing to write a few letters of introduction, it could easily introduce Xu Yongfeng to several influential figures.

If Xu Yongfeng could establish cooperative relationships with those influential figures, the benefits he’d gain might not be any worse than forming an alliance with ‘Cloudflow Commerce’ itself.

“What a clever scheme.”

After understanding the reasons behind it, Uncle Wu couldn’t help but express his admiration with these words.

Originally, Yun Langyue’s willingness to attend Xu Yongfeng’s family banquet was already sending a message to many observant people that she might have reached a cooperation agreement with Xu Yongfeng, thereby making many hesitate to act against him.

Yet, despite such advantages, even if Xu Yongfeng couldn’t persuade Yun Langyue to cooperate with him directly, he managed to find alternative ways to collaborate—truly killing three birds with one stone.

If he could establish a cooperative relationship with the Yun Family Estate, that would naturally be the best outcome.

If not, he could at least strive for opportunities to connect with other significant partners.

Even if both of the above failed, this family banquet would still make others think twice before acting against him.

These upper, middle, and lower-tier benefits were all clearly calculated by Xu Yongfeng.

“So, did Young Miss agree?”

Uncle Wu looked at Yun Langyue.

“I didn’t agree,” Yun Langyue smiled faintly at Uncle Wu. “But I didn’t refuse either.”

“Neither agreed nor refused?” Uncle Wu raised his eyebrows again.

“If just a few letters of introduction could bring so many benefits, it’s not a deal that can’t be considered,” Yun Langyue shrugged her delicate shoulders, speaking as if it were none of her concern. “But I’m still not very interested. In the end, I let Xu Yongfeng discuss it with Mother and left the decision to her.”

Hearing this, Uncle Wu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“If Madam finds out you pushed this matter onto her, she’ll probably throw a fit again.”

Uncle Wu seemed to envision the scene and chuckled wryly.Yun Langyue, however, said dismissively, “After all, Mother is the President of Cloudflow Commerce. Matters like this should naturally be decided by the President herself.”

These words gradually erased the faint smile from Uncle Wu’s face, eventually turning into a sigh.

“Actually, everything in Cloudflow Commerce should rightfully belong to you, Young Miss,” Uncle Wu said with a complex expression.

As an old retainer who had served the Yun Family Estate for many years, Uncle Wu was well aware of what this young lady in the prime of her youth had endured.

It was a disaster too painful to recall.

Yet, to speak of it plainly, it wasn’t anything particularly bizarre or unusual.

After all, Cloudflow Commerce was the wealthiest entity across the Four Base Cities, but unlike those great Families where the Family Head held absolute authority, it wasn’t a place ruled by a single voice.

As a commerce guild, its name made it clear that it was founded by the Yun Family Estate and built from the ground up through their efforts.

However, the Yun Family Estate was neither a Hunter Family nor had it produced any Sorcerers; they were merely ordinary people. In this era, it would have been impossible to build a commerce guild capable of freely operating across the Four Base Cities without collaborating with others.

By the time Cloudflow Commerce had developed to its current state, twelve factions had already joined its internal structure, collectively forming the guild’s upper echelons.

The Yun Family Estate was merely one of these twelve factions.

Yet, the Yun Family had always been the highest decision-makers of Cloudflow Commerce, with the position of President remaining exclusively in their hands from beginning to end.

Such a structure inevitably attracted the covetous eyes of ambitious individuals.

Thus, many years ago, in a bid to seize the presidency of Cloudflow Commerce and gain ultimate authority over the guild, someone finally made a move against the Yun Family.

As a result, Yun Langyue’s father met his demise, her mother was captured, and even Uncle Wu, who had long served the Yun Family, fell victim to a plot, imprisoned alongside Yun Langyue’s mother for several years.

Yun Langyue narrowly escaped, her whereabouts unknown, and she was relentlessly pursued by her enemies.

Whenever Uncle Wu recalled those catastrophic experiences, his heart ached for Yun Langyue.

He didn’t know what she had endured during those days of being hunted.

He only knew that when he saw Yun Langyue again, she had not only grown up but had also miraculously rallied several factions within Cloudflow Commerce, persuading them to intervene and rescue her imprisoned mother and himself.

From then on, Yun Langyue acted with swift decisiveness, displaying astonishing skill. She not only brought him and her mother back into Cloudflow Commerce but also systematically crushed their enemies one by one.

At that time, the upper echelons of Cloudflow Commerce weren’t just twelve factions but a full eighteen.

Through her own methods, Yun Langyue eradicated all six factions that had acted against the Yun Family, leaving none behind.

Only then did the Yun Family regain everything they had lost before. The remaining eleven factions, intimidated by Yun Langyue’s tactics, submitted to the Yun Family’s leadership without further dissent.

Therefore, Uncle Wu wasn’t merely flattering Yun Langyue; he was stating a fact.

The Yun Family’s recovery of their past standing was entirely due to Yun Langyue.

It was Yun Langyue who personally reclaimed everything the Yun Family had lost.

Thus, all of this rightfully belonged to Yun Langyue.Yet Yun Langyue held no attachment to the position of Commerce President, instead elevating her own mother to the role.

Thanks to this, Yun Langyue’s mother became the one in charge of the ‘Cloudflow Commerce’.

The younger generation might not know the details, thinking Yun Langyue was merely the Young Miss of the Yun Family Estate. Only the older generation understood that Yun Langyue should have been the true master of the ‘Cloudflow Commerce’, not her mother.

Otherwise, why would Xu Yongfeng discuss such an important matter as cooperation directly with Yun Langyue, a junior, instead of her mother?

The reason was simple: Xu Yongfeng clearly knew that Yun Langyue’s influence and abilities far surpassed her mother’s.

Among the twelve high-ranking families of the ‘Cloudflow Commerce’, the other eleven also regarded Yun Langyue as the true authority in the Commerce, not her mother.

They might oppose decisions made by Yun Langyue’s mother, but they would never oppose Yun Langyue’s decisions.

Unfortunately, since returning to the ‘Cloudflow Commerce’, Yun Langyue seemed to have lost interest in everything she had fought so hard to reclaim, handing all Commerce affairs over to her mother and becoming a carefree Young Miss who knew nothing.

Rather than dealing with ‘Cloudflow Commerce’ matters, Yun Langyue preferred to devote all her energy to Young Master Su.

And so it was now.

“I’m really not interested in these things,” Yun Langyue said casually. “More importantly, where is my great benefactor now?”

“Young Master Su?” Uncle Wu sighed. “I just saw him by the window. It seems he went out with the Young Miss of the Xu Family.”

Yun Langyue immediately stopped in her tracks.

“…So, that guy has already left?” Yun Langyue murmured softly.

“That’s right.”

Uncle Wu gave a bitter smile.

Yun Langyue’s expression instantly turned resentful.

“Leaving me here all alone—that’s just like him, isn’t it?”

Wasn’t it?

Who was she, Yun Langyue?

The Young Miss of the Yun Family Estate, the true power behind the ‘Cloudflow Commerce’, whose wealth rivaled nations.

Even among the uninformed younger generation, she was a star, a figure who captivated thousands.

Countless talented young men longed for a chance to speak with her, even willing to pay any price just to spend a little time with her, to see her smile at them, to chat and laugh, to deepen their bond.

And Su Ming?

He, on the other hand, had the audacity to stand up the Young Miss Yun, slipping away with another woman.

“Shall I go and bring Young Master Su back?” Uncle Wu asked cautiously.

“No need,” Yun Langyue sighed, then said with a hint of annoyance, “Given his personality, if he was willing to run off with Xu Qianqian, he must have some important matter in mind that I don’t know about.”

It had to be said, Yun Langyue understood Su Ming quite well.

She knew that, given Su Ming’s nature, unless he had something important to do, he would have preferred to slip away quietly on his own.

“Let him be,” Yun Langyue pursed her lips and smiled. “I want to see what remarkable things this great benefactor of mine will stir up next.”

“Understood.” Uncle Wu had no objections and followed Yun Langyue’s instructions.Uncle Wu did not know why Yun Langyue was so infatuated with Su Ming.

He was even more unaware of how the title “Great Benefactor,” which Yun Langyue constantly mentioned, came about.

But that was unimportant.

As long as Yun Langyue could be happy and content, that was enough.

This was not only Uncle Wu’s sentiment but also the wish of Yun Langyue’s mother.

Yun Langyue had endured far too much, leaving them with an overwhelming sense of debt.

Otherwise, why would that Madam dote on her daughter so excessively?

It was all out of heartfelt compassion.

Uncle Wu felt the same way.

He had long resolved to dedicate the remainder of his life to protecting this Young Miss.

No one would be allowed to harm her.

(End of Chapter)