Zhao Shuning had already arrived in the capital, Chang'an.
She went to the Clan Association.
Although she knew it was of no avail.
She just wanted to go and take a look.
When she got there, as expected, she didn't see Xia Wanning, but instead saw Lan Anran and his younger sister Lan Yan.
At this moment, Lan Anran...
Had become a teacher at the Clan Association.
When Zhao Shuning suddenly appeared at the Clan Association, Lan Anran already looked like a middle - aged man.
Regarding Zhao Shuning's sudden visit...
Lan Anran was first taken aback.
Since the successive disappearances of the elders in the capital's Clan Association, it was the Lan siblings who had held up the overall situation.
Now that they met again.
Their eyes met, and all that was left was a sigh.
Zhao Shuning said, "Lan Anran, long time no see."
She and Lan Anran were not really familiar. They could only recognize each other when they met.
Lan Anran was stunned for a moment.
He remembered the scene when they first met all those years ago.
However, now that they met again, she was no longer that little baby of just a few years old, and her abilities were not what they used to be.
Otherwise...
She wouldn't have been able to enter so easily through such a powerful barrier outside the Clan Association.
"Long time no see."
Lan Anran wasn't very familiar with Zhao Shuning.
But back then, this young girl had also brought him quite a few surprises.
What Lan Anran remembered most was this girl's elder brother, Zhao Huai.
That Zhao Huai was truly the terrifying Ghost - faced Yama. In just a few years after coming to the Clan Association, he had once outshone Lan Anran.
However...
Those were all things of the past.
Lan Anran had originally thought that Zhao Huai would return to the Clan Association to take charge of the basic affairs. After all, he had good abilities and was a disciple who had left the Clan Association.
But he didn't.
Since leaving the Clan Association, Zhao Huai had never appeared in everyone's sight again.
Lan Anran had thought more than once...
Whether that young man in white clothes had really appeared?
Or had he just flashed by like a fleeting flower and then disappeared, never to be seen again.
"Speaking of which, I should call you junior sister."
Zhao Shuning nodded.
"What are you doing here?"
"Nothing. I'm just here in the capital, Chang'an, looking for someone. I just happened to pass by here. Is the Clan Association now in your hands?"
"In the past few months, I've really been in charge of everyone in the Clan Association."
"Then may I ask you something?" Zhao Shuning's attitude was sincere. Now, she looked much more beautiful than before. Just by looking at Lan Anran like this, Lan Anran felt as if he was almost in a daze.
"What's wrong?" Seeing that Lan Anran didn't respond, Zhao Shuning simply waved her hand in front of his face, and only then did he come to his senses.
"Nothing, nothing." Lan Anran was already in his sixties. He had experienced quite a few major events. How could he still have such strange feelings for Zhao Shuning?
After all, they were no longer the teenagers and girls they used to be.
"What do you want to ask?" While answering, Lan Anran led Zhao Shuning deeper into the Clan Association.
The place where they used to have classes in the Clan Association was where the elders and teachers used to talk.
Zhao Shuning followed Lan Anran inside.
Along the way...
Many students of the Clan Association cast questioning glances at Zhao Shuning beside Lan Anran.
When they accidentally met Zhao Shuning's gaze, they quickly averted their eyes and lowered their heads as they walked.
Zhao Shuning was puzzled.
She asked, "Why are they looking at me? Is there a flower on my face?"
Lan Anran paused for a moment.
Casually, he said, "Maybe it's because you're quite attractive."
Over the years, Zhao Shuning still looked like a young girl. Her appearance was already outstanding, and there was a sense of confidence in her bones. No matter where she went, she would attract a lot of attention.
Zhao Shuning murmured, "I see."
As she said this, she was also a little happy in her heart.
You know...
When she used to see her master, all she felt was admiration for her master's peerless beauty. Because the person beside her was Bu Ran, even though Zhao Shuning thought she was quite good - looking, as soon as she stood in front of Bu Ran, she felt that she was still a bit inferior.
Now...
Bu Ran was not by her side.
The disciples of the Clan Association were looking at her with such looks.
There was still a little bit of pride in her heart.
Not long after...
When they were almost at the inner hall, a young man walked towards them.
After the young man came closer...
He first saluted Lan Anran and then said, "Teacher Lan."
"What's up?"
"The mistress of the black market requests an audience."
"Rong Yan?"
Zhao Shuning spoke up.
Lan Anran looked back at Zhao Shuning, and the young man also looked at Zhao Shuning.
"Teacher Lan, is this young lady a new disciple of the Clan Association?" She was really good - looking. Her facial features were extremely delicate.
Lan Anran coughed.
Only then did the student withdraw his gaze from Zhao Shuning.
"Speaking of which, she should be considered your senior. It's not inappropriate for you to call her teacher."
Hearing what Lan Anran said, the young man looked at Zhao Shuning in surprise.
Zhao Shuning didn't have time to feel secretly happy anymore.
She asked again, "Is the one requesting an audience the mistress of the black market, Rong Yan?"
The young man nodded.
Zhao Shuning looked at Lan Anran.
"Why don't you see her?"
"How do you know I don't want to see her?" Lan Anran countered.
Zhao Shuning replied, "Just now when he mentioned Rong Yan, you frowned slightly. It was obvious that you were quite resistant. I remember that senior brother Lan, your cultivation is not bad. How could you be afraid of a mistress of the black market?"
"Senior is mistaken. Teacher Lan is not afraid of the mistress. It's just—"
Zhao Shuning said, "Just what?"
The young man glanced at Lan Anran.
Lan Anran nodded.
Only then did he continue, "Senior may not know. At first, the mistress of the black market was gentle and polite. But since the disappearance of the big boss of the black market, her personality has slowly changed."
"In the past, the Clan Association naturally welcomed a big shot like her. But in recent years, that gentle mistress has turned into a shrew. Every time she comes to our Clan Association, it's also to ask for information because the disciples of the Clan Association are all over every corner of the Kyushu Continent."
"However, every time the mistress doesn't get the information she wants. So every time she leaves, she always uses the pretext of guiding our Clan Association disciples to vent her anger on our disciples."
Zhao Shuning was stunned.
She knew Rong Yan.
Rong Yan was definitely a mistress with excellent temperament and a very alluring figure. Although her words were charming, her character was still quite gentle. How could she do such things?
"Surely not. I remember that the mistress is not from the Clan Association. How could she have a competition with the Clan Association disciples?"
Hearing this, Lan Anran could only lower his head in shame.
He said, "Actually, all this... is my fault."
"Your fault?"
"Yes. It's my fault."