Fan Wubing muttered in a low voice, "I always feel like youāre trying to train me."
Jiang Sha laughed, "Are you willing to?"
Fan Wubing rolled his eyes, "Who would be willing to?" He stood up, "No more talking, I still have to take An An to the Illusion Immortal Tower."
"Take care of yourself."
"Oh, come on, Iāve said Iām not going there for pleasure! Donāt you know what kind of person I am?"
The evening wind stirred Jiang Shaās long hair, and she said softly, "I donāt know."
Fan Wubing paused and, after a moment of silence, said, "I think weāre already good partners supporting each other. Maybe Iām a bit shameless, considering you my confidant."
He waved goodbye and turned to leave.
The lanterns swayed gently, casting flickering shadows.
Jiang Shaās face was shrouded in shadows, with faint light flickering in her dark pupils.
"Confidant..."
She looked up at Fan Wubingās departing silhouette and suddenly felt a bit tired, her eyelids becoming exceptionally heavy as fatigue washed over her like a tide. Her hand slipped off the table and drooped straight down.
The next moment, she felt a warmth flow into her left hand, spreading throughout her body, dispelling the fatigue and that oppressive sense of consciousness detachment.
She opened her eyes and turned her head to see Fan Wubing massaging her left hand.
Fan Wubing frowned, "Did you use your abilities again?"
Jiang Sha rarely remained silent.
"Your hand is as cold as iron." Fan Wubing complained, "Sister Liu didnāt notice this?"
"Itās not related to her. Itās my own problem."
Fan Wubing stayed silent.
This massage lasted longer than any before.
Jiang Shaās numb left hand did not regain feeling for a long time. Fan Wubing was somewhat panicked, fearing that her left hand would become like her legs, completely losing sensation.
After feeling returned, Fan Wubing let out a long breath, "I think I should stay by your side and take care of you for a while."
Jiang Sha shook her head, "Just do your own thing, donāt worry about me."
"The way you are, itās hard not to worry."
Jiang Sha frowned, "I told you not to worry."
Fan Wubing was taken aback, "Are you angry?"
It was the first time he saw Jiang Sha angry.
"Why are you angry?" Fan Wubing asked.
Jiang Sha closed her eyes, choosing to avoid the question.
After a long silence, Fan Wubing said, "Go back to your room and rest."
He pushed Jiang Sha back to her dwelling, helping her bathe and change clothes as usual.
After placing her in bed and tucking her in, he left.
During that time, neither of them spoke a word.
...
After leaving Jiang Shaās courtyard, Fan Wubing went to An Anās courtyard.
He adjusted his mood, knocked on the door, and said, "An An, are you ready? Itās time to go."
"Right away!" An Anās cheerful voice came from the room.
Not long after, An An came out.
Fan Wubing looked her up and down, "Hey, got new clothes, huh."
An An said proudly, "New look, new atmosphere, new life."
"Letās go."
"Wait!" An An quickly ran in front of Fan Wubing, raising her eyebrows, "Youāre... not happy?"
"No." Fan Wubing put on a smile, "Iām very happy."
"Liar!" An An scrunched her nose, "I can smell the scent of emotions. Youāre not happy."
Fan Wubing still didnāt admit, "You must be mistaken. I just helped Jiang Sha with her washing, and got some fragrance on me."
"Stop lying to me." An An pouted, then her eyes widened, nervously asking, "Did I offend you somehow?" She said apologetically, "If I upset you, believe me, it wasnāt on purpose. And if I did anything wrong, just let me know. Iām not very savvy with social cues, maybe a bit slow-witted, not quick to catch on. Please donāt hold back and not say anything!"
She stated earnestly, "Sister Jiang says silence is the blade that destroys relationships, there must be more communication."
Fan Wubing muttered under his breath, "She sure leads by example."
"What?"
"Nothing."
Seeing Fan Wubing still unwilling to speak, An An felt a bit frustrated.
At this moment, a voice rang in her heart, "An An, canāt you tell? He doesnāt really want to go to the Illusion Immortal Tower, heās just accommodating you."
An An was startled and quickly responded internally, "Why did you suddenly come out? Youāll be discovered!"
"Donāt worry, no one can discover the me in your heart. An An... poor An An, you should understand that a personās patience has its limits. He has always tolerated your willfulness and rudeness. Look at him, heās obviously distracted. Last time too, after he went to the Illusion Immortal Tower, he started sleeping. Donāt you understand? He doesnāt want to go with you."
An An suddenly panicked, "But..."
"An An, you actually understand. No matter how nice he is to you, he is ultimately a person with a temper. He canāt tolerate your unreasonable behavior any longer."
An An felt wronged, "I wasnāt unreasonable."
"Then why is he distracted? An An... this is all your fault, An An. Between friends, we should help and support each other. But you, you only caused him trouble, youāve never been able to help him."
An An said, "I also want to help him, but heās so capable... What can I help with?"
"Thatās right. The gap between you is too great. Can you really be friends who understand each other with such a large gap?"
An An felt a little lost, "What should I do? I donāt want to lose him..."
"You need to become stronger, you need to become a reliable person. You need to make him look at you differently, make him think youāre amazing, that youāre valuable. Right now, you have no value to him."
"No value..." This statement deeply pierced An Anās heart, "I..."
"But, donāt worry An An, I will help you become stronger, and by then youāll definitely make him look at you differently!"
An An timidly asked, "Really?"
"Of course, Iāve been through lifeās hardships with you, Iām the one who loves you the most."
A trace of warmth flowed through An Anās heart.
"An An, An An? An An!"
A shake on the shoulder brought An An back to her senses, "Ah, whatās wrong, whatās wrong!"
"What about you? Suddenly zoning out without moving." Fan Wubing asked.
An An trembled suddenly and hurriedly said, "I plan to go to the Illusion Immortal Tower alone!"
"Huh?" Fan Wubing was stunned, "Why?"
An An straightened her chest and said with a smile, "Of course, to conquer myself!"
"Conquer yourself?"
"Yes! Iām an adult now! How can I always rely on others? I canāt always let you take me every time."
Fan Wubing smiled and said, "So brave?"
"Yes, so this time you just stay at home and rest well, I can definitely do it myself!" An An said, clenching her fist.
"Then, good luck, An An! I will be waiting for your good news at home."
"Hmm!"
After saying that, An An stepped out of the door with a cheerful stride.
Fan Wubing glanced at Jiang Shaās courtyard, patted his neck, and didnāt bother to think more.
He returned to his room, lightly released his spirit, then closed his eyes to continue studying the Supreme Dharma Orbiting Device and the knowledge of destiny.
...
On the rooftop terrace of the Illusion Immortal Tower.
Wu Qianqiu awoke from a meditative state, a strange light flashing in his eyes, "Here we go again."
From the windowsill, Tang Tang asked, "Wu Wangxinger and his friend?"
Wu Qianqiu furrowed his brows, "Strange, this time thereās only that girl named An An alone."
"Oh?"
After observing for a while Wu Qianqiu said, "Looks like sheās trying to temper her own character. Young Master, what do you say?"
Tang Tang thought for a moment, "Wu Wangxinger clearly values his friend An An. Our basic principle is not to turn him into an enemy. So, donāt target her, just respond normally."
"Thatās what we say, but it seems like someone else is eyeing her."
"Who?" Tang Tangās brows furrowed.
Wu Qianqiu was also a bit puzzled, "People from the Demon Extermination Bureau. Strange, why would the people from the Demon Extermination Bureau be targeting An An?"
"Recently, the Demon Extermination Bureau has been investigating the incident where Celestial Travel County, outside of Changning City, was attacked by Demon Cultivators." Tang Tang said, "Suddenly targeting An An, could it be that sheās involved in this matter?"
"What should we do? Demon Cultivators are a taboo in the Immortal Continent."
Tang Tang also had some difficulty making a decision, she pondered for a long while before saying,
"No matter what, since An An has come to the Illusion Immortal Tower, the tower has the responsibility to protect her. The Demon Extermination Bureau is backed by Wenxin Heaven, itās an official institution under the Confucian system. Unless there is decisive evidence, they canāt act recklessly. If there is decisive evidence, then thereās nothing much we can say."
After saying this, she fell into contemplation again, and then asked,
"Has Left Minister Pei Weiyi returned to Changning?"
"She has."
There was a glint in Tang Tangās eyes, "Find a way to call her over."
"No problem."
"Remember, the Illusion Immortal Tower only provides a venue, and only acts within its responsibilities. Beyond that, everything has nothing to do with us." Tang Tang said seriously, "Before the major events arrive, the Illusion Immortal Tower is just a place for peopleās amusement."
Wu Qianqiu nodded, "Okay."
With that, she left.