Chapter 52: Stunning, the World's Most Handsome Man

  Xiang Xiao didn't know what Helian You was thinking, and seeing him daze off thought he was just contemplating the next step after entering the Meteorite City. He didn't pay attention to it, maybe because he finally found someone to talk to, Xiang Xiao became extremely chatty after getting rid of his beggar life, especially liking to chat with Helian You, because he used to be the son of the lord of Lan Yue City, so he naturally understood this Meteorite City that was a hundred miles away. Helian You also intentionally tried to understand the situation before entering the city, so the two tightened their reins and slowed down the carriage's speed, Xiang Xiao drove the carriage while turning his head to talk incessantly to Helian You about the history of the Meteorite City.

  It turned out that the fallen star city was also a part of the Lanyue City decades ago, and at that time, the master of Lanyue City was still the ancestor of Sang Xiao, Sang Zhongkun. This Sang Zhongkun is considered a good city master, but he has a slightly narrow mind. Under Sang Zhongkun's command, there were two capable subordinates: Ling Yao, a wise and strategic advisor, and Tuoba Ang, a brave and skilled general. These two men, one civil and one military, were the pillars of Lanyue City and the left and right arms that Sang Zhongkun relied heavily on. Under their cooperation, they governed Lanyue City in an orderly manner. With its geographical advantage near the Youyue Forest, merchants from all over the continent gathered here, and within a few years, Lanyue City became a famous trading center known far and wide. However, people with more ability often have more ambition. Ling Yao and Tuoba Ang's talents were secretly above Sang Zhongkun's, so how could they be willing to remain subordinate forever? As a result, the two of them developed their own forces in secret. Sang Zhongkun knew that his two subordinates did not get along with each other but was happy to see them balance each other out and even occasionally created conflicts between them on purpose. Who would have thought that Sang Zhongkun's abilities were limited after all, and he failed to realize that the two of them were openly fighting each other while secretly colluding with each other? Gradually, they emptied the power of the Sang family in Lanyue City. So, over a decade passed, and although Lanyue City was still nominally ruled by the Sang family, those who had some power knew very well that Sang Zhongkun had long been a puppet of Ling Yao and Tuoba Ang.

  The two people from the Sang and Tuo families, who had been living in peace for several years, finally turned their attention to each other. After all, no one would be willing to share a city with someone as ambitious as them. Both sides began to plot and scheme, trying to swallow up the other's power. After several rounds of struggle, Ta Bao Ang, who controlled most of the army, ultimately gained the upper hand and drove Ling Yao out of Lan Yue City within a few months. Ta Bao Ang then established a puppet regime from the Sang family, formally establishing his rule over Lan Yue. However, Ling Yao was not an easy person to deal with. He had already arranged for his own escape route and soon settled in Xing Xing City. Although Ling Yao was far inferior to Ta Bao Ang in military terms, he was a skilled politician who excelled at governing internal affairs. Under his rule, the originally dilapidated city of Xing Xing gradually developed and prospered. Meanwhile, Ta Bao Ang's several attempts to send troops to punish Ling Yao ended in failure, while Ling Yao's own counterattack on Lan Yue also ended in defeat. This back-and-forth struggle continued for hundreds of years, with both Lan Yue and Xing Xing suffering heavy losses but neither able to gain the upper hand. In the end, they were forced to maintain a stalemate, refusing to communicate with each other.

  The current Lanyue City has been completely controlled by the Tuoba family, and this Meteorite City is still ruled by the Ling family. Although the two cities have not had any wars for a long time, the hatred accumulated over hundreds of years has not diminished in the slightest. It's precisely because of this that even Sang Xiao, who was once the son of the city lord, has never entered Meteorite City even once. As for why this city is called the City of Sin, it's probably only possible to understand by experiencing it personally after entering the city.

  As they spoke, the carriage was about to drive under the city gate. Xiang Xiao was just about to whip the horse and speed up when Helian Nuo raised his hand to stop him, indicating that he shouldn't rush into the city. Instead, he should park the carriage by the side of the road first. After doing all this, Helian Nuo turned around to face the little wolf lying in one corner of the carriage. With a cold expression and an extremely puzzled tone, he asked: "Are you really sure we don't need to wait for Qiuqiu and Xiaogui?"

  He Lian had been searching for the squirrel balls and Jiu Bao all along the way, but he hadn't seen any sign of them. This made him anxious, as he was usually unable to calm down. Putting aside the mysterious nature of Jiu Bao, after years of being together, Ball Ball and Jiu Bao had become like friends to He Lian. If he didn't see them for a moment, he would feel uneasy. Now it had been half a day, where could these two little guys who were leaving the forest for the first time have gone?

  Just as Helian was anxiously searching for something, the little wolf, who had been quietly sleeping with its eyes closed, suddenly got up and patted Helian's shoulder with its front paw, as if to comfort him. It wasn't until then that Helian suddenly realized that the little wolf's relationship with Qiuqiu and Xuangu was the closest. Logically speaking, since Qiuqiu and Xuangu were missing, the little wolf should be the most worried, but looking at its calm demeanor, it seemed as if nothing had happened, and it even had the mood to comfort Helian. Had these three little guys already made some kind of agreement?

  He Lianuo's heart slightly calmed down, temporarily putting aside the idea of getting off to find Qiuqiu and Jiubao. With Xiao Lang constantly urging him on, Sang Xiao had no choice but to drive the horse carriage at a rapid pace. Now that they were about to enter Xingxing City, He Lianuo still couldn't shake off his concerns and asked Sang Xiao to stop the horse carriage once again, inquiring about the whereabouts of the old god's little wolf for the first time.

  The little wolf looked at Helienuo again, who had come to ask him something. He was extremely impatient and waved his front paws, then stretched his head towards the direction of the city gate, as if saying "Don't worry, don't you trust me? Go ahead and enter the city boldly!"

  He Lian Nu let out a light sigh, but couldn't think of a better solution either. She reluctantly turned around and said to Sang Xiao: "Let's go, we're entering the city!"

  Xiang Xiao responded with a sound, immediately loosening the reins and letting the horse move forward. Before long, the carriage drove to the city gate, where one of the two soldiers guarding the gate saw someone wanting to enter the city and couldn't help but brighten up in front of him. He picked up his weapon, which was placed slantingly on one side, and walked towards the carriage with big strides.

  As soon as someone approached, Helian Nuo hastily signaled for Sang Xiao to go forward and make contact, while he himself quietly drew the Tianlang dagger out of its scabbard and hid it in his sleeve, cautiously guarding against any unexpected situation that might arise.

  Having seen the big world, Sang Xiao was far less tense than He Lianuo. He calmly jumped off the horse carriage and walked to the soldier, without saying a word, he secretly pinched a few gold coins in his hand and handed them over.

  As the saying goes, a soldier who doesn't love money isn't a good soldier. How could this one be an exception? It just so happens that he's having a pretty unlucky day today. There are so many fat and wealthy merchants on that road, but his superior had to go and assign him to stand guard on this very road. Everyone knows that this road leads to Lan Yue City. Although it was said earlier that small groups of merchants coming from the direction of Lan Yue City can be let through, who would dare try to enter the city from this road given the relationship between Xing Xing and Lan Yue? Sure enough, not a single person came into the city all day. Who knew that just as he was cursing in his heart, a rather dilapidated horse carriage came driving over? The soldier's heart leapt with joy at the sight of the carriage - what did it matter if it was broken down? As long as there were people inside, he could still squeeze some oil out of them.

  As expected, the soldier did not expect that the other party would actually hand over two gold coins without waiting for him to speak! Two gold coins! Although this little money can't even buy a decent bottle of wine in Meteorite City, it's enough for him to save and scrape by for a while, how could he not be excited.

  Perhaps fearing his companion would see, the soldier took the money and glanced at it briefly before swiftly putting it into his sleeve. He then pretended to be serious and shouted: "Hmmm, good! The inspection is done, your car has no problems, hurry up and enter the city!"

  Xiang Xiao couldn't help but laugh inwardly, while He Lian Nu on the carriage was already stunned. Good grief, she had just been racking her brains thinking of how to answer the guard's questions, and now it seemed that Xiang Xiao's two gold coins had solved everything. Was this the terrifying power of money? This was incredible, even the power of a human-stage soul technique couldn't compare to it!

  "Wait, brother!" Just as Sang Xiao was about to urge the horse forward, a voice with an extraordinary magnetic quality interrupted his action.

  He Lian's heart tightened, the dagger that had just been sheathed flashed out like lightning, and the small wolf beside him crouched low, ready to pounce at any moment, determined to protect this group of people with his life.

  Xiao, who was sitting at the front of the carriage, was also startled and involuntarily stopped her actions as she listened to the voice's command, then looked in the direction from which the sound came...

  Only a tall, slender figure emerged from the shadows near the city gate. He was only slightly shorter than Lei Shuo, but looked completely different from Lei Shuo's robust and powerful build. Instead, he appeared extremely refined and elegant. The man's temples were flecked with gray, indicating his age, yet his face was perfectly maintained, with a neatly trimmed beard, angular facial features, a straight nose, thin lips, and a pair of bright, piercing eyes that made even San Xiao, also a man, have to admit that this was a handsome man favored by the gods.

  Unlike the handsome young man Tuoba Hong, whom Helian had met before, this man had a more mature air about him. The simple black robe he wore looked quite becoming on him, and the smile at the corner of his mouth was enough to captivate countless girls. Even Helian, who was not one to envy others, couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy when she saw him. How could there be such a perfect man in this world?!