Zhu Changwang asked no further questions. As the saying goes, your enemy knows you best. The high praise from Immortal LadyWen's subordinate was enough for him to understand one thing: his younger sister had indeed been living extremely well outside all these years.
In that world where strength reigned supreme, Master Zhong had raised her in the way most suitable for her. She was still as mischievous as when she was young, but kind-hearted. She didn't bully others but wasn't easily bullied either. While having her own principles, she managed to gain the trust of people with different standpoints. This was truly rare.
Once again confirming from others that Changle had lived happily during her years away, Zhu Changwang felt immensely grateful that his decision to strongly support his younger sister leaving with Zhong Ningmei back then was absolutely correct.
In a great mood, Zhu Changwang was now willing to pay more attention to the current matter. He instructed Zuo Qing to go and inform the family.
The waiting time was particularly unbearable, especially when it concerned life and death.
Ban Lian watched as it gradually brightened outside, listening to the footsteps in the distance getting closer and closer, hearing the courtyard gate being pushed open.
Counting the footsteps, Ban Lian smiled as if crying. She had been obedient for half her life, never expecting that being brave at the end would cause the Immortal Lady to make such a big fuss.
"Ban Lian, don't do anything foolish."
Hearing Zhuo Jin's voice, Ban Lian breathed a sigh of relief. It was good that her sister was alright. Even if the Immortal Lady had suspicions, she could clear herself. As for foolish things, the sisters knew best what that meant.
After a moment of silence, Immortal LadyWen's voice sounded, "I hope our esteemed guests have rested well."
No one answered.
"Falling Flower Valley has failed in managing its subordinates. I sincerely apologize for disturbing you all."
The Zhu family members, remembering Zhu Changwang's instructions, remained silent. All the room doors were closed, with several breaths coming from each room. Even with Immortal Lady Wen's formidable skills, she couldn't immediately determine which room Ban Lian was in.
Zhuo Jin stole a glance at the ice-cold Immortal Lady and felt her heart pounding. The Immortal Lady was truly angry. If Zhu Changle couldn't return in time... Ban Lian would surely lose her life!
"Ban Lian, we've been master and servant for decades. You know my temperament." Immortal Lady Wen lightly dusted her sleeves. "If you obediently kill Que Long, I'll spare his life."
Ban Lian stood up abruptly, clenching her fists as her body trembled.
Zhu Changwang lightly tapped his fan handle on his palm, not interfering in Falling Flower Valley's internal affairs. The Old Madam closed her eyes as if she hadn't seen or heard anything, though she was thinking about what benefits Changle could gain from this situation.
"Immortal Lady, do you remember how long Ban Lian has been with you? You probably don't, but I do. Thirty-one years." Ban Lian's trembling voice came through, and Immortal Lady Wen immediately locked onto her location.
Ban Lian seemed not to care anymore. She sat back down, her voice slow and steady, not like someone begging for life, but rather with the composure of one facing death.
"I was seven when I came to you, the same age as you. From Immortal Maiden to Immortal Lady, after so many years, even raising a dog would develop some feelings, right? But why... why can't you grant me this one wish? After so many years, so many years of loyalty, can't it earn even a bit of your compassion?"
"He's not a suitable match."
"Who is? Sir Hu Fei?"
Everyone knew that Hu Fei was Immortal Lady Wen's sore spot. The people of Falling Flower Valley instinctively looked towards the Immortal Lady. Zhuo Jin couldn't help but call out "Immortal Lady" to plead, but was frozen back by the Immortal Lady's icy gaze.
Ban Lian laughed, "I'm not afraid anymore. If I'm not afraid of death, what else is there to fear? You say Que Long isn't suitable, but I think he is. He's waited for me for ten years, accompanying me as I dragged on without hope. I even secretly wished that if only he could defeat you, then you would agree when he came to propose."
"Very well, I'll grant your wish." Immortal Lady Wen flew into the air, her sleeves waving. All the roof tiles flew up and gathered in the air above, as if there was an invisible vortex driving them to spin. The people in the room were exposed without any cover. She waved her hand again, and all the tiles fell into the courtyard, raising a cloud of dust.
"Since you love each other so much, how about I grant your wish to be a pair of ghost lovers?" Immortal Lady Wen waved her hand again, and several tiles obediently lined up in front of her. Hearing movement, she immediately sent them flying.
But she was still half a step too late.
Qiuli lightly tapped the horse's back and leaped into the air, throwing a handful of pebbles to knock down all the tiles. At the same time, Ban Lian quickly took off her outer robe and stepped forward to deflect the fragments, not letting a single piece harm the people in the room.
Zhu Changle landed in the room a step later. Seeing that her grandmother and elder brother were unharmed, she relaxed. She patted Ban Lian's shoulder in praise, "Not bad, quite quick reactions."
Zhu Changwang and the Old Madam unconsciously raised their corners of their mouths, watching their precious little one pretending to be an adult.
Ban Lian was about to kneel down very decisively, but Zhu Changle quickly grabbed her, winking and teasing in a low voice, "Don't worry, don't worry, Que Long is coming!"
Ban Lian's lips moved, as if wanting to smile, yet also as if wanting to cry.
Pressing her to sit down, Zhu Changle turned back to make a face at her grandmother and elder brother, then stepped on the table and leaped onto the roof. With her hands on her hips, she spoke first to gain the upper hand, "Immortal Lady, I trust you so much, how could you leave my grandmother and elder brother without even a tile for shelter? Hey, big brother, did I use that phrase correctly?"
Zhu Changwang nodded with a smile, "You've improved."
"Of course, I improve every day!" Zhu Changle tossed her hair, but her gaze towards Immortal Lady Wen wasn't very polite. If it weren't for Qiuli's skills just now, her elder brother and grandmother might not have escaped unscathed!
For Immortal Lady Wen, it didn't matter if the people in the room got a bit hurt. She could just push the blame onto Ban Lian once she was dead. Of course, she couldn't admit this, so she just said, "Changle should believe that I wouldn't harm your family members."
"I believe more in what I see with my own eyes. Immortal Lady, are you going to say this was handling internal affairs? Or perhaps, that Falling Flower Valley's criminal threatened my family members?" Zhu Changle sat down on the roof, swinging her legs and smilingly voicing all the excuses Immortal Lady Wen might use. She was even very tactful in actively offering a way out, "Let's say all these reasons are valid, but Que Long isn't an unrelated person, is he?"
Ban Lian suddenly raised her head.
Zhu Changle happened to look down at her, making faces and shouting loudly, "Que Long, hurry up or your wife will be gone!"
Que Long had arrived with Aunt Feng and Dingding. Hearing this, he immediately used his martial arts skills, borrowing the momentum from trees and eaves to land beside Zhu Changle.
"Long!"
Que Long looked down and without hesitation, leaped down to embrace Ban Lian. "I'm here."
Ban Lian tightly hugged him back, tears streaming down her face. Long had arrived so quickly, this moment felt like a dream. Her wish had come true so easily.
"I'll take you away."
Que Long embraced her and came to Zhu Changle's side, looking down at Immortal Lady Wen. "Ban Lian was loyal to you, and she wouldn't agree to me without your consent. Since her years of loyalty have earned such treatment from you, that loyalty might as well have been fed to dogs. You need not threaten me. I may not be able to defeat you, but I'm not without the power to retaliate. You have Falling Flower Valley, I have the Dragon-Breaking Sect. If you want to fight to the death with me, I'll oblige. I have fourteen hundred people willing to fight to the death. I wonder how many people Falling Flower Valley can afford to lose."
