Lan Mulian paused, turning her head slightly to look at the young man behind her.

Her eyes, cold and clear as ice, widened in surprise. Her veil did little to conceal her delicate features. “It’s you?” she asked softly, her lips curving into a slight smile.

Their exchange was brief, their words cryptic to anyone else.

But Mu Zhi’an understood.

Her reaction to the phrase “run away from home” had been all the confirmation he needed.

However, he was still surprised. He hadn’t expected the crane’s owner to be a disciple of the Two Polarities Sect.

And judging by her demeanor, her status within the sect was quite high.

“You two must be from a prominent family in a nearby city,” Lan Mulian said. “What brings you here?”

The Two Polarities Sect stood facing the boundless World Sea. Beyond the sect’s territory lay hundreds of miles of untamed wilderness, leading to the legendary sea.

It was an endless expanse, a vast and unforgiving ocean. Even cultivators, flying without rest for days, couldn’t reach its end. Logically, they couldn’t be heading towards the World Sea.

Mu Zhi’an considered this for a moment, then decided to be honest. “We came here searching for a rare herb, Senior Sister. We heard that the Beast King Vine only grows near the Two Polarities Sect.”

“The Beast King Vine?” Lan Mulian’s brow furrowed slightly. “What do you need it for? The Beast King Vine is used to concoct medicine for those with severe injuries. Is someone in your family ill?”

Mu Zhi’an sighed. “It’s a long story, but the Beast King Vine is very important to me.”

He looked at her. “Senior Sister, do you know where we can find it?”

“I’m not your Senior Sister,” Lan Mulian replied, her voice cool and distant. Her white dress billowed around her, lending her an air of untouchable beauty.

She was like an ethereal fairy from a painting.

“And I don’t know where to find the Beast King Vine.”

Wei Mengrou, who had been listening quietly, spoke up. “Let’s go, Young Master.”

“Wait a moment.”

Mu Zhi’an lowered his voice, addressing Wei Mengrou, then turned back to Lan Mulian, a smile on his face. “Senior Sister, I have a friend who has been agonizing for a week, writing about wanting to leave her family. But she’s all talk and no action… Does that ring a bell?”

Lan Mulian twirled a strand of hair around her finger, her gaze downcast. “I don’t know anyone like that,” she replied indifferently.

After a moment of silence, she glanced at Mu Zhi’an, then sighed softly. “May I know your name, Young Master?”

“Mu Zhi’an.”

Lan Mulian nodded slightly. “Young Master Mu, I can give you the Beast King Vine. However, may I ask… have you been busy lately?”

She’s upset that I didn’t reply… Mu Zhi’an realized.

He sighed. “Actually, a close relative of mine has been gravely ill. I’ve been busy taking care of him. I finally had some free time tonight and rushed home. The first thing I did was check my study, hoping to reply to your message as soon as possible. I didn’t want you to worry.”

Wei Mengrou glanced at him, her lips twitching slightly.

He might have been busy, but he hadn’t forgotten to reply. He’d simply… forgotten.

So, he was busy tending to a sick relative… Lan Mulian’s eyes flickered. She closed her eyes briefly, her consciousness scanning the ring on her finger. She retrieved a small, intricately crafted box.

A storage ring…

And a high-grade one at that… Mu Zhi’an observed, his mind racing.

Storage rings, capable of holding objects, were valuable treasures. However, with the Mu family’s wealth, obtaining one wasn’t a problem.

But judging by how long she’d taken to find the box, her ring must contain a vast collection of treasures.

Lan Mulian tossed the box to Mu Zhi’an.

He caught it and opened it. A strong medicinal fragrance wafted out, and he saw a thick root, as wide as a teacup, its surface marked with intricate patterns that vaguely resembled the character for “King.”

It was the Beast King Vine.

He looked up at Lan Mulian, who still had a cool and indifferent expression. “There’s no need for thanks, Young Master Mu,” she said. “Just give me one of the pills you refine with it.”

A single Beast King Vine of this size could produce an entire batch of medicine. She was practically giving it away… Mu Zhi’an was certain she was wealthy.

Immortal Sister, I don’t want to work hard anymore… “Thank you, Senior Sister,” he said, nodding gratefully.

Lan Mulian nodded. “Which city are you from?”

“Tianxuan City.”

“Very well.” She paused. “If there’s nothing else, you should head back. Lingering near the sect for too long might lead to misunderstandings.”

Mu Zhi’an smiled. “We’ll leave now, Senior Sister. Would you like to accompany us back to Tianxuan City?”

Lan Mulian hesitated, then shook her head. “Perhaps in a few days.”

“By the way, Senior Sister, what’s your name?” Mu Zhi’an asked suddenly.

Lan Mulian turned her head slightly, a smile gracing her lips for the first time. “You’ll find out when we meet again.”

Her voice was like melting ice, clear and melodious. Her eyes, visible beneath her veil, twinkled with amusement.

She adjusted her moon-white dress, revealing her delicate feet clad in embroidered boots, then gracefully stepped onto her cloud.

She was tall and slender, her figure captivating. Even without seeing her face, her silhouette alone was enough to spark the imagination. It was clear she was a breathtaking beauty.

If a high-ranking disciple of the Two Polarities Sect descended upon Tianxuan City, it would surely cause a sensation.

Mu Zhi’an watched as she disappeared into the distance, a wistful sigh escaping his lips. He turned to Wei Mengrou, plopping down on the sword. “Let’s go home, Mengrou.”

Wei Mengrou nodded and guided the sword towards Tianxuan City.

The wind whipped through her hair, her dress clinging to her curves, outlining her alluring figure.

“What’s the plan now?” she asked.

Mu Zhi’an looked at her, his fingers tracing the patterns on the box containing the Beast King Vine. “With this, the remaining ingredients can be easily obtained at the auction house. We have the characters, the setting, and the events.”

He smiled. “Now, all we need is to assemble the cast and let the show begin.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay