Chapter 311 - Traveling with Qing Ling

Chapter 311: Chapter 66 Traveling with Qing Ling"I need to discuss something with you," Lu Hong heaved a sigh, "Could you please get off me?"

"No, I won’t," Qing Ling said in a coquettish manner, "You don’t know how much I missed you after you left. I definitely won’t let you leave this time!"

Lu Hong bitterly smiled and turned to Earl Bacon, "Now you see why I was afraid to meet her, right?"

"Ha-ha-ha," Earl Bacon laughed heartily, "I’ve watched Qing Ling grow up, but this is the first time I’ve seen her like this. It’s an eye-opener for me."

Qing Ling, get off big brother Lu Hong. It’ll make him uncomfortable," Xiao Hui tugged at her side, regretting ever speaking about Lu Hong to Qing Ling. Her best friend had already shown signs of cheating, and now another bestie was doing the same. Why did every man she slightly fancied end up being snatched away?!

Initially, Xiao Hui only had a slightly favorable impression of Lu Hong, but after two rounds of her best friends’ outrageous behavior, she started to believe she should like him too. Otherwise, why would two of her high-standards friends be intimate with him?

Seeing her daughter unhappy, Earl Bacon curbed his laughter, "Alright, Qing Ling, stop messing around. Now Lu Hong here is a retainer of the Bacon family. You should not be inappropriate. As the Queen of Raoxue, you ought to treat him with courtesy."

"What?" Qing Ling stared at Lu Hong, "Why have you become a retainer for the Bacon family? If you were looking for a place to settle down, wouldn’t Raoxue Castle suffice? Why run off to Kilian West?"

"No, it’s not like that. I’m only representing the Bacon family in the Eagle’s Quest; I didn’t agree to become a retainer," Lu Hong was puzzled, looking at Earl Bacon, "Lord Earl, is there some misunderstanding?"

"No, no," Earl Bacon said, "Since you’re representing my Bacon family in the first seat at the Eagle’s Quest, you naturally become a retainer for my family, with all the corresponding benefits and treatment."

Qing Ling lifted her head with curiosity, "Uncle Bacon, what is the Eagle’s Quest?"

Earl Bacon didn’t feel right speaking up.

Xiao Hui explained on the side, "You’re the Clan Leader of Raoxue, the Queen of Raoxue. How can you not know about the Eagle’s Quest?"

"I just don’t like reading biographies," Qing Ling muttered, reluctantly getting dragged off by Lu Hong, stamping her foot dissatisfied.

After some explanation, Qing Ling nodded, "That seems like a grand event." Her eyes dimmed, "Unfortunately, I can’t go."

"Why can’t you go? Just leave Raoxue to my dad to manage," Xiao Hui took Qing Ling’s hand and continued, "After all, there’s nothing valuable in Raoxue. If it’s just about protecting the citizens, my dad can easily send a squad to take care of it, wouldn’t that solve everything?"

Qing Ling wanted to refuse. As the owner of a realm and the Clan Leader, how could she turn her territory over to another family to manage?

"Go ahead, don’t worry. I won’t take a penny from Raoxue," Earl Bacon also doted on his little niece. Her parents had passed away early, and he truly wanted to help her. Unfortunately, Qing Ling was too proud, and any charity would only hurt her. So, Earl Bacon usually treated Qing Ling according to standard alliance member rules, respecting her identity and acknowledging her.

Moved by Xiao Hui and Earl Bacon’s persuasion, Qing Ling wavered. Honestly, she had been tied to Raoxue for too long, like being trapped in a cage, longing to see the outside world.

Seeing her hesitance, Lu Hong hastily said, "Qing Ling, don’t forget your responsibility as the Clan Leader. So many people in Raoxue City are counting on your protection."

"Alright!" Persuaded by Lu Hong, Qing Ling finally made up her mind, "I’ll listen to Uncle Bacon. I’ll leave Raoxue in your care. In exchange, I’ll pay you three hundred thousand Gold Coins as a fee."

"Hey, hey," Lu Hong suddenly felt overwhelmed, with a crazy fan following him, stronger than himself, who knew what she might do. He had experienced the same thing with Danni, then Lando, and he definitely did not want it to happen a third time, "Where did you get three hundred thousand Gold Coins?"

Qing Ling pointed to the gleaming Purple Gold Card on the table, "That’s yours, isn’t it?"

"What?" Lu Hong raised an eyebrow, "You want to take it? You haven’t even explained about that one ring’s treasures to me yet!"

"Oh, stop being petty. When I have money later, I’ll give it all to you," Qing Ling muttered softly.

"Is it really about the money?!" Lu Hong couldn’t contain his irritation, "What about my feather? Who did you sell it to?"

"What feather?" Qing Ling pondered, "The glowing golden feather? I gave it to Xiao Hui."

Lu Hong turned to Xiao Hui, "May I ask Miss Hui, did Qing Ling give you a golden feather?"

Xiaohui pouted, "Qing Ling Qing Ling, saying it so affectionately, you should call me Xiaohui!"

"Of course, of course!" Are women truly so brainless? Lu Hong was exasperated. What in the world was she getting jealous about?

Seeing Lu Hong agree, Xiaohui then slowly spoke, "That feather, it doesn’t seem to have anything special. A few days ago, Niannian took it to play with."

Lu Hong could only shake his head helplessly. This was a part from a god-level Demon Beast, and it was being treated as a mere decoration?

"Hey, is there something unique about that feather?" Qing Ling curiously continued, "Did I make a big mistake?"

"Of course you did! You sold my belonging without my permission. Do you think that was right?"

"But, but how else was I to get the money to treat your illness?" Qing Ling said, aggrieved, "You’re not unaware of how poor the Raoxue family is."

"Alright." Lu Hong knew Qing Ling had no choice, "I’m not blaming you. It’s just a pity. As long as the feather is still around, that’s all that matters."

"So what’s the use of the feather?" Qing Ling pursued further.

"It’s not something ordinary, but I really don’t know its specific use." Lu Hong could only explain that way since he truly didn’t know the use of the feather.

Qing Ling didn’t notice anything odd and had to turn to Xiaohui, "Find the feather later and give it back to Brother Lu Hong."

"You don’t need to tell me. That’s Brother Lu Hong’s thing. I will definitely give it back to him." Xiaohui huffed and turned her head away.

Seeing the three of them deep in conversation, Earl Bacon suddenly felt somewhat superfluous, so he stood up, ready to take his leave. There wasn’t much else of significance since the matter of his identity had been resolved, "You young people talk. I have various affairs to attend to and won’t linger."

"Let us see off the esteemed Earl."

"Qing Ling sees off the esteemed Earl."

"Seeing off Father."

The three of them bade farewell, and the deputy followed Earl Bacon, step by step leaving the backyard.

Midway, Earl Bacon suddenly spoke up, "Lu Hong mustn’t follow us. He has to go a separate way. Also, regarding Lu Hong’s status as the first seat, we need to maintain secrecy. You’ll accompany him and take care of everything for him on the road."

Uh-oh! The deputy smiled wryly. What was bound to happen eventually had come, just too quickly for him to accept, "Your subordinate understands."

"Mhm." Earl Bacon nodded, "Go on then."

"Your subordinate takes his leave."

Just as the deputy was leaving, Ci Nian Nian emerged from a corner and greeted Earl Bacon, "Niece has met Earl Bacon."

"Niannian, what did your father say?"

"Uncle, my father hasn’t replied at all. I don’t know if he will send someone to participate in the Eagle’s Excursion." As Ci Nian Nian spoke, she inwardly griped countless times about Marquis Ci for not giving her any word on such an important family matter, leaving her, a girl, in a sticky situation and proving himself an unfit father.

Earl Bacon, for his part, was indifferent, "No matter, since there’s no response, then his intentions are clear to me."

He gently patted Ci Nian Nian’s shoulder, "I’ve heard your father has been cold and distant towards you these past years, but trust me, there is no parent under heaven who does not care for their children. He may have his unspeakable difficulties. Also, according to reliable information, the Xinlei family is secretly moving a number of strong individuals to sneak into Geliyasi, but all their attempts have been intercepted by unknown forces. I think you understand what I mean."

Warmth surged through Ci Nian Nian’s heart; it must be her father secretly sending people to protect her, "Niannian thanks Uncle Bacon."

"You’re welcome." Earl Bacon walked away with his hands behind his back, and Ci Nian Nian looked towards the backyard, catching faint snippets of laughter and scolding, feeling particularly lonely in this foreign land.