Red Cord, Silver Bell, Old Friends Unchanged (Monthly Pass Request)

Lan Yingying's hand holding the tea suddenly trembled, and the tea nearly spilled.

Her expression shook as she stared at Chen Ping'an in utter disbelief.

"Back then."

At the Northern Cang auction, within the stronghold, there had been Vajra's Wrathful Gaze, whose combat strength stood at the apex and could battle a Grandmaster.

The atmosphere in the field froze into silence; a falling needle could be heard.

Lan Yingjun widened her eyes and stared straight at the man before her.

The man from that day—

Was it really him!?

Regarding what had happened back then, she and Mother had harbored faint suspicions. Yet no amount of speculation could compare to Chen Ping'an's single sentence today.

"Brother Chen."

Lan Yingjun's gaze trembled slightly, her expression complicated.

Chen Ping'an sat quietly in the large chair, calm-faced and deep-eyed, without the slightest ripple of emotion.

After a long silence in the field, Lan Yingying's somewhat aged voice finally sounded.

"So it was Lord Chen. This old woman had wondered how someone of Lord Chen's peerless talent could have been merely at the Profound Light Realm in those days. It turns out this old woman was blind and failed to recognize Lord Chen."

Lan Yingying's tone was calm, with no anger visible in her expression. Instead, there was admiration and astonishment.

"Grandmaster Lan." Chen Ping'an set down the teacup in hand, preparing to say something.

"Lord Chen." Lan Yingying slowly raised her hand. "When it comes to what happened back then, it was ultimately this old woman's fault. This old woman should apologize to Lord Chen for acting against you out of personal desire."

As she spoke, Lan Yingying rose and bowed to Chen Ping'an in apology.

"Mother." Lan Yingjun cried out in alarm and hurriedly supported Mother.

Lan Yingying patted Lan Yingjun's hand,