Qin Lüsha moved with calm composure as she took out an item and offered it openly.
"Fairy Yao, please look at this. This will prove the loyalty of our Suohong Tower."
Holding the scroll in her hands, Yao Ranran did not think much of it at first.
Her plan was never to bring Suohong Tower directly under her banner, but to push Qin Lüsha and the sect master of Yun Gu Sect into the position of rulers of the Eastern Wilderness, while she remained behind the scenes, pulling all the strings.
"Qin Louzhu, there is no need for you to… Wait, these are all the industries of Suohong Tower?"
The words were on her lips, but when Yao Ranran's gaze fell on the sheer number of properties detailed on the scroll, she quickly twisted her words mid-sentence, as if they burned her tongue.
A flicker of unease hid in Qin Lüsha's eyes. She herself could not be certain how much truth there was to the rumors spreading outside.
"Yes. In addition to the properties marked on this scroll, I have also brought the deeds to Suohong Tower's spiritual mines, its pavilions, and even the contracts binding disciples to service."
"Hmm… forget the disciple contracts!"
As a proper young woman of the twenty-first century at heart, Yao Ranran could not bring herself to accept such dealings in human lives.
"Then these deeds to the spiritual mines, pavilions, and halls…" Qin Lüsha looked at her nervously.
Yao Ranran put away the scroll, then silently took the thick stack of deeds from her hands and tucked them safely into her storage ring.
"Qin Louzhu, the Eastern Wilderness is in chaos. For you to carry around such… assets, it makes you a glaring target of envy and hatred. That is why I am willing to safeguard them for you, to lessen the hostility that might be directed your way!"
She clenched her fist and spoke with righteous conviction.
Qin Lüsha: "...Thank you, Fairy!"
She truly meant it. Fortunately, the rumors were true. Now, at last, the disciples of Suohong Tower could cling to their lives.
As her gaze swept over the lively peace of Longyin Village, Qin Lüsha could not help but feel a pang of jealousy. She had managed Suohong Tower for years, wielded astonishing wealth, and yet in the end was not as happy as the mortals of this little village.
"Xiao Rong, Xiang Yin, bring some spirit fruits and refreshments for Qin Louzhu. She must be tired from the journey."
Yao Ranran sneaked a glance at the scroll map again, silly joy spreading across her face as she slipped it against her chest.
Tonight, if she fell asleep hugging this scroll, she would surely be free of nightmares.
Qin Lüsha sat together with her in the small house once occupied by Pu Yehai.
Xiao Rong scampered over, carrying a plate of spirit fruits.
"Pretty sister, please have some fruit~"
He flashed his sweetest smile.
Yao Ranran nearly got goosebumps all over.
Had Xiao Rong grown up already? Was he learning to appreciate beauties?
Qin Lüsha covered her mouth with a soft laugh. "Thank you, Rong-yé, for the spirit fruit."
Xiao Rong's eyes lit up. "You know of my identity?"
"Of course. You are the Fairy's most capable assistant. Everyone outside knows of Rong-yé!"
Her words were half true, half flattery.
Xiao Rong drew in a deep breath, turned around, and clenched his fists in excitement, leaping up.
"At last, Rong-yé has made a name for himself in the outside world!"
Yao Ranran: "…"
As his Boss, she very much wanted to ask—
Who on earth was spreading such nonsense?
When had this lazy brat ever been her "capable assistant"?
Qin Lüsha looked at his childish glee and could not help but laugh more freely.
She picked up one of the fruits and popped it into her mouth, delight flickering across her face.
"This ordinary-looking spirit fruit… it is actually more fragrant and sweet than the ones sold in Suohong Tower's shops!"
Her heart stirred deeply.
"Thank you, Eastern Wilderness Immortal Lord, for your hospitality. The spiritual qi here is rich indeed. No wonder the fruit grown here is so fresh and delightful."
Yao Ranran froze.
"These fruits are not grown here in Longyin Village…"
She stared at the fruit in Qin Lüsha's hand and suddenly felt a shiver of recognition.
That spirit fruit looked far too familiar…
An ominous premonition struck her.
"Xiao Rong, where did you get this fruit?"
Still smiling, Xiao Rong replied, "Xiao Tang gave it to me. I don't know where she got it, but it looked awfully familiar!"
Yao Ranran: "…"
This was bad. Those were Pu Yehai's poisonous spirit fruits!
"Eastern Wilderness Immortal Lord…" Qin Lüsha looked at her in confusion. Suddenly, she felt scorching heat sear across her back. Turning her head, she saw her robes burning away, the skin beneath reddening.
"Ah! What's happening to me?!"
Qin Lüsha cried out in horror, staggering to her feet.
Yao Ranran quickly tore a few strands of Xiao Rong's hair and used them to block the effect.
"Qin Louzhu, do not worry. This is only a small matter. Believe me, I can resolve it!"
Qin Lüsha, terrified: "…" For all her cultivation at the Nascent Soul stage, she had never once encountered something like this.
Yao Ranran immediately poured out some pills from her storage ring. When she had looted Pu Yehai's corpse, she had kept the extra antidotes.
"Qin Louzhu, this pill will do it. Take it quickly!"
She held out the round pill. Qin Lüsha hesitated only for a moment, then closed her eyes and swallowed it like a soldier resigned to death.
In that moment, she even wondered if this had all been a trap laid by Yao Ranran and her companion. But then she thought again—so long as the disciples of Suohong Tower could live, whether their tower master lived or died no longer mattered.
Just then, Xiao Rong, sensing something was wrong, tried to sneak away.
A slender hand hooked his collar.
"Xiao Rong, tell Xiang Yin that the grudge of her being deceived has now been avenged. From now on, Qin Louzhu is one of us."
Yao Ranran had already guessed that Tang Xiangyin had done this deliberately. Back in Shiyan City, Qin Lüsha had stolen a piece of her spirit flesh, laid down a net of traps to capture her, nearly butchering her into a dish. To retaliate now was only natural.
As long as it was not excessive, it was acceptable. After all, Suohong Tower had given far, far too much.
Yao Ranran hugged the scroll to her chest and planted a kiss on it.
The unification of the Eastern Wilderness was now inevitable!
"I'll go right away!" Xiao Rong, though confused, was simply glad his Boss had not fined him any spirit stones. That alone was enough.
He scampered off. Qin Lüsha, after swallowing the antidote, slowly began to recover, her complexion returning to normal.
"That woman named Xiang Yin… who is she exactly?"
There was already a suspicion in her heart, and she could not help wanting confirmation from Yao Ranran.
"She is the one you set your heavenly net to capture."
Now that things had come to this, Yao Ranran no longer worried about Tang Xiangyin's identity being revealed.
Because she believed she had the strength to protect this little meatball. Besides, even if she said nothing, this clever Tower Master could piece together Tang Xiangyin's true identity from the clues.
Qin Lüsha froze for a moment.
"So it's true…"
The immortal treasure, the Chi Lingzhi, had already taken human form!
If that day she had risked everything to keep the girl from leaving with those two to the Central Domain, would the outcome today have been different?
"Oh, one more thing." Since Yao Ranran had now accepted this faction, she had to make good use of them.
"What is it?" Qin Lüsha asked blankly.
Yao Ranran looked straight at her. "I have top-grade spirit stones."
Qin Lüsha: "…"
She should not have let her imagination wander. Even if time turned back to the day when Lingzhi fled, she would never have been able to hold back this Fairy.
"You… you are the peerless mysterious thief who dared offend the three great families of the Central Domain, who kidnapped the Ye family's young master, slew the Yu family's daughter, and is said to be breathtakingly beautiful?!"