Nonsense! How could my adopted son be a villain?

After Xu Lingguang returned, Youyu went back to his clan's territory.

Lan Jian's injuries had been properly treated, but he disliked the unsightly bandages and deliberately transformed back into human form.

But because his injuries hadn't fully healed, his face was exceptionally pale, even his lips were bloodless. When Youyu entered, she saw him leaning listlessly against the soft couch and immediately asked worriedly, "Brother, this time your injuries seem more serious than before. Don't you really need to see a physician?"

Yesterday, his elder brother asked Xu Lingguang to come and help. He was actually a little worried, feeling that a human cultivator with unclear intentions might take the opportunity to harm his elder brother.

Lan Jian drank a cup of tea to dispel the bloody taste rising in his throat: "The evil aura of the Boundless Land, how could any medical cultivator have the ability to see it?" He was not happy about mentioning the Boundless Land, and his face darkened for a moment. He did not want to talk about this with the cub, so he waved his hand and said: "Don't worry, it's just a small injury, I'll be fine."

Youyu had no choice but to stop, and after hesitating for a moment, he said, "Last night I stayed with Yu Rong and the others, and I discovered that Yu Rong may have secretly gone down the mountain."

Yu Rong was simple-minded and couldn't keep secrets. He secretly went down the mountain in his backpack and saw a bit of the world, and couldn't help but want to show it off to Yun Feng and Zhao Ling. Of course, he also knew that he had to keep it from You Yu, otherwise his elder brother would probably find out and scold him.

Unfortunately, he was cautious yet not quite so cautious; he spoke secretly in his little den, but the words still reached Youyu's ears through the wind.

If it were any other minor matter, Youyu would have turned a blind eye, but the cub secretly going down the mountain was a big deal. He worried that if the cub spent too much time with Xu Lingguang, it would become more and more fascinated by the world down the mountain, and would sneak down the mountain more and more often in the future, which would eventually lead to an accident.

Lan Jian fell silent upon hearing this. He slowly turned the jade ring on his finger, and after a long while, he asked You Yu, "If you had to choose, would you want to stay in the clan's territory forever, or stay as you are now?"

Yu was about to answer without thinking when Lan Jian raised his hand and said, "Think carefully before you answer me."

Youyu had no choice but to stop talking and frown as he pondered seriously.

After a long while, he lowered his eyes slightly and said, "The Ailao Mountains are nice, and I also like staying in my tribe's territory, but... I still prefer things as they are now."

The human world may be full of intrigue and danger, but compared to spending his life in ignorance in the Ailao Mountains, he would rather travel thousands of miles and meet thousands of people. He may encounter setbacks and obstacles, but at least he can clearly feel that he is still alive, and that he has truly climbed out of that quagmire.

But saying that would seem to erase the kindness of his elder brother in bringing him back to the clan's territory.

After Yu finished speaking, he lowered his head nervously. Because he was so frustrated, his two black ears popped out from the top of his head and drooped listlessly.

But Lan Jian simply gazed at him gently, patted the spot beside her, and gestured for him to sit down.

"I've been thinking lately whether Yu Rong and the others are like you."

This is a question that Lan Jian has been pondering for the past few years.

Since the incident in the Mountain and Sea Realm, the passage between the two realms has been blocked, and the Heavenly Dao has become increasingly intolerant of the ancient remnants. Back then, he had just come of age when he shouldered the mission of the entire clan, leading the two sealed cubs from the gradually collapsing Mountain and Sea Realm to the Human Realm to seek survival.

For a long time, in order to protect the two cubs, he went so far as to fence off the entire Ailao Mountain, not allowing any dangerous factors to exist.

After finally waiting for the two cubs to awaken from the seal, he became even more careful in protecting them, not allowing them to set foot in the world outside the mountain, no matter how curious they were about it.

But Yu's appearance changed his mind.

Youyu only possessed half of the Chenghuang bloodline. He awakened the Chenghuang bloodline due to an accidental reversion. He discovered this person while passing through the black market and brought him back to Ailao Mountain.

At that time, Youyu was only ten years old, but he was already able to survive in the dog-eat-dog black market. Even after he returned to the clan's territory with him, he was clearly more mature and intelligent than the three cubs, otherwise Lanjian would not have entrusted him with the business in various places.

Yu Rong and Yun Feng grew up carefree under his protection, with simple and innocent personalities. If they had gone to a place like the Ghost Market, they might not have even had a chance to survive.

The appearance of Youyu was just a trigger, but the appearance of Xu Lingguang truly made Lan Jian start to reflect on whether it was right or wrong for her to protect the cubs under her wings.

Upon returning from this trip to the Land of No Return, Lan Jian suddenly had a very strong premonition—he couldn't possibly protect the cubs behind him forever.

This premonition gave him an uneasy feeling that things were getting out of control, and it also made him start to think about whether he should let the cubs grow up.

At least when he's not around, the cubs can protect themselves.

Unlike other races, the Chenghuang clan's offspring are very vulnerable at birth and must wait until they are at least fifty years old before they can enter the trial caves deep within the clan's territory for training, accompanied by their elders.

With each trial, Chenghuang's physical body and the two horns on its back become even harder, so that it can survive in the ever-fighting and killing-filled Mountain and Sea Realm.

The Mountain and Sea Realm no longer exists, and the ancient races that once threatened Chenghuang have been wiped out. However, this does not mean that the danger has disappeared. It has simply changed from a simple battle between races to a struggle of deceit and treachery between people's hearts.

Lan Jian had always felt that the cubs were too young to face these things too early, so she forcefully kept all the good and bad things out of Ailao Mountain, but now she was beginning to waver.

Yu paused for a moment, then decided to follow her heart and said, "Yu Rong and Yun Feng both yearn for the world below the mountain. The less they have seen it, the more curious they become. Even Zhao Ling is much more lively than usual when she hears about things outside."

Lan Jian sighed and said, "If they want to come down the mountain next time, don't stop them..." He paused, still worried, and patted You Yu's shoulder, "Keep an eye on them to prevent any accidents."

Yu suddenly looked up, his eyes bright, and his ears perked up: "Yes, I understand."

*

After returning, Xu Lingguang felt he should strike while the iron was hot and stick firmly to Lan Jian's golden thigh. So he devised some desserts using ingredients imbued with spiritual energy and took them with him when he went to change Lan Jian's bandages.

Lan Jian was initially reluctant to eat it, but under Xu Lingguang's earnest and expectant persuasion, she reluctantly tried it.

Once you open a door, things become easier.

Xu Lingguang would go to Chenghuang Village every afternoon to change his bandages and bring him some snacks. After a while, he felt that the distance between him and Lanjian had greatly shortened.

Although Lan Jian still seemed taciturn, Xu Lingguang could clearly feel that his aura had become gentler and more relaxed. Sometimes when he made a joke, Lan Jian would respond with a few words.

Jin Da's legs were strong enough, and Xu Lingguang's ulterior motives began to stir.

He had been taking care of Lan Jian for seven or eight days. Calculating the time, the Hundred Refinements Competition that Manager Zhao mentioned was about to begin, and he wanted to go and take a look.

However, the farthest place he had ever been was Qingyu City, and he didn't know many cultivators. He had no idea about the outside world, and he was extremely afraid of losing his life, so he thought about asking Lan Jian to give him another insurance policy.

The blessing power that Lan Jian bestowed upon him has already been used up twice, and only the last one is left, which is somewhat risky.

When Xu Lingguang changed Lan Jian's bandages for the last time, he cautiously probed, "I heard that the Hundred Refinements Competition at Wenling Slope is about to begin. I'm going to go and take a look."

Lan Jian wagged her tail, glanced at him lazily, saw right through his little scheme, but deliberately didn't respond: "Really? Go if you want to."

Xu Lingguang was worried that the big boss was so clueless, so he could only continue to hint: "I am still seriously injured and have enemies everywhere. I am a little worried that with so many powerful experts in Wenlingpo, if I encounter someone I have a grudge against, I may go there alive but not come back alive."

After he finished speaking, he even sighed dramatically, looking very distressed.

Lan Jian found his gloomy expression quite amusing, and even had the urge to scratch him a few times, but he resisted this inexplicable urge and said calmly, "If you were more careful, you wouldn't be so unlucky."

Xu Lingguang: "..."

He gave Lan Jian a resentful look, thinking to himself, "Why is this guy so clueless?"

Since hinting in circles wasn't working, Xu Lingguang, thinking that his life was more important than his pride, decided to go all out and be direct: "Better safe than sorry. Didn't you bless me with your blessing power before? I've already used it twice. If it's not too much trouble, could you help me replenish it?"

He clasped his hands together, strained his eyes, and put on a fawning smile, looking at Lan Jian with expectation and pleading.

Lan Jian originally wanted to tease him, but when he looked at her like that, she didn't know why she told the truth: "I already made it up to you last time."

Xu Lingguang's eyes widened in surprise. After realizing what was happening, he almost wanted to hug Lan Jian and kiss him. What an amazing, anonymous philanthropist!

Xu Lingguang's gaze was too intense, looking at Lan Jian as if he were looking at a huge spiritual stone.

Lan Jian's ears twitched slightly, and she looked away uncomfortably, saying in a low voice, "You can replenish it when you run out, but don't think that having the power of blessing on you means everything will be fine. There are always people more powerful than you, and mountains beyond mountains. If you offend someone you shouldn't, you might not be able to defend yourself. I won't be able to save you then."

Xu Lingguang nodded repeatedly: "I understand, I understand. I don't bother others unless they bother me. I only seek to protect myself and will never cause trouble!"