"Ye Yuan, help me put on a show."
Ye Yuan scratched the back of his head, puzzled. "A show? What kind of show?"
Ye Lanshan turned around and said, "It's not really a show. You just need to pretend you didn't see anything when Ye Feng enters my room."
Though still a bit confused, Ye Yuan saw that Ye Lanshan didn't seem inclined to explain further, so he didn't ask.
As Ye Lanshan had expected, Ye Feng sneaked into her room and took the military token.
When she learned that Ye Feng had indeed taken the token, Ye Lanshan crushed a cup in her hand and said calmly, "Proceed as planned. I'm tired, you may leave now."
"Yes." A disciple respectfully withdrew and closed the door behind him.
In the dark room, Ye Lanshan sank into memories.
"Why, Yan Fansheng?" Ye Lanshan asked, clutching the wound on her stomach. "Didn't we agree to split the thousand-year ginseng evenly? Why are you trying to kill me? We were best friends!"
"Friends? Who's friends with you? I'm telling you, after today, there will be no more genius Ye Lanshan—only me, Yan Fansheng."
Yan Fansheng's face twisted with smugness. "Do you know how jealous I've always been of you? You barely had to train, yet everyone called you a prodigy, a genius."
"And me? As the son of Yan Huashuang, head of the immortal clan, I was always overshadowed by you. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't catch up. Do you know what it feels like to chase someone you can never reach? I'm sick of that helplessness."
Ye Lanshan backed away, on guard. "Don't push me."
Yan Fansheng laughed as if he'd had his fill of fun. "Tsk, tsk. Time's up. Time for you to die."
With a soft *thud*, a woman collapsed into Ye Lanshan's arms.
"Yu Ying!" Ye Lanshan held her, trembling, desperately pressing on Yu Ying's wound.
Yu Ying pushed her hand away. "It's useless. My organs are shattered. I won't last long. Before I die, I want to tell you a secret: I like you. I know you must think it's disgusting."
"How can a woman like another woman? But I can't help it—I've fallen for you hopelessly. I don't expect you to love me back. I just hope you'll remember, someday, that there was a girl who loved you..." Before she could finish, she breathed her last.
Ye Lanshan set Yu Ying down, grabbed a dagger, and charged at him.
She killed Yan Fansheng, but it brought disaster upon herself.
A knock at the door interrupted her memories.
"Who is it?"
Ye Lanshan opened the door to find no one outside.
In a flash, she thought she saw a shadow dart away—a silhouette that looked just like Yue Yinuo.
Ye Lanshan immediately gave chase.
In a desolate forest outside the city, the figure stopped.
She turned and looked Ye Lanshan up and down with a light laugh. "As expected of Ye Feng's daughter—excellent talent. Since your father escaped, I'll use you instead."
Ye Lanshan couldn't stand her greedy gaze. "Hey, lady, don't you think you should ask for my opinion before doing anything to me?"
"Lady? Do I look that old?" Ren Xiaoyue's face twisted with anger.
"Don't you know how old you are? Why ask me? Tsk, a woman in her forties or fifties trying to act young." Ye Lanshan taunted as she backed away.
Ren Xiaoyue drew her weapon with a cold smirk. "Trying to provoke me? Hah, you're still too green."
Ye Lanshan grinned wickedly. "I'm just stating facts. How is that provocation?"
"Hmph, you'll pay for that mouth." In an instant, a bird formed from light profound energy appeared in the air—a high-level technique, the Radiant Holy Bird.
Ye Lanshan knew she might not win against it, so she summoned the Wu Jiao.
As soon as the Wu Jiao appeared, it complained, "How many times do I have to say it? I'm not a python—I'm a Wu Jiao!"
Ye Lanshan quickly soothed it. "Fine, fine, you're a Wu Jiao, not a python. But now's not the time for this."
"Hmm, who's that ugly woman?" The Wu Jiao finally noticed the woman ahead.
Ye Lanshan whispered, "She wants to kill me. You have to help me teach her a lesson."
The Wu Jiao gave a bitter smile. "When I came to this continent, I was badly injured. I can't use my full strength now. I'm afraid I can't help you deal with her."
Ye Lanshan's face fell. "You're kidding me, right? If you can't use your profound energy, don't make big promises about protecting me. Forget it, I can't count on you. Go back."
With a flash of white light, the Wu Jiao vanished.
Sigh. Yan Hu is badly hurt, and the Wu Jiao can't use its power. I'm on my own.
She flashed a sly grin. "If you're trying to capture me, sorry, but you're going to be disappointed."
"Wings of Carnage." A pair of fiery red wings sprouted from her back. "Now I'll show you whether your bird or my wings are stronger."
Ren Xiaoyue looked at her like she was an idiot. "Are you crazy? A mere Xuan Shi challenging a ninth-rank Xuan Shi? That's laughable."
Ye Lanshan curled her lips. "Try me."
She flapped the red wings and flew toward the Radiant Holy Bird, the feathers shooting off like arrows at both the bird and Ren Xiaoyue.
But before they reached Ren Xiaoyue, she dispersed them with her profound energy.
Ye Lanshan gritted her teeth. If I hadn't fallen from Xuan Shi to Xuan Shi, you wouldn't have scattered them so easily. How frustrating.
Ren Xiaoyue looked at the blood-soaked Ye Lanshan. "What, still not giving up?"
Ye Lanshan swallowed the blood rising in her throat. "Even if I die, I won't let you catch me."
"Shadow of a Thousand Blades." Countless daggers shot toward Ren Xiaoyue.
"This... how is this possible?" Ren Xiaoyue fell, her body covered in wounds from the daggers.
"Finally dead?" Ye Lanshan closed her eyes in relief, collapsing backward. But with a flash of white light, her falling figure vanished.
The space was filled with drifting mist, like a fairyland.
"Hey, wake up." A boy in red stood beside Ye Lanshan, nudging her with his foot.
"Where is this?" Ye Lanshan looked around, feeling both familiar and strange.
"This is your space. Don't you even recognize your own space?"
Ye Lanshan followed the voice to see a boy in red with a little topknot, adorable except for his unusual purple eyes.
"Little one, that's not very polite." Ye Lanshan pinched his cheek, thinking how soft it was. Kids really do have different skin.