Yue Ran looked at the treasures placed on the table, his eyes filled with a smile.
"My mother doesn't love me anymore. In the past, anything good was sent to my room. Now, it's all sent to yours." Yue Ran picked up a hairpin and held it up, examining it from different angles. "Second Brother, what do you think Mother means?"
"I don't know." Xiao Man's tone was indifferent. She only cared if Madam Yue had taken the Blue Spirit Flower.
"It must be the lunch you made. Mother liked it so much that she's not angry with me anymore and specifically sent these treasures to thank you." Yue Ran put down the hairpin and selected a jade pendant from the box. "This jade pendant is good. I'll wear it for Second Brother."
"I don't like to hang things on myself. I'm always fighting and killing, and it's easy to lose them. It would be a pity to lose them."
"That's true. Then what about the bracelet? This bracelet is very beautiful. Second Brother would look good wearing it."
"This is for a lady to wear. It's not suitable for me." Xiao Man got up and walked to the door. "A'Ran, I want to continue challenging the Purgatory Tower."
"Continue challenging the Purgatory Tower?" Yue Ran was a little surprised. "Are you sure?"
"I'm sure." Xiao Man looked at Yue Ran. "You don't need to accompany me. I can do it alone."
"No, challenging the Purgatory Tower is too dangerous. How can I let you challenge it alone? I'll accompany you. We can come out when it's our birthday, and it won't be too late."
"Okay."
Yue Ran agreed to accompany Xiao Man to challenge the Purgatory Tower for a reason. His birthday was approaching, and various factions were coming to the Heavenly Sword Sect to offer congratulations. Among them were people who were close to Xiao Man, and he didn't want Xiao Man to interact with them. By entering the Purgatory Tower, it would be just the two of them.
"Brother Ran." Su Dan Novel Network
As the two of them walked out the door, they ran into Huo Tong'er. Huo Tong'er looked haggard, clearly not having slept well the previous night, with dark circles under her eyes.
"Is something the matter?"
Huo Tong'er detected a sense of distance in Yue Ran's tone and immediately regretted not remembering Elder Ping's reminder. However, if Yue Ran was difficult to approach, she could approach Xiao Man.
"Brother Xiao Qin, I heard that you and Brother Ran successfully challenged the fourteenth level of the Purgatory Tower. You're so amazing. Tong'er really admires you. Where are you two going?"
"Challenging the tower."
"You're going again so soon after coming out?" Huo Tong'er was somewhat shocked.
"Yes."
Huo Tong'er frowned slightly at Xiao Man's terse replies. However, remembering that she could only get close to Yue Ran by relying on Xiao Man, she suppressed her displeasure.
"Can I go with you then?"
"Can you even enter the Purgatory Tower?" Yue Ran scoffed. "With your Foundation Establishment initial stage cultivation, you can't even enter the Purgatory Tower, so how can you go with us to challenge it?"
"I..." Huo Tong'er looked at Xiao Man with teary eyes. "But I heard that Brother Xiao Qin was only at the Foundation Establishment middle stage when he entered the Purgatory Tower."
"She was injured and her cultivation dropped. Originally, she was at the Golden Core initial stage. Can you compare yourself to her?" Yue Ran said impatiently. "Alright, move aside quickly. Don't block the way."
"Xiao Qin!" A loud voice rang out. Yue Ran's brows furrowed as if he could crush flies. When he saw a green figure rushing towards them, he quickly stepped in front of Xiao Man, blocking the newcomer.
"Xiao Qin, long time no see."
Xiao Man nodded. "Young Master Mu, long time no see."
"Xiao Qin, how can you be so unfair?" Mu Qi was unhappy. "How do you address Yue Ran?"
"A'Ran."
"We are both friends, yet you call him A'Ran, but me Young Master Mu. Don't you think that's too distant?" Mu Qi protested. "You should call me A'Qi."
"Don't be ridiculous. My second brother and I are sworn brothers. It's only natural for her to call me A'Ran!"
"Yue Ran, get out of the way!"
"I won't!" Yue Ran snorted coldly. "You're not allowed to come near me..."
Yue Ran suddenly felt his body stiffen, unable to move. Moments later, he collapsed to the ground. He had been careless. Mu Qi's cultivation might not be high, but his alchemy skills were top-notch. While he was with Xiao Man in the Eastern Yue Forest, he had also learned a good deal about poison!
After incapacitating Yue Ran, Mu Qi clapped his hands. "Little brat, you tricked me last time, and now I'm getting my revenge. Let's see if you dare to carry me around again."
Yue Ran looked at Xiao Man pleadingly. Huo Tong'er rushed to check on Yue Ran. "Young Master Mu, what are you doing? Quickly give Brother Ran the antidote."
Mu Qi glanced dismissively at Huo Tong'er. "If you keep making noise, I'll take you down too."
"Mu Qi, this is the Heavenly Sword Sect, not your Heavenly Spirit Sect!" Huo Tong'er yelled in exasperation. "Do you dare to ambush the Young Sect Master of the Heavenly Sword Sect and not be afraid of not being able to leave the Heavenly Sword Sect?"
"I'm a guest at the Heavenly Sword Sect, and I don't plan on leaving anytime soon!" Mu Qi had been holding a grudge. In the Eastern Yue Forest, Yue Ran had tricked him and carried him for thousands of miles, causing him great hardship. Today, he had to get some of his own back.
"Give me the antidote!"
"No!"
In a fit of rage, Huo Tong'er began fighting with Mu Qi. Xiao Man shook her head, grabbed Yue Ran by the collar, and quietly walked away. By the time Mu Qi had subdued Huo Tong'er, the two of them were nowhere to be seen.
"Where is Xiao Qin?"
"Reporting to Young Sect Master, he has left."
"Where is Yue Ran?"
"Reporting to Young Sect Master, he was dragged away by Xiao Qin."
"Unfair! Xiao Qin, you're being dishonest!" Mu Qi roared.
Hearing the roar from behind, Xiao Man popped a pill into Yue Ran's mouth and shook her head. "Childish behavior."
Yue Ran was on the verge of tears. Xiao Man dragged him along by the collar. The disciples of the sect stared at the two of them as if they had seen a ghost. Yue Zhong initially thought Xiao Man was following Yue Ran's orders, but when he saw Xiao Man dragging Yue Ran, his expression was peculiar.
"Xiao Qin, what's wrong with Seventh Brother?"
"He's been poisoned," Xiao Man replied lazily.
"Did you get the antidote?"
"No."
"Then are you taking him to find the antidote?"
"No." Xiao Man was somewhat displeased with Yue Zhong's persistent questioning. "Please move aside."
"Xiao Qin, where are you taking Seventh Brother?"
"The Purgatory Tower," Xiao Man said without looking back. She had to find Chen An's soul before Yue Ran's birthday and find a way to take it away. Otherwise, after Yue Ran's birthday, she might not have another chance.
"Just like this, to challenge the Purgatory Tower?" Yue Zhong was momentarily confused. After a moment, a sinister smile crept onto his lips. Challenging the Purgatory Tower, excellent. If Yue Ran died inside while challenging it, it would have nothing to do with him. At that time, the position of Young Sect Master should fall to him!
"Idiot." Xiao Man glanced at the inwardly gloating Yue Zhong. "Is such a stupid person really your brother?"
"No, I don't have a brother!" Yue Ran categorically denied. "My mother only gave birth to me."
"Are you sure?"