While Yao Ranran was exchanging pleasantries with the villagers, she noticed their expressions filled with trust. Countless white motes of light appeared out of nowhere, falling onto her skirt, her shoulders, and then sinking into her body.
By now, Yao Ranran understood that these lights were the villagers' faith in her. Their exact purpose was still unclear.
But she remembered the time An Xiaolin had drawn forth those same lights from within her to save the people of Yan Fortress. Though the Yans' lives had been ebbing away, those lights had granted them another kind of rebirth.
Death was not truly the end.
Just like An Xiaolin and the disciples of Shu Xi Palace—though they had not vanished from the world entirely, there was still no known way to save them. Yao Ranran suspected that some unspeakable calamity must have befallen the Upper Realm back then, which had left Shu Xi Palace's disciples in such a state.
And Master Mingzhi, who had sacrificed himself for righteousness, had done so in order to escape the punishment that befell An Xiaolin and the others.
"Fairy Ranran, I have something I must say to you."
While several of the elder villagers were still fussing over Yao Ranran with warmth and concern, Zhou Shengqian sent her a sound transmission, his face calm.
Before Yao Ranran could respond, Jiang Shengxiang seemed to have coordinated with him. He called all the villagers outside.
"All right, all right, Fairy Ranran has great abilities. We don't need to worry. Mother, uncles, aunts, let's go out and not disturb her."
Jiang Shengxiang led the villagers away. Zhou Shengqian also gestured for the disciples of Biluo Sect to leave.
"Fairy Ranran, you have finally returned! The Eastern Wilderness cannot survive without you!" Zhou Shengqian's dignified façade as Sect Master vanished in an instant. His expression changed so quickly he looked one step short of bursting into tears.
Yao Ranran stepped back. "Just say what you have to say, but don't cling to my leg!"
She sidestepped swiftly, and Zhou Shengqian stumbled forward, clutching at empty air.
With his intentions laid bare, he did not feel embarrassed. Instead, he grinned shamelessly. "If we don't cling to you, Fairy Ranran, who else can we rely on? The entire Eastern Wilderness depends on you for salvation!"
He wiped away a trace of bitter tears and continued, "You don't know. Without you holding the fort at Gu Ling Mountain, Biluo Sect almost lost its name!"
Yao Ranran frowned. "What happened? Did old enemies join forces to bring your sect down?"
Zhou Shengqian nearly tripped flat on his face. He wiped at his dry eyes and forced a fawning smile. "Fairy, don't joke with me. Biluo Sect isn't that strong. We'd never dare provoke enemies outside…"
"It was an elder from Mingxia Sect. When they saw you had gone to Central Continent, they deliberately sent spies into Longyin Village to find out your whereabouts.
The villagers, not knowing better, thought you would never return. They said Central Continent was prosperous, filled with powerful cultivators, and that you must have forgotten us.
But only I, Village Chief Jiang, and Rong-yé knew Fairy Ranran would never abandon us!
And sure enough, Fairy Ranran hurried back under the stars, braving fatigue, and returned to Longyin Village!"
As he spoke, Zhou Shengqian quickly poured her a cup of spirit tea and offered it respectfully.
Yao Ranran accepted the cup with a nod. "And the Mingxia Sect spy?"
Zhou Shengqian rubbed the plump teapot, lowered his voice, and whispered, "I sent him back."
Yao Ranran froze, staring in surprise. "Sect Master Zhou, I didn't think you so bold. You killed the spy and sent his body back? Are you trying to make that demonic elder hate me even more?"
"Wonderful. Now all this hatred will be pinned on me!
Maybe before things spiral out of control, I should just package up Zhou Shengqian and the entire Biluo Sect and send them straight over myself."
Her gaze toward Zhou Shengqian grew colder with the thought.
He shivered, his hand instinctively brushing his own neck as if her eyes were already cutting his head off. Trembling, he protested, "Fairy, you misunderstand! I wouldn't dare do something so suicidal!"
"So you didn't kill him?" Yao Ranran exhaled in relief, but then her expression sharpened again. "Then you simply sent him back alive?"
That was far too spineless. At least rough him up a little, show him some consequences!
Yao Ranran shook her head in disappointment. No wonder Biluo Sect was still such a minor sect. Their Sect Master lived far too humbly.
"You're not wrong, Fairy. I did return him intact," Zhou Shengqian admitted with a smile. "But as Sect Master, as Zhou Lili's father, as Village Chief Jiang's dear friend, how could I bow to Mingxia Sect?
So before sending him back, I personally went into the prison and told him: our light, Fairy Ranran, has returned! And I left a harsh warning for their Sect Master. If they dare covet this place again, Fairy Ranran will destroy them and the sects backing them!
To unify the Eastern Wilderness!!"
He burst into triumphant laughter. "Hahaha! Fairy, why aren't you laughing? Isn't this grand vision magnificent?"
Yao Ranran stared at him, speechless. "Are you insane? Are you serious? When did you send him back?"
If she hurried, maybe she could still intercept him.
She shot to her feet, wooden chair scraping against the floor.
She had underestimated Zhou Shengqian. This man wasn't just cowardly—he was delusional.
He seemed to sense her agitation but mistook it for the same excitement he felt. "That man left last night. I sent my fastest disciple to escort him. By now, they should have reached Mingxia Sect…"
"Finished…" Yao Ranran slumped back into her chair, despair filling her chest.
Just then, Jiang Shengxiang came in, eyes bright. "Fairy Ranran, have you already devised a strategy? Time to finish off those demonic sect disciples!"
…That was not at all what she meant.
Zhou Shengqian shrank to the side, trying to make himself invisible.
Oblivious, Jiang Shengxiang pressed on, his face full of earnestness. "Fairy, is it still too early to reveal the plan? Honestly, I think unifying the Eastern Wilderness is too ambitious. Scaring them a bit would be enough. As long as we keep Longyin Village safe, that's all we need.
What do you think, Fairy?"
He spoke animatedly, as if already envisioning a bright future.
Yao Ranran's lips curved faintly, her voice soft but cold. "I think it would be simpler to offer you all as gifts to the three great demonic sects, let them devour you, and I'll sit back and enjoy the result. Then unifying the Eastern Wilderness would be far easier."
"Ah… Fairy, brilliant! A stratagem to lure the enemy in—using us as bait to infiltrate the three demonic sects and annihilate them all at once. Exquisite, simply exquisite!"
Jiang Shengxiang's face flushed with excitement, so much so that even Zhou Shengqian's frantic winks went unnoticed.