Wait a minute, where is my master?

Above Jiang Xiulian's courtyard.

A woman of tranquil demeanor stood suspended in the air.

She was clad in a white and green dress, her feet in pink square-toed boots.

Her dark hair was tied up with an amber-colored rhinoceros horn hairpin, a pouch of orchid fragrance hanging at her waist, holding a bronze mirror engraved with the motif of orchids in a secluded valley in her hand.

Her beautiful face was marked with anger, her bright eyes full of icy intent.

The visitor was none other than Lan Junyan, the leading figure among the masters of Qingmu Academy.

Qingmu City had a no-fly array, but as the city lord was designated by the Academy, and the formation was set up by them as well.

Thus, Lan Junyan, who held the formation token, was not subject to the restriction.

"Song Xili, I'll count to three. If you don't come out, I'll take action," she said.

As she spoke, Mr. Lan pointed the bronze mirror towards the room below, where everyone was gathered.

On the ground, inside the room.

Jin Xu and two women wore puzzled expressions.

While Mr. Song and the ox demon Man Kun stared at each other, neither moved from their spots.

At that time, Jiang Xiulian was not at home; he had gone out to buy ingredients needed for the prepared meals. Even if he were home, considering Lan Junyan's temperament, she probably wouldn't care too much.

Both were in the Divinity Transformation Realm, but the difference between having backing and not was immense.

"Mr. Song, who is this?"

Jin Xu aimlessly pointed to the roof, not understanding where the woman above had come from.

"Ahem, this is Lan Junyan, the leading figure among the masters of our Qingmu Academy," said Song Xili, coughing awkwardly as he responded.

The Taiji Bull standing beside him visibly trembled at the name.

"Chuanren, that faithless man!

He promised me he wouldn't tell, yet he disregarded our years of friendship and secretly communicated with Mr. Lan. Even if you betray us like this, do you think Mr. Lan will favor you!

Once I get back... well, if I can make it back standing, that is."

Song Xili inwardly cursed Mr. Zhu for being unscrupulous but was also very aware of what awaited him.

He was beaten to Qingmu City today for this very reason.

Early in the morning, as they were discussing an investigation, Lan Junyan suddenly appeared and, without a word, started beating Mr. Song senseless.

He instantly realized that Mr. Zhu must have taken the opportunity to betray him using the communication jade token.

Otherwise, Lan Junyan, who was busy overseeing the affairs of Qingmu Secret Realm, wouldn't have time to suddenly discipline him back at the academy.

Taking advantage of Mr. Lan's rest after the beating, Song Xili slapped a Hundred-mile Transfer Talisman on himself and fled to Qingmu City.

Make no mistake, Mr. Song didn't intend to run away, as hiding was definitely not an option unless he didn't want to return to Qingmu Academy.

After arriving at Qingmu City, he sent a message to Dean Qingyun, revealing that the plan to feign death had been exposed.

The Dean advised Song Xili not to drag him into this mess!

Qingyun even kindly reminded Mr. Song that Lan Junyan liked rare plants and suggested he buy some as an apology, which might save him from some physical punishment.

Thus, Song Xili went to the market for flowers, birds, fish, and insects in Qingmu City, choosing items to appease the situation.

However, before he could make a purchase, he encountered Yu Yaoer and Little White, who then led him here.

To his surprise, Lan Junyan had found him.

"It must have been Chuanren who leaked the information, that scoundrel!"

Mr. Song said as he pulled out a positioning talisman from his storage magical item, which was originally carried by the three friends to prevent accidents among them.

Today, it turned into the root of his misfortune.

Jin Xu sat to the side, watching Song Xili cursing and pulling out a talisman, then crushingly squeezing it. His curiosity piqued, he discretely activated his Spiritual Eyes to peer into the other's fortune.

He saw "fortunate, unfortunate" flashing rapidly above Mr. Song's head, indicating extremely unstable luck.

"Tsk, I've never seen such fortune before."

The young Taoist quietly muttered to himself.

"Junior Master, what did you say?"

Song Xili, caught in a dilemma about whether to use another Hundred-mile Transfer Talisman or to step out and face the bleakness of life, suddenly heard Jin Xu's muttering and turned to ask.

"Ah, it's nothing. The woman outside said she would take action if she counts to three. Aren't you going out yet?"

Jin Xu pretended he had said nothing and changed the subject, but his Spiritual Eyes were still open.

"Ah, well, this matter must be resolved eventually. Man Kun, come with me to meet Mr. Lan."

Getting up, Song Xili grabbed the fiercely struggling Taiji Bull by the horns and headed outside the room.

The young Taoist then watched the rapidly flickering words "auspicious" and "ominous" above Mr. Song's head before they finally settled into a huge "ominous" character!

Oh, and the "ominous" symbol above the Milk Cow Demon's head was even bigger than the one above Song Xili's.

...

Outside the house.

The courtyard was now deserted; Jiang Xiulan's two Foundation Establishment Realm workers had disappeared after informing their families of a crisis.

After all, a few dozen Low Grade Spirit Stones a day weren't worth risking their lives for.

The door creaked open.

Mr. Song stepped out, holding onto the bull's horns.

Upon seeing Lan Junyan hovering in the air, the Taiji Bull suddenly went limp, its eyes rolling back as it fainted.

It was unclear whether it was out of fright or an act.

At this moment, Song Xili was not in the mood to care, as sooner or later, the pain would undoubtedly wake the Ox Demon.

"Mr. Lan, may you please come down and talk? After all, this is an internal matter of our academy, so let's not make a spectacle for outsiders," Mr. Song said to the airborne Lan Junyan, using a transmission method.

Mr. Lan in mid-air pondered for a moment, apparently finding some sense in the other's words. With a flicker, he soon appeared within the small courtyard.

"Mr. Lan, before you take any action, may I have a word?" said Song Xili quickly, fearing Lan Junyan might start a fight as soon as he landed.

"Speak."

The serene female Confucian cultivator, sparing in her words and with a chill still in her eyes, parted her vermilion lips and uttered that single word.

...

Qingmu City, Wutong Building.

This place is the largest and most luxurious building in the city, with an exterior that features sixteen stories, while the interior is replete with a multitude of spatial formations.

It serves as a premier venue combining services such as caves, dining, cultivation, alchemy, artifact refining, talisman making, and pleasuring.

It is rumored that the owner behind it is the headmaster of Qingmu Academy, Qingyun.

At this moment, in a refined dining room on the fourteenth floor, a small group of young cultivators in Blazing Sun Sword Sect attire gathered by the window, quietly discussing something.

"Fairy Lan has descended, seems like we might miss the excitement."

"Yes, I thought we would get to see Fairy Lan in action."

"Hiss, and I remember that Song Xili they mentioned is one of the 'Three Cold Friends' of Mr. Song from Qingmu Academy. They are all scholars from the same academy, yet they still have internal conflicts."

"Exactly, she..."

The group by the window buzzed with discussions.

Meanwhile, at the large round table in the center of the dining hall, three cultivators sat who hadn't joined the others at the window.

"Master, even though Lan Junyan holds a prominent position among the scholars of Qingmu Academy, isn't it a bit too much for her to berate her fellow acolytes like this in the city?"

A young Sword Cultivator with a sword on his back and fiery red eyebrows, asked Zhu Yangzi, who was sitting in the middle, bewildered.

"Junior Master, I think this Fairy Lan's status must be extraordinary," Zhao Dabao said with a chuckle, joining the conversation.