The shopkeeper frowned slightly at the words, but still respectfully prepared to send Jian Dan and her group off first.
"There's no need to be so polite. You can go handle your business. I'll just look around for a bit and leave," Jian Dan said casually.
"Many thanks for your understanding, Zhūnzhǔ. Please take your time. I'll be at the front of the shop."
With that, the shopkeeper turned and descended the stairs to the first floor to take care of matters.
Wu Siyuan, standing behind Jian Dan, sent her a voice transmission.
"Zhūnzhǔ, the person making trouble downstairs looks familiar. I think it might be the young master from Purple Sky Sect."
Jian Dan nearly burst out laughing. What kind of wind was blowing today? Everyone she ran into seemed to be someone she knew.
"You mean Lu Xuanyuan?"
"You know him, Zhūnzhǔ?"
"We crossed paths once during my Nascent Soul stage. It had to do with our little Yue Liang."
Yue Liang puffed up his chest proudly upon hearing Jian Dan's words.
"Let's go take a look. That brat's a little tyrant. If he offends the beast clans, they might come after him in secret."
"Zhūnzhǔ, there's a senior cultivator with him. Looks like he snuck out."
Wu Siyuan continued to report, though Jian Dan's divine sense had already seen everything clearly.
"All the more reason to check it out. That kid's long overdue for a lesson."
Jian Dan responded with cheerful interest. Yue Liang nodded along from her shoulder, repeating with gusto, "Overdue for a lesson."
Down on the first floor, Lu Xuanyuan was holding a cloud rabbit by the ear, aggressively confronting a shop attendant.
"I bought this cloud rabbit right here. Hurry up and perform the contract ceremony for the two of us."
"Daoyou, you must be new to Tianyue City. Our Qianwen Pavilion only rents, never sells. Besides, we don't even stock cloud rabbits. How could we have sold you one?"
"Not my problem. Just bind it to me and mind your own business."
The attendant looked like he was about to cry. Why was this cultivator being so unreasonable?
By then, the shopkeeper had already reached the first floor ahead of Jian Dan's group.
"Daoyou, I am the shopkeeper here. If there's a problem, please speak with me."
He greeted them with a polite bow and turned his attention to the troublemaker.
Lu Xuanyuan was dressed more modestly this time, in a maroon robe embroidered with golden patterns at the collar and cuffs. Even the untrained eye could tell it was expensive. His waist was cinched with a matching gold-trimmed belt, from which hung a spirit jade pendant. His hair was half-tied, crowned with a white jade ornament.
Now that he'd grown up, Lu Xuanyuan had turned into a handsome young man, though he still wore that insufferable, cocky expression. His cultivation was at the late Foundation Establishment stage, and behind him stood a middle-aged cultivator in purple robes.
That man suddenly leaned closer and said quietly, "Young Master, we should leave."
Even as he spoke, his gaze flicked toward the staircase. A moment ago, he had sensed a powerful divine sense sweep past. It came from someone above his own level. He had no idea if that person was targeting the young master, so it was safest to get out while they could.
"It's been a while. Young Master Lu, you've grown quite intimidating."
A soft, melodious voice floated down from the stairs as Jian Dan descended to the first floor, teasing him lightly.
The moment Lu Xuanyuan heard her voice, a wave of unpleasant memories crashed over him. He looked toward the sound and saw the raccoon beast perched on Jian Dan's shoulder, confirming her identity.
All traces of arrogance vanished from Lu Xuanyuan's face. He shoved the cloud rabbit into the hands of the middle-aged cultivator behind him and quickly bowed.
"Lu Xuanyuan greets the senior. You overpraise me. I was just passing by and looking around. I'm already preparing to leave."
With that, he tried to sneak off. He was genuinely a little afraid of her.
Jian Dan smiled sweetly and gave Wu Siyuan a look. Wu Siyuan immediately stepped forward, blocking their escape and gesturing politely for them to stay.
Jian Dan turned to the shopkeeper. "May I borrow this space for a moment? It's been years since I last saw this junior. I'd like to catch up."
"Not a problem at all. Please, everyone, upstairs!"
The shopkeeper was more than happy to defuse the situation and promptly cleared the reception hall on the second floor, ordering fresh tea and refreshments to be brought up.
The middle-aged cultivator behind Lu Xuanyuan remained cautious. Normally, the young master was loud and unruly, but now he was being unusually obedient and followed upstairs without a word.
Once everyone was seated, Jian Dan finally introduced herself.
"There's no need for suspicion. I am Jian Lu from Tianjian Sect, Tianyue Peak. Lu Xuanyuan and I are old acquaintances."
Lu Xuanyuan and the middle-aged cultivator exchanged a look and, after confirming her words were true, the latter stood silently behind him again.
"So, the young master snuck out again, didn't he?"
Lu Xuanyuan shifted uncomfortably, giving a sheepish laugh. "Zhēnjūn, how did you know?"
"Just a guess. Didn't expect to hit the mark."
Lu Xuanyuan wanted to slap himself. Why had he opened his mouth at all?
"Wanted to catch the excitement of the sect tournament at Cloud Sea Sect, didn't you?"
"Yes."
There was no use hiding it now. She was spot on.
"You've got guts, I'll give you that. Relying on your bodyguard, are you?"
"Uncle Lu will protect me."
Jian Dan shook her head. He clearly needed to be taught a lesson. She turned to Bian Qikang beside her.
"Go bring that cloud rabbit beast cultivator at the door upstairs."
"Understood."
Bian Qikang turned to leave, but Lu Xuanyuan started to panic.
"Zhēnjūn, I caught that cloud rabbit myself. I was going to form a contract with it."
"Young Master…"
Uncle Lu couldn't even bear to look at him. This level of embarrassment crossed sect lines.
A moment later, the rabbit-eared beast cultivator came upstairs with ears perked. The moment he saw the powerful figures gathered, he bowed to each of them, then turned to Lu Xuanyuan.
"Daoyou, could you please return my child to me? I'll give you anything you ask."
Lu Xuanyuan froze. He lifted the cloud rabbit he still held.
"This is your child?"
"Yes. I beg you to show mercy."
The little rabbit, upon seeing his kin, began kicking and struggling. The moment Lu Xuanyuan loosened his grip, it leapt to the floor and transformed into a four-year-old child with bunny ears. The little one dashed into the beast cultivator's arms, eyes red with tears, and buried his face in the elder's chest, refusing to look up.
Lu Xuanyuan gave up on the contract entirely, slumping into a chair in defeat.
"Daoyou, the child didn't know any better. I'm sorry you and your son had to go through that. But really, you should keep a closer eye on him. You were lucky we're reasonable. If it were another cultivator, they might have demanded your beast core in exchange."
The beast cultivator looked even more terrified after hearing that. Her long ears trembled as she bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Senior, for your mercy."
"Your child is safe now. Take him home and comfort him well."
"Yes."
Without another word, the beast cultivator leapt away in massive bounds, vanishing from sight in moments.
Jian Dan's lips curved faintly. Just like their first meeting—this was the same beast cultivator who had caught her attention the first time she arrived in Tianyue City. She'd spent ages staring at those ears.
She never even saw her face clearly back then, too distracted by one of the red markings on her ear. It looked like a little heart, and she'd never forgotten it.
When her divine sense swept through the area today, she saw a little rabbit with the same mark. The beast cultivator had been lingering nervously near Qianwen Pavilion, and that's why she stepped in.
"Don't feel too down, Xiao Lu. During the sect tournament, Beast Taming Sect will also be participating. If you really want a beast companion, just buy one from them."