Lan Yan looked at the arrogant woman in red before her. Usually, she would be too lazy to bother, but this Xiao Lingling had the spiritual grass she needed. She called out, "Xiao Lingling, what are you doing here?"
Xiao Lingling, the sect leader's daughter, was of noble status, but she was always suppressed by Lan Yan during beast taming. Her resentment grew, and upon hearing that Lan Yan was taming the strongest demonic beast, her jealousy flared up.
"Hmph, Lan Yan, who do you think you are to tame the demonic beasts inside!"
Lan Yan chuckled, "Then why didn't the Sect Leader and my master let you tame them, but let me? My abilities are recognized, unlike yours!"
"You." Fury ignited in Xiao Lingling's eyes. She drew the whip in her hand and struck at Lan Yan.
Lan Yan turned with ease, grabbed the other end of the whip, and smiled, "Oh my, the sect leader's daughter is already angered. I'm in a good mood today, so I'll give you a chance to compete with me."
"Since it's a competition, there must be a reward. If I win, you give me the Phoenix Grass. If I lose, we'll talk then."
Xiao Lingling stared at the smile on Lan Yan's lips. She seemed different today; normally, she would ignore her. That Phoenix Grass was something she had begged her father for a long time, so she couldn't easily lose it to Lan Yan.
"Fine. If you lose, you can't tame demonic beasts anymore."
Lan Yan hooked her lips, "Alright, after you win, we can discuss everything." She was determined to get the Phoenix Grass.
Next, the two stood in an open space in front of the cave, taking out their respective magical artifacts.
Xiao Lingling produced a purple whip, its body shimmering slightly. She smiled smugly, "This is my new toy. I'll test it out on you."
Lan Yan ignored the provocation and took a spinning top from her bag, placing it in her palm. "Coincidentally, this spinning top is also new to me. If you can break my spinning top, you win."
She placed the spinning top on the ground.
Disdain appeared in Xiao Lingling's eyes. "How can something so ugly be a match for my purple whip!" She swung towards the spinning top, but the purple whip was violently repelled by it, causing her to step back.
She roared, "What did you do!"
Lan Yan stood leisurely opposite her with her arms crossed, smiling, "Oh dear, my spinning top is too powerful, you're no match for it. Just obediently hand over the Phoenix Grass. What, the young lady lost and won't honor her word?"
"You!" Xiao Lingling was so angry she couldn't speak. Reluctantly, she took out the Phoenix Grass and threw it on the ground.
Lan Yan picked it up, along with the spinning top, and walked into the cave with a smile, leaving the indignant Xiao Lingling behind.
Little did she know, her spinning top was made of profound iron, so it wouldn't break no matter what. If anyone was to blame, it was Xiao Lingling for only looking at the surface, thus ensuring her inevitable loss.
She stood before the containment wall and looked at Jun Yelan, who was locked inside. First, she tossed the Phoenix Grass in. She pointed to her ear, then to the grass, conveying her meaning to Jun Yelan.
"Jun Yelan, eat quickly, it's for your ears."
Jun Yelan looked up at Lan Yan. He saw her mouth moving again. Why was this person so talkative! He followed Lan Yan's finger and saw a new spiritual grass lying on the ground.
After eating it yesterday, his strength had indeed recovered somewhat, but he became even more suspicious of this person's intentions. He saw the person in front of him frantically patting the wall, driving the power in her palm, and picking up the spiritual grass.
Seeing this, Lan Yan immediately smiled. "Jun Yelan, can you hear now?"
After eating the spiritual grass, Jun Yelan's ears suddenly felt a sharp pain. He clenched his fist, a hint of hatred appearing in his eyes. Was she trying to harm him again! But in the next moment, his ears heard a gentle voice calling his name.
He followed the sound and saw Lan Yan's smiling face.
Seeing this, Lan Yan shouted, "Can you hear now! My name is Lan Yan, and I'll come to see you often and bring you medicine." Seeing Jun Yelan just looking at her, she wondered if the Phoenix Grass didn't work.
"Wait, I'll go ask others if the Phoenix Grass needs anything else?" What if Xiao Lingling tampered with it? Then she would definitely go back to settle the score.
"No need." A voice from behind her suddenly stopped her. She turned to look at Jun Yelan.
Jun Yelan's face was still covered in blood, his lips pale, and he was bound by chains. But the hatred in his eyes when he looked at Lan Yan had lessened. He slightly parted his lips and said, "Even if you help me, you won't gain anything!"
He was trapped in the dark cave, unable to do anything.
"Then you owe me for now." Lan Yan smiled, "You are an ancient demonic beast, you will surely get better in the future. At that time, you must remember your promise to me and repay me once."
Jun Yelan's pupils trembled slightly. This woman named Lan Yan was truly strange. All the cultivators he had encountered coveted him or harmed him, but this person didn't seem to want that.
No, perhaps there was a bigger conspiracy. He couldn't easily trust her.
Lan Yan didn't hear Jun Yelan's response, but she understood the answer. She took out other healing spiritual grasses from her bag and tossed them in as before. "You must eat all of these. I'm counting on our promise."
This time, Jun Yelan ate them all very readily, feeling strength flow through his body, and his dead meridians gradually recovering.
He discreetly clenched his fist, determined to become stronger.
Seeing that it was getting late, Lan Yan knew she couldn't stay any longer or it would arouse suspicion. She looked at Jun Yelan and smiled, "Then I'm leaving. I'll come again tomorrow."
Jun Yelan remained silent and motionless. Only when Lan Yan turned around did he glance back, his gaze meeting Lan Yan's as she turned her head.
A hint of panic appeared on his previously expressionless face.
Lan Yan smiled. She had just wanted to take another look, and unexpectedly gained something. She felt that her task was hopeful, and walked towards the cave entrance with a full smile.
Jun Yelan behind her calmed himself, restoring his meridians, and tried not to think about what had just happened.
Lan Yan reached the cave entrance and saw a corner of red clothing exposed. She frowned. This Xiao Lingling had not left. She couldn't let her discover what was happening inside.
So, she flicked a small pebble from her hand towards the red clothing.
"Ouch, my forehead." Xiao Lingling rubbed her forehead as she emerged, a red mark already visible. She yelled fiercely, "Lan Yan, you've been in there for so long, where's my medicine!"
Lan Yan said coldly, "Of course, I ate it. Miss Xiao, you should refrain from such sneaky actions in the future. It truly doesn't suit your status as the sect leader's daughter."
She let out a cold laugh and walked forward.
Xiao Lingling's teeth gnashed. She looked into the cave, sensing something was amiss. She decided to go to her father tomorrow and investigate the cave to see what Lan Yan was really doing!