After a moment of silence, Qu Shui spoke up: "The prison is heavily guarded. If we're discovered, it's utter ruin. Even Tao Yao, who trained us, wouldn't dare to break in lightly. Please reconsider, Master."
"Discovered? You just need to wait outside and support me. Leave the rest to me." Ye Lanshan smiled playfully. She hadn't seen what the prison here was like since arriving in this world.
Initially, she had planned to use the Ye family's influence to retrieve the prisoner, but then she thought again—the other party was a suspected spy under the emperor's scrutiny, and the reason for their imprisonment was likely far from simple. Plus, her own identity was sensitive. Rushing in to demand the prisoner would hardly be wise.
Breaking in, on the other hand, was different. She could change her appearance at will, rescue the person, and who would know it was her?
"Yes, I'll go prepare immediately." Qu Shui knew he couldn't dissuade his master, so he obediently followed orders.
"Mu, let's go." Ye Lanshan changed her appearance again and called out to the female ghost.
But the ghost was furious: "Who are you calling Mu? Listen up, I have a name—it's Mu Xinlian."
"Oh, then Mu Xinlian, let's go." Since this vessel was under Ye Lanshan's control, the ghost had no choice but to follow her, however unwillingly.
The prison was indeed heavily guarded. Ye Lanshan showed the female ghost a portrait of Yi An and had her sneak in to bring him out.
Ye Lanshan had complete confidence in the female ghost's abilities—after all, even she couldn't defeat her. Without the artifact to suppress the ghost, escaping her grasp wouldn't be easy. But the talisman on the paper figure wouldn't hold out much longer. She'd need to find a more suitable material and draw a more complete talisman soon.
"Are you Yi An?" The cold, eerie voice echoed through the damp, dim prison, sending chills down one's spine.
Yi An narrowed his eyes, hiding all his emotions, a faint, detached smile on his lips. He didn't answer.
The prison fell silent, even breathing was barely audible.
The female ghost, unfazed by his silence, grabbed him by the collar and floated out.
With a thud, Yi An was thrown to the ground. The ghost clapped her hands: "There, I've brought him out for you."
Ye Lanshan smiled in satisfaction. It went even smoother than she'd expected. Having a capable helper truly made everything easier. Now she didn't need to change her appearance again.
"Master, how did you get out so fast? Don't tell me you were caught before even getting in?" Qu Shui, not noticing Yi An, was panicking.
"The person's rescued, so of course we came back. What else would we be doing in there?" Ye Lanshan looked at Qu Shui's flustered state, thinking he seemed like someone calm and experienced, yet here he was, all rattled. He definitely needed more training.
"May I ask who you are, sir? And why did you save me?" A clear, crisp voice rang out, refreshing as a babbling spring.
"I'm just doing a favor for someone. Tao Yao asked me to get you out. It's nothing to do with me. Now, I'll take you to see her." Having rescued him, she had to bring him to Tao Yao for a look.
"Tao Yao, really, she's causing trouble again. She knows I went in on purpose this time." Yi An smiled with helpless affection but didn't object.
"Tao Yao, I've brought him to you. I hope you'll keep your promise and make the Duanhun Water." Ye Lanshan brought Yi An before Tao Yao.
"See? I told you I could get you out." Tao Yao was almost childlike now, nothing like her usual self.
"Alright, alright, our great Charm Master is the best." Yi An's voice was full of affection.
"Ah, it's almost dawn. Looks like I won't get any rest." Ye Lanshan looked up at the sky. After a night of turmoil, she was growing more exhausted.
While Tao Yao and Yi An were lost in their moment, they didn't notice Ye Lanshan and her group had already vanished.
"I'll go lie down upstairs for a bit. Let me know when Mu Ziming arrives." Ye Lanshan instructed Qing Dai.
She had barely closed her eyes when Mu Ziming rushed over, and they headed to the Fusheng Auction House together.
"Mr. Mu, this way, please." Mu Ziming handed the invitation to the guard.
"I also have something I'd like to auction. Is it possible to do so here at Fusheng?" Ye Lanshan suddenly remembered she had something useful in this world—purple sand stone. She had a pile of it in her space and no use for it, so she might as well auction some off for money to expand her influence.
"We don't auction just anything. It depends on whether your item is worth our time." The guard shot her a disdainful look, as if doubting she had anything good.
"My item is definitely worth auctioning." Ye Lanshan was confident. She recalled that purple sand stone was quite rare on this continent, a treasure every artifact maker coveted.
She hadn't known it was so rare until Sima Kuang accidentally saw her take some out.
"Hmph, it's not up to you to decide that. We have appraisers here. If you want to auction something, turn left, go straight, then turn right. The appraiser's there. Talk to him." The guard didn't even bother with pretense of respect anymore. He pointed vaguely and then sycophantically escorted Mu Ziming into the room.
Mu Ziming frowned mid-step, wanting to say something, but Ye Lanshan's glance stopped him. This was her matter, and she wouldn't have Mu Ziming interfere.
"Show it." An old man sat there, aloof, his eyes half-closed.
"Huh?" Were people this direct now?
"I said, show me what you want to auction." The old man impatiently opened his eyes, thinking she hadn't understood him.
"Here, take it." Ye Lanshan casually pulled a box from her space and handed it over, her nonchalant attitude suggesting the box held nothing of value.
"These days, every Tom, Dick, and Harry comes here to try their luck." The old man opened the box carelessly, ready to tell her this wasn't a place for her to mess around and to get lost, when his eyes widened.
"Purple sand stone? You put such precious purple sand stone in such an ordinary box? What a waste!" The old man grew excited.