Yun Ran stepped into the living room of the Lake Heart Pavilion, where seven or eight people were already seated.

Each of them was over forty years old.

When Yun Ran appeared before them, everyone’s expressions varied.

Clearly, they were all schemers with countless tricks up their sleeves.

Asking a ’naive and inexperienced’ young girl like her to join this group of old foxes was no different from sending a little rabbit into the lair of the big bad wolf.

Yun Ran couldn’t help but press her tongue against her molars; Elder Kang was truly shameless.

"Elder Kang, it’s so late at night, I was preparing to rest, what do you want from me?"

Knowing these people harbored ill intentions, Yun Ran didn’t bother to show them a pleasant expression and attacked with fierce words right away.

The crowd: ...

They were used to speaking in circles, but seeing someone as straightforward as Yun Ran, their facial expressions suddenly couldn’t hold up.

Elder Kang had interacted with Yun Ran before and had seen her ’recklessness,’ and more so, her ’ferocious’ mount.

Currently, he was the only one whose expression remained unchanged.

His gaze towards Yun Ran was still kind: "Little Fellow Daoist Yun, no need to be nervous. These folks are all distinguished figures from various associations.

It’s good to let you meet them, so when you go out for training, you can know more people."

Yun Ran: ...

Ha, they really think she’s unaware of their hidden agendas.

Claiming to introduce her to connections; in reality, aren’t they just serving her up like a dish to these people?

Yun Ran could bet that these people either desire Er Dan or the Great Nourishing Pill she holds, at worst, the pink pearl she previously offered as compensation.

It’s more likely they greedily want all of these things.

Yun Ran didn’t expose their true faces and directly sat in the spot reserved for her.

"Oh, is that so? Then thank you, Elder Kang. I’ll surely let my master know and have him thank you properly."

No matter what these people intended, she simply refused to engage—her response was that she was an obedient disciple who listened to her master.

For other matters, she claimed complete ignorance.

Elder Kang’s eyes revealed a flicker; he certainly didn’t want to deal with Yun Ran’s master.

Someone who can provide such treasures to a disciple is unlikely to be easy to deal with.

"No need to be so polite. Since you’re in Moonlight City, it means we’re destined; thanking me makes us strangers."

Others didn’t understand why Elder Kang was being courteous with Yun Ran.

Isn’t she just a little girl? Even if they outright robbed Yun Ran of her things, what could she do?

Could her sect really dare defy these influential figures?

Moreover, anyone with some influence is someone they know.

If faced with those people, they might be slightly cautious.

But Yun Ran, whom they’ve never heard of, naturally gets lumped with those they deem easy to handle.

Even if Yun Ran has backing, they wouldn’t care.

The person sitting closest to Elder Kang leaned back in the chair, casting a sidelong glance at Yun Ran.

The tone carried an oppressive arrogance: "Yun Family girl, I heard you have quite a few valuable things; a young lady like you can’t guard them."

Yun Ran: ...

Well, well, they don’t even bother pretending; a direct threat, huh!

Yun Ran immediately sat up straight, placing her hands on the table, her gaze filled with an audacious pride.

"You clearly don’t know, my master really spoils me. The things he gave me, I naturally am capable of safeguarding them."

Saying that, Yun Ran pulled out a piece of high-level Attack Talisman and several Defense Talismans from her bag.

Her face was full of a shallow bragging glow: "See, these were all given by my master, they’re all High-level Talismans.

This one is an Attack Talisman, its power is phenomenal, it could easily blow this Lake Heart Pavilion to smithereens.

And these talismans are High-level Defense Talismans, once activated, practically no one can break through; I’m perfectly safe!"

Yun Ran casually fiddled with these High-level Talismans as if the talisman papers were worthless.

This made the crowd, originally trying to exert subtle pressure from across her, suddenly wear complex expressions.

These High-level Talismans may not be regarded as treasures, but certainly not trivial things they could part with easily.

Yet, Yun Ran, this young chick, had so many in her hands, and showed no signs of cherishing them.

This meant that Yun Ran had seen many similar High-level Talismans, or even owned numerous ones.

Only if they’re common would one not treasure them. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Then remembering Elder Kang’s previous mention of never-before-seen bird, the Great Nourishing Pill, and the valuable pearls...

At this moment, everyone’s gaze upon Yun Ran shifted.

No longer so dismissive, as if handling a mere chick.

Even the one who was sitting casually, only glancing at Yun Ran with the corner of his eye, sat up straight and properly examined her.

"Little Fellow Daoist Yun, would it be possible to let me take a look at the High-level Talisman you have?"

This was truly an unreasonable request; who would openly ask someone to casually share their precious talisman papers?

But Yun Ran seemed naive to the malice in the words and indeed handed over a Defense Talisman.

"Sure, take a look~"

Anyway, these talisman papers had an added protection layer by her, requiring a specific method to activate.

Even if someone took them without returning, they would merely be holding worthless paper.

Elder Kang truly hadn’t expected Yun Ran to possess so many High-level Talismans.

He initially planned to use rewards and intimidation to coax the items from Yun Ran, but now that plan seemed futile.

This little girl was cunning internally and likely held unknown treasures.

He also recalled reports suggesting she had been calmly wandering the city all these days.

Clearly, it wasn’t out of cluelessness but rather confidence.

After examining the High-level Talismans Yun Ran handed over, confirming them genuinely High-level,

the old foxes, each filled with schemes, felt as though slapped hard.

"They’re actually real!"

"But why, does the talisman paper seem impossible to activate?"

Yun Ran: ...

Lucky she anticipated this, these people really lack scruples!