Do you really think you can get me with just a banana?

Hu Qi nodded without asking any more questions. After Yan Ruchen gave a few more instructions, seeing that it was almost Yin time, Hu Qi and the others felt it was inconvenient to stay for long. After saying goodbye to Yan Ruchen, they hurriedly turned and walked down the mountain path in the other direction.

Yan Ruchen remained standing, arms folded, until Hu Qi disappeared at the end of the mountain path. Only then did he withdraw his gaze. He casually glanced down at his side, where a small stone stood uncomfortably on the smooth, flat path. He stared at it for a moment, then kicked it down the mountain.

The mountain path returned to a smooth surface. Yan Ruchen smiled with satisfaction and turned to gaze at a towering ancient tree behind him, seemingly examining it closely. The tree was extremely old, its branches so thick that it would take two or three disciples to wrap their arms around it. The moonlight poured down on it, making it appear even more ancient and desolate.

However, Yan Ruchen had no intention of appreciating the scenery. He stared at the ancient tree for a moment, but seeing no movement, he became slightly impatient. "Hongyin, I didn't let you out here to eavesdrop on my conversation."

The breeze blew gently, the leaves rustled, and a few fallen leaves reluctantly broke free from the branches, swirling and floating down, gently brushing past Yan Ruchen's shoulders.

Yan Ruchen stood on the mountain path, his hands behind his back, his figure erect. He stared at the ancient tree for a while, then asked again. Finally, a purple-robed girl slowly emerged from behind the tree and hesitantly whispered, "When did you notice me?"

Yan Ruchen said, "I knew it as soon as you got here."

Si Hongyin gripped the tree trunk tightly and stared at him: "Aren't you afraid that I might hear you?"

Yan Ruchen smiled gently and said, "You already know everything, so why should I be afraid of you hearing it? We are doing what is just and avenging your father."

Si Hongyin bowed her head and whispered a thank you. When she looked up again to ask more, she saw Yan Ruchen's face showing a rare look of hesitation. Just as she was about to speak, Yan Ruchen spoke first, "But we visited Song Ziye, and his attitude was ambiguous, seemingly helping but not quite. Besides, he's the only one who knows where Zixiao has the Demon Clan's medical manual. He also once helped Master Yuan cultivate the Soul-Devouring Grass. If we can get his help, our chances of uncovering the truth will be much greater."

Si Hongyin slowly raised her eyes and gazed at Yan Ruchen. He stood tall and straight on the mountain path, his expression gentle as he gazed at her, a striking yet unsettling sight. After a moment, she softly asked, "You deliberately let me know you were coming back, anticipating I'd look for you. Did you want me to help you find Song Ziye?"

Yan Ruchen smiled slightly, shook his head, and gently corrected: "Hongyin, this is for your father, how can you say that I am asking you for help?"

Si Hongyin suddenly realized what was going on and looked a little flustered. He whispered, "Yes, that's right. It's for my father. I have to avenge him and myself."

Yan Ruchen nodded. Seeing that she was about to get emotional again, he soothed her, "Every problem will be solved slowly. Don't worry too much. It's getting late. Go back and get some rest. You have to go out tomorrow."

Si Hongyin was about to step forward when she heard that, but Yan Ruchen took a step back. This step was like a needle piercing Si Hongyin's heart. She asked anxiously, "What if this matter is settled, then we... no, our marriage will still..."

"Hongyin." Yan Ruchen interrupted, his voice somewhat masking Qiu Shuang's coldness, and corrected himself, "We have never been engaged."

Si Si Hongyin widened her eyes and took a while to come back to her senses.

Indeed, the person she was engaged to was Song Ziye, not Yan Ruchen. However, before that, she and Yan Ruchen liked each other. If it weren't for the handkerchief incident, she would have reported to her master and asked her to help her and Yan Ruchen get together.

But after the handkerchief incident, she was a little unsure whether she and Yan Ruchen really liked each other, because Yan Ruchen was calm and did not argue, focusing on the affairs of the sect.

Only I was locked up in the back mountain by Qiu Shui Sword Lady after causing a few disturbances in the sect because I was in such a bad mood.

Where was Yan Ruchen then? Was he investigating the case for her? Judging by the results, he had indeed found the evidence that would bring justice to her family. But she was no longer certain of Yan Ruchen's feelings. In the past, whenever she cried or threw a tantrum, Yan Ruchen would always comfort her. But today, when she cried, Yan Ruchen simply stood quietly on the mountain path, watching her.

Si Hongyin's voice trembled as she asked dryly, "Ruchen, do you still like me?"

She stared at Yan Ruchen closely, expecting his answer, but Yan Ruchen did not give a simple "yes" or "no". Instead, he tilted his head slightly and asked, "Hongyin, what do you think love is?"

Si Hongyin was stunned for a moment, her lips trembling for a long time before she replied, "I like him. I care about him and want to treat him well all the time."

Yan Ruchen smiled slightly upon hearing this and asked, "So, do you think we like each other?"

Si Hongyin was completely stunned this time, she couldn't answer.

She likes Yan Ruchen, but all the time...

Being in the Immortal Sect and being the daughter of an elder, there should not have been many times... Some of the words and deeds said and done for the Immortal Sect required sacrificing Yan Ruchen's interests. This was for the overall situation and their long-term future.

However, such thoughts made her own position seem shaky.

Si Hongyin looked up at Yan Ruchen and saw him scrutinizing her, as if reminding her of something. But after a moment's reflection, Si Hongyin still felt that people were not saints and could not always take care of their loved ones. The right thing to do was to consider the overall situation.

This was the principle she had learned from the elders of the Immortal Sect since she was young, and it was correct. Moreover, she often helped Yan Ruchen sincerely.

But looking at Yan Ruchen's scrutinizing eyes, Si Hongyin was speechless. She originally thought that Yan Ruchen cared about the rumors between her and Song Ziye, but now she found that he cared about something else.

Yan Ruchen's eyes were cold, and he raised his eyebrows slightly, sighing softly: "So, there's no need to worry about all this now. In comparison, correcting the chaos and upholding justice are more important, isn't it? It's getting late, go back and rest."

Reminded again for the second time.

Si Hongyin stared at Yan Ruchen, and seeing him say goodbye again, he suddenly understood where his reluctance came from.

She couldn't show her constant concern for Yan Ruchen, because as the eldest disciple of the Ziwei Society, she shouldered the heavy responsibility of inheriting the position of leader, and there were many things she needed to consider. Yan Ruchen was just an ordinary disciple, and because he was lucky enough to be accepted into the sect and win her heart, he should be the one who could give him his wholehearted love and never leave her.

If Yan Ruchen can't do it all the time, why should he...demand it of himself?

Seeing Yan Ruchen brush past her and then walk away, Si Hongyin anxiously called out, "Ruchen, have you fallen in love with someone else? Were you using me for all that?"

Yan Ruchen paused, turned around to look at her, and suddenly burst out laughing, but only raised the corners of his lips, his eyes a little puzzled: "Hongyin, love, do you really care so much? Have you forgotten why you were framed?"

Si Hongyin's eyes were red, and she said in a hoarse voice, "Every time I asked you whether you liked me and when you would propose to my father, you were always vague. This time, I just want a clear answer. Do you still want me to guess?"

Yan Ruchen's expression was slightly indifferent, but he still smiled at her gently and said calmly: "Reading a book twice may not bring new results, but it will always bring new insights."

Si Hongyin was startled, fists clenched, and his eyes were fixed on Yan Ruchen. Yan Ruchen continued gently, "I will always remember your kindness to me. Regarding the matter between you and your father, I will definitely seek justice for you."

After saying this, Yan Ruchen did not stay any longer, turned around and disappeared into the night.

A dark cloud drifted in, obscuring the moonlight and wiping out the mottled shadows of the trees along the mountain path. Si Hongyin froze in place, the light above her head gradually swallowed by the clouds, like a curtain falling, swallowing up the light on the ground bit by bit. Finally, her figure was shrouded in darkness.

Yan Ruchen hurriedly stepped over the dead branches and leaves, and when he returned to Lingcaoxuan, he found two people waiting at the door.

There are so many guests to receive today that even Yan Ruchen, a young man with a lot of energy who only needs to sleep for one or two hours a day, feels a little tired.

Fortunately, the visitor was not an uninvited guest.

Jin Yu and Gu Yu saw Yan Ruchen returning from afar and greeted him warmly. As he approached, Gu Yu panted and said, "We're exhausted. To avoid being seen, we pretended to return to Yulin Terrace and then took a detour to come here. It was such a chore."

Yan Ruchen nodded in thanks, "Thank you both for your hard work. Many of Tianxuan's disciples have been out lately, so there are many empty rooms. If you don't mind, you can rest here for a night."

Upon hearing this, Jin Yu quickly waved his hands and said, "If we don't finish our work, we won't feel at ease and won't be able to sleep. Come over and get the tablets, and then we'll leave."

Yan Ruchen nodded, pulled out a dark brown wooden tablet from his bosom, and handed it to them. Guyu took it and played with it curiously, but she couldn't figure it out. "This tablet is only owned by the elders in the sect. How do you use it? I don't understand."

Yan Ruchen smiled and took out his tablet: "This is a replica I made. You can contact me by unsealing it here. Can you try it?"

After Jin Yu and Gu Yu each tried it and confirmed it was correct, they nodded, "Okay." They were about to turn and leave, but Jin Yu remembered something and quickly grabbed Gu Yu. Turning to Yan Ruchen, he said, "Ruchen, we overheard your conversation with other Tianxuan disciples while passing through the bamboo forest. Please forgive us for not letting them know. We only heard you say you wanted to let the other sect disciples know, and then we left. But now that we're back, if disciples of a major sect are communicating privately, shouldn't the smaller sects also be in the loop?"

Yan Ruchen smiled slightly, raised an eyebrow, and said, "No need. Disciples from large sects are different from those from small sects. The former usually have more affluent family backgrounds and are more confident. But it's different for small sects. When people are suddenly hit by a blow, they tend to follow others' choices due to emotional instability and unclear thinking. If they knew the outcome in advance, they would be timid and would not dare to denounce the three major sects."

Jin and Yu nodded, understanding the logic. Seeing this, Yan Ruchen said, "Since Palace Master Li has decided to deploy anti-immortal cultivators in advance, you should monitor them along the way to prevent any omissions. We don't need to worry too much at the moment."

The two continued to nod, and Guyu said, "Okay, we stopped by Yunjichan on our way here and told Kunliang about this. He will replace Elder Wang's tablet. We'll meet in two days."

Yan Ruchen reminded: "One day, the night has passed."

Jin Yu smiled and patted Gu Yu's head, apologizing, "Gu Yu's mind is slow, sorry for the joke." Then he pulled Gu Yu out of Lingcao Pavilion. Halfway through, he remembered something and turned back, saying, "You and Shan Yu should continue to have a good rest. We can take care of these small things."

After saying that, the two girls ran away laughing.

Yan Ruchen looked at their backs, stunned for a moment, then smiled, shook his head, turned around and pushed open Guan Shanyu's door.