It was already two twenty-four in the afternoon.
Ye Lan felt a wave of fatigue. She had been lying on the bamboo chair, intending to take a nap. However, just as she fell into a deep sleep, she suddenly heard rustling footsteps in the central courtyard!
"Yo, little girl, you sleep soundly."
Ye Lan, with groggy eyes, immediately recognized the voice. It was undoubtedly Qing Xuanzi!
This person had returned after leaving, and his intentions must be malicious.
"So it's Qing... Xuanzi. Didn't we agree you'd visit after Master Yun emerged from seclusion? Why have you gone back on your word?" Ye Lan reacted swiftly, leaping up with extraordinary grace.
"You little girl, you can tell lies without blushing or skipping a beat. You even had me momentarily stunned. Amazing, I'm impressed!"
Although Qing Xuanzi wore a smile, his form flashed suddenly. He sent out only thirty percent of his strength and slapped Ye Lan on the shoulder. She was sent flying like a kite with a broken string towards the inner room, crashing heavily onto the bamboo-constructed floor!
This force, utilizing the internal energy and vital force of a martial artist, was naturally beyond mere brute strength. Ye Lan clutched her shoulder, biting her lip lightly. Her elegant brows furrowed like autumn leaves dotting emerald water. She slowly got up, about to reach out to stop Qing Xuanzi, when she heard him sneer:
"Little girl, that old fellow isn't in the room at all. You don't need to lie to me. Tell me, where is he now?"
Ye Lan's mind raced like code execution, two if statements flashing through her thoughts. First, if she told the truth, given his fierce appearance, it was likely he might even desecrate a grave. Second, if she lied again, she didn't know what excuse she could find.
With this thought, Ye Lan's brow furrowed slightly again.
"Little girl, don't lie to me either. I've discovered something very strange. There isn't a single piece of clothing belonging to that old fellow in this room. Don't you think that's odd?"
βIt's over, I can't hide it anymore?
Ye Lan's mind spun rapidly, and she immediately said, "Alright, I won't hide it from you. Master has gone down the mountain to travel and has not yet returned."
"Traveling? Then what is this?"
Qing Xuanzi suddenly scattered some unburned paper money with his left hand, still stained with red candle tears.
"Little girl, I'll give you another chance. If you dare to lie again, I can't guarantee what my disciples behind me might do to a beautiful young lady like you!"
Qing Xuanzi waved his large hand, and five or six men in black surrounded Ye Lan.
These fellows, it was unclear where Qing Xuanzi had found them, were all uniquely strange-looking. If appearance were a physical attack, Ye Lan would have already suffered critical damage, leaving her with very little health.
Ye Lan glanced left and right, falling silent.
"Not speaking? Fine. Little girl, let me ask you, who were you burning this for?" Qing Xuanzi glared, looking as if he wanted to devour Ye Lan alive.
"To offer sacrifices to heaven and earth, to the gods. Is that not allowed?" Ye Lan could only stall for time, silently praying that Ren Yuanhao and his group would return quickly.
"Heaven and earth? Gods? Don't you think that reason is a bit too far-fetched?" Qing Xuanzi suddenly slapped the bamboo tea table with his palm. Energy erupted, shattering it into pieces. "Little girl, I'll give you one more chance. If you're still playing games with me, I truly cannot guarantee that my disciples won't do anything outrageous to you."
Ye Lan was pushed back several steps by these impatient-looking men. One of them, with a bulbous nose, even extended a withered, chicken-claw-like hand towards her, his face lecherous, making as if to pounce!
"How dare you!" Ye Lan reached out to slap the man's face, but this man, though seemingly small, possessed astonishing strength. Before her palm could even get close, he firmly gripped it, rendering her unable to move.
"Little slut, you really think you're someone important, don't you? Never mind that old man Yun isn't here. Even if he were, I'd still dare to touch you!"
Before he finished speaking, the man slapped Ye Lan's pure face!
When had Ye Lan ever endured such humiliation? Her fair face flushed red, and her eyes welled up with tears, yet her gaze grew ever colder, her demeanor undiminished, like a sword radiating a chill.
"Tsk tsk, go easy on her, damn it. This kind of beauty lives by her face alone, do you know that?" Qing Xuanzi said this, but with a smile on his face, he watched his disciple humiliate Ye Lan with amusement, showing no intention of stopping him.
Just then, another of Qing Xuanzi's tall disciples stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Master, on the cliff behind the bamboo shed, a new grave has been discovered. It's, it's~"
"Stop stuttering, just spit it out!"
Ye Lan thought, this is not good. That new grave on the cliff was Master Yun's!
"It's, it's the old scoundrel Yun Qinghe's!"
Upon hearing this, Qing Xuanzi staggered back several steps. If his disciples hadn't supported him, he might have fainted from anger!
Ye Lan naturally didn't understand why Qing Xuanzi was so agitated, only feeling that something major had gone wrong!
At this moment, after a bout of dizziness, Qing Xuanzi, like a madman, took off his shoes and ran ecstatically towards the central courtyard. He let out a roar to the heavens, immediately spitting out a mouthful of black blood. Everyone turned pale instantly, but none dared to step forward to stop their master.
"Old thing, how can you die! If you die, who will I find to repay this pain of having my ear cut off? Tell me, who should I find to repay it!"
Qing Xuanzi grabbed a pitchfork and began smashing wildly, making clanging sounds. The tea sets, plants, and bamboo screens were all smashed to smithereens by him. Still not satisfied, he turned to look at the detestable bamboo shed, the glint in his eyes filling Ye Lan with dread.
"Fine, old thing. Don't think you can get away with everything just because you're dead. I'll go dig up your grave now and twist your head off to be used as a urine pot!"
Qing Xuanzi waved his hand and called out. Those disciples began searching for tools everywhere, then followed behind Qing Xuanzi directly towards the cliff. Halfway there, he seemed to remember something, turned back, and grabbed Ye Lan. Ye Lan struggled with all her might, but he struck the back of her neck, and Ye Lan immediately lost consciousness.
"Old thing, since this woman appeared here, she must have a great connection with you. Later, I will personally strip this woman naked in front of your grave and see if you are ashamed or not!"
Qing Xuanzi furrowed his brows, his face filled with rage. He slung Ye Lan over his shoulder and headed towards the bamboo shed and the cliff.
At this moment, Ren Yuanhao and his group were still feeling dejected.
"Yuanhao, since this stone gate can be closed, there must be a way to open it from the outside. Since we are destined individuals, we will surely overcome the obstacles."
Shen Lan Ni comforted him, but Ren Yuanhao replied, "I want to find that female mountain baboon, after all, they have guarded this place for generations, allowing it to remain peaceful until now."