Ying Lan didn't have much to do in the Desolate Region. Every morning, he would head to the ruins in case something changed. But after several days that yielded nothing, he gave up.

Outside of Ying Lan's expectation, before Bai Luochu could return, an uninvited guest turned up...

From the moment Ling Xian’er realized that Pei Qingfeng was trapped in the ruins, she packed her luggage and rushed to the Desolate Region without rest. She never expected that she would need to travel for a long time before finding a reasonably built inn for her to stay. Without the slightest hesitation, she entered the inn.

"Waiter, staying in." Ling Xian'er was wearing a veil and when she arrived at the main hall of the inn, Ying Lan had his head lowered as he read the report sent by Qin Feng. When he heard Ling Xian’er’s voice, a trace of shock appeared in his heart as he slowly raised his head.

The ruins was no more and he never expected anyone to visit the Desolate Ruins. However, he didn’t think too much about it and he gave her a set of keys to a room.

It was natural that Ying Lan didn’t recognize Ling Xian’er as she was hiding her appearance behind her veil. It wasn’t the case the other way round though… Ying Lan wasn’t wearing his human skin mask and Ling Xian’er found him extremely familiar. Despite the vague recollection of Ying Lan, Ling Xian’er failed to recall where she had seen him before. After a deep search of her memories while he led her to her room did she remember Ying Lan’s identity.

"Why are you here?!" Ling Xian'er was pleasantly surprised to see Ying Lan. It was clear that she never expected to see anyone she knew in the Desolate Region.

Ying Lan looked at her with question marks filling his face. He even thought that she was pretending to recognize him so that he wouldn’t charge her an exorbitant amount of money to stay for a night. Just as Ying Lan was preparing to explain that he wasn’t concerned about the money, Ling Xian’er removed her veil and stared straight into Ying Lan’s eyes.

"Aren't you the person who tried to spy on me? Why are you here?”

Ying Lan finally recognized her and his expression changed. He expected the little demoness who had made fun of him shamelessly in the past to actually appear before him in the Desolate Region once again. Did I offend someone I shouldn’t have?! What is this?!

But after seeing the excited expression on Ling Xian’er’s face, Ying Lan felt that he couldn’t disappoint her. He started to explain everything, from the start to the end. Ling Xian’er no longer hid her identity and she treated Ying Lan as someone on her side. She told him everything about her identity and objective.

Ying Lan finally found out that this mysterious young lady was actually Pei Qingfeng's younger sister and not Pei Qingfeng’s lover like what he had previously thought![1] Pei Qingfeng’s image in Ying Lan’s mind took a 180 degree turn and the hate he had for the ‘flippant’ Second Prince disappeared in an instant.

After Ling Xian'er left to settle down in her room, Ying Lan sank deep into his thoughts.

Now that Qin Feng had made his report and someone from the capital city had already come over, he knew that he wouldn’t be able to hide the news from Qing He and Qing Rong any longer.

No matter what, he felt that it would be wrong to lie to them. After all, Qing He had already requested to meet with Bai Luochu…

...

"Ying Lan, it has already been so many days. Can you please bring us to the Holy Maiden? We can’t rest easy if we don’t see her with our own eyes."

The alarm in Ying Lan's head rang loudly and he had never been a good liar. Sighing in his heart, he prepared to confess the truth.

"Mistress went to the ruins in the Desolate Region and she failed to return before it collapsed..." Ying Lan's voice became softer the more he spoke as he was afraid Qing He would do something stupid after learning the truth.

Ying Lan didn't expect for Qing He to remain silent for a moment before making a logical reply. "I believe what you said. The Holy Maiden has always been passionate about such things. Even if we want to stop her, we will not be able to do so. The plan for now is to hide it from Qing Rong."

"What are the two of you trying to hide from me?" Qing Rong was trailing behind Qing He when he departed earlier. There was no way she would allow the two of them to cook up some scheme behind her back.

The change in situation was too quick and before Ying Lan and Qing He could think of a good excuse, Ling Xian'er spilled the beans.

"Wooden block, are you still going to the ruins today? My Big Brother and your Mistress are still stuck there! If you are going, remember to bring me along."

Ling Xian'er had just tidied her room and she wanted to see if there was anything she could do to help Pei Qingfeng and Bai Luochu. She was too distracted to see that there were other people in the room.

Ying Lan and Qing He felt the blood drain from their face. Ling Xian’er’s timing was too good and the two of them were placed in a difficult spot.

"Something happened to the Holy Maiden?" Qing Rong didn't say much and was much more composed than what they had imagined.

Ying Lan realized that it was impossible to continue lying and he nodded in affirmation.

Silence filled the inn and Ling Xian'er noticed that she had messed up after looking at the tense atmosphere in the room. She sealed her lips and looked at the three people before her with a cautious expression on her face.

Before anyone else could say anything, Qing He declared, "Since the Holy Maiden is able to enter, she will definitely be able to leave. It’s just a matter of time. I shall wait for her return.”

No one expected for the usually emotional Qing Rong to remain composed...

In order to distract his sister's attention, Qing He said, "We will continue to look for the rest of the temple disciples. There is a chance that the Holy Maiden will be out by the time we have found them all.”

After Qing He and Qing Rong spoke, they left without turning back.

Ying Lan respectfully sent the two of them off and turned around to glare at Ling Xian’er. Since she knew that she was the one who had messed up, she stuck out her tongue and pouted at Ying Lan before returning to her room.

She was experienced in this aspect. She knew that she should behave herself after causing so much trouble.

No one expected Qing Rong’s words to be true. As they waited and waited for a miracle to happen…

1. BLIP: PLEASE NO FLAME I FOUND OUT HERE TOO