Yao Ranran immediately understood and did not press the matter further.
Still, why did the air seem to carry the faint tang of fresh blood?
Looking at the kind and smiling Auntie Li, Yao Ranran asked, "Auntie, you live alone, so why prepare so many dishes?"
Auntie Li's hand froze as she held Yao Ranran's, then she quickly drew it back with a cheerful smile. "Fairy, you may not know. My husband formed his Golden Core just a few days ago and has already climbed the Divine Tree Jianmu to ascend toward the Spirit Realm Immortal Palace!"
Yao Ranran's gaze deepened thoughtfully before she answered with a smile, "It's still better here. In my homeland, even for a Jīndān Zhēnrén, ascension is still a distant dream. I really like it here. Not only can I cultivate, I can even ascend to the Spirit Realm early—and I have Auntie to chat with too!"
Auntie Li's face lit up, moved and delighted. "If Fairy likes it, then that's all that matters! You will certainly become one of our Yan Fortress's people. Auntie will treat you dearly!"
Yao Ranran smiled sweetly, then glanced at the table with six sets of bowls and chopsticks. Innocently she said, "Oh? Two are for you and Uncle, then the other four sets must have been for your guests earlier?"
Auntie Li suddenly grew flustered, the smile freezing on her face. She snatched up a broom with trembling hands and muttered, "Dead… dead… My four children are all dead…"
She kept smiling as she swept aimlessly, stirring up clouds of dust.
Yao Ranran, as if unaware of the shift in her demeanor, asked softly, "How did Auntie's children pass away?"
Head bowed, Auntie Li's eyes grew hollow as she repeated in a low murmur, "Stillborn… they were all stillborn…"
Four stillborn children?
How could it be such a coincidence?
Yao Ranran quietly drew out the corner of the Ancient Appraisal Mirror and examined Auntie Li.
Target: Li Yan
Aptitude: None
Spirit Roots: Five roots
Cultivation: Mid Foundation Establishment
Evaluation: A woman with cultivation but no accomplishments.
Her aptitude was ordinary, nothing abnormal.
Then why had all four of her children been stillborn?
Yao Ranran could not understand.
But she sensed that the question touched something deep within Auntie Li's nerves. If she continued to pry, who knew what might happen.
She wisely chose silence.
-
At Yan Shanyi household.
Pei Xianqiao came alone, hesitating before knocking at the door.
Knock, knock, knock!
No answer. The door remained closed.
"Just go in," the muffled voice of the elder in her ring suggested.
Pei Xianqiao wavered a moment, then gently pushed the door open.
Yan Shanyi residence was strangely refined, the windows and doors of different styles, the courtyard neatly paved with square bricks in orderly fashion.
Stepping across the threshold, Pei Xianqiao glimpsed, through a gap in the inner room, a pair of smiling eyes. Her step faltered. A dry branch, blown in who knows when, cracked loudly beneath her foot, shattering the silence of the courtyard.
"Don't be afraid. It's only a Buddha statue," the elder soothed.
Only then did Pei Xianqiao wipe the cold sweat from her forehead, heart easing slightly.
"So this is the Mingzhi True Buddha they've been worshiping?"
She boldly pushed open the door to the inner hall. On the shrine stood the statue, its sorrowful eyes meeting hers. Instantly her hands and feet turned cold.
"Elder Shang, did you see? That statue… it smiled at me!"
Her tone was urgent, almost desperate.
The elder's voice was solemn. "I did not see it, but since you claim so… then this statue must be deeply suspicious."
"Yesterday, in the other house, they also had one of these. Could this Mingzhi True Buddha be some unclean thing?" Pei Xianqiao's thoughts raced as she drew nearer to the idol.
The elder did not stop her, but sank into troubled silence.
"Don't be hasty!"
Seeing her draw the Cangling Snow Sword and prepare to strike, the elder instantly flicked out a light, knocking the blade from her grasp.
Clang, clang, clang!
The sword clattered against the brick floor, shrill echoes filling the house.
Pei Xianqiao froze.
"Elder Shang, why…"
Just then a hearty laugh rang out. "Ah, this must be Pei Daoyou. Why come all this way without saying a word? I had just gone to Old Yang's place on some business, only now have I returned."
The gate had opened at some point. Yan Shanyi walked in, all smiles.
Pei Xianqiao quickly snatched up her sword, her slender fingers gripping the jewel in its hilt tightly. Forcing composure, she replied, "I didn't know Fortress Master Yan was absent. It was presumptuous of me to intrude."
Yan Shanyi waved off the apology with a cheerful laugh. "Think nothing of it. Pei Daoyou is most welcome—more than welcome!"
She sheathed her sword and asked, "Old Yang? Do you mean the elder whose door remains shut tight?"
But Yan Shanyi only chuckled, avoiding the question as he ushered her to sit, brewing tea with exaggerated warmth. No matter how she pressed for details, he deflected with genial laughter, revealing nothing at all about this Old Yang.
Later, Yao Ranran strolled idly and ran into Mu Jialing and Yu Zhenyan leaving a house.
"Fózǐ, Yu Daoyou, what brings you here?" she asked casually.
Yu Zhenyan's eyes turned frosty the moment she saw her. "Yao Ranran, what are you scheming now? I warn you, don't waste our time. I'm in no mood to bicker with you!"
Yao Ranran frowned. What was with Yu Zhenyan's temper? She had only offered a greeting.
Mu Jialing stepped forward to answer politely. "Fairy Ranran, we're here gathering information. What about you?"
"Nothing serious. Just walking after a meal," Yao Ranran replied lightly.
Auntie Li's enthusiasm had been impossible to refuse, dragging her into eating yet another meal. Yao Ranran, frugal by nature, disliked waste, so she had obediently eaten everything.
"I… see," Mu Jialing murmured, momentarily dazed.
Fairy Ranran showed not the slightest trace of fear. She seemed like she belonged here in Yan Fortress, blending in almost too naturally.
Yu Zhenyan, however, bristled with fury. "Fózǐ, don't bother with her. Can't you see the situation? After what happened last night, she only cares about eating!"
Yao Ranran's expression remained calm, her gaze clear as spring water. "Yu Daoyou, have you forgotten what I told you yesterday?"
"Have you joined Yan Fortress already?
Or is it…
That you no longer care to live?"
Her gentle, almost tender words struck Yu Zhenyan's heart like a bolt of lightning.
Yu Zhenyan froze, tongue trembling before retreating into silence.
Mu Jialing's eyes widened in astonishment.
Fairy Ranran… she was frighteningly good at bluffing.