After a moment of silence, Elder Shan cleared her throat and said, "While that is true, have you forgotten who I am? As a sect elder, there are risks I must take, and I am very confident that I can protect myself. After all, I have managed to protect myself for over three hundred years in this world dominated by beasts."
Fei Yuyan looked at her with her eyebrows raised, unsure of what to think at this moment.
"A-Anyway, you are lucky that Disciple Yuan is a good kid, or your maiden status would've been revoked during your first night together." Elder Shan then said, before quickly changing the subject.
"By the way, do you have feelings for Disciple Yuan? Do you like him?"
"L-Like him?" Fei Yuyan's jaw dropped slightly. Why does Elder Shan care so much about their relationship? She's usually not such a busybody, and it was almost like she's jealous of them or something.
"While I respect Disciple Yuan, even admire him for his talents, so I definitely like him, but I don't think it's that sort of 'like' Master is thinking about... I think," Fei Yuyan responded after a moment of silence.
"Why do you ask, Master?" Fei Yuyan decided to ask her.
"No reason, really. I was just curious since this is my first time seeing you so close to a man— almost intimately." Elder Shan said.
And she continued, "Since you don't have any serious feelings for him nor did anything really happened between you two, I guess there's no need for us to continue the conversation any longer. Let's go. You want to go to the music shop, right?"
"You're coming with us, Master?" Fei Yuyan asked her with a surprised look.
"Of course. I have a duty to protect Disciple Yuan. If anything happens to him, the Sect Master will have my head…" Elder Shan said.
"Just who is Disciple Yuan, and why is the sect so protective of him?" Fei Yuyan asked.
However, Elder Shan shook her head and said, "Even if you are my disciple, I am not allowed to tell you. But you're a smart girl, so you'll most likely figure it out without me. And if you can wait a few more weeks, you'll know exactly why the sect treasures Disciple Yuan so much."
"A few more weeks?" Fei Yuyan immediately pondered.
The first thing that appeared in her mind after hearing Elder Shan's words was the Mystic Realm, one of the biggest events occurring in the Lower Heavens this year, and coincidentally, it's only a few weeks away.
"D-Don't tell me… Disciple Yuan… He's going to participate in the Mystic Realm?" Fei Yuyan couldn't help but ask.
Elder Shan merely smiled at Fei Yuyan's guess without replying or confirming it.
'I see… So Disciple Yuan's going to be participating in the Mystic Realm…' Fei Yuyan thought to herself after seeing Elder Shan's smile.
Sometime later, they left the room and regrouped with the others.
"Are we ready to go?" Yuan asked them afterward.
"Yes, let's go."
Fei Yuyan nodded before taking the lead.
Meanwhile, Yuan and the other two ladies followed her.
As for Elder Xuan and Elder Shan, they also followed, but they distanced themselves a little bit more to give the disciples more room, almost like guardians looking over them from behind.
"Are you really trying to start something with Disciple Yuan, or are you only teasing him?" Elder Xuan asked her as they followed the disciples through the street.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Elder Shan responded in a nonchalant manner.
"I know you dislike men because of your experience with them when you were young, but not every man out there is like that, and Disciple Yuan is certainly one of those people on the likable side. I haven't known him for too long, but I can tell that he's a genuine person just from the few conversations we had with each other."
"I know that. You don't have to tell me." Elder Shan said, still with an unreadable expression on her face.
"Then what is your deal? You dislike men, yet you enjoy seducing them knowing full well it won't result in anything. That's very misleading and confusing, or is this your way of revenge to make up for all of the trouble you'd encountered in the past?" Elder Xuan sighed.
"Perhaps. Perhaps not." Elder Shan mumbled.
Elder Xuan shook his head, but he didn't continue questioning her and left it as it is since it wasn't his business, and as long as it doesn't affect the Dragon Essence Temple, Elder Shan can mislead as many young men as she wants.
Sometime later, they arrive at this large store with gentle music playing somewhere in the background.
"This sounds like a flute…" Yuan mumbled after hearing this sharp and crisp sound.
"Let's go inside." Fei Yuyan said to them as she entered the shop.
"Welcome to our store, Divine Melody! How may I help you today, esteemed guests from the Dragon Essence Temple?" One of the workers there immediately recognized their background and approached them.
"We're only here to look around," said Fei Yuyan.
"I understand. Please take as long as you need. There's a small map over there if you're looking for a specific instrument. If you need anything, just speak to anyone wearing this uniform and they'll be able to assist you."
Once the worker left them alone, Fei Yuyan said, "What do you want to see first, Disciple Yuan?"
"I don't know. I am fine with anything, really." Yuan said.
Fei Yuyan nodded, "Okay, then follow me. I'll just take you around the store."
"Wow… This must be the instrument that's being played right now." Yuan said after they entered a certain room in the store.
"You mean the dizi? They are flutes usually made from bamboo," Fei Yuyan said as they stood before a display case that had a beautiful green flute with ten holes in it.
After spending a few minutes in the dizi session, Fei Yuyan led them into another room that showcased a different instrument that resembled guitars in Yuan's world.