Wen Mingyuan remained motionless, watching the group of strangers with vigilance, clutching his junior sister tightly. He asked calmly, "Who are you all?"
Jian Lin realized that she wasn't wearing her usual charlatan attire. Wen Mingyuan didn't recognize her and was naturally unwilling to go with them.
"Young Master Wen, I am the fortune teller," Jian Lin quickly explained, squatting down to speak to him. "You never showed up for our appointment, so I specifically came up the mountain to find you. Hurry and come with us."
Wen Mingyuan was taken aback. He narrowed his eyes and peered closely, finding Jian Lin somewhat familiar. "Master? Is it really you? You look..."
Jian Lin's pure, delicate, and innocent appearance was a stark contrast to her previous charlatan persona, making Wen Mingyuan still hesitant to believe her.
"There's no time!" the Demon Lord interjected, his tone forceful. "I'll ask you only one thing: are you coming or not? If not, what good end awaits you in Yuan Shuo's hands?"
Mention of Yuan Shuo caused Wen Mingyuan's eyes to sharpen. He picked up his junior sister and stood up with difficulty. "I'll go with you. Thank you all for your help!"
Jian Lin's heart leaped with joy. She quickly raised a hand to support her senior sister from the other side. The Demon Lord led the way, and the group scrambled to escape Chi Yan Peak.
The night wind howled, marking another sleepless night.
Lin Zhi's condition was dire. The Demon Lord worked through the night to repair her golden core. The formation was activated, and Jian Lin and Wen Mingyuan sat outside the door, guarding them.
Jian Lin breathed a sigh of relief and asked Wen Mingyuan what exactly had happened on Chi Yan Peak today, how they had agreed to descend the mountain only to be trapped by Yuan Shuo.
"This matter is very complicated and cannot be explained in a few words," Wen Mingyuan said evasively. He clearly did not want to speak ill of his sect. "Our senior disciple invited us to stay for a meal, calling it a farewell feast. Who would have thought that after a cup of wine, we were locked in the training room? Perhaps as the peak master, he had some unspeakable difficulties."
After listening, Jian Lin's thoughts swirled. In the end, she couldn't bring herself to tell him the truth.
Since the formation was broken and Lin Zhi was no longer that important to Yuan Shuo, Wen Mingyuan didn't need to know all of it. It would only add to his unwillingness and resentment. She would bear it alone.
"Whatever unspeakable difficulties he may have, Young Master Wen, you only need to remember one thing," Jian Lin cautioned with concern. "From today onwards, you and your junior sister have nothing to do with Guan Lan Sect. Never again claim to be disciples of Guan Lan Sect. Live your lives in anonymity. I have divined for you; your fate clashes with Guan Lan Sect. The farther you are, the better."
Jian Lin was talking nonsense. How could a sect have anything to do with fate?
However, Wen Mingyuan did not doubt her. Whatever the master said was the truth.
"I understand. We also do not wish to be associated with Guan Lan Sect. From now on, we are mortals and will live ordinary lives," Wen Mingyuan earnestly promised.
Hearing him say this, Jian Lin finally felt at ease.
The two chatted for a while longer when suddenly, the door to the adjacent room opened. Bai Xian leaned against the doorframe and weakly told Jian Lin that he was not feeling well and needed medicine.
They had traveled in haste, and Bai Xian had barely kept up. By the time they reached the inn, he was unsteady. Jian Lin had booked him a room and sent him to rest.
He had not even rested for half a day before he was claiming to be unwell again.
Jian Lin stood up, instructed Wen Mingyuan to call her if anything happened, and went to attend to Bai Xian.
Closing the door, Jian Lin lowered her voice and asked impatiently, "What's wrong? Is the yang energy here too strong for you, a living dead person, to bear?"
Bai Xian gave a wry smile and clutched his chest. "Miss A Pei, I know you are deliberately mocking me, but you must understand one thing. Strictly speaking, I am a ghost. I cannot leave the demon realm. Once I do, I will suffer various effects and backlash."
She hadn't expected such a thing. Jian Lin said in surprise, "Then... I will seal you back."
"No," Bai Xian refused outright. He took a breath and continued, "Considering I helped you break the formation, Miss A Pei, please be a little kinder to me."
Jian Lin pursed her lips, feeling a little embarrassed. Regardless, Bai Xian had indeed been a great help to her tonight.
Jian Lin sat beside him and asked patiently, "Then what medicine do you need to take? Tell me, and I'll buy it for you."
"Precious tonics," Bai Xian said, looking at her meaningfully. "I left in a hurry that night and didn't prepare my usual tonics. Miss A Pei, whatever you have, give me some. Buying it outside is meaningless; it's not as suitable as what I prepare myself. I'll just take a little."
Bai Xian's demeanor was humble. He said he would take just a little while emphasizing that it should be precious tonics. How could Jian Lin not understand what he meant?
Alright, consider it a thank-you gift. She would give him something good.
With that thought, Jian Lin took out her Qiankun bag, pulled out several bottles of various tonics for nourishing qi and blood that she had accumulated, and arranged them on the table for Bai Xian to choose from.
Bai Xian's spirits lifted. He opened each one and carefully examined them, offering his comments. "This is medicine from the demon realm. The demon realm makes elixirs with ample ingredients, but they lack refinement. The dosage is always arbitrary, which is not good, not good."
These medicines were given to her by the Demon Lord and Xie Jin. Jian Lin couldn't stand Bai Xian speaking ill of them and immediately retorted, "If you think it's not good, don't eat it. I only have these. Also, don't keep mentioning that word. We are here on a covert mission. Don't expose his identity."
Bai Xian held the medicine bottle and flashed a dangerous smile. "Oh? What if I accidentally expose him?"
Jian Lin said disdainfully, "I'm warning you, don't have any ulterior motives. If you behave yourself, won't I send you back to the demon realm? You, with your sickly appearance, where do you get the energy to meddle in other people's affairs?"
Though she said this, only Jian Lin knew one thing for sure: she absolutely could not send Bai Xian back to the demon realm.
At that critical moment during the battle between the Demon Lord and the Demon Emperor, she had no choice but to seal Bai Xian and take him away to protect the Demon Lord. By chance, this led to Xiao Li falling into the hands of the Demon Emperor.
What would it mean if Bai Xian returned to the demon realm now?
It would mean he would help the Demon Emperor in his tribulation and ascension, thus putting Xiao Li in danger.
In other words, as long as Bai Xian remained by her side, Xiao Li would be safe. Therefore, she absolutely could not send Bai Xian back; she was just talking nonsense.
Bai Xian finally chose a bottle of tonic. He poured a little clear water, dissolved the pill in it, and slowly drank it sip by sip. The expression on his face gradually relaxed. Although his complexion didn't change much, he still looked pale and weak.
"This tonic is acceptable," Bai Xian said without reservation. "Miss A Pei, please prepare more for me. I need it daily. I will finish this quickly."
Jian Lin glanced at him. That bottle of tonic was given to her by the Demon Lord, making it incredibly precious. In Bai Xian's mouth, it sounded like candy, something he needed daily. Who could afford that!
"You need it daily?" Jian Lin gasped. "Where am I supposed to get it for you? Even if you're asking for the impossible, there are limits!"
"Miss A Pei, I helped you a great deal," Bai Xian still emphasized this point. He reached into his sleeve and pulled out twelve spirit tablets. "Look, I brought them all out for you. This move is like pulling the rug out from under them. Without the source of power for the formation, it will soon be depleted."
The twelve spirit tablets were truly awe-inspiring. Jian Lin took Lin Zhi's tablet, feeling completely cornered.
"Alright, I'll do my best," Jian Lin agreed.
After discussing the tonics, Jian Lin became curious about the spirit tablets. "Great Priest, I have one question. Now that the formation is broken and these spirit tablets are destroyed, will our symptoms of spiritual energy depletion disappear?"
"It's hard to say," Bai Xian replied after some thought. "With the formation broken, it's only certain that Yuan Shuo can no longer absorb your spiritual energy. As for whether it will return, no one can guarantee that."
Disappointment flashed in Jian Lin's eyes. She had thought that with the formation broken, she could reclaim her exceptionally gifted body and cultivate by leaps and bounds.
"However, don't give up easily," Bai Xian encouraged her. "Starting to cultivate seriously now is better than before. At least your power won't be seized by the formation."
"Speaking of cultivation, why was Lin Zhi able to cultivate a golden core?" Jian Lin asked with confusion. "If my guess is correct, the formation you set up shouldn't have such a flaw, should it?"
"Indeed. If it were according to the formation I set up, no one would have cultivated a golden core," Bai Xian chuckled lightly and said profoundly, "However, the existence of unexpected events is the fundamental basis for this world's existence."
Jian Lin rolled her eyes, too lazy to bicker with Bai Xian. She stood up to leave and went to guard the door with her senior brother.
An entire night passed. By dawn, the Demon Lord opened the door, signaling their success.
Wen Mingyuan bowed deeply in thanks and excitedly rushed into the room to see his junior sister. Jian Lin stood at the door, looking at them with relief. In the end, she did not go in, closing the door to give them space.
The Demon Lord had been busy all night and looked a little tired. He turned to Jian Lin and said, "Come out for a walk with me."
Jian Lin readily agreed, taking his arm and sweetly comforting him. "Lord Chong Yuan, you have worked hard. I am immensely grateful. I owe you a great favor. Just tell me what you need me to do, and I will go through fire and water without hesitation."
"Hmph, you always say nice things, but when it comes to actually doing something, it's harder than climbing to heaven," the Demon Lord said, glancing sideways, still holding a grudge. "That night, I asked you to show me the messages. Did you give them to me?"
"I gave them to you, all of them!" Jian Lin gestured in front of him. "I didn't keep a single slip of paper."
"That was what you gave me later," the Demon Lord argued, insisting on clarifying. "You didn't give them to me that night. If something similar happens again, can you guarantee you will obey my orders?"
Jian Lin grinned playfully and held out her palm. "Then give me back all those slips of paper, and you'll see if I give them to you."
"Speaking of which," the Demon Lord suddenly remembered something. "Have you looked at those slips of paper?"
"No, I didn't have time," Jian Lin replied honestly.
That night, the Demon Lord had watched her the entire time, and she hadn't had a chance to look. Later, worried about her senior brother and sister, she hadn't been in the mood to look, and then she had given them all to the Demon Lord. She hadn't read a single slip.
However, even though she hadn't read them, she could guess that Xie Jin must have said a lot of inappropriate things.
"Then let's take a look," the Demon Lord reached into his embrace and pulled out a slip of paper. "Let's see what unspeakable things you two have said."