Hearing Luo Feibai's words, Lan Xinyi simply gave a faint smile.
"I was informed of Steward Luo's visit and have already sent someone to notify Li Lang. You'll be able to meet him shortly."
Calling him Li Lang? That affection… Looks like that outsider cultivator surnamed Li has already taken advantage of her!
Such a lovely, delicate woman what a waste!
Luo Feibai squinted, letting his gaze linger a little too long on Lan Xinyi's figure, cursing inwardly.
Lan Xinyi naturally sensed the impropriety in his eyes. Though anger flared in her heart, she dared not lash out.
Instead, she shot a glance toward the elders accompanying her, signaling them to handle the situation.
These old men, whose days were numbered, were still clinging to hope that Li Ye's support might lift the Lan family back to its former glory. Naturally, they wouldn't risk offending Lan Xinyi, the very key to that revival and the rightful young mistress of the family.
They quickly stepped forward to strike up idle chatter with Luo Feibai, trying to divert his attention from Lan Xinyi.
Though Luo Feibai was a seventh-layer Qi Refining cultivator, he didn't have a good grasp of the current situation at Changcui Mountain or within the Lan family. His visit here today was part of an official mission.
Even if he found their evasiveness displeasing, he maintained a façade of courtesy and reluctantly played along.
Before long, the group arrived halfway up the mountain only to be blocked by a dense forest blanketed in tangled vines.
"There's another major formation hidden on this peak? And it seems even more profound than the Stone-Shifting Earth-Guarding Formation from before I can't see through it at all…"
Luo Feibai's pupils narrowed at the sight. Something didn't feel right.
Lan Xinyi produced a token and gave it a slight wave. Instantly, the trees before them shifted aside, revealing a clear path.
"After you, Steward Luo," she said, gesturing politely as she stepped in first.
Luo Feibai hesitated inwardly, but with the elderly Lan family members urging him forward, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and follow.
Hmph. Like you'd dare do anything to me!
As they passed through the forest, the space ahead suddenly opened up.
Richer and purer spiritual energy than outside drifted in the air, and a picturesque mountain scene unfolded before Luo Feibai's eyes.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh
The trees behind them closed back together, sealing the path shut and vanishing without a trace. Luo Feibai immediately felt a strange sense of isolation from the outside world.
Though he was a proud seventh-layer Qi Refining cultivator, he now felt a sudden and complete lack of security.
Not even this potent spiritual energy could soothe his nerves.
Even when he'd entered second-tier formations before, he hadn't felt this kind of unease. Something was off, and anxiety crept in.
Wiping sweat from his plump face, Luo Feibai gave a forced chuckle.
"Haha! Your Changcui Mountain is truly well-endowed you've set up layer upon layer of defensive formations. Remarkably cautious, I must say…"
In contrast, Lan Xinyi and the Lan family members all showed subtle, knowing smiles.
"This mountaintop is now where Li Lang resides. That formation was laid by him… What does Steward Luo think of it?"
"He's… a formation master too?!"
Luo Feibai blurted out the question, his previously roving eyes now sharply reined in.
Realizing his reaction was a little too revealing, he cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Ahem… This Daoist Li is indeed extraordinary. Having someone like him join our alliance is truly a blessing for us all!"
"And a blessing for both myself and the Lan family," Lan Xinyi replied with a calm smile.
Lan Xinyi smiled gently as she spoke.
This time, seeing that smile on her face, Luo Feibai no longer had any inappropriate thoughts.
He even felt a bit relieved thankfully, he had indeed come with goodwill and hadn't said or done anything too offensive. Otherwise, if he ended up offending someone like Li Ye through the Lan family, he doubted the alliance would go out of its way to protect him!
Though the group kept chatting along the way, their pace didn't slow. Before long, they arrived at a courtyard nestled on the mountainside.
As his gaze wandered, Luo Feibai couldn't help but notice just how different Changcui Mountain looked now compared to his memory.
Everywhere he looked, there seemed to be formations veiling and shielding the area, preventing any prying eyes each discovery made his heart beat faster with unease.
Just how many formations have this Li Ye laid on the mountain?!
Such a setup was simply astonishing even a Foundation Establishment-level sect might not have such elaborate defenses!
"Up ahead is our usual guest hall here at Changcui Mountain. Please, Steward Luo!"
An elder of the Lan family spoke up, and somehow, his tone carried noticeably more confidence than before.
Although everything from the mid-mountain up to now technically belonged to Li Ye, there was no harm in putting on a show in front of outsiders, right?
If they'd arrived here and Li Ye hadn't shown up at all, Luo Feibai would've surely taken offense.
But now, though still a little annoyed, he found himself actively suppressing it not daring to show even a hint of it.
He hadn't even met Li Ye yet, and already, he felt himself involuntarily taking a step back in status.
Fortunately, Li Ye didn't leave him hanging too long.
As they drew closer, Luo Feibai saw a tall man in a green robe standing at the courtyard entrance, hands clasped behind his back.
His long, thick black hair was loosely tied with a tree branch, and although his features were rather plain, there was an effortless calm and unrestrained grace to his bearing.
This man is truly remarkable! Luo Feibai silently praised, his attitude growing even more respectful.
"You must be Daoist Luo? I appreciate the trouble you've taken to come all this way."
Li Ye greeted them with a smile and cupped his hands in a polite bow.
"No need for such words, Daoist Li!" Luo Feibai quickly waved his hand, returning the smile.
"I, Old Luo, have long heard of how you single-handedly wiped out those bandits and helped Miss Lan reclaim her family estate. Even back then, I thought you must be no ordinary man…"
"Now that I see you in person you've far exceeded what I imagined!"
Throughout the journey, Luo Feibai had already made up his mind.
With someone like Li Ye an expert in formation arts holding down
Changcui Mountain, there was likely no one in the alliance who could make a move against the Lan family now.
Since that was the case, he figured he might as well use this opportunity to curry favor. Once he returned, he could spread the word of Li Ye's prowess and surely reap some benefits down the line!
But this sudden show of flattery didn't go unnoticed.
Lan Xinyi and the other members of the Lan family exchanged knowing glances, recalling just how different this man had acted earlier. They couldn't help but chuckle to themselves.
Feeling quite pleased, they grew even more thankful they'd chosen to ally with Li Ye so decisively back then.
Still, there remained a gap between the two sides. Though their young mistress had shared a brief, intimate moment with Li Ye, there was no formal relationship between them yet…
For now, they could use his name to scare off petty opportunists, but if they wanted him to take real action, they would surely need to offer something of value.
Just like today having him personally welcome Luo Feibai had already cost them. In the past few days alone, Li Ye had nearly finished reading through all of the Lan family's treasured manuals and cultivation techniques!
If anything more came up in the future, who knew what it would take to catch his interest again?
With that thought, several of the Lan elders once again glanced toward Lan Xinyi, silently wondering whether they should give her some advice…
If her relationship with Li Ye could deepen even just a little, wouldn't the influence she held over him in private also grow?
Ah yes… and about that "spirit herb caretaker" role they'd better find a candidate soon!
Li Ye, of course, didn't pay the slightest attention to their little scheming. He simply chatted casually with Luo Feibai as they entered the courtyard together.
From the man's attitude, he could already tell that the defensive setup on the way here had made the right impression.
By all accounts, today's appearance had achieved its goal perfectly.
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