Lan Yue nearly laughed herself breathless at the sight of her eldest senior brother's hair flying wildly through the air.
Those in the know understood that this was her eldest senior brother. Anyone else would have thought Silver Snow had stolen a mop from somewhere.
Once the two flying figures landed on the rock, the snow-white feline Sword Spirit leaped straight into Lan Yue's arms, its face begging for praise.
How could such an adorable kitty possibly do anything wrong?
"Silver Snow, you did wonderfully! You've even learned to help others!" Lan Yue stroked its fur.
Silver Snow immediately looked even prouder and waved its little paws twice, declaring that this was nothing at all!
"Right, what happened after that? Is Yuan Shuo doing any better?"
After accepting so many gifts, Lan Yue felt obligated to show some concern for him.
"Yuan Shuo is still unconscious, but Martial Uncle Guangji and the Spirit Artifact Hall Master already cut down that Ghost Creature together!" Li Bai had been hovering around his master's cave abode precisely to eavesdrop on these developments.
"My master? Wasn't he just here with me?" Lan Yue was astonished. Her master had traveled so far in such a short time?
"Yes, that's how coincidental it was. Listen, after Yuan Shuo was found yesterday, Martial Uncle and those elders set out right away. They used a Teleportation Array to go straight to the Wind Kingdom Capital, then charged off in pursuit."
Ever since hearing the news, Li Bai had been itching to share it. Now that he had run into two junior sisters he knew well, the words poured out of him.
"Martial Uncle Guangji personally wiped out the entire Black Ghost Village. That village can't harm anyone anymore. I heard the neighboring villages all came to thank him, because they'd been cowering under Black Ghost Village's tyranny too."
"But guess what? That Ghost Creature wasn't in the village. It had actually disappeared two years ago! The elders searched high and low without finding it, so they had to leave one person behind while the others returned in disappointment.
"It wasn't until this morning, when the Spirit Artifact Hall Master sensed Yuan Bao's presence while leaving the sect, that he went after him with Martial Uncle Guangji! It turned out that Ghost Creature had been hiding right outside the sect all along. No wonder they couldn't find it!"
Li Bai could not help sighing, either. That Ghost Creature had actually hidden outside the Southern Spirit Sect, possibly for as long as two years. Who knew whether any disciples had fallen victim to it?
When he thought carefully about the people who had vanished from the Four Arts Hall recently, his heart lurched. Perhaps they really had already succeeded.
Compared with the flesh and blood of ordinary people, what Ghost Creatures loved most was cultivators like them!
"The Ghost Creature hid outside the sect for two years without being discovered. Was Yuan Bao covering for it all that time?" Lan Yue guessed.
"Yes. Not only did he cover for the Ghost Creature for over two years, he secretly harmed quite a few Southern Spirit Sect disciples, too. He lured them out of the sect and handed them over for the Ghost Creature to devour."
Yun Xi, beside them, also knew what had happened. After all, her father was the Southern Spirit Sect's Sect Master. Whenever anything happened, people reported it to him, and she had overheard a few things.
"Thank goodness that Ghost Creature was cut down in one strike. Otherwise, it would have secretly harmed plenty more people." Lan Yue sounded particularly relieved.
[Lan Yue: Thank goodness I took a peek ahead of time and had Silver Snow find him. Otherwise, wouldn't I have been the next victim?]
"Junior Sister Lan Yue, Yuan Bao should have been killed along with it, but a Demon Abyss Rift suddenly appeared at that moment. A hand reached out from inside and snatched him away." The thought filled Yun Xi with worry.
Junior Sister Lan Yue did not know that other people could hear her thoughts, but Yuan Bao certainly did. Otherwise, he would not have been afraid to show himself at first, or later tried to flee with his Ghost Creature father.
If that half-human, half-ghost had been rescued by one of the powerful Demon Generals in the Demon Domain, or even a Demon Heavenly King, he might come knocking for revenge someday.
"Ah, Yuan Bao actually escaped? And a black hand even reached out of the Demon Abyss Rift?" Lan Yue was very surprised by this.
For it to snatch someone away from both the Spirit Artifact Hall Master and her own master, the Demonic Beast inside that Demon Abyss Rift had to be formidable. Its strength might even rival her master's.
Yuan Bao had actually stumbled into such an opportunity?
*[Lan Yue: Wait, that's not right. The original novel barely seemed to mention this person called Yuan Bao. If I hadn't dug up the gossip in the system, I probably wouldn't even know about him.*
That black hand inside the Demon Abyss Rift... no way. In the original novel, when Yuan Shuo was being hunted, a hand suddenly reached out of a Demon Abyss Rift and snatched him away. That was how he became the Demon Realm's main villain.
So this time, even the main villain has changed? The Demon Realm picked Yuan Bao? The power of the plot really can't be underestimated. Lose one main villain here, and another candidate pops up over there.
*Thank goodness I didn't offend this guy much, or I'd have to tread carefully whenever I went out. But how can I warn the Spirit Artifact Hall Master and Yuan Shuo to watch out for Demon Abyss Rifts in the future?]*
Lan Yue sank into thought. A little troubled, she felt she really ought to practice Divination diligently so she could give them an open, legitimate warning.
Lost in thought, Lan Yue did not notice the complicated looks in the eyes of the two people beside her.
Yun Xi, in particular, had clenched her fists and resolved to pay closer attention to Lan Yue's situation from now on. She would protect Junior Sister Lan Yue!
After all, Junior Sister Lan Yue had not only saved her but also that pitiful boy. Such a wonderful junior sister had to be protected!
Lan Yue had no idea what the female lead was thinking. Otherwise, she would surely have been moved to tears.
While they stood there lost in thought, another group flew through the skies above Spirit Moon Peak. It was the same group of elders.
At their head, the Fifth Elder descended with his immortal-like beard trailing behind him.
Spirit Moon Peak had never been this lively before, and Lan Yue was very curious. Had they come to discuss something with her master?
She pricked up her ears, hoping to eavesdrop, only to see the Fifth Elder at the front sweep his wide sleeve and call her name.
"Lan Yue, your Silver Snow Sword has rendered a great service. It saved a fellow disciple and even helped us find that wicked Ghost Creature. The sect has prepared a special gift for you."
With a flick of the Fifth Elder's horsetail whisk, an antique Wooden Box flew into Lan Yue's arms.
[Lan Yue: I get a gift too? I thought all those things on Silver Snow were everything. Who knew there was more? The Southern Spirit Sect really is generous!]
Lan Yue opened it and saw a piece of milky-white jade lying inside the wooden box.
Even without touching it, she could feel the chill radiating from the white jade.
"This is..."
[System: This ten-thousand-year cold jade is good stuff. Hurry and take it.]
When even the system popped up, Lan Yue immediately realized how valuable this cold jade was. She snapped the wooden box shut and tucked it against her chest.
"Hehe, how could I possibly accept? Silver Snow has already received so many gifts, and I..." Lan Yue chuckled and rubbed her hands together.
"If they're giving it to you, just take it." Guangji, standing nearby, had already seen right through her.
"All right!" Lan Yue answered happily.
[Lan Yue: Since Master has spoken, how could I, his disciple, possibly disobey? Of course I have to honor my master and respect his teachings!]
The elders: "..."
When you were happily feasting on gossip earlier, we certainly didn't see you honoring your master and respecting his teachings like this.
"By the way, Master, this ten-thousand-year cold jade should have come from Yuan Shuo and that Ghost Creature, right?" Lan Yue suddenly remembered the ten-thousand-year cold jade that Ghost Creature had possessed.
"Don't worry. Yuan Shuo just woke up, and he specifically asked for this to be given to you. Besides, the sect obtained quite a bit after slaying that Ghost Creature. You don't need to worry about our supply of ten-thousand-year cold jade," the Fifth Elder across from her explained.
As he spoke, he took out two more wooden boxes of the same size and handed one each to Yun Xi and Li Bai.
"The situation is very dangerous now. A Demon Abyss Rift has actually appeared outside the Southern Spirit Sect. All of you must wear your Jade Pendants, and don't leave the sect unless you have to."
Li Bai was overwhelmed by the unexpected favor when he received his. There was one for him too!
Yun Xi took it in stride, because she knew her father must have prepared it for her.
[Lan Yue: Sigh, this Demon Abyss Rift at the Southern Spirit Sect seems to have appeared a little early. In the original novel, I think it only appeared several years later, when the main cast had already begun to grow into their strength. Does that mean my life of lazing around is going to end ahead of schedule?]
[Lan Yue: Logically, it shouldn't be this early. After all, the other protagonist, the original novel's male lead, hasn't even appeared yet! There's no sign of the other protagonists either, and that formidable pair of Twins hasn't been brought here yet.]
All the surrounding elders froze when they heard those thoughts.
Wait, there was a male lead too?
They had only just found this sweet, well-behaved little niece, and someone was already going to steal her away?
Outrageous! Who was it?
Who on earth was it?!
The elders were so furious that they wanted to roar right then and there.
Fortunately, Yun Chong had other matters to attend to and had not come. Otherwise, a single spark would have set him off.
Before you continue