Wei Shi Lan stared at the lady that stood before him. He could only see her small and full pink lips making him grow more curious about what she looked like.

Also...

’She feels familiar. Too familiar.’

The commotion had died down after the disciples left, but some people were still looking at the compound, wondering who the cloaked lady was.

Shi Lan had instantly figured out that for her to be covering her face and to have easily dismissed the Peach Blossom disciples, she was certainly someone of high position. He had also caught that hint of recognition on Hei Jun’s face just before he retreated.

He grinned internally.

’Sui Rong, you did well bringing me a big fish.’

"Esteemed guest, please follow me."

Shi Lan wasted no time and turned around. The woman, without saying anything, followed him inside.

Meanwhile, outside Chang’e and Xia Xia blinked at each other and shrugged a moment later. It seemed that just like that, the commotion had been dealt with.

Chang’e felt a world of relief and sighed, sitting down and taking a rest, while Xia Xia kept a concerned gaze at the entrance of the house.

Xiao Fa, though, was blushing deeply, enamored by the majesty of the disciples of the Peach Blossom Sword Sect. She wouldn’t stop smiling and dancing around.

*

*

*

Shi Lan silently led the lady to his room of service. She glanced at the space, hiding the disgust on her face.

’This place looks so poor for such a highly famed skill... how did I end up here... damn you, Sui Rong. If you didn’t dare say that he was as good as my Heaven-Defying Demon, then I wouldn’t have even spared this man a glance!’

"Listen, I don’t care about your services. Just now, I sensed an overwhelming Demonic Qi from you... who are you?"

Shi Lan sighed and spoke with a cold tone.

"You have a sharp spasm in your upper thighs, restricting your movements." He lowered his eyes, looking at her with unhidden contempt. "That kind of muscle wound can cost you your leg and inhibit your movement if you don’t do anything about it."

The lady’s eyes widened, and she could not say anything for a whole three seconds.

’What? He could tell about my injury from just a look? How’s that even possible? Except one has understood deeply the Dao of Healing, such a feat is impossible!’

While she wanted to get offended by the way the man was looking at her, she was truly astounded by his skill.

"I’m sure Sui Rong told you how much I charge per service?"

The lady frowned, one of her brows even twitching.

"Listen here, young man, money is not my problem. Rather, I would like to know how you’re able to know about my injury. You are too young to be in the Dao Comprehension Realm, and a Demonic Cultivator can never understand the Dao of Healing!"

Her eyes turned rigid.

"So reveal who you are!"

Wei Shi Lan hid the sense of familiarity he was getting.

’The arrogance sounds just like that little girl. Wait, if she managed to still be alive, then wouldn’t she be in her late sixties by now?’

Even though Wei Shi Lan couldn’t see the lady’s face, she had a youthful aura around her. This could be achieved when one reached the peak of level of the Mortal Realm, reforming their mortal body and entering the Spirit Realm, so it was nothing extraordinary to him.

But what were the chances that a little girl he had saved and groomed about forty years before his death would be in some random valley? If it was so, then he really had to be wary of the heavens in this new life that he had received.

Wei Shi Lan sighed and extended his palm out to the girl.

"That will be a total of five hundred silver coins."

The lady stepped back, her mouth falling open.

"What? W-W-Who pays five hundred silver coins for simple acupuncture? That money is enough to feed the whole of Lake Valley for three months! And you’re asking it just to stick needles in me?!"

Shi Lan smiled cunningly.

"You asked for information. You have so much you want to know, you curious little kitten. Do you think everything is free? Pay up, and I will tell it all to you."

The cloaked lady blinked once, then again. A second later, three words the young man had used resounded in her mind, and instantly, her demeanor changed.

She lunged her hand towards Shi Lan’s neck, but Wei Shi Lan stood impassively, looking quite unbothered by her movement. She halted with her fingers just at the edge of his throat.

He observed her blankly before meeting her face and watching her ground her teeth.

"You... who... are you? How do you know to say that word?"

Wei Shi Lan raised a brow, showing a little emotion... surprise.

’Surely, it wouldn’t be... Qing Rou?’ "What are your ties to the Heaven-Defying Demon?!"

This question surprised Wei Shi Lan and also made him realize... 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

’Oh, fuck the Heavens, those dimwits must be messing with me.’

He inhaled deeply and spoke with an emotionless tone.

"The Heaven-Defying Demon, you say? He was a mentor to me, saving me when I was a child. He brought me up in his ways and taught me what I know today."

He flashed her a look.

"That’s two hundred silver coins on your tab."

The cloaked lady reeled back in disbelief.

"What? Why did I have to pay such an amount?!"

At the same time, she stood still and looked down for a moment. A smile was slowly appearing on her lowered face. She found her heart filled with warmth.

’This changes so much and explains so much... if Lord Shi Lan was his teacher, then it explains why he is so strong at a young age, and his demonic Qi. Even though Wei Shi Lan never cultivated Demonic Qi, he always understood it deeply due to his nefariousness. It’s no surprise he decided to teach it to someone. It sounds so much like him.’

Qing Rou smiled pleasantly, feeling her chest flutter at the thought that the Heaven-Defying Demon had not left the world without his legacy. He had taken in a disciple at the very end and even given the disciple all his unique techniques.

She couldn’t begin to describe how happy she was.

’Lord Shi Lan, this little kitten will take care of your disciple and make sure to keep him safe.’

Wei Shi Lan’s voice broke her moment.

"Are you going to pay me the two hundred silver coins, or are you going to get out?"

Qing Rou felt one of the veins in her temple snap.