Upon hearing Shang Can’s words, Yun Duan gently nodded, accepting her explanation, and raised her hand to summon back the Wuyou that had been stuck in the ground.
“It’s already curfew, don’t run around.”
It seemed that she hadn’t planned to ask why Shang Can had gone out, as Yun Duan’s voice was cold and ethereal, glancing over at Shang Can briefly.
The dreamlike image began to crack, and Shang Can quietly lowered her eyelids, biting her tongue lightly.
She wasn’t someone who often indulged in feelings of melancholy, but seeing Yun Duan inevitably shook her. The pain caused the emotional tide that had surged like a tsunami to recede, and Shang Can told herself: Alright, the time for sadness is over.
It was what it was.
Shang Can lost the mood to investigate Tianwai Tian and only wanted to leave quickly, as facing Yun Duan—who treated her like a stranger—wasn’t good for her mental health.
On another note, Yun Duan could scold people now; she had clearly made significant progress compared to the past… But hadn’t she also been wandering around aimlessly just moments ago?
Though she thought this, Shang Can would never voice it. Instead, she decisively admitted her fault as she prepared to leave.
“I’m just unable to sleep, sorry for disturbing Yun Zhongjun. I’ll be going back now—”
“I’ve been temporarily assigned to keep watch at Fengyaju, as I might be the highest-ranked cultivator here.”
Unexpectedly, Yun Duan began speaking on her own, leaving Shang Can momentarily stunned before realizing she seemed to be explaining why she was there.
Fengyaju was the place where they were currently staying, and all the cultivators who had qualified through the Dao Debate had been arranged to stay there. Excluding Shang Can, it was highly likely that Yun Duan was indeed the highest-ranked among them, and her statement didn’t seem to boast…
… But nobody had asked her that! Why did Yun Duan suddenly bring this up?
Her mind was occupied with thoughts like “Yun Duan actually initiated a conversation” and “why was she asking a guest to keep watch at such a late hour.” Shang Can couldn’t decide how to respond and felt that neither side was appropriate, so she could only respond vaguely.
“… Is that so?”
After saying it, she felt it came off as too perfunctory. Shang Can realized it was hard to pin down her character in this moment, quickly gathering her scattered emotions and bowing slightly: “Thank you for your hard work, Yun Zhongjun.”
Well-versed in the art of conversation, Shang Can knew that dialogue must be reciprocal to continue, so she decided to do the opposite; after a polite remark, she fell silent, eager to end the topic, just waiting to bid farewell to Yun Duan and turn the page on this strange encounter.
“Mm. Many seniors have gone directly to the outskirts.”
But Yun Duan clearly hadn’t picked up on Shang Can’s feelings at all, unusually opening up the topic.
Though Shang Can’s mind was focused solely on escaping quickly, she still harbored doubts about what Yun Duan said, unable to resist asking back: “… The outskirts?”
Yun Duan lightly nodded, remaining silent for a moment, then finally replied.
“At night, there were instances of demons appearing in the outskirts.”
“……”
“Don’t go out.” Yun Duan’s obsidian-like eyes looked back at Shang Can, her starry gaze trembling slightly as she added, “It’s dangerous.”
The actual Shang Can, who had been obediently waiting in Tianwai Tian, felt her emotions become quite complicated.
… That fake Shang Can was still causing trouble; it seemed they might not be caught by the cultivators of Tianwai Tian tonight.
Shang Can had the intention to check the situation herself, but realized she first had to find a way to get past Yun Duan—she silently abandoned that thought and made a feigned look of astonishment and fear: “I can’t believe this, that malicious demon—”
… Why did she have to speak ill of herself in front of Yun Duan?
With that thought, Shang Can deflated, managing to put on a look of lingering trepidation as she attempted to conclude the conversation again.
“Thank you for informing me, Yun Zhongjun. I’ll head back to my room now.”
Finally seeing Yun Duan nod, Shang Can let out a quiet sigh of relief and turned to leave.
But that relief lasted only a couple of heartbeats before it was forced to rise again. Shang Can stopped in her tracks, glancing back helplessly, only to see the person who hadn’t bothered to hide their presence had also stopped three steps behind her, calmly meeting her gaze.
“……”
Shang Can forced a smile and asked warmly, “Are you also returning to your room, Yun Zhongjun?”
To her surprise, Yun Duan shook her head plainly, denying, “It’s not time yet.”
Perhaps her expression clearly conveyed “then why are you following me,” so Yun Duan stared at her for a moment before explaining, “The fifth one.”
“… What?”
“You are the fifth person to sneak out tonight.”
“……”
Shang Can found it amusing, secretly chuckling at how these cultivators weren’t too well-behaved, which was likely why Yun Duan was so experienced at catching people.
Just as she was about to say something to express her determination not to repeat her mistake, Yun Duan, who had been watching her intently for some time, proactively said, “Someone suspects that the demons are targeting the Dao Heart Lotus and has inside help in Tianwai Tian.”
With that, Yun Duan casually performed a flourish with her sword, her gaze sweeping deeply over Shang Can, suggesting, “So don’t run around.”
Shang Can—what could she say? She could only force a dry laugh, muttering empty reassurances that she certainly wouldn’t do anything reckless, privately deciding to greet Wan Shao when she saw her tomorrow, so as not to expose her as the fool in this situation.
But right now, it seemed she had attracted Yun Duan’s attention, who looked intent on following her until she returned to her room. Shang Can felt a rare sense of annoyance, wishing she had come out later.
To be honest, chatting with Yun Duan for those ten minutes was far more uncomfortable than fighting all day long.
The tides had truly turned; it used to be only Yun Duan who found her talkative, and now there was a day when she found conversing with Yun Duan uncomfortable.
Yet, no matter how noisy she became, it seemed Yun Duan had never found her bothersome. Despite Yun Duan’s cold and unapproachable appearance, her temper was surprisingly good. Shang Can, who had once been fearless and reckless, had done plenty of audacious things, yet Yun Duan had never gotten mad at her—
… Huh? Had she ever been angry? Or not?
She felt a vague sense of “I seem to recall something” washing over her, and with that indistinct impression clouding her thoughts, Shang Can dazedly pushed open her room door and walked inside, turning to close the door, watching as the white figure that had silently followed her all the way was gradually concealed by the closing door.
As the door fully shut, Shang Can suddenly remembered.
The only time Yun Duan had ever been angry with her was that one time.
The next day, the sky was high and the air fresh.
Yet Shang Can appeared lethargic, looking completely out of place with the fine weather.
The morning bell of Tianwai Tian rang too early. She had already stayed up late the night before, and who would have known that at the time of the rooster, she would hear that penetrating bell tolling incessantly, leaving her so angry that she ground her teeth as she climbed out of bed, unwillingly following the other cultivators from Fengyaju back to the arena in Tianwai Tian, finding a corner to shrink back and zone out.
Even when she was in Qingyu, she had never woken up this early, not to mention during the years she spent wandering in Biluo Huangquan, when she wouldn’t even rise before the sun was high in the sky.
Shang Can yawned widely, more determined than ever to find out where the Dao Heart Lotus was and then look for an opportunity to steal it.
Wan Shao found her just as she let out her sixth yawn, skillfully weaving through the crowd to stand beside her. She looked Shang Can up and down, then spoke with a tone full of schadenfreude, “What’s wrong with you? Did you go out to steal chickens last night?”
“Exactly! Tonight, I’ll try to sneak a chicken out from the kitchen in Tianwai Tian.” Shang Can lazily leaned against the nearby stone pillar, sounding weary. “At least Yun Duan won’t be guarding it.”
Amid Wan Shao’s astonished gaze, Shang Can sighed and briefly recounted what happened last night. Wan Shao’s expression shifted from confusion to indignation, then to realization as she pointed at Shang Can with a flourish, her eyes sparkling with approval.
“So you’ve moved on! I was worried yesterday you might have some negative reaction, which is why I dragged you away… Oh, but what about the blood you coughed up yesterday? Have you been feeling hot lately?”
“…” Shang Can dryly smiled in response, “Yes, yes, so apart from these things, do you have anything to say about the demon’s appearance in the outskirts of Yan Yang?”
“Ah.”
“Ah.”
Wan Shao struck a pose of righteous indignation, like someone just waking from a dream, and said angrily, “Where do these fools come from, ignorant of the vastness of the sky and the earth? If you think Tianwaitian will let me out today, I will definitely rush to the outskirts and personally deal with this matter for you—cough.”
Under Shang Can’s glaring gaze, Wan Shao narrowly swallowed the last word “bai” back, awkwardly smiling at Shang Can. Before she could say anything else, a voice suddenly interrupted from not far away.
“Acting rashly is not a good strategy.”
Startled, Wan Shao jumped—someone was standing nearby! How could she have not noticed this! Her vigilance was way too low!
Fortunately, they hadn’t said anything that would reveal their identities… As Wan Shao sighed in relief, she also grew angry: how rude of this cultivator! Doesn’t she know that eavesdropping is very impolite? Even if she’s a female cultivator with a pleasant voice, it’s still unforgivable!
She turned to glare at the rude person and vent her anger, but before she could, Shang Can unexpectedly yanked her back behind her. Confused, Wan Shao saw Shang Can, who had been slouching against a pillar, straighten up, her voice humble and courteous.
“Yun Zhongjun is right.”
Yun Zhongjun… who was that? The name sounded somewhat familiar.
With the very long lifespan of the demon clan, Wan Shao wasn’t good at remembering names; her mind stalled for a moment. Curious, she peeked over Shang Can’s shoulder, and when she finally saw the appearance of the person in front of her, she froze with her mouth agape, exclaiming after three seconds, “Yun Duan!”
Before she finished speaking, Shang Can elbowed her firmly in the abdomen. Wan Shao, with a pitiful expression, was pulled close by the smiling Shang Can, who said in a friendly tone that was completely insincere, “What are you shouting about? Are you really familiar with Yun Zhongjun?”
You cultivators are really so particular! If you want to be polite, shouldn’t you tell your junior sister not to eavesdrop?
Grinding her teeth in frustration, Wan Shao thought about how, by rank, she could actually be Yun Duan’s grandmother, yet now she had to call her with respect because Yun Duan was the top disciple of Qing Yu Yu Heng Peak… If she had known, she would have chosen to impersonate someone of higher status! How infuriating!
“Yes, I was disrespectful… Please forgive me, Yun Zhongjun…”
The youthful yet high-ranking Yun Zhongjun had been staring at her since just now. Oh no—she meant to say not to look at her like that! It was so scary without any expression! So hard to read! Could she be cursing her in her heart?!
“Nice to see you again.”
“Eh?”
Unexpectedly, the other party’s gaze shifted away from her, floating lightly to Shang Can, leaving Wan Shao sounding somewhat comical, looking for help as she turned to Shang Can.
Shang Can hadn’t held any expectations that Wan Shao would help her out; instead, she endured her confusion and cupped her hands to Yun Duan. “I apologize for disturbing Yun Zhongjun again.”
While chatting with Wan Shao, she had noticed Yun Duan silently appearing nearby but had decided to pretend not to see her. Unexpectedly, Yun Duan would take the initiative to speak… Well, it was good to see progress in interpersonal interactions, but the current situation was quite complicated for her.
It was already unexpected for her to meet Yun Duan; though she didn’t wish to develop animosity towards her, Shang Can also had no intention of building a good relationship. It was best if they just met and went their separate ways, like two intersecting lines.
But now like this… Shang Can felt her alertness rise slightly, yet saw Yun Duan merely nod slightly in response to her greeting, then turned her gaze forward again, seemingly done with the conversation. If it weren’t for her blinking, she would have truly looked like a beautiful statue of ice and jade.
With all her thoughts dissolved, Shang Can mockingly touched her nose.
…It seemed she was overthinking it; Yun Duan was probably just giving a friendly warning after hearing Wan Shao’s reckless words.
The previously unnoticed corner became conspicuous after Yun Duan’s appearance. Shang Can glanced around and saw three or four people casually walking over, seemingly with intentions of getting close to Yun Zhongjun.
She decided not to get involved in this mess. Shang Can exchanged glances with Wan Shao, and they slipped away before a circle around Yun Duan could form. Once they had walked a bit further and stopped, they saw a man in a Tianwaitian robe hurrying toward the arena.
“Who is that?” Wan Shao squinted her eyes to get a better look and asked curiously, “His clothes seem different from the Tianwaitian disciples I saw before…”
“Of course, they are different,” Shang Can replied lazily, glancing quickly before looking away. “He’s Pei Chen, the top disciple of Tianwaitian’s Shuang Jiang Jun and the current acting sect leader, so his attire will naturally differ from ordinary disciples.”
“You know him? Is he strong?”
“Average, not as good as me.”
…Somehow, this person’s tone felt off.
Shang Can was certainly a proud individual, but it was rare for her to speak so arrogantly and frankly. Curious, Wan Shao was thinking about how to pry more information from Shang Can when the man named Pei Chen offered a slight bow to the crowd below and then spoke loudly.
“Those who haven’t completed their duels since yesterday’s draw will take the stage in order today—”
“But before that, Tianwaitian has urgent news to share with everyone.”
He scanned the whispering cultivators below, a look of concern and hesitation crossing his brow, yet he still spoke.
“After nightfall yesterday, the ‘Cans’ appeared again outside Yanyang, injuring three cultivators.”
He raised his voice, the resonance amplified by immortal arts overwhelming the sudden burst of gasps from the crowd below as he decisively said.
“My Tianwaitian has already mobilized personnel to capture the ‘Cans’; everyone must refrain from taking reckless actions.”
“The goal of the ‘Cans’ is very likely the prize of the leader’s Daoxin Lotus Seed, but a barrier has been set up around Tianwaitian to ensure everyone’s safety. There is no need to worry. Those who have not successfully advanced may also stay at Tianwaitian to avoid being caught off guard by the ‘Cans’ when leaving.”
“For safety’s sake, all fellow cultivators should refrain from leaving Tianwaitian during the discussion, especially after nightfall.”
“Those demon cultivators are cunning and treacherous; it is better to be cautious.”
Due to hearing about the protective barrier, the atmosphere among the crowd gradually shifted from fear to a righteous indignation filled with condemnation. Young people were angrily denouncing the cruelty of the ‘Cans,’ expressing concerns about the injuries suffered by their fellow cultivators, creating quite a commotion.
Yet Shang Can and Wan Shao remained like outsiders, coldly observing. They were soon noticed for their lack of participation, and a male cultivator approached them, enthusiastically asking, “Do you have any questions?”
Seemingly mistaking their calm demeanor for confusion over the situation, Shang Can decided to go along with it, nodding politely before asking, “We live in a remote area and haven’t heard of the ‘Cans.’ What evil have they committed to provoke such reactions from everyone…?”
“That demon cultivator can wield heavenly fire!” Before she could finish, the male cultivator’s eyes widened in disbelief, “Heavenly fire! That vast range, that immense power, the demon rebels of the Bi Luo Huang Quan were helpless against it, burning the area within ten miles to a wasteland overnight… It’s truly horrifying!”
Shang Can’s eyes flickered, but her expression remained unchanged, her voice becoming even softer. “Anything else?”
“And… and…”
The male cultivator didn’t expect her to react this way; he suddenly became tongue-tied, mumbling things like “She has committed numerous evils,” and “Who knows how many people she has killed after turning them to ash,” growing increasingly impatient. He waved his hand and said gruffly, “The demon cultivator is one of us! She colludes with those demon traitors from the Bi Luo and Huang Quan, making her our common enemy!”
“Don’t you think so?” He squinted, a hint of distrust flickering in his eyes, and took a step back. “Such a dangerous demon cultivator, who wouldn’t want to take her down?”
Shang Can watched his movements coldly, her heart not stirring at all, just slightly turning aside to shield the already strained expression of Wan Shao, her gaze unconsciously drifting to a somewhat distant figure clad in pure white, and she quickly averted her eyes as if she had been burned.
“…Yes, I think so too.”
She smiled at the male cultivator, flawless in her demeanor.
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