A tall nose, thin lips, and sword-like brows slanting into a few strands of black hair falling at his temples. His eyes exuded a biting chill, as cold as a millennium-old icy pool. Though slightly disheveled from injury, it did nothing to diminish his kingly aura.
Ye Lanshan naturally knew this man was not someone she could provoke in her current state, so she said, "I was cultivating here and meant no offense. Please forgive me."
Ye Yutian looked at the woman before him, who resembled a celestial maiden from the Nine Heavens, and naturally didn't believe her words. Without even a greeting, he attacked directly.
"Seriously, that's not fair," Ye Lanshan screamed inwardly.
In just a few exchanges, Ye Lanshan was knocked into the river.
This won't do. I need to find a way to escape. Ye Lanshan thought, clutching her already injured left arm.
Suddenly, Ye Lanshan raised her voice, "Attacking like that, what kind of hero are you? How about we have a match? If you win, I'll do as you say. If I win, you let me go. Deal?"
Ye Yutian's eyes flickered with an unreadable expression after hearing this. In an instant, he replied, "Fine."
Ye Lanshan found a position favorable for escape and said, "Come on."
Ye Yutian struck with a killing move right away, but Ye Lanshan was prepared. Using the force of his attack, she flew far into the distance.
A voice came from afar, "We'll never meet again!" Ye Yutian muttered, "Not good," but it was too late to chase.
"He shouldn't be able to catch up from this far, right?" Ye Lanshan panted, stopping by a tree. She then sat down under it to rest.
"Your Highness, should we pursue?"
Ye Yutian waved his hand and said, "No need. She doesn't seem like one of their people. We have things to do, so let's not waste time here."
The attendant respectfully replied, "Yes."
In the inn, Mo Ran was reading a letter from the sect headquarters when a man in a silver mask interrupted: "I hope to see you at the Xuanling Academy in three months."
Mo Ran sighed lightly, "Oh, Yu Fan, academies really aren't my thing. Besides, what would it look like for me, the young master of the Demon Sect, to attend one?"
Yu Fan, seeing Mo Ran's reluctance, said, "I heard the Valley Master of the Medicine Valley is hiding at Xuanling Academy."
Mo Ran: "Fine, I'll go."
Yu Fan asked with slight curiosity, "I heard you found some nobody as your partner?"
Mo Ran sneered, "Hmph, just a scapegoat."
Yu Fan: "Tsk tsk tsk, I really pity that person, ending up as your partner, you big demon."
Mo Ran: "You'd better pity yourself instead."
Yu Fan grinned, "Pity me? What could happen to me?"
Mo Ran snorted, "The Night King has also come to Chaoyang City."
Yu Fan exclaimed in shock, "What? The Night King is here too? I need to leave immediately." With that, he prepared to jump out the window.
Mo Ran said slowly, "What's the rush? He's not here for you."
Yu Fan replied irritably, "Even if he's not here for me, it's not safe for me to stay. Let's meet again in three months. Farewell." With that, he leaped out the window.
In the Xuanwu Forest, various factions were gathered not far from the Twin Fruit Tree, their eyes fixed on the nearly ripe twin fruits. Beneath the tree, the guardian beast paced anxiously.
"The twin fruits are about to ripen," someone said.
Ye Lanshan looked around and whispered, "It seems the twin fruits are quite tempting, even drawing those people here."
Mo Ran also whispered, "Of course. The twin fruits only bear once every thousand years, and it takes another thousand years to ripen. Only three fruits grow at a time. Even without refining them into pills, consuming them directly raises one's mystic power by a level."
Someone shouted, "The twin fruits are ripe! Everyone, grab them!"
The desperate mob rushed forward immediately.
But the early bird gets the worm, and the mob was beaten back by the guardian beast before they could even reach the fruits.
Unwilling to give up, they charged again, but this time they weren't so lucky—all died at the guardian beast's feet.
The beast let out a roar, as if taunting the crowd.
Only then did the major powers begin to prepare their moves.
As they discussed strategies, Liu Jing, a disciple of the Spirit Sect, arrived and said, "If you're all afraid of the guardian beast, then let me have the twin fruits."
The guardian beast seemed to sense something and roared at her again.
Liu Jing walked toward the beast and snorted, "Hmph, just a spent force."
Indeed, after just two exchanges with Liu Jing, the beast fell to the ground.
The major powers naturally wouldn't let Liu Jing take the fruits, so they charged forward.
Liu Jing had anticipated this outcome. Her goal wasn't the fruits anyway—she only needed the guardian beast's mystic core.
With a wave of her hand, she stored the beast in her spatial ring and withdrew from the fight.
Ye Lanshan watched the frenzied crowd and said, "Now's the time."
Mo Ran replied, "Alright," and rushed forward, shouting, "How could the Demon Sect miss out on snatching the twin fruits?"
Someone turned back and said to Mo Ran, "Aren't you, the esteemed Demon Sect, above such things?"
Mo Ran smirked wickedly, "Whether I need them is one thing, but whether I snatch them is another."
As expected, his words drew everyone's attention.
Seeing the perfect opportunity, Ye Lanshan used her fastest speed to pluck all the twin fruits.
"The twin fruits are gone!" someone suddenly turned and exclaimed in shock.
"Who? Who took them?"
Mo Ran then put on an act of fury, saying coldly, "If I find out who, I'll tear them apart." With that, he flicked his sleeves and left.
Naturally, the crowd didn't suspect this was a setup by Mo Ran.
In the end, they could only leave in disappointment.
Ye Lanshan waited at the agreed spot for Mo Ran. When he arrived, she said, "I only need one of the twin fruits, but—" Before she could finish, Ye Yutian appeared.
"What a performance," Ye Yutian mocked.
Mo Ran replied calmly, "Flattery, flattery. When it comes to acting, I can't compare to you."
Ye Lanshan was startled to see Ye Yutian. Why him? I need to find a way out.
But before she could think of a plan, Mo Ran shifted the blame to her.
Mo Ran said slowly, "The twin fruits aren't with me. They're with him."
Hearing this, Ye Lanshan had an idea. If you're going to be ruthless first, don't blame me for returning the favor.