"Master, are you grieving for Demon Sovereign?"
Lu Ziqian hesitated for a long time before cautiously asking.
Yao Ranran still had not figured out what exactly she had helped him with, when she was suddenly pulled into another strange and inexplicable question.
"Grieving?"
She asked back, puzzled.
Lu Ziqian thought her response was a silent confirmation. He tried to comfort her, saying, "Master has a kind heart, but this disciple has lived within the Demonic Cave for some time. The crimes the demon race committed… even if they were torn limb from limb, it would not be too much!"
Anger burned behind his eyes, his voice resolute.
Yao Ranran sighed inwardly once again. This child really had grown.
"I am not grieving…"
She touched the storage ring in her hand and sighed. "I only fear Li Luoqi has hidden away all the resources he plundered. No one knows where he put them…"
"This damn storage ring was completely empty. Where in the world had Li Luoqi stashed everything?!"
Anxiousness weighed on Yao Ranran's heart.
Lu Ziqian blinked in realization. "Master wishes to add strength to the impoverished and war-torn Eastern Wilderness, is that it?"
Yao Ranran turned to him. "Disciple, since you've been to the Demon Cave, do you know where Li Luoqi most liked to hide his treasures?"
Lu Ziqian scratched his head shyly. "When Demon Sovereign took away the spoils I had won, this disciple once accidentally caught a glimpse… At the deepest part of the cave, there was a hidden passage. That must be where Demon Sovereign loved to keep his collection."
Accidentally?
Yao Ranran eyed his embarrassed expression and doubted the story was so simple.
But as long as she could find Li Luoqi's treasure trove, that was all that mattered!
"Disciple, you are truly clever! Why don't I go with you into the Demonic Cave and confiscate every last thing Li Luoqi hoarded?"
Just imagining piles upon piles of spirit stones and treasures falling into her hands made her grin uncontrollably.
Seeing her brighten up, Lu Ziqian's respect deepened even further.
"Master's heart is always with the people of the Eastern Wilderness. This matter should be left to your disciple alone. Master has been working hard for a long while. Why not rest during this time?"
Yao Ranran quickly shook her head. "No, no, absolutely not. This matter is too important. If you go alone, I won't be at ease with your safety!"
Wealth can shake even the firmest of hearts!
"Even though you are my disciple, in this cunning cultivation world, I cannot let you go by yourself to raid the Demon Cave!"
She flatly refused.
Rest? No way. She only wanted treasure!
But this anxious expression in her eyes created an entirely different, wonderful misunderstanding for Lu Ziqian.
Master never ceased worrying about his well-being. How could he bear to let her continue exhausting herself?
"Master, if you are worried about this disciple's safety, then allow me to carry you to the Demonic Cave. On the way, let me do all the work instead."
Yao Ranran hesitated briefly.
That actually sounded fine!
"Agreed, little disciple. Let's depart right now!"
She could not wait another moment!
"Fairy Yao Ranran, Fairy… please accept our bow!"
Yun Dehe arrived with several disciples in tow, bending low to salute her reverently.
"Bow my foot! You're lucky enough to still be alive—hurry home, wash up, and get some sleep!"
Yao Ranran truly worried they would delay her by spewing endless words of gratitude. By the time she reached the Demon Cave, the opportunity would have already grown cold!
Besides, she had not subdued Li Luoqi for their sake, but for her own.
There was no need for all that sentimental nonsense!
With brisk decisiveness, she tossed out a flying boat, dragged Lu Ziqian aboard, and vanished instantly from the scene.
Yun Dehe raised his head dumbfounded. His knees had not even touched the ground in a kowtow, yet she was already gone!
Zhao Lingyi said with deep admiration, "Fairy Yao Ranran rescues people from fire and water, yet seeks neither thanks nor reward. We cultivators should all learn from her example!"
"Fairy Yao Ranran's righteousness shines bright!"
Several Yun Gu Sect disciples dropped to their knees, voices raised in loud praise.
But Yao Ranran could no longer hear them.
In a shadowed corner unnoticed by the disciples, Li Luoqi dragged his withered body, secretly tore apart a talisman pressed against his robe, and vanished from sight.
…
"Those demons won't betray you, will they?"
On their way to the Demonic Cave, Yao Ranran suddenly remembered the demon soldiers left behind.
Lu Ziqian replied hesitantly, "They will not betray this disciple, for I have placed a curse upon them…"
Yao Ranran blinked.
This little disciple was rather ruthless!
"Disciple had no desire to do so…" Lu Ziqian hurried to explain, fearing she would misunderstand.
Yao Ranran raised her hand dismissively. "I understand. If you hadn't, those savage demon soldiers would have fallen under Li Luoqi's control."
Lu Ziqian nodded. "Li Luoqi bears the bloodline of the ancient demons. Those soldiers would naturally surrender beneath such a lineage."
Yao Ranran was about to praise him when Lu Ziqian suddenly halted.
"Master, we have arrived. It is here!"
Yao Ranran looked ahead.
A grand palace glittered in gold and jade. Beneath its bedchamber lay a pitch-black passage.
Lu Ziqian's gaze locked on that dark tunnel. "Demon Sovereign once carried a millennial spirit plant down there."
"Did you ever sneak a look at what lies below?" Yao Ranran asked.
Lu Ziqian shook his head, then looked at her firmly. "Master, allow this disciple to descend first. Once I confirm it is safe, I will return to lead you down."
Yao Ranran's heart quivered beneath his clear, steady eyes. She averted her gaze guiltily.
"Perhaps… I should accompany you? Truly, I am not tired at all…"
"No, this disciple cannot live forever under Master's protection. I also wish to carve my own path!"
His refusal was resolute.
Yao Ranran pursed her lips. "You already are very—"
Boom!
Before she could finish, Lu Ziqian leapt down without hesitation.
Yao Ranran: "…"
She honestly had no idea when she had ever sheltered him!
"Forget it, I'll just wait for him up here."
She propped her chin in her hands, eyes wandering curiously around the chamber.
"Speaking of Lu Ziqian, among all those people he met, he was closest to Yun Dehe. By now that sect master must be suffering plenty of bad luck back at his sect!"
…
"Achoo!"
Yun Dehe rubbed his nose, then collapsed weakly back onto his bed.
"Hui'er, what do you think is wrong with your father? What did Physician Zhou say to you?"
Yun Hui stirred the medicinal soup on the table, brows furrowed tightly.
"Father, that physician said you may have run into misfortune. She told me to watch over you and forbid you from running about anymore!"
…
"Why is it taking so long? Could something dangerous really be below?"
Yao Ranran had dozed off, yet Lu Ziqian still had not appeared. At last, unable to wait any longer, she braced her hands against the floor and prepared to jump down.
"Master, I'm back—ow!"
Lu Ziqian clutched his head, stepping out just in time to land squarely on Yao Ranran's two feet.
Yao Ranran quickly withdrew her toes, peering down at him with an awkward blink.
"Little disciple, what took you so long? I almost thought something happened to you down there!"