"Do you know where to find the Dragon Spirit Bamboo?" Sikong Mo inquired. As far as he knew, only the Land of No Return harbored Dragon Spirit Bamboo, and they were incapable of entering it. The City Lord's Mansion would also never break the barrier for any individual.
"The City Lord's Mansion," Xiao Man stated calmly. "Back in the Land of No Return, we stumbled upon Dragon Spirit Bamboo by chance. All of it is currently held by the City Lord's Mansion. I need to ask the City Lord if there are any remaining pieces."
"I'll go get it."
"If you go, it will be gone," Xiao Man looked at Sikong Mo. "If I go, it will be smoother."
After a moment of silence, Sikong Mo nodded. "Alright, I'll wait for you. If the City Lord's Mansion refuses to hand it over..."
"If the City Lord's Mansion still has Dragon Spirit Bamboo in storage, I will be able to obtain it. I only fear they might not have any left," Xiao Man sighed. It seemed she had no choice but to go to the Land of No Return.
"Do you need me to accompany you?"
"The seven great sects are currently in turmoil. You cannot act freely. Otherwise, in the eyes of the other sects, the Spirit Snake Sect will become the mastermind attempting to instigate conflict among them," Xiao Man said calmly. "I'm sure you are aware that someone intends to control Wuji City and divide the seven great sects."
Sikong Mo looked at Xiao Man and suddenly laughed. "If I didn't know you came from the Land of No Return, I would suspect you were the one trying to divide the seven great sects."
"If I had that ability, I wouldn't stand by and watch my friends die or get injured," Xiao Man's expression was composed, her tone calm, but Sikong Mo detected sadness in her words.
"I am deeply sorry for the death of your friend."
"Thank you for saving Xiang Jian. We will repay this kindness in the future." With that, Xiao Man stood up and handed Sikong Mo a medicine bottle. "I don't know when I will return. This bottle contains a month's worth of medicine. One pill daily. Feed it to him. I will return in at most a month, and at the earliest, three days."
"Xiao Qin," Sikong Mo called out to Xiao Man, then handed her an item. "This is a Swiftness Talisman from the Spirit Snake Sect. Inject spirit energy to use it; it can multiply your speed."
"Does the Spirit Snake Sect primarily cultivate talismans?" Xiao Man asked with surprise.
"Yes, the Spirit Snake Sect primarily cultivates talismans. The seven great sects are all derivatives of the four great lineages. The Spirit Snake Sect not only cultivates talismans but also talisman formations."
"I see. Thank you."
After leaving the Spirit Snake Sect, Xiao Man had intended to go directly to the Land of No Return. However, before heading there, she returned to the City Lord's Mansion and went straight to the City Lord's chambers.
The City Lord was handling official business. Seeing Xiao Man burst in, he looked puzzled. "It's so late, young friend. Is there something you need?"
"I heard that the City Lord is the guardian of this place, protecting its peace. Is that true?" Xiao Man asked with composure.
The City Lord's writing hand paused. "My Yan family has been the guardians of this place for generations. In the future, Yan'er will take my place as the guardian."
"May I ask if the City Lord guards the Roland Mountain Range or the Land of No Return?" Xiao Man's tone was subtle as her gaze remained fixed on Yan Yu, whose expression was unperturbed, revealing no hint of abnormality.
"We are the guardians of the Roland Mountain Range and also the custodians of the Land of No Return."
"Those confined in the Land of No Return are all incorrigible offenders. Surely they are not worth guarding. If you said the City Lord's Mansion guards the Roland Mountain Range, I could understand. Why do you also need to guard the Land of No Return?" Xiao Man asked with a slow, clear, and well-reasoned tone.
Yan Yu put down his brush and looked at Xiao Man. "Young friend, if you have something to say, speak plainly. There is no need to beat around the bush."
"City Lord, do you think the person who ambushed the former City Lord did so to obtain something from the Roland Mountain Range or from the Land of No Return? One can enter and exit the Roland Mountain Range at will, but only the Land of No Return requires the City Lord's permission to open. May I understand this to mean that the person secretly scheming against the City Lord's Mansion is after something within the Land of No Return?" Xiao Man did not mention people but things, for she knew that individuals confined in the Land of No Return could not be expected to be guarded indefinitely, as they lacked spiritual energy and had short lifespans in such harsh illusory realms.
The City Lord lowered his gaze, not answering. He did not know what was in the Land of No Return, and even if he did, he likely could not tell Xiao Man. "Besides people, there is nothing else in the Land of No Return. The City Lord's Mansion merely guards it to prevent the incorrigible from escaping."
"Is that so?" Xiao Man smiled with interest. "City Lord, are there any more Dragon Spirit Bamboo? I need one piece."
Hearing that Xiao Man needed Dragon Spirit Bamboo, the City Lord finally breathed a sigh of relief. "There are two pieces left. If you need them, I will immediately have someone retrieve and deliver them."
"Thank you, City Lord."
Yan Yu immediately ordered the Dragon Spirit Bamboo stored in the treasury to be brought to Xiao Man. Dragon Spirit Bamboo must be preserved in an ice box to prevent the loss of its medicinal properties. These two pieces were well-preserved. Along with the Celestial Maiden Orchid and Ganoderma given by the City Lord's Mansion previously, they should be able to heal Xiang Jian's injuries. However, to be safe, a trip to the Land of No Return was still necessary.
After Xiao Man left, Yan Yu finally relaxed. It was not that he had not suspected this possibility. The seven great sects might even have been manipulated. He also suspected that someone was targeting something within the Land of No Return, which led to the covert attack on the City Lord's Mansion. After all, to open the barrier of the Land of No Return with external force, unless one was a cultivator in the Soul Transformation stage or possessed a divine artifact, it was impossible. As for things from the Land of No Return... they were even more taboo to touch. Therefore, even if he suspected something, he could not tell Xiao Man.
As for the method of opening the barrier to the Land of No Return, he could not reveal it to anyone, for it was the life-saving secret of his Yan family. If it were leaked, the Yan family would surely perish!
After leaving the study, Xiao Man went to see Ze Fang and the others. Seeing Ze Fang sleeping soundly, she tucked him in before turning to leave, disappearing once more into the night.
As soon as Xiao Man left, Ze Fang opened his eyes and sat up. Little White climbed onto the bed and nuzzled Ze Fang's hand. "Xiang Jian is injured at the Spirit Snake Sect and needs Dragon Spirit Bamboo."
Ze Fang silently stroked Little White's head. It seemed the Dragon Spirit Bamboo had indeed been retrieved by Xiao Man from the Land of No Return. Should he silence everyone involved in this matter?
"The Yan family has guarded the Land of No Return for generations. Everyone assumes the Roland Mountain Range is rife with treasure, and that Wuji City guards the Roland Mountain Range, yet they do not know that they are guarding the Land of No Return," Ze Fang said calmly. "The existence of the Yan family also has its benefits, and Xiao Qin seems quite fond of Yan Yan... Little White, do you think Xiao Qin would prefer Shi Lan?"