Chen Fan gazed toward the window, his eyes reflecting the tranquil darkness of the night beyond the glass. The stillness of the moment was interrupted by the faint sound of approaching footsteps. Turning his attention away from the scenery, he shifted his gaze to Chi Ling, who had taken a seat in front of him.
"There are only a hundred survivors left," Chi Ling stated in a composed tone, yet beneath her calm facade, Chen Fan could detect a flicker of barely restrained fury. "We suspect there is an insider within the sect. The decision is yours whether you still wish to join."
Chen Fan's expression remained unreadable as he processed her words. "What about the Devil Sect? Any leads on their whereabouts?"
Chi Ling shook her head slightly. "No. They disappeared without a trace. We've already deployed our members all over the world in search of any clue, but so far, nothing."
"I see…" Chen Fan murmured, deep in thought. He contemplated the information carefully, considering how it might affect his future plans. After a moment of silence, he lifted his gaze. "Can I get access to any available information regarding the Devil Sect?"
"I'll have Bai Mulan keep you informed from now on," Chi Ling replied without hesitation.
Chen Fan hadn't expected her to agree so easily, but he didn't question it. Instead, he shifted to another matter. "Then, would it be possible for me to join the sect a little later? There's something I need to take care of first." His priority was to meet his master and seek guidance regarding the Devil Sect—perhaps he would have some insight.
"That's fine. Just let me know when you've made your decision," Chi Ling said, her sharp gaze resting on him before softening slightly. "And… thank you for protecting Bai Mulan."
She had already spoken with Bai Mulan and gained a general understanding of the situation. That conversation had given her a more favorable impression of Chen Fan.
"We only helped each other," Chen Fan responded. "I owe her as well."
"Regardless, it doesn't change the fact that you've suffered because the Devil Sect initially targeted us. Compensation will be provided," Chi Ling stated firmly. Slowly, she rose from her seat, her elegant yet commanding presence leaving no room for argument. "You should get some rest. We'll be arriving at Jade Spirit soon—you can return to your original place from there."
Chen Fan gave a small nod, watching as Chi Ling left the room. Then, his gaze returned to the window, once again absorbing the serene darkness of the night. Moments later, he closed his eyes, letting his thoughts settle.
---
"Hm?" Bai Mulan's eyes fluttered open. As her vision cleared, she took in the modest room around her. Memories of the previous day surfaced in her mind. After Chen Fan left, her master had come to question her. Naturally, she witheld the details about the dragon but only offered an explanation regarding her own situation. Her master, too, must have sensed that something remained hidden, yet he had chosen not to pursue it.
Slowly, she sat up, glancing down at her attire. A blanket covered her, concealing the torn parts of her clothes. Fortunately, none of the rips exposed anything too revealing. With measured movements, she lifted the blanket and changed into a more casual outfit.
Leaving her room, she walked toward another part of the train. The soft glow of the rising sun illuminated the interior, casting long shadows as light filtered through the windows. Bai Mulan moved forward, her gaze wandering until it landed on a familiar figure resting on one of the couches.
Leaning against the seat and the train's wall was a man with black hair, his breathing steady and quiet. Bai Mulan's eyes lingered on his profile for a moment, inexplicably drawn to his features.
Just then, his eyelashes twitched, showing signs of wakefulness. Startled, Bai Mulan quickly averted her gaze, forcing herself to remain composed.
"Wake up. How long do you plan on sleeping?" she called out, her voice slightly louder than necessary as she deliberately took a seat across from him.
Chen Fan stirred, awakened by her unusually forceful tone. As he blinked awake, his vision adjusted to see Bai Mulan looking at him with a smile—one that carried a trace of mockery.
Gradually, he gathered his thoughts, recalling the events of the previous night. "Are you seriously saying this?" he asked, staring at her strangely. After all, he was the one who had carried her yesterday.
Just as Bai Mulan was about to retort, a familiar voice echoed in her mind.
"I saw everything, you know?"
Bai Mulan stiffened. She had nearly forgotten about Hong Xuan's existence. The realization hit her like a tidal wave, and her face turned beet red. Flustered, she jolted up from her seat, swiftly turning away to prevent Chen Fan from seeing her expression.
"I—I'll go first," she stammered before rushing off, practically fleeing the scene.
"Hm?" Chen Fan watched her retreat with a perplexed expression.
"Tch." A clicking sound of annoyance followed.
Chen Fan turned to the source of the noise, only to find Ao Xue scowling. His confusion deepened. "What's wrong with you?" he asked.
"Nothing," Ao Xue muttered dismissively.
Seeing that Ao Xue had no intention of elaborating, Chen Fan slowly rose from his seat and made his way toward the train's exit. As he stepped outside, a familiar landscape filled his vision.
He was back at the Jade Spirit Sect.
Scanning the area, his eyes landed on Bai Mulan, who sat at a nearby bench. She had already returned to her usual icy demeanor, exuding an unapproachable aura. A few men stole glances at her from time to time, but none dared to approach. The sight amused Chen Fan, and he let out a quiet chuckle.
"Tch." Once again, Ao Xue clicked his tongue.
Chen Fan, bewildered by Ao Xue's behavior, chose to ignore it and instead walked toward Bai Mulan.
"Greetings, Saintess." He offered a slight bow, his tone deliberately laced with exaggerated politeness. A faint smirk played on his lips.
Bai Mulan felt a flicker of embarrassment but maintained her composed facade. Without acknowledging his teasing, she turned and said, "Follow me."
However, just as she started to walk away, Chen Fan's voice stopped her in her tracks.
"I'm sorry, Saintess, but I have something to take care of first."
Bai Mulan froze mid-step. She turned back, only to be met with Chen Fan's playful smile. In an instant, she understood—he was merely toying with her. A trace of resentment flickered in her eyes as she glared at him.
Around them, murmurs arose. Bai Mulan noticed the mixed reactions from those who had witnessed the exchange. Some looked utterly shocked by Chen Fan's casual refusal. A few men glared at him in irritation, while several women gazed at him with admiration, their eyes sparkling with interest.
Bai Mulan's mood darkened at the sight.
A sudden surge of irritation welled up inside her, though she refused to acknowledge why. Without a second thought, she strode toward Chen Fan and grabbed his hand, firmly dragging him along with her.
Hmph. Do you think I care about what others think? Look at how I handle you when we're alone.
Though Bai Mulan acted on impulse, her actions sent another shockwave through the onlookers. Gasps filled the air as their expressions shifted from curiosity to utter disbelief.
Chen Fan was momentarily stunned by Bai Mulan's sudden action. He hadn't expected her to react so drastically to his refusal. Initially, he had planned to tease her, but upon seeing the cold look in her eyes, he swallowed his words and allowed himself to be dragged along without resistance.
However, as time passed, he began to recognize the scenery around them. A frown of confusion crossed his face as he turned to Bai Mulan.
"Where exactly are we going?" he asked.
His question caused Bai Mulan to jolt slightly, her steps faltering.
Chen Fan's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Don't tell me… you were just walking aimlessly?"
Bai Mulan froze, then slowly turned to look at him, embarrassment clear in her expression. "H-He-Here. We're going here," she stammered, quickly glancing at a familiar location nearby.
In truth, her mind had been clouded with irritation the entire way, filled with complaints she hadn't voiced aloud. She had been so caught up in her emotions that she hadn't paid attention to where she was going. Only now did she realize just how embarrassing her impulsive actions were.
"Pft…" Chen Fan tried to hold back his laughter, but the corners of his lips twitched uncontrollably. "Hahaha!"
"D-Don't laugh!" Bai Mulan snapped, attempting to regain her composure by putting on a cold front. However, her flustered state only made Chen Fan laugh even harder.
"I-I said we're here!" she insisted, her voice rising slightly. But her eyes were already misty, overwhelmed by the sheer embarrassment of the situation.
Seeing her on the verge of tears, Chen Fan immediately suppressed his laughter. "I-I just remembered something funny," he quickly said in an attempt to console her.
However, Bai Mulan merely turned away and stepped into the room, clearly unwilling to acknowledge him. Chen Fan hesitated for a moment before following her inside. A brief silence settled between them.
After a while, Chen Fan cleared his throat and, with a hint of nervousness, asked, "S-So, what did you want to talk about?"
Bai Mulan remained quiet, lowering her gaze as she sat on one of the sofas. The awkward silence stretched between them.
Desperate to break the tension, Chen Fan shamelessly deflected. "That was Ao Xue who laughed at you, by the way," he said, shifting the blame without hesitation.
Ao Xue, who had been silently enjoying Chen Fan's predicament, was instantly dumbfounded. "The fuck are you talking about?" he blurted out.
"Hmph, I knew it," Hong Xuan chimed in with a serious tone. "I had my suspicions all along."
Ao Xue turned to her with an irritated look. "What are you even talking about?"
Chen Fan sighed and shook his head dramatically. "I'm sorry, buddy, but you were the one urging me to switch places earlier. I never thought you'd switch just to laugh at her." His voice carried a tone of mock reproach.
"Hmph. Shame on you," Hong Xuan added with mock disdain.
"You—!" Ao Xue was about to retort, but before he could, a muffled sound interrupted him.
"Mmph…"
Chen Fan turned toward the source of the noise and saw Bai Mulan, her body trembling slightly, her hands covering her mouth. She was clearly trying to suppress her laughter.
Realizing this, Chen Fan smiled, a faint sense of relief washing over him. "Well, I understand your pride as a dragon, so I'll apologize on your behalf," he said to Ao Xue. Then, he turned to Bai Mulan. "I'm sorry, Mulan. Ao Xue has been sealed away for too long, and his emotions are a bit uncontrollable. If you must blame someone, blame me instead."
"And you call yourself a dragon," Hong Xuan scoffed mockingly.
"Assholes," Ao Xue grumbled before falling silent in Chen Fan's mind.
With Ao Xue's voice gone, Bai Mulan's suppressed laughter became more audible. Seeing her finally relax, Chen Fan felt reassured. A soft smile returned to his face.
After a few moments, Bai Mulan had calmed down, though a hint of embarrassment still lingered in her expression. As she looked at Chen Fan, she realized that she didn't actually have anything urgent to discuss with him. Now that she had regained her composure, she wasn't sure how to start the conversation.
Before she could think of something, Chen Fan spoke first.
"I'll be heading back to Lingzhou."
"Eh?" Bai Mulan blinked, momentarily caught off guard. But as she thought about the previous attack on their sect, she realized it made sense. With their security compromised, staying in the sect wasn't the safest option. Even so, a sense of disappointment crept into her heart.
"I'll let you know when I decide to enter the sect later. I still have some things to take care of first," Chen Fan added.
Bai Mulan's eyes brightened for a brief moment but quickly narrowed in irritation. "Why didn't you just say that in one sentence?" she huffed.
Chen Fan tilted his head slightly, a teasing glint in his eyes. "Hm? Were you disappointed that I wouldn't be joining the sect with you?"
Bai Mulan's body stiffened. "Why would I—" She started to deny it, but her voice faltered. Lowering her gaze slightly, she muttered in a softer voice, "…Just a little. Just a little bit, okay?" Her voice rose at the end, as if trying to conceal her embarrassment.
Chen Fan hadn't expected her to be so straightforward. His smirk deepened. "Well, after all our adventures together, I guess we've become friends, huh?"
Bai Mulan blinked, repeating the word under her breath. "…Friends."
For some reason, the word left a faint sense of disappointment in her heart. But after a moment, she nodded. "Yes. Friends."
They continued their conversation over breakfast, chatting idly as the morning sun climbed higher into the sky. When noon approached, Chen Fan finally parted ways with Bai Mulan.
Afterward, he met with Zhou Yuze, and the two talked for some time. They received news that Sun Xi was safe and had returned to his sect.
Later, Chen Fan sought out Xu Jianhong, asking if he wanted to return together. However, Xu Jianhong still had unfinished business and decided to stay behind. With that, Chen Fan set out on his journey back to Lingzhou.