Yao Ranran parted ways with them and returned home alone, closing the door behind her.
A figure in white quietly appeared. Mu Jialing cautiously pressed a talisman onto the door and folded his hands together.
"Amitabha, I hope Fairy does not blame this monk. I have followed you only to ensure your safety, with no other intentions… The Yan family fortress is full of deception. With your pure heart, Fairy, you are unlike anyone else. This situation is difficult to unravel, and you are very important to this monk…
This monk seeks nothing, only that Fairy may sleep peacefully tonight…
Amitabha…"
Yao Ranran touched her ear tips and yawned. "Alright, Buddhist Son, rest assured. With your talisman protecting me, I will sleep soundly tonight!"
Outside, a series of scattered, stumbling footsteps suddenly echoed.
Mu Jialing stepped on fallen leaves and panicked, slipping into a nearby bamboo grove, his face flushed.
She had heard everything?!
…
"Xiang Yin is gone!" Yao Ranran exclaimed, searching the entire courtyard without finding a single trace of Tang Xiang Yin.
It's so late, Xiang Yin wouldn't just stay away from home!"
Having spent so much time together, Yao Ranran knew Tang Xiangyin's schedule well. At this hour, she wouldn't be wandering around.
Something must have happened! Yao Ranran felt a jolt of alarm.
Just stepping out, and billions in the house vanished without a trace!
Who had stolen Xiang Yin?
Yao Ranran lay on her bed, furious, pondering who was most likely to have taken Tang Xiangyin.
"Right, tomorrow is the grand sacrificial ceremony. Everyone in the Yan family fortress will attend. Then I only need to lightly sniff their presence to know if anyone has come into contact with Xiang Yin!"
Thinking this, a sense of relief filled her heart.
The Yan family fortress is so large, but she didn't believe she couldn't find Tang Xiangyin.
-
Night spread like ink across the sky.
Within the red high walls, shadows moved quietly, almost eerily still.
The next day, Yao Ranran left early.
In a corner of the Yan family fortress, Pei Xianqiao met again with He Huatao and a few others.
"Brother He, we should take this opportunity to check Elder Yang's residence!"
"Do you want to get us killed with that idea? Who doesn't know that wandering into the Yan family courtyard is punishable by mysterious forces!" The female cultivator beside He Huatao scolded Pei Xianqiao harshly.
The others, fearful, echoed her: "Yes, we won't dare touch the Yan family's belongings again!"
He Huatao's expression was grave. His voice hoarse, he said, "Sister Qiao Qiao, the Elder Yang residence you mentioned, I have already sent people there… He is dead. There is nothing left."
He Huatao struggled to hide his pain, unwilling to meet Pei Xianqiao's gaze.
"Brother He…" Pei Xianqiao felt the same discomfort. She did not wish for anyone else to die.
"Brother He, Daoyou, trust me once. Today is different. The Yan family fortress is holding the sacrificial ceremony; everyone will attend. Elder Yang's home will be empty, and it is daylight. This is the perfect moment for our counterattack!"
Pei Xianqiao persuaded the group earnestly.
Yu Wei and Shen Fang, standing beside her, voiced their support. "We trust Sister Pei! Working with Sister Pei has never led us astray!"
He Huatao looked at her silently.
"Let's take the chance!"
He Huatao turned to the team. "Who will come with me to Elder Yang's residence?"
The loose cultivators exchanged hesitant glances.
Pei Xianqiao raised her voice. "Daoyou, I won't put your lives at risk. I have a treasure that will help us observe Elder Yang's home!"
"A treasure?" A loose cultivator asked in surprise.
Pei Xianqiao nodded confidently. "Yes, I have a first-rank paper talisman human, capable of withstanding a blow from a Jīndān Zhēnrén. Using it to scout the residence is perfect!"
"We'll go!"
"As long as you're not sending us to die, we trust you!"
Satisfied, Pei Xianqiao led the group along a detour to Elder Yang's residence.
"Sister Qiao Qiao, Elder Yang is unique in the Yan family fortress. During our days here, no one has ever seen his true face… and those who have are dead. Are you sure you want to use the paper talisman human?" He Huatao watched her solemnly.
Pei Xianqiao's gaze was unwavering. "Brother He, I'm not afraid!"
"I will inhabit the first-rank paper talisman human. No matter how strong the forces behind the Yan family fortress are, they cannot harm me one bit," Elder Shang transmitted to her.
Pei Xianqiao calmly replied, "Thank you, Elder Shang. But we must remain cautious. If you encounter strong enemies, return immediately. Your body has not fully recovered and cannot fight directly."
"I understand."
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Pei Xianqiao summoned the first-rank paper talisman human.
The cheerful paper talisman human jumped from her palm, twisting its tiny body to grow to the size of a five-year-old child, playfully sticking out its thin red tongue at the onlookers.
While everyone's attention was on the talisman human, Pei Xianqiao quickly checked her invisible ring.
Elder Shang transformed into a thin gray mist and entered the paper talisman human.
"Sister Qiao Qiao, if anything happens inside the paper talisman human, you must sever the connection immediately!" He Huatao warned anxiously.
Pei Xianqiao nodded sweetly. "Understood."
Controlled by Elder Shang, the paper talisman human turned its back to He Huatao , twisting mischievously. "Stinky boy, I'm still inside! Pei girl wouldn't abandon me!"
He Huatao stared, stunned. "What… is it doing?"
Pei Xianqiao twitched her mouth. "Nothing, the paper talisman human is like this. I'll send it in now!"
Pretending to cast a spell, Pei Xianqiao maneuvered the paper talisman human, and Elder Shang leapt expertly over the wall into the courtyard.
Soon, Pei Xianqiao received Elder Shang's transmission.
"This is nothing. How could you cannot enter… clang!"
"Master Shang? Master Shang?" Pei Xianqiao had no time to rejoice before hearing the sound of a heavy impact.
"…Help!" Elder Shang's aged voice came urgently.
Panicked, Pei Xianqiao recalled the paper talisman human.
"What happened? Did something go wrong inside?" He Huatao and the others stared at her nervously.
Sweat beaded on Pei Xianqiao's nose. The link to the paper talisman human abruptly disappeared. Before she could respond, the treasure's backlash threw her several yards away.
"Sister Qiao Qiao!"
"Junior Sister Pei!"
Everyone shouted.
He Huatao dashed to hold her.
Pei Xianqiao urgently raised her right hand. A faint crack appeared in the middle finger ring, her expression instantly changing.
"Run, it's extremely dangerous inside!"
Having gone through multiple secret realms with Elder Shang, this was the first time the ring itself showed a crack!