"Am I wrong? How is going to take revenge ourselves any different from walking to our deaths?" Revlon roared with deep anger.
"If you're not satisfied, you can leave." Ye Lanshan's expression remained indifferent, but inwardly she was already growing impatient. She hadn't wanted to take in this group in the first place. If not for Ling Chunian, she wouldn't have bothered telling them that a man's knees are worth gold. She had meant to give them some advice, but now it seemed they didn't need it at all.
"Fine, I'll leave." Revlon strode out of the cave without looking back.
"If you don't want me to be the clan leader—"
"Clan leader, don't overthink it. We didn't say anything. Revlon is just impulsive—he never thinks before he speaks or acts. You're magnanimous, so please don't hold it against him."
The others panicked at the thought of Ye Lanshan stepping down as clan leader and quickly interrupted her.
"Weren't you all just dissatisfied? If you're unhappy, why force yourselves to have me as clan leader? It's uncomfortable for you, and it's uncomfortable for me too." Ye Lanshan had no intention of dragging this out with them.
"Clan leader, you've misunderstood. We're dissatisfied with Revlon, not with you."
The spirit clan members chimed in one after another, pledging their loyalty.
"Clan leader, I'd better go check on him. Revlon is hot-tempered, speaks and acts without thinking, and always charges ahead. I'm worried he might run into danger." Ling Chunian, though also displeased with Revlon's words, still cared for him as a fellow spirit clan member after living together for so long.
"Mm." Ye Lanshan nodded and tossed Ling Chunian a few transmission talismans. "Contact me if there's any danger."
"Those madmen have found us. Why aren't you worried at all?"
Feng Qing watched her calm demeanor and twitched his mouth, wondering what could ever stir her emotions.
"What's there to worry about? Counter moves as they come. Since they're madmen, we'll play their game with madmen's methods—that's more fun."
A pill appeared in Ye Lanshan's hand, one she had refined during her morning outing.
Yue Shu placed the pill in his mouth. It was the familiar recipe, the sweet taste warming his heart. Unfortunately, this might be the last time he'd eat it. At that moment, he wished his poison could never be cured, so he could forever keep Ye Lanshan's care and pills.
"Madmen's methods? How interesting."
Truly an interesting human. So fascinating. He'd never heard anyone say, "Since they're madmen, deal with them like madmen."
"In that case, should I go scope out their camp first?" Ye Yutian curled his lips, as if he already knew what Ye Lanshan was planning.
"Of course. I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you with this." Ye Lanshan smiled casually, as if everything was under control.
"We'll meet at the village at the foot of the mountain."
This place was no longer livable—not because they'd discovered their hideout, but because the Holy Land would soon send people. She certainly didn't want to stir up unnecessary trouble.
"Aren't you not worried? Why the rush to move?" Feng Qing eyed her curiously. She had been so calm just now; was she chickening out now?
Ye Lanshan said flatly, "I just don't want to invite unnecessary trouble."
"Don't worry, the Holy Land won't act that fast." Ye Yutian clearly knew the Holy Land well.
"The Holy Land? Have they found out about us?" The spirit clan members tensed up, as if terrified of being caught.
"They're not after you. They're after those madmen."
Ye Lanshan turned her gaze to Feng Qing, her look meaningful.
"Why are you staring at me like that?" Feng Qing hugged his clothes tightly, sensing nothing good from her gaze.
"I might need your help with something."
"What?" Feng Qing's heart tightened. Whenever Ye Lanshan asked him to do something, it was never good. He was right—this was definitely not good.
"Help me lure the Holy Land people into the madmen's territory."
"What? No way. Absolutely not. I've been hiding for so long to avoid capture. Going to those madmen's territory willingly is suicide!"
Feng Qing waved his hands frantically, clearly more afraid of those madmen than he let on.
"Aren't you not afraid of those madmen? I'm just asking you to lure the Holy Land people there, not walk into a trap yourself." Ye Lanshan rolled her eyes inwardly. She had thought Feng Qing wasn't scared of those madmen, but he couldn't even handle this.
"Who said I'm scared? I just don't want to go. But since you put it that way, if I still refuse, you'll look down on me."
Feng Qing bristled at that. What did she mean by "scared of those madmen"? His head got hot, and he agreed on the spot. Only afterward did he realize it was clearly a provocation.
"You said it. It's settled then. Don't even think about backing out." Ye Lanshan saw his regretful expression and a hint of amusement crept into her eyes.
"Who said I'd back out? A real man's word is his bond. Don't worry, I'll never go back on it." Feng Qing said this awkwardly, but inside he was filled with regret.
"Ye Yutian, be careful yourself. I don't want to see you hurt."
Ye Yutian nodded, warmth spreading in his heart. After all this time, his efforts were finally paying off—at least she cared about him now.
Even Ye Lanshan herself hadn't realized that Ye Yutian was slowly making his way into her heart.
Yun Di and Yue Shu exchanged a glance, bitter smiles on their lips. If they couldn't be lovers, then let them be friends. At that moment, they decided to bury their feelings deep and just be friends.
"Clan leader, I'm sorry. I was too impulsive." Ling Chunian led Revlon back in. Revlon's eyes were full of deep guilt. He had regretted it the moment he stepped out. After all, Ye Lanshan was the clan leader as the book said—how could she really let them walk to their deaths?
Ye Lanshan glanced at him coldly and ignored him.
Revlon gave a bitter smile. He knew earning Ye Lanshan's forgiveness wouldn't be easy.
"I'm off then." Ye Yutian resisted the urge to ruffle Ye Lanshan's hair and strode out.
"Let's go too." Ye Lanshan led the others to a rundown house at the foot of the mountain.
Far away in the Sunset Mountains, a man in a white robe muttered to himself, "The game has just begun. Don't disappoint me."
"Master, why won't you let me deal with Ye Lanshan?" Song Yanyu came up behind him, her face full of resentment.
"She's the protagonist of my game. How could she die so soon?" His face bore a crazed expression, clearly no longer satisfied with just physical research.