When I woke up, the entire cultivation world was talking about my master.

Chu Xianlan got goosebumps all over her body.

He watched Xie Qingying walk towards him step by step, a kind smile on her face, but her steps were like those of a devil.

My mood is like being thrown into a vast ocean, rising and falling.

One or two coincidences can be barely explained, but Senior Xie's frequent appearances in front of them... it's really hard not to suspect that this person is up to something.

The conversation, which had just begun, was abruptly interrupted. Yi Chen frowned slightly and then relaxed, vaguely feeling a little displeased. He didn't look at Xie Qingying, but slowly lowered his eyes.

"Senior Xie, what brings you to an inn?" Chu Xianlan was utterly astonished. She had been told she had a private residence in the city.

Xie Qingying said helplessly, "It's a long story. The old house caught fire."

"...?"

"Disciples from the Xuan Yang Sect and the Tian Jian Sect got into a fight in the city. They started fighting without warning. As a result, my house was burned down, so I had to come out and find an inn to stay in. Hmm... I didn't expect you to be staying here too. What a coincidence."

...This works?

Chu Xianlan was completely dumbfounded and numbly turned her head to look out the window.

Sure enough, thick smoke billowed and flames filled the sky in the distance; it was on fire!

Nothing to say.

Xuan Yang Sect and Tian Jian Sect, you can fight it out. I'm not suffering or tired at all, really.

Chu Xianlan mentally ranted, feeling that the whole thing was bizarre from beginning to end, yet the cause and effect were so clear that there was no problem. The Heavenly Sword Sect and the Profound Yang Sect were already at odds, and even a passing dog could be slapped by them. Xie Qingying was actually the biggest victim in this matter.

Chu Xianlan composed herself and casually asked, "I see. Thank you for your hard work, Senior Xie. By the way, which room are you staying in?"

Please, please, please don't let it be... please, please don't let it be the neighbor next door to Master!

"Let me see, hmm, number 16, Class A."

Master's room...wait, is it next door to me?

It was a false alarm. Chu Xianlan quickly came to her senses. She was living in room number 15 of the Jiazi building, just one floor above and below. Thank goodness, there really weren't so many damned coincidences.

He blurted out, his tone somewhat pleased, "Perfect timing, I'm in number fifteen next door!"

Upon hearing this, Xie Qingying smiled gently and said, "Since we've run into each other, I'll come over and say hello. I was just about to go back to rest, so I won't disturb you two any longer." With that, she left.

Chu Xianlan originally intended to follow him upstairs, but suddenly remembered that she hadn't finished answering her master's question. When she turned her head, she saw Yi Chen looking at her.

I don't know how long I've been watching like this.

"Master?" Chu Xianlan paused for a moment, wondering why she felt that her master's eyes were a little strange tonight.

"It's nothing," Yi Chen said, turning around without continuing the previous topic. His voice was neither warm nor cold. "Let's go back."

The door closed, Chu Xianlan blinked, and left with a mind full of confusion and awe.

Inside the door, Yi Chen stood quietly for a moment.

It seems that he has truly come to a complete understanding.

He had previously harbored a vague hostility towards Xie Qingying, even nervously stopping her from pouring him a drink, but now he not only didn't care anymore, but was also smiling so happily at Xie Qingying.

The youthful impetuosity comes and goes quickly, and Chu Xianlan's relief makes his recent tossing and turning seem somewhat ridiculous.

That's true, his disciples have always been like that, able to take things on and let them go.

After all, he himself said, "There are plenty of fish in the sea." Chu Xianlan has never been one to be easily discouraged by setbacks. Once the curse is lifted and the master-disciple relationship returns to normal, perhaps she will go looking for the so-called "fish."

At the same time, Bitden locked his troublesome eldest son in a room and announced that he would be confined for a few days.

Bi Shi was naturally indignant and cried out through the crack in the door, "Father, why are you locking me up? I want to go to Youxin Valley to find the Spiritless Immortal Sprout too!"

"Looking for you my ass, just stay put," Bitden said irritably. "Does Ghost Heart Valley even look like a place you can enter?"

Bi Deng went to great lengths to establish his son's reputation as a "master craftsman" in the city, but this good-for-nothing couldn't even handle such a simple matter properly, and almost got himself into trouble by offending Immortal Lord Jixue.

All he could hope for was that his ancestor would behave himself for a few days and not cause any more trouble.

After Biden left, Bishi lay on the ground crying and making a scene. Finding that no one cared, she took advantage of the guards' inattention and slipped out of the window.

Leaving the room, he went around to the backyard of the city lord's mansion. Several low buildings were lit by dim firelight. Bi Shi's eyes darted around. As the son of the city lord, he naturally knew that the people living here were all "herb gatherers" from Shuangyun City.

His father spent a lot of money to support this group of herb gatherers at home, so that they could be used as guides to the valley to harvest the Immortal Buds during their annual ripening season.

Bi Shi sneered, thinking that once he found the Spiritless Immortal Sprout himself, would that woman Ji Fuyao still be able to be arrogant in front of him? He would make her look at him with new eyes.

He kicked open one of the doors at random, roughly dragged out a thin man with a terrified expression, and said in a harsh voice:

"Take me into the Valley of Dark Hearts!"

Two days later, the Valley of the Hearts opened.

As dawn broke, a large number of cultivators had already gathered at the entrance, all eager and ready to fight.

In the open space in front of the entrance, all factions had already taken their positions. Except for a few stubborn rogue cultivators who entered alone, everyone else was accompanied by herb gatherers wearing black cloaks with their hoods pulled low. These were the "guides" the locals called.

The guide for Chu Xianlan and the others was also dressed like this, and could be identified from her voice as a young girl.

"The Valley of the Dark Heart is filled with a special spiritual energy, known as the Chaotic Mist. Once you enter the Chaotic Mist, your divine sense and perception will be rendered useless. Please remember, once you enter, you must stay close behind me and not leave without permission."

Chu Xianlan looked in the direction she pointed. The entrance to Youxin Valley was flanked by towering cliffs, with endless mountains above. Clouds and mist swirled among the ancient trees in the mountains. Only a narrow crack remained in the center, making it impossible to see inside from the outside, which made it seem mysterious and dangerous.

"Then I'll trouble you to lead the way, fellow Daoist. How should I address you?" Chu Xianlan asked, out of the etiquette instilled by her sect.

The girl seemed surprised to be specifically asked her name. She pursed her red lips, hesitated for a moment, and then answered, "...A-Li."

Upon hearing this, Chu Xianlan raised an eyebrow slightly.

Isn't this the same as his courtesy name? He subconsciously looked in Yi Chen's direction, wanting to exchange a glance with his master.

As it turned out, Master wasn't even looking this way.

Chu Xianlan touched the back of his head, wondering if it was just his imagination, but it seemed that since the past two days, he had once again felt that faint sense of distance from his master.