On the other side, Lan Yan was following her father's arrangement, showing Yang Lingtian around the Lan Family estate.
The two walked side by side along a path paved with bluestone, passing through meticulously tended gardens and circling around a lake shimmering with ripples.
Lan Yan was still dressed in a plain, elegant gown. Her aloof bearing was like a lotus atop a snow-capped mountain, fit only to be admired from afar.
Yet now, the looks she occasionally cast at Yang Lingtian held less of the indifference she had shown upon their first meeting, and more of a complicated emotion that was difficult to put into words.
Curiosity, scrutiny, and even a trace of imperceptible admiration.
"Guest Official Yang, this is the Lan Family's martial arena."
Lan Yan raised her slender jade finger and pointed toward a broad plaza ahead.
The plaza was paved with sturdy black obsidian, its surface covered in densely packed runes.
A faint energy fluctuation radiated from it. Clearly, a powerful defensive formation had been reinforced upon the arena.
Though no one was practicing there at the moment, one could still sense the fierce battle intent lingering upon it.
Yang Lingtian swept his gaze over the arena and nodded slightly.
"The Lan Family's foundations are indeed profound."
His tone was calm, as though he were merely stating a fact.
Lan Yan glanced at him, her red lips parting slightly. "Compared with the strength Guest Official Yang displayed today, these are merely insignificant tricks."
There was a hint of probing in her words.
Yang Lingtian smiled indifferently and did not respond. His gaze turned toward the distant clouds, his deep eyes seeming capable of piercing the void.
Seeing that he was unwilling to say more about himself, Lan Yan stopped pressing him. The sense of mystery surrounding