Chapter Twelve: The Guest at the Ranch

  Under the sunset, several horse-drawn carriages loaded with goods slowly approached Caird Castle.

  "Miss, it seems we won't make it to Cadbury today. Up ahead is the Cadbury family's pasture; why don't we take shelter here for the night?" Lelou asked in a low voice as he drove the horse carriage.

  "Uncle, just arrange it and that's fine. Do you have to ask me about such a small thing? Are you trying to exhaust Xiao Er to death?"

  Her heart was enchanted by the beautiful scenery outside the car window, and she coquettishly said without turning her head.

  Looking at Hua Xiang's tears that rarely flowed out of her little girl's heart, Lei Luo lovingly sighed.

  For years, as a senior swordsman, he has been faithfully guarding this young master, nominally as a servant, but in reality like a father and daughter. Originally hoping that she would grow up safely and find her own happiness, unexpectedly, she took an extraordinary path. As the heir of the declining Roman family, she had created one business miracle after another.

  The Roman family was once a famous family in the Huoyun Empire, but it fell into decline after taking the wrong side in a court struggle. The descendants of the family then devoted themselves to business, and over several generations, they became even more decadent.

  At the age of seventeen, Hua Qian Tears improved a traditional perfume formula and made a batch of perfume called "Meng Luolan". At a ball in the imperial capital's noble circle, she "accidentally" broke a bottle of "Meng Luolan", and the enchanting fragrance deeply captivated all the noblewomen present. However, they later regretfully learned that the perfume named "Meng Luolan" was made from the dew on the petals of the first blooming of the Luolan flower, refined with other ingredients, and extremely difficult to produce, with only ten bottles available per year. Moreover, generous Hua Qian Tears had already given away the last few bottles to members of the royal family, leaving others to wait until next year.

  In the second year, many noblewomen did not hesitate to pay a high price and finally got "Meng Luolan". A phrase spread among the imperial noblewomen: "A thousand gold for one dream, ten thousand carriages waiting for Luolan."

  As for how many bottles of "Meng Luolan" were produced in the second year, no one knows. All people know is that those who use it are either rich or noble, representing identity, status and taste, leading the fashion of imperial consumption.

  In the third year, "Roland" bloomed, and the "Dream Roland" perfume series was a hit throughout the Fire Cloud Empire. Later, Huā Jiè Lèi ventured into other industries, continuing his legend. In five years, the Roman family became a huge business family, with a commercial network covering the Blue Moon Continent.

  At this time, Huā Qiàn was only twenty-two years old. Her flower-like appearance, astonishing intelligence and enormous wealth made her the ideal partner that all young men in the empire dreamed of.

  Facing many pursuers, she only lightly said "If you want to pluck the flower, wait until a thousand pieces of gold are scattered and beauty fades with age", causing those who admired her to retreat, from then on becoming a symbol of "pride".

  The tranquility and warmth of the prairie at dusk suddenly brought a deep sense of fatigue to Huajing's heart. For years, she had been racking her brains for the family business, shouldering the heavy burden with her weak shoulders. As the saying goes, the business world is like a battlefield, and behind the glamorous appearance, few people saw her hard work and dedication.

  Admirers are countless, but there is no one who knows her. The deep loneliness and the great responsibility made her slowly close up her own heart, turning into a proud woman.

  "Halt! Meng'er, bring me my brush and painting album." Hua Xiangyue suddenly became entranced by the distant scenery and hastily ordered her maid.

  Leading the horse, the flowing clouds walk on the prairie at dusk. The golden sunlight casts a long shadow behind him. A head of jet-black long hair floats gently in the evening breeze.

  "The sunset is infinitely beautiful, it's just near dusk."

  Liú Yún feels that at every dusk, she becomes a sentimental and sensitive person, and her heart also becomes exceptionally fragile.

  This dusk scene, like one's own life, quietly passes away in a beautiful and desolate manner. Only when the sun rises tomorrow, the scenery remains, but after one is reborn, everything that once belonged to oneself is frozen in memories.

  Hua Honglei finally put down the brush in her hand, on the vast grassland, under the blood-red sunset, a white-clothed young man with long hair appeared lonely on the paper.

  Admiring her own work, Huajing was very satisfied. Rather than saying she was satisfied with the work, it would be better to say that she suddenly discovered that there were still people in the world who were as lonely as her, and found a few comforting moments.

  At night, several bonfires were lit in the pasture. On the bonfire, pieces of roasted Fire Cloud Beast meat sizzled and crackled, with oil seeping out from the golden skin and dripping down, filling the night air with a savory aroma.

  Beside the bonfire, young team members were talking and laughing loudly, occasionally raising their bowls to take a swig, showing off their masculinity.

  Lei Luo watched this group of young people with interest, and couldn't help but recall the joy of traveling the world and drinking wine when he was young.

  Hua Die was also curious about the group of young people gathered around the bonfire, happily drinking and chatting. On these people, she only felt simple happiness, without any oppression, this feeling made her very comfortable.

  She had been in business for a long time and had come into contact with all sorts of people, but the group she met today was unlike any she had ever seen before. Although Lelouch said their abilities were not strong, each person seemed to have a beast-like power, with an air of great confidence in their eyes. Moreover, their joy was simple and carefree, something that only those who were full of hope for life would possess.

  "Uncle, who are they exactly?" Huajian wiped away her tears and asked Leiluo.

  "I don't know either. From the moment I entered the ranch, I've been paying attention to these people, but so far, I haven't figured out what's going on." Lelouch shook his head in frustration.

  "Oh? And Uncle, you can't see through them either?" Huajing felt a bit surprised and amused. Leiluo had traveled the continent in his early years and was known for his vast knowledge, yet even he couldn't see through these people, how mysterious they were indeed.

  "Xiang Er, do you know what kind of meat we're eating now?"

  "I don't know, but it feels tender and smooth, with a lingering aftertaste that's truly delicious." Huā Jiè Lèi thought she had never eaten such delicious meat before, and even she, who usually didn't like greasy food, ate quite a bit.

  "This is the meat of a high-ranking Wyrmkin, Firecloud Beast. It looks like they hunted it down in the Monster Forest."

  Lei Luo looked at Hua Die and continued, "As far as I know, this Huoyun Beast has the strength of a mid-level swordmaster and can use high-level fire magic. Even I couldn't easily kill it."

  "Could it be that these people killed the Huoyun beast?" asked Hua Qian with tears of confusion.

  "It's unlikely, but they must have their own share. Maybe they have some experts too." Leluo shook his head, with this group of people who only had swordsmen's strength, wanting to kill the Fire Cloud Beast was as difficult as ascending to heaven.

  After listening to LeLo's words, Hua Fei looked at this group of people more carefully.

  "They might be soldiers, for they have the discipline and blood of soldiers; they might be mercenaries, for they have the calmness and killing intent of mercenaries; they might be adventurers, for they have the wildness and will of adventurers. But what are they after all?" Rero muttered to himself.

  "This is mine!"

  "It's mine!"

  "Uncle, why don't you act your age?"

  "Xiao Yun, don't you understand respect for elders and care for the young?"

  "But I've already toasted two slices for you to eat, this one has got to be mine. I'm telling you, don't snatch it."

  "Xiao Yun, don't you think that I, an old man with worn-out arms and legs, have toiled in the Monster Forest for half a month just for these few pieces of meat? It really breaks my heart!"

  Suddenly, from a corner somewhere, there was a commotion of an old and young person fighting over barbecue, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

  These two were naturally Lao Ka and Liu Yun. They saw the two men each holding one end of a wooden stick, struggling to pull it, with a piece of golden Fire Cloud Beast meat in the middle.

  "Old fellow, everyone is watching us, let go quickly!" Liu Yun pulled the wooden stick with force and whispered in Old Ka's ear.

  "Xiao Yun, this old man has no advantages except for being thick-skinned. Are you going to let go or not?" Lao Ka ignored the gazes of the crowd and stared at Liu Yun with a pleased smile.

  "You're cruel, but don't think I'll ever cook for you again." Liuyun was momentarily enraged.

  Tonight may have been infected with a happy atmosphere, and Liuyun unexpectedly rose up a few points of youthful temperament, and Lao Ka rushed to grab the meat.

  He didn't know that Ka Shu, who had been following him for a long time, had already sensed the deep sadness in his heart, so he thought of ways to make him happy and comfort him.

  "Hey kids, if you want to eat barbecue, go find your leader. Don't fight with the old folks for it." Seeing that all the team members were staring at the barbecue in his hands with gleaming eyes, Old Ka dropped this sentence and quickly slipped away.

  Seeing the expectant eyes of the crowd, Liú Yún (Flowing Cloud) reluctantly walked into the team, and the team members suddenly cheered and started helping him with his moves.

  "Is this person the leader of these people?" Hua Xiangyu looked at the young man in front of her, somewhat hard to believe. Less than twenty years old, still quite handsome, but that scene just now made him seem like a big kid.

  "Uncle, go ask the ranch manager about this person, what is he actually doing?" A strong curiosity made Huajie Niannu unable to help but ask Leiluo beside her.

  After completing the barbecue task, Liuyun wiped his sweat and cursed in his heart: "Old card, don't let me find an opportunity, or you're done."

  "Second Master, have a drink and take a rest. This is my own brewed fruit wine." Adams walked to Liuyun's side, holding out a bowl of wine with both hands.

  Liuyun took it over, thanked him and took a sip.

  "Wine, how is that possible?" The feeling of the wine entering his mouth shocked Liú Yún greatly. He lowered his head to take another look and saw that the fruit wine in the bowl had a hint of crimson color, which was somewhat similar to grape wine.

  "Uncle Adams, what is this wine brewed with?" asked Liú Yún hastily.

  "Oh, this is made from a kind of wild fruit liqueur from the Jade Dragon Mountain, the locals call that wild fruit 'grapes'." Adams seemed very satisfied with his young master's expression.

  "Is it wine? Is this wine for sale?" Liú Yún seemed to have thought of something and hastily asked again.

  "This wine hasn't been named yet, let's just call it grape wine. This kind of wild fruit is only found on Yulong Mountain near the pasture, I'm afraid I'm the only one who uses it to make wine, there's no selling it anywhere. Behind the pasture, I also planted some vines that produce grapes, if you're interested, young master, I'll take you to see them tomorrow." Adams said happily, seeing that the young master was interested in his homemade wine.

  "Oh, this is good, this is good." Liu Yun's mind quickly began to calculate.

  "By the way, Second Master, this evening, a few more guests arrived to stay overnight. They are from the Roman family and said they didn't want to disturb the master, so I didn't bring them to see you." Adams pointed to a group of people by the bonfire in the distance, saying to Liú Yún.

  "Hmm, just treat your guests well." Liuyun replied casually, fully immersed in the wine.

  Lei Lo returned with a somewhat heavy expression.

  "Qie Er, the housekeeper said that young man is Liú Yún, the second young master of the Kǎi Dé family. He has been living in the ranch recently. He's the same scoundrel who broke off his engagement with the princess and was expelled from Cloud Peace City by the imperial nobles, a cancer to the Kǎi Dé family."

  Although he felt that the young man in front of him was very different from that evil young master, Lei Luo still worried that he would find trouble for his sister.

  "Ah?" The news brought back by Lelouch obviously surprised this Miss Shirley.

  "Is it really him?" Although she had never met Liuyun before, as someone who frequently traveled to the Imperial Capital, she had heard rumors about him.

  "Hmm!" Lelouch nodded, "But the ranch manager said that his second young master was cursed with evil when he was a child and became such a person. Recently, the curse was lifted and he returned to normal. However, Akane, let's still be careful."

  Hua Die hadn't responded yet when a loud shout came from afar.

  "Boss, don't hide alone and drink! Brothers, drag the old man out for a drink."

  Since having his finger chopped off, Zǐ Wén Chéng had been quite intimidated by Liú Yún. Later training made him admire Liú Yún even more. However, he always felt somewhat unwell in his heart because of the long-term cruel "torture" he suffered at his hands.

  "Today, I'm going to make him surrender, haha!" thought Zi Wencheng with a pleased heart.

  "Right, bring his head out and let him drink." Along with the constant urging voices, more than a dozen team members rushed up and carried Liuyun to the bonfire.

  As he was lifted up by his teammates and tossed high into the air, Liu Yun's eyes became moist. He really enjoyed this feeling, and had even seen such a scene more than once in his dreams. In the past, every time he returned from completing a mission, his group of rabbit friends would welcome him back with such enthusiasm, getting him drunk until he was unconscious.

  At this time, Iverson's eyes were also moist, and he also walked into the crowd, holding up his wine glass.

  The cloud-like figure on the ground raised his wine cup and waved his hand, stopping the laughter of the crowd. In a loud voice, he said: "Distant guests, my brothers, people from the pasture, my home, please raise your wine cups! I'll count to three, let's all take a drink together!"

  "One, two, three, go!"

  "Cheers!"

  In a burst of cheers, everyone raised their glasses and drank up, pushing the atmosphere on site to **.

  With a crisp "crack", Iverson shattered the empty wine glass in his hand and strode towards Flowing Cloud with his sword.