“Rest assured — there is nothing between her and me.” Ye Fan transmitted his voice back, saying only that single sentence.

“Good, then there is nothing more to be said.” Jihui said nothing further, leading the way inside.

Once they were seated in the room, Jihui showed great concern for Ji Ziyue’s ordeal along the way — she asked carefully and in detail, learning every particular.

“The Peacock King is far too arrogant — wanting to kill Haoyue, and wanting to abduct you. He truly…” Jihui’s white hair swayed gently. “The clan head and Holy Master Yao Guang have both emerged from seclusion, specifically for him. This time, even if he cannot be slain, he will be made to pay a tremendous price.”

A great lineage passed down since the time of primordial antiquity would not suffer insult. Eight hundred years ago the Peacock King had provoked the Yao Guang Sacred Ground, and now he had struck at the Ji Family as well. These two ancient inheritances were genuinely enraged — both Holy Masters acting together was extraordinarily rare.

Shortly after, Ji Ziyue went to wash and tidy herself up. After days of desperate flight, her clothes were in tatters and she was in considerable disarray — she truly needed to refresh herself.

“Young hero, what would you ask of us? My Ji Family will compensate you.” Jihui turned to face Ye Fan, her expression calm, her face showing nothing.

There was none of the expected warmth or gratitude. This manner said one thing plainly: the Ji Family stood above all, and even a debt of gratitude could be repaid through other means.

Ye Fan was perfectly glad of this — he had never had any desire to involve himself with the Ji Family. The moment his injuries were healed, he would leave without hesitation.

“The Ji Family has never allowed itself to be indebted to anyone. We have the means to repay any debt of gratitude.” Fearing Ye Fan had not grasped the deeper meaning, Jihui pressed further: “Tell me what you want. In this world, there is nothing beyond the sun and moon that my Ji Family cannot produce. We will settle this debt in full.”

Taken together with the warning she had given him moments before, her meaning could not have been clearer — she wanted Ye Fan to understand the vast distance between them, take what was offered, and leave quickly.

Ye Fan felt a twinge of irritation. He had endured tens of thousands of li and serious injuries escorting Ji Ziyue back — and this was the reception he received. He decided not to be polite about it. “Actually,” he said, “I have long yearned to see the legendary Desolate Pagoda. I would very much like to take a look at it.”

You say there’s nothing beyond the sun and moon you can’t produce? Then bring out the Desolate Pagoda for me to see. Ye Fan sneered inwardly.

Jihui’s expression stiffened. Then a faint smile crossed her face. “Tell me what you truly want.”

“I need nothing at all. At most one day, and my injuries will be recovered — I will leave immediately. You may put your mind at ease.”

Jihui’s face darkened. “Young man, do not bother calculating. We repay grace with grace — we will not allow ourselves to owe anyone a debt.”

By this point, the old woman had dropped all pretense, with more than a touch of arrogance. She would not allow the Ji Family’s prized daughter to be too intimate with this young man.

“Make your choice quickly, and then I will have someone escort you away.” She seemed to be running out of patience.

Ye Fan nodded. “Very well.”

Jihui was blunt and direct. “I will give you a spiritual weapon, obtained from the tomb of the Demon Emperor. I trust that is more than sufficient to settle your debt.”

The arrogance behind it was palpable — as though by presenting a spiritual weapon, she was granting Ye Fan some enormous favor.

Ye Fan felt even more irritated. He had once had three spiritual weapons in his hands — though they had been snatched away by that unscrupulous Daoist — but he had, after all, held them.

“Since Senior insists on giving me something, then give me a hundred or eighty yuan — or perhaps a few cartloads of spiritual medicines would do as well.”

Since the other party was this cold and transactional, Ye Fan saw no reason to be polite. They were already treating this as a business exchange — better to at least get something for his own trouble, rather than give the impression that someone else’s “goodwill” was worth more than it was.

“You really do have quite the nerve!” Jihui’s expression froze, and then she gave a nod. “If you won’t take the spiritual weapon, I’ll give you one yuan.”

Only one. Ye Fan grumbled inwardly — what a miser.

“Jihui, take him to collect the yuan.” Jihui gave the order.

An elderly steward in his sixties bowed deferentially in acknowledgment, then gestured politely toward Ye Fan and led the way.

They came to a courtyard where a brilliant, crystalline jade palanquin stood — no longer than five or six meters by outward appearance, yet it gave the impression of something vast and grand.

Ye Fan followed the elderly steward, named Jihui, up to the palanquin carriage, and the moment he stepped inside, he was taken aback. The interior was incomparably spacious — nothing like a carriage at all, more like an enormous dwelling carved into rock.

The inside was a warm and lustrous space, flowing with light and shimmering colors, giving an almost dreamlike quality. It was a cavern residence carved from jade, then consecrated and transformed into a palanquin — truly extraordinary.

“This jade palanquin alone is worth a city. Not to speak of ordinary cultivators — even most sects could not produce such wealth.” Ji Ren said.

Ye Fan understood. Jihui had had the old steward bring him here for the same reason — to remind him of the incomprehensible gulf between them, and to leave him with no illusions.

The steward led Ye Fan to a treasury. Inside, brilliant auspicious light swirled in mist, displaying a great many weapons. Some radiated murderous energy, some glowed with divine light, and others appeared ancient and weathered.

“At present there is only this one yuan — but it should be more than enough to repay what you are owed.” The steward’s voice was flat and emotionless. He drew out a jade box from the treasury and handed it to Ye Fan.

This was not repayment of a debt at all — it was a transaction. Even a steward had this sort of bearing. Ye Fan found it distasteful, but he wasn’t about to refuse something freely given — refusing it would only create more problems for himself.

When the jade box was opened, a pure surge of life energy rushed out. A yuan the size of a fist glimmered with crystalline light, shooting off sparks of rosy brilliance, with wisps of colorful mist drifting within it. It was clearly formed in the most ancient era, containing a vast quantity of life essence.

Even this cold old steward’s eyes briefly showed a flicker of unusual light — a hint of something very like longing.

When Ye Fan returned to the main hall, Ji Ziyue had already freshened up and was speaking with Jihui, laughing and chatting warmly.

Jihui gave Ye Fan a nod but said nothing more.

Just then, someone came to announce that Hua Yunfei of the Tai Xuan Sect requested an audience.

“It’s that child — invite him in at once.” A smile broke across Jihui’s face.

Moments later, the azure-robed Hua Yunfei drifted in like a floating cloud, giving an impression of high, untainted purity. He bowed deeply in formal salutation to Jihui.

“Good child, rise quickly — there is no need for such formality.” Jihui stepped forward, her face full of warmth, and personally helped him to his feet.

Ye Fan was truly at a loss for words. This old woman had just given him a face as blank as a stone wall, yet upon seeing Hua Yunfei, she was this warm and welcoming. The contrast could not have been more stark.

Ji Ziyue also showed a look of puzzlement, asking, “Grandaunt, you know him?”

Jihui smiled. “How could I not? My mother’s surname was Hua, from the Tai Xuan Sect — which makes Yunfei not an outsider at all. You ought to call him Cousin.”

“A cousin on the wrong side of something…” Ji Ziyue muttered very quietly — words few could have caught.

“Two years ago, your brother Haoyue sparred against Yunfei — that was an arrangement I made.” Jihui seemed genuinely pleased, adding, “Both are peerless talents of their generation. Haoyue has the divine body, Yunfei is gifted beyond measure. He lost by only a single move.”

Ji Ziyue murmured something under her breath again.

“What are you mumbling about, child?” Jihui gave her a reproving look, then turned to Hua Yunfei. “Yunfei, how did you come to be in this region?”

“The Peacock King has made his move and shaken the entire Southern Region. Haoyue’s fate remains uncertain, and Lady Ziyue’s whereabouts were unknown. I wished to do what I could — I brought people into this region, and learning that Senior was here, I came to pay my respects.” Hua Yunfei answered with composure. “Congratulations to Lady Ziyue on escaping unharmed.”

“And yet the true culprit behind my assassination attempt remains unknown.” Ji Ziyue murmured to herself.

“What a fine young man — this is a rare and precious show of heart.” Jihui beamed, taking Hua Yunfei by the hand. “You shall call me Grandaunt too, just as Ziyue does — don’t stand on ceremony. How hard you must have worked, racing tens of thousands of li to come to the rescue. Truly commendable.”

“Grandaunt…” Ji Ziyue began to look displeased. Ye Fan had endured tens of thousands of li, escorted her all the way back, and suffered serious wounds — yet he had been left cold and ignored. Meanwhile Hua Yunfei had merely arrived here without actually doing anything, yet Jihui treated him with such warmth. She found it deeply hard to watch.

“Don’t worry — my Ji Family does not allow debts to go unpaid. I have already given him sufficient compensation.” Jihui turned to answer her, her expression composed.

“Brother Ye…” Hua Yunfei’s expression showed a flicker of surprise. “How did you come to be here as well?”

“I was heading on a journey and happened to pass through this area.” Ye Fan replied.

Hua Yunfei quietly transmitted his voice: “Brother Ye, did you leave quietly because you wanted to part ways with the Tai Xuan Sect?”

“No such thing.”

“Your physique is very special — were you to stay at the Tai Xuan Sect, you would surely make a great name for yourself in time. I believe the Sect Master would do everything in his power to cultivate you.” Hua Yunfei seemed to be persuading him to stay.

“I’m just going out to temper myself. I may return to Craggy Peak someday.” Ye Fan hadn’t expected to encounter the Tai Xuan Sect’s most outstanding disciple here of all places.

Hua Yunfei nodded and said nothing more.

“Jihui, see to it this young hero is well attended — no neglect.” Jihui gave instructions to the steward, then taking one person by each hand, she drew Ji Ziyue and Hua Yunfei along with a face full of smiles. “Come — I have some things I wish to say to you both in the rear courtyard.”

“Grandaunt…” Ji Ziyue called out in displeasure, but could not pull free and was brought along to the rear courtyard.

You blasted… Those four words were all that remained in Ye Fan’s mind.

“This way, young Master Ye.” The old steward Jihui wore an expressionless face, gesturing the way forward. “I have prepared a room for you. Should you need anything, please let me know.”

“I need nothing.” Ye Fan entered the room, brought out the jade purifying vase, drank several large mouthfuls of divine spring water, and began to quietly circulate his profound techniques.

His physique was unusual and his vitality was extraordinary — his body recovered with remarkable speed. By the following day, even if he had not fully healed, he would be well enough to set out on his own.

Ji Family senior figures arrived from various other locations, gathering together, and Jihui was finally able to set down her worries entirely.

Time passed quickly. By the following day, Ye Fan felt refreshed and clear-headed — he had largely recovered and was about to take his leave without delay. At that same moment, the Ji Family members were also preparing to depart this place and begin the journey home.

This time, Ji Ziyue did not try to stop him. She came to see him off personally, and as she did, she transmitted her voice quietly: “This incident is too large — even the clan head has been alerted. Your secrets are too many. If you came back with me to the Ji Family, most likely he would see through you. You saved my life — I cannot let you come to any harm. I’ve thought it over and over, and the only thing I can do is let you go.”

Saying this, Ji Ziyue covertly pressed a jade pendant into Ye Fan’s hand. “This is a piece of spiritual jade — it can erase the marks others have left on your body. Little brat… be careful.”

“Alright. Until we meet again.” Ye Fan raised his hand in farewell, then shot away into the distance.

“He’s gone — no point looking anymore. He’s already disappeared.” Jihui came forward, took Ji Ziyue by the hand, and urged her to board the jade palanquin.

Ye Fan’s speed was extraordinary — like a ripple of light, he vanished in an instant. He was on guard, not pausing for a single moment, pushing the old madman’s footwork technique to its absolute limits.

It was not until two days later that he finally put his mind at ease — there was no one following him from behind.

Yet on the fifth day, trouble found him at last. He felt a powerful killing intent bearing down on him.

An aged voice sounded at his ear: “Young man, you took something that does not belong to you when you left. Leave it behind.”

Just ahead, a familiar old man stood there, blocking his path — none other than Jihui’s old steward, Jihui.

“What do you mean?”

“The Great Void Art — it is not something you are permitted to learn!” The steward Jihui stood there hunched and stooped, his expression cold and impassive, standing quietly, his killing intent spreading outward like a chill.

“I saved your Ji Family’s precious daughter. You have the audacity to come here to kill me? Is this how you repay your benefactor?” Ye Fan’s expression turned ice-cold.

“The Great Void Art is a supreme secret technique — one of the essential arts of the Void Ancient Sutra. It cannot under any circumstances be allowed to fall into the hands of an outsider. Lady Ziyue acted rashly in her youth, passing it to you — I can only take it back. Even if Holy Master Yao Guang himself obtained it, we would find a way to retrieve it from him. Let alone from someone like you!” Jihui’s killing intent was fully revealed — a chill like the depths of a winter cellar. “Accept your fate…”

“You truly repay kindness with enmity!”

“Surrender to what must come…” Jihui stepped forward, pressing closer.