Zhou Shengqian let out a heavy sigh. "Fairy, while you were away from the Eastern Wilderness, the outside world has truly descended into chaos.
Whether man or ghost, everyone is fighting to seize territory. They treat mortals as fodder and cultivators as blood sacrifice, all to pave their own path of Dao.
If I so much as showed a hint of weakness or helplessness outside, our Biliu Sect, and even the whole of Longyin Village, would become their target. Every day I set foot beyond these walls, I gamble with my life."
"So then, what kind of outrageous lie did you spread while you were out there?"
This time, Zhou Shengqian's lead-up was longer than usual. Clearly, her reputation outside must have grown to something significant.
Yao Ranran's expression remained indifferent. She could already imagine the mythical image that must have taken root in the outside world.
Zhou Shengqian studied her face carefully, then muttered softly, "Actually, it can hardly be called a lie. We only said aloud the truth that Fairy didn't want to say herself…"
"And what truth is that?"
Seeing that she wasn't angry, Zhou Shengqian finally summoned his courage and blurted out in one breath, "That a Divine Transformation Zūnzhě has appeared in this region, and that we are on familiar terms with her… I never once told Tower Master Qin that the Divine Transformation Zūnzhě was actually Fairy Ranran. That was all her own assumption!"
Just a Divine Transformation Zūnzhě? It seemed the rumors hadn't grown completely absurd yet.
Yao Ranran found she could still accept this kind of rumor-mongering.
After all, no one had said directly to her face that she was the Divine Transformation Zūnzhě. It was nothing but ambiguous words, left to outsiders' interpretation. She bore no legal responsibility for that.
"Mm, is that all?"
That wasn't so bad.
Yao Ranran's face eased, her mood lightened.
When Zhou Shengqian first described the peril outside, she had thought he was about to confess to spreading some outrageous rumor even she would find hard to believe.
But now it didn't sound like such a big deal.
If a little rumor could keep Longyin Village safe, wasn't that a clever enough survival tactic?
"Mm… well, there's more. Like how Fairy Ranran has accepted an elder as her disciple, and now wields overwhelming influence over Wuxiang Sect. That even the Buddha's Son of Central Continent's Guan Fan Temple must prostrate at Fairy's feet, treating her as an honored guest. Recently, it's said Fairy even acquired a divine beast. Its true fire can incinerate all things. If Fairy is in a good mood, perhaps one day she'll soar into the heavens riding that divine beast…
And if anyone dares offend Longyin Village, Fairy will bring her divine beast, together with the disciples of Wuxiang Sect, to trample the Eastern Wilderness, burning mountains and boiling seas, while the monks of Guan Fan Temple chant sutras to cleanse their karmic sins before sending them into reincarnation!"
Zhou Shengqian grew more animated the more he spoke, his eyes shining as though he already saw the people of the Eastern Wilderness bowing before Yao Ranran, flames sweeping the land in a majestic blaze.
"Thank you very much for holding me in such high regard.Whoever wants to play the role of this Fairy is welcome to it."
Yao Ranran no longer wanted to hear another word. She turned, swept her sleeve, and walked away. She left without taking even a wisp of cloud from this place. If possible, she would rather vanish quietly from this world altogether.
Zhou Shengqian kept talking for quite some time before finally noticing Yao Ranran was gone. He froze, eyes widening in disbelief. Scratching his head, he muttered, "Fairy? Where did Fairy go?"
…
Central Continent.
Holy Palace stronghold.
In the dark, damp cavern, a man and a woman were bound together.
They looked around helplessly, struggling desperately to escape, but could only hear eerie wails echoing from the holes in the cave walls.
Ka—
At last, a heavy stone door creaked open, letting in the first sliver of light they had seen that day.
"Second Elder of Beiming Holy Palace?" the bound man blurted in shock upon seeing the figure who stepped in.
Qian Zhi stumbled forward, steadying himself on the wall. "How did you know it was me?"
"Idiot! Who told you to answer him?" Wan Huaiyuan rapped him hard on the head.
The captive man went on, "So the Grand Elder of Holy Palace is here as well!"
Qian Zhi was even more bewildered. "Grand Elder, he figured out your identity too!"
Wan Huaiyuan pressed a hand to his forehead in exasperation. With a sharp motion, he tore the veil from his face and snapped, "Haven't you ever heard that the more you know, the quicker you die?"
Zhou Lili's eyes darted wildly. "What? I see nothing, I hear nothing, my eyes and ears no longer work!"
Wan Huaiyuan and Qian Zhi: "…"
Nie Rong added, "Actually, my ears have problems too! Did you even say anything to me just now?"
"Stop pretending to be fools. It doesn't matter if you recognize us. I only brought you here for one reason: to find that woman."
Wan Huaiyuan strode forward, his true face revealed as he stared at Nie Rong and Zhou Lili, gaze like lightning.
Nie Rong blinked in surprise. "So many women pursue me. Which one are you asking about?"
Wan Huaiyuan gave a disdainful snort. "The one you will never obtain."
Nie Rong's eyes widened. "Then you'll never find her. In this world, there has never been a woman I could not—"
"Don't speak too soon. Isn't your master Yao Ranran precisely the woman you can never have?" Qian Zhi interrupted with a sneer.
Nie Rong opened his mouth, then lowered his gaze solemnly. "She is not a woman."
Wan Huaiyuan and Qian Zhi both froze in shock. "What did you say?"
Surely not another Holy Maiden with a man's soul trapped in a woman's body?
Nie Rong spoke slowly, "My master is someone even the fairies of the Nine Heavens cannot compare to. How could she be counted among ordinary women?"
Their expressions turned grave at once.
Smack!
Wan Huaiyuan slammed his fist down on Nie Rong's head.
"Has no one taught you not to pause halfway through your words?"
Nie Rong winced, drawing in a sharp breath. Then realization struck him. "You're looking for my master?"
"Exactly. Tell me where your master is hiding, and I'll let you both live," Wan Huaiyuan said, pulling back his fist, eyes gleaming coldly.
Nie Rong raised his wounded head. "Even though we've seen your faces, you'd still let us go?"
"Of course. As long as you tell us Yao Ranran's whereabouts, I will spare your lives," Wan Huaiyuan replied with a smirk.
So the elder of Wuxiang Sect truly feared death.
Nie Rong stared blankly. "Then since we don't know where my master is, there was no need to capture us in the first place. You can release us right now."
Slap!
Qian Zhi's hand smacked Nie Rong's head sideways.
"Nie Rong, don't be so ungrateful. While the Grand Elder is still in a generous mood, you had better tell us Yao Ranran's whereabouts!"
Wan Huaiyuan lowered his raised fist. "Indeed. My patience is running thin. If you don't want to die, then tell us where she's hiding."
Nie Rong's meridians were sealed, his spiritual power blocked. Stars swam before his eyes as he groaned, "I truly don't know where my master went!"
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Wan Huaiyuan rained fists and kicks down on Nie Rong until he curled up on the ground.
"This is your final chance. If you still refuse to speak, I'll cut out your tongues and deliver them to Yao Ranran myself!"