When Zhang Yiyi first went missing midway, the Tang family had rigorously investigated and monitored almost all the disciples who returned from the secret realm. However, after a long period without any discoveries, they gradually loosened their surveillance.

Anticipating such a situation, Zhang Yiyi and Tang Zirong had specifically arranged to meet six months later. It worked well for her, as she also needed time to retreat and cultivate.

"Greetings, Immortal!"

When Tang Zirong saw Zhang Yiyi again, he noticed her strength had clearly advanced significantly. Though her cultivation level was still lower than his, her power was so overwhelming that he couldn't see through her at all. This made his attitude toward Zhang Yiyi even more respectful. Even though she had no intention of taking him as a servant, his instinctive reverence and submission had already made him treat her as his master.

"How has the Tang family been during these past six months?"

Zhang Yiyi glanced at Tang Zirong and saw that his cultivation had improved since half a year ago, and he appeared more confident and composed. It seemed he had been doing well. The legitimate young lady he had intentionally saved in the secret realm must have been good to him, and with the absence of his enemy, the fifth young master of the Tang family, his circumstances and state of mind had significantly improved.

Upon hearing Zhang Yiyi's question, Tang Zirong dutifully recounted selective events that had occurred in the Tang family over the past six months.

When he noticed her particular interest in matters concerning Third Master Tang and Tang Xi, whose foundation had been crippled, he elaborated in greater detail.

It seemed that Tang Jin had gone to great lengths and made significant sacrifices to try to restore Tang Xi's foundation, but so far, there had been no substantial progress. This greatly pleased Zhang Yiyi.

Especially knowing that Tang Jin had repeatedly interfered with family decisions for Tang Xi's sake, causing dissatisfaction among many in the Tang family, Zhang Yiyi was even more delighted.

She hadn't expected Tang Jin to value Tang Xi so highly, going to such lengths as if he would stop at nothing—using all the Tang family's resources if necessary—to heal her.

"How much actual authority does Tang Jin hold in the Tang family?"

Tang Xi was now nothing more than a cripple. Although Tang Jin had reached the Nascent Soul stage, Zhang Yiyi figured that only a select few in the Tang family knew this secret. She didn't mind if more Tang family members grew resentful of Tang Jin's unconditional favoritism toward Tang Xi, which could further isolate him.

In fact, Zhang Yiyi suspected that Tang Jin's Nascent Soul-level cultivation might involve a greater secret within the Tang family. Unless absolutely necessary, Tang Jin would never willingly reveal his true strength.

"Second only to the family head and a few of the elders," Tang Zirong quickly replied.

"What's the real relationship between him and Tang Xi?" Zhang Yiyi asked curiously again.

She had always felt that the relationship between Tang Jin and Tang Xi didn't seem like a normal uncle-niece bond. It felt more like something... special.

Zhang Yiyi didn't want her thoughts to stray into unsavory territory, but the dynamic between Tang Jin and Tang Xi truly seemed off.

"Tang Xi was raised by Third Master Tang since she was a child, serving as both her teacher and father figure. However..." Tang Zirong hesitated for a moment before voicing his bold guess. "I feel there's something abnormal about their relationship. Tang Xi seems to harbor a twisted affection for Third Master Tang. Any woman who appears even slightly special around Third Master Tang often ends up being harshly dealt with by Tang Xi, eventually disappearing without a trace."

"And Third Master Tang, for his part, turns a blind eye to Tang Xi's actions. He never reprimands her and spoils her to an excessive degree."

Tang Zirong didn't explicitly point out the possibility of an inappropriate relationship between the two, but that was clearly what he implied.

However, due to their close blood relationship and the fact that Tang Xi had been personally raised by Tang Jin since childhood, most members of the Tang family never dared to entertain such thoughts.

Tang Zirong, on the other hand, had always been more perceptive than others. Since he never truly saw himself as a loyal servant of the Tang family, he could view the situation with a more detached clarity.

"Tsk tsk, so it's true." Zhang Yiyi nodded after hearing this, not particularly surprised. She had always sensed something unusual about their dynamic, and now it seemed even more peculiar.

This worked in her favor. As long as Tang Xi remained crippled, Tang Jin would be forced to pour immense energy and spiritual power into stabilizing her damaged meridians. This way, he could prevent her condition from deteriorating further until a true cure was found.

"Well then, it's good that you've established a foothold in the Tang family. That will be useful."

She pulled out a storage pouch she had prepared earlier and tossed it to Tang Zirong. Inside were various spiritual herbs and medicines from her gains. While she wouldn't part with the rarest treasures, she wasn't stingy with the surplus spiritual plants and herbs in her storage ring, giving him a portion as payment.

"This... I thought I had already traded my share for your help last time?" Tang Zirong was stunned when he saw the pouch filled with valuable herbs, clearly obtained from the secret realm. He hesitated, unsure if he should take it.

He vividly remembered trading his share of the spoils for Zhang Yiyi's advice on handling the Tang family's second young master and others. The formations and talismans she had provided in return were already worth a fortune. He didn't expect her to give him more of the spoils now.

Zhang Yiyi remained calm and nodded. "You're correct. This is my share, and your portion from before has already been sold to me. However..." She paused and then continued, her tone firm, "This is still for you. I need you to do something for me, and these items are your payment."

Tang Zirong's gaze flickered, and after a brief pause, he asked, "Does Immortal truly trust me this much?"

Regardless of the task, the reward was incredibly generous. And Zhang Yiyi was giving it upfront, without even explaining the mission. Did she not fear he might take the reward and run or fail to complete the task?

"I don't use people I distrust, and I don't distrust the people I use," Zhang Yiyi replied with a faint smile. "If you're shallow enough to take the reward and betray me, it just means I misjudged you. Besides, I wasn't afraid to swallow the mysterious pill you gave me back in the secret realm, even knowing you might have tampered with it. Do you think I'd be worried about you running off with a few herbs?"

Tang Zirong recalled the secret realm and the methods Zhang Yiyi had used on him when he revealed how to escape. He suddenly remembered that, if she wished, his life was entirely in her hands.

After being away from her for half a year, he had almost forgotten that this seemingly gentle girl was a true human-shaped weapon, as sharp and ruthless as anyone he had ever encountered.

"Thank you for your trust, Immortal. What do you need of me? I will give it my all to fulfill your request," Tang Zirong said, finally accepting the pouch without hesitation.

"I want you to investigate whether the Tang family ancestor who supposedly turned into a demon overnight was truly eradicated by the five great families. At the same time, find out if Tang Jin has any special connection to that ancestor," Zhang Yiyi said openly, sharing her suspicions.

Tang Zirong was visibly shocked by her words but quickly composed himself. Without any excuses or resistance, he replied firmly, "Understood!"

He didn't know why Zhang Yiyi linked these two matters or why she was so focused on Tang Jin, but none of that mattered. His role was to execute her instructions to the letter.

Zhang Yiyi was pleased with Tang Zirong's compliance. The rewards she had given him weren't easy to earn, and the task she assigned was undoubtedly challenging, requiring significant resources and absolute discretion.

Once they parted ways, Zhang Yiyi wasn't in a rush to sell her spoils. Instead, she decided to visit the Wang family to check on their situation. Though she couldn't openly come and go from their household, she at least wanted to get a sense of how things were.

The Wang family wasn't close by, but there was a flying boat route from the market she was in that could take her to the nearest town. As she prepared to buy a ticket, her communication talisman suddenly activated.

To her surprise, it was a message from the Wang family.

The Wang family hadn't contacted her in over a year and a half since she left to hunt beasts in Canglang Sea. The communication talisman was a general summons sent to all Wang family members and guest cultivators who could quickly reach the specified destination, indicating a matter of great urgency.

Calculating the distance, Zhang Yiyi realized she wasn't too far from the designated location and decided to respond to the summons. As a guest cultivator of the Wang family, she had a responsibility to assist them within her capabilities.

After changing her ticket to the new destination, Zhang Yiyi boarded the flying boat. She had just settled into her seat when a familiar figure took the seat beside her.

"Where are you headed?"

Lu Qiao, a female cultivator dressed in green, greeted Zhang Yiyi with a smile, her tone friendly and familiar.

Zhang Yiyi glanced at Lu Qiao, her gaze calm, and said nothing. She had noticed Lu Qiao following her ever since she parted ways with Tang Zirong.

Initially, she had planned to confront Lu Qiao to see what her intentions were, but the girl boldly followed her onto the flying boat and even struck up a conversation.

"I see you're not very talkative. Don't worry, I'm not a bad person. I don't have any ill intentions either. I just thought you looked stunning and a bit familiar. Something about you makes me want to get closer, so I couldn't resist coming over to chat," Lu Qiao said with a grin, not minding Zhang Yiyi's cold demeanor.

"Oh, right. My name is Lu Qiao. 'Lu' as in green, and 'Qiao' as in charming. What's your name?"

"What exactly do you want?" Zhang Yiyi interrupted, her tone sharp. "Bad people don't announce their intentions on their faces. Do you even believe the nonsense you're saying?"

Did Lu Qiao think she was a three-year-old child? It was obvious she had a motive, yet she tried to cover it up with a flimsy excuse. Zhang Yiyi wondered what was going through her mind.

"Well, you're hard to fool, that's for sure," Lu Qiao admitted, raising her hand to set up a soundproof barrier around them. Still smiling, she said, "But I'm really not a bad person. As for what I want, it's simple—I want to follow you. Wherever you go, whatever you do, from now on, I'll stick by your side."

Her declaration was direct and non-negotiable, leaving no room for refusal.

Zhang Yiyi was momentarily taken aback. Did Lu Qiao see something back in the secret realm that made her so determined to follow?

But after some thought, Zhang Yiyi dismissed the idea. The only time they had met was when she had disguised herself and left the secret realm with the Tang family survivors.

"Why do you want to follow me?" Zhang Yiyi asked, frowning slightly. She carefully examined Lu Qiao's intentions but didn't sense any malice from her.