Ling Shan, besides the Sect Master, was most esteemed by True Person Feng Qing. Even in his youth, he was a prodigy of the cultivation world. He later entered the mortal realm for his studies. Upon his return ten years later, he entered seclusion and began accepting disciples, no longer concerning himself with the affairs of the sect.
This individual, whose experiences were so distinct, was Lan Yan's master, and the person currently sitting before her. After being summoned by Lin Qian, she had been made to stand, unsure of what he intended.
Seeing Lan Yan distracted, True Person Feng Qing bellowed with a full voice, "Do you know what you did wrong?"
Lan Yan blinked, then looked up at True Person Feng Qing, his hair white, his face youthful, and his eyes still holding anger towards her. "Master, was I wrong for being late?"
"Hopeless," True Person Feng Qing sighed, looking at her with exasperation. "Your junior brother mentioned you are quite close to that demonic beast. Have you forgotten my teachings!"
Lan Yan cursed Lin Qian in her heart for being a blabbermouth, causing her to be punished now. She could only reply, "Master, I have not forgotten. You taught me to tame beasts and to have a kind heart; I have done both."
This time, it was True Person Feng Qing's turn to be taken aback. When had his disciple become so eloquent? "Lan Yan, I told you that demonic beasts are skilled at deceiving people, and you cannot be fooled by them."
"You must remember that you are Ling Shan's strongest beast tamer, and your future is boundless."
Lan Yan muttered inwardly, her master was also the strongest before, yet he had retreated to a secondary position.
Seeing her silence, True Person Feng Qing spoke with a touch more earnestness. "Your temperament still needs refining, which is why you are easily deceived by demonic beasts. Do not see him for a few days; cultivate your mind and temper for a while."
Lan Yan immediately looked up. "Master, I don't think he deceived me. Everything was my own doing. Master, there is no difference between demonic beasts and us. They too have emotions, they laugh and cry, and they feel pain."
These were all things she had learned from her interactions with Jun Yelan.
"Lan Yan!" True Person Feng Qing slammed the table violently, his palm turning red. "Kneel down!" He clutched his chest, never expecting his most valued disciple to become this way.
One must bow their head under a mans' roof. Lan Yan slowly knelt, saying nothing more. Since arriving in this world, she had encountered such situations frequently and had grown accustomed to them.
She suddenly thought of Jun Yelan, wondering if it was similar for him. Captured from the demon realm to the cultivation world, he had been constantly tormented. Though he didn't speak of it, he must have suffered greatly in his heart.
True Person Feng Qing looked at Lan Yan. "It seems your junior brother did a good job; your disposition has been influenced. You will not return today; you will copy the sect rules here. You may leave when you realize your mistake."
"Yes, Master." Lan Yan quickly left and went to the adjacent room, taking out paper and brushes.
Seeing this, True Person Feng Qing sighed, "Why are there so many such matters in the cultivation world!" Looking at Lan Yan's state, he recalled his own youth and shook his head vigorously, thinking it was all in the past.
Meanwhile, in the adjacent room, Lan Yan twirled the brush in her hand, complaining to the system, "This master doesn't listen to me, and I have a disciple who loves to report. I'm truly having a difficult time."
The System: "Host, thinking of it this way, it's difficult now, but it will be much easier later."
"When is that!" Lan Yan propped her chin with one hand, staring at the white paper on the desk. "I finally improved my relationship with Jun Yelan, and now I'm being punished. I don't know when I'll be released."
She couldn't help but pick up the brush and sketch Jun Yelan's face on the paper.
The System, seeing Lan Yan like this, said, "Why don't you pretend to admit your mistake? Your master only seems fierce on the surface; his heart is still soft. Just copy for now, and speak to him properly when he comes."
"Host, I believe you can do it. I'm going offline now."
"Hey!" Before Lan Yan could call out, the system had already left. She remained alone in the room, looking at the features she had drawn and murmuring, "Just a little more touch-up."
From True Person Feng Qing's perspective, seeing Lan Yan studying so diligently, he nodded in satisfaction. He hoped that after this incident, his disciple would no longer harbor strange feelings for demonic beasts and would continue to tame them.
He then began to meditate, no longer paying attention to Lan Yan.
At this moment, inside a cave, Jun Yelan looked at the paper flower in the corner and then towards the entrance. "Strange, she's usually here by this time. Why hasn't she appeared today?"
After saying this, he froze for a moment, thinking about what he was doing! He quickly turned his head, yet couldn't resist looking at the paper flower, finding it more beautiful than real flowers, constantly drawing his attention.
Concurrently, the paper figure, sensing his inner state, floated up, landed on his arm, and spun around.
"I'm not happy," Jun Yelan waved his hand, trying to drive the paper figure away. This paper figure had been on him for too long; it had long absorbed his aura and had become attuned to his feelings.
The paper figure circled once, landed on Jun Yelan's shoulder, and covered its mouth, appearing shy.
Jun Yelan's ear tips immediately turned red. He quickly looked at the entrance and, seeing Lan Yan had not arrived, felt a sense of relief. He put away the paper figure, not wanting Lan Yan to see him in this state.
At the same time, he found himself longing for Lan Yan's arrival, his gaze fixed on the entrance.
But no one came through the entrance.
Lan Yan ended up copying the sect rules ten times and obediently handed them to True Person Feng Qing. As she presented the papers, the sketch hidden in her sleeve almost fell out, and she quickly tucked it back in.
This was the portrait she had drawn for Jun Yelan earlier, and it could not be discovered by her master.
True Person Feng Qing flipped through the papers and nodded. "Do you know your mistake?"
Lan Yan nodded, remembering the purpose of her visit. "Master, you are right. My cultivation is too shallow. Therefore, this disciple wishes to learn formations from you to broaden her knowledge and improve her cultivation."
A hint of hesitation flashed in True Person Feng Qing's eyes. Why did Lan Yan suddenly want to learn formations, knowing that demonic beast was still imprisoned? Seeing Lan Yan's sincere expression, he assumed she had indeed realized her mistake and that he had been overthinking.
"If you wish to learn, answer my question. Do you truly wish to learn?" He was willing to teach Lan Yan everything he knew, to make her the strongest on Ling Shan, and even in the cultivation world.
Lan Yan thought about it. She genuinely wanted to save Jun Yelan, so she nodded.
"Thus, Master will teach you." True Person Feng Qing took out a book and sighed, "This is the most difficult formation. If you learn it all, you won't be far from that position."
Lan Yan automatically ignored the latter half of the sentence, took the book in her hands, and smiled, "Thank you, Master." Great, now she could break the formation around Jun Yelan and restore his freedom.
Seeing Lan Yan so happy, a faint smile appeared on True Person Feng Qing's lips. "Very well, from now on, study diligently." He was about to let Lan Yan leave when he heard the noise at the entrance and frowned.
"Go inside first, and come out later."
Lan Yan, confused, hid in the inner room and peeked out. She saw the angry Sect Master stride in, his demeanor suggesting he was about to pick a fight with her master.