The door creaked open, revealing Ye Lanshan in a light blue robe, truly a handsome young gentleman. Her face was like the autumn moon, her complexion like spring blossoms, her sideburns sharp as if cut by a knife, her brows painted like ink, her cheeks like peach petals, and her eyes like autumn waves. When she smiled, it was warm and elegant, as if everything around her was merely her backdrop.
With one hand behind her back and the other holding a flute, she vaulted over the wall. Yet even in such an act, it couldn't diminish her unparalleled grace.
"Did you feel that? The young master's smile just now was like sunlight, reaching straight into our hearts and warming them," Xia Ri said, nudging Cui Zhu beside her.
The streets were bustling and unusually crowded, but wherever Ye Lanshan went, it was remarkably spacious. People, upon seeing her face, instinctively cleared a generous path.
At that moment, Ye Yutian had arrived at Futian Tower before her. He glanced down, and his expression immediately shifted from sunny to cloudy, darkening.
"Sorry, I'm late." As her gentle voice rang out, Ye Yutian's mood instantly cleared, and the temperature in the room seemed to rise. The few people standing inside cast grateful looks at Ye Lanshan.
"Hmm," Ye Yutian replied, sitting in his seat, taking a sip of tea, and closing his eyes.
Ye Lanshan sat down across from him. Instead of taking the menu the waiter offered, she said, "Waiter, bring out all your signature dishes."
"Right away, sirs. Rest assured, our signature dishes are famous far and wide—you won't be disappointed." The waiter quickly scurried off.
Ye Lanshan pulled out a jar of wine from her space. It was peach blossom wine, brewed from peach blossoms and buried under a peach tree for three years. Its flavor was rich and mellow, carrying a unique peach blossom fragrance. This was wine she had brewed in her past life.
Though it couldn't compare to the world's renowned wines, its taste was certainly not lacking.
"Dark Lord, try this. It's peach blossom wine, rich in flavor with a unique peach blossom aroma—a rare find," Ye Lanshan said, not lying. After all, she had brewed it herself using a method known only to her, making it truly one of a kind.
"Not bad," a low voice slowly responded, carrying a hint of pleasure.
"If the Dark Lord likes it, I can gift this jar to you," Ye Lanshan said, pushing the wine toward him.
"Then I'll accept it," Ye Yutian replied, a slight smile curling beneath his mask, seemingly delighted.
"It seems his relationship with the Dark Lord is indeed unusual. That divine artifact is probably out of reach now. Ah, how frustrating," sighed those lurking beneath Futian Tower, drawn by the rumors Ye Lanshan had spread, hoping to snatch the artifact.
"Speaking of which, wasn't that artifact originally his? What do you have to be frustrated about?" a woman dressed as a chivalrous warrior said with a disdainful smile, as if ashamed to be associated with them.
"Frost White, you talk a good game, but didn't you come all this way for the artifact in his hands? We're all in the same boat—what right do you have to mock us?" a beggar in tattered clothes accused.
"Rain Black, come out! Following such greedy people will only harm you," Frost White said, stomping her foot and pointing at a man in the middle, trying to pull him out.
"They saved my life; I can't abandon them. You should leave," the man said, shaking off her hand.
"Rain Black, how can you do this?" Frost White stared at him in disbelief, finally holding back her tears and walking in the opposite direction, which led to Dream Red Pavilion.
"Dark Lord, how does this dish taste? Is it to your liking?" Ye Lanshan asked, pointing at the food.
Ye Yutian picked up his chopsticks, took a bite, and said, "Hmm, it's passable."
Seeing he was in a good mood, Ye Lanshan thought it was the right time and quickly said, "I've already contracted the Fuxi Qin, so I'm afraid I can't return it to you, Dark Lord."
"Hmm," Ye Yutian replied, picking up a dish and placing it in Ye Lanshan's bowl. "Try this—it's quite good."
Ye Lanshan froze. Did he not hear what I said? Oh well, I've already told him I've contracted the Fuxi Qin. Even if he wants it back someday, I can use today as an excuse.
In truth, Ye Lanshan was overthinking it. Ye Yutian had helped her not because of the Fuxi Qin, but because he recognized her as Ye Lanshan when she summoned the female ghost.
After the meal, Ye Yutian accepted her jar of wine, in a good mood, and said to Ye Lanshan, "Come to Fusheng Auction House tomorrow. I have something to give you."
"Dark Lord, we're not related by blood or bond. This life-saving grace is already more than I can repay in a lifetime. How could I accept a gift from you?" Ye Lanshan politely declined.
This refusal immediately soured Ye Yutian's mood.
Ye Lanshan was taken aback. This wasn't going as planned. No, if he walks out like this, others coveting the Fuxi Qin will think we're on bad terms, and that'll cause trouble.
"I still have a gift for you, Dark Lord, but I forgot to bring it today in my haste. I'll be sure to visit you tomorrow and present it. I hope you won't mind," Ye Lanshan said just as he was about to step out of the room with a dark expression.
Instantly, his gloom lifted, and a cheerful voice came through: "I'll be waiting for you at Fusheng Auction House tomorrow."
Ye Lanshan smiled, stepping out of the room with him. They left Futian Tower harmoniously and bid each other farewell at the entrance.
*Phew, those coveting the artifact should finally calm down. No one will disturb my plans now,* Ye Lanshan thought. But she had miscalculated one person: Mo Ran.
He had been at Fusheng Auction House that day and, like Ye Yutian, had learned through the female ghost that she and Ye Lanshan were the same person.
"I didn't expect you to be so skilled at disguise. At this level, even Xiao Yu, the Thousand-Faced Countenance famed for his disguise arts, can't compare. This makes things even more interesting," Mo Ran muttered, watching Ye Lanshan from the rooftop.
"It seems you've forgotten what I said," Ye Yutian said, appearing silently behind him.
"I won't touch her here. But don't forget, she's also someone the Sacred Ground is looking for. Do you really think you can save her from them now?" Mo Ran turned around with a sinister smirk.
"The Sacred Ground is rife with internal strife. They may not necessarily succeed in capturing Ye Lanshan," Ye Yutian said, forming a ball of light in his hand before crushing it.
"They have many followers. I can't wait to see how you'll rescue Ye Lanshan from their grasp," Mo Ran sneered, clutching a jade pendant he loathed.