After crossing the square, the group stood before a magnificent palace. Given the previous incident of the corpses decomposing, no one dared to push open the half-closed door, fearing that the palace might also disappear in the blink of an eye.
Xu Qing looked around and, seeing that no one was willing to move, cautiously circled the main hall before finally gently touching the tall, carved door.
The door panel creaked under the force of the external force, and before it could be opened, it crashed to the ground with a thud, shattering into dust.
Everyone took a half step back.
Xu Qing noticed the commotion behind him, turned his head and glared at it, then focused his gaze on the inside of the hall.
The main hall was very tall and very large. There was a table three feet wide and seven feet long by the door. In the inner room, there were rows of display shelves, which held various items. However, due to the passage of time, they were covered with dust, making it impossible to see what they were.
Xu Qing carefully took a step inside, and Qi Gang, seeing his movement, quickly followed.
Seeing his lack of composure, You Yue raised an eyebrow, thinking to himself that this rising star whom his master always talked about wasn't as capable as he had imagined.
Seeing that the leaders had already gone in, the rest of the people were naturally unwilling to fall behind, so they all crowded together and squeezed in.
Shi Lan followed the others inside, took a quick look around, and seeing that most of the objects had lost their spiritual power, she left without interest.
The burning gaze from behind followed her like a shadow again. Shi Lan smiled coldly, strolled to the side, and stood still.
Before two breaths had passed, she heard deliberately light footsteps. Shi Lan's lips curled up slightly, but she quickly pretended to be oblivious and looked into the distance.
"Lan Ya, is that you?"
Hearing this title, Shi Lan felt nauseous.
This was the name the original owner used when she was in the countryside. After entering the Yunmeng Sect, everyone addressed each other as senior and junior brothers and sisters. When the original owner lived alone, she was already used to being called Junior Sister Shi.
Later, Liu Minde entered the original owner's life. He felt that calling the original owner "Junior Sister" was too distant, so he took it upon himself to call the original owner "Lan Ya" and even justified it by saying that he called her that because he was close to the original owner.
The original owner was overjoyed at the time, feeling that her relationship with this kind older brother was different. In this sect, which was devoid of human warmth and filled with indifference, she finally had someone she could be close to. Therefore, in their subsequent interactions, she treated him like a real older brother.
Thinking of how the original owner had served Liu Minde like a slave for years, getting up before dawn every day and rushing into the forest to hunt spirit beasts, then enduring the pain of injuries to give them to him in the evening, only having a little time to cultivate at night, Shi Lan felt a burning hatred in her teeth.
Seeing Shi Lan slowly turn around, Liu Minde quickly forced a smile, his fingers, hidden in his sleeve, swiftly pinched together, a faint light flickering at his fingertips.
Shi Lan slowly turned around and stared intently at Liu Minde.
Liu Minde scrutinized her for a moment, and only after confirming that Shi Lan had no intention of making a move did he release his grip, take a step forward, and close the distance between them, saying, "Lan Ya, it really is you. Where have you been? I've been looking for you all this time. I didn't expect you to have gone to Qingyi Sect. How have you been all these years?"
Looking at Liu Minde, who seemed genuinely concerned, Shi Lan felt extremely disgusted.
This shameless bastard harmed the original owner who had been supporting him for his own selfish desires. Now that he's seen that the person hasn't been killed, he still has the nerve to pretend to be innocent. Does he really think he's brainless and doesn't understand that he's the one who harmed him? Or does he think he's incredibly charming and that even if he's taken advantage of, he'll still be fooled by his sweet talk?
“Fellow Daoist, please show some respect,” Shi Lan said, flicking his sleeve to create distance between them. His dark pupils were cold and clear, devoid of any trace of worldly dust. There was neither the joy of reuniting with an old friend nor the anger of someone who had wronged him.
Liu Minde felt a gentle current push him back two steps. When he looked up again, he saw Shi Lan looking back at him indifferently.
Those unfamiliar gazes and indifferent expressions were like those of a complete stranger meeting for the first time.
Liu Minde's heart skipped a beat, and a sudden sense of loss arose. The scene of Shi Lan gently calling him "Brother De" in the past instantly came to mind.
Shi Lan glanced at him nonchalantly and said indifferently, "Fellow Daoist, do you have something to ask me?"
Liu Minde hesitated and remained silent.
Shi Lan nodded slightly, brushed his sleeve, and left.
Seeing this, Liu Minde reached out to stop him without thinking. Shi Lan glanced coldly at the outstretched arm, pinched her fingertips, and sent a burst of spiritual light directly at it.
Liu Minde never expected that Shi Lan would start a fight without warning. He took a hard blow to the arm and couldn't help but groan in pain.
At the temple gate, a young woman dressed in monastic robes rushed over upon seeing this scene, simultaneously unleashing a green blade that aimed directly at Shi Lan's face.
Shi Lan snorted coldly, made a hand seal, and a golden light about a foot long flew out instantly.
Two beams of light touched and then separated.
The golden light swirled and dissipated, while the green blade emitted a piercing clang as it tumbled and fell to the ground.
The young woman seemed surprised by this turn of events. Upon closer inspection, she saw a crack about the length of a little finger appear on the smooth surface of the green blade. Her expression changed drastically. "You dare to destroy my magic weapon?"
Shi Lan glanced at her sideways and said, "So what if it's ruined?"
The young woman's chest heaved with anger. Liu Minde quickly stepped forward, grabbed her, and said, "Mingrou, don't be rash."
Li Mingrou turned to look at her Daoist partner and said aggrievedly, "Minde, she attacked you first, so why are you bringing it up against me?"
Liu Minde tightened his grip on Li Mingrou's hand and said, "Hurry up and apologize to Shi Shi from Qingyi Sect."
Li Mingrou frowned and pouted as she looked at Liu Minde.
“Listen to me,” Liu Minde frowned slightly, his eyes full of sternness.
Li Mingrou felt resentful, but she knew that Liu Minde was doing it for her own good.
Since her father's passing, the sect has been supported solely by her senior uncle, Ming. The Qingyi Sect is only taking care of the sect now because of the lingering affection her ancestors from the upper realm had for her sect's long-deceased ancestors. Now that the elites of most major sects have gathered here, if she were to embarrass her, Jian Shu would abandon the Yunmeng Sect and ignore it, even if it was just to appease her fellow disciples.
Silently convincing herself to consider the bigger picture, Li Mingrou lowered her head, which she had always held high, and whispered an apology to Shi Lan.
After what had just happened, Shi Lan had a very poor impression of Li Mingrou, who she had previously had no feelings for.
Acting on instinct without asking any questions and attacking a fellow adventurer is like a ticking time bomb, ready to explode at any moment. Therefore, Shi Lan merely glanced coldly at her apology and turned away.
Li Mingrou had been pampered since childhood and had never been treated like this before, so she immediately wanted to lash out.
Liu Minde quickly grabbed her, gazing intently at her dignified and elegant back, a complex mix of emotions swirling within him.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
