CHAPTER 136: CHAPTER 4:

Zhao Fei did not expect that Gu Qingqing, who seemed gentle and weak, was so formidable! Under Gu Qingqing’s gaze, he quickly nodded, indicating that he would not make the same mistake again.

"Take your people and leave quickly." Gu Qingqing moved her foot aside and said coldly.

Zhao Fei climbed up from the ground, not daring to look at Gu Qingqing again, and turned to run away.

His followers saw him running and quickly followed suit.

Watching Zhao Fei and his group leave, Gu Qingqing turned to look at Yun Ran.

"Sister Yun, let’s find a place to eat first, and have a good chat." She happily said, holding Yun Ran’s hand.

Yun Ran naturally wouldn’t refuse and nodded happily as well.

She knew what Gu Qingqing liked to eat and was familiar with Huazhou City, so she led the way. They found a restaurant, went in, and sat at a table. Gu Qingqing ordered a bunch of food she and Yun Ran liked, then looked at Yun Ran.

"Sister Yun, how did you end up here? Did you come directly here after ascension?" Gu Qingqing asked curiously.

"No, after my ascension, I didn’t come directly to Huazhou City but to Pingning City in Anding Prefecture, and then I found my way here." Yun Ran’s expression was momentarily dazed as she spoke, recalling her time shortly after ascension.

Hearing this, Gu Qingqing nodded in understanding, "So, your family is here?"

She remembered that the Yun Family was also a long-established family. Before the previous weakening of the Heavenly Dao, many people surely ascended to the Sub-immortal Realm, so having a foundation here was very normal.

"That’s right. The Yun Family is one of the three major families in Huazhou City. The other two are the Zhao Family, where that Zhao Fei belongs, and another family, the Zhou Family." Yun Ran poured Gu Qingqing a cup of Spiritual Dew and explained.

"No wonder that guy is so arrogant, daring to flirt with girls on the street!" Gu Qingqing said angrily, still a bit upset when Zhao Fei was mentioned.

"Although Zhao Fei is the son of the Zhao Family head, he is of mediocre talent and not favored by the Zhao Family head. He is very dissolute in nature, and if it weren’t for the Zhao Family backing him, he would have been beaten to death long ago!" Yun Ran, who also had a poor impression of Zhao Fei, said directly.

"But Sister Yun, won’t your stopping him just now affect you? The Zhao Family won’t come after you, will they?" Gu Qingqing was not worried about herself at all; she was more concerned about causing trouble for Yun Ran.

Back on the Xuantian Continent, it was one thing; with Yun Ran’s status in the Yun Family, not many dared to trouble her. But now it’s different; the Yun Family here is not the same as the Yun Family on Xuantian Continent!

"Don’t worry, thanks to you, I’m doing quite well in my current family, and Zhao Fei wouldn’t dare to easily cause trouble for me!" Yun Ran shook her head and briefly explained her current situation to Gu Qingqing.

"That’s good to hear." Hearing Yun Ran’s words, Gu Qingqing relaxed a bit.

Just then, the dishes were served. The two of them chatted while eating, enjoying their meal. When it came time to pay, Yun Ran wanted to pay, but Gu Qingqing stopped her, as her senior brothers had given her many spiritual coins before she came.

"Geng Geng, since you have nowhere to go, why not come home with me, and we can have a good chat." Yun Ran looked at Gu Qingqing, her expression gentle, and said.

Gu Qingqing thought for a moment and agreed with a nod.

The Yun Family’s residence was several streets away from where Gu Qingqing had previously stayed and covered a large area. Because of her talent, Yun Ran also had her own courtyard within the Yun Family.

On the way back with Gu Qingqing, they ran into some people who were quite surprised to see Gu Qingqing, but all greeted Yun Ran warmly, except for one young girl.

"Yun Ran, why are you bringing just anyone into our home?" The girl, dressed in a light blue ruqun, saw Gu Qingqing’s appearance, and a hint of jealousy flashed in her eyes. Her attitude towards Yun Ran was rarely friendly and even somewhat contemptuous.

"Yun Yan, this is my friend, not just anyone. Watch your words!" Yun Ran’s expression was unpleasant as she looked at Yun Yan.

Yun Yan was the daughter of the current Yun Family head with decent talent. Before Yun Ran’s appearance, she was the most cultivated, talented, and beautiful among all the girls in the Yun Family, which, combined with her status, made her very proud.

But after Yun Ran appeared, all that was taken away!

Yun Ran’s talent was even better than hers. Shortly after her ascension, she already had seventh-level peak cultivation and was more beautiful and talented. She was much more socially adept with the Yun Family peers, which made Yun Yan very angry and often at odds with Yun Ran. This time, she had heard that Yun Ran brought back a woman, so she came over to mock Yun Ran, not expecting Gu Qingqing to be so pretty.

"How did I disrespect her? This is the main residence of the Yun Family, not a place where just anyone can enter. You bring people in, and if something happens, who is responsible?" Yun Yan said righteously.

Yun Ran let out a cold laugh at Yun Yan’s words, unwilling to speak further with Yun Yan. She directly turned around with Gu Qingqing and left.

"Yun Ran, stop right there. What’s the meaning of this?" Yun Yan didn’t expect Yun Ran to just turn and leave, directly enraging her, as she shouted from behind.

Yun Ran completely ignored Yun Yan, closing the courtyard gate in her face, leaving Yun Yan jumping mad outside.

"Sister Yun, what was that just now?" Gu Qingqing followed behind Yun Ran, only asking once the gate was closed.

"Her name is Yun Yan, the daughter of the Family Head, a spoiled brat. Geng Geng, you don’t need to pay her any mind." Yun Ran held a typical impression of Yun Yan, seeing her as just a spoiled child; whenever she tried to find trouble with Yun Ran, it always backfired, leaving Yun Ran uninterested in revenge.

Gu Qingqing knowingly nodded. Since Yun Ran didn’t care, she wouldn’t either.

The two girls hadn’t seen each other in years, lying on a bed now with endless words to share, resulting in them staying up all night.

The next day, both sported dark circles under their eyes, and upon seeing each other’s state, they couldn’t help but burst into laughter, the laughter dissipating all those years of estrangement instantly.

After washing up, Yun Ran took Gu Qingqing out for a stroll around Huazhou City.

Huazhou City, being the prefecture capital of Yongning Prefecture, had quite a pleasant surrounding scenery. To avoid attention, Gu Qingqing specially wore a veil today, strolling along with Yun Ran.

At noon, they arrived at Huazhou City’s most famous restaurant, the Star-picking Tower.

The ingredients at Star-picking Tower were infused with Spiritual Energy, the meats were all demon beast flesh, and the drinks were Spiritual Wine; pricey yet worth it, as consuming them was beneficial for cultivation, drawing quite a crowd.

Neither Gu Qingqing nor Yun Ran was short on cash, and together they headed towards Star-picking Tower. Just as they entered the door, someone stopped them.

"Oh, who do we have here? Isn’t it Miss Yun Ran from the Yun Family? What brings you to dine at Star-picking Tower?" A young girl looked at Yun Ran, speaking mockingly.

Yun Ran and Gu Qingqing turned their heads to see a group of people not far from them.

Leading the pack were two girls of similar age, one with darker skin wearing a goose-yellow jacket skirt, her face showed off exaggerated makeup, and her head adorned with so much jewelry it was nearly blinding; quite unsightly.

The other girl wore a pale pink skirt, not extraordinarily beautiful but still considered lovely, looking a few degrees prettier when contrasted by the girl beside her.

The one who spoke was the girl in the goose-yellow outfit.

"Well, if Miss Zhou can come to Star-picking Tower, why can’t I?" Unlike her careless attitude towards Yun Yan, Yun Ran was quite cold towards the girl, even showing a hint of disdain.

Upon hearing Yun Ran’s words, Zhou Ting, the girl in goose-yellow clothing, lost her smile immediately, looking at Yun Ran with anger.

"Hmph, a place like Star-picking Tower is beyond the reach of someone like you, ascending from the Lower Realm!" Zhou Ting looked at Yun Ran’s face, filled with jealousy yet wore open disdain.

Hearing this, Yun Ran’s expression turned cold, even Gu Qingqing’s face hidden under the veil changed for the worse.

The enmity between Yun Ran and Zhou Ting existed because Zhou Ting looked down on those ascending from the Lower Realm!

Grown up in the Sub-immortal Realm, Zhou Ting perceived herself as superior, looking down on those from the Lower Realm; particularly as some were prettier than her and more gifted!

Upon first meeting Yun Ran, Zhou Ting disliked her face, and upon learning Yun Ran ascended from the Xuantian Continent, she constantly picked fights with Yun Ran upon meeting; far worse than Yun Yan who, despite the bickering, remembered their shared Yun Family ties, while Zhou Ting intended harm for Yun Ran!

"What of ascending from the Lower Realm? Have you forgotten, my cultivation is higher and my talent is better?" Yun Ran was not one to swallow insults, looking at Zhou Ting with a mocking smile, spoke lightly.

Zhou Ting loathed hearing this, and upon Yun Ran’s words, she instantly furiously drew her sword and charged at Yun Ran.

Yun Ran’s face turned cold, swinging a whip at Zhou Ting.

The two fought at the Star-picking Tower entrance, people nearby hurriedly avoiding them to prevent accidental injury.

Standing by, Gu Qingqing watched their fight at ease, not concerned about Yun Ran losing.

Nearby, the girl in the pink outfit anxiously watched Zhou Ting tussle with Yun Ran; suddenly, upon seeing Gu Qingqing standing by, she had a clever idea and instructed the followers behind her to seize Gu Qingqing, intending to use her to threaten Yun Ran.

Just as the followers were about to approach Gu Qingqing, her figure vanished entirely, astonishing them. Her figure reappeared behind the girl in pink clothing.

"Were you trying to seize me?" She whispered lightly into the ear of the girl in pink clothing.