Han Huijun and Yue Qingsu's gazes both fell on him.
The flicker of doubt in Shen Yuefu's eyes vanished almost instantly. He pondered for a moment, then set down the teacup in his hand. The crisp sound of porcelain against wood stirred an inexplicable unease in Yue Qingsu's heart.
Shen Yuefu spoke calmly, "Whether she is or isn't, that is not for me to decide. Elder Yue, can you reach her?"
Yue Qingsu's eyes bore into him, unwilling to miss even the slightest shift in expression.
"She is my disciple. Of course I can bring her back!"
Shen Yuefu turned his gaze aside. "Then let us wait until she returns to the sect. The answer will reveal itself naturally."
Yue Qingsu gave a cold snort, rose, and walked past him, throwing him a look.
"I already know about you and Qian Qiao. If you do not believe in her, then do not provoke her." He swept his sleeve and left.
Han Huijun had heard their entire exchange, and now lingered in hesitation.
"Elder Yue dotes far too much on his disciple. That Pei girl may have some talent, but to say she is Heaven's chosen one… that still remains to be proven!
Elder Shen, you think so too, don't you?" Han Huijun turned his head with a faint smile.
Shen Yuefu pressed his lips together and did not answer. His gaze was distant, fixed on the boundless sky beyond.
Han Huijun followed his line of sight, only to mutter in confusion, "There's nothing there. Why are you suddenly spacing out?"
Eastern Wilderness.
Longyin Village.
Jiang Shengxiang looked at the news from outside and stroked his beard with a smile blossoming like a flower.
"Rong-yé, do you know when Fairy Ranran will return?" Meng Xiangxiang asked anxiously, staring at Xiao Rong, who was eating with infuriating delight even at such a critical time.
Xiao Rong left a neat row of teeth marks on the spiritual fruit, chewing as he spoke indistinctly, "Don' know… why don' you eat too?"
Meng Xiangxiang barely managed to interpret his muffled words. Watching his bulging cheeks, he turned in despair toward Jiang Shengxiang, who was still grinning like a fool.
"…Why do they both feel so unreliable?"
He muttered under his breath.
Jiang Shengxiang suddenly brightened, staring at him with excitement. "What did you say? Meng Daoyou, do you have a question for me?"
Meng Xiangxiang opened his mouth, dumbstruck. He did have a question, but could this village chief who had been chuckling nonstop really know the answer?
Facing Jiang Shengxiang's burning, expectant eyes, he swallowed nervously.
"Um… Village Chief Jiang, your face is way too close to mine…"
He quickly pulled his neck back, avoiding those fervent eyes that seemed ready to stick to his skin.
"Oh, oh, my apologies!" Jiang Shengxiang coughed awkwardly and stepped back. "Meng Daoyou, what was it you wanted to ask me just now?"
Meng Xiangxiang: "Actually, I don't really have anything to ask…"
"What did you say?!" Jiang Shengxiang suddenly raised his voice, making Meng Xiangxiang's eyes go wide in shock.
"Cough, cough!" Xiao Rong nearly choked on his fruit, glaring at them in annoyance.
But Jiang Shengxiang, oblivious, shouted in delight, "Yun Gu Sect has been saved, Youyan Gate has been breached!"
"What?!" Meng Xiangxiang and Xiao Rong both stared at him in disbelief.
Jiang Shengxiang laughed madly, "Yinluo Sect's sect master has fallen, Youyan Gate's sect master has been slain, and Miao Yun Sect's elders have been captured. Our Longyin Village has achieved a grand victory!"
"That'sh grea' newsh!" Xiao Rong cheered, spitting out bits of chewed fruit as he raised both hands in celebration.
Meng Xiangxiang's face flushed with excitement. "Then Fairy Ranran will be back soon? But… what does Miao Yun Sect's elder have to do with Longyin Village?"
Jiang Shengxiang stroked his beard with a chuckle. "I have no idea what connection there is. Anyway, the noble clans' young heirs are all imprisoned on Gu Ling Mountain, so capturing a few Miao Yun Sect elders hardly matters!"
Meng Xiangxiang: "…" Isn't that a little too careless?
"Wonderful! I'm going into the city to find Boss. Youyan Gate and Yinluo Sect must have countless treasures inside!"
Xiao Rong leapt off his wooden stool, shoved the rest of the fruit into his mouth, and dashed out.
Jiang Shengxiang hurried after him. "Rong-yé, slow down! Miss Tang is still in Biluo Sect. Aren't you going to bring her along?"
The two of them chased out together, leaving Meng Xiangxiang frozen in disbelief.
"The three great demon sects… are gone just like that? Will the long-divided Eastern Wilderness truly be unified under Fairy Ranran?"
He dared not imagine how things would unfold. But one thing he knew—
The Eastern Wilderness was on the brink of a brand-new era.
Youyan Gate.
Yao Ranran was lost in immense joy, her eyes glued to the storage ring stuffed full of treasures.
Even the hurried footsteps outside failed to distract her.
Yun Dehe stepped in, quickly saluting before speaking in a rush. "Fairy Ranran, Piao Miao Sect has already been taken by Luo Honglou and Yi'er's disciples. However, Piao Miao Sect's sect master has escaped!"
Yao Ranran's gaze did not move. "If she escaped, then bring her back. A mere sect master cannot stir up much of a storm."
Yun Dehe's face was clouded with worry. "If that were all, I would not be troubled. But before fleeing, she told her elders one thing—she knows a way to find Mu Xin, the genius who founded Piao Miao Sect tens of thousands of years ago in the Eastern Wilderness."
Yao Ranran finally raised her eyes, startled.
Yun Dehe pressed on, "Perhaps you have not heard the name. Tens of thousands of years ago, Mu Xin was a hegemon of the land. Even though Yun Gu Sect had already been rooted in the Eastern Wilderness for ages, he suppressed us completely. It was only after he perished in some Black Mountain that Yun Gu Sect reemerged into the world!"
Yao Ranran looked at him with intrigue. "I have heard of this Mu Xin. You are saying she has a way to find him?"
Yun Dehe nodded firmly. "Sect Master Qin used charm arts on one of Piao Miao Sect's elders, and that is how we uncovered this secret. We cannot let her find Mu Xin!"
Yao Ranran tapped her storage ring thoughtfully. "In theory she shouldn't be able to. Still, I will need to take Lu Ziqian there to confirm."
"I don't understand—where are you planning to take Demon General Lu?" Yun Dehe asked in confusion.
Yao Ranran blinked innocently. "Most likely to the Western Sea Demon Cavern."
Yun Dehe froze. "Why in the world would we go to such a place?"
Yao Ranran smiled. "Because perhaps the Mu Xin she seeks is there."
Yun Dehe was stunned into silence. Suddenly, all his worries vanished.
"So Demon General Lu had been right. Everything in this world had already been foreseen by Fairy Ranran!"
"I will find Lu Ziqian at once. Yun Gu Sect Master, I leave Youyan Gate in your care."
With a smile, Yao Ranran strode from the hall. Yun Dehe hastily agreed and saw her off.
She brought out her flying boat once again. This time, she did not use the teleportation staff. Given the Piao Miao Sect Master's speed, it would be impossible for her to reach the Western Sea Demon Cavern that quickly.
As the boat cut across the skies, Yao Ranran sat at the prow, admiring the evening glow. She lifted her storage bracelet toward the horizon and sketched a halo of sunset—one that belonged solely to her.