Shao Kang quietly poked his head around a corner, glancing at Nie Yuanshan, who was cultivating in quiet focus. Shao Kang whispered softly, "My Lord?"

Nie Yuanshan let out a slow breath, sounding surprised, "What is it? Has someone else come to cause trouble at the City Lord's Mansion again?"

Shao Kang shook his head and smiled slightly, "The stench of blood from the Jiu family hasn't even dispersed yet. Who else would dare to fool around in Qingyan City? I imagine all the families in Qingyan City will be treading carefully for a while, worried we might come after them. Who would dare cross us now?"

"If that's the case, then why are you here to disturb me during my cultivation? I know you generally won't interrupt my practice unless something important has happened."

"The Young Miss has gone to Changkong’s room," Shao Kang murmured lowly.

"What?!" Nie Yuanshan exclaimed, leaping to his feet instantly, his face turning grim. "This is utter recklessness! In the dead of night, for a young woman of her age to enter a young man's chambers—if word gets out, how will she ever find a suitable husband later? This girl is becoming more and more presumptuous lately; she never thinks things through before acting!"

"My Lord, if the Young Miss can build a good relationship with Changkong, it would be her fortune." Shao Kang, however, maintained a calm demeanor, implying a deeper meaning. "Look at Changkong’s extraordinary achievements now, and the Ji family is certainly not what it used to be. In the future, no one can predict the heights he and the Ji family might reach."

"If the Young Miss and Changkong can end up together, it’s not just protection for her, but for you as well, my Lord. Think carefully: if the major sects in Qingyan City knew you were close to the Ji family, who would dare harbor ill intentions? Even within the Nie family, if those above knew the Young Miss was with Changkong, they would regard you with far greater respect. Your position within the Nie family would then be as unshakeable as a mountain!"

Shao Kang had followed Nie Yuanshan for many years. Everything he did was for Nie Yuanshan's benefit; he was wholeheartedly dedicated to assisting him and knew which choices were most advantageous for him.

Shao Kang's words flowed forth smoothly, and Nie Yuanshan, who had been furious moments before, suddenly fell silent.

Nie Yuanshan was no fool. He clearly recognized the boundless future awaiting Ji Changkong. Prompted by Shao Kang's reminder, he understood even more clearly the immense value of Ji Changkong.

After a moment of contemplation, Nie Yuanshan shook his head with a wry smile. "Ruolan is truly not behaving like a young lady. She’s usually so carefree; I’m afraid she might not suit Changkong’s temperament. If she truly manages to capture Changkong's affection, I certainly wouldn't object. I just worry that Changkong might not favor her."

"My Lord, Changkong listens most closely to his aunt, Ji Wanyun, and Ji Wanyun is extremely fond of Ruolan. If—if you could speak to Ji Wanyun on this matter, and have her facilitate a match between the two, I believe this matter holds great promise." Shao Kang had clearly thought this through and had a plan ready before coming here.

Nie Yuanshan's tiger eyes lit up, and he nodded with a hearty laugh, clearly tempted by Shao Kang's proposal.

% %

On the other side, in the room where Ji Changkong was currently staying.

"What?!" Ji Changkong looked at Nie Ruolan with a wry smile and a strange expression. "You want to sneak out with me, without telling your father?"

Nie Ruolan nodded eagerly, her face alight with excitement. "Yes, yes! Look at you, you’ve only been out adventuring for a few years and already possess such formidable strength! My father and Uncle Shao both reached such high realms because they traveled and roamed outside when they were young! And that girl from the Jiu family, she reached the Five Elements Heaven Realm shortly after leaving Qingyan City!"

"It’s obvious that the only way to rapidly improve one's cultivation realm is through wandering outside. Changkong, take me out adventuring with you. You are so powerful; I definitely won't be in any danger following you. We’ll leave secretly, just don't let my father find out, how about it?"

Ji Changkong shook his head with a bitter smile and gently refused, "Forget it. I don't plan on wandering aimlessly myself. This time I’m heading to the Cloud Dream Marsh to find something, and then I’ll return to Blood Rain Mountain immediately. The Cloud Dream Marsh is filled with noxious miasma; if you go, you could easily inhale the harmful vapors, and then no one could save you. You really shouldn't come with me."

What a joke. With someone like Nie Ruolan following him as a burden, he would be hampered in everything he did, and his schedule would be completely ruined. Moreover, she wanted to leave secretly—wouldn't Nie Yuanshan skin him alive? If anything happened to her midway, Nie Yuanshan would surely erupt in fury and pin all the blame on him.

Besides that, Ji Wanyun was incredibly fond of the girl. If she got into trouble, Ji Wanyun wouldn't let him off either. These factors combined left Ji Changkong resolute—he was determined not to take her traveling with him under any circumstances.

"Just take me out adventuring with you! I promise I won't cause you any trouble, really, I swear. As long as you take me out, I'll listen to everything you say outside. Whatever you ask me to do, I’ll do it, and I absolutely won't talk back to you." Nie Ruolan moved to Ji Changkong's side and grabbed his arm, pestering him relentlessly.

"No! Absolutely not!" Ji Changkong shook his head firmly, refusing to yield no matter what tricks she tried.

Even as he refused so sternly, a strange feeling stirred within him. He recalled, many years ago, accompanying Ji Wanyun to the City Lord's Mansion, when he accidentally glimpsed Nie Ruolan bathing—a scene full of delicate intimacy. After that incident, every time he visited the City Lord's Mansion, Nie Ruolan would always find some small way to make things difficult for him. For a long time, he avoided Nie Ruolan as if she were the plague, afraid of seeing her and being tormented by her. After so many years, now that he was back at the City Lord's Mansion, Nie Ruolan seemed to have completely forgotten the past. Not only did she stop deliberately making things hard for him, but she adopted an entirely different attitude, speaking softly to him and pleading desperately.

The circumstances of life are truly full of such dramatic turns.

"You! You spied on me bathing!" Nie Ruolan, seeing that he was utterly unwilling to agree, cried out in exasperation. "If you don't agree, I’ll tell my father, I'll tell everyone, that you're a lecherous brute too!"

Ji Changkong shrugged, wearing an indifferent expression. "Do as you wish. If you want to spread rumors, feel free to do so everywhere. I don't care. I'm just afraid you’ll bring trouble upon yourself and ruin your own reputation."

Having experienced so much conflict and turmoil outside, he had witnessed far grander scenes and was no longer affected by such petty threats.

Nie Ruolan scrutinized Ji Changkong closely. After observing him for a moment and seeing his truly unconcerned demeanor, her expression crumpled. "Please, just agree to it! If you agree, I'll allow you to watch from a distance when I bathe in the future, how about that?"

One scheme failed, so she hatched another. This time, she even resorted to using feminine charms as bait.

Ji Changkong nearly spat blood. "Young Miss, do you really take me for a pervert? How many times have I explained to you—that incident back then was purely a misunderstanding! You are truly annoying. I’m telling you, no matter what you say, it’s useless. I absolutely will not take you out. If you want to leave, go tell your father yourself, and stop bothering me."

"Ahem!"

A cough sounded from a distance, from Nie Yuanshan. Nie Yuanshan’s murmur could be heard faintly, "Hmm, where did that girl run off to?"

"Ruolan, where did you run off to? Get back here immediately! Your father needs to speak with you about something!" Nie Yuanshan called out loudly from afar, as if he truly had an urgent matter to discuss with Nie Ruolan.

Nie Ruolan ducked her head, shot Ji Changkong an angry glare, and whispered, "I’m leaving for now. I’ll bother you again tomorrow morning! Hmph, I’ll keep pestering you these next few days until you agree!" With that, Nie Ruolan hurried out. Only after she had distanced herself a bit did she shout, "Father, you’re so noisy!"

Ji Changkong wore a bitter smile. After hesitating for a moment, he decided he shouldn't linger. There was brush, ink, paper, and an inkstone in the room, so he left a few lines of writing for Nie Yuanshan and quietly slipped out of the City Lord's Mansion in the middle of the night. With his current realm, leaving without making a sound was not difficult.

However, just as he reached the outside of the City Lord's Mansion, Shao Kang appeared eerily, smiling at him, "Changkong, what’s wrong? Are you not comfortable staying at the City Lord's Mansion?"

"Uncle Shao, why are you here? Did you know I was leaving today?" Ji Changkong felt a bit awkward and scratched his head.

"I watched Ruolan grow up; how could I not know her little schemes? Although the girl is carefree, she’s straightforward and honest—a good girl." After praising Nie Ruolan first, Shao Kang continued, "But her cultivation realm is too weak. Taking her out with you would indeed be unsafe; she would only become a burden. It’s understandable that you don't want to bring her along."

"Uncle Shao, what exactly are you trying to say?" Ji Changkong was startled, finding Shao Kang’s words slightly odd.

Uncle Shao chuckled dryly and shook his head. "Nothing much. I just hope you don't misunderstand Ruolan. Well, go ahead to the Cloud Dream Marsh if you must. I will speak with the Lord on your behalf. Oh, by the way, if you run into any suspicious-looking Southern Barbarians in the Cloud Dream Marsh, help me ask about the situation. You know the city hasn't been entirely peaceful lately."

"Understood, Uncle Shao. Please pass my regards to Uncle Nie and tell him I have an urgent matter. Thank you for his kindness." Ji Changkong nodded with a smile and then bid farewell.

Inside the City Lord's Mansion.

"You cannot go out with Changkong! Absolutely not!" Nie Yuanshan glared at Nie Ruolan, speaking with an tone that allowed no room for negotiation.

When Nie Yuanshan expressed himself this way, it usually meant he would not change his mind. Thus, as soon as he uttered this sentence, Nie Ruolan knew her hope of leaving was dashed. She couldn't help but put on a long face, drooping her head, and saying listlessly, "Fine, if I can't go, I won't go. What's the big deal anyway?"

Nie Yuanshan suddenly smiled sweetly. "That boy’s recent endeavors have been too dangerous; naturally, you cannot go with him. However, you and your Aunt Yun haven't seen each other in a long time. I know you miss her. If you truly wish to go, then perhaps you can go visit the Xuanyuan Valley at Blood Rain Mountain. When that boy settles his business, he will eventually return to Xuanyuan Valley."

"Father, are you serious?" Nie Ruolan burst out with a joyful exclamation.

"Of course, it’s true! Here, take this letter to your Aunt Yun. Your father has something he needs to entrust to her." Nie Yuanshan smiled very oddly.

Nie Ruolan, completely unaware of the significance, took the letter, still excited and thrilled, not realizing that she was holding the key to her lifelong destiny.