"Good, finally it's my turn to speak!"
Yao Ranran smiled faintly and explained gently, "Those three thousand three hundred and one demon cultivators have already fled. There is no ambush, and the sect master of Yin Luo Sect is also dead. You don't need to worry about any danger here.
I was not captured by them. What I said just now was nothing but the truth!"
After she finished speaking, the four people in front of her fell silent for a moment.
Yun Dehe and Zhao Lingyi awkwardly released each other, both of them blushing furiously.
"Fairy Ranran, please come in!"
As the sect master, Yun Dehe was the first to bow and respectfully invite her inside.
Zhao Lingyi cupped his hands in apology. "Fairy Ranran, it was we who misunderstood you!"
The two gatekeeper disciples were utterly shocked by Yao Ranran's words, and even more stunned by the reactions of their own sect master and Senior Brother.
"Just who is she exactly..."
They could not understand why Yun Dehe and Zhao Lingyi would believe Yao Ranran's words so readily. Nor could they comprehend what she meant by saying that Hei Yangjiu had fallen.
They watched blankly as Yun Dehe and Zhao Lingyi respectfully invited Yao Ranran through the Gate, murmuring in disbelief, "Hei Yangjiu is really dead?"
"Those three thousand three hundred and one demon cultivators… is this not a dream?"
They rubbed their eyes in unison. A faint wisp of black qi drifted across the Gate, leaving both of them wide-eyed.
…
"Fairy Ranran, you are my life-saving benefactor, please accept my bow!"
Yun Dehe swept aside his robes, preparing to kneel before Yao Ranran.
She quickly stopped him.
"Sect master Yun, this was nothing more than a transaction. You need not take it so to heart."
If one were to speak of a true benefactor, Yun Dehe should be bowing to Da Huang instead! Yao Ranran muttered silently in her heart.
Zhao Lingyi added, "Master, Fairy Ranran does not care for such formalities. With battle imminent, we should turn our discussion to the matters of the Demon Sect at once."
Yao Ranran nodded, agreeing with Zhao Lingyi.
"Zhao Daoyou speaks rightly. I came here for the purpose of standing alongside you in this fight."
Yun Dehe was deeply moved.
"The grace and virtue of Fairy are beyond what our Yun Gu Sect can ever repay..."
"How could that be? I see your Yun Gu Sect's treasure vault has not yet been robbed, so how can you say you cannot repay me?"
Yao Ranran's face was filled with surprise. Surely she hadn't come too late and the vault had already been emptied?
Yun Dehe froze, then quickly explained, "Fairy, my meaning is that even if we handed over the entire Yun Gu Sect's treasure vault, it would still be insufficient to repay your kindness!"
"Why would Sect master Yun think that way? If you truly wished to hand me the entirety of Yun Gu Sect's vault, our debts would absolutely be settled! I am not such a greedy person, Sect master Yun, you mustn't think of me like that!"
Yao Ranran righteously defended her own reputation, her eyes sparkling like two spirit stones.
Zhao Lingyi: "…"
Yun Dehe: "…"
He was only speaking figuratively. If he really gave away the treasure vault at this moment, how would the disciples survive afterward?
"Father, Senior Brother, Fairy Ranran, you finally came over!"
Yun Hui rushed in with joy, his face brimming with excitement as he looked at Yao Ranran.
"Greetings, Yun Daoyou," Yao Ranran replied with a light smile.
For the first time, Yun Dehe felt relieved that his son had appeared at the right moment. It wasn't that he was unwilling to repay Yao Ranran, it was simply that the treasure vault of Yun Gu Sect was not his to hand over so freely!
"Fairy Ranran, truth be told, my Hui'er's growth owes much to you as well!"
Yun Dehe patted Yun Hui on the shoulder with satisfaction, looking at Yao Ranran with gratitude.
"It has something to do with me?" Yao Ranran was utterly confused.
She did vaguely remember Yun Hui, but she had hardly done anything for him.
Yun Dehe slowly explained, "Yi'er and Qing Tíng entered Yun Gu Sect when they were young. They grew up together, childhood sweethearts, both with outstanding talent."
"Qing Tíng was always steady and reliable, so I liked to let Hui'er learn from her. But I never expected that after Hui'er came of age, he would start clamoring to marry Qing Tíng and constantly pick fights with Yi'er.
If not for that year when I sent him into the Eastern Wilderness Secret Realm, where he encountered you, Fairy, he would probably still be stuck in jealousy toward Yi'er, competing for Qing Tíng."
Yun Hui scratched his head in embarrassment. "That was when I was young and ignorant. Ever since meeting Fairy Ranran, I finally understood my feelings for Senior Sister Qing Tíng were not love."
Yun Dehe nodded with satisfaction.
"Hui'er, you have truly grown up!"
Yun Hui raised his head and said, "Today, upon meeting Fairy Ranran again, I finally realized who it is I truly love, and who it is I truly want to marry!"
Yun Dehe's brow twitched violently. "Not good!"
Gathering his courage, Yun Hui declared loudly, "Fairy Ranran, ever since that parting in the Eastern Wilderness Secret Realm, I have dreamed of your face every night. I am the next sect master of Yun Gu Sect, and you are a powerful Fairy.
If we were to become Dao companions, and join hands, together we could surely rule—"
Bang bang bang!
Yun Dehe's fists rained down, Yun Hui bit his tongue and screamed in pain.
"Father… what are you doing…"
Yun Dehe did not answer, furiously kicking Yun Hui aside.
"You two, drag Hui'er away at once! For the next two days, do not let him set foot outside his room!"
Zhao Lingyi: "…"
Yao Ranran: "…"
Was this… a proposal? That was the first time she had heard something like that.
Yun Dehe did his best to conceal his embarrassment.
"What a foolish boy, to be this clueless at a time like this! Is it love that you can see Fairy Ranran every night? That is nothing but lust!"
As a father, how could Yun Dehe not know exactly what was going through Yun Hui's head? With a face like hers, the people of the Central Domain would line up for miles. What chance did his son have?
"My apologies, Fairy Ranran, this child… he is still unbearably foolish!"
Yun Dehe's nose stung with sourness. If only Hui'er were more capable, he too would wish for such an extraordinary daughter-in-law!
Yao Ranran shook her head. "It's fine. What matters now is preparing for the approaching demon army."
"Master, since Fairy does not mind, you need not blame Junior Brother Yun Hui too much. Let us first resolve the crisis before us, pacify the Eastern Wilderness, and then we can discuss his lifelong matters later…"
Zhao Lingyi spoke more quickly when mentioning Yun Hui, clearly finding the recent scene embarrassing as well.
Seizing the chance, Yun Dehe dropped the subject and said solemnly, "Yes. Yun Gu Sect is in danger. Fairy said the demons also wish to establish a foothold in the Eastern Wilderness. Have the three great Demon Sects and Piao Miao Sect still not seen through Li Luoqi's intentions?"
"Not yet. But the very reason I came here is to make sure they turn against each other from within."
Yao Ranran glanced around.
On either side of the great hall, three disciples were standing guard.
Yun Dehe waved for them to leave, clearing the place.
"Fairy Ranran acts with great caution. We admire that greatly!" Yun Dehe flattered her with timely praise.
Yao Ranran: "…Sect master flatters me too much."
Zhao Lingyi shook his head. This was exactly why he had no interest in becoming sect master.
"The demons have my people among them. Tonight, their army will arrive here from the Western Sea. Li Luoqi's first target is Yun Gu Sect."
Yao Ranran continued to detail Li Luoqi's plan.