Ruins.
Yes, Pang Tong’s home had once again turned into ruins.
Amidst the ruins, a stone table was placed in a relatively clean open space, with two stone chairs on either side.
Chen Fan and the woman sat facing each other.
Pang Tong held the infant and waited to the side.
Chen Fan raised his hand. Within the space between heaven and earth, golden essence gathered, falling into his palm. As they merged, a teacup and teapot took shape and landed on the table.
With another wave of his hand, water gathered, flowing into the teapot.
As for the tea leaves, it was equally simple.
The wood attribute essence naturally carried a fresh fragrance.
A pot of fragrant tea was completed in an instant.
"Please."
Chen Fan gestured with his hand.
Witnessing this skill, Pang Tong in the distance felt a surge of enthusiasm.
His own abilities were rather limited; ice, apart from creating icebergs, well… there was nothing else.
This was only achievable through extremely skillful application of the power of rules.
"Esteemed Mr. Han Ye, you have remarkable skills."
The woman’s beautiful eyes flickered, exuding a captivating charm.
It had to be said that this woman naturally possessed an air of nobility, even more potent than that of Mrs. Howard.
If Mrs. Howard represented the ultimate beauty of mortal women, then the woman before him was the beauty of an immortal seated in the clouds.
Every movement, every smile, made one's heart flutter.
The woman picked up the fragrant tea and took a sip, smiling, "A lingering fragrance."
Chen Fan did not respond, taking a quiet sip of his tea.
The woman understood and continued, "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Zhan Li, and I am the Pavilion Master of the Drifting Snow Pavilion."
"You are the Pavilion Master?"
"Mr. Han Ye, please do not be impatient. Kindly let me finish."
"Speak."
Chen Fan fell silent, waiting for her to elaborate.
Zhan Li took another sip of the fragrant tea and continued, "Originally, my sister was the Pavilion Master of the Drifting Snow Pavilion. The Drifting Snow Pavilion has a rule that the position of Pavilion Master is hereditary through abdication, not belonging to a single family. Therefore, once one becomes Pavilion Master, they are not allowed to have offspring."
"However, my sister fell in love with a man and had a child with him."
"Is that the infant?"
"Precisely."
"And then?"
"And then…"
A hint of sadness appeared in Zhan Li's eyes, "My sister died."
Chen Fan: "???"
"Do you know of the realm beyond Supreme?" Zhan Li asked.
"I do."
"It is a realm of ultimate power."
Zhan Li's eyes were filled with longing, "My sister, once, had one foot in that realm. In this world, having one foot in the realm beyond Supreme is almost an invincible state, yet she still died, silently and without a trace."
"..."
Chen Fan looked at Zhan Li, "What exactly are you trying to say?"
Zhan Li remained unhurried and continued, "After my sister's death, she sealed the Dao rhyme of the realm beyond Supreme within this infant's body. On that day, I was not at the sect, and I only learned of my sister's death seven days later."
"So…"
"So, there are questions surrounding my sister's death. I suspect a major power intervened, attempting to seize my sister's Dao rhyme from beyond Supreme. When my sister sealed the Dao rhyme into the infant's body, it was destined for them to be pursued."
"What about you?"
Chen Fan countered, "This is your sister's child, and you just watched as the child was hunted?"
"I had no choice."
Zhan Li shook her head. "I was suppressed within the Drifting Snow Pavilion by seven elders."
"Hmm?"
"Alas, the Drifting Snow Pavilion has changed…"
Sadness filled Zhan Li's eyes. "After my sister passed away, the Drifting Snow Pavilion changed. It was no longer unified; it seemed to have been divided by an invisible force. I cannot explain it clearly, but the seven elders had already betrayed the Drifting Snow Pavilion and become vassals of others."
If not for this, how could she, the dignified Pavilion Master, have been confined within the Drifting Snow Pavilion, unable to move?
"All I could do was send out my most capable subordinate, hoping to protect the infant and help them escape this place and live well," Zhan Li said with a solemn expression.
After speaking, she even cast a somewhat resentful glance at Chen Fan, "Who would have thought that you would send them back again, alas…"
This sigh was filled with helplessness.
Chen Fan waved his hand, "I have no interest in your Drifting Snow Pavilion's affairs. Since this is your sister's child, I will hand them over to you. I have my own matters to attend to."
"Mr. Han Ye."
Zhan Li spoke again, "You are the foremost rogue cultivator in the Eastern Continent. Now, I have a task I wish to entrust to you. I hope you will accept it."
"Hmm?"
"Take this infant to the City of Freedom and deliver them to its City Lord, Yi Fu. Tell him that this infant is Zhan Ning's child."
"City of Freedom? Yi Fu?"
Chen Fan was indeed heading to the City of Freedom and needed to find Yi Fu.
The Heavenly Crown was in Yi Fu's possession, and he had to obtain it.
"I'm sorry."
Yet, Chen Fan still refused.
He had his own matters to handle, and this journey was too perilous.
He didn't believe an infant could be exchanged for the Heavenly Crown from Yi Fu.
To obtain the Heavenly Crown, he could only rely on himself.
Perhaps, a battle would ensue.
He didn't want to involve an infant in it.
"Mr. Han Ye."
Zhan Li continued, "Don't be so quick to refuse. First, listen to the price I can pay. I think… you should be interested in the mastermind behind the Hundred Nights City tragedy."
"Hmm?"
Chen Fan was puzzled.
The Hundred Nights City tragedy? What was that?
"I accept."
The sudden voice caused Chen Fan to turn around abruptly.
Behind him, space distorted.
A man in brocade robes emerged from the distorted space. "Tell me the mastermind, and I will deliver the infant safely to the City of Freedom."
"You…"
Zhan Li was stunned.
Chen Fan was also stunned, then a smile appeared on his face, "Han Ye?"
The brocade-clad man’s gaze fell upon Chen Fan, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes. "Using my name to commit evil everywhere. Now, I have arrived. We will discuss your matters later. After I obtain the information I need, I will discuss the crime of impersonation with you."
Chen Fan: "…"
The real person had arrived.
How awkward.
The combat power beside him was also a bit confused.
Looking at Chen Fan, "You are not Han Ye?"
Chen Fan shook his head, "My apologies, I am Chen Fan. I previously used Mr. Han Ye's name for convenience in my affairs; it was nothing more."
Zhan Li: "…"
She had been deceived.
However, there was no anger in her heart from being deceived.
Chen Fan's strength had already earned her recognition.
But regarding the escorting of the infant, she was now unsure.
The true Han Ye had appeared and accepted her conditions.
Then what about Chen Fan?
What choice would he make?
"Hoo."
At this moment, Chen Fan spoke proactively, "Since Mr. Han Ye has appeared and accepted the mission, Pavilion Master Zhan can completely entrust the task to him. Coincidentally, I have other matters and cannot assist you further."
Zhan Li: "…"
Han Ye spoke, "Tell me about the incident in the Half-Night City, and I will ensure the person is safely delivered to the City of Freedom."
The name Han Ye alone was the greatest promise.
"...Alright."
This suggestion was not bad.
Chen Fan, being perceptive, moved away from the area where the two were conversing and went to Pang Tong's side, playfully interacting with the infant who had woken up at some unknown time.
Pang Tong was somewhat nervous.
He felt as if he had been drawn into a massive vortex.