Hua Shisan could not help but admire Jian Jūnshàng. Not only had she predicted someone would come seeking information, but she also gave permission to disclose it, even letting him earn a few extra spirit stones for his trouble.
Weighing the spirit stones in his hand, Hua Shisan looked at the veiled female cultivator across from him. She seemed annoyed, but still slipped in a few more stones, waiting for his answer.
He tucked the payment into his pouch and got straight to the point.
"The Solarfire Crimson Silk was bought by a Divine Transformation Jūnshàng. She's a demon cultivator and is currently with Mo Su Jūnshàng of the Heavenly Demon Palace."
At the mention of a Divine Transformation cultivator, the woman visibly clenched her hand. Hearing she was a demon cultivator seemed to calm her, but upon learning she was traveling with another Jūnshàng, her anxiety returned.
"Do you know this Jūnshàng's name?"
"Jian Dan. Jian Jūnshàng."
"What?!"
The moment she heard the name, Du Yanran froze. She couldn't believe it. After confirming it several times with Hua Shisan, she turned away in a daze and returned to her private booth.
What she didn't realize was that Hua Shisan watched her leave, then quietly walked not to the front hall, but to the room where Jian Dan and her party were staying.
When he saw Jian Dan again, his tone was even more respectful.
"Jūnshàng, when I was reporting to the steward, a female cultivator stopped me and asked about the Solarfire Crimson Silk. As per your instructions, I told her."
"Very good. Do you know who she is?"
"She entered a private booth long reserved by the Yin-Yang Sect. She's said to be the concubine of one of their Divine Transformation Elders. I haven't yet learned her name."
"Understood. No need to dig further."
"Yes. And these spirit stones—"
"Keep them."
"Thank you, Jūnshàng."
After Hua Shisan left, the ever-curious Miao Yunrong couldn't help but ask, "Jūnshàng, do you know that woman?"
Jian Dan gave a half-smile. "An old acquaintance."
Miao Yunrong was about to press further when Mo Su cut in. "Let's go. The auction's over."
It was then Miao Yunrong noticed that the final item had already been sold. She had been so distracted by gossip that she hadn't bid on anything, and could only follow the others out with a hint of frustration.
The return trip was uneventful. After all, none of them had acquired anything overly precious. Even if someone wanted to steal, they wouldn't dare snatch from two demon cultivators at the Divine Transformation stage.
Back at the Xianlai Inn, Jian Dan gave Mo Su a look, nodding toward Cao Chenfeng, then slipped away to her own quarters.
The first thing she did was shelve the Solarfire Crimson Silk inside her spatial ring. She had no plans to let it reappear in the cultivation world for the time being.
Only then did she retrieve the willow branch.
She filled a white porcelain vase with mid-grade spirit spring water and placed it on the table, gently inserting the willow branch into it.
At first, the branch remained unresponsive, just as Hua Shisan had said—neither growing nor withering. Jian Dan wasn't surprised. She reached out and stroked the jade-green leaves.
"It must be fate for us to meet again. I don't expect you to recognize me as your master. I simply couldn't bear to see such a treasure gathering dust. If you can never return to the Immortal realm, wouldn't that mean you'd never see your master again? Am I wrong, Guardian Willow?"
This time, the branch reacted. It eagerly absorbed the spirit water, extending its shoots rapidly. Leaves sprouted wildly, doubling again and again until the entire room was filled with greenery, trapping Jian Dan inside.
"Now now, what's with the excitement? I'm the one providing the spirit water, and you're trying to attack me?"
The branch hesitated, then slowly retracted, restoring the room to normal.
Jian Dan nodded in approval.
"That's more like it. Let's negotiate a mutual cooperation pact."
The branch swayed slightly, waiting to hear her terms.
"I promise that if I ascend to the Immortal realm, I will bring you along to find your master. Until then, I'll provide spirit water to aid your recovery. In return, you become my partner and help me in the cultivation realm. How does that sound?"
The willow seemed tempted. After a moment, a leaf dropped and landed gently on Jian Dan's wrist. A link was formed. She could feel a temporary mental connection.
"I am Liu Chuan. My master tasked me with guarding the Jiachen Spirit Fields. But when a rift opened in the Purple Rank Domain, I protected the land, only to be flung out."
"And you were picked up, mistaken for a treasure, and sold to the auction house?"
"Not exactly. The first cultivator I met tried to forge weapons from my leaves. Then he tried to refine me too. I killed him. After that, I wandered until I was sold here. I remained in my base form to avoid being bound, until you exposed me."
Jian Dan had already poured herself a drink and was now sipping leisurely, nodding in understanding. "You must be the same Qi Refining girl who entered my domain through an illusion, bringing a colorful parrot with her."
Jian Dan blinked. "So my disguise had been seen through?"
"That was me. How did you figure it out?"
"Not telling."
She almost spat out her wine. This willow really had a personality. What kind of master taught it like this?
Truthfully, she had only taken the branch because it felt familiar. It wasn't expensive, and if her guess was wrong, it was still worth the try. Either way, she didn't lose.
Now it seemed both of them held something over the other. She was satisfied. What she valued was its offensive potential. As long as it served as an ally, that was enough.
And so, their agreement was sealed.
Elsewhere, Mo Su had fully understood Jian Dan's earlier glance. As they parted ways with Cao Chenfeng, Mo Su casually tossed him the box containing the Starfall Ore.
"If you plan to fuse it with your life-bound sword, I can ask Jian Daoyou to help."
Cao Chenfeng looked confused.
Mo Su explained, "She takes your matters quite seriously."
Seeing Cao Chenfeng's expression darken, Mo Su suddenly realized why Jian Dan found this so amusing. It wasn't romantic interest. She just enjoyed teasing him and watching his feathers ruffle.
Back at another inn, Du Yanran wasn't nearly as calm. Ever since she heard the name Jian Dan, she had felt restless. With her current mid-stage Golden Core cultivation, how could she compete with a Divine Transformation cultivator?
And whether this Jian Dan was the same one from the nether realm, she couldn't be sure. But ever since she entered the cultivation realm, everything had started to change.