As they chatted, a cool, elegant female voice suddenly drifted over from the end of the corridor, breaking the slightly awkward silence between Ning Rongxin and Xue Qinghe.
"Sect Master Ning, Your Highness the Crown Prince. It's been a while."
Everyone turned toward the voice. The newcomer was a dignified, graceful woman with delicate features. Her light-blue hair was tied back, her brows and eyes were picturesque, and her skin was as fair as snow. She wore an elegant, lavishly beautiful moon-blue dress.
Behind her stood a tall, aloof-looking woman with a straight posture, who seemed to be her subordinate.
Ning Rongxin's smile didn't change. He turned and clasped his hands in greeting. "Pavilion Master Lan Ya, it's been many days. You're as graceful as ever."
Lan Ya approached at an unhurried pace. First, she nodded politely to Ning Rongxin and Xue Qinghe, then turned and bowed slightly to Sword Douluo Chen Xin, who stood motionless beside them.
Every gesture was perfectly courteous.
Xue Qinghe smiled warmly and asked, "May I ask what brings Pavilion Master Lan Ya here?"
"Nothing in particular. A subordinate reported a dispute in the central courtyard, so I came to take a look."
Lan Ya glanced at the woman behind her, her tone calm.
"I see. It was just a small misunderstanding, and it's already been resolved. There's no need to trouble yourself, Pavilion Master." Xue Qinghe gave a faint smile and waved a hand.
"Since everything is settled, I won't keep you." Lan Ya nodded lightly. Her gaze swept over the group, lingering briefly on Lan Yu and Tang Shan before she turned and left with her people.
With the brief interruption over, everyone prepared to leave.
Before departing, Ning Rongxin made a point of inviting Lan Yu and Tang Shan to visit the Seven-Colored City.
After all, Xue Qinghe was nominally his disciple and the crown prince of the Heaven Dou Empire. It wouldn't do to poach someone right in front of him. But if Lan Yu visited the Seven-Colored Precious Lotus Sect, Ning Rongxin would naturally find a way to keep him there.
Even if Xue Qinghe objected then, there'd be nothing he could do. After all, a good bird chose its tree, people climbed to higher places, and water flowed downhill. It was only natural.
Lan Yu glanced at Xue Qinghe, whose expression had tightened slightly beside him. After a brief pause, he clasped his hands and replied, "Thank you for the invitation, Sect Master Ning. I have something important to attend to today. I'll be sure to visit another time."
Ning Rongxin's smile remained unchanged, but Ning Yurou, whom he was holding in his arms, immediately pouted. Her watery eyes gazed at Lan Yu with a woeful look.
It was as if Lan Yu had done something terribly wrong to her.
After leaving Lanya Pavilion and declining Xue Qinghe's offer to accompany them, Lan Yu took Tang Shan to a nearby street of food stalls. They wandered around for half an hour before returning to the entrance of Lanya Pavilion.
"Big brother, why... are we back here... again?" Tang Shan mumbled through the food in her mouth.
"You little glutton." Lan Yu didn't answer directly. He turned to look at her and chuckled.
Then he took a tissue from his storage ring and gently wiped the crumbs from the corner of her mouth.
Throughout the whole thing, Tang Shan seemed frozen in place, staring straight at the young man before her.
"What is it?" Lan Yu asked with a faint smile.
Tang Shan seemed to come back to herself. Her gaze wandered, the tips of her ears turning red. She held her arms against her chest and lowered her head, her voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz. "N-nothing."
Lan Yu raised an eyebrow but didn't press her. He turned and walked into the Blue Silver Pavilion. "Come on."
The guards outside clearly recognized Lan Yu and Tang Shan as the people who had been with Xue Qinghe earlier.
So they didn't stop them.
The two walked unhindered to the entrance of the central courtyard, where two maids stopped them.
"May I ask if you have an appointment?"
Unlike the central courtyard, the outer courtyard only required a simple identity check for entry.
The central courtyard, however, required identity verification and an appointment in advance due to its strict confidentiality.
"Fetch whoever's in charge."
Lan Yu took a jade card from his storage ring. It was made of gray jade, with delicate Blue Silver Grass leaf patterns carved across its surface. When the light passed through it, a faint blue gleam could be seen.
He'd found the card by chance while sorting through his storage ring in Suotuo City.
Tang Shan had said that the card carried an aura of the same origin as her Blue Silver King Martial Soul. It seemed Ah Yin must have accidentally put it inside the ring when she gave it to him.
There was no helping it. Ah Yin had gone missing, and he was short on high-level fighters.
Hearing Lan Yu's words, the maid assumed he was a troublesome guest who had come without an appointment.
One of them nodded to her companion, then turned and hurried away.
Before long, the maid returned, leading a woman.
The woman wore a practical blue outfit, and her high ponytail was neat and trim. She had an aloof look about her. She was the same woman who had just been behind Lan Ya.
She clearly recognized Lan Yu, and her expression softened a little. She was just about to speak when Lan Yu held out the jade card, cutting her off.
Her gaze fell on the Blue Silver patterns on the card. Her body stiffened, and she slowly looked up at Lan Yu, her eyes filled with disbelief. "This card... where did you get it?"
She was certain there was no one named Lan Yu in the Blue Silver Sacred Heart Sect. She had only ever seen a jade card of this rank with her mother.
"Take me to Pavilion Master Lan Ya." Lan Yu didn't answer. His tone remained calm.
The woman realized that this wasn't the place to talk, with too many people around. She composed herself and led the two through the central courtyard toward the inner courtyard.
"My name is Lan Hua. Pavilion Master Lan Ya is my mother."
As she walked ahead, Lan Hua turned her head. Her voice was much gentler than before. "I haven't had the pleasure of learning your name, young master."
"Just call me Lan Yu."
"You're surnamed Lan too?!" Lan Hua stopped abruptly, her voice rising.
He was surnamed Lan, and he had a high-ranking jade card from the Blue Silver Sacred Heart Sect.
Considering the sect's current situation, there was no one else outside but her and her mother. There wasn't anyone else.
A guess suddenly took shape in Lan Hua's mind.
Could he be the younger half-brother I've never met?!
"Is there a problem?" Lan Yu looked up and raised an eyebrow.
Lan Hua didn't answer. Instead, she looked at Tang Shan, her tone tinged with uncertainty. "Little sister, what's your name?"
Me?
Tang Shan froze, not expecting to be asked. She glanced at Lan Yu, then replied, "My name is Tang Shan."
Ah—!!
That bastard's surname was Tang!
Under the puzzled gazes of Lan Yu and Tang Shan, Lan Hua only shook her head mechanically before turning around and falling silent.
Not a word was spoken along the way. After leading them into an old-fashioned courtyard, Lan Hua summoned the last of her composure, brought them tea and pastries, then hurriedly left.
Her mind was in such a turmoil that she needed Lan Ya to explain everything.
"Big brother, is that sister acting a little strange?" Tang Shan quietly scooted her chair closer to Lan Yu and whispered.
At that, Lan Yu raised an eyebrow, picked up his teacup, and took a small sip. "Maybe."
Watching Lan Yu's profile as he drank his tea, Tang Shan felt her mouth go dry. Her throat bobbed.
She secretly glanced at Lan Yu, who was looking elsewhere, then carefully reached out toward the cup on the table in front of him.
"Swish—"
The faint sound of liquid pouring was especially conspicuous in the room.
Lan Yu couldn't help turning around, only to find Tang Shan holding a teacup, looking conflicted.
Why does this cup look like the one I used?
The thought came to him, and Lan Yu immediately looked at the table. His own cup was sitting there untouched.
Looks like I was mistaken.
Did big brother notice?
For some reason, Tang Shan felt her cheeks grow hot.
Seeing Lan Yu turn away again, she breathed a sigh of relief. She lifted the teacup and stared at the mark left on it, two thoughts warring in her mind.
Tang Shan, this is wrong! Only bad girls do this! Aren't you ashamed of yourself?
Ignore her nonsense. Big brother belongs to you alone. Drink it, quickly! If you don't, I'll pour it out!
"Don't!" Tang Shan suddenly cried out.
Under Lan Yu's puzzled gaze, she blushed, lifted the teacup to her lips, and drank it all in one go.
"Sweet~"