Jian Dan didn't react. She continued sipping her tea, while Yue Liang was completely engrossed in the unfolding story and hadn't even noticed anyone speaking.
Fu Yao's expression turned cold. A mere Golden Core cultivator had dared to ignore her. Who gave her the courage?
One of Fu Yao's attendants, clearly well-practiced in these situations, swiftly threw a rope toward Yue Liang.
But Yue Liang leapt into the air, transforming into a raccoon beast mid-motion and landing on Jian Dan's shoulder.
The rope hit the ground and stayed there. When the attendant tried to retrieve it, it wouldn't budge. It clung to the ground as if glued there.
Jian Dan turned her head slightly, glancing at the woman who had spoken. She was around 1.7 meters tall, dressed in a purple-pink fairy dress with layered lotus-leaf frills, her body practically wrapped in top-grade magical gear. Clearly, she wasn't lacking in spirit stones.
As for her face, it was pretty enough, but the air of entitled arrogance ruined the effect.
"Hmph. Finished staring?"
"First time I've seen someone so stupid and so lacking in manners."
"Who are you calling stupid? And who's ill-mannered?"
"Whoever responds, that's who."
"You—!"
The commotion had already caught the attention of the teahouse patrons. Everyone watched the drama unfold. It was obvious the Nascent Soul cultivator in the purple-pink dress had taken a fancy to the Golden Core woman's spirit beast and was trying to snatch it.
One of Fu Yao's attendants, the smarter one, quietly backed out through the teahouse doors.
Fu Yao waved her hand. The remaining three attendants surrounded Jian Dan and Yue Liang.
Jian Dan raised an eyebrow. Under broad daylight, someone dared to steal a contracted spirit beast? Who gave this woman the nerve—or perhaps, who was backing her?
"Who are you people? What are you trying to do?"
As she spoke, she gently pulled Yue Liang into her arms, feigning a frightened look.
"Hmph. If you know what's good for you, hand over your spirit beast and dissolve the contract. Do that, and I might just let this slide."
That line struck Yue Liang's reverse scale. Her fur stood on end, and the bright black in her eyes began to shift color.
Seeing this, Jian Dan realized Yue Liang was genuinely furious. She quickly smoothed her fur and whispered:
"Easy now. She's not worth it."
Fu Yao was fuming. No one had ever treated her like this. She was just about to order her attendants to teach this girl a lesson when a clear child's voice rang out behind her:
"Zhūnzhǔ, you're out for a stroll too?"
Instantly, everyone froze.
Yu Jiajia, wearing an orange dress and taking steady, mature little steps, entered through the doorway. The moment she saw her teacher, she greeted her respectfully.
"Mm. Your cultivation stabilized? Sneaking out to play?"
"It's solid now. My ancestor gave me permission to come explore the market."
Fu Yao and her people hadn't yet recovered from hearing the word "Zhūnzhǔ" when they saw Yu Jiajia—most beloved junior of the Yu clan's Zhēnzūn—walking in with a small entourage.
Fu Yao's eyelid twitched. Clearly, she'd picked the wrong day to go out.
"Jian Ning pays respect to Jian Lu Zhūnzhǔ."
While Fu Yao stood silently mulling things over, Jian Ning had already appeared beside her, followed by the attendant who had slipped out earlier.
Jian Dan smiled at Jian Ning, thinking: At least one of the attendants has some brains.
"What's with all the excitement? Aren't you supposed to be on duty at the Law Enforcement Hall?"
"I brought my little junior sister out to buy robes today."
"Little junior sister?"
Jian Dan shot a glance at Fu Yao, who now stood silently with her head bowed.
Jian Ning immediately understood and smiled.
"Fu Yao is from the same family line as Jian Wan Zhūnzhǔ. She's been cultivating quite diligently."
Jian Dan gently stroked Yue Liang's fur and smiled.
"Her cultivation looks decent. Shame about the brain."
Jian Ning chuckled and didn't comment. If not for her master's orders, she wouldn't have tagged along with this spoiled brat. All arrogance, no self-awareness.
Fu Yao knew Jian Lu Zhūnzhǔ was mocking her, but she had no choice but to endure it. Even her backer had greeted this person with respect. Their ancestors were of equal standing.
"Well, since you've exposed me, I'd better not linger. I'll take Yue Liang and look around elsewhere. Take care."
"Yes, Zhūnzhǔ."
"My cave residence is fully set up now. Have Jian Li Zhūnzhǔ bring you all over sometime."
"I'll make sure to let Jian Li Zhūnzhǔ know."
With that, Jian Dan left with Yue Liang in her arms. Fu Yao hadn't said a word since her identity was revealed. Only after Jian Dan had gone did she finally raise her head.
Looking slightly aggrieved, Fu Yao muttered to Jian Ning:
"Senior sister, I didn't know who she was earlier..."
"You knew. You just pretended not to."
"Senior sister..."
Fu Yao tried to feign ignorance, but Jian Ning, usually gentle, wasn't in the mood to let her off this time.
"That spirit beast is in a transformed state, which makes it sixth-rank—equivalent to the Divine Soul stage. Its cultivation surpasses mine. What kind of cultivator do you think its master is? Don't tell me you didn't know."
Fu Yao's face darkened at being called out so directly.
Jian Ning didn't relent, driving the point home.
"You were banking on our master's reputation to scare her into backing off. You thought she'd hand over the beast willingly. But this time, you kicked an iron wall."
"Why are you making such a big deal of this?"
Fu Yao frowned, annoyed. Jian Ning's eyes briefly flashed with contempt, but her tone stayed calm.
"Jian Lu Zhūnzhǔ was granted that name personally by Tian Hong Zhēnzūn. Do you know what it means?"
"What?"
"'Sword of Slaughter.'"
With that, Jian Ning turned and left the teahouse.
The conversation had taken place within a barrier, so no one else overheard—except little Yu Jiajia, of course.
After Fu Yao and her people left, a black-clad man who had been standing behind Yu Jiajia stepped forward and whispered the entire exchange into her ear.
At the end, he added, "Jian Lu Zhūnzhǔ looked at me when she left."
Yu Jiajia nodded like a little grown-up, indicating she understood. Then she plopped herself into the seat Jian Dan had just vacated, eager to hear the rest of the story she'd been following.
The bystanders in the teahouse, having watched the drama play out, shrugged it off once the main actors had exited. They turned their attention back to the storyteller at the front.
"Zhūnzhǔ, why didn't you let me teach her a lesson?"
"Goodness, where did you get that hot temper from?"
"Obviously from you!"
Yue Liang answered proudly, which made Jian Dan burst into laughter.
"You rascal. It's not that I held you back for nothing, but someone like her isn't even worth your time."
Yue Liang snuggled into Jian Dan's arms and listened as she explained.
"She hides behind her status but doesn't have real strength. Did you notice how she didn't even pick up on Jian Ning's sarcasm about her cultivation?"
"But didn't you say earlier her cultivation was good?"
Yue Liang always asked when she didn't understand.
"I said it looks decent. What's underneath is another matter entirely. The brutal world of cultivation will teach her what it means to be a real cultivator."
"You're too good with words. My little brain can't keep up!"
"Alright now. Where else do you want to go?"
"I want to check out the spirit beast market."
"What brought that on?"
"They said beasts there can be bought and sold. I just want to take a look."
Jian Dan didn't know why Yue Liang suddenly wanted to visit such a place, but she didn't object. With Yue Liang in her arms, she headed toward the Hundred Beasts Pavilion.