Lu Ziqian stood quietly behind her, watching the sunset glow reflected inside her storage bracelet, a faint smile appearing on his lips.
"What's so pretty about such an ugly storage bracelet!"
The voice rolled out of Lu Ziqian's throat at the worst possible moment.
His eyes widened and he frantically waved his hands at Yao Ranran. "It wasn't me who said that! Master, the sunset you see is truly beautiful, and the storage bracelet is also very pretty!"
Yao Ranran was about to smile when that unpleasant voice rang out again.
"So ugly, hideous beyond belief!"
Her brows furrowed, one fist curling as she raised it high.
"Ugly beyond— I mean, such a beautiful Fairy should be matched with a far more splendid bracelet, not something so plain as an ordinary storage bracelet!"
Mu Xin's instinct to survive was strong, and Yao Ranran let her fist fall.
"This bracelet was left to me by my mother. It is not the same as ordinary storage bracelets."
"Yes yes, not the same at all!" Mu Xin immediately echoed without hesitation.
Yao Ranran slipped the bracelet back on her wrist and patted Lu Ziqian's shoulder.
"My disciple would never speak like that. From now on, you are forbidden to use my disciple's face to speak."
"Wait, I still have something to—" Mu Xin shouted anxiously.
Yao Ranran showed no mercy. A wave of spiritual power pressed down from her palm onto Lu Ziqian's shoulder, forcing Mu Xin back inside.
Lu Ziqian lowered his head, guilt written on his face. "Master, this disciple is useless, I cannot control him…"
"He has been an old monster for tens of thousands of years. It is normal that you cannot suppress him."
Yao Ranran gently patted his shoulder, her tone patient and consoling.
"Old monster…" Lu Ziqian muttered.
His gaze lingered on Yao Ranran's face, and suddenly a strange thought stirred in his heart.
If even a tens-of-thousands-year-old monster like Mu Xin could be subdued in one move by Master, then… didn't that make his Master even more monstrous than a monster?
Yao Ranran noticed he was distracted and waved her hand in front of his eyes.
"Little disciple, what are you thinking about? Did you hear what I said?"
Lu Ziqian blinked back to himself. "Disciple remembers everything!"
Yao Ranran nodded lightly. "Even if you don't remember, it doesn't matter. It wasn't anything particularly important."
"Every word Master speaks is important to me," Lu Ziqian said solemnly.
Her eyes crashed into his unwaveringly earnest gaze, and she froze for a heartbeat.
"Very well. Among all the disciples I've taken, only you are the most obedient."
Lu Ziqian's cheeks flushed. "Master, you always call me your little disciple. Where are my Senior Brothers? Why have I never seen them before?"
Yao Ranran chuckled. "You've met one of them. That swindler Nie Rong who loiters at the entrance of Longyin Village— he is your Senior Brother."
Lu Ziqian's face showed unconcealed surprise. "He's one of Master's disciples? Then… what about my other Senior Brothers?"
"Other Senior Brothers? There are none. Just you two."
With a soft laugh, Yao Ranran turned her gaze back to the distant scenery.
Lu Ziqian stood there stunned.
"Only Senior Brother Nie Rong…"
"Then when Master said I was the most obedient disciple, didn't that just mean… I'm only slightly more obedient than Senior Brother Nie Rong?"
The joy in his heart instantly cooled.
Compared to Nie Rong, what pride was there in being called obedient…?
—
The flying boat pierced through layers of clouds, day and night turning as Yao Ranran and Lu Ziqian arrived at the Western Sea Demon Cavern.
"Master, perhaps we came too quickly. She should not have reached this place yet."
As soon as he left the flying boat, Lu Ziqian searched the cavern thoroughly. Apart from traces of lingering demon soldiers, there was no aura of any righteous cultivators.
Yao Ranran sat casually on a gem-inlaid stone throne, tapping the edge of a jewel with her finger as she nodded. "All right, I understand."
"Does Master… like these gemstones?" Lu Ziqian asked cautiously. "Should I destroy this throne and bring the gems to you?"
He was about to act when Yao Ranran raised a hand to stop him. "No no no. I was only idly fiddling. When I see a gemstone, if I don't touch it, I feel a weight on my heart."
"…Understood, Master," Lu Ziqian replied helplessly.
Yao Ranran smiled with satisfaction. "As expected, you understand me best."
Moments later.
She gazed silently at the surrounding throne set with glittering jewels.
Lu Ziqian leaned forward carefully. "Disciple heard that Master's heart felt uneasy, so I immediately ordered men to bring every gemstone-inlaid chair from the cavern here. Does Master feel better now?"
Yao Ranran gave him a long look. "I'm fine. You were thoughtful, disciple."
Relieved, Lu Ziqian smiled. "If it is not enough, I know a city on the Western Sea border that produces gemstones in abundance. I can order them to craft gem chairs in bulk, and within half a day, they can all be delivered to you."
"…Good disciple," Yao Ranran sighed, both exasperated and touched.
Lu Ziqian tried to appear calm, but the flush of his ears betrayed his inner joy.
"If Master is well, then this disciple will withdraw."
"Go on, I'll watch you leave," Yao Ranran replied with a soft smile.
Lu Ziqian curved his lips, walking steadily out of the hall.
Yao Ranran watched the doors close again, pried a gem from the throne, and began toying with it in her hand.
Outside.
A demon clan member bowed low as Lu Ziqian emerged.
"Demon General, shall we continue ordering Yishi City to mine gemstones?"
Lu Ziqian nodded slightly. "Of course. Have them accelerate. Deliver all the gems by tomorrow at the latest."
"And should all of them be made into gem chairs?" the demon asked uncertainly.
Lu Ziqian glanced at the tightly shut hall doors, then spoke softly. "No. The number of chairs is sufficient. Use the gemstones to inlay vanity tables, screens, desks, and cabinets. Ensure that wherever Master looks, she can see them."
"Yes, I will see it done at once!"
The demon hurried away. Lu Ziqian lingered a moment, staring at the hall doors, then turned and departed.
—
The next day.
Yao Ranran awoke on a bed gilded with gems.
She stared around at the dazzling gemstone furniture, then caressed the multicolored jewels at her bedside in fascination.
"So this is what they call being blinded by wealth? My eyes were nearly dazzled first thing in the morning!"
Jumping down from the bed, she picked up a gemstone paving the floor.
"This is outrageous. To be a local lord really is extraordinary. In just one night, so many gems were hauled here!"
The shock in her eyes was almost overflowing.
"Oh heavens, placing my little disciple in the Demon Cavern was the best decision of my life!"
Clutching the colorful gems in both hands, she showered herself in a rain of jewels, spending the entire day reveling in the luxurious hall, completely forgetting about the Piao Miao Sect sect master.
Outside the hall.
Lu Ziqian listened to her laughter and smiled with unguarded purity.
"Has the City Lord of Yishi surrendered?"
"Reporting to Demon General, he just pledged his allegiance to us!"