The realm, as the wolf demon had surmised, saw his person appear in the Immortal Hall. An old gentleman, smiling, looked at the young man before him dressed in modern clothes and said, "Zhang Yan, you're back."
"I'm back right away," Zhang Yan replied, looking around with astonishment.
Seeing Zhang Yan's bewildered expression, the old gentleman smiled. "Didn't you want me to bring you back quickly? What's with your current demeanor? Do you want me to send you back?"
"No," Zhang Yan said with a grin, glancing around the hall. He then looked at Feng Qishi, who was seated in a chair, and asked, "Why is it just you? Where is Mu Anxiao?"
"Don't you think I look haggard?" Feng Qishi asked Zhang Yan calmly.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yan stepped forward and looked down at Feng Qishi. "You're injured."
Feng Qishi remained silent and looked towards the old gentleman.
The old gentleman turned to Zhang Yan. "My disciple is injured."
"Where is Mu Anxiao?" Zhang Yan turned to the old gentleman and asked.
The old gentleman hesitated for a moment. "The mortal world."
"The mortal world?" Zhang Yan exclaimed, his eyes widening. "Are you kidding me? Isn't it a mess down there right now? Can Mu Anxiao handle it alone?"
"The vine demon released the two hundred and fifty souls that had captured Mu Anxiao," Feng Qishi added.
Hearing this, Zhang Yan's eyes filled with urgency. "Old man, it's that dangerous down there, and you still let Mu Anxiao go alone?"
"Aren't you here now?" the old gentleman pointed at Zhang Yan.
Zhang Yan sighed. "You have a point, but... if that's the case, why didn't you just send me directly to Mu Anxiao?"
"You entered through that entrance, so naturally, you must exit through this one."
"Why don't we have the same logic when we return?" Feng Qishi interjected.
The old gentleman patiently explained, "Everyone's exit point is different. Didn't you also not encounter the wolf demon?"
Feng Qishi nodded slightly after hearing this. "Master is right."
"Are you Shen Yan or Feng Qishi now?" Zhang Yan suddenly asked.
Feng Qishi shrugged his shoulders. "Both, I suppose. I have Shen Yan's memories, but right now, I am Feng Qishi."
"Merged into one," Zhang Yan stated.
"You could say that," Feng Qishi nodded.
Zhang Yan's lips curved into a smile. "Speaking of which, since I appeared so suddenly, you weren't scared, were you?"
"I'm used to it. You and my master are alike, your thoughts change in an instant," Feng Qishi said, glancing at the old gentleman. "Are you here specifically to find Mu Anxiao?"
"I'm not telling you," Zhang Yan replied casually.
"You..."
"He's here to become Mu Anxiao's master," the old gentleman interrupted Feng Qishi.
Feng Qishi was startled. "Then you are indeed here specifically to find Mu Anxiao."
"Yes. I thought that once you returned, your master would definitely take you away. Naturally, Mu Anxiao would be alone, and she couldn't learn much by herself. Since I don't have many disciples anyway, I might as well take Mu Anxiao as mine."
"Then please look after her for me," Feng Qishi said excitedly.
"Why should I look after her for you?" Zhang Yan retorted.
Feng Qishi thought for a moment. "I owe her too much. To sever ties completely is impossible, and besides, in my current condition, I can't go down. So, I'm asking you."
"You're quite direct, kid," Zhang Yan said with a smile.
"I guess so. Anyway, don't follow her, and don't mention that you've seen me, nor that I have past life memories. Thank you," Feng Qishi said politely.
"I know. When your injuries heal, when do you plan to go down?" Zhang Yan asked.
Feng Qishi glanced at the old gentleman. "When my master allows me to go down, I will. In any case, please take good care of Mu Anxiao."
"She's my disciple, of course, I'll take care of her," Zhang Yan said, his expression suddenly turning wistful. "However, I still don't know if that girl Mu Anxiao will accept me as her master."
"She'll accept you when she has nowhere else to turn," Feng Qishi said.
"Really?"
"From my understanding of her, she'll definitely become your disciple without a second thought," Feng Qishi stated firmly.
"I hope you're right," Zhang Yan smiled.
Following this, Shi Yi ran into the Immortal Hall and looked at Zhang Yan. "It's you."
Hearing this, Zhang Yan calmly looked at Shi Yi and smiled. "Rat demon, old man," he said to the old gentleman. "It's quite rare for you to take a demon as a disciple."
"What's so rare about it? You yourself said you weren't coming back, and now," the old gentleman pointed at Zhang Yan, "you're back."
Zhang Yan pouted, rendered speechless.
Shi Yi walked gracefully in front of Zhang Yan and then scanned Zhang Yan's unusual attire. He asked foolishly, "Why are your clothes so strange?"
"You wouldn't understand," Zhang Yan said with a raised eyebrow.
"I don't," Shi Yi replied, curiously scanning Zhang Yan's clothes with a dazed smile.
"Look at that silly look on your face. Want one? I can give it to you," Zhang Yan said, pointing to his own clothes.
"You're willing to give it to me?" Shi Yi pointed to himself.
"If you become my disciple, I'll give it to you," Zhang Yan said, then turned to look at the old gentleman.
The old gentleman's expression remained unchanged. Instead, he calmly said, "If you recognize him as your disciple, I'll go find Mu Anxiao a new master right now."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yan's expression stiffened. "I was just kidding."
Shi Yi's heart, which had risen in anticipation, settled the moment Zhang Yan spoke.
The old gentleman smiled.
Then, Zhang Yan asked again, "Do you want it?"
Shi Yi looked at the old gentleman cautiously. "I don't want to be your disciple, you..." He paused mid-sentence, then suddenly asked, "You mean you want to be Mu Anxiao's master?"
"As expected of a rat demon, your reaction is slow," Zhang Yan said with a smile.
Feng Qishi asked, "Shi Yi, why are you so agitated?"
Shi Yi turned to Feng Qishi. "This way, Mu Anxiao can ascend to immortality sooner. Of course, I'm excited."
Feng Qishi gave a dry laugh. "What you're saying does make some sense."
Zhang Yan glanced at Feng Qishi and then looked at Shi Yi. "What does Mu Anxiao have to do with you?"
"I like her," Shi Yi stated firmly.
Zhang Yan's lips twitched. "Kid, you're breaking the rules."
Shi Yi blinked. "How am I breaking the rules? My senior brother told me that our immortal positions allow us to find partners, so I can like Mu Anxiao."
"She will soon be my disciple, and the first rule for my disciples is to sever all romantic attachments. Therefore," Zhang Yan reached out and patted Shi Yi's shoulder, "you should give up, kid."
"I..."
Shi Yi uttered a single word. Feng Qishi frowned and asked, "You have such a rule? How come I don't know about it?"
"It was just established," Zhang Yan said smugly.