Chapter 133: Arrival at Rebellion Mountain

You Xiyue navigated the familiar path to the hall on Mount Buche where Lan Shi practiced alchemy.

Above the hall, thunderclouds were gathering. You Xiyue stood still, watching as bolt after bolt of lightning struck down. The heavenly tribulation ceased only after the sixth strike. As the thunderclouds dispersed, a rainbow formed, and the fragrance of medicinal pills drifted out from the hall.

Lan Shi rushed out of the hall without even uncovering her furnace. In truth, she had sensed You Xiyue the moment she stood outside, but as she had been at the critical stage of alchemy, she had no choice but to push through to the end.

"Why are you here?" Lan Shi approached You Xiyue with a smile.

You Xiyue, as expressionless as ever, looked at her. "I came to ask you something."

"Very well, let’s go inside."

"Mn." You Xiyue nodded and followed Lan Shi into the hall.

Once they were in the main chamber, You Xiyue sat down and asked, "What pill were you just refining?"

"Just now?" Lan Shi chuckled. "A Wind God Pill. It wasn't quite perfect, only six pill imprints."

Lan Shi poured a cup of tea for You Xiyue and sat down. "Tell me, what did you want to ask?"

"Have you ever refined a pill that induces hallucinations?" You Xiyue asked, holding the tea and blowing on it, her tone seemingly indifferent.

Lan Shi’s expression stiffened. "Why do you suddenly ask me this? Is something the matter?"

Hearing this response, You Xiyue was certain that Lan Shi had indeed refined such a pill. She continued, "Have you ever given this pill to anyone? Or perhaps, do you know a person named Han Xing?"

"Han Xing?" Lan Shi’s face paled. She fell silent for a moment. "Are you sure the name is Han Xing? Shouldn't it be Lan Xing?"

You Xiyue, who had been looking down, lifted her gaze to meet Lan Shi’s. "So, she is your..."

Lan Shi sighed helplessly. "My younger sister."

"Oh." You Xiyue took a sip of the tea and tasted it. "It’s not as good as the last batch."

"What... has she done?" Lan Shi stared ahead, a look of desolation crossing her face.

"She has committed many misdeeds in the Immortal Realm and provoked me." You Xiyue’s tone remained flat as she set down her cup. "So, I gave her a beating. Do you mind?"

Lan Shi fell silent again.

You Xiyue added, "It was only because of that recommendation letter from the Alchemist Association that I came to ask you."

Lan Shi clenched her fists, as if reaching a difficult decision. She looked up and pleaded, "Could you let me handle her affairs?"

You Xiyue locked eyes with her, and the two remained in a standoff for a long time. Finally, You Xiyue compromised. "You had better keep her in check. My disciple was injured quite severely, and what’s more, she was trying to investigate me."

"She was investigating you?" Lan Shi sounded surprised. She had thought the girl was only interested in how to defeat her.

"Mn. She was trying to pry information out of my disciple."

You Xiyue reached for the storage pouch at her waist and rummaged through it. Lan Shi turned to look at her. "What are you looking for?"

After searching for a moment, You Xiyue produced the Immortal-Demon Dual-Polarity Jade and handed it to Lan Shi. "You may need this. Remember to return it when you are finished."

Lan Shi took the jade, confused, and examined it closely. "This appears to be a magical artifact capable of absorbing demonic energy?"

You Xiyue nodded. "That’s right."

Lan Shi suddenly stood up, horrified. "What do you mean by lending this to me?"

You Xiyue blinked. "Haven't you already figured it out?"

"That can't be!" Lan Shi found it hard to accept and offered an unnatural smile. "You must be joking, right?"

You Xiyue lowered her head to re-fasten her storage pouch and said flatly, "I do not enjoy joking with others."

Lan Shi gripped the jade tightly. She had never imagined that her own sister could have ties to the Demon Realm, but You Xiyue was not one to make baseless claims. There must be proof. She could only say, "Thank you."

You Xiyue stood up to leave, glancing back at Lan Shi. "She should still be in the Immortal Realm. Do you want to return with me? I suspect that since she failed to get information from my disciple, she will try other methods."

Lan Shi shook her head slightly. "I need to prepare a few things. I will head to the Immortal Realm later."

"Very well." You Xiyue walked toward the exit of the hall. Just as she was about to cross the threshold, Lan Shi suddenly stood up and asked, "Why would the Demon Realm be interested in you?"

Lan Xing would never pay attention to anyone other than her sister; if she was fishing for information, she must have been acting under orders.

You Xiyue paused without turning back. "It might not be an interest in me, perhaps it is an interest in the old fellow by my side. But regardless of who it is, it will not be allowed."

Lan Shi did not know who the "old fellow" was, as You Xiyue always arrived alone, and she was tactful enough not to ask further.

You Xiyue soon left Mount Buche. When she arrived at the entrance to the Sacred Land again, she unexpectedly saw two familiar faces.

Hua Mian cast a look of disdain at Sang Que. "What are you doing standing here?"

Sang Que did not care for the contempt on Hua Mian’s face. "Waiting for someone."

Hua Mian frowned in annoyance. "What kind of person would make the Lord of the Snow Domain wait like this?"

Sang Que chuckled and looked at Hua Mian. "And isn't the Lord of the Light Domain also waiting for someone?"

"..." Hua Mian could not refute this; she was indeed waiting for someone.

The two stood on opposite sides of the entrance, drawing glances from passersby. You Xiyue hesitated for a moment before stepping forward. As soon as she appeared, both of them looked up simultaneously.

"Little Senior!"

Having shouted, they glared at each other with disdain. You Xiyue scratched her forehead and took two more steps forward.

"Are you... waiting for me?"

"Yes."

"Correct."

They answered in unison.

"What is it?" You Xiyue looked at them.

"I came to thank you for the Moon-Glow Stele you gave me."

"I wanted to speak about Xue Chuyun."

"..." They spoke at the same time again, rushing to finish as if afraid of falling behind.

You Xiyue sighed. "Speak one at a time."

"I will go first."

"I will go first!"

Neither would yield. You Xiyue watched them argue for a moment, then simply walked past them.

"I am staying near the Alchemist Association in the Immortal Realm. If it is urgent, you may come find me. If not, there is no need to make a special trip."

Her voice drifted back from beyond the entrance of the Sacred Land. By the time they turned around, You Xiyue had already vanished.

Before leaving, however, You Xiyue had cast one last look at the vines. She wondered when that old fellow would get over his cowardly habit. Every time she arrived, it caused a disturbance, making it incredibly easy for others to guess that she was there, as the vines only acted strangely when she approached. Presumably, it was because Sang Que and Hua Mian had heard of the vines’ anomalous behavior that they had rushed over to wait for her at the entrance.

As soon as You Xiyue returned to her residence, she saw Jun Yang waiting in the outer courtyard. He hurried over to her.

"Little Ancestor, did you go see Lan Shi? Is she from the Sacred Land? Does she know Han Xing?"

A barrage of questions spilled out, making You Xiyue roll her eyes at him.

"Yes, and yes."

Her answer could not have been more concise.

"What are we going to do about that Han Xing?"