Chapter 328: Blackened Junior Sister (33)
And soon, the city gate began to become visible. When Yue Ran noticed this, she covered the bottom half of her face with a veil. Hai Bing Tu and Long Yuan, who followed after her, went to do the same.
"This is a custom of our sect," Yue Ran explained to the curious Fan Zhi Qi, who looked at them in wonder.
"I understand, Young Lady Jin," Fan Zhi Qi responded kindly without a question.
A number of soldiers barred their path when they arrived at the gate of the city. Yue Ran and the others purposely slowed down their pace and fell behind Fan Zhi Qi and the others in an effort to blend in and look as unobtrusive as possible.
"These are the friends we made on the road," Fan Zhi Qi briefly introduced the group behind him.
Fan Zhi Qi was not as courteous to the soldiers guarding the city gate as he was to Yue Ran and her companions. His words revealed the inherent, natural arrogance of a noble. The soldiers were not surprised by the young man's attitude and welcomed them in with a kind, flattering voice.
"Young Lady Jin, if you wish to get some information, then the best place to go is the Dark Sky Pavilion I had previously mentioned," Fan Zhi Qi said.
After entering the city, Fan Zhi Qi thought that Yue Ran and her group would be intrigued and would look around with at least a little excitement. But to his surprise, all three of them were incredibly calm and had no emotional ups and downs.
"Then, how can I get in touch with this Dark Sky Pavilion?" Yue Ran got straight to her point. She had no intention to waste any more time.
"The Dark Sky Pavilion is an extremely elusive group, and there is no fixed way to contact them," Fan Zhi Qi said. "Even our Fan family has to take some time to find out their whereabouts."
"Hmm." The young woman hummed in thought, already trying to find a way to do so. But before she had a chance to think more, Fan Zhi Qi spoke once again.
"If you do not mind, why do you and your friends not stay at our Fan family for a while?" Fan Zhi Qi suggested. "I will ask our personnel to look them up for you."
Fan Zhi Qi's mind turns around endlessly, and he eventually spits out those words after pondering for a long time. The Dark Sky Pavilion was not easy to locate, and if the news of the Fan family were to find the Dark Sky Pavilion would spread out, it would inevitably lead to unnecessary speculation.
Nonetheless, if the Fan family could get a favor from Yue Ran and her group, which is to say the secluded sect she is in, this favor may be of great use one day in the future. After all, simply locating the Dark Sky Pavilion was not a very troublesome matter for him and his family compared to the favor he may get in return.
"There is no need for this," Yue Ran answered.
Unexpectedly, the young woman rejected Fan Zhi Qi's proposal without hesitation, leaving him stunned.
"Brother, what are you doing?" Fan Yu Yu cried out. "She clearly is a person who does not know how to accept kindness, so why do you still want to help her?" She indignantly pointed a finger at Yue Ran. "Are you not ashamed of yourself?"
"Yu Yu!" Fan Zhi Qi admonished her, then turned to Yue Ran and nodded apologetically before returning his attention to Fan Yu Yu. "Why does a girl from a noble family like you speak so unpleasantly?"
It is typical for a reclusive sect to behave with a sense of nobility and arrogance, making them unwilling to accept help from outsiders. Fan Zhi Qi did not give it much thought and pulled Fan Yu Yu along with him to depart after bidding the three a hasty farewell.
"Those annoying pests are finally gone," Hai Bing Tu said with a sigh of relief.
Hai Bing Tu shifted from her cold front to a cheerful one, linking her arms with Yue Ran's and pulling her to look around, focusing mainly on the stalls that sell snacks. After spending so much time cooped up in the silent as-dead ice chamber all alone, she was finally experiencing the lively atmosphere of a bustling town. It would be a lie to say that she was not excited.
"All right, all right; do not get so excited," Yue Ran spoke with a small smile. "Let us go and sell our demon beast crystal cores, demon beast skins, herbs, and other things for money first."
As a result, the group of four headed to several shops to exchange the majority of the items they had gathered over time.
Soon, Yue Ran was holding a soft and glutinous flower pastry in her left hand and a lantern-shaped food box in her right hand, which was filled with various types of sweet delicacies. There was a rare hint of helplessness in her voice as she called out to the excited rabbit demon beast in front.
"Hai Bing Tu," Yue Ran said.
"Ah, I apologize, my Lord," Hai Bing Tu said, coughing slightly in embarrassment. "I... I seem to have lost my composure."
Hai Bing Tu is naturally active by nature. But the suffering caused by the destruction of her sect, the Exalted Sea Sect, combined with the precipitation of a hundred years, has made her calmer and colder. However, today, she has gotten much more spirited and enthusiastic than usual, which is likely due to her being exposed to a lively environment.
"Well, it does appear that you have crossed the line and beyond," Yue Ran said, nodding in agreement with her own words. "As a punishment, you will have to eat all of these on your own; otherwise, I will not buy them next time."