Hospitality

Black Jade City stood next to the provincial capital, Red Jade City. Its location near the Magical Beast Mountains drew large numbers of adventurers, while its abundant local products attracted many merchant caravans. With its large population, Black Jade City was also the second-largest city in Yagor Province. Successive members of the Monchi Family who became lords of the provincial capital would first serve as lord of Black Jade City to gain experience and familiarize themselves with the family's income there, preventing anyone from pocketing public funds before returning to take charge of the provincial capital.

People streamed through Black Jade City's gates, while the gate guards maintained order among those entering and leaving. When Lister's group arrived at the gate, passersby and guards alike were startled. The magical beast Velociraptor looked enormous, and it was a high-ranking magical beast. Anyone capable of taming a Velociraptor was certainly an expert.

One sharp-eyed guard noticed that their young lord was also on the Velociraptor's back, chatting happily with the others riding it.

"Quick, inform Lord Perlis that the young lord has returned, and that he came back riding a magical beast Velociraptor with several other people."

The sharp-eyed guard spoke to the guard beside him. Once he finished, the other guard ran into the city, while he ran up to the Velociraptor and addressed Wang Lufei on its back.

"Young lord, you're back. I'm today's guard captain. I've already sent someone to inform Lord Perlis."

"Mm."

Wang Lufei nodded to the guard and waved him away, then led Lister into Black Jade City, going all the way to the city lord's residence. With Dai Dai's help, everyone then floated down from the Velociraptor's back.

Ten guards stood on either side of the residence's main entrance. In front of them stood a white-haired old man of about fifty. He was Perlis, the residence's head steward and an eighth-level warrior. The moment he saw Wang Lufei, he hurried forward to welcome him.

"Young lord, you're finally back. You've been away for another whole month, and you wouldn't let me accompany you. The city lord has been terribly worried about you. And why do you look so weak?"

Seeing how weak Wang Lufei looked, Perlis hurriedly asked.

When Nana heard Perlis's question, she stepped forward to answer:

"Uncle Perlis, while we were training on the outskirts of the Magical Beast Forest this time, a seventh-level magical beast, a Shadow Leopard, suddenly appeared. We were almost killed. Fortunately, Brother Lister happened to pass by and saved us."

After answering, she looked at Lister.

Perlis first looked at Lister, then bowed slightly to him in thanks before speaking to Wang Lufei again:

"A seventh-level magical beast, a Shadow Leopard! Young lord, if anything happened to you, I would have no way to answer to the city lord. You must take me with you whenever you go out from now on, or I certainly won't let you leave alone."

"Uncle Perlis, I understand. We can discuss these things later. First, take Brother Lister inside for a meal. He's my benefactor."

"Yes, yes, let's take our benefactor in for a meal first."

After speaking with Perlis, Wang Lufei led Lister, Dai Dai, and the others into the city lord's residence. Once Head Steward Perlis had made the arrangements, he told Wang Lufei he was going to notify the city lord and left.

Everyone sat down after reaching the reception room. The maids brought out a whole roast lamb, along with other delicacies and fruit, setting them on the table for everyone to enjoy.

As Lister ate the delicious food, he sighed inwardly. Now this was food fit for humans. In all his years on the Yulan Continent, he had eaten food without seasonings. For a food lover, those days had truly been hard to endure.

Head Steward Perlis arrived at the conference hall where the city lord was, ready to report on the young lord. The hall's door was open, so Perlis entered directly. Three people were inside, but the lord of Blackstone City was not sitting in the city lord's seat. Instead, he was extremely respectful toward the other two. As head steward, Perlis knew who those two were.

Thus, Perlis did not report immediately, but stood just inside the conference hall's entrance, waiting quietly. "Dragon, Perlis probably has something to report. Attend to that first."

The lord of Black Jade City had ignored Perlis when he entered. Only after the man in the seat of honor spoke did he address Perlis in a somewhat stern tone:

"Perlis, do you have something important to report?"

"My lord, the young lord has returned. However, he suffered very serious injuries this time. Fortunately, his life is not in danger. He was wounded by a seventh-level magical beast, a Shadow Leopard. Thankfully, a powerful expert passing by saved him."

After Perlis answered, Monkey D. Dragon, the lord of Black Jade City, was startled at first, then said:

"I see. That child simply won't listen. He's too headstrong. I told him to take guards when he went out, but he refused. I hope this teaches him a lesson. Go and attend to them first. When I have time, I'll go thank the expert who intervened."

"Yes, my lord."

Perlis bowed slightly in reply. At that moment, the old man in the seat of honor spoke:

"Dragon, it's a good thing that Lufei likes going out to train without protection. What powerful expert ever grew up under someone else's protection? That's how a member of our Monkey Clan should be. It wasn't his fault that he ran into danger this time. You, his father, were too careless. If you weren't going to assign guards openly, couldn't you arrange some in secret? Go bring Lufei and the person who saved his life here. You should thank him as well."

"You are right to reprimand me, Ancestor."

The lord of Black Jade City answered respectfully, then said to Perlis:

"Perlis, go invite that brat Lufei and the person who saved him here."

"Yes, my lord."

Perlis then bowed slightly and withdrew from the hall.

Back in the reception room, once everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, Perlis returned and said a few words beside Wang Lufei. Wang Lufei nodded after listening, then turned to Lister and said:

"Brother Lister, my father is in the conference hall, so he would like to invite you there to meet him and receive his thanks."

Lister nodded in agreement, then followed the steward Perlis to the conference hall with Wang Lufei.