Let me Touch your Tail

Chapter 96

The little fox slipped from Yan Zhao's arms and fell to the ground. It, like Yan Zhao, looked around with its head raised.

Ye Yanran ran up to Yan Zhao, and upon seeing that the cranes had returned to their stone forms, she was both relieved and surprised. "What was that just now? It actually stopped them!"

The little fox lightly jumped onto Yan Zhao's shoulder and pushed the stone cranes away from Yan Zhao with its tiny paws.

Yan Zhao, coming to her senses, realized that the sharp beaks of the cranes had been just inches from her forehead. If it hadn't been for the flash of golden light, her head might have had a new hole.

She pointed at the stone cranes and asked Ye Yanran, "What are these?"

Ye Yanran, looking embarrassed, replied, "I forgot to mention this. These were a congratulatory gift from Immortal Yuan Qing many years ago when our Palace Master established the sect. The Palace Master set them to guard the bamboo forest. Since you are not disciples of Wanbao Palace, they took you for intruders."

However, the fact that the cranes stopped attacking midway was undoubtedly related to the earlier phantom. Yet, even Yan Zhao herself did not understand what that phantom was.

The one who knew the answer, the little fox, was currently bound by its role and unable to speak.

Suddenly, a white light appeared on the surface of the stone cranes. Then, they transformed into a stream of light and returned to their original positions.

Yan Zhao and Ye Yanran exchanged puzzled glances.

"Hmm," Yan Zhao pondered, asking Ye Yanran and the little fox, "Did you feel the ground shaking?"

Prompted by her, Ye Yanran also noticed that the bamboo branches in the forest were swaying violently, the leaves rustling.

The little fox, hearing the commotion, looked back.

The path they had taken was now blocked, and the bamboo forest seemed to be shifting.

Different sections of the forest were moving in different directions. The little fox's pupils contracted as it realized: it's the master's Qi Men Bagua Formation!

The rumbling grew louder, and soon, a new path in the forest appeared before them.

Ye Yanran was astonished, her face showing shock. "What is happening?"

She had been cultivating in Wanbao Tower for over two thousand years and frequently visited the Purple Bamboo Forest. This was the first time she realized there were such mechanisms hidden within.

With their original route blocked, only the new path remained.

Driven by curiosity, Yan Zhao walked forward. Ye Yanran, feeling unfamiliar with her long-time sect, dared not stay behind and quickly followed.

The path was short, about ten paces long. At its end, the view opened up to a spacious courtyard backed by a small hillside, with a spring flowing to the right.

Ye Yanran looked around and, noting the refined and elegant style of the courtyard, was concerned that it might belong to someone of high status. She cautiously said, "I'll knock on the door."

She moved to the front and gently tapped on the bamboo door.

There was no response from inside, so Ye Yanran knocked twice more but still received no reply.

"No one is here," Ye Yanran said, turning back. "Should we..."

Before she could finish her sentence, the courtyard door creaked open.