Met Mo Lanyi's cousin in Yi City?!

Around the outskirts of the Yunlan Sect, thousands of human city-states thrive, their inhabitants comprising the "cultivation families" reliant on the sect for their survival. These families continuously provide the Yunlan Sect with fresh talent, while the sect permits its disciples to assist these families in return. Their relationship is akin to that of a great tree and its clinging vines.

Today, Ji Wushuang arrived in a place called Yi City.

Yi City, the largest settlement under the Yunlan Sect's jurisdiction, is home to a million residents. It resembles a small kingdom, bordered on one side by the sect and on the other by the Green Sea. This "Green Sea" is the boundless primordial forest where Ji Wushuang once slew Mo Lanyi.

Before departing, Ji Wushuang left a note for the sect master, donned a set of plain clothing, slung a sword across her back, and took the teleportation array to Yi City.

The city was magnificent and imposing. With both cultivators and ordinary people living within its walls, it brimmed with the vitality of mortal life. As Ji Wushuang strolled through its bustling streets, she felt a rare sense of renewal.

Her curious gaze swept over the passing crowd. The townsfolk wore expressions of all kinds, yet each face radiated vitality. It was evident that Yi City's governance was benevolent. Coupled with the protection of the Yunlan Sect, one of the Five Great Sects, its citizens lived far better lives than many others in the world.

Ji Wushuang found a teahouse and, upon seating herself, ordered a cup of spirit tea with refreshing decisiveness. The tea, though inferior to what she drank in the sect, was still a passable substitute.

The waiter, a young man who was also a cultivator—albeit only at the eighth level of Qi Refinement—hesitated. Though Ji Wushuang appeared to be an ordinary person, her demeanor was far from mundane.

"Miss, if you're not a cultivator, drinking spirit tea might… well, it might not be good for you. And spirit tea costs a spirit stone per cup."

Ji Wushuang removed her veiled hat, her smile sincere. "It's fine. Bring me your finest spirit tea."

The waiter was momentarily dazzled by her smile. Her alabaster skin, delicate features, jet-black hair, and luminous eyes were a sight to behold, as if he were gazing at a sky full of stars. Though she appeared young, her bearing and presence suggested she was no ordinary mortal.

Hastily lowering his head, the waiter, fearful of offending someone from a powerful family, quickly replied, "Yes, right away, miss!"

When the tea arrived, Ji Wushuang took a small sip before setting the cup aside. She released her spiritual sense to eavesdrop on the conversations around her, hoping to glean news about the other sects of her masters.

The chatter, however, was a chaotic mix of tales about treasures appearing, rumors of unfaithful partners, vendettas, and arranged marriages among cultivation families. None of it was what Ji Wushuang wanted to hear.

Shaking her head in mild exasperation, she was about to leave when a group of distinguished-looking youths entered the teahouse.

At their forefront was a strikingly handsome young man with an air of arrogance, his chin perpetually tilted upward as he spoke leisurely, drawing sycophantic nods from his companions. Beside him, a woman with an indifferent and impatient expression caught Ji Wushuang's attention—it was her senior sister from the Heart's Inquiry Path.

Ji Wushuang hadn't seen this senior sister since their parting at the Heart's Inquiry Path. It was partly due to this sister's intervention that Ji Wushuang had successfully entered the Yunlan Sect. Perhaps she should express her gratitude?

As Ji Wushuang pondered, her senior sister seemed to sense her gaze. Her brows furrowed briefly before her eyes lit up with surprise, and her face blossomed into a radiant smile—a stark contrast to her earlier cold demeanor, like a vivid peony in full bloom.

"Junior Sister!"

Her clear voice immediately drew everyone's attention to Ji Wushuang.

Rising with a smile, Ji Wushuang greeted her. "Senior Sister."

"Junior Sister, what are you doing here? Oh, I forgot to introduce myself—I'm Ye Qian of Zilin Peak."

Ye Qian, upon recognizing Ji Wushuang, looked as though she had found a lifeline. While speaking, she subtly blinked her eyes, signaling for help.

Ji Wushuang's lips curved slightly. "Senior Sister, I'm Ji Wushuang."

Lowering her voice, Ye Qian pleaded, "Junior Sister, I know who you are. Please, help me out."

Ji Wushuang nodded, prompting Ye Qian to raise her voice again. "Oh, I see, Junior Sister, you got lost! Don't worry. Once I finish my task, I'll return to the sect with you."

Turning to the young man leading the group, Ye Qian said, "Daoist Wu, since I've encountered my junior sister, it would be inappropriate for me to continue traveling with you."

Wu Huayi's brows arched as his gaze swept over Ji Wushuang, his expression faintly mocking. "Ye Daoist, your junior sister doesn't seem to have even initiated Qi Condensation. Although your strength is extraordinary, bringing a mortal along to contend for treasures seems unwise. My sister specifically asked us to look after you, which is why I agreed to this alliance. For her peace of mind, you'd best stay with us for safety."

A flicker of irritation crossed Ye Qian's gentle face, but she maintained her composure. "Precisely because my junior sister is special, we must act independently. Otherwise, should we fail to obtain the treasure, you might hold us accountable."

Wu Huayi's expression darkened. "Are you truly withdrawing?"

"Yes."

"Very well." Wu Huayi sneered. "I hope you won't regret this."

"We won't."

Losing face, Wu Huayi stormed out with his entourage, but not before casting Ji Wushuang a venomous glance, as though she were already a corpse.

Ji Wushuang ignored him and invited Ye Qian to sit.

"I'm sorry, Junior Sister, for causing you trouble," Ye Qian apologized.

Ji Wushuang shook her head. "It's nothing. I should thank you. When I suddenly appeared at the sect's trial grounds, it was thanks to your leniency that I was admitted to the Heart's Inquiry Path. Otherwise, I wouldn't have joined the sect."

Ye Qian smiled warmly. "Your presence there was fate. Of course, I wouldn't deny you entry."

"Still, I owe you my thanks."

Ji Wushuang recalled her disheveled state on that day—her aura devoid of spiritual energy, arriving just before the trial's end. If it had been anyone else, her luck might not have held.

Understanding Ji Wushuang's gratitude, Ye Qian playfully winked. "So, does this mean we're even now?"

Ji Wushuang nodded. "Yes. Once this matter is resolved, we'll be even."

Ye Qian blinked in surprise. "Huh?"

"Senior Sister, you're heading to seize a treasure, aren't you? I'll go with you."

Ye Qian's beauty was both gentle and dazzling, like a rainbow after rain. Yet the man earlier was clearly not someone to be trusted.

"If I may speak bluntly, Senior Sister, who is this 'little sister' of his? I wasn't aware that in Yi City, disciples of the Yunlan Sect required protection from outsiders."

Ye Qian sighed. "The 'little sister' Wu Daoist mentioned is Mo Lanyi, my master's newly accepted personal disciple."

"Mo Lanyi is your junior sister?"

"Yes," Ye Qian replied softly. "She's kind and lovely, but I can't fathom how she ended up with such an unpleasant cousin. Still, her intentions were good—she asked her family to protect me. Refusing outright would have been unwise, and it's troubled me for quite some time. I'm truly grateful to you, Junior Sister."

Ji Wushuang's eyes narrowed slightly. As she reached for her cup, some tea accidentally spilled onto Ye Qian's wrist. Apologizing, Ji Wushuang wiped it away, taking the opportunity to grasp Ye Qian's wrist and silently activate the Heavenly Diagram to unravel her "destiny."