Supreme Emperor of Mist

"How was the preparation? Has everything ready for the marquis the moment he arrived?" the village chief of Lianshui Village asked as he runs from one side of the square to another.

He can be said to be the busiest person in the entire village right now, with many things to be handled personally. Unlike the previous Bashan village, this place received the news regarding Qin Lan's visit a few days ago.

The Lianshui Village also seems to be doing much better than the Bashan Village, which has a problem with its natural resources. 

Of course, the reason they're doing much better is due to their placement beside Lianshui Lake. The Lianshui Lake is well known for its plant known as Luminescent Lotus.

Unlike the usual lotus with its edible seeds inside the pod, the Luminescent Lotus cannot be eaten. It can only be harvested once every three months, which means only four harvests in a year.

Each time when the Luminescent Lotus is matured enough to be harvested, they'll be glowing beautifully for a total of three nights before the plant propagates and wither. A new batch of Luminescent Lotus will appear a month later to repeat the cycle all over again.

This is also why the village chief seems to be busier than the others.

"Old man, why are you getting so nervous for? This is not the first high-ranking official you've seen before. They'll be all the same. Just let me entertain them at night while you're busy with the harvesting session." the wife of the village chief said.

"From what the message said, this marquis is different from the others. You can't treat him like the other greedy officials. Unfortunately, our daughter is not in the village right now... How good if Lian-Er is here..." the village chief shook his head as he felt a slight headache thinking that Qin Lan is on his way here.

His daughter, Lian-Er, can be said to be the most beautiful maiden in the Lianshui Village. She's also known for being taken into the Ice Maiden Temple Sect by one of their elders.

As the most beautiful maiden from this village, it was common for the village chief to have more faith in his own daughter.

"Just leave them to me. It's just fifty soldiers and a Marquis. I'll make sure he'll be happy until the day he left our village with few virgin maidens in his arms." the chief's wife said.

"Hopefully. Just make sure everything is done correctly. I want no mistake to happen because we're officially a piece of land that belonged to the Country of Wu right now. There are many things we're not so sure of yet, so don't make an assumption quickly before consulting me." the village chief continued.

"I know! I know! Just get back to your work. Let me handle this. I'll get people to call you when the marquis is here." the village chief got pushed away from the village's square as his wife took control of the arrangement.

...

"Marquis, we're roughly an hour away from the Lianshui Village. From what the people living in Bashan Village told me, this village was settled beside the Lianshui Lake, where Luminescent Lotus blooms once every three months." the officer said.

"Luminescent Lotus? Is that the same one that we used to create the flares?" Qin Lan asked.

"Yes. From what I know, the grounded powder from the Luminescent Lotuses Seed was used as one of the ingredients in creating the flares. But there's something else that might attract milord's interest." the officer continued.

"Oh? What might get my attention?" Qin Lan smiled as he looks at the officer sheepishly.

"From the word of villagers in Bashan Village, sometimes, the lake produces few Lotus Flower without a seed pod. Since there's no pod for the nutrient to go from the stalk to the pod, all the luminescent essence ended up gathering on the bloom."

"This causes the Lotus Flower to glow beautifully in the dark. They can fetch quite a lucrative price because it was highly sought after by the wealthier family members from all over the three countries." the officer said.

"Oh? This makes it sound quite interesting." Qin Lan nodded.

"Perhaps, milord would like to ask if they have three in their inventory that milord could have? I'm sure that your three wives would be happy to receive a gift like this," he added before grinning at Qin Lan.

"Officer - Officer... Now you ended up trying to become my teacher in love as well. What am I going to do without you?" Qin Lan chuckled. But inside his heart, he was slightly attracted to the beautiful gift the officer just mentioned.

"Then, let's ask if they have it in their inventory." Qin Lan nodded.

After traveling for close to an hour, the Lianshui Village is finally in front of them. Like how it was described, the village is situated just by the side of a beautiful lake. Lotus leaves and flowers were growing by the side of the lake, making it a sight to behold.

"This place is indeed as beautiful as the villagers from Bashan Village described." Qin Lan smiled as his mood was enlightened by the scenery and fragrance from the lotus.

"You two, go to the village and announce the arrival of the marquis. Let them finish their preparation before we entered the settlement. Make sure you treated them with respect. Remember to treat the villagers with respect and don't step over your rights." the officer pointed at two soldiers and ordered them to get into the village first.

"Yes, Sir!" the two patted the Martial Beast they're seated on and made their way into the village first. As for Qin Lan, he's taking it leisurely while getting carried by the Golden-Grade Martial Beast.

"Jin-Xiong, what do you think about the lake?" Qin Lan asked the Martial Beast he tamed. Since it looked like a bear while standing on two legs, he named it Jin (Gold) Xiong (bear).

From the way it looks, the Martial Beast loved the name Qin Lan given him.

"OOH!" Jin-Xiong replied to Qin Lan's question by taking a piece of wood on the ground and give it a few bites. From the action alone, it seems it had a different point of view about the lake.

"What? Are you saying that the lake should be filled with fish that you can eat?" Qin Lan asked.

"Oh!" Jin-Xiong nods.

"You're gluttony, don't you think? I just gave you a few strips of dried bacon to eat back there." Qin Lan flicked Jin-Xiong's head after seeing that the Martial Beast is asking for food again.

Shaking his head around after getting flicked by Qin Lan, Jin-Xiong continued to walk stably without making it feel uncomfortable to Qin Lan on its back.

"We greet the Crimson Mist Marquis for his lordship's visit in this small and humble Lianshui Village." the villagers greeted Qin Lan the moment he stepped into the village. The entourage with fifty soldiers and close to thirty Martial Beast made it grander than when they arrive at Bashan Village.

"Everyone, please rise." Qin Lan slowly raised his hand up as he speaks.

"Milord, may we guide you to where you'll be seating, please? The banquet is ready and can start at any time." the village chief said as he offered to walk Qin Lan over to where he'll be seated.

By the time he arrived at where he'll be seating, Qin Lan chuckled. 

As he had expected, this village prepared a few young maidens to serve him as well. Looking at the eight beauties that seem to know nothing about how enormous the world outside this village, he felt a slight pity.

But he did nothing because anything he did right now would indirectly become an act of slapping the village chief on his face. And since it was arranged this way for him to enjoy, Qin Lan decided to follow the flow and allowed the beauties to serve him.

After a light massage around his neck, shoulder, and arms, Qin Lan decided to reward them for their effort.

"Is your parents is here?" Qin Lan asked one of the eight young maidens.

"Yes, milord. My parents are by that table." the young maiden replied to Qin Lan honestly.

"Good. I am glad to have you massaging my shoulder today. Take your hand out. Let me give you a reward before letting you get back to your parents." Qin Lan said.

"Mi - Milord, did Yue-Er did something wrong?" the young maiden panicked. If there weren't others standing by her side, she might have kneeled straightaway after hearing what Qin Lan just said.

"No, you did nothing wrong. Is there a problem for me to reward the beauty that made me felt happy?" Qin Lan smiled at the young maiden that called herself Yue-Er.

"Then..." she slowly took her hand out. Afraid that Qin Lan might be a corrupt official like the others shared before, she tried to keep her hand steady as she waited for her fate.

But all she got was a bottle full of Flesh Foundation Pills and five Skin Clarifying Pellets.

"Go back to your parents. You've done what you need to do here, so it's fine to enjoy the banquet with them." Qin Lan smiled. His attention soon arrived at the other two as he rewarded them similarly before letting them return to their parents.

With only five beauties left, Qin Lan would have to keep looking for an excuse. He eventually had them sent off and returned to their family.

What Qin Lan did make the village chief and his wife speechless. They're worried that Qin Lan would be dissatisfied with what they've arranged for Qin Lan so far.