"What are you doing here again?" Yun Di, who had been sulking in his room, opened the door at that moment.
"I want to talk to you." He Mu Xiang's eyes flickered with sorrow. She was the one suffering the most—her once-beloved father had become the enemy of the person she cherished most. This wasn't what she wanted either.
"There's nothing to talk about between us. Miss He, please leave." Yun Di looked at her coldly, his tone as sharp as a blade, repeatedly cutting her heart to pieces.
Ye Lan Shan wisely led Cang Zhu away, leaving the two to resolve their own matters.
"He Mu Xiang is actually quite pitiful," Cang Zhu sighed softly on the quiet path.
Ye Lan Shan strolled along as if wandering through a garden, showing little interest in Cang Zhu's topic. She had already pieced things together from yesterday's argument and today's gaze.
"Oh, Cang Zhu, who is this gentleman?" A young man with red lips and white teeth ran over. Unlike other alchemists, he didn't look down on Cang Zhu.
"Brother Chen Sen, this is my master, named Shan Luo." Cang Zhu revealed a rare childlike side.
"You mean he's the Shan Luo who refined the divine pill?"
Chen Sen was astonished. He had heard this morning that a divine-grade alchemist named Shan Luo had emerged in the Medicine Valley—very young, but also exceptionally arrogant, as if looking down on all the valley's alchemists.
Many alchemists doubted it, planning to humiliate this haughty Shan Luo at the exchange meeting. But today, right after coming out of seclusion, he ran into this person.
This gentleman wasn't arrogant or condescending as rumored. Instead, he was gentle and refined, with an ethereal aura, as if he might drift away with the wind. Still, he seemed a bit too young.
"Yes, I am Shan Luo." Ye Lan Shan nodded with a smile, having a favorable impression of this man.
"I heard you can refine divine pills. Is that true?" Like most, he was skeptical. Divine-grade alchemists were rare—the only one they knew of publicly was the former valley master, Si Kong Kuang.
"Of course! My master is incredibly skilled. Brother Chen Sen, don't you believe me?" Cang Zhu was fiercely protective of his master, his tone so smug one might think he had refined the divine pill himself.
"Since you say so, I believe you. I'm just shocked that a divine-grade alchemist could be so young," Chen Sen said, circling him. No three heads or six arms—how could someone so young have such heaven-defying talent?
With such alchemy talent, he must have devoted all his time to it. His strength was surely lacking. Though this was the Medicine Valley, danger still lurked. Without any protection, if he ran into trouble, he'd have no one to turn to.
Well, since he was Cang Zhu's acknowledged master, he was a friend. How could he let a friend face danger? In that instant, Chen Sen decided to stay by their side.
"I'm free lately. How about I join you for a walk?"
Ye Lan Shan wanted to refuse, but seeing Cang Zhu's pleading eyes, she nodded.
This man chattered on like a motormouth, recounting all the interesting tales of the Medicine Valley until Ye Lan Shan's ears nearly grew numb.
"Crackle, crackle." Sounds of fighting echoed from the Medicine Madness Courtyard. Yun Di and He Mu Xiang were venting their fury, their reckless battle escalating without anyone to stop it.
Ye Lan Shan and the others had just returned when they heard the commotion from afar. Still not resolved?
"Let's go somewhere else," Ye Lan Shan said, leading them away from the courtyard.
But this time, they ran into an unwelcome guest—Luo Yong Wu, the father of the middle-aged man she had killed.
Luo Yong Wu didn't yet know Ye Lan Shan had killed his son, but he suspected Cang Zhu was behind his disappearance.
He had long thought this child was sinister, but Si Kong Yan Guang always protected him, and he had no evidence, so he let it go.
But he remembered his son had said he was upset and wanted to take it out on Cang Zhu before vanishing. Naturally, Luo Yong Wu blamed him.
After all, those who had insulted Cang Zhu before had also mysteriously disappeared.
"Cang Zhu, where have you hidden my son? Hand him over now, or don't blame me for being ruthless." Luo Yong Wu ignored Ye Lan Shan and Chen Sen, targeting Cang Zhu directly.
Chen Sen's face darkened, but he was powerless. His alchemy and strength were no match for Luo Yong Wu. Though a prodigy of the new generation, he had to show respect.
"Do you have proof? What evidence do you have that Cang Zhu hid your son?" A calm voice rang out, quickly drawing Luo Yong Wu's attention.
"Who are you? What business is it of yours between me and Cang Zhu? If you don't want to die, get out of my way." Luo Yong Wu sneered, dismissing him as nobody.
But Ye Lan Shan wasn't angered. Still gentle and refined, she said calmly, "I am Shan Luo. As for the Cang Zhu you mentioned, he is my disciple. Does that concern me?"
"Shan Luo? You're the divine-grade alchemist? Doesn't look like much to me." Luo Yong Wu scoffed, clearly unconvinced.
"And you say you're his master? Do you even know what kind of person he is? Young man, I understand you want to curry favor with our valley master, but don't say I didn't warn you—taking him as your disciple, you might not even know how you'll die."
"That's my concern, not yours. I'm only asking: do you have proof that my disciple hid your son?"
Luo Yong Wu's eyes darkened, a cold glint flashing. "So you're determined to meddle in this."
Under his oppressive aura, Ye Lan Shan stood as straight as bamboo, her faint smile telling him his pressure had no effect. But how could that be? He was so young—surely not stronger than him.
He didn't know that Ye Lan Shan, this freak, could face even a Xuan Emperor's might without flinching, let alone a mere Xuan General. Even if they fought, she might not lose. Trying to intimidate her with pressure was a fool's dream.
"Since you're slandering my disciple, as his master, I naturally have to back him up."
The atmosphere grew tense, the hostility making Chen Sen's heart race. He quickly interjected, "Master Luo, the exchange meeting is almost here. If you two fight now and the valley master finds out, it won't end well for anyone."