“Huh? You booked this hotel?”
Lingering Cloud glanced at the hotel location Lin Xing had sent.
Seeing the four large words “Linglin Hotel” prominently displayed on the map, he couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise.
He then winked at Lin Xing.
“Lin Xing, don’t you think the name of this hotel looks familiar?”
‘Familiar? Familiar how? It’s just the name of a hotel. How familiar can it be?’
Lin Xing hadn’t paid any attention to the name when he booked it.
He had simply opened the app to compare prices, found one that looked decent, and made the reservation.
However, Lingering Cloud’s remark piqued his interest.
He leaned forward to take a closer look at the name on the navigation screen.
“What’s there to see? It’s just Linglin Ho — Linglin?!”
Lin Xing was stunned as soon as he finished reading the name.
Linglin? He turned his gaze toward Lingering Cloud, his eyes full of hesitation.
“Is this… exactly what I think it is?”
“That’s right! It’s exactly what you think! This is my family’s business~”
Lingering Cloud gave a slightly smug smile and waved his hand grandly.
“Your room fees are waived! I’m even upgrading you to the highest-level presidential suite! What do you think? Am I a good friend or what?”
Lin Xing was speechless.
If he remembered correctly, he had specifically looked for a five-star resort hotel so that Lumiya and Little Green could stay comfortably.
This guy Lingering Cloud… his “my family is quite famous locally” was a bit of an understatement, wasn’t it?
Afterward, Lingering Cloud took them to taste the most famous local snacks and hot pot.
As expected, the Ling Family had a stake in almost every large establishment. Even the City Lord of Yu City was Lingering Cloud’s Grandfather!
The old man was almost 200 years old, but because of his strength as a 7th Rank Beast Tamer, he didn’t look aged at all.
In fact, he looked no different from someone in their 30s or 40s! His spirit and vitality were even better than that of an average middle-aged man.
Currently, this old man was seated upright in the main seat of the hall.
However, his posture was a bit unnatural, as if the chair beneath him were a scorching hot branding iron. He looked as if he wanted to stand up at any moment.
The hall was filled with countless members of the Ling Family, all of whom were currently staring at the strange face sitting next to the old man.
Lin Xing sat beside the old man with a numb, vacant expression.
Lumiya stood behind Lin Xing, looking somewhat dissatisfied.
Little Green, seemingly disliking these large family gatherings, had retreated back into the Beast Tamer Space.
Feeling the intense gazes from his surroundings, Lin Xing recalled Lingering Cloud saying after their late-night snack, “Our Grandfather wants to have a chat with you. Don’t worry, he’s very kind~”
At this moment, Lin Xing felt like tearing that guy apart! ‘Wasn’t the old man being a bit too kind?!’
As soon as they entered the door, Lingering Cloud had quietly disappeared. Then, a crowd of people began staring at him in unison.
Following that, a middle-aged man who looked like he had been in a high-ranking position for a long time hurried forward and, without a word, tried to lead him to the seat of honor at the very top!
Fortunately, Lin Xing reacted quickly.
Shaking his head like a rattle, he repeatedly said it was “inappropriate.”
Only then did the middle-aged man hesitate and arrange for him to sit in the seat next to him before taking the main seat himself.
Only then did Lin Xing realize that this was the Grandfather of the Ling Family — the City Lord of Yu City!!
“Little friend Lin Xing… why don’t you come and sit over here instead? Don’t overthink it; we treat every guest this way.”
The old man in the main seat hesitated for a moment before asking Lin Xing again.
However, his eyes drifted inconspicuously toward the space behind Lin Xing.
To be precise, he was looking at Lumiya.
“No, no, it’s really not necessary. If possible, I’d rather…”
“Hey, little friend, you’re not treating us like friends.”
“…This spot is fine, thank you…”
‘Am I forced to sit here…?’ Lin Xing tried to convince the old man to let him leave this conspicuous position, but unfortunately, the old man’s words shut him down completely.
The old man was also quite helpless.
Logically, Lin Xing indeed shouldn’t be sitting there; his family had never had such a rule for receiving guests.
But… the old man glanced at Lumiya again.
Could he not even be told her identity? He had only received a single instruction from the Qilin Tribe: “You must serve them with the utmost care.”
He remembered the day Lingering Cloud returned from the competition in Lincheng.
He had urgently summoned Elder Hu, and Little Jade had whispered into the Elder’s ear for a long time. No one could hear exactly what was said.
All they knew was that on that very day, the Qilin Tribe had sent a message through a Secret Technique.
The tone was more serious than ever before, repeatedly emphasizing that they must treat Lumiya as a most honored guest and never offend her. Otherwise, the whole world would be finished.
Although the old man felt it was a bit of an exaggeration — could a young boy’s Beast really destroy the world?
He knew something others didn’t. No matter how strong a Beast was originally, once it was Contracted, it had to start its growth over from scratch!
Under the command of a boy who wasn’t even at the 2nd Rank yet, her strength would be at most at the 3rd Rank.
Even with combat experience, she would only be at the peak of the 3rd Rank.
Even if he took 10,000 steps back and assumed she could retain her strength, it was impossible for her to defeat the Guardian Gods of various countries, right?
Setting aside the Great Azure Dragon of their own Dragon Country, whose strength was mysterious and unknown, even the Eagle God of Hua Country and the Bear God of Bear Country were existences that had touched the 10th Rank!
How could the world be destroyed so easily?
Of course, while that was what he thought, the necessary respect still had to be given. After all, the Qilin Tribe had supported his family for centuries; there must be a reason for them to say such a thing.
He had already given the respect he could.
Even if Lin Xing was unwilling to sit in the main seat, he had practically forced him to sit right next to it. This Lady Lumiya should be able to find that acceptable, right?
Seeing the puzzled looks from the people below directed at Lin Xing, the old man straightened his posture and scanned everyone with a stern gaze.
“Alright, stop staring at little friend Lin Xing. All you need to know is that from now on, little friend Lin Xing is an honored guest of our family! Do I make myself clear?!”
For a moment, there was absolute silence. Everyone present could tell that the old man was serious.
They all withdrew their prying gazes from Lin Xing, but the curiosity and confusion in their hearts only grew stronger.
Lingering Cloud clicked his tongue in a corner.
He, of course, knew why.
As the Beast Tamer for Little Jade and Little Ink, he was the link between the current generation of the family and the Qilin Tribe.
One could even say that he was the most significant investment the Qilin Tribe had ever made in the family! Little Jade was one of the core members of the current Qilin Tribe!
He knew even more than his grandfather did! He had a clearer understanding of Lumiya’s power!
Little Jade had told him that Lumiya was a terrifying existence capable of swallowing the World Origin whole!
Swallowing the World Origin… such an act meant that Lumiya herself was an existence on the same level as The World!
It should have been impossible for such an existence to appear in the form of a living being! But Lumiya had done it!
Looking at Lumiya standing obediently behind Lin Xing, Lingering Cloud found it hard to imagine that the girl before his eyes was such a terrifying being.
Thinking of this, he couldn’t help but feel a hint of envy when he looked at Lin Xing.
With Lumiya around, it was safe to say that Lin Xing would inevitably become one of the top powerhouses in the future! Perhaps even the only one at the very top!
But how did Lin Xing manage to Contract Lumiya? Surely it couldn’t have been pure luck, right?
Could it be that Lumiya had taken a liking to Lin Xing?
After all, Lin Xing seemed completely unaware of Lumiya’s true strength.
‘Could it be… the overbearing CEO Beast falls for the poor human boy?’