The only sound in the hall was Han Huijun's crisp applause.
Shen Yuefu's pale lips were pressed into a thin line, his aura colder than the snow outside by several degrees.
His indifferent eyes swept across the hall. The junior disciples of Wuxiang Sect all nervously clutched the storage bags at their waists, trying to hide them and cover their modest possessions.
Except for Pei Xianqiao and Yu Zhenyan.
"I don't think Elder Shen meant any harm. Disciple Yao, just let it go and have him double the compensation. That should settle things," Han Huijun said, laughing lightly and trying to downplay the matter.
Yao Ranran shook her head. "No. I want my bracelet. That storage bracelet was a gift from my mother. Nothing else can replace it. Elder Shen, may I ask, who stole this bracelet?"
Her voice was firm and commanding.
Han Huijun rolled his eyes and stroked his chin, letting her speak without interruption.
Yu Zhenyan, full of pride, glanced at her curiously. What trick was this girl playing today? Wasn't she the one who used to cling tightly to Shen Yuefu? After returning to Central Continent and about to become a member of the Yu family, she now made such a strange request.
Could this shameless girl have realized her previous methods wouldn't work on Shen Yuefu and was now trying the "play hard to get" tactic?
The more Yu Zhenyan thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed, and a trace of disdain crept into her eyes.
Tang Xiangyin watched this scene, thinking to herself: "this manipulative sister must be cursing Fairy Yao Ranran in her heart. Don't think that leaving Yan Family Fortress means Fairy Yao Ranran cannot deal with you. The Fairy is gathering strength; everything has already been planned!"
Tang Xiangyin bared her teeth at Yu Zhenyan.
Yu Zhenyan looked at her strangely. She had no idea where this loose cultivator had been hiding in Yan Family Fortress, since she had never encountered her before.
"Beiming Holy Palace."
Shen Yuefu said lightly.
Everyone in the hall froze simultaneously.
"What? When did someone from Beiming Holy Palace come to Wuxiang Sect? Why didn't you report this to me?" Han Huijun was furious.
It was as if his own nest had been occupied.
Shen Yuefu lifted his eyelids slightly, speaking coldly: "And tell you, you would have exterminated them?"
Han Huijun hesitated. Of course, he would not have eliminated the spies from Beiming Holy Palace. His goal was to bring the two sects closer, not do anything to harm their relationship.
"Ahem… everyone leave now. No one is to speak of today's matter," Han Huijun said impatiently, waving the trivial junior disciples out of the hall.
Yao Ranran observed Han Huijun changing the topic, understanding his thoughts.
Beiming Holy Palace had a Holy Maiden, beautiful and pure, inexperienced in love.
Until she met the colder Shen Yuefu, she developed feelings for him.
Holy Maidens could have Dao companions. In fact, Beiming Holy Palace encouraged arranging a suitable Dao companion for the Holy Maiden to benefit her cultivation.
However, the Holy Maiden's Dao companion must be an in-married son, permanently residing in the palace until ascension.
The pure and beautiful Holy Maiden knew that Shen Yuefu, as a Wuxiang Sect elder, would never agree to enter the palace. She could only bury her affection quietly, protecting the male and female leads, helping them overcome trials and tribulations, becoming a lifelong, heaven-moving couple.
Yao Ranran recalled the original story's description of the Holy Maiden and nearly cried at her beauty. What harm would it be for her to have an in-married husband? The Holy Maiden was talented and wealthy; becoming an in-married husband was hardly a loss.
"This… the bracelet was stolen too long ago. Recovering it will not be easy…" Han Huijun sighed.
Yao Ranran frowned. For a task like this, sending Shen Yuefu to the Holy Palace would recover the storage bracelet within a day. Such a trivial matter!
She relaxed. Now that she knew Beiming Holy Palace had taken it, there was no need to worry.
"Elder Shen, I heard the Holy Maiden of Beiming Holy Palace has a good relationship with you?"
Her tone was light, playful, her brows raised, her spiritual eyes revealing an unrestrained curiosity.
Shen Yuefu suddenly stood. "Regarding the bracelet, I could return ten for you, but the Holy Maiden of Beiming Holy Palace… I am not familiar with her."
Yao Ranran's eyes widened in surprise as Shen Yuefu swung his sleeve and left. Snowflakes stirred by his robe drifted down, landing on Yao Ranran's purple skirt, melting instantly and bringing a faint chill.
Han Huijun squinted and smiled mischievously. "Where did you hear this news? It doesn't matter now. What matters is that you brought it up! This girl, the more I look at you, the more I like you!"
"Wh-what? Did the Holy Maiden quarrel with Elder Shen?" Yao Ranran's eyes widened, her face full of disbelief.
"Quarrel?" Han Huijun gave her a peculiar look and chuckled. "Someone like Elder Shen would never quarrel with the Holy Maiden. He…"
He bent close to Yao Ranran, grinning mischievously. "He… was forced into marriage by the Holy Maiden!"
"Forced marriage???" Yao Ranran's pupils dilated, as if struck by lightning, the sky about to fall.
The Holy Maiden's perfect image had collapsed!
"Exactly. Not long ago, Beiming Holy Palace brought all the grand worldly sedan chairs, but… unfortunately, Elder Shen refused to sit on them!"
Han Huijun shook his head in exasperation.
Yao Ranran: "…"
"Elder Shen is a Wuxiang Sect disciple. Of course, he would never become the Holy Maiden's in-married husband!" Yu Zhenyan frowned. An elder of the sect marrying into the palace would be ridiculous!
"Sect Master, do you know why Elder Shen refused the Holy Maiden's request?" Pei Xianqiao's expression shifted slightly, her eyes betraying a trace of nervousness.
Han Huijun waved his hand. "It's simple. Elder Shen's eyes only see a sword. He has never had feelings for men or women, let alone be asked to marry the Holy Maiden. How could he agree?"
"What a pity!" Nie Rong also sighed. If Shen Yuefu married out, he would lose a rival in beauty within Wuxiang Sect.
Pei Xianqiao watched their careless behavior, a trace of regret crossing her heart.
Yao Ranran recalled the original story and suddenly caught a thread of insight.
"Sect Master Han, do you know who requested that I be brought back from Eastern Wilderness?"
Han Huijun stared at her, puzzled. "Of course. Your father, Patriarch Yu, spent a great sum… ahem, put a lot of effort to justify you, so you could return to Central Continent."
No.
This did not match the plot at all!
Yu Weifeng had long known that the original body was his daughter with Yao Yanliu. While she was in Wuxiang Sect, she had contacted Yu Weifeng multiple times in secret, never receiving a response.
Only after the original body obtained the demonic skill from Li Luoqi at Gu Ling Mountain and advanced rapidly in demonic cultivation did Yu Weifeng start to notice her and secretly help her return to Wuxiang Sect.