Departure

Lu Yueqing had a fairly good impression of Shi Lan, but whether she would truly honor the engagement was something she would have to consider carefully. There was still plenty of time.

Lu Yueqing had made her position clear, so Shi Lan said nothing more. In her heart, however, she once again cursed the god who'd sent her into this world until he was covered in blood.

If she were a man right now, with two systems and such a stunning fiancée, what a dream of a start that would be.

Unfortunately, there were no "ifs" in life...

Shi Lan left the hall with Lu Yueqing and went to the place where Shi Tianlu had hosted the banquet.

After the usual pleasantries over the meal, Lu Yueqing told Shi Tianlu that she was taking her leave.

"You're leaving already? Didn't you get along with Shi Lan?" Shi Tianlu was secretly pleased, but furrowed his brows.

"Jiuxiao City has been beset by turmoil lately, and the Lu Clan is short on hands. I had to make time for this trip, so I hope you won't take offense, Uncle Shi," Lu Yueqing replied gently.

"Oh? What's happened in Jiuxiao City? Do you need our help?" Remembering the letter he'd received earlier, Shi Tianlu couldn't help feeling puzzled. Had something serious really happened in Jiuxiao City? How had he not heard a thing?

Lu Changfeng hadn't come in person this time. Shi Tianlu had assumed he was too embarrassed to show his face because he knew Lu Yueqing might break off the engagement. Now, it seemed he truly couldn't get away.

"Thank you for the kind offer, Uncle Shi. The Lu Clan can manage for now." Lu Yueqing shook her head slightly, then looked meaningfully at Shi Feng, who stood beside Shi Lan. "The Shi Mansion truly is full of talented people. This time, I've certainly had my eyes opened."

Shi Tianlu acted as though he hadn't noticed, and smiled as he shook his head. "You flatter us, Yueqing. Tenglong City is a tiny place, nothing compared to the exceptional people and beautiful scenery of Jiuxiao City."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Shi Tianlu escorted Lu Yueqing and the others to the entrance of the Shi Mansion.

"Please stay here, Uncle Shi. This is far enough."

Lu Yueqing flicked her sleeve, and a glint of light shot from its opening, transforming into a green flying sword.

The sword appeared and swelled in the wind, becoming a giant sword nearly three meters long in the blink of an eye.

Lu Yueqing stepped onto the flying sword, and Lu Yuan followed close behind, leaping aboard.

Nearby, Lu Yueqing's Third Great-Uncle unhurriedly summoned a jade-pendant-shaped magical artifact and stepped onto it.

Shi Lan couldn't help widening her eyes. She'd seen people flying on magical artifacts in Shi Lan's memories, but nothing compared to witnessing it with her own eyes.

"Uncle Shi, we'll take our leave now." Lu Yueqing cupped her hands in salute once more.

"Clan Head Shi, farewell."

"Take care on your journey."

Only after watching the two streaks of light vanish on the horizon did Shi Lan finally tear her gaze away, still yearning for more.

Xiantian Realm...

"What are you still standing around for? Your confinement isn't over. Go back and reflect on your actions!" Shi Tianlu glared at Shi Lan, then turned and walked into the mansion.

Shi Lan curled her lip and headed back to her quarters. Even if Shi Tianlu hadn't said anything, she still had to return to her martial training.

"Elder Sister Yueqing, that Shi Lan is nothing but a useless wastrel. Don't let his pretty face fool you. Just because he looks good doesn't mean he's a good person."

After Tenglong City disappeared from view, Lu Yuan finally couldn't hold back the words he'd been bottling up all day.

"You haven't spent any time with her. How do you know she isn't a good person?" Lu Yueqing asked in return.

"I..." Lu Yuan was at a loss for words. Then he shamelessly pressed on: "Those rumors can't have come from nowhere. Even if they're exaggerated, she's still completely unworthy of you, Elder Sister Yueqing."

Lu Yueqing shook her head slightly. "Three men make a tiger. The least trustworthy things in the world are the rumors circulating among ordinary people. Yet, laughably, people always choose to believe them."

"Yueqing, Lu Yuan has a point. If you really don't like this Shi Lan, you can say so outright. I'll speak to Changfeng."

"Thank you, Third Great-Uncle. I don't want to think about this matter for now. Shi Lan isn't a bad person; I can be sure of that much. As for whether she's worthy of becoming my husband, I'll judge that for myself in the future."

"Very well. As you wish."

Shi Feng followed Shi Lan all the way back to the courtyard.

Shi Lan pulled Shi Feng into her room with a mysterious air and pointed to the wooden box holding the Blood Ginseng. "Can you find a way to get me some more of this Blood Ginseng?"

The Blood Ginseng she had left would probably not last even another day. Shi Lan had wanted to ask Su Lanyue for help, but Su Lanyue had already given her cultivation techniques and medicinal meals.

She felt bad about bothering her again. Besides, she wasn't the original Shi Lan, and her feelings toward Su Lanyue were complicated to begin with. Asking her for more medicinal herbs was something Shi Lan truly found hard to bring herself to do.

Seeing that only a small piece of Blood Ginseng, roots and all, remained—and the clear bite marks on it—Shi Feng's expression changed.

Then, somewhat incredulously, he said, "Eldest Young Master, I told you that with your constitution, you could take at most half a qian at a time. It hasn't even been two days, and you've already eaten most of it?"

Shi Lan looked a little embarrassed. "It tasted pretty good, so I ate a bit more..."

"You don't feel unwell?" A hint of worry appeared in Shi Feng's eyes.

Blood Ginseng was a powerful tonic. With Shi Lan's original physique, eating so much in less than two days could easily overdo it and do more harm than good.

"Eldest Young Master, let me examine you, just in case there are any hidden problems." The more Shi Feng thought about it, the more worried he became. He couldn't help offering.

Shi Lan shook her head repeatedly. An examination? What if he discovered something he shouldn't?

"I don't feel anything unusual. I just feel a little more energetic. First, tell me if you can get me more Blood Ginseng. About how much silver does one root cost?"

"Blood Ginseng may not be available, but I can find you some similar herbs that replenish qi and blood. How much do you want?" Seeing Shi Lan put it that way, Shi Feng let the earlier matter drop.

"Twenty or thirty roots. The more, the better." Shi Lan roughly calculated how quickly the Jade Forging Art could refine the medicinal energy and gave him an estimate.

"Twenty or thirty roots?! Do you think they're radishes?" Shi Feng gasped. Herbs that were a hundred years old might not be treasures, but they certainly weren't something you could find lying around everywhere. They were quite rare.

Seeing Shi Feng's expression, Shi Lan realized that Blood Ginseng probably wasn't easy to find. She hesitated, then tentatively asked, "Fifteen roots? Ten would work too."

"I'll do my best to find them and bring them to you tomorrow," Shi Feng said helplessly.

"Thank you!" Shi Lan thanked him with heartfelt sincerity. Shi Feng really was the only person she could think of who might help.

"It's only right that I take care of the Eldest Young Master's worries." Shi Feng turned to leave, but Shi Lan called him back.

"Shi Feng, have you already reached the Xiantian Realm?"