Chapter 54: Departure

“Junior Sister! I heard you’re going to the Yaochi Holy Land!”

Zhu Lan was exhausted beyond measure.

She had originally planned to sleep for an entire day, but Bai Xue’s voice drifted in from outside the door.

She had no choice but to quickly tidy her clothes and head out to meet Senior Sister Bai Xue.

To be honest, Zhu Lan felt a bit awkward.

She didn’t even know how to explain to Senior Sister Bai Xue that she was able to go to the Yaochi Holy Land, especially since she hadn’t even broken into the top fifty during the Sect Competition.

However, there were always some people who were understanding and would offer sincere blessings when they saw those around them doing well.

“Hehe, Junior Sister, do your best! When you get back, you have to tell me all about the beautiful sights and fun places at the Yaochi Holy Land. I haven’t been there yet.”

Bai Xue’s eyes crinkled when she smiled, making her look kind and approachable.

Bai Xue’s cultivation wasn’t very high.

She preferred the spirit pets on Yushou Peak and hadn’t participated in the Sect Competition.

Seeing that her Senior Sister was genuinely happy for her, Zhu Lan relaxed significantly.

Zhu Lan took Bai Xue’s hand and said with a grin, “Of course! Once I return, I’ll definitely be the first to tell you all about the fun things there!”

Bai Xue nodded with a smile.

Then, she looked around in every direction to make sure no one was there before leaning in close to Zhu Lan’s ear with a mysterious air.

“Junior Sister, that book from last time… do you have any more?”

“Huh? Ah?!”

It took Zhu Lan a moment to realize which book Senior Sister Bai Xue was talking about.

“I do, I do!”

Zhu Lan quickly pulled out a collector’s edition she had just finished reading from her storage ring.

She gave a mischievous smile and asked, “Senior Sister, did you finish the one I gave you?”

Bai Xue remained smiling as she nodded.

“Junior Sister, what kind of book is this exactly? It’s so interesting that I finished it in two days.”

Zhu Lan wanted to laugh, but she also felt a sense of guilt.

‘It’s over. I just wanted to be a bit playful back then, but now I’ve dragged the proper Senior Sister Bai Xue into the pit too.’

Having found a topic they were both interested in, they naturally had endless things to say.

By the time Bai Xue left, it was already the afternoon.

Zhu Lan and Bai Xue exchanged storybooks.

Aside from the one she had on her person, she had returned all the books she had previously borrowed to Senior Sister Qing Yi.

She really hadn’t expected Senior Sister Bai Xue, a woman who was usually so proper and well-read, to be interested in storybooks as well.

After saying their final goodbyes, both of them were full of anticipation.

In fact, Zhu Lan had originally planned to bid farewell to both of her Senior Sisters.

She didn’t know how long this trip to the Yaochi Holy Land would take, and it would be inappropriate to leave without a word.

She hadn’t expected Senior Sister Bai Xue to come over on her own.

As for Senior Sister Qing Yi… should she head over there now?

“Zhu Lan!”

A boisterous voice rang out from outside.

“I’ve come to play with you!”

It was Song Qingyi.

Zhu Lan smiled as she opened the door and pulled Song Qingyi into the cultivation room.

Song Qingyi looked refreshed and high-spirited, bearing no resemblance to the wilted state she had been in while forced to kneel for her punishment.

“Senior Sister Qing Yi, what brings you here today?”

Zhu Lan asked as she pulled Song Qingyi down to sit.

Song Qingyi gave a little “hehe” laugh.

“My Eldest Senior Sister previously grounded me, but I’ve finally been released! I can go out and play again! By the way, Junior Sister, did you finish reading the storybooks from last time? Why did you return them to me so quickly?”

“Ahem… more or less, more or less.”

Zhu Lan couldn’t tell the truth, so she could only brush it off.

“Not bad!” Song Qingyi patted Zhu Lan on the shoulder, her voice full of praise.

“To think you’d read them so fast. You’re much quicker than I am.”

Zhu Lan smiled awkwardly, momentarily unsure of how to respond.

“I don’t dare read too quickly now. My Senior Sister checks on me too strictly, so I have to read them in secret,” Song Qingyi said with a pained expression.

“Plus, the last time I read too fast, I finished the books I bought in three days. That left me with nothing new to read for two whole months.”

Hearing this, Zhu Lan asked curiously, “Why? Senior Sister Qing Yi, can’t you just buy the books and finish them while you’re outside?”

Song Qingyi shook her head and sighed.

“Sigh, my Senior Sister won’t let me leave the peak whenever I want. I’m only allowed to go out once every two months.”

‘So she’s basically always under house arrest.’

Zhu Lan felt a bit fortunate.

Luckily, Ye Feng wasn’t that restrictive.

“By the way, Senior Sister Qing Yi, I’ll be setting off for the Yaochi Holy Land tomorrow.”

Zhu Lan took this opportunity to say her goodbyes.

“I know.”

“How do you know, Senior Sister?”

Zhu Lan was a bit puzzled, but not entirely surprised.

“Because I’m also going to the Yaochi Holy Land tomorrow.”

“Huh?”

Zhu Lan asked in confusion.

“But I didn’t see you at the Sect Competition. Aren’t only the top ten disciples allowed to go?”

“Well, you weren’t in the top ten either.”

Ahem… that was true.

Song Qingyi voiced her guess.

“I’ve never been to the Yaochi Holy Land before, either. I suspect they gave our sect a few more slots this year, which is why disciples who aren’t in the top ten can be brought along.”

After thinking for a moment, Zhu Lan felt that this explanation was probably accurate.

This was consistent with what Ye Feng had told her earlier.

“Then, Senior Sister, do you know who else is going to the Yaochi Holy Land this time?”

“I’m not too sure about that. Master only mentioned that two disciples from Yushou Peak are going.”

Zhu Lan: ……

It seemed that Li Li Dao Ren was still silently keeping an eye on Fairy Xueli.

“However, I do know that among the Elders accompanying us, there’s your Yushou Peak Master, as well as the Peak Masters of Tianxuan Peak, Tianshu Peak, and Tianji Peak. It seems there are five accompanying Elders in total, but I don’t know who the last Peak Master is.”

Later, Song Qingyi and Zhu Lan discussed the storybooks some more.

They made a pact to go to the surrounding towns once they reached the Yaochi Holy Land to buy a new batch of books.

After seeing Song Qingyi off, Zhu Lan thought hard about whether there was anyone else she needed to say goodbye to.

Among the people she had met since coming to the Tianyan Sect, there was Senior Sister Qing Yi, Senior Sister Bai Xue… and that seemed to be it?

She had only met Feng Bujue once.

Besides, her intention at the time was just to make things difficult for Ye Feng, so it wasn’t as if they were close enough to warrant a formal farewell.

Moreover, that boy hadn’t shown his face much since being lectured by Ye Feng.

He had managed to stabilize his ranking during the final Sect Competition and was also part of the group going to the Yaochi Holy Land this time.

From the looks of it, the guy did have some talent.

It was just a shame that Ye Feng was such a monster; it was only natural that Feng Bujue couldn’t defeat him.

“Zhu Lan, pack your things. We’re leaving tomorrow.”

Just as she saw Senior Sister Qing Yi off, Ye Feng arrived.

As soon as he entered, he reached out to pull Zhu Lan into his arms.

Zhu Lan was already immune to this level of skinship, so she didn’t resist.

Ye Feng was very satisfied with Zhu Lan’s cooperation.

It made him feel like she was finally starting to accept him.