Chapter Seven: The Valley of Serenity

At the foot of Immortal Cloud Mountain, where snow blankets the peaks year-round, a canyon stretches between several summits. This canyon is a marvel of nature, for although it lies amid the perpetual snows of Immortal Cloud Mountain, its climate remains as gentle as spring throughout the year, filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers—a true earthly paradise. Yan Zhan named this place the Valley of No Worries. In truth, it bears a striking resemblance to the Peach Blossom Spring described by Tao Yuanming: the people inside live carefree lives, and those outside are almost entirely unaware of its existence. Yan Zhan stumbled upon it by chance as a child while wandering outside. Once, it was merely a deserted gorge, but its scenery was beautiful and the seasons perpetually mild. Yan Zhan took in many homeless souls, settling them here. Soon, houses appeared, fields were planted, and gradually the valley grew into a small village. The only difference was that certain individuals could come and go as they pleased, such as the eccentric old man Wu Li.

"Yan girl, Yan girl!" The old man shouted as soon as he entered the Valley of No Worries.

Yan Zhan rolled her eyes in silent exasperation. This old man, ancient as he was, behaved like a child, always hollering and making a scene.

"Master, how many times have I told you—here, I am not called Yan Zhan, but Gu Wuyou. You should call me Wuyou. Yan Zhan will soon turn fifteen, and then that name will cease to exist," Yan Zhan corrected him patiently.

"Stubborn girl, why must you call yourself No Worries? That muddles our generational order!" the old man retorted angrily.

"I don't care; you won't use your proper name either, insisting on calling yourself Wu Li."

"I'll call myself whatever I please—it's none of your business!"

"Then don't meddle with mine."

"I..."

It was always like this, endless arguments over names.

"Forget it, call yourself whatever you wish. Your grandfather won't quarrel with you anymore," Wu Li said, his tone suddenly ingratiating as he leaned in and whispered into Yan Zhan's ear, "Granddaughter, I saw a fine young man today. I thought I might betroth you to him, but before I could ask if he agreed, he ran off."

Yan Zhan couldn't help but laugh in exasperation—whenever the old man called her granddaughter, it meant trouble.

"Oh? Doesn't that make you look foolish? Proposing a marriage and the other party ignores you?" Wuyou raised an eyebrow.

"Exactly! So you should hurry and seduce him. Once he wants to marry you, I'll refuse him, and my dignity will be restored," Wu Li said with utmost seriousness and pride, as if he had devised the most brilliant plan.

Yan Zhan's face darkened—he was certainly not her real grandfather. Only he could come up with such ideas. She decided to ignore him altogether; she didn't know this person, so she would treat him as a beggar, feed him well, and then send him away.

"Hey, granddaughter, that young man is truly outstanding! He's none other than Feng Youran, the master of Leisure Pavilion—not an ordinary person," Wu Li continued, still trying to curry favor.

"Feng Youran?" Yan Zhan glanced at him without much reaction.

"That's right. I don't accept just anyone as my grandson-in-law, you know!"

"So what?"

"So what? Obviously, you should go and seduce him!"

"Lanxiang, I suspect grandfather is craving wine. Bring him two jars of Bamboo Leaf Green," Yan Zhan instructed calmly, having had enough of his nonsense; only wine could silence him.

"Yes, miss," Lanxiang replied respectfully.

Upon hearing that good wine was coming, Wu Li's face lit up with joy and he followed along eagerly. Yan Zhan rubbed her temples, utterly helpless.

"Honestly, he's lived so long, yet still gets tricked and poisoned without realizing it. The older he gets, the more childish he becomes," Yan Zhan muttered discontentedly, recalling how she had witnessed everything that happened near Immortal Cloud Mountain today.

"Miss, how could the old master possibly be poisoned? He was merely pretending," Lanyun replied with a smile, defending the old man.

"That's true. Few in this world could best that wily old fellow. Now I owe that man a favor for nothing," Yan Zhan thought of his shameless attempt to recruit someone as a grandson-in-law and felt her anger rising.

"What is the Thousand Poison Sect really up to? By rights, Mo Qing shouldn't have the guts to offend so many martial artists," Yan Zhan frowned, unable to make sense of it.

"Lanyun, gather Lanyu. Tonight, we go investigate the Thousand Poison Sect."

"Miss, are you going personally?"

"Yes, I am. There's nothing pressing lately anyway. That place is full of poisonous creatures—I fear you all might not be able to handle them."

"Yes, miss."