Mo Ran felt something was off as he walked. Sure enough, an inexplicable weight suddenly pressed down on his shoulders, but when he reached out to touch it, the weight vanished.
"Ye Lanshan, what are you doing here? Great, you have no idea how frantic Ye Yu and I were looking for you when you disappeared." Chu Liuxiang's team had run over this way to avoid magical beasts. Seeing Ye Lanshan and her group so relaxed and at ease, while they themselves looked utterly disheveled, filled her with resentment.
A faint smile hung on Ye Lanshan's lips—that ambiguous, half-smiling expression made Chu Liuxiang's heart race. Had she discovered something? No way, I left no clues behind.
But when she looked again, Ye Lanshan wore a sorrowful expression. She sighed, "Alas! I never imagined back then that someone would hate me to such an extent."
Just as Chu Liuxiang was puzzled, she heard Ye Lanshan add, "I'm so useless, I couldn't even protect Ye Yu." Though Chu Liuxiang was her enemy, these words were a genuine outpouring of emotion, not a lie.
While Ye Lanshan didn't have strong feelings for Ye Yu herself, the original host's feelings for Ye Yu and Chu Liuxiang were real. This emotion, seeping from memories into her very body, always influenced her involuntarily.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have saved Grandpa, wouldn't have fought for the Twin Fruit for Ye Yu, wouldn't have come to this school, and wouldn't have felt such immense pain and disappointment upon learning of Chu Liuxiang's betrayal.
"What happened to Ye Yu?" Although Chu Liuxiang resented Ye Lanshan, it was because she loved Ye Yu too much. But Ye Yu had never taken her to heart—his heart only ever held Ye Lanshan.
No matter how hard Chu Liuxiang tried to enter Ye Yu's heart, that door was always closed to her. How could she not resent Ye Lanshan for that?
The others had no interest in listening to their affairs, so they each found a spot to rest.
"Ye Yu's meridians are severed, and he's still unconscious." Ye Lanshan's voice was heavy as she spoke. Ever since she learned that Sikong Kuang was a fake, the goal she once had became shrouded in confusion. Where could she find someone capable of healing meridians? Even a prescription would do, but now she could find nothing.
"Meridians severed? How is that possible? It's you, isn't it? It must be because of you that you've harmed Brother Ye like this." Chu Liuxiang's expression grew somewhat manic, as if she had learned something unbearable.
"Liuxiang, don't be like this. I'm scared." Ye Lanshan's eyes reddened like a rabbit's as she spoke to Chu Liuxiang. After all, she wasn't ready to burn bridges with Chu Liuxiang yet. Enemies were best dealt with slowly.
Hearing the tearful tone in Ye Lanshan's voice, Chu Liuxiang's rationality instantly returned. Now wasn't the time to sever ties. If Ye Yu found out she had bullied Ye Lanshan, she would never enter his heart.
"Sorry, Shanshan, I was too agitated just now. But do you know the Valley Master of Medicine Valley? He might be able to heal Ye Yu's meridians. I know your family has great influence—you must be able to see the Valley Master, right?" Chu Liuxiang calmed herself, grabbing Ye Lanshan's shoulders. "As long as we can see the Valley Master, Ye Yu's meridians can definitely be repaired."
A bitter smile appeared on Ye Lanshan's lips. "Sikong Kuang has a strange temperament and an unpredictable whereabouts. Finding him will be difficult." Just as Chu Liuxiang was about to change her expression, Ye Lanshan shifted the topic: "But I did discover someone at school pretending to be Sikong Kuang. If we can catch him, we might be able to force some information out of him."
Ye Lanshan had been worrying about how to get Ye Yutian to help her capture the impostor pretending to be Sikong Kuang. Given their current relationship, he was probably skeptical of what she had said, let alone willing to help.
It would be better to use Chu Liuxiang to join forces and capture that impostor. She figured Chu Liuxiang would be more than happy to help.
"An impostor pretending to be Sikong Kuang? Who would be so bold?" Although Chu Liuxiang was a bit suspicious, she knew Ye Lanshan never lied. Having spent so much time together, she knew her personality well.
"Hey, time to go." Mo Ran stood there, already extremely impatient, and rudely interrupted their conversation, urging Ye Lanshan to move on.
"You'd better not follow me, or don't blame me for getting your entire team eliminated." Mo Ran warned Chu Liuxiang.
Though Chu Liuxiang wanted to learn more, she had to swallow her questions and hurry away to avoid elimination.
"That's no fun, is it?" Ye Lanshan complained. "Even if their team walks with us, would it cost you a piece of flesh?"
"I just don't like crowds, okay?" Mo Ran leaned against a tree, instantly turning into a lazy, carefree figure, as if the cold person from before wasn't him.
"By the way, I keep feeling this strange weight pressing down on me as I walk. Was that your doing?" Mo Ran grabbed Ye Lanshan's arm. Though a sinister smile curled at his lips, his grip seemed intent on crushing her bones.
Unexpectedly, Ye Lanshan twisted her wrist and broke free from his grasp, challenging him, "That's right, it was me. What are you going to do about it?"
Unlike previous days when he would unleash cold fury at the slightest displeasure, Mo Ran let out an evil grin instead. His whole demeanor radiated wickedness, yet his eyes remained icy cold.
Ye Yutian knew that was a sign he was about to get serious. He immediately stepped forward to stop him, "Mo Ran, that's enough. Don't forget we're on the same team."
"Tsk tsk, I never thought our Prince Ye would speak up for someone else. But you should know my nature." Mo Ran didn't back down because of those words.
"Want to fight? Fine, but this place isn't big enough. Let's find a spacious spot and have a proper sparring session." Ye Lanshan had been itching to take Mo Ran down a peg for a long time. Today was the perfect chance to teach him a lesson.
"Ye Lanshan, don't be impulsive. He's the Young Master of the Demon Sect—his strength is no joke. You can't beat him," Nangong Mian whispered in warning, while Su Liushang nodded in agreement beside her.
"How are you so sure I can't beat him? I have to fight this battle." Once Ye Lanshan's stubborn streak kicked in, not even ten oxen could pull her back. Besides, she had long wanted to fight Mo Ran.
With a "bang," Mo Ran suddenly crashed to the ground. What was going on? Just moments ago, Ye Lanshan could barely fend off his attacks, but now she was overwhelming him. Something was wrong—very wrong.
Nangong Mian and Su Liushang stood outside, watching the fight in stunned silence, unsure what to say. Ye Yutian's eyes flickered with an unreadable expression, lost in thought.
Ye Lanshan paid no attention to their reactions. With a cold laugh, she pulled out another talisman and charged at Mo Ran.