"That's right, my good disciple. It is you." An Xiaolin's lower body had already completely vanished.
Yao Ranran stared at his fading form, her words tumbling out quickly. "Why choose me? What if I can't save you all? Do you know there are person with great luck inside Shu Xi Palace?"
If Shu Xi Palace truly could be saved, she didn't want to selfishly delay them. There were too many lives at stake.
An Xiaolin's expression remained gentle, his brows relaxed, and he smiled. "My good disciple, what Shu Xi Palace needs is not a so-called person with great luck. In truth, the moment you rode the golden gourd into this place, I noticed you. You are… very special."
Yao Ranran felt a little overwhelmed. This was the first time someone had ever told her she was special. She couldn't help asking, "Master, what's so special about me?"
An Xiaolin's gaze deepened, starlight of warmth flickering in his eyes. "To me… you are especially unlucky, especially stubborn, and especially… adorably foolish!"
…?
Had he misspoken that line?
This wasn't how it went in the Mary Sue novels!
Shouldn't this be the part where he praised her innocence, kindness, purity, a flawless temperament, and outstanding talent? Why was she just… unlucky, foolish, and stubborn?
Well, at least stubbornness wasn't entirely an insult…
"My good disciple, quickly, go and take those treasures. For your master… your master must go now…" An Xiaolin's voice grew weaker and weaker.
Yao Ranran stopped overthinking. Who cared what kind of special she was? As long as she was accepted as his disciple, it was enough. Besides, there was still a whole pile of inheritance—cough, a whole pile of treasures to claim!
Wind seemed to spring beneath her feet as she darted forward, her lotus-petal Cloud Steps leaving behind fleeting afterimages of blue lotuses.
An Xiaolin's eyes flickered faintly, and he whispered, "My good disciple's aptitude seems far from ordinary… what a pity I'll never get the chance to see it…"
Yao Ranran rushed into the main hall without even glancing at what was laid before her. She swept across the chamber like a storm. The green bricks of the hall flew up, window lattices and doors soared straight into her storage pouch. Within just a few breaths, it bulged so full it nearly tore at the seams.
An Xiaolin watched as the hall itself looked ready to be uprooted, his lips twitching before settling back into calm. "If she were given more time, she'd probably move the entire palace away…"
Meanwhile.
The aloof steward guarding the Taoist temple, the old caretaker napping in the side hall, and the disciples stationed at checkpoints—all looked up as the illusion shattered.
"Senior Brother An's world has finally collapsed. Have we been freed… or cursed?"
Like a sea of fireflies scattering, the once magnificent and lonely Shu Xi Palace broke apart into drifting fragments of starlight.
Every cultivator froze in shock. The ground beneath their feet was gone.
Four walls of interlinked spirit mirrors surrounded them.
The spirit of the Fixed Mirror shattered the illusion, rousing its master from her torment. Pei Xianqiao's eyes snapped open, her mind suddenly filled with an ancient inheritance of talismans.
"So this place once trapped an ancient Talisman Master to death!" Pei Xianqiao felt both grateful and terrified. She had nearly lost her life to the illusion.
"Master, we must flee! Something's happening outside. These bronze mirrors are mutating!" The mirror spirit formed a thin shield, resisting the crushing pressure as the mirrors rotated violently.
At its cry, Pei Xianqiao noticed the mirrors around her had come alive, constantly shifting, cutting off every exit.
Panic set in. Beads of sweat gathered on her forehead. "What kind of treasures are these mirrors? What should I do?"
The spirit shook its head. "I don't know what they are. I can't break them! Wait—someone's coming!"
It blinked out of sight, hiding deep within her sea of consciousness.
A cold sword-light cut through the darkness, like moonlight crushed into shards. Pei Xianqiao froze at the figure before her, her trembling voice barely audible. "You… why are you here?"
Shen Yuefu didn't answer. He only said, "Let's go."
Pei Xianqiao tilted her head, hiding the longing in her eyes, and flew out lightly beside him.
…
"Master!"
Yao Ranran could only watch helplessly as An Xiaolin vanished. Those gentle, clear eyes had never once strayed from her.
He must have seen her tearing up the hall earlier…
The thought was absurdly out of place.
An Xiaolin's gaze lingered on her as if engraving her face deep into memory. "Ranran, my good disciple, your master will always remain by your side…"
His voice echoed faintly, then faded away.
And with him, the vast Shu Xi Palace dissolved into nothing.
Yao Ranran lifted a hand to shield herself from the dazzling collapse. The palace's destruction was like a luxurious fireworks display, or a sudden storm of meteors streaking across the sky. The arcs of light painted her features with a radiance both noble and stunning.
Boom!
Something heavy came crashing toward her.
She nearly punched it away but stopped just in time.
"Boss!" It was Xiao Rong's voice.
His round face turned toward her, grinning bright and carefree.
Yao Ranran's annoyance melted, and she let out a soft laugh. "Home. It's time to go home."
…
Nie Rong somehow managed to gather everyone, and Tang Xiangyin even brought back a male cultivator with her.
"This is Ye Hai. He's a good friend I met in Shu Xi Palace!" Tang Xiangyin introduced with a smile.
Pu Yehai cupped his hands politely. "Daoyou, forgive the disturbance. I heard you are bound for Longyin Village. As it happens, I plan to go there as well, so I thick-skinnedly asked to join Xiang Yin's group."
Everyone curiously studied his face. Xiao Rong asked innocently, "Ye Daoyou, are you poisoned?"
Cultivators didn't get sick, but Pu Yehai's complexion was unusually pale. To Xiao Rong, it looked wrong.
Pu Yehai coughed softly, forcing a smile. "I'm fine. I was simply born frail, and the cultivation method I practice is rather unique, so I often appear sickly."
"Oh, so that's it!" Xiao Rong found him endlessly fascinating, bombarding him with questions all along the way.
Though Pu Yehai looked weak, he patiently answered every question. Zhou Lili and Tang Xiangyin listened in, occasionally adding their own comments, and soon the group was laughing together.
Only Zhou Shengqian and Yao Ranran sat apart, each at opposite ends of the flying gourd.
Zhou Shengqian leaned alone at the edge of the artifact, his gaze sliding now and then toward Pu Yehai. Something about him felt wrong.
If not for Fairy Ranran's presence, he would never have agreed to let such a stranger travel with them. It was far too dangerous.
…
Outside the outskirts of Langan City.
"Elder Shen, why did you come to the Eastern Wilderness?" Pei Xianqiao asked cautiously. Recalling how he had appeared before the copper mirrors, she couldn't help but wonder—had he come for her?
Shen Yuefu didn't reply. He frowned slightly, reaching into his sleeve. A bright mushroom with blue-purple markings appeared in his long, slender hand.
Pei Xianqiao's curiosity sparked. "Is that… a poisonous mushroom?"