Ah oh~
Should've said something sooner…
Even though she had pulled her strength back at the last moment, that Demon Staff still landed squarely on his head.
Yao Ranran quietly hid the Demon Staff behind her back, staring at Pu Dingping's shattered remains. She muttered under her breath, "Can he still get back up?"
The night wind brushed past, carrying away the flesh and blood on the ground as if nothing had happened.
"Looks like he's gone…" Yao Ranran turned and flicked her sleeve. A sudden gust swept out, erasing all traces of blood and filth in an instant.
Wait. Who was that guy again?
Yao Ranran's expression went blank. Then she suddenly felt something clinging to her leg.
Tang Xiangyin had wrapped her arms around her thigh, eyes brimming with worship, awe, and excitement. "Thank you, mighty one, for saving my life. Earlier I was blind and failed to recognize your true cultivation. I have no way to repay such kindness. The only thing I can offer is myself!"
Yao Ranran fell silent.
In this kind of situation, who wouldn't want to just… take her away?
But Yao Ranran pinched at the pouch hanging on her waist…
Flat. Completely flat!
She shook her head firmly. "Miss Tang, I only happened to save you by chance. You mustn't throw away your life so foolishly. Freedom is priceless. You must live for yourself!"
"I can't afford to raise her, I really can't!"
Tang Xiangyin clung even tighter, tears spilling down her cheeks. "Fairy, to me, freedom is far too luxurious. In this lifetime, all I wish is to remain by your side. Even if it is only as your servant, please don't abandon me! As long as you can take me out of this secret realm, I am willing to do anything for you!"
Why did it feel like that last sentence was the real point here…?
Yao Ranran lowered her head. The redness in Tang Xiangyin's eyes, her pitiful expression, and stubbornness softened her heart despite herself.
Was she… about to agree?
Tang Xiangyin's heartbeat pounded wildly, eyes shining with hopeful light, waiting for her nod like a fawn trembling with expectation.
Yao Ranran hesitated before cautiously asking, "If I take you with me, how many spirit stones can you pay me?"
"…"
Tang Xiangyin stared into her eyes—bright, clear, pure, with nothing but spirit stones reflected in them. Biting her lip, she whispered, "I don't have any spirit stones on me, but I know who does. If you can take me out, all the spirit stones in his possession will be yours!"
Yao Ranran blinked. "If we don't deal with that person, can we leave?"
Tang Xiangyin froze, then shook her head sadly. "No… she won't let me go."
"Then if I want to leave, I have to deal with her. And if I deal with her, everything she owns naturally becomes mine. So if you're offering me those spirit stones, aren't you just paying me with my own property? That means you're actually giving me nothing at all." Yao Ranran's analysis was sharp and clear.
Tang Xiangyin was left speechless, mumbling, "Fairy speaks the truth…"
Yao Ranran shook her head. "What a penniless fool. Taking her along would definitely be troublesome."
Sensing her disdain, Tang Xiangyin's eyes immediately filled with grievance. She lowered her head, biting her lip over and over.
Yao Ranran stared at the back of her dark head, feeling a pang of pity. Maybe… installments?
Before she could speak, Tang Xiangyin suddenly lifted her tear-streaked face. "Fairy, if you trust me, once we leave this place I will definitely earn a pile of spirit stones to repay you!"
Yao Ranran met her determined, earnest gaze. Deep down, though, it still carried the unmistakable look of someone utterly broke. Looks like this girl really doesn't have a single coin to her name.
Yao Ranran finally nodded, though she added sternly, "You can pay later, but not skip payment."
Tang Xiangyin's tears turned into a radiant smile. "Once I'm out, I'll work hard to earn spirit stones for you!"
"Good. I believe you. Now get up, the ground is cold." Yao Ranran patted her head and quietly slipped her leg free.
Even a beauty's tears come with snot.
This robe wasn't worth much, but white snot stains really looked strange.
It's not that she was squeamish!
As soon as Yao Ranran pulled her leg away, Tang Xiangyin stood up, her bright eyes shimmering with gratitude.
Sniffling, she said, "Fairy, you're the first person who's ever treated me so well. Even if I have to sell myself after leaving, I'll earn countless spirit stones for you!"
Yao Ranran rubbed her nose, feeling slightly embarrassed. "No need to sell yourself. Just do your best…"
Tang Xiangyin secretly clenched her fists, already plotting how to repay her benefactor.
…
Thick fog spread like a white shroud over the rock garden and pond. In an instant, the waters dried up, leaving cracks crawling across the surface and climbing toward the fake mountain peak.
Figures darted through the mist, each trying to tear through its layers to find their companions. Yet no sound escaped. Voices were swallowed whole, trapped within.
From the depths of the Tang family's ancient well came a guttural rasp like phlegm being dragged up. Along the black stone walls, something clawed its way upward. A pale hand suddenly shot out under the moonlight, followed by head after deathly head.
The full moon hung high, spilling its silver light without restraint. A locust tree swayed and shed its leaves without a sound. The night was at its heaviest, yin energy thickest.
"Damn it, don't crowd me! Get back down there!"
Bang!
The narrow well walls couldn't contain so many bodies at once. Soon squabbling broke out below, and severed limbs flew up through the opening.
"Behave yourselves! No trampling!"
"Zombies in the back, stop climbing! Wait your turn!"
"Ahhh—my hand! You bit my hand!"
"Pah! No wonder you stink. How long have you been dead? You're even paler than me!"
"I haven't been dead as long as you. I was just born with fair skin!"
"…"
"Silence!" A woman's furious voice thundered from the depths of the well.
At once, all the zombies fell quiet.
After a long pause, muttering echoed faintly upward. "I never should have taken the easy way and refined both righteous and demonic cultivators. Even in death, they refuse to be peaceful. That stubbornness is still in their bones. After decades, they've killed more of each other than I ever did."
The zombies crawled out of the well and scattered across the grounds.
At the bottom, under the moonlight, stood a woman gazing up at the sky.
"I thought Pu Dingping was the strongest among this batch. Turns out someone even stronger was hiding right under my nose."
"But being overly cautious is no virtue. The heavier the yin energy, the stronger my power becomes. Let me send out some little snacks first and test your strength. If you survive this, then perhaps I'll be interested in playing with you further."
A shaft of moonlight poured down into the well, illuminating a face identical to Tang Xiangyin's.
===
Ranran: Beauty get +1