"As impoverished as you are, you clearly don't understand elixirs, so you wouldn't grasp the power of an Imperial Alchemist."
The cold tone and sharp words were too much even for Jing Feng, who usually had a good temper.
"What Fu Zhu or no Fu Zhu, thinking you're the greatest just because you know a bit about elixirs..."
He muttered under his breath, but the maid's sharp ears caught it.
"What did you say! Say that again!" The maid clenched her fist, her entire face flushed red.
"Deng Hua, do not be rude."
Fu Zhu glanced at the maid, her sarcastic intent unconcealed: "After all, they are from the lower realms who have just arrived in the Divine Realm. It's normal for them to be a bit ill-mannered."
"However, this seat by the window has always been my spot. I advise you to move."
Fu Zhu looked down at Bai Ran, the triumph and arrogance in her eyes displayed without restraint. Her gaze continuously swept over Bai Ran's red robe.
It was as if she was saying, 'Such an ugly appearance, and to wear the same red robe as me, truly clueless.'
Upon hearing this, Bai Ran smiled and stood up, yielding her seat. "My sincerest apologies for occupying your seat."
"That's more like it. More sensible than the few beside you."
Seeing Bai Ran move, Jing Feng and the others, though angered, did not lash out. They simply followed Bai Ran to a different spot.
As they settled in their new seats, Dong Ling, puzzled, leaned closer to Bai Ran and asked, "Master, why did you give way to her?"
Such a domineering and arrogant person, shouldn't she have been taught a lesson?
Bai Ran glanced at the woman, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. "Did you notice the looks in their eyes, mistress and servant?"
Fu Zhu was far from being as foolish as she appeared. Ever since they entered the room, she had been scanning everyone's faces, seemingly searching for new faces.
Upon seeing Bai Ran and the others, she deliberately created friction, testing their identities.
Hearing this, Jing Feng and the others suddenly understood, finally grasping the true intentions of the two women.
If they had reacted immediately, that woman would have had an excuse to call the guards and detain them for an identity check.
If they fled, it would indicate suspicion. If they fought back, their energies would be exposed, revealing their true nature. Either way, their identities would be probed.
"Hiss—" Jing Feng gasped, then glanced at the two women again. Cunning, they were too cunning, so cunning that it was impossible to guard against.
Were they people under Mo Ze's command... Bai Ran narrowed her eyes. "Perhaps Mo Ze has already guessed that the newly appointed Holy Lord is allied with us."
Zhong Zi and the others sat up straighter, their expressions becoming much more serious. They had thought Fu Zhu was merely foolish... but they hadn't expected this...
"In that case, the news we heard earlier about Mo Ze bestowing a marriage upon Bai Hu... was also Mo Ze testing Bai Hu?" Jing Feng pondered, involuntarily swallowing.
"More than that, it was also a lure," Bai Ran turned to look out the window, her eyes reflecting several familiar figures.
Jing Feng followed Bai Ran's gaze and exclaimed in surprise, standing up. "Fox Spirit! And Stinky Fish! Why are you here too?"
"It's been a while. Can't you change your way of addressing me?" Still as teasing as ever, the purple figure slowly approached, a handsome curve to his lips.
Xiao Zi waved at everyone, followed by Ting Lan, who held a fluffy, snow-white sable in his arms.
"Quick! Quick, let me into the space—!!!" The moment Ting Lan saw Bai Ran, he lunged at her like a madman.
Zhong Zi frowned and raised his hand to block the delirious Ting Lan. "What's wrong with him?"
Xiao Zi blinked helplessly, an innocent look on his face. "What are you looking at? It wasn't me. Merfolk cannot be separated from water for too long, or they risk drying up and dying."
Along the way, he and the little sable's ears had nearly become calloused from listening to Ting Lan complain about dying.
Bai Ran raised her hand, set up a barrier, and then took Ting Lan into her space. This way, if a living person suddenly vanished, even if someone noticed, they wouldn't be able to find any evidence.
"Ah—water—spiritual spring water—" Ting Lan leaped into the water, his tail fully unfurling.
"Look at his pathetic state," Xiao Zi said dismissively, wrinkling his nose.
However, Jing Feng stared intently at the little sable in Xiao Zi's arms, his face filled with vigilance and confusion. "You... you've been keeping this little thing with you all this time?"
"Yes, why?" Xiao Zi answered candidly, which made Jing Feng a little uncertain.
Wasn't this little thing Mo Ze's contracted beast? Keeping her by his side, did this fox spirit trust her that much?
"Didn't you see the letters I wrote? There's a special method for breaking contracts in the Merfolk tribe. The little one has already broken her contract with Mo Ze."
Hearing this, Jing Feng guiltily averted his gaze. There were so many letters, who would have the leisure to read them one by one...
"By the way, why are you here? Did you also receive Bai Hu's letter?" Bai Ran sat down, and Xiao Zi and the others followed suit.
Xiao Zi placed the little sable down and nodded. "That's right. After reading the letter, it was burned. We had no choice but to come and meet them."
Bai Hu gathered them all... Bai Ran lowered her eyelids, her expression inscrutable.
"There's still half an hour until the time stipulated in the letter..."
Before Bai Ran could finish speaking, a familiar female voice rang out from not far away.
"Master—!" Zhu Que's figure flew towards them, directly pouncing into Bai Ran's arms, rubbing against her vigorously. "I've finally seen you! I missed you so much!"
Behind Zhu Que stood Jiang Ye, Qing Long, and Xuan Wu. Only Bai Hu was absent.
"We haven't seen each other for five months, and Master has become much stronger again." The perception of ancient divine beasts was far more acute than that of humans.
Therefore, the moment Zhu Que approached Bai Ran, she felt the immense spiritual energy fluctuations around her.
"Hey, little chick, long time no see," Xiao Zi said provocatively to Zhu Que. Zhu Que rolled her eyes at him, turning away wordlessly. "A fox's mouth only spews poison."
"Where is Bai Hu?" Bai Ran asked Zhu Que with a gentle smile.
Unexpectedly, as soon as she spoke, the emotions of Zhu Que and the others visibly plummeted.
"He... he..." Zhu Que pursed her lips, struggling to explain what had happened to Bai Hu.
Jing Feng was anxious and stared at her, demanding, "What happened to him? Tell me!"
"He... was abducted by his prospective wife..." Zhu Que said aggrievedly. She couldn't help it.
"......" Silence fell over the surroundings.