"Why are you crying? If I don't go back, do you think Yu Weifeng could really kill you?"
That would be heartless, even cruel. They were from the same clan!
Yao Ranran looked at her tears and remembered the fish-tailed bird that had been roasted. That had to be the fish-owl bird she had mentioned.
Hearing her words, Yu Shiqi's tears streamed endlessly, falling as if her life depended on it.
"Clan head… the clan head wouldn't kill me, but… but my father could die…"
In just a short while, Yu Shiqi's face was streaked with tears, her delicate features marked by swollen red eyes and a small nose that twitched as she sobbed.
"That clan head Yu is too cruel. How could he be Fairy Ranran's father? Did he get the relationships wrong?"
Tang Xiangyin could not help but imagine the intrigues in a grand mansion. Perhaps this clan head Yu had seen Fairy Ranran's noble status and powerful cultivation and wanted to curry favor through marriage.
Fairy Ranran had already said she did not know any clan head Yu. Why were they troubling the Fairy like this?
Truly… if Xiao Rong were here, she would definitely call them shameless! Tang Xiangyin thought, fuming.
Yao Ranran frowned, pondering. "Just because they couldn't summon me, does clan head Yu need to kill a clanswoman? Isn't this unreasonable?"
After all, Wuxiang Sect was a righteous sect. How could it allow a family under its name to commit such a cold-blooded act?
"Clanswoman… my father is like half a clansman… he hasn't even married into the family yet," Yu Shiqi wiped her tears, embarrassed.
"What do you mean he hasn't married in?" Tang Xiangyin and Yao Ranran exchanged curious glances.
Yu Shiqi explained, "My father was an outsider disciple. In his youth, he wanted to join Wuxiang Sect, but his talent was insufficient—even becoming an outer disciple was impossible. When he met my mother, knowing she was a Yu family member qualified to enter Wuxiang Sect, he and my mother… well, they rushed things and I was born. But…"
Recalling the painful memory, Yu Shiqi could not hold back her tears. They fell like pearls. "But after my mother left me, she passed away. The clan head's marriage approval never came through, leaving my father and me in an awkward position within the Yu family…"
"She is really pitiful…" Tang Xiangyin's deeply hidden emotions surfaced. The image of the night when an entire family was wiped out flashed in her mind. For a single moment, Che Lingzhi's consciousness regained control.
A naturally born Che Lingzhi, without father or mother, had still transformed into a human form!
Yao Ranran nodded. "She really is pitiful."
"Wuwuwu… please, Fairy, help me…" Yu Shiqi's legs weakened. She knelt, tears welling.
Yao Ranran quickly stopped her. "Shiqi Daoyou, do not worship me. You should go pray to the living Buddha of Guan Fan Temple. I hear the monks there are quite effective; many have been rescued!"
Yu Shiqi looked at her with tear-filled eyes, unsure if the Fairy truly did not understand or was mocking her.
"Or you could petition Master Han. His authority far exceeds clan head Yu's. Then Yu Weifeng wouldn't dare harm your father!"
Yao Ranran earnestly offered advice.
Regaining Yu Weifeng's favor was impossible. She would not follow the original story or call a stranger her father. That would be too strange.
Tears clung to Yu Shiqi's eyelashes. Her simple clothing was soaked through.
She could not understand why this person's heart was colder than stone.
Rumors said Fairy Ranran was charitable and empathetic, yet she seemed completely different from what others claimed.
"Master, I'm back!" Nie Rong strode into the courtyard, casually sweeping past Yu Shiqi. His expression was grave. "There's been an incident in Eastern Wilderness."
Everyone froze simultaneously.
…
Yu Shiqi was sent away by Nie Rong, who warned that if Yu Weifeng dared harm her father, he would level the Yu family's main hall. Yu Shiqi shrank back, trembling.
"This time, the mess in Eastern Wilderness is serious. I worry Longyin Village might be affected."
Closing the courtyard door, Nie Rong unusually spoke seriously.
Zhou Lili emerged from the kitchen, joining Yao Ranran to hear him continue.
"This matter begins with the day Fairy Ranran was taken," Nie Rong recounted.
"That day, Che Lingzhi appeared. Suohong Tower's Qin Lüsha concealed this and pursued the crowd, neglecting the tower's defenses.
During Che Lingzhi's auction, the three great demon sects of Eastern Wilderness had secretly colluded, and the major righteous sect Piaomiao Sect even betrayed the cause. These four forces joined, aiming to consume Yungu Sect and Suohong Tower, establishing a three-way power balance!
They wanted to divide Eastern Wilderness. Regardless of which side won the final battle, Yanlong County would become the spoils of one of the factions."
Nie Rong spoke solemnly, then poured a pot of tea from the table.
Zhou Lili froze for a moment, panic in her eyes as she looked at Yao Ranran, clutching at her like a lifeline. "Fairy, what should we do? If those demon sects win, we nine-rank sects will have no good days ahead!"
Previously, Eastern Wilderness was chaotic, but at least Piaomiao Sect and Yungu Sect opposed the three demon sects with Suohong Tower maintaining neutrality.
Now Piaomiao Sect had turned traitor, Suohong Tower was ambushed, Yungu Sect unaware. Eastern Wilderness could not be protected.
"We… we should quickly return and tell Xiao Rong and the others to evacuate!" Yao Ranran sprang up, her face anxious.
"Everything is ruined! Eastern Wilderness is finished! At least I am in Central Continent."
Realizing this, Yao Ranran relaxed slightly, sat back, and reached for the teapot to pour herself a cup, only to find Nie Rong had finished the tea.
She paused. "Physician Zhou, can you brew another pot? Your spiritual tea is fragrant!"
Zhou Lili: "Is this the time to worry about fragrance?!"
Besides, they didn't even have tea leaves.
Zhou Lili almost choked with anger. She stared at the delicate, porcelain-like face before her and forced herself to calm down, preparing tea skillfully.
"Running away is fine, but what about the Fairy's spiritual plants? The seeds were only recently planted. Do you know if they sprouted?" Tang Xiangyin's eyes showed concern.
Yao Ranran realized, "Right, those spiritual plants are important!"
After seeing An Xiaolin reappear at Yan family fortress, she renewed her hope for the seeds.
Nie Rong stroked his chin. "I could have them collected, though many of the plants will probably die…"
"That's absolutely impossible!" Yao Ranran refused firmly.
Nie Rong was not surprised by her reaction but curious. "Fairy, do you have a better idea?"