When had Yan Family Fortress ever had such a rule?
Even the disciples of Yan Family Fortress looked baffled.
Still, though bewildered, they smiled politely.
In this situation, their smiles only made the atmosphere more unsettling.
Yu Zhenyan faintly sensed something was wrong. Her brows furrowed tightly. "What a joke! Yao Ranran, do you take me for a fool? What place would ever establish such a ridiculous rule just for your sake? Who do you think you are?"
"Good question!" Yao Ranran suddenly clapped her hands with force.
The sudden sound startled Yan Shanyi and the others beside her, making them recoil a step back instinctively.
No one could figure out what she was trying to do.
Yu Zhenyan's eyelid twitched. What on earth was with this woman? Had she gone stupid after staying too long in Eastern Wilderness?
Yao Ranran's eyes shone with a firm, almost unshakable light. "Who am I? Today, I will tell you the answer!"
She leapt up in one fluid motion and landed atop the only tea table in the room.
Pei Xianqiao and the other five, who had yet to sit down, were so startled they scattered to either side. Together with the Yan Family disciples encircling the table, they formed a complete ring around her.
Everyone looked up at her in stunned silence.
Yao Ranran swept her gaze across the crowd, finally fixing her eyes on Yu Zhenyan. "I am nobody!"
Yu Zhenyan sneered. "At least you're self-aware!"
Couldn't she act a little less strange?
But Yao Ranran shook her head. "I am nothing more than a small, insignificant guest within Yan Family Fortress."
The six from Wuxiang Sect were silent.
"But even as a mere outsider, I have enjoyed a luxury here that I never once touched before!"
She turned toward the massive golden Buddha statue beyond the doorway, her voice dropping into reverence. "It was Master Mingzhi who bestowed this upon me. It was the family of Yan Family Fortress who gave me all of this! They granted me a home, farmland, spirit stones, resources, stability, and equal rights!
From this day on, no one can insult me at will, no one can harm me casually, because Master Mingzhi shelters me, because my Yan Family family stands by my side! I no longer need to fear the strife and bullying of the outside world. Here in Yan Family Fortress, there is only love and peace!
Yu Daoyou, Pei Daoyou, and you four unnamed Wuxiang Sect Daoyou... have your hearts been moved?"
Yao Ranran's voice softened, gentle and coaxing, as if inviting them.
A chill crept down the backs of the six Wuxiang disciples.
She had clearly been fully indoctrinated by Yan Family Fortress. No wonder her actions were so deranged.
Yu Zhenyan gave her a pitying look and barked coldly, "Yao Ranran, don't be fooled by such false appearances! If there truly existed such a perfect cultivation sanctuary, why would the world still be filled with endless strife and bloodshed? Do you think the powerful experts of this realm would fail to discover it?"
Yao Ranran shook her head slowly. "Yu Daoyou, even the mightiest cultivators have places they cannot reach. Yan Family Fortress is one such place!"
"Nonsense!" Yu Zhenyan no longer had the patience to indulge her madness. She turned directly toward Yan Shanyi. "Fortress Master Yan, if you truly wish for us to consider joining, then please take us to see the customs and landscapes of this place!"
She would never fall into such a crude trap.
Contempt flickered coldly in Yu Zhenyan's heart.
Yan Shanyi's smile froze for a moment before he quickly raised his hand. "Very well, very well! We will immediately escort our esteemed guests to enjoy the beauty of Yan Family Fortress!"
He and his people stepped aside respectfully, guiding the guests out with all courtesy.
Yao Ranran could not simply watch six thousand spirit stones slip away before her eyes. She leapt down from the tea table to follow, but Yan Shanyi quickly turned back to block her path.
"Fairy Ranran, those words you just spoke... I, I was truly moved!"
He laughed, wiping tears from his face, crying and grinning all at once as he held her hands.
Yao Ranran blinked at his strange, half-weeping, half-smiling expression.
What was wrong with this fortress master?
How had he managed to be moved completely off target?
She wanted to stir Yu Zhenyan and her companions, not him!
Yan Shanyi wiped away the last of his tears with his sleeve, then brightened with enthusiasm as he produced a small pouch. "Fairy Ranran, this is your payment! I believe you will be a devout follower of Yan Family Fortress. Your sincerity is clear before the eyes of the True Buddha. Three days from now, at the grand sacrificial ceremony, I am certain I will see you there!"
Yao Ranran snatched the pouch and peeked inside with practiced speed. The glittering spirit stones dazzled her eyes into a blur.
She raised her head with firm conviction. "Rest assured, Fortress Master Yan. Even back in the Black Pearl... the outside world, I already heard stories of Master Mingzhi's selflessness. I was deeply moved by them. Three days from now, I will absolutely attend the sacrificial ceremony in Master Mingzhi's honor!"
"Good, good!" Yan Shanyi was so excited he spat a fine spray of white foam.
Yao Ranran dodged discreetly, answering with a forced smile.
Once he finished speaking with her, Yan Shanyi bustled away to personally lead Yu Zhenyan and her group on their tour.
Yao Ranran stepped from the inner room, pausing at the doorway to watch their retreating figures.
Just then, Pei Xianqiao happened to glance back, her gaze colliding with Yao Ranran's.
Yao Ranran greeted her with a friendly smile.
Pei Xianqiao froze, apparently not expecting such a reaction, then quickly turned away without responding.
Yao Ranran's smile faded. She loosened the pouch, carefully counting the stones within. Seven thousand spirit stones, not a single one missing. This fortress master was certainly generous.
Yao Ranran's brows arched, her smile blossoming like spring flowers. If only she had smiled like this a moment earlier, perhaps Yu Zhenyan's group wouldn't have—
No, they still would have wanted to hit her.
After all, her face was simply too beautiful.
Yu Zhenyan would never forget that fleeting childhood glimpse of Yao Yanliu.
A beauty at its absolute peak, on par with her father's unmatched looks. Together, they had been the perfect pair, the golden boy and jade girl, a match made in heaven.
Disgusting to the extreme.
Yu Zhenyan withdrew her divine sense, no longer willing to waste attention on Yao Ranran's antics.
…
Later, Yao Ranran strolled leisurely back, swinging the pouch of spirit stones in her hand, lips still curved in a satisfied smile.
Mu Jialing had long since finished registering her household records and was already waiting before her luxurious residence.
His clear eyes flickered briefly toward the smile at her lips. He congratulated her softly. "Congratulations, Fairy Ranran, for achieving your wish."
Yao Ranran shifted the pouch into her palm, loosening the knot at its mouth with a grin. "Oh right, there's still the five hundred spirit stones meant for the Fózǐ..."
Mu Jialing replied calmly, "Fairy, there is no need. Spirit stones are but worldly possessions to me."
"Worldly possessions? If the Fózǐ doesn't want them, then I'll just..." Yao Ranran's smile turned bashful.
Mu Jialing's gaze warmed. "Fairy, there's no need to feel embarrassed—"
But before he could finish, Yao Ranran had already tightened the pouch and tucked it safely into her sleeve.
"Hm? Fózǐ, what did you just say?" She patted the pouch, her grin widening without the slightest attempt to hide it.
"..."
Mu Jialing lowered his eyes. "Nothing. I only wished to remind Fairy that if you plan to attend the sacrificial ceremony three days from now, you must not harbor any irreverence toward the True Buddha."
"Has the Fózǐ discovered something?" Yao Ranran asked quietly.
Mu Jialing lifted his gaze toward the colossal divine tree that pierced the heavens. "It is only a guess. Within this Black Pearl world, the True Buddha's status is absolute. He is not someone we outsiders can afford to slight."