Chapter 129: Yu Lian's Masters

Among the many ostentatious carriages parading through the streets, one stood out with particular prominence. It was not crafted from wood or metal, but rather pieced together and carved from the ribs of a rare and precious Monoceros Whale. The unique, pristine whiteness and lustrous sheen of the bone were qualities no other material could hope to replicate.

The cost of such a carriage alone exceeded a million gold coins. When factoring in the immense time and effort required for the whale-bone carving, the total expense was astronomical. Even more striking were the intricate floral patterns etched onto the exterior; hidden within the elaborate tulip motifs were a multitude of nine-pointed star defensive magic arrays. The cores of these arrays were the tulip stamens, each inlaid with magic gemstones that radiated powerful, formidable auras.

This carriage was not only a marvel of luxury but also a fortress of defense.

Lin Qi couldn't help but click his tongue in disbelief. This was the true nature of the imperial capital's high nobility. If a carriage like this were to appear near Dunkirk, it would surely have been looted by pirates or bandits long ago; who would dare to travel in such a display of wealth?

Furthermore, the carriage was not pulled by thoroughbred horses, but by four horned steeds with pale silver horns protruding from their foreheads. These creatures were said to possess the lineage of high-level magical beasts—the unicorns. Their speed and strength far surpassed that of common thoroughbreds, and they were even capable of casting minor purification spells, making them rare and highly coveted mounts.

Yet, it was not the impossibly luxurious carriage that surprised Lin Qi, but the person standing guard beside it. The individual was dressed in a gorgeous, scarlet formal suit, sporting colorful leopard-skin boots, holding a small silver-tasseled whip, and wearing an enormous wide-brimmed hat adorned with long, white feathers. He looked for all the world like a flamboyant, overdressed fop.

This man was none other than Lin Qi’s close brother, a core member of the Iron Fist Brotherhood, and the most famous pimp in the Imperial University district: Yulian.

"Enzo, stay here," Lin Qi signaled to Enzo. He straightened his clothes, stripped away his disguise, pulled off his red wig, and raised the collar of his coat to conceal half his face before sauntering toward Yulian.

When he was still a dozen paces away, two guards in tight-fitting gear, appearing out of nowhere, blocked his path. They growled with cold authority, "This is not a place for you. Go back where you came from. You have ten counts to vanish from our sight."

One of the guards shoved Lin Qi’s shoulder forcefully. However, having recently benefited from various rare medicinal substances, Lin Qi’s physical strength and battle qi had been greatly enhanced. Had the guard shoved an ordinary man, he would have been knocked to the ground, but Lin Qi didn't even sway.

"Hey, no need to be so unfriendly!" Lin Qi snapped his fingers toward Yulian and let out a strange, mocking whistle.

Yulian immediately turned his head. After whispering a few words to someone inside the carriage, he strode over, smiling apologetically at the two guards. "This is my friend. The Count says to let him pass."

The guards glanced back at the carriage. A hand reached out from the window and made a simple gesture. The guards stepped aside at once. Lin Qi smiled at them and followed Yulian forward.

The carriage window slid open, and a pale-faced young man—not particularly handsome, but passable—poked his head out. Lin Qi immediately caught a whiff of heavy perfume emanating from the cabin; this youth was clearly a seasoned veteran of the pleasure quarters. What normal man would wear such heavy makeup?

"A friend of cousin Yulian?" the young man chuckled softly. "Ah, are you here to see Yulian?"

The young man's gaze swept over the bear-fur coat Lin Qi was wearing. Lin Qi was tall, and the coat, crafted from the entire hide of a giant bear, was worth tens of thousands of gold coins. His trousers and boots were also of the finest quality brought from his home in Dunkirk. It was clear that Lin Qi was not a man short on funds.

The young man, initially indifferent, felt a flush of color return to his pale face after inspecting Lin Qi's expensive attire. He was clearly intrigued. "Or, perhaps, are you here to see me?"

Before Lin Qi could speak, Yulian began to introduce the young man’s identity. The youth was only a year older than Yulian, but unlike Yulian, who came from a fallen noble house, this young man was the direct heir to one of the empire's top families. Strictly speaking, Yulian was his distant cousin, but a direct heir who had been granted the title of Count at the age of twelve could hardly be compared to a destitute socialite like Yulian.

The pale-faced young man was named Tixian—an elegant name with a rhythmic charm. His father was the current Deputy Chancellor of the Empire, holding the title of Marquis. His grandfather was the Dean of the Imperial College of Heraldry, a member of the Imperial Council of Nobles, and the former Chancellor of the Empire, holding a hereditary Dukedom. Tixian's uncles also held immense power in the imperial court; for instance, the current Minister of Finance was Tixian’s eldest uncle.

Lin Qi suddenly understood. He bowed deeply to Tixian—not out of respect for the man’s status, but purely for the weight of his family's coffers. The nephew of the Minister of Finance, the son of the Deputy Chancellor—this guy surely had endless gold. Lin Qi was bowing to the mountains of gold that Tixian represented!

"Honorable Lord Tixian, it is an honor to meet you. Please forgive my intrusion. I simply saw Yulian and was curious what he was doing here," Lin Qi said respectfully.

Yulian chimed in with a low laugh from the side, "Cousin, Lin Qi is my boss. He is a man who can get things done!"

Yulian glanced at Lin Qi with a flicker in his eyes, and Lin Qi immediately understood his intent. Yulian undoubtedly wanted to gain some leverage through Tixian. If Yulian could curry favor with him, his fallen family might yet be revived. If nothing else, a single word from Tixian’s father could secure imperial posts for Yulian’s kin, guaranteeing the family's future.

So, Lin Qi smiled reservedly. "Just a few minor tricks, nothing worth mentioning."

"A man who can get things done?" Tixian blinked, tilting his head to look at Lin Qi. He pointed toward the direction of the Green Field Immortal Garden and chuckled softly, "Mr. Lin Qi, who can get things done, do you know what we are doing here?"

Lin Qi looked at Tixian thoughtfully. He remained silent for a full minute before speaking calmly, "Those two beauties whose first nights are worth a million gold coins?"

Tixian smiled.