The dawn was just breaking. Inside a small inn in the south of Lingyu City, shadows clung to the room, the faint light casting a ghastly pallor over She Ming’s wrinkled face.

"Why is there still no movement?"

A hoarse murmur escaped She Ming’s lips.

The incident at the Bloodfang Auction, where the Eighth-Grade Spirit Elixir "Dragon Blood Confusing Spirit Pill" had turned into dross, had become the talk of Lingyu City.

Regardless of the cause, the sudden rise and subsequent downfall of the Bloodfang Auction House—which had dared to challenge the Red Chamber—was inevitable, leaving it deserted. Fortunately, the establishment of the Bloodfang Auction House had only been a result of a wager between She Ya and Long Xuechan; they never intended to expand it significantly, nor did they bother to take action to salvage its reputation. After She Ya left with Long Yi, She Ming spent only a single day tying up the loose ends before sinking back into quiet concealment.

One day, two days... five days...

Not only Nie Kong, but even Long Xuechan showed no sign of intending to leave Lingyu City. By now, She Ming had been holed up in this small inn for a full ten days. He was certain his return trip had been perfectly concealed, making it impossible for Long Xuechan to have detected him.

"Could she have returned to Dragon Island recently?"

She Ming was utterly perplexed by the situation. In another half a month, the passage to Dragon Island would open. Long Xuechan had won the wager, meaning she no longer had to fear the Dragon Spirit Clan using her for a trade. Furthermore, as one of the clan's elders, she shouldn't miss such an important occasion.

Perhaps she was confident she could reach Dragon Island within half a month?

"Impossible."

She Ming shook his head silently. Even he, a Second-Grade Heaven Spirit Master, found the journey between Lingyu City and Dragon Island long and arduous; how much more so for Long Xuechan. Now, impatience was growing within She Ming; the ten-day wait had completely worn down his patience.

But this was Lingyu City. No matter how bold She Ming was, he dared not make a move here.

"Uncle Ming!"

A low call sounded from outside the window.

She Ming narrowed his eyes. "What is it?"

The voice hurried to reply, "Uncle Ming, Nie Kong and Long Xuechan have left Lingyu City. They took the East Gate. A few women are traveling with them."

"Oh?"

She Ming sprang up from the edge of the bed.

A sinister smile crept across his aged face, and a sliver of cruelty flashed in his cloudy eyes as he grinned fiercely, "They are finally leaving..."

...

"Finally leaving!"

At the East Gate of Lingyu City, Nie Kong sighed inwardly, waving farewell to his mother, Mu Xueyi, and Gu Qi, who had come to see them off.

Walking beside Nie Kong, besides Long Xuechan, was Tai Yan, who was now making a grand public appearance.

Since Nie Kong first entered the Inner City, Tai Yan had remained behind, becoming fast friends with the young girl Gu Qi. Every time she strolled through the city, her perfect features and figure captivated numerous male disciples from the Inner City, with many openly declaring their affections!

Unfortunately, Tai Yan’s heart was an untouched slate, clueless about matters of the heart. She ignored every man who fawned over her. Moreover, encouraged by the mischief-loving Gu Qi, Tai Yan had actually accepted Mu Xueyi as her sworn godmother, a status Mu Xueyi happily embraced.

By age calculation, Tai Yan could easily be the great-great-grandmother of Mu Xueyi, yet now she was her goddaughter. Still, Nie Kong recalled calling Tai Yan "Little Sister" back in the Flower Butterfly Secret Realm, so he felt no objection to this new 'god-sister' relationship.

Yet, the thought of it always brought a wry smile to his face.

Looking at this suddenly acquired beautiful companion, Long Xuechan’s eyes darted between Nie Kong and Tai Yan, constantly trying to decipher the true nature of their relationship. After walking together for several minutes, growing farther from Lingyu City, Long Xuechan couldn't help but chime in flirtatiously, "Little Brother Nie Kong, aren't you going to introduce your sister?"

Nie Kong chuckled, "Sister Chan, haven't I already? Tai Yan is my sworn sister."

"Truly a sworn... sister?"

Long Xuechan giggled, deliberately emphasizing and drawing out the word "sworn," not forgetting to give Nie Kong an ambiguous wink.

Nie Kong understood what she was implying and felt a touch of resignation. However, before he could respond, Tai Yan blinked her large, watery eyes, studying Long Xuechan curiously. "Sister Xuechan, I heard Brother Nie Kong call you 'Sister Chan.' Are you truly Brother Nie Kong’s sworn... sister?" She didn't grasp the implied meaning behind Long Xuechan’s word "sworn," but she mimicked the tone and inflection perfectly.

Nie Kong paused, then a strange smile involuntarily bloomed on his face.

Long Xuechan felt slightly awkward. Meeting Tai Yan’s pure gaze, she laughed nervously, "Uh, well, I suppose I am Nie Kong's sworn sister, too." Tai Yan’s innocent statement had unintentionally hit the nail on the head regarding Long Xuechan’s own feelings; given her relationship with Nie Kong, Tai Yan’s description was quite accurate.

Tai Yan tilted her head in thought, then corrected with great seriousness, "Sister Chan, that’s not right. Not a sworn sister, it should be a sworn... sister!"

"Hah... hah..."

Nie Kong could no longer hold back his laughter, bursting into loud guffaws. Tai Yan was Tai Yan after all; she was too adorable! Long Xuechan loved teasing others, but now she was thoroughly embarrassed by Tai Yan’s innocent reversal. They still had several days before reaching Dragon Island; it seemed Long Xuechan would have plenty of time to worry about this.

Long Xuechan's cheeks flushed crimson, and she glared fiercely at Nie Kong, biting her red lip. "Fine, fine, let’s just say sworn... sister."

"Sister Chan, if you are Brother Nie Kong’s sworn... sister, then you must be my sworn... sister too," Tai Yan said cheerfully, intimately linking her arm with Long Xuechan’s. The two were a vision: one as pure as a budding lotus, the other as alluring as a proud, blooming rose, creating a stunning contrast that was lovely to behold.

"Yes, yes, that’s right..."

Long Xuechan managed a strained, dry laugh and quickly changed the subject. "Little Brother Nie Kong, the road we’re on now is wrong, isn't it? This path leads straight to the Heavenly Wolf Mountain Range. If we keep going, we’ll end up deep in the mountains. Shouldn't we change direction and take the southern main road toward Zhaoyang Town first?"

Nie Kong leaned close to Long Xuechan's ear and chuckled softly, "No need. If we take the main road, wouldn't we just make those people waste even more time and effort?"

"Those people?"

Long Xuechan started, a sudden shock jolting her. She instantly understood who Nie Kong meant by "those people," and worry clouded her face. "Little Brother Nie Kong, you mean..."

Nie Kong picked up the thread, "Exactly!"

The two understood each other perfectly, without needing to state it plainly. Tai Yan, standing beside them, kept her dark, bright eyes darting around, a hint of suspicion in her expression.

After a moment, Long Xuechan couldn't hold back her concern. "Little Brother Nie Kong, what if..."

"Sister Chan, rest assured, there is absolutely no danger," Nie Kong laughed heartily, unconsciously patting Long Xuechan’s rounded, uplifted hip. Noticing his action, Long Xuechan had no strange thoughts this time; she only looked at his confidently smiling face and offered a wry, internal smile...

... ...RO