“…What?”
“Dan Sect!”
Meng Qiuran repeated, urgency creeping into his voice.
“Senior, think about it—you’re a rogue cultivator now, free and unrestrained, but being a rogue cultivator has its inconveniences, right? For example, when you’re out and about, you don’t even have a place to rest your head. When your spirit stones run out, you have to go earn more on the spot. If someone bullies you, there’s no one to back you up. But if you joined the Dan Sect, none of that would be a problem!”
He grew more animated as he spoke: “Do you know what kind of treatment the Dan Sect gives its elders? Monthly spirit stone stipends, unlimited spiritual herbs, unrestricted access to the alchemy rooms, and dedicated disciples to tend to your daily needs! If you ever need anything, there are hundreds of people in the sect—one word from you and it’s done! Isn’t that better than braving the wind and rain out here all alone?”
Lai Li’an was left stunned speechless.
Join the Dan Sect? Him?
If he went to the Dan Sect as an elder, wouldn’t that be like a lamb walking into the tiger’s den? Those old monsters at the Dan Sect—if they watched him refine pills or grabbed him to pepper him with questions, his cheat would be exposed within three days.
“Junior Meng,” Lai Li’an said, gently patting the back of Meng Qiuran’s hand, “this Venerable Self is accustomed to a life of leisure and cannot bear constraints. The Dan Sect may be fine, but it is not this Venerable Self’s destination.”
Meng Qiuran’s enthusiasm was doused by half in an instant, but he refused to give up.
“Then… Senior, this junior has a compromise proposal. Would you consider it?”
“Senior doesn’t need to formally join the sect—just hold a nominal title. Be a nominal elder. No need to punch a clock, no need to attend sect affairs. You roam as you roam, wander as you wander, exactly the same as now—just with an added ‘Dan Sect Elder’ identity, an added monthly stipend, and an added… an added place you can always come back to rest.”
He lifted his head, his gaze carrying a sincerity bordering on pleading: “Senior, this junior means no offense. This junior simply feels that someone like you shouldn’t have to carry everything alone.”
Lai Li’an fell silent, suddenly feeling a little dazed.
This young man before him, ever since their second meeting, had bared his heart completely. Five thousand spirit stones—handed over without hesitation. A mansion—lent without a second thought.
And now, even the identity of a Dan Sect elder, he practically wished he could offer with both hands.
Was this kid genuinely foolish, or did he genuinely… see him as someone extraordinary?
Lai Li’an opened his mouth, about to refuse again.
But just then, Meng Qiuran produced a token from his sleeve.
Holding it with both hands, he presented it respectfully before Lai Li’an.
The front of the token was engraved with the characters “Dan Sect.” The back bore Meng Qiuran’s own name. Lai Li’an was taken aback.
“This is my token.”
Meng Qiuran scratched his head, offering an embarrassed smile.
“Senior, use this for now. Later, I’ll go to the main sect and have a formal one made for you. Keep this one for now—as long as you’re on Dan Sect territory, with this token, no one will dare make trouble for you.”
Lai Li’an looked at the token, then back at Meng Qiuran.
“Junior Meng, aren’t you afraid this Venerable Self will take your token and go swindling people in the Dan Sect’s name?”
Meng Qiuran laughed, laughing like a child.
“How could Senior possibly be that kind of person? Even if the entire Dan Sect were handed to you, you probably wouldn’t spare it a glance. Why would you care about this?”
Lai Li’an was silent for a moment.
‘No, wait—if you really did hand it to me, I’d actually take it.’
“…Alright,” he said.
“Then this Venerable Self will hold onto it for you. Once your new token is ready, come find me to swap.”
Meng Qiuran’s eyes lit up instantly.
“Thank you, Senior!”
He bowed deeply, straightened up, and the smile on his face simply wouldn’t fade.
“Then this junior won’t disturb you any longer! In three days, this junior will accompany Fellow Daoist Ruan to the main sect and arrange the new token for Senior while I’m at it! Take care, Senior!”
With that, he turned and ran.
After a few steps, he looked back and waved at Lai Li’an, then stepped onto his flying sword, wobbling crookedly as he disappeared into the horizon.
Lai Li’an stood in place, watching that spirited figure grow ever more distant, and couldn’t help shaking his head.
This kid, really…
He looked down at the token in his hand, tucked it into his robes, and turned to head back and find Ruan Se.
He walked into the corridor, rounded a thick pillar, and his steps suddenly halted.
At the end of this corridor stood two people.
Sunlight leaked through the gaps in the eaves, shattering into patches of gold that fell upon them like a thin, radiant halo.
Ruan Se stood on the left, her green long dress gently swaying in the breeze, a face veil covering most of her features, revealing only a pair of breathtakingly beautiful amber eyes.
Ruan Qin stood on the right, half a head taller than her younger sister, her long dress tracing a tall, elegant silhouette. Her delicate features held a softness within those amber eyes—identical to her sister’s.
The two sisters stood sideways to Lai Li’an, speaking in low voices.
When the wind passed between them, it lifted each other’s hair strands.
Lai Li’an stood behind the pillar, frozen as if rooted to the spot, staring at those two impossibly beautiful faces.
This scene was like a painting of elegant ladies meticulously composed by some great artist—every stroke precisely placed, one stroke more would be too heavy, one stroke less too faint.
Lai Li’an stood behind the pillar, gazing for a long while, then averted his eyes.
‘No, I can’t keep looking. If I do, I’m afraid I’ll let out some inappropriate exclamation.’
He took a deep breath and stepped out from behind the pillar.
“Ahem.”
He cleared his throat softly, just loud enough for the two to hear.
Ruan Se and Ruan Qin turned their heads at the same time.
Two gazes landed on Lai Li’an, and in that instant, he felt as though he’d been struck by two beams of moonlight at once—a little dazzling.
“Senior Lai,” Ruan Se spoke first.
“You’re here.”
Lai Li’an nodded and walked up to the two of them.
“Why haven’t you two left?” he asked casually.
Before Ruan Se could answer, Ruan Qin had already withdrawn the hand resting on her sister’s shoulder, reverting to that icy-cold demeanor.
“There were still some things left unsaid.”
Lai Li’an glanced between the two—the atmosphere between the sisters seemed much more relaxed than before.
He averted his gaze and looked at Ruan Se.
“No time to waste. Let’s head back first. The Qingxuan Root is in hand—time to refine the Qingxuan Yangyuan Pill.”
Ruan Se nodded and was about to step forward when something occurred to her.
“Senior,” she turned and looked at her sister.
“Sis, Senior is going to refine the Qingxuan Yangyuan Pill. Do you want to… come watch?”
Ruan Qin’s brow twitched slightly.
Her gaze rested on Lai Li’an for a brief moment, then shifted away.
“Sure.”
The corner of Ruan Se’s mouth curved slightly.
She knew that when her sister said “sure,” she meant “yes.”
“Then let’s go.”
Ruan Se took the lead, heading toward the other end of the corridor.
The three of them walked—one in front, two behind—through the corridor. The white crane had already flown in close at some point. Ruan Se stepped aside to make way.
“Senior, after you.”