Fu Feng gazed at the pool in awe, as if he had never seen such a sight before.
Fu Tian, however, noticed something else—a large grassy area dotted with a few sparse trees and wildflowers everywhere. Though these flowers were wild, they possessed a vitality and charm far surpassing those of more precious blooms.
This place felt nothing like an ordinary courtyard. Walking along the bluestone path, Fu Feng and Fu Tian felt an unreal sense of wonder.
"So beautiful," Fu Tian couldn't help but exclaim.
Ye Lanshan led them into the house. The furnishings were simple but had everything necessary. Yet the simplicity inside stood in stark contrast to the beauty outside. While all essentials were present, it seemed too plain compared to the scenery and decor outdoors.
Still, this very contrast lent the place an air of seclusion.
After touring the house, Fu Tian offered a measured suggestion: "It's beautiful here, but if you're training those children, this place isn't suitable. Maybe we should find another courtyard."
"If this isn't suitable, then there's truly no place that is," Ye Lanshan said, leading them to the backyard.
"This, this..." Fu Tian hadn't expected to find a training ground behind the house, with a bamboo grove on one side. The grove wasn't large—visible at a glance—but the key was that bamboo surrounded the entire training ground. He had never seen such a design.
"This is where you'll train them from now on," Ye Lanshan said, feeling pleased with the courtyard's layout. She hadn't expected the random rental to suit her so perfectly.
Glancing at the sky and noting it was getting late, she thought for a moment and instructed Fu Tian, "If there are no issues, settle in here for now. I'll bring the children tomorrow."
"Alright, I understand." Fu Tian nodded.
...
At the Lü residence, Lü Qinse wasn't thrilled to hear that the Holy Land had arrived. "Black and White, you two must speed up your efforts. But before the Holy Land takes Ye Lanshan away, bring her back to me."
"Yes, but miss, if the Holy Land insists on taking Ye Lanshan, wouldn't that indirectly avenge Miss Ye Siyu? Why do we still need to capture Ye Lanshan? And no one who opposes the Holy Land has ever come out well—throughout history, not a single exception. Are we really going to go against them?" Black and White spoke with concern.
"How do you know the Holy Land taking Ye Lanshan means they'll torment her?" Lü Qinse countered the two below.
"This..." The two fell silent, unable to respond.
After a moment of silence, Black advised, "Miss, back then, even the powerful Ye family couldn't contend with the Holy Land. Our small Lü family stands even less of a chance. If the Holy Land finds out we sabotaged their plans, the Lü family is finished."
But Lü Qinse dismissed this, her face twisted with malice. "Can't you frame someone? Why not pin this on the Sun family?"
Black and White exchanged helpless glances. Despite their reluctance, they had no choice but to obey.
After they left, Lü Qinse revealed a sinister smile. "No one can stop what I want to do. Even if the Holy Land is a domain of gods, as long as I act discreetly, they won't find me."
...
As soon as Ye Lanshan stepped into the Ye residence, she sneezed hard. She didn't think much of it—an occasional sneeze was normal.
"Lanshan, maybe you should take refuge in the Xuan Sect for a while," Ye Luotian sighed softly. He knew the Holy Land had already noticed her existence. Even if they didn't take her now, they would eventually.
"Grandfather, why are you so certain the Holy Land will capture me?" Ye Lanshan was exasperated by Ye Luotian's constant attempts to send her away.
"Because you're Ye Feng's daughter, and because they've already tried to capture you twice," Ye Luotian stated the reason without hesitation.
"I want to know why they captured my father. Logically, geniuses are sought after everywhere. And they only took him—why are you so sure he's dead?"
Ye Lanshan finally voiced the questions lingering in her mind. Initially, hearing Yue Jinghong and Ye Luotian urge her to leave, she had believed it. But now, thinking it over, she found many inconsistencies in their words.
Ye Luotian sighed deeply. "This... how should I explain? The Holy Light Sect only recruits those with light affinity. Your father had fire affinity, so they wouldn't recruit him. He was captured because he accidentally learned some of their secrets. Fearing exposure, they sent people to seize him."
"What does that have to do with me?" Ye Lanshan thought hard but couldn't find a reason for the Holy Land to target her.
"How could it have nothing to do with you? The Holy Land's secret is hidden within your body," Ye Luotian finally revealed the truth.
"Within my body?" Ye Lanshan was puzzled. Since her transmigration, she had thoroughly examined this body and found nothing wrong.
"I don't know what's hidden in you either. That's just what the Holy Land said when they first came for you," Ye Luotian admitted. After years of investigation, he had found nothing.
In truth, he was also confused. Ye Feng had been mature and steady since childhood—how could he have wandered into the Holy Land and stumbled upon their secrets? Moreover, when the Holy Land tried to capture him, he barely returned to the Ye family and had minimal contact with Ye Lanshan. How could he have hidden the Holy Land's secret in her?
But since the Holy Land insisted, they had no way to refute it, only trying to keep her hidden.
"So it's all just the Holy Land's one-sided claim?" Ye Lanshan pondered for a moment, then looked up at Ye Luotian. "If the Holy Land truly wants to find me, no matter how deeply I hide, they'll succeed."
Ye Lanshan disliked evasion. She preferred to face difficulties head-on and resolve them quickly.
"But staying here isn't safe," Ye Luotian said, unsure how to convince her. If she didn't leave, the Holy Land would surely come for her, which was why he urged her so urgently.
"Grandfather, don't worry about me," Ye Lanshan said. Even knowing the Holy Land would capture her, she refused to hide like a coward.
Ye Luotian sighed deeply. "Who do you take after? Why are you so stubborn?"