He Lan Tianxia

Lingyi and Luo Rina's injuries had healed considerably. Luo Rina was a restless person; having nothing to do was torture. Since they couldn't return to Wubei Kingdom, she spent her days catching Xiong Bao and taking him to the wilderness to practice martial arts. This caused Xiong Bao to run away at the sight of Luo Rina, but he was no match for her superior lightness skills, and she caught him again in no time. Lingyi was worried about his brothers and sisters in the Spirit Serpent Cave and repeatedly asked to go back to see them. Murong Junlan had no choice but to agree to accompany him back to the Spirit Serpent Cave.

The next day, Murong Junlan ordered Jiang He to prepare horses and a carriage. He and Yan'er rode on the same horse, while Jiang He drove the carriage to take Ling Yi. In June, Broken Heart Cliff was lush and green, a beautiful sight, but the Spirit Serpent Cave was deserted. A thick layer of dust covered the stone table. Murong Junlan broke the barrier and, not seeing the white-haired woman, felt relieved enough to let everyone go inside to clean. At this moment, Ling Yi whistled into the air. Strangely, the snakes that had been nowhere to be seen before suddenly swam back quickly, one by one, row by row. Seeing this, Ling Yi felt somewhat relieved, after all, the white-haired woman had only been dealing with him alone.

Just then, a hawk cried out in the sky, and the creature that hadn't shown its face for a long time reappeared, carrying a large bag on its leg as it rushed into the cave. It threw the bag to Lingyi and tried to pounce on the woman to get closer to her.

"Eagle, long time no see! Where have you been having your fun?" Eagle was furious. He thought to himself, "I wanted to have my fun too, but you guys are always causing trouble and making things difficult for me. You guys are out having fun, while I, an eagle, am stuck in my cave all day brewing pills for you, working myself to the bone."

"You've been living a carefree life for so long, have you had a brood of baby eagles?" The woman imagined many scenarios, which angered the eagle so much that it lost all interest in getting close to her. It opened its beak wide, cried out and cursed at the woman a few times, then fluttered to a rock a little further away from them and stood there ignoring them.

"Looks like you've broken up with your boyfriend," the woman added.

Ling Yi chuckled, and surprisingly, Murong Junlan also laughed. The eagle bristled. "If it weren't for this ignorant prince, playing that ridiculous purple bamboo flute, life wouldn't be so uneasy!" "No, I have to scold him awake," the eagle said to Ling Yi. "Tell Murong Junlan that he's the one who destroyed your human-transformation ability. Tell him to find a way to restore it, or I won't be polite to him."

Ling Yi didn't speak, only shook his head at the eagle. The eagle glared at Murong Junlan a few more times, and Ling Yi shook his head again. The eagle stomped its feet in anger. Murong Junlan had already noticed their little interaction, but he didn't understand what they were talking about. When Ling Yi shook his head again, Murong Junlan said to Ling Yi, "Ling Yi, are you hiding something from me?"

"No, Your Highness," Lingyi replied, trying to cover it up.

Upon hearing this, the eagle hissed, grabbed a small stone, threw it at Lingyi, and flew out of the Spirit Serpent Cave.

The woman asked, "Where did the eagle go?"

"Never mind it." Lingyi changed the subject. "Your Highness, I will handle the matter of the Spirit Serpent Cave myself. You should go back first."

"No rush, I'm fine." Murong Junlan found a stone bench and sat down. He had to figure out what happened between Lingyi and Cangying before he left. So he instructed, "Jiang He, go catch some fish and some pheasants, and pick some wild vegetables to cook."

"Yes." Jiang He accepted the order and left.

"Cooking?" Before Ling Yi could react, the woman waved to him. "Just have your men do it. You don't need to do everything yourself."

Lingyi smiled and said, "Your Highness, Your Highness, please sit down. I still need to tidy up the room." Lingyi was reluctant to sit with these two; the pressure was considerable.

"Wait a minute. Lingyi, does Cangying have a problem with me?" Murong Junlan didn't mince words.

"Isn't it obvious?" the woman realized as well.

"Your Highness, just ignore it, that's just how it is." Lingyi felt a little overwhelmed.

"Why?" Murong Junlan asked casually, but had no choice but to answer.

“Yes, why?” the woman emphasized.

"I don't know either." Ling Yi dodged the questioning as much as possible, as these two were not people that ordinary people could handle.

"I know, isn't it...?" A cry of an eagle interrupted Murong Junlan's question. An eagle, with a large leaf in its beak, swooped down towards Murong Junlan. Ling Yi saw this and immediately rushed to Murong Junlan to intercept the eagle, but he was no match for Murong Junlan's speed. Murong Junlan scoffed with her left hand, "I won't play along," and with a flick of her right hand, effortlessly caught the leaf.

Murong Junlan unfolded it and saw that a few words were crookedly written with an eagle's beak: "The sound of the flute is hateful, and it also has the ability to transform into a spirit."

"Hmm?" Murong Junlan frowned, his mind quickly flashing back to the scene of playing the flute at Broken Heart Cliff. Could it be that during that torrential rain, his flute playing disturbed Ling Yi? He remembered, Ling Yi had just cured them of their poison and was still in the recovery period. It must be.

"Your Highness, was that you playing the flute?" The woman looked at Murong Junlan. How could Murong Junlan possibly admit that he thought she had fallen off a cliff and was playing the flute?

"Lingyi, tell me the truth, is it because my flute playing destroyed your ability to transform into human form?"

Before Lingyi could answer, the eagle rushed to Murong Junlan, nodding frantically and letting out a few angry cries.

"Your Highness, please don't listen to its nonsense!" Ling Yi cried out anxiously. He tried to sweep the eagle away with his body, but the eagle immediately hid behind Murong Junlan. The woman took the opportunity to touch the eagle.

"Lingyi, I have wronged you. Tell me how I can make amends."

“Your Highness, it really has nothing to do with you. I was just distracted while practicing my skills,” Lingyi argued.

"If you still consider me your brother, tell me what you can do, and I will do my best to make up for my mistake." Murong Junlan also reached out and touched the eagle beside him, and slowly said, "I know that Brother Eagle has worked very hard. Look at how many pills it has made for us, and how it has to search for spiritual herbs everywhere."

Upon hearing this, the eagle gratefully jumped onto Murong Junlan's shoulder and nuzzled his arm. This was the first time it had ever taken the initiative to try and get close to Murong Junlan.

"Your Highness, rest assured, Lingyi will gradually cultivate in the future," Lingyi said casually. He couldn't let the prince feel guilty.

Upon hearing this, the eagle glared at Ling Yi and screeched a few times, as if to say, "You still won't tell the truth." Then, the eagle used its beak to pluck a leaf from under its wing and tossed it to Murong Junlan. Murong Junlan took it and looked at it; several words were scratched on it: Crimson Spirit Spring Water, Purple Jade Snow Lotus Fruit, Black Overlord Flower, Ten-Thousand-Year Pearl, Poisonous Wolf Infant, Thunder Defense. The first few seemed easy to find, but he had never heard of the latter.

"Brother, you've worked hard." Murong Junlan patted the eagle's head, and the eagle nuzzled Murong Junlan's shoulder. Turning to Ling Yi, he said, "Ling Yi, I will do my best to find these medicines. I want to see you return to your elegant gentlemanly appearance."

"Yes, Lingyi, you look especially handsome when you go back to being a dashing young gentleman." The woman gave Lingyi a thumbs-up.

"Hmm." The woman felt a chill and stuck out her tongue.

"I am deeply grateful for Your Highness's great kindness." Lingyi kowtowed to Murong Junlan with a thud. She wanted to continue, but Murong Junlan reached out and helped her up, saying, "We don't need to perform such a grand ceremony in the future."

The matter was finally clarified. At this moment, Jiang He returned with five pheasants and seven or eight fish in his hands. He had cleaned them all and started a fire in the kitchen to roast them. The woman also went over to help. Instantly, the aroma of roasted meat filled the entire Spirit Serpent Cave.

"Jiang He, prepare the wine." Jiang He leaped onto the cliff and quickly retrieved a large jar of wine from the carriage.

"Come on, Lingyi, let's drink until we drop!" Murong Junlan filled his cup and drank it all in one gulp.

Lingyi didn't know why Prince Murong was in such a good mood today. Since the prince personally offered a toast, how could Lingyi not return the toast? Before long, Lingyi was so drunk that he collapsed next to the table.

"Jiang He, take Ling Yi back." Murong Junlan was also slightly drunk. In order not to arouse Ling Yi's suspicion, Murong Junlan really got himself drunk.

"Yes, Your Highness." Jiang He led Ling Yi back up Broken Heart Cliff, and drove the carriage back to the Prince's Mansion overnight with Prince Murong, the Princess, and Cangying. Not long after Murong Junlan and the others left, the white-haired woman appeared in the Spirit Serpent Cave. She smelled the fragrant roasted meat bones and wine, and snorted, "You guys left quickly."

The summer night air in Yan Garden was filled with the chirping of insects. The cunning moonlight cast its clear glow across the ground, and a few gentle breezes occasionally blew by, bringing a refreshing coolness to the sweltering air. The woman helped Murong Junlan wash up and settle him into bed before turning to wash herself.

The woman rolled into this world without bringing any clothes, and had been wearing the long dress she was wearing on this side. Now, after bathing, her high-waisted, plain-embroidered light blue silk dress accentuated her graceful figure. She held a peony-patterned folding fan and was admiring a blooming rose in front of her. Suddenly, a pair of strong hands wrapped around her waist from behind, and her petite body fell into a broad, warm chest.

"My beloved concubine, why don't you serve me until bedtime?" Murong Junlan buried his head in the woman's neck, his breath reeking of alcohol, which was incredibly alluring.

"Hmm? When did I ever serve you until bedtime?" But seeing Murong Junlan's expectant expression, she said softly, "Your Highness, weren't you asleep?" The woman turned her head and met his handsome face and gentle eyes, and blushed for a moment.

"I can't sleep without you beside me." Before the woman could react, Murong Junlan kissed her fragrant lips. The kiss was somewhat domineering, its rich, wine-scented aroma seeping into her heart, revealing the pure confession within. In the heat of the moment, Murong Junlan swept her into his arms and carried her into the bedroom. The candlelight flickered, the curtains were lightly drawn, and in the fragrant, orchid-scented atmosphere, their two hearts, pounding with excitement and shyness, merged into one. This was the first time the woman had agreed to let Murong Junlan sleep in her arms without the pillow and blankets separating them. Although the woman had cleverly rejected his last line of defense, Murong Junlan, though somewhat unwilling, wore a satisfied expression.

The next morning, when she woke up, the woman's petite figure was still nestled in Murong Junlan's warm embrace. He reached out and brushed the hair from her forehead, then kissed her delicate cheek and said softly, "When will you be willing to marry me?"

The woman stroked Murong Junlan's handsome face with her hand, winked mischievously, and said, "Your Highness, no rush. Once we've gathered all the ingredients for the Spirit Transformation Medicine, I'll marry you."

"Alright, my beloved, you wait here. I won't keep you waiting too long." The two kissed again before Murong Junlan reluctantly got up to attend to his business.

Jiang He clearly sensed Prince Murong's high spirits today, and even the eagle noticed the subtle change.

"Has Lingyi woken up?" Murong Junlan's tone was clean, lacking its usual coldness.

"Your Highness, not yet." Jiang He brought breakfast to the prince.

"Tell the maid to take breakfast to the Princess." Murong Junlan knew how much his Yan'er loved to sleep in, especially since she had gone to bed late last night.

"Yes," Jiang He instructed the maid beside him.

"Get ready, we'll set off to find medicinal herbs first thing tomorrow morning." Murong Junlan planned to hold a grand banquet after finding the herbs to announce his marriage to the world. However, little did he know that this search would be fraught with danger and hardship, almost causing them to be separated forever.

Lingyi finally woke up and was already on its way to find medicine. It saw that the eagle had also come along, which comforted it a little. According to Murong Junlan, the first thing they should look for was the Black Tyrant Flower. This flower might be difficult for others to find, but it was not difficult for Murong Junlan. He could identify the flower by dripping blood.

Luo Rina wanted to return to the Wubei Kingdom. Last time, Murong Junlan saw Luo Xie and Qin Nan together, assuming they had reconciled and were fighting together against the enemy. Therefore, he agreed to Luo Rina's request and entrusted Xiong Bao to her care as well. So, Murong Junlan, the woman, Jiang He, Ling Yi, Luo Rina, and Xiong Bao set off after breakfast. They encountered no unexpected events on the road and arrived safely at the gates of the Wubei Kingdom a few days later.

A banner bearing the large character "Qin" fluttered in the wind atop the city gate. Murong Junlan knew that Qin Nan and Luo Xie had surely pacified the Wubei Kingdom. Just as Murong Junlan was about to send a message through the city by carrier pigeon, the city gates opened wide, and Qin Nan and Luo Xie rode out on horseback to greet him. Upon seeing the woman riding alongside Murong Junlan, Luo Xie called out loudly, "My consort, how have you been? Has Prince Murong mistreated you?"

Murong Junlan flicked a small pebble in his hand, which hit the horse's rump with a "plop." Luo Xie pulled hard, but the horse still lurched forward a bit. Luo Xie complained loudly, "Your Highness, what kind of gentleman are you, resorting to such underhanded tricks?"

"I disdain using gentlemanly methods on you." Murong Junlan wrapped his arms around the woman in front of him and said loudly, "From now on, if anyone dares to covet my queen, I will not only punish the horse's rump."

"Overbearing," Luo Xie retorted, "abusing one's power to bully others."

Murong Junlan smiled and said, "Luo Xie Chanyu, do you want to do it again?" After saying that, Murong Junlan stretched out his hand and made a gesture as if he wanted to throw a stone.

"Your Highness, please have mercy! It's not good to hurt the horse." Luo Xie quickly spurred his horse to avoid it. He couldn't afford to provoke the prince's wrath, so he cleverly said, "I am Luo Xie, the Chanyu of Wubei Kingdom, and I respectfully welcome Prince Murong into the city!"

Hmm? I can still use that title. It seems Qin Nan is quite easy to get along with.

"Please, Prince Murong!" Qin Nan also cupped his hands in invitation.

The group was welcomed into the Chanyu's residence, where a grand banquet was held, but that's another story. Murong Junlan, preoccupied with the Black Tyrant Flower, led a few confidants into the secret passage after lunch. The weeds in the passage had grown wildly again, and the Black Tyrant Wall had vanished once more. Murong Junlan swiftly slashed his arm with a knife, and blood began to drip. Strangely, even though the blood seeped into the soil, the soil didn't turn red, and the Black Tyrant Wall was nowhere to be seen. How could this be? Murong Junlan had broken the ancient seal, but there was no reaction whatsoever. The group squatted there, completely baffled.

"Your Highness, this Black Overlord Wall is set up according to the Five Elements. To reappear, we must wait until the crescent moon is just beginning to draw out the Overlord Flower Goddess. Also, this Black Overlord Flower Goddess has the power of premonition; she knows when someone wants to pick her and then disappears." Lingyi added some secrets to finding the Black Overlord Wall for everyone.

"Why didn't you use it the last two times?" Both Murong Junlan and the woman found it strange.

"Perhaps it was because we happened to run into the Lord of Deciphering the Mystery, and that's why they made an exception." Ling Yi looked around but didn't find any trace of the Black Overlord Flower.

"What should we do then?" The woman tore off a piece of cloth to stop the bleeding from Murong Junlan's hand.

“Wait,” Lingyi said firmly.

"Is there no other way?" Murong Junlan squatted down at the location of the overlord wall, using his sword to scrape away the dirt.

"Your Highness, I know there isn't any, but I don't know if there are any other records in historical materials." Since even Lingyi doesn't know, then we can only check the historical materials.

"Luo Xie, go to the Archives." The group followed Murong Junlan to the Archives of the Wubei Kingdom to check the records.

After they left the secret cave, the white-haired woman slipped into the secret passage as well…