Xiao Man placed the orchid on the windowsill and watered it. "A Ran, you gave me orchids, so I'll cook for you. What do you want to eat?"
"Whatever second brother cooks, I'll eat. Let me help you with the fire," Yue Ran scrambled up, fawning. "Second brother, can we go down the mountain to play after eating?"
"At this time, can you go down the mountain?" Xiao Man asked teasingly. "The sect is preparing your birthday banquet, and you're sneaking away now. Your father will surely break your legs."
"It's just for one day to go down and play," Yue Ran explained. "We worked so hard in the Purgatory Tower, we deserve a day to relax down the mountain."
"Did you cause trouble again?" Xiao Man asked while washing rice.
"Like you, I was sleeping. How could I cause trouble?" Yue Ran said with some uncertainty. "Second brother, please, there's a temple fair in the town at the foot of the mountain today, it's so lively."
"Temple fair?"
"Yes, temple fair." Yue Ran's eyes lit up. "How about we go eat in the town? We won't eat at home today."
As he spoke, Yue Ran pulled Xiao Man and they left the Tian Jian Sect as if they were familiar with the way, without alerting anyone.
By the time Jing Shu came to deliver a message, Yue Ran and Xiao Man had already left the Tian Jian Sect.
The town at the foot of the mountain was holding a temple fair, with crowds surging in the streets. They worshipped the Sword God; the towns within the Tian Jian Sect's domain all worshipped the Sword God.
Yue Ran pulled Xiao Man through the crowd, holding various snacks. Xiao Man ate while listening to Yue Ran tell her about the origins of the custom of worshipping the Sword God.
"Xiao Qin, Yue Ran!" a familiar voice called out from the crowd.
Amidst the throng, Bai Chen desperately stood on tiptoe, waving his hand. "I'm here."
"Senior Brother Bai Chen."
"Big brother, why is he here?" Yue Ran was a little confused, but he stood his ground and waited for Bai Chen to push his way over.
"Xiao Qin, Yue Ran." Bai Chen was still the same, his smile clean and cheerful, and Elder Zong Yi followed him closely.
"Elder Zong Yi."
"You two, did you take some miraculous pill? In such a short time, you're already at the late Golden Core stage!" Bai Chen was full of envy. Prodigies, truly prodigies!
"Senior Brother Bai Chen, if there were truly a spiritual pill, would we not share it with you? Our cultivation is all honestly achieved through practice."
"Prodigies!"
Elder Zong Yi smiled and his gaze fell upon Yue Ran. He then bowed. "Young Sect Master Yue."
"Young Sect Master?" Bai Chen looked bewildered.
"A Ran is the Young Sect Master of the Tian Jian Sect."
Bai Chen gasped. "I actually became sworn brothers with the Young Sect Master of the Tian Jian Sect. My heavens, this is something I can brag about for a long time!"
Xiao Man listened and couldn't help but laugh. "If A Ran inherits the position of Sect Master of Tian Jian Sect in the future, and becomes a Nascent Soul stage expert, wouldn't you be smiling in your sleep?"
"Yes, yes, Third Brother, you must quickly become a Nascent Soul stage expert. Then I can walk sideways when I go out. If anyone dares to bully me, I'll just mention your name: my brother is a Nascent Soul stage expert. If you bully me, you're all dead!"
"Big brother, second brother and I are waiting for you to become a Nascent Soul stage expert to protect us two. But you have the same idea as us!"
"Haha, then let's all work hard together. Look, I was the first among the three of us to form a Golden Core, but you both surpassed me. So, I can only rely on you!" Bai Chen said with a laugh. "Right, why are you two here?"
"We heard there was a temple fair, so we came to see."
"Now this place is packed with people, all the various forces coming to congratulate Third Brother." Bai Chen hooked his arm around Yue Ran's shoulder. "Your father really dotes on you, inviting heroes from all over the world to celebrate your birthday."
"This is not what I wanted."
"Whether you want it or not, it's your father's heartfelt wish," Bai Chen said with a smile. "Among the three of us, you're the only one with both parents. We are so jealous of you."
Yue Ran looked at Xiao Man. "Second brother, there's no need to be jealous of me. My parents are your parents."
Xiao Man did not reply. Yue Ran's parents might not be her parents. Perhaps Yue Ran's father was the one who abducted her mother. She needed to find a way into the Tian Jian Sect's library. Perhaps she could find something useful.
"You kid, what nonsense are you talking about? How can your parents be Junior Brother Xiao's parents?" Bai Chen teased. "If Junior Brother Xiao were a girl, it would be possible, but unfortunately, our Junior Brother Xiao is a handsome young man."
"As long as second brother is willing, my parents are second brother's parents."
Bai Chen laughed uncontrollably, thinking Yue Ran was talking nonsense. Elder Zong Yi saw the three of them reunited and assumed they had a lot to say. He followed at a distance and did not approach, only returning to Bai Chen's side after dark when Yue Ran and Xiao Man left.
"Young Master," Elder Zong Yi watched the figures of the two disappear into the night and appeared beside Bai Chen. "I sense something is not right."
Bai Chen's smile faded. "Our appearance here means we've made our resolve. I just don't know what she intends to do."
"Before receiving any orders, we should wait. That is the Tian Jian Sect, the foremost of the Four Great Sects, the only sect with a Nascent Soul stage expert!"
Bai Chen gave a wry smile. "Master, you know, we have no choice."
Elder Zong Yi sighed. "Let's hope it's not the worst outcome."
"No matter how bad it gets, it's just death."
"Indeed, no matter how bad it gets, it's just death."
Yue Ran and Xiao Man played down the mountain for a day and secretly climbed back over the wall. When they returned to the courtyard, they found it empty.
Xiao Man grabbed Yue Ran's arm. "Something's wrong."
"I've noticed," Yue Ran said calmly. "Yang Wei and Liu Han are both gone."
At this moment, candlelight flickered in the reception hall. Yang Wei and Liu Han were kneeling inside. There was someone in there. Yue Ran patted Xiao Man's hand, signaling her not to worry, and walked towards the reception hall.
"Mother, why are you here?"
Madame Yue's tone was indifferent. "Where did you go?"
"We went to the town at the foot of the mountain to see the temple fair."
"You killed Tong'er's maid and old woman, and then you went down the mountain to enjoy yourself. You're getting more and more out of hand." Madame Yue's back was to Yue Ran, her voice still cold, but he could hear the hidden anger.
"I will not marry Huo Tong'er," Yue Ran said as he walked in. Xiao Man stood at the door.
"I'm talking about you ordering people to kill Tong'er's maid and old woman." Madame Yue took a deep breath to calm herself. "That's your maternal grandfather's family."
"I know. That's why I didn't kill Huo Tong'er. Otherwise, given that she barged into my courtyard and acted so outrageously, it would have been enough reason to kill her."
"She's your cousin."
"I know," Yue Ran interrupted. "But, Mother, I don't like people barging into my courtyard. You should know this very well. Yet you still sent her into my courtyard. The person who caused the death of the Huo family servants was not me, but you."