The Spirit Mountain Sect Leader glared at True Person Feng Qing and said angrily, "Junior Brother, how is the medicine you were supposed to refine? Why hasn't my cultivation increased, and where exactly is the problem!"
True Person Feng Qing appeared leisurely, "Senior Brother, I've told you long ago that there are no shortcuts in this world. You have too many distractions in your heart, so naturally, your cultivation won't increase."
"I'm not here to listen to your nonsense." The Sect Leader, annoyed, brushed away the teacup on the table and stared at True Person Feng Qing. "Of course, you would say that. You are the one recognized by Master for your talent. What takes you a day to learn takes me ten years."
His eyes were filled with jealousy. Even this position of Sect Leader, he only obtained because his junior brother didn't want it. "Junior Brother, I don't care. If you don't use Jun Yelan to refine the medicine, I can't guarantee the consequences."
"Senior Brother, why must you be like this?" True Person Feng Qing sighed, "Master said you have too much aggression and told you to cultivate your character, but you are too deeply attached."
"Hmph," the Sect Leader sneered, "You're always the same. The things on Jun Yelan are poisonous. If you don't refine them, I'll find someone to test them. Your disobedient disciple will be the first."
With that, he brushed his sleeves and left.
True Person Feng Qing sat in his spot, sighing, "Senior Brother, you weren't like this before. You've changed after all." He looked at Lan Yan behind him, "Come out."
"Master." Lan Yan didn't know what to say.
True Person Feng Qing smiled with relief, "It's alright. My junior brothers and I have been like this for so many years. From now on, I will go into seclusion to refine medicine. The day of success will be the day that demon beast dies." He looked at Lan Yan.
Lan Yan started, her hands clenched. The time left for her was running out. "Master, you are willing to sacrifice for the Sect Leader, and I also have someone to sacrifice for. I will never forget Master's teachings."
True Person Feng Qing looked into Lan Yan's eyes. Even this disciple had changed. He thought Lan Yan was talking about a person, never expecting it to be a demon beast, and then he got up to leave.
Lan Yan also left, heading towards Jun Yelan's cave entrance, but she didn't enter. She vowed, "Jun Yelan, I will save you." With that, she returned to her room to study formations.
At this moment, Jun Yelan was still locked inside the cave, staring at the entrance. She didn't know how long she had been looking.
Lan Yan found the formation that sealed Jun Yelan in a book. It stated that special materials were needed to break the formation: the feathers of a firebird. She remembered a firebird was kept in the back mountain, considered a forbidden area.
She closed her door and decided to try her luck there.
As she stepped out, she saw Lin Qian standing at the entrance, looking rather sad. "Senior Sister."
Lan Yan walked past him directly, but Lin Qian chased after her. She stopped and said, "Don't follow me anymore. I won't blame you. Everyone has their own views, and it's hard to change."
At this moment, Lin Qian felt that he and his Senior Sister had drifted apart. "Senior Sister, that demon beast should not exist in this world. Everyone thinks so."
"What everyone thinks is not necessarily right." Lan Yan looked at Lin Qian, "Junior Brother, as you experience more in the future, perhaps one day you will know the reason why I am doing this. I cannot abandon him."
After speaking, she walked forward. At first, it was because of a mission, but now it was because she genuinely wanted to save Jun Yelan. Jun Yelan should not be hunted and killed by everyone simply because of his identity!
Lin Qian stood behind her, silently watching her leave. He still couldn't understand.
Lan Yan arrived at the back mountain, found the firebird's cave, and walked inside. She looked at the dark cave, took out a fire starter, and afraid to act rashly, she advanced slowly.
The deeper she went, the thinner the air became, and a mist drifted from within. She covered her mouth and nose, trying to orient herself, when suddenly a voice echoed in her ears.
"Yan'er, don't leave me."
"Yan'er, you broke your promise."
"Yan'er, wait for me in your next life."
These voices felt familiar to Lan Yan, but she had never heard these words. Puzzled, she walked forward. This time, she saw some scenes: a man holding a woman and crying.
For some reason, her heart ached fiercely, and her steps followed forward. She reached out and placed her hand on the man's shoulder, gently calling out, "Who are you?"
As the words fell, the man turned his head, and it was Jun Yelan!
She was stunned. Realizing this was her own illusion, she sat down and closed her eyes. "No demons or monsters shall approach me."
Instantly, the voices in her ears disappeared. She opened her eyes again and saw the firebird in front of her. "Good, so it was you playing tricks. Let me teach you a lesson." She rolled up her sleeves and went to pull the firebird's feathers.
The firebird cried out in pain and said, confused, "Why are you unaffected by the illusion array? You should have fallen into a nightmare."
"What nightmare? I haven't experienced those things." Lan Yan pulled off a feather, put it in her bag, and didn't bother talking to the bird anymore.
The firebird shook its head, "Impossible. My illusion array is formed based on the memories of those who enter. If you don't remember, there's only one possibility: you've lost..."
Another feather was pulled, and she was so tired she could barely speak.
Lan Yan clapped her hands and smiled, "Little firebird, you should just rest well." She got up and walked towards the cave entrance, fiddling with the bag at her waist. Now she could break the formation.
However, the firebird behind her became enraged and suddenly spewed fire from its mouth. The flames rushed towards Lan Yan.
Lan Yan felt the heat behind her and dodged to the side, but her arm was still burned. She looked at the mark on her arm, gritted her teeth, applied medicine, and bandaged it.
Then she looked at the firebird behind her and roared, "You're dead!" She plucked all the firebird's feathers and threw it to the furthest corner, out of sight.
The firebird let out a whimper and vowed never to provoke this lady again.
Lan Yan then left, supporting her arm, and looked at Jun Yelan's cave entrance in the corridor. She was about to step forward, but felt her appearance was not suitable, so she decided to return to her room to tidy up first.
Meanwhile, Jun Yelan, not seeing anyone at the cave entrance, withdrew his gaze, his eyes darkening slightly. "Is she the same as other cultivators? Will she not come to see me anymore?"
He closed his eyes, recalling the time he was subjected to formations by cultivators, the time his horns and wings were removed – those were his most desperate moments.
Covered in wounds, unable to save himself, he could only endure.
But his current appearance made him feel somewhat pathetic. He had a special feeling for this cultivator named Lan Yan.
Just as he was thinking this, he faintly heard a sound at the entrance. He raised his head and saw Lan Yan with a smiling face. He thought it was an illusion, but it was real.
Lan Yan stood at the entrance and, as usual, called out, "Jun Yelan, I'm here."
Jun Yelan was stunned. The appearance of the person before him seemed to imprint itself in his mind, something he would never forget for the rest of his life.