Chapter 193: An Old Letter

Under the insistence of both Core Formation cultivators, Lan Chang'an had no choice but to reluctantly accept Fu Xuemei's new way of addressing him as "Big Brother Lan."

For a female True Dan cultivator to lower herself and treat him as an equal was an extraordinary gesture of respect. If he refused, it would appear ungrateful.

Huanglong Immortal, nearing the end of his life, likely saw the extraordinary potential in Lan Chang'an. After failing to arrange a Dao companionship between him and Fu Xuemei, he perhaps hoped to leave some sort of bond between them.

Half an hour later, Fu Xuemei had recovered enough of her strength to stand.

"Miss Fu's injuries are no longer life-threatening. What are your plans now?" Lan Chang'an asked, glancing at the setting sun outside the cave.

Huanglong Immortal and Fu Xuemei immediately understood the meaning of his words.

"This time we've caused trouble for you, little friend Lan. We'll leave Wuqi Mountain before nightfall," Huanglong Immortal cupped his hands, his tone apologetic.

Lan Chang'an let out a small sigh of relief. At least the two Core Formation cultivators still cared about saving face and weren't planning to overstay their welcome.

The two understood well enough that staying too long at Wuqi Mountain could bring unwanted trouble to Lan Chang'an.

Wuqi Mountain was a neutral, small-scale trading hub. If it were merely business transactions or treating injuries, no one would bat an eye.

After all, Huanglong Mountain's people were not fugitives—they had simply lost power.

However, if Wuqi Mountain were to shelter injured members of Huanglong Mountain, it would imply that they were taking sides, potentially putting Lan Chang'an at odds with Huanglong Mountain's enemies.

With about an hour left before nightfall, Lan Chang'an arranged rooms for the three to rest briefly, especially Fu Xuemei, who was still weak and needed every moment to recover.

"I won't hide it from you, little friend Lan, we may have been followed by enemies, and leaving now is not without risk. Before we go, could you assist Xuemei with one last healing session to help her recover faster?" Huanglong Immortal asked frankly.

"Very well."

Since he and Fu Xuemei were already in a doctor-patient relationship, this request was within reason. As long as they didn't stay overnight, Lan Chang'an had no objections.

The room he prepared for Fu Xuemei was the same one that Mu Bingyun had stayed in years ago, furnished and decorated to suit a female cultivator's tastes.

Huanglong Immortal exchanged a glance with Fu Dong, and the two quietly left the room, leaving only Lan Chang'an and Fu Xuemei inside.

Fu Xuemei sat cross-legged on the cushion, her long pale-purple hair cascading around her like silk, her delicate face as cold and pristine as the moon goddess.

"If Big Brother Lan feels embarrassed, we can simply sit for an hour and chat," Fu Xuemei said softly, her expression serene.

She faintly sensed that her master's arrangements weren't solely about hastening her recovery—there seemed to be deeper intentions behind them.

"No need. If I can help give Miss Fu a better chance at survival, an hour of my time is nothing," Lan Chang'an replied as he stepped toward her.

Fu Xuemei smiled faintly and nodded. She didn't seem to feel the usual awkwardness that came with a man and woman being left alone in a room together.

To avoid any perceived impropriety—given that healing often involved placing his hand on her abdomen—Lan Chang'an thought for a moment, then moved behind her, sitting cross-legged as well. He placed his hand on her back, sending his Evergreen mana through her body to reach the injury in her abdomen.

Seeing his considerate gesture, Fu Xuemei's eyes flickered with a trace of admiration.

Even though Lan Chang'an was mindful of propriety, his palm, through the thin fabric of her white gown, could still feel the smooth, soft skin of the Core Formation female cultivator beneath.

The hour passed swiftly.

During that time, the two exchanged very few words.

Fu Xuemei silently controlled her True Dan energy, cooperating seamlessly with Lan Chang'an's healing efforts, making the process go even smoother.

"It's done. Miss Fu, for the next few months, try to avoid using your magical power as much as possible."

"Thank you, Big Brother Lan."

The two stood up together, and because they had both exerted some effort, faint beads of sweat could be seen on their foreheads. They were also acutely aware of the lingering presence of each other's breath.

Perhaps due to the success of the healing session, Fu Xuemei's once pale cheeks now carried a faint flush of color.

Seeing the two walk out side by side, Huanglong Immortal smiled and nodded, expressing his gratitude once again.

By this time, night had nearly fallen.

The three visitors from Huanglong Mountain made no further delays and prepared to take their leave.

"One more thing—please do not disclose the specifics of today's healing session to anyone," Lan Chang'an requested as they prepared to leave.

"I won't live much longer, so you can be assured that I won't bring any more trouble to you, Fellow Daoist Lan. If the opportunity arises, I might even help remove a potential threat to Wuqi Mountain," Huanglong Immortal said with a light cough as his figure shifted back into the appearance of the hunched old servant.

"You have my word, Big Brother Lan. My brother and I will keep this secret," Fu Xuemei said seriously, bowing alongside her brother.

...

In the last rays of the setting sun, Lan Chang'an watched as the carriage carrying the three from Huanglong Mountain left Little Turtle Peak.

Squeak squeak!

The large Earth Burrowing Rat scurried out from the cave, its gaze fixed intently on the distant carriage.

Seeing the drool at the corner of its mouth, Lan Chang'an couldn't help but laugh. He patted the thick fur on its head and said, "Don't dream too big. That mid-third-rank Huang Dragon Beast is far beyond your reach."

It turned out that when Huanglong Immortal had brought out the "petrified specimen" of the Huang Dragon Beast earlier, the Earth Burrowing Rat had sensed it.

The Huang Dragon Beast was a pure earth-element spiritual beast, even containing a trace of dragon bloodline. Its strength slightly surpassed many demonic beasts of the earth rank bloodlines.

Whether it was the Huang Dragon Beast's core or its flesh and blood, it would be a massive tonic for the Earth Burrowing Rat, greatly increasing its chances of advancing to the third rank Great Demon.

However, even in his previous life, Lan Chang'an had never owned such a precious spiritual beast.

Back then, even though he had reached the peak of Core Formation, his foundation was still inferior to those of the large sects at the same level.

At the height of its power, Huanglong Immortal, paired with his mid-third-rank Huang Dragon Beast, could contend with late-stage Core Formation cultivators.

Huanglong Immortal had spent centuries with the Huang Dragon Beast, and their bond was deep—he was known for his fierce protectiveness of his pet.

Though the Huang Dragon Beast wasn't entirely dead, it retained only a sliver of vitality and intelligence.

If a Nascent Soul cultivator intervened, with the help of fourth-rank spiritual medicines, there was a slim chance the beast could be revived.

That's why Lan Chang'an didn't propose any unrealistic trades.

Besides, he was progressing steadily in his cultivation. If the Earth Burrowing Rat advanced too quickly, it might not be a good thing.

After the trio from Huanglong Mountain departed, Lan Chang'an took the Earth Burrowing Rat and carefully inspected his cave once again, just to be cautious.

After all, two Core Formation cultivators had just visited, one of whom was a legendary figure with hundreds of years of renown.

Lan Chang'an couldn't afford to be careless—what if they left behind some hidden means?

The Earth Burrowing Rat sniffed around meticulously in every corner where the guests had stayed, not missing a single spot.

After multiple checks, they confirmed there were no issues.

Squeak squeak!

The Earth Burrowing Rat emerged from the room where Fu Xuemei had rested, carrying a letter in its mouth.

"What's this?"

Lan Chang'an noticed the letter looked old, as if it had been stored away for many years.

The elegant handwriting on the envelope was also familiar—it wasn't something left behind by Fu Xuemei.

Instead, the room where Fu Xuemei had rested was once used by Mu Bingyun, who had lived here as a maid.

"Uncle Lan, when you read this letter, I don't know how many years will have passed. Perhaps you'll never see it..."

This letter had been left behind secretly by Mu Bingyun years ago after she was attacked by the "Night Fisherman" outside Wuqi Mountain.

The words in the letter had the shyness and apprehension of a young girl spilling her heart out.

"...It was Master's dying wish that gave me the courage to express my feelings. If Uncle Lan doesn't care, just pretend this letter never existed."

After reading the letter, Lan Chang'an's expression remained unreadable as he sat in silence for a moment.

He had never expected that the great miss of the Mu Family, before her death, had left such a request for her disciple.

If Lan Chang'an and Mu Bingyun had feelings for each other, they wouldn't need to worry about any differences in seniority. As the deceased had wished, her spirit in the heavens would not blame them and would silently give them her blessing.

Lan Chang'an sighed inwardly. Mu Xiuyun had devoted her entire life to her family and had placed all her regrets in the hands of her disciple.

...

Night fell, and Lan Chang'an had yet to fully recover from the memories of the past.

Once again, Little Turtle Peak received an unexpected visitor.

"Miss Zhou, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit this late at night?"

In the cave, Lan Chang'an looked at the young girl in the yellow dress standing across from him, her face as flawless as jade, innocent yet beautiful.

It had been many years since he'd last seen Zhou Qingxuan of the Beast Taming Zhou Family.

Her family had since trained a new generation of talisman masters, so her dealings with Lan Chang'an had become less frequent over the years.

"Fellow Daoist Lan, did the siblings from Huanglong Mountain, Fu Xuemei and Fu Dong, recently visit Little Turtle Peak?" Zhou Qingxuan asked directly, her tone urgent.

"They did."

Lan Chang'an's mind raced. The Beast Taming Zhou Family had no enmity with Huanglong Mountain; in fact, they had cooperated on several occasions.

So, what was Zhou Qingxuan's purpose in coming here?

"The Beast Taming Zhou Family... Is she after the Huang Dragon Beast?"

In an instant, Lan Chang'an understood Zhou Qingxuan's real reason for her visit.

"How are Fu Xuemei's injuries? Did you treat her?" Zhou Qingxuan asked, her bright eyes fixed intently on Lan Chang'an.

The spiritual pressure radiating from her, accompanied by her soul force, was far greater than that of an ordinary late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.

"Miss Zhou, what do you mean by these questions? Are you here to accuse me of something or to teach me how to do my job?" Lan Chang'an replied calmly, his tone carrying a trace of displeasure.

He wasn't sure where Zhou Qingxuan got the nerve to confront him like this. Even if she was at the late stage of Foundation Establishment, she had no right to act superior in Wuqi Mountain.

Of course, Lan Chang'an wasn't aware that Zhou Qingxuan had a quasi-third-rank spiritual beast, making her capable of rivaling even Fake Dan cultivators.

"I apologize if I was too forward."

Zhou Qingxuan met his gaze and saw that Lan Chang'an wasn't backing down in the slightest. She gave a small, apologetic smile and said, "I don't mean to accuse you of anything, Fellow Daoist Lan. I'm simply here to inquire about Huanglong Mountain."

"If you can provide accurate information, I'd be happy to offer you a gift—a supply of beast feed and pills suitable for late second-rank earth-element demonic beasts."

Zhou Qingxuan flashed a charming smile as she handed over a jade box.

Lan Chang'an accepted the jade box, glanced inside, and said slowly, "I made a deal with Huanglong Mountain, so I cannot reveal sensitive information. However, I can share some general details."

"Fu Xuemei's injuries were severe, and she's been relying on secret medicines to stay alive. Out of goodwill and due to the circumstances, I treated her, but my medical skills are limited. All I could do was help her regain consciousness."

"How much strength do you estimate she has left? How long will it take for her to fully recover?" Zhou Qingxuan asked thoughtfully.

"It's hard to say. I'm not well-versed in assessing the injuries of True Dan cultivators."

"Did Huanglong Immortal make an appearance?"

"Huanglong Immortal? Isn't he dead?" Lan Chang'an responded in surprise.

"Other than the Fu siblings, were there any suspicious companions?"

"There was an old servant with them, but he didn't seem like Huanglong Immortal."

Lan Chang'an didn't appreciate Zhou Qingxuan's attitude, and due to his professional ethics, he refrained from revealing any private details about his clients.

"Thank you for sharing what you could, Fellow Daoist Lan. Please, keep my visit tonight a secret."

Zhou Qingxuan stood up to leave after gathering some information.

"Rest assured, Miss Zhou. I will keep this to myself," Lan Chang'an said as he put away the jade box, promising to remain discreet.

"Interesting. Is the Beast Taming Zhou Family involved in the hunt for Huanglong Mountain, or is this just Zhou Qingxuan acting on her own?"

Watching the yellow-dressed girl leave on her flying beast, Lan Chang'an's interest was piqued.

Since both sides had offered him rewards, he had no intention of getting further involved. He would stay neutral and not assist either party.

...

Late into the night.

As Lan Chang'an sat cross-legged in meditation, he suddenly sensed a terrifying surge of magical power.

Boom!

A distant rumbling shook the earth, coming from several hundred li away. Wuqi Mountain was swept by a sudden cold wind.

(End of chapter)