"Yes, I'm here," An Miaoyi said, pulling Ye Junlin forward. "This is Ye Fan."
"Young Master Ye, I truly admire your skills." Fan Dezhen gave a respectful clasp of his hands, his tone more serious now.
For some reason, just standing near Ye Junlin made his heart stir uneasily.
Ye Junlin gave a relaxed smile. "You're too kind. Just a small trick, nothing special."
An Miaoyi watched Uncle Fan's respectful attitude with growing confusion.
Swish! Whoosh!
Two figures descended beside them—Hong Qianye and Li Wujie.
"Fellow Daoists," Fan Dezhen greeted immediately. After seeing them in action earlier, he wasn't about to treat them casually.
Hong Qianye opened his mouth to address Ye Junlin, nearly calling him "Master," but a voice transmission hit his mind just in time. He paused, then cleared his throat and said instead, "Brother Ye, the matter outside has been handled."
"Great," Ye Junlin said with a nod, casual as ever.
"These two are…" An Miaoyi trailed off, eyes glued to Hong Qianye.
She was stunned. So beautiful… like a celestial immortal descended to the mortal realm.
Ye Junlin introduced with a straight face, "The one in red is named Wang Cuihua. And the swordsman beside her is Li Tiedan."
Hong Qianye shot Ye Junlin a look of disbelief. Wang Cuihua? Are you insane?
But catching Ye Junlin's meaningful glance, the once-dignified Demon Cult leader swallowed his pride. He nodded reluctantly, "Yes. I'm Wang Cuihua."
The name left a bitter taste in his mouth. He'd remember this humiliation.
Li Wujie, ever loyal, chimed in cheerfully, "And I'm Li Tiedan!"
No complaints from him—if his Master said it, it had to be right.
"Greetings to both of you," An Miaoyi replied politely, her mind still reeling. That appearance… and that name? What a waste…
After a few polite exchanges, Fan Dezhen gently pulled An Miaoyi aside.
"Master, what were you just…?" Li Wujie asked curiously.
Ye Junlin rested one hand behind his back and held the flute in front of him with the other. With a serious tone, he said, "Those impostors from earlier might make another move. For the next few days, let's keep a low profile. Don't startle the snake."
"Master is wise!" Li Wujie said, full of admiration.
Hong Qianye, however, was dying inside. You're wise, sure—but did you really have to call me Wang Cuihua?
Meanwhile, Fan Dezhen was deep in thought. "That young man Ye… he's not ordinary. Didn't even lift a finger last night, yet his flute dismantled the Underworld ambush and saved us all. That level of control—just brilliant."
"Uncle Fan, really? Are you exaggerating?" An Miaoyi blinked.
"I saw it myself. And look at those two by his side—they treat him with utter respect. It only confirms how powerful he really is."
His gaze darkened slightly. "Something about that trio felt strangely familiar too…"
"Oh, don't overthink it," An Miaoyi cut in. "Young Master Ye and the others are good people. Once Medicine King Valley opens, we should stick close to them."
Fan Dezhen frowned. "Miss, you know their faces, not their hearts. You've spent your whole life sheltered in Wendaozong. The outside world… isn't that simple. Those three give off an odd vibe. We have to be cautious."
"Oh, come on, Uncle Fan. You're starting to sound just like my father," she groaned. "Nagging was the main reason I snuck out in the first place. I'm exhausted now. Going to bed. Goodnight!"
With that, An Miaoyi slipped into her room and slammed the door.
Fan Dezhen stared after her, helpless. Then he sighed. "Master, your daughter is really something else…"
---
The Next Morning
The inn's guests woke up one by one, blissfully unaware of the chaos that had unfolded the night before. Most of them even felt strangely refreshed, as if they'd had the best sleep of their lives.
Inside a quiet room,
"Master, here's your tiramisu," Bai Xiaoxi said cheerfully, placing a delicate plate on the table.
Ye Junlin picked up a spoon, took a bite, and gave a satisfied smile. "Xiaoxi, you might just be a culinary genius."
"Hehe, it's not a big deal," Bai Xiaoxi said, bashfully scratching her head. But the praise from her Master clearly delighted her.
"Oh right, did you sleep well last night?" Ye Junlin asked with a faint smile.
Bai Xiaoxi's eyes lit up instantly. "Master! I had the sweetest dream! There were mountains of food, all delicious! I ate and ate, then floated on a cloud to sleep—it was amazing!"
Ye Junlin laughed. "Sounds like a paradise."
This little mouse really was something. Always light-hearted, no matter what chaos surrounded them.
"Master, do you think there's really a world like that?" Bai Xiaoxi asked dreamily. "I want to see it for myself someday."
Ye Junlin gently patted her head. "The universe is vast. Who's to say there isn't? If there is, I'll take you there."
"Yay!" Bai Xiaoxi jumped up with a cheer, full of childlike joy.
---
Meanwhile, deep in a forbidden valley—
BOOM!
A powerful shockwave tore through the sky.
Countless runes danced like tadpoles above the valley, releasing a powerful and ancient energy that rippled outward, impossible to ignore.
In a flash, cultivators monitoring the area erupted in excitement.
"The Medicine King Valley has opened! It's really open!"
The news hit Tianling City like a bolt of lightning.
Everywhere—on streets, in inns, taverns, and even brothels—cultivators sprang to their feet and soared into the sky, flying swords streaking through the air.
Shoosh. Shoosh. Shoosh—
Blades of wind howled as streaks of multicolored light tore across the sky, each headed straight for the valley.
From the inn's corridor, An Miaoyi watched the flood of cultivators with wide eyes. "That's strange… the timing doesn't match the rumors. This opening was way too sudden."
Fan Dezhen's expression darkened. "No time to question it. Let's go."
With a step, he grabbed An Miaoyi, and the two vanished in a blink.
Elsewhere, Hong Qianye and Li Wujie reappeared.
"Master, it's time," they said in unison.
Ye Junlin, still holding a spoon, calmly finished the last bite of his tiramisu. Then, taking Bai Xiaoxi's hand, he walked to the door and smiled lazily.
"Let's go pay Medicine King Valley a visit."
---
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