The Lan family's estate was huge, so they needed a bit of time to walk around. There was no need to rush over, and it was also considered bad manners to move around quickly unless necessary. Therefore, they took their time to observe the place while moving.
Lan Shuyuan acted as a guide, describing the origins and some background of several buildings, sculptures, and luxury items. While walking, they encountered another middle-aged man who stopped beside them, his expression rather haughty.
"Lan Shuyuan, did you invite some other quack to our house? I've told you many times already that you can't do anything about it until Ancestor thinks of a solution."
Lan Shuyuan looked over and frowned. "Lan Fenglin, I do not have time today for your games. If you are so bored that you've come to pick a fight with me again, why don't you go out and help with our business? I am sure that they will be delighted to have two more hands helping in pill creation."
Lan Fenglin showed disdain. "How could I do what the servants are for? I must not create pills like processing food, but with care and passion. Each pill must be refined to the limits so that our Lan family name is not shamed!"
Yasenia gave the man a side glance at his comparison, but she didn't bother intervening. Families as large and with as many individuals as the Lan Family naturally had plenty of inside conflicts. Not to mention, a family's decline would usually not happen unless internal conflict became bad enough to affect its foundations.
Lan Shuyuan spoke lightly, his tone dismissive. "You know that I do not share your opinion. Pill crafting is not an art; it is a meticulous process with deterministic outcomes. Other than will and tenacity, there doesn't need to be anything else involved."
"That's the reason why your pills are worse than mine. So what if you can create more than I? Alchemists like you are the reason our family is in decline."
"If there weren't an Alchemist like me, our Lan family would've gone out of business five thousand years ago. I create at least ten times the pills you create, and while yours are higher quality, my pills are the ones supporting your stupendous resource spending. With the same materials you use to form one pill, I create four!"
Lan Qingsu knew that if these two started discussing, things would go south quickly. Moreover, she had previously seen these two argue for a week straight without shedding a single drop of sweat. "Ahem, uncles, we have guests."
Lan Shuyuan reacted and quickly calmed down. "I am sorry, Lady Tatyana, little Yasenia. I lost my calm."
Yasenia smiled. "Don't worry. We are not really in much of a rush."
Tatyana snorted. "Still, I hope there aren't many more delays. We want to see the patient soon and see if Little Treasure can help."
Lan Fenglin frowned deeply. "The one treating Grand Elder Lan Shuyao is that dragon? Have you finally lost your mind, Lan Shuyuan? How could you allow a beast to attempt to treat her? It would be a good result if she didn't worsen the symptoms!"
Tatyana didn't like one bit the way he disdainfully referred to Yasenia as "beast." If he used it to refer to her race, she wouldn't react. However, that was very clearly not the case. "You've already caused enough of a ruckus. To save some of your Ancestor's face, I won't permanently hurt you. However, your voice is too unpleasant. Go to sleep."
Lan Fenglin glared at Yasenia. "And who do you think you are—"
Before he finished, Tatyana appeared by his side and slapped him down.
BANG!
The man dug into the hard, reinforced ground, causing a significant dust explosion. Not to alarm everyone, Tatyana used her energy to compress the dust cloud before it expanded.
"Peace and silence are always better."
With a smile and a few pats to her black robes, Tatyana returned to Yasenia's side. Still, Yasenia heard his tone and understood that if she kept her beast form, more flies like this one would come over and buzz around annoyingly.
Even if it was effortless for Tatyana to slap them down and make them quiet, she didn't want to create a path of human-shaped craters along the way. "I'll… transform back."
Tatyana didn't stop her.
Soon, energies gathered towards the dragoness, and her body shrank, her innate dress covering her body while transforming. The seductive, revealing blue dress tightly hugged her curves, enhancing her allure.
Once she returned to her human appearance, Yasenia sighed and used her hand to flick back her long, dark hair. Two golden slit eyes blinked as she glanced at Cai Xue. "Do my hair, Cai Xue."
"Right away, Young Miss. Since Young Miss intends to do acupuncture, I will tie it in a bun."
"Perfect."
Cai Xue tiptoed and used her deft fingers to gather all of Yasenia's voluminous black hair into a beautiful bun, placing a single golden hairpin across it to fix it in place. With the sleeveless blue dress, her formal hairstyle shifted the tone of her gorgeousness to a more serious and mature beauty.
Tatyana blinked a few times and placed her hands on her cheeks. "Teacher, please punish me later!"
S~LAP!
Before Yasenia reacted, her tail swung into an arc by itself and perfectly landed on Tatyana's left cheek, spiraling her into the air. The crisp slapping sound was satisfactory to a degree not comprehended by those listening.
Looking at her spinning mother, Yasenia's eyebrow twitched. "That… sorry. I subconsciously reacted."
Tatyana landed perfectly, not a single hair out of place, and blinked. "No problem. You've completely undermined and shattered the majesty of your mother in front of everyone from the Lan Clan. But don't worry, I don't mind at all."
Yasenia's lips twitched. "D-Didn't your comment already…" Tatyana smiled at Yasenia, and our dragoness cleverly shut up. "That. Um. Sorry."
Tatyana nodded. "Good. Lan Shuyuan, let's go meet the sick patient."
Everyone who looked at the exchange became speechless. Behind one of the nearby buildings, the Lan Family ancestor froze in place. 'I wanted to use this chance to welcome her, but I feel that if I dare step out now, I will be decapitated. If I act like I didn't see that, will that Lady forgive our family? I hope she doesn't bury us all so that this shame never makes it out… I should ask all who saw it to make an oath never to speak about it again.'
While the Ancestor mulled over useless things, Yasenia and the others arrived at the location. The building was not too large, but the aura around it was soothing and calm. There were formations on the ground, absorbing the energies of the surroundings and creating a rich and healthy environment.
Just a single breath made Yasenia's slight fatigue disappear like smoke in the wind. "This place is incredible. How many resources did you need to build it?"
Lan Shuyuan looked around and shook his head. "I am unaware, since almost everyone has contributed to it. Therefore, the cost is exorbitant."
After hearing that, Yasenia finally understood the whole picture. 'The status of this elder is much higher than I imagined. Should I ask?'
Lan Shuyuan noticed Yasenia's very slight thoughtful expression, so he smiled. "Lady Lan Shuyao is our Grand Elder, our second most influential person behind our ancestor."
At this moment, the voice of an old man reached them. "That's right. She was also going to become my successor. Her chances to overcome the Law-Creator Heavenly Tribulation were high as well."
Yasenia and Tatyana looked to the side and saw a dignified old man approaching. His back was straight, and he had a long, smooth white beard that reached below his chest. His head was also full of white hair.
Tatyana smirked. "Perfect timing! Much better than the one you were trying before."
The Ancestor Lan almost tripped at that comment. Thankfully, he managed to show no reaction on the outside. "Thank you, Lady Tatyana. We are glad that your child decided to come treat Little Shuyao. While the chances of success are slim, it is better than nothing."
Yasenia cupped her fist, bowing deeply. After all, this person was an absolute powerhouse with many years of experience behind them. He was also someone who had supported the entire Lan family for who knows how many thousands of years. Most importantly, his attitude showed that he was pretty reasonable, at least at first glance.
"Thank you for not looking down on this junior, Ancestor Lan. While I don't promise results, I will do my absolute best at least to alleviate some of Senior Lan Shuyao's pain."
Ancestor Lan smiled, rubbing his long beard. "Good attitude. Let's go inside, then. That girl is currently weak, but our ruckus must've already alerted her of our presence… Also, she might be a bit grumpy. Please do not blame her, as she has been sick for over 2,000 years."
Yasenia grimaced at that. 'Two thousand years of sickness? I wouldn't blame her if she kicked me out after seeing me.'
The doors to the house opened soundlessly, and a fresh scent of medicine wafted out. Inside, there was a single large room with a bed in the middle. The windows at the sides were large, showing gorgeous scenery, and yet, the beauty sitting on the bed didn't show a single hint of joy.
The woman with long red hair sat silently, her blue eyes cold and icy like a thousand-year-old iceberg. Her face was expressionless, and her sharp facial features only accentuated it, making her look unapproachable.
Once they entered, the cold beauty glanced over, her eyes scanning the people who entered one by one. While they lingered on Tatyana for a second, there was no change in feeling. Finally, she glanced at Yasenia.
Her eyes flickered slightly, surprise appearing in them. And unlike what Yasenia expected, the sickly woman tried to smile as she looked at her. "You are probably the most beautiful girl I've ever seen."
While she was mildly surprised at Lan Shuyao's reaction, Yasenia understood. 'She was probably someone with a gentle personality. Only, 2,000 years of confinement have probably eroded much, if not all, of her personality away.'
2,000 years of cultivation and 2,000 years of confinement were much different. In the first one, the mind would be in a state similar to dreaming, and the meditative mood of cultivation prevented most of the adverse effects. Meanwhile, 2,000 years of confinement would make some people lose many of their emotions. Regular meditation could help, but with a sickness-ridden body, the mind would eventually be affected.
Yasenia bowed formally, her figure elegantly bending over. "Greetings, Grand Elder Lan Shuyao. This little one has presumptuously come to try her best in aiding you. While I do not promise results, this junior will do her absolute best to ease your ailments."