Mu Jialing waited a moment, hearing no response. He saw her turn her head, leaving only her delicate profile. Thinking she was displeased, he continued to transmit:
"Fairy, it is not that I do not wish to give you the spirit stones now, but I never carry them when I go out. Please trust me, Fairy. Once we leave, I will compensate you double."
Hmm?
Yao Ranran remained silent.
Double compensation, that meant two thousand spirit stones per question…
Mu Jialing continued transmitting to Yao Ranran while watching Yan Fang's reaction.
…Yan Fang showed no reaction.
As if she had not heard a word.
As if she did not care about what he had just said.
"No problem!" Yao Ranran used the table to shield herself and flashed Mu Jialing an "ok" hand gesture.
Mu Jialing was momentarily stunned.
He then transmitted: "Very well. Three thousand spirit stones per question. As long as Yan Fang can answer, once we leave, I will ensure these spirit stones are given to you, Fairy."
Yao Ranran's eyes widened in surprise. That was not what she meant!
How rich was this monk?
Still…
A faint smile appeared on Yao Ranran's face as she nodded slightly.
Three thousand spirit stones, what a windfall!
Mu Jialing exhaled slightly, his gaze fixed firmly on Yan Fang.
Yu Zhenyan's expression darkened. She turned to leave. "I have no time for your idle chatter!"
Yao Ranran ignored her.
Yan Fang smiled. "Farewell, honored guest."
Yu Zhenyan cast a stiff glance at Mu Jialing. He looked slightly surprised by her departure, but did not attempt to stop her or follow her out.
Yu Zhenyan clenched her fists in private. Her pride would not allow her to stop. Even without a natural Fózǐ by her side, she could still uncover the Yan family fortress's secrets and seize the final opportunity.
She strode to the door.
"Sister Yan, did you go to the lakeside a few days ago?" Yao Ranran asked curiously.
Yan Fang smiled. "Yes, I often go to the lake to wash clothes."
"I see… but why were you crying while washing clothes the other day?" Yao Ranran asked calmly, taking her time.
Yu Zhenyan's pace slowed slightly.
Yan Fang chuckled foolishly. "Crying? The Yan family fortress has no tears. It must have been tears of joy."
"Why were you happy, Sister Yan?"
She smiled. "Because so many honored guests came to the Yan family fortress, my heart is full of joy."
"Besides that, was there another reason?"
Yan Fang suddenly grew silent.
Yu Zhenyan's footsteps also halted. Her back faced Yao Ranran and the others, astonishment written across her face.
Yan Fang had answered every question!
Mu Jialing held his breath. Things were proceeding unexpectedly smoothly.
"Sister Yan, there must be another reason, right?" Yao Ranran asked again.
Yan Fang's eyelashes trembled. Her lips curved into a smile. "Yes, there is another happy reason."
"What is it that makes Sister Yan happy?" Yao Ranran asked gently.
Yan Fang looked at Yu Zhenyan, still standing at the door, unwilling to leave.
Yao Ranran immediately understood her thoughts. "Yu Daoyou intends to join the Yan family fortress today, right?"
Yu Zhenyan froze. Her fists clenched and loosened repeatedly before she quietly replied, "You are right. I will join the Yan family fortress today. I like the Yan family fortress."
Yan Fang's eyes suddenly brightened. "What did she say?"
Yao Ranran smiled. "Yu Daoyou and Fózǐ both like the Yan family fortress. This is our home. Not only Yu Daoyou, but also her friends and Fózǐ's friends, they will all join the Yan family fortress.
Is that right, Yu Daoyou and Fózǐ?"
Yao Ranran smiled warmly at the two.
Mu Jialing recalled Yan Shanyi's mention yesterday of the one-thousand-spirit-stone reward. Knowing it was a trap, he could do nothing but play along.
"Amitabha. If I have friends come to the Yan family fortress, I will certainly have them join," he said.
"And Yu Daoyou?"
Three scorching gazes fell upon Yu Zhenyan, as if burning a hole into her back. She bit her lower lip without thinking. How had she done it? Why could she make Yan Fang answer every single question?
From the moment she entered the Yan family fortress, this seemingly frail woman had been praising it and settling in peacefully. Was the way to extract information from the Yan family to first become one of them and flatter the fortress?
In a fleeting instant, Yu Zhenyan's thoughts raced through countless possibilities.
Finally, she turned and flashed a bright smile with eight teeth showing, eyes curved, saying, "Yes, my companions and I have all decided to join the Yan family fortress!"
She could not let Yao Ranran steal this opportunity!
No wonder Yao Ranran had been laughing strangely since yesterday. It was clearly a way to strengthen her relationship with the Yan family.
Yan Fang's eyes lit up with delight at her answer. "Wonderful! Fairy Ranran truly cares for the Yan family fortress. She has strengthened it for us!"
Yao Ranran modestly denied it, but her lips could not stop rising into a smile.
What a lucky day. Just a few words and she earned a huge sum of spirit stones!
"Sister Yan, why were you so happy the other day while crying?" Mu Jialing asked gently.
Yan Fang froze, her gaze flickering as she forced a smile to divert the topic. "Fairy Ranran is our Yan family fortress's lucky star. The Fortress Lord will surely be delighted to see so many honored guests joining today!"
Yao Ranran: "Sister Yan, you are not only carrying Yan Xiaoyue's child, right? Xiaoyue said a few days ago, you nearly…"
"He died!" Yan Fang's eyes suddenly hardened. A clear tear slid down into her upturned lips.
"Ha ha ha…" Yu Zhenyan laughed abruptly.
The three looked at her strangely.
Yan Fang's eyes shimmered with a strange light.
"Now can I kill her?"
Yu Zhenyan seemed to notice something was off. She awkwardly tugged at the corners of her mouth. Her smile instantly collapsed.
Hadn't Yao Ranran always smiled like this? Yan Fang herself was smiling!
…No, Yan Fang was crying and laughing at the same time.
She seemed to have done something wrong…
"Sister Yan, what happened to the child…" Yao Ranran asked softly.
Yan Fang smiled absentmindedly. "A stillborn, born dead…"
Her tears fell like beads, flowing continuously into her smiling red lips. For a moment, it was impossible to tell whether the red was from lipstick or tears resembling blood.
"Amitabha…" Mu Jialing suddenly pressed his palms together, a look of compassion on his face, beads turning in his hand as he murmured a rebirth chant.
Yan Fang continued smiling, but upon hearing Mu Jialing's Buddhist chants, she looked at him with a dazed, foolish gaze.
…
Wuxiang Sect.
"Zhao Jiu's soul lamp has gone out. He was the disciple who followed Yu Zhenyan and Pei Xianqiao into the Buddha statue," Han Huijūn paced uneasily in the hall, hands behind his back.
Shen Yuefu sat upright like a pine, eyes icy. "Zhao Jiu? That greedy boy never should have entered the Buddha statue."