"Narrow Rain Lane?"

The crowd’s reactions varied upon hearing Fang Xue’s words.

The other disciples were unfamiliar with Yunling Town, so they naturally hadn’t heard of a place called Narrow Rain Lane, all looking puzzled.

Qin Gengyun, however, nodded slightly at Fang Xue, thinking to himself that the once simple Xiaoxue had matured and could now deceive others.

Earlier in Cyan Luo Lane, Qin Gengyun had asked Fang Xue for a favor, specifically for her to mention Narrow Rain Lane at this moment.

Fang Xue had undoubtedly cooperated well, stepping forward at the most opportune time.

At this moment, Liu Su looked surprised, while Mo Xiaolan seemed to have a realization, looking towards Qin Gengyun.

Qin Gengyun’s gaze was fixed tightly on Ruo Mei’s face.

He wanted to see Ruo Mei’s reaction upon hearing "Narrow Rain Lane."

Ruo Mei seemed just as clueless as the female disciples around her, appearing to have never heard of this place.

"Narrow Rain Lane?" Wei Wan’s eyes flashed as she looked at Fang Xue, "It’s where the owner of Qinhe Garden, Qin Gengyun, used to live."

Qin Gengyun was taken aback; he hadn’t expected this Senior Sister from Xiyue Peak to know him so well.

Fang Xue was also a bit surprised: "How does Senior Sister Wei know?"

Wei Wan sidestepped the question and asked, "It seems Junior Sister Fang is quite familiar with this Qin Gengyun?"

Fang Xue nodded and said, "Uncle Qin used to be colleagues with my father, so we often meet."

Wei Wan’s eyes flickered but she didn’t continue to pursue the question, merely smiling as she said:

"Junior Sister Fang, lead us to Narrow Rain Lane then."

Before long, they arrived at Narrow Rain Lane.

"This alley only has one exit, and the mouth of the alley is narrow; as long as we block the entrance, we can indeed catch them like turtles in a jar."

"It is indeed a great place for an ambush and to slay someone!"

The disciples of the Zhenyang Sect walked around the alley observing, gradually agreeing more and more with Fang Xue’s suggestion.

Wei Wan, dressed in green, stood on the rooftop, looking down with long hair dancing in the wind, her gentle face flashing with a hint of killing intent as she coldly said:

"We’ll set an ambush here, to avenge Junior Brother Chen and the others!"

Night fell.

Narrow Rain Lane.

Every house in the alley lit up with lamps.

However, the people inside were no longer the loose cultivators who originally lived there, but the disciples of the Zhenyang Sect.

During the day, Wei Wan had found Yan Mengsheng and told him about their plan. Yan Mengsheng immediately followed Wei Wan’s instructions and relocated the residents of Narrow Rain Lane elsewhere.

He also mobilized the elite guards of Yunling Town to cooperate with the Zhenyang Sect’s disciples in setting up an ambush around Narrow Rain Lane.

Fang Xue was responsible for arranging her fellow disciples into pairs to stay in each house along Narrow Rain Lane.

This arrangement openly provided that cunning assassin with an opportunity; if it wished to continue hunting Zhenyang Sect disciples, it would certainly come again.

However, when arranging the rooms, Fang Xue intentionally or unintentionally placed Ruo Mei into the house where Qin Gengyun and his wife had once lived.

Upon learning that this house was the "former residence" of Qiu Zhihe, the second on the Beauty Ranking, everyone was extremely curious. Some male disciples even wanted to have a look inside, but they were all stopped by Wei Wan.

An imminent fierce battle was no time for distractions.

Ruo Mei was a bit uneasy: "Senior Sister Fang, this used to be the residence of Qin Gengyun and his wife. It’s quite inconvenient for me to stay here alone as a woman. Can you arrange for me to stay elsewhere?"

Fang Xue smiled and said, "No worries, Junior Sister Ruo, I’ll stay with you."

Saying so, she warmly took Ruo Mei into that extremely familiar house.

The door was still old and worn, with traces of the array she had drawn back then faintly visible.

As soon as she stepped inside, a familiar scent assailed her senses, and instantly, it felt like she had returned to the past, where meat porridge boiled in the kitchen and she quietly sat at the table waiting for her husband to return.

Xia Qinglian was momentarily dazed and instinctively turned back to look at Qin Gengyun not far away, only to find him also staring directly at her.

Xia Qinglian’s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly reverted to Ruo Mei, lowering her head shyly and following Fang Xue into the room, closing the door behind them.

...

Late at night.

"Junior Sister Ruo, do you want to take a bath first?"

In the cramped room, Fang Xue asked Ruo Mei.

"Huh?"

Ruo Mei, who was daydreaming, looked up, confused, and asked:

"Where do I take a bath?"

Fang Xue glanced at her, smiled, and pointed to the kitchen: "I heard from Uncle Qin that when he couldn’t afford a big house, he and Sister Qiu used to bathe in the kitchen."

Ruo Mei acknowledged with an "oh," got up, and walked towards the kitchen, but after a few steps she turned back:

"You’re really close with that Qin Gengyun, to know even such intimate details."

Fang Xue smiled and said, "Yes, Uncle Qin treats me very well; he even healed my injuries in the bathtub, with Sister Qiu watching beside me. I was so embarrassed."

Ruo Mei looked at her and suddenly said, "Junior Sister Fang, I’ve heard you weren’t this frivolous before."

Fang Xue blinked, "Really? Maybe I’ve changed. Junior Sister Ruo, you’d better go now."

Ruo Mei nodded, turned, and walked into the kitchen.

Fang Xue’s cheeks flushed slightly, thinking to herself, Junior Sister Ruo, I’m sorry, those were all Uncle Qin’s instructions.

If you are indeed Sister Qiu, please don’t vent your anger on me; aim it all at Uncle Qin.

After waiting for a while, until she heard the sound of water from the kitchen, Fang Xue called in:

"Junior Sister Ruo, Senior Sister Wei is calling me, I’ll step out for a bit."

After speaking, she didn’t wait for Ruo Mei to respond, got up, and slipped out. Qin Gengyun was standing at the door.

Fang Xue was not surprised at all, she smiled at Qin Gengyun, made a cheering gesture, and Qin Gengyun also smiled at her, lightly stepping into that extremely familiar house.

Watching Qin Gengyun gently close the door, Fang Xue remained silent for a moment, then turned and walked towards the opposite side. The door opened, and Mo Xiaolan stood inside.

The two exchanged smiles, Fang Xue entered the room, and after Mo Xiaolan closed the door, she curiously asked her:

"Sister Xiaolan, was this where you used to live?"

Mo Xiaolan nodded, "Before Qin Gengyun came to Yunling Town, I lived here. Later, he just happened to rent across from me."

During the day when arranging accommodations, Qin Gengyun and Mo Xiaolan stayed in one room, while Fang Xue and Ruo Mei stayed in another, with only a narrow alley separating them, making a late-night swap very convenient.

Fang Xue walked up to Mo Xiaolan, wrapped her arm around hers, and softly asked, "Sister Xiaolan, do you regret it?"

Mo Xiaolan was taken aback, "Regret what?"

Fang Xue said, "You’ve known Uncle Qin for so long, yet in the end, the two of you didn’t end up together."

Mo Xiaolan gently brushed aside the girl’s hair from her forehead and asked, "Do you regret it?"

Fang Xue was confused, "Regret what?"

Mo Xiaolan laughed, "You spent years cultivating diligently just to enter the Zhenyang Sect, but found that the Leader of the Righteous Path wasn’t what you imagined it to be. Do you regret it?"

Fang Xue shook her head, "If I hadn’t joined the Zhenyang Sect, how would I know the truth?"

Mo Xiaolan smiled, "If I had crossed the line of friendship with Qin Gengyun back then, how could he have met the wife truly suitable for him, or achieved what he has today?"