"With your audacity, you dare speak so arrogantly." The child looked him up and down, utterly unconvinced that this young man had any real skill.
"Whether it's arrogance or not, we'll only know after a contest." Ye Lanshan lifted his chin, his words calm and composed.
But to the child, it came across as an insufferably cocky attitude, as if he thought the sky was the limit. Though the child wanted to get rid of these two as quickly as possible, they had come to bully his own turf. If he didn't curb their arrogance, they'd think the Medicine Valley folks were pushovers.
"I can take you to see our Valley Lord, but whether he kicks you out or not is beyond my control." The child clearly didn't take them seriously.
He led them to a secluded spot with a single house, eerie and dark inside. Stopping there, he turned and warned them sternly, "Don't wander off. Poisonous flowers and herbs are everywhere. If you end up dead from carelessness, don't blame me."
"Naturally." Ye Lanshan smiled brightly, while Yun Di stood off to the side, watching coldly. He had no good impression of the Medicine Valley people, harboring a hint of hostility due to his mother and uncle.
To the child, this attitude was sheer ignorance. Though he showed them no kindness, he shot them a fierce glare before entering the courtyard.
"Grandpa Sikong, there are two people outside challenging you. They're so arrogant, their noses are practically in the air. They're really annoying. Grandpa Sikong, you've got to knock them down a peg." The child ran into the courtyard and threw himself into Sikong Yanguang's arms, whining.
"Oh? Invite them in. Let me see which clueless young upstarts dare to spout such nonsense." Sikong Yanguang sighed at the child, setting him down, his tone carrying a hint of authority.
"Alright, Grandpa Sikong, make sure you really humble them." The child kept looking back as he left the courtyard, then coldly said to Ye Lanshan and the others, "Go on in. Remember, don't gawk around once you're inside."
"So you're the ones challenging me." Inside, an old man with a white beard sat cross-legged. At an age that should have been kind, he wore a stern face, looking as if someone had died at home—hardly approachable.
"That's right, it's us." Before Ye Lanshan could speak, Yun Di piped up first.
"You're Yun Di." Sikong Yanguang, already stern, darkened his expression further, making him look even more bitter. His face was truly unpleasant.
"Haven't seen you in over a decade. Surprising the Valley Lord remembers me." Yun Di's words came through gritted teeth. If not for his composure, he'd have already come to blows with Sikong Yanguang.
"How did your father teach you? So lacking in manners, no respect for elders." Sikong Yanguang raised an eyebrow, his opening words a furious reprimand.
"How my father taught me is none of your business." Yun Di was drenched in sweat but still shot back without backing down.
A crackling sound of bones echoed, yet Yun Di stood ramrod straight, as if nothing could make him bend. Just as he was about to buckle, Ye Lanshan stepped forward, taking the pressure off him.
"I am Shan Luo, long admiring the Valley Lord's reputation. I've come specifically to compete with you. A man of such propriety, wisdom, and integrity as yourself surely won't refuse this small request."
This speech not only forced Sikong Yanguang into a contest but also subtly mocked him, hinting that his position as Valley Lord was illegitimate, painting him as a sneaky villain.
Yet Sikong Yanguang acted as if he hadn't heard, intensifying the pressure instead.
Though Ye Lanshan had fought against the Xuan Emperor before, that was with numbers on his side, and most of the pressure was blocked by Ye Yutian and Yue Shu. Now, facing the Xuan Emperor's overwhelming force alone, he found it hard to bear. But he wouldn't show it, maintaining a calm facade.
"Young man, a bit of pride is fine, but too much is harmful. A tall tree catches the wind. One too arrogant meets a bad end."
Sikong Yanguang spoke calmly, not with reproach but as a lesson.
Though Ye Lanshan was inwardly surprised, he didn't show it, replying with a smile, "The Valley Lord's advice is well taken. Shan Luo will remember it. So, will the Valley Lord agree to compete with me?"
"You're so ungrateful! Grandpa Sikong was willing to let you off, yet you shamelessly insist on challenging him. Don't you know he's a ninth-rank alchemist?" The child's impression of him worsened, but his disgust, contempt, and anger had no effect on Ye Lanshan.
Suddenly, Sikong Yanguang withdrew the pressure and waved his hand. "Enough, enough. Since you insist on competing, I'll offer you some guidance." His words were clever—"guidance" implied a senior teaching a junior, not a true contest.
But Ye Lanshan didn't mind. He believed his alchemy skills surpassed this man's. If his skills were strong enough, taking control of the Medicine Valley would be a breeze.
The sudden release of pressure brought Ye Lanshan relief, but also a hint of regret. He could clearly feel his mystic power was just shy of breaking through to another level.
Then Sikong Yanguang stood and walked over to Yun Di, speaking with difficulty, "How is your uncle now?"
"Thanks to your blessings, my uncle is doing very well." How dare he? How dare he even mention his uncle? If not for him, his uncle wouldn't have fallen so far.
Though hatred simmered in Yun Di's heart, he hadn't lost control. His tone was harsh, but he made no other moves.
Yet Sikong Yanguang let out a soft sigh. "If your uncle still wants the Valley Lord's position, I'll step down anytime."
Though spoken sincerely, Yun Di didn't believe him. Given his ties with Sikong Cheng, a man so fond of power and fiercely loyal to Sikong Cheng, how could his words be trusted?
"Sorry, but if anyone should take the Valley Lord's seat, it should be me." Ye Lanshan wore a gentle smile, pleasant to look at, but his words grated on the ears.
"You—"
"This is my uncle's disciple. Our purpose here is for the Valley Lord's position." Yun Di bluntly blurted out their intent.
But was it truly reckless? His aim was simple: force Sikong Yanguang into a duel with Ye Lanshan. For a ninth-rank alchemist just a step away from refining divine pills, he'd surely look down on Ye Lanshan. How could he easily let him seize the Valley Lord's seat?
Thus, he'd inevitably make a big show of it, letting all the Medicine Valley alchemists know about the duel—and then he'd have no way to back down.