Thinking about everything she had done to Lu Li last night, and the marks she had left on his body, Ye Ran felt certain her days were numbered.
“Maybe he’ll come to kill me any minute. Perhaps I should just end it myself.”
“Host, don’t panic just yet.”
The system calmed down before Ye Ran did. Seeing her dejected state, it quickly nuzzled her with its head.
“Given the villain’s nature, no one could get close to him unless he allowed it. Since Host succeeded last night, that proves he won’t kill you.”
Ye Ran found the system’s reasoning quite sound.
If Lu Li had wanted to kill her, he would have done so last night. There was no way he would have let her live until today.
Ye Ran finally breathed a sigh of relief. But just as she was about to take a sip of tea to steady her nerves, she suddenly remembered something important.
“But system, I kicked the villain on my way back.”
“That’s just a little lover’s spat, Host. No need to worry.” The system flicked its tail, looking rather unconcerned.
“But I kicked him somewhere I shouldn’t have.”
At those words, the system’s swishing tail stopped dead, and its chubby face was filled with shock.
“Then Host, you’d better pray for your own survival.”
With that, the system immediately retreated into its space.
Seeing the system becoming unreliable again, Ye Ran couldn’t help but frown and sigh, her heart full of anxiety.
For now, she might not be in danger of losing her life, but it seemed she had still angered Lu Li.
Should she go and apologize?
No way!
Ye Ran immediately rejected that idea.
She had already missed the best window for an apology. If Lu Li was still angry now, walking into his sight would be walking to her death.
So it was better to hide for a while and wait until his anger subsided before planning her next move.
Luckily, the sect was busy with preparations lately. She and Lu Li probably wouldn’t run into each other.
Ye Ran’s plan was indeed a good one.
Over the next few days, thanks to her deliberate avoidance, she didn’t see Lu Li again.
She went from being terrified at first to gradually calming down, returning to her usual routine and pretending that day had never happened.
But as the sect competition drew near, many other sects began arriving at the Ten Thousand Immortals Sect. To ensure everything went smoothly, the sect leader specially summoned the elders and personal disciples from all peaks to an early morning meeting at Tianyuan Hall.
Ye Ran knew that if she went, she would certainly see Lu Li, so she planned to feign illness and stay away.
But just as she took out a sound transmission talisman, a knock came at her door.
When she opened it, she found Meng Xuan standing outside.
Ye Ran couldn’t help but feel relieved.
At least it wasn’t Lu Li.
Still, seeing Meng Xuan’s eager expression outside her door, Ye Ran looked at him with some confusion.
“Senior Brother Meng, what brings you here?”
“The morning meeting is about to start. I happened to be passing by Liuyun Peak, so I thought I’d come by and take you there together.”
“…”
For a moment, Ye Ran was speechless.
The male lead had impeccable timing. If he had come just one cup of tea later, she could have successfully pretended to be sick.
But now she was standing here perfectly fine. Claiming illness would be hard to justify, especially since she had already used that excuse many times to avoid Lu Li.
After some deliberation, Ye Ran decided to go to Tianyuan Hall after all.
There would be many disciples there today. Maybe Lu Li wouldn’t even notice where she was.
“Junior sister? Junior sister? Are you alright?”
Seeing Ye Ran unresponsive for so long, Meng Xuan called out to her a few times.
“I’m fine. Go on ahead, Senior Brother Meng. I’ll be there shortly.”
Ye Ran didn’t want to walk with Meng Xuan, especially given that her constitution could act up at any moment.
But after she refused, Meng Xuan didn’t leave. Instead, he continued speaking.
“I noticed you weren’t feeling well last time, junior sister. How are you now?”
“I’m fully recovered. Thank you for your concern.”
Ye Ran didn’t know why Meng Xuan was suddenly asking about this. After a perfunctory reply, she tried to send him on his way.
But Meng Xuan still stood rooted to the spot.
“The worst thing for an illness is avoiding the doctor. If something is wrong with your body, junior sister, you should seek treatment early. Don’t let it drag on.”
Ye Ran felt that Meng Xuan was acting strangely today—not only his words but also the way he looked at her.
But upon closer inspection, she found nothing unusual, so Ye Ran simply nodded.
“I understand. Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother Meng.”
Only then did Meng Xuan finally leave.
Ye Ran dawdled for a long time, not heading to Tianyuan Hall until the last moment.
By then, the hall was already filled with many disciples. Ye Ran kept her head down and slipped into a crowded spot.
Only after making sure she was safe did she dare to look up and survey the hall.
But the moment she raised her head, she suddenly felt a gaze fixed upon her.
Instinctively, she looked toward the main seat—and met Lu Li’s eyes.
Lu Li stood silently beside the sect leader, watching her. She had no idea how long he had been looking—perhaps he had noticed her the moment she entered the hall.
Though she could read no emotion in Lu Li’s eyes, Ye Ran immediately lowered her head in guilt.
Fortunately, once the sect leader began speaking, that gaze disappeared.
Even so, Ye Ran remained on edge throughout the entire morning meeting.
The moment the meeting ended, she slipped away. Only after putting some distance between herself and the hall did she finally relax, her steps slowing down.
But soon, she ran right into Shen Zuihuan, who was leisurely wandering about.
The moment Shen Zuihuan spotted Ye Ran, he immediately stepped forward to block her path.
“What a coincidence, running into my dear junior niece here.”
As he spoke, Shen Zuihuan not only winked at Ye Ran but also subtly loosened his robe, revealing his collarbone.
His brazen behavior in full view of everyone caught Ye Ran somewhat off guard.
But remembering how Shen Zuihuan had slipped her the Bliss Dust last time, Ye Ran backed away warily before bowing to him.
“Greetings, Sect Leader Shen.”
“No need to be so formal, junior niece. Come to think of it, it’s been a long time since I last visited the Ten Thousand Immortals Sect. How about you show me around?”
Shen Zuihuan stepped closer to Ye Ran, his gaze practically naked with desire—as if he might as well have written “ulterior motives” on his face.
Ye Ran quietly took another step back.
“I don’t go out much and am not very familiar with the sect’s grounds. But there are disciples who serve as guides. Shall I find one for you, Uncle?”
“But what if I specifically want you to guide me?”
Shen Zuihuan seemed determined to latch onto Ye Ran.
This put Ye Ran in a difficult position.
Shen Zuihuan was now an honored guest of the Ten Thousand Immortals Sect. If she clashed with him, she would surely be punished. She couldn’t afford to refuse too harshly.
“Junior sister has matters to attend to with me, Uncle Shen. You’d better find someone else to guide you.”
Just as Ye Ran was at a loss, Lu Li appeared behind her without warning and turned Shen Zuihuan down on her behalf.
If this had happened a moment earlier, Ye Ran would have reacted to Lu Li like a mouse spotting a cat. But now, seeing him felt like finding a savior. She immediately moved to Lu Li’s side and echoed him.
“That’s right, Uncle. This disciple has matters to handle. I’m afraid I can’t accompany you.”
“It seems I’m not so fortunate after all.”
A hint of regret tinged Shen Zuihuan’s voice, his eyes still glued to Ye Ran, unwilling to look away.
“This disciple will arrange for someone else to guide you, Uncle. Junior sister and I will take our leave.”
After bowing to Shen Zuihuan, Lu Li turned and walked away. Ye Ran had no choice but to follow behind him.
But once they were some distance away, Ye Ran’s anxiety began to creep back. She kept stealing glances up at Lu Li.
Lu Li’s expression was as calm as ever. He even greeted passing disciples with ease, showing no sign of being angry at all.
Could he have already cooled down?
As they walked further, Ye Ran grew more convinced of this possibility.
After all, if he had wanted to settle scores with her, he would have done so long ago.
With that thought, Ye Ran felt much lighter. Her previously heavy footsteps became buoyant.
But before long, Lu Li suddenly stopped.
“Senior Brother Lu, why did you stop—”
Ye Ran looked at him in confusion, but her words died in her throat halfway.
Because the way Lu Li looked at her had changed. It was no longer casual—there was now a hint of aggression in it.
This was clearly the posture of someone about to settle old scores.
Startled, Ye Ran immediately tried to run, but Lu Li had accurately anticipated her move. He grabbed her arm and pulled her into his embrace.
Then he pressed her body firmly against a tree trunk beside them.
“Senior Brother Lu… mm—”
Ye Ran looked up at him in panic, but the next moment, Lu Li kissed her directly.
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