"Skeleton, you really are a weirdo."

Upon hearing this, Xue Wuqing was taken aback and looked at Su Ran with a touch of amusement, "Then I’ll await the grand arrival of Messenger Lord at the Elf Palace."

"You go first; I’ll be there shortly."

Su Ran said casually, since acting the part required playing the full role to avoid appearing spiritless. He had just made a fierce declaration and didn’t want to be seen changing his mind immediately. If Ling Wei knew about this, she would definitely look down on him.

That kind of loss of face was something Su Ran always steered clear of doing.

As for the message from his banana friend, Su Ran hadn’t received it at all. His current identity was that of an Undead skeleton—it would be really strange if he could receive messages.

After Xue Wuqing left the area, Su Ran waited for approximately the duration of an incense stick burning before he nonchalantly headed toward the direction of the Sky-reaching Vine.

When Su Ran arrived at the Sky-reaching Vine, and saw the Elf Palace above, approximately the size of a bird’s nest, he couldn’t help but mutter to himself, "Who would have thought, in just half a day, I’d already be entering the palace for the second time..."

"Ah, come on, why is Banana still hanging there?"

So much time had passed, and yet no one had come to untie Banana—it was quite the sight. Surely, this kid wasn’t having dark thoughts, was he?

Su Ran didn’t have time to hesitate and immediately used the Treading on Air Technique, speeding towards Banana. During the process, he wasn’t hindered by the Sky-reaching Vine at all. It seemed the two bottles of monkey wine had already established a deep friendship with the vine.

"Bana..."

Before Su Ran could finish his word, the rest got stuck in his throat as he realized that the kid had actually fallen asleep while bound by the vine.

Wow, this kid sure has a thick skin, asleep even in these circumstances. I’m impressed.

"Stop sleeping, get up now!"

Su Ran pushed the vines forcefully. Banana swung back and forth like he was on a swing. Far from being uncomfortable, Banana just smacked his lips contentedly, continuing his pleasant dreams.

"To be able to sleep so soundly in that position, you’ve got some skills."

Su Ran chuckled and shook his head, then decisively took out his trump card—a bottle of monkey wine.

The rich aroma of the wine wafted from the mouth of the bottle. The vine, catching that familiar scent, instantly branched out into numerous tendrils that fused into a large hand, extending towards Su Ran with an imploring gesture, displaying a highly human-like behavior.

"Hold on there, Vine brother, don’t rush," said Su Ran as he pointed towards Banana and shook the bottle of monkey wine, "First, let him go, and then the wine is all yours."

"Whoosh!"

Before Su Ran could finish speaking, the vines that bound Banana instantly retracted, transforming into a large bed for Banana to lie on, with very thoughtful service.

"Eh? Overturning Water Bro, what are you doing here?"

Banana, jostled awake by the vine’s actions, saw Su Ran offering the Sky-reaching Vine the monkey wine and his face showed a pained expression. He was about to protest but thinking of the vine’s ferocity, he sulkily closed his mouth.

"Nonsense, if I didn’t come, who would have rescued you?"

Su Ran, having spent another bottle of monkey wine, said somewhat irritably to Banana, "Let’s go, we’re heading to the Elf Palace. We’ll put this loss on the elves’ tab!"

With the help of the vine, Su Ran and Banana swiftly reached the Elf Palace. Before they even had a chance to hop off the vine bed, they found that someone had already been eagerly anticipating their arrival.

"Taptap tap."

Seeing Su Ran had arrived at the palace as promised, Wu Qing finally breathed a sigh of relief. She approached Su Ran and Banana with a gentle stride and a smile on her face, completely devoid of her previous icy demeanor.

"Eh?"

Banana looked at Wu Qing in disbelief, not expecting the elf known for her ice-cold battle techniques to welcome them with a smile. It was as if the sun had risen from the west!

"I knew it, you wouldn’t break your promise."

Ignoring the presence of Banana, Xue Wuqing strode directly up to Su Ran, "Let’s go, esteemed envoy, the Elf Queen is waiting for you."

"Alright, stop talking to me in that tone, it’s weird."

Su Ran felt this woman was addicted to acting like an NPC, even her speech was so formal, it was bound to cause misunderstandings about her identity. Judging by the surprised look on Banana’s face, he probably didn’t realize that this Xue Wuqing was a player.

"I’ll go ask the Elf Queen to come out; you two wait in the hall."

Winking at Su Ran, Xue Wuqing headed into the Elf Palace first, leaving the two men behind.

"Damn, damn, damn, Overturning Water bro, your skills in picking up girls are just unfathomably deep! You hooked up with her just like that?"

Banana looked at Su Ran with envy and jealousy, his tone dripping with sourness, "You haven’t even resolved things with Ling Wei, and here comes another ice queen. No wonder that little chick Ling Wei has been searching the world for you, but be careful, philandering men generally don’t meet good ends!"

"What are you even talking about?"

Su Ran then realized that not only had this kid misunderstood the situation, but he had done so completely, leaving Su Ran somewhat bemused.

A philanderer?

I haven’t even had a kiss, believe it or not?!

Forget it, no point announcing my embarrassment. Let the misunderstanding stand; those with a clear conscience fear nothing, not even ghosts knocking in the middle of the night.

"Are you saying that fiery chili pepper Ling Wei has been searching the world for me? For real?"

Su Ran was curious about this topic and asked repeatedly.

"Do you even need to..."

Before Banana could finish his sentence, his voice abruptly stopped as if his throat was being choked, and he stuttered without being able to speak clearly.

"Have you gone insane?"

Su Ran looked puzzledly at Banana, who was putting on a pantomime. Just as he was about to ask again, he was surprised to find that Banana’s eyes were not focused on him but on something behind him.

Huh?

When Su Ran turned his head to look, he was instantly stupefied. When had Ling Wei come up behind him without him noticing?

Awkward.

I had just been speaking ill of her, if she heard any of it with her fiery temper, she would have been sure to erupt.

However, the scene Su Ran feared didn’t happen. Instead, Ling Wei took a deep breath, bowed deeply to Su Ran, and shouted, "Undead envoy, I... I’m sorry!"

After saying that, without waiting for a response from Su Ran, she dashed into the Elf Palace.

"Jesus, you scared me to death, thought a volcano was about to erupt!"

Banana clutched his chest, trying to calm his heartbeat.

"Not just you, it scared me too. She was like a ghost, standing there silently behind me, nearly scared me into a heart attack!"

Su Ran pulled out a blade of grave grass and a bottle of monkey wine, handing the bottle to Banana, "Here, take a swig to steady your nerves."

"Damn, don’t put that stuff in front of me, it’s disgusting!"

Banana felt nauseated just looking at the green grave grass and, his face turning pale, took the monkey wine and quickly turned away, out of sight, out of mind, complaining, "Overturning Water bro, I feel like you’re doing this on purpose. With this lousy grass, who’s in the mood to drink?"