Lan Yan blinked, her senses returning. She had been upgraded again. She nodded, her eyes sparkling. "Then, City Lord, I'll move my things in here first."
"No need." After Jun Ye Lan carried the quilt inside, he took the other items from Lan Yan's hands and placed them in the room.
He sectioned off half of the space for Lan Yan. "This will be your area from now on, and your things go here."
Lan Yan nodded eagerly and went to arrange her belongings. Once everything was in place, she lay down comfortably on the quilt, feeling like her whole world had become beautiful.
Seeing Lan Yan so easily satisfied, Jun Ye Lan felt less troubled. He lay down beside her, able to see her with a turn of his head, and closed his eyes.
Lan Yan, seeing Jun Ye Lan beginning to sleep, closed her mouth and smiled before drifting off herself.
Soon, the even breathing of two people filled the room.
Outside the window, the crescent moon hung high in the night sky, surrounded by twinkling stars.
The next morning, Lan Yan was called by Lü Qi to help organize things. Hearing they were going out, she became quite cheerful. She knew the purpose of this trip wouldn't be simple, and she couldn't get carried away.
"Lü Qi, everyone in this city is capable. What's your talent? I'm just genuinely curious." She also wanted some skill to protect herself.
Lü Qi went into the room and emerged a quarter of an hour later, transformed into a hunched-over old grandmother. She pulled down her disguise and said, "This is my skill."
Lan Yan was thrilled. So Lü Qi knew disguise. If she had this skill, escaping would be no problem. But it surely was difficult to learn. She murmured, "I should prepare more things before I go out this time."
She would bring everything that could help her self-protect, and perhaps then, she could even protect Jun Ye Lan.
Lü Qi handed her a package, stuffing it into Lan Yan's arms. "This is for you. Also, take care." Life outside the city wasn't much better than inside.
Though only two words, Lan Yan felt a sense of danger in going out. But she absolutely wouldn't let Jun Ye Lan go alone; what if he had an episode on the way?
She hugged the package tightly, silently encouraging herself.
Lü Qi had already left to prepare a decoy. But this would only fool ordinary people; some could see through it at a glance, like the Saintess.
At that moment, in the Saintess's hall, a beautiful woman in purple sat before a mirror, looking at the wrinkles appearing at the corners of her eyes. She applied ointment, and the wrinkles vanished.
A maidservant from outside walked in and reported, "Saintess, the City Lord is leaving the city."
This woman was the Saintess of the city. She clenched the ointment in her hand, filled with anger. "How many years has it been? He's actually willing to leave the city! It's probably those righteous sects causing trouble again."
The maidservant bowed her head, not daring to speak much. This Saintess was also quite terrifying.
The Saintess looked at the mirror, truly detesting Jun Ye Lan's face, a face that bore some resemblance to her own. A hint of ruthlessness flickered in her eyes as she said, "Since he wishes to go out, we certainly can't stop him."
"But he won't need to return."
The maidservant nodded, clenching her palm. "There's one more thing. I heard the City Lord isn't going out alone this time; he's taking a little maidservant. This maidservant is the one Qiu Ju dealt with previously."
The Saintess's eyes chilled. "A mere maidservant, I don't take her seriously. Besides, how many people by his side have survived? When he dies, that little maidservant won't be able to do anything anyway."
"This servant understands." The maidservant dared not linger any longer and quickly left to release carrier pigeons.
Elsewhere, Lan Yan was in the tea-brewing room, tidying up. Then, carrying the package Lü Qi had given her, she went to the room within the hall.
She took out the slingshot and stones she had hidden, placing them in a sewn pocket. She also put some food and daily necessities into a small bag, just in case.
Jun Ye Lan approached from the doorway, intending to enter. He saw Lan Yan squatting on the ground. He didn't make a sound and tiptoed over. Turning his head, he saw the large package in front of Lan Yan, which appeared heavier than Lan Yan herself.
Lan Yan also saw Jun Ye Lan and smiled. "City Lord, I've prepared everything." She patted the package, accidentally hitting the pot she had brought along. Pain shot through her palm.
She smiled awkwardly and shook her hand. "An accident."
Jun Ye Lan suppressed a smile at the corner of his lips. "We'll be back quickly on this trip, so there's no need to bring so much. Also, if you lack anything, you can buy it."
Lan Yan's eyes lit up. "Then, City Lord, can we go shopping?" She had thought there wouldn't be free time, so she had prepared everything specifically to avoid being a burden.
Seeing her like this, Jun Ye Lan's original intention to just investigate things softened, and he nodded. The next instant, he saw Lan Yan's smile deepen, and his heart skipped a beat.
Lan Yan then crouched down and took out what she had just prepared; it was no longer needed. She ended up only bringing two or three outfits, along with some medicinal bottles for healing.
Jun Ye Lan watched from the side, sensing Lan Yan's subtle excitement upon hearing about leaving the city. He said, "By my side, danger is everywhere. Leaving the city is not a good thing."
Those who had accompanied him out had never returned.
Lan Yan was busy tidying away unnecessary items, murmuring, "City Lord, danger is everywhere, it has nothing to do with you. Besides, there are always two sides to everything. After leaving the city, besides completing the mission, we can also see different scenery."
She turned her head, looking at Jun Ye Lan with a smile.
Jun Ye Lan's eyes trembled slightly. He had indeed forgotten these words. A warmth spread through his heart, rendering him speechless. After a long moment, he spoke, "Actually, the founder of this dead city was once from a righteous sect."
Lan Yan, eager to hear a story, stared intently at Jun Ye Lan.
Jun Ye Lan's lips curved slightly, then fell. "He was framed and persecuted by the righteous sects and fled to an abandoned city. He began to take in those who shared his fate."
"Later, more and more people arrived – the homeless, those wanted by the righteous sects, the fugitives – causing this place to become a mixed bag. Thus, conflicts began. Someone proposed electing a City Lord, but there were always those who wouldn't obey."
"And the righteous sects have always detested this place. They have sent people to encircle and suppress it several times. They will not give up." As he spoke of this, his palms clenched.
He couldn't help but look at Lan Yan, only to see her resting her head on her hands, her eyelids drooping.
Lan Yan shook her head, trying to drive away the sleepiness, her eyes moist. "City Lord, please continue, what happened to the righteous sects."
Seeing this, Jun Ye Lan slowed his narration. When he saw Lan Yan slump onto the table, he stopped. He draped his outer garment over Lan Yan's shoulders, gazing at her helplessly.
Lan Yan slept soundly.
The next morning, the two of them secretly left the city and arrived at the bustling streets.