A maid led Qin Nie into the hall. He bowed respectfully to Chu Lan and then turned his gaze to Fang Chen. “Fellow Daoist, earlier at the Immortal Origin District, you clashed with the protectors of the Nine Yang Dao Sect, and the aftershocks affected us.”
“Is that so? I didn’t really notice. Did Young Master Qin Nie sustain any injuries?” Fang Chen asked, feigning surprise as he examined Qin Nie.
Qin Nie forced a smile and shook his head slightly. “There were no serious injuries, but we were knocked unconscious by the aftershocks.”
“Daoist Fang, you should be more cautious next time,” Chu Lan said with a hint of reproach.
Fang Chen nodded. “I’ll definitely be more cautious in the future.”
“I wonder if Daoist Fang has seen our storage rings?” Qin Nie asked casually. “When we woke up, we discovered that our storage rings had disappeared."
“I didn’t pay much attention to it. It’s possible that someone took advantage of the chaos. Such incidents are quite common. Young Master Qin Nie should be more careful in the future and avoid crowded places,” Fang Chen said, shaking his head.
Qin Nie sighed. “To be honest, the items in Young Master Qi Fa’s storage ring are quite valuable. If they cannot be recovered, the Azure Dao Manor Lord will likely pin the blame on someone. There could be escalations.”
“Nie’er, quickly have the family’s cultivators investigate to see who would dare to take advantage of the situation and rob you,” Chu Lan advised.
“And what does he want you to do?” Chu Lan asked.
“He wants to personally search Daoist Fang and inspect his storage ring,” Qin Nie said softly. “This would confirm that Daoist Fang is not that kind of shameless thief and provide an explanation to Young Master Qi.”
“A search, you say? That can be arranged,” Chu Lan said, nodding as she slowly extended her arms. “Search me first, then Daoist Fang.”
Qin Nie was taken aback, and he grew conflicted. Finally, he said in a low voice, “First Lady, this is a highly sensitive matter. Please, don’t do this.”
“What do you mean? If you privately criticize my guest, I might choose to ignore it. But now, Nie’er has personally come to accuse him of theft and demands a search. Isn’t this just slapping me in the face? Although I, Chu Lan, am not a direct member of the Immortal Qin Clan, I will never allow others to trample on me and insult me at will.
"If you must conduct a search, then search me first, then Daoist Fang. It would be best to call my husband as well and conduct the search in his presence."
Chu Lan's stance was firm.
Qin Nie was silent for a few moments before cupping his fist. “I was being impolite. I’ll take my leave now.”
With that, Qin Nie left. Though he was reluctant, he had no other options.
Glancing at Fang Chen, Chu Lan’s lips curved into a slight triumphant smile. For the first time, Fang Chen noticed a hint of playfulness in her demeanor, possibly due to the resolution of Qin Feng’s issue, which had lifted the despondence in her heart.
Chu Lan smiled. “Daoist Fang, what do you plan to do next?”
“Observe and wait for developments."
“It is safest with me,” Qin Nie said coldly. “This is my test and cannot be compromised.”
The Nascent Soul cultivator sneered. “Cannot be compromised? Now even the storage rings are lost. If this affects the test, it might disappoint the Radiant Sun Spirit Monarch.”
The Radiant Sun Spirit Monarch?
Fang Chen's eyes flickered. Immortal Void Rush once said that in the Spirit Blood Sect, Spirit Monarch was a title for cultivators in the Middle Three Realms.