The grandma asked, curious about why someone like Yasenia had taken her time to come to this relatively remote area. "So, tell me, Dear. Why are you searching for an information broker?"
Yasenia saw the mortal maid pouring her some tea, so she thanked her and then took a sip from the cup. "Good tea." Yasenia smiled and then commented, her cup gently rattling against the china. "We've arrived at this place to search for something. We don't really know what it is. However, we know that it is north of this city. Do you know of any landmarks that are considered taboo or any place that's a tomb or perhaps a sealed mountain?"
The grandma and grandpa were somewhat surprised at Yasenia's straightforwardness. After all, what she just told them was quite a private thing. It was clear that Yasenia was looking for something extraordinary, and if they had been greedy people, revealing as much as she did could be dangerous.
The grandma spoke sternly. "Dear, you can't say things like that! What if someone wants to take advantage of you? You need to be careful when revealing such information!"
The dragoness's lips arched gently. "I trust that you, Madam and Sir Dan, are not such people. If you had been anything else but trustworthy, I wouldn't be here enjoying tea with you."
The grandma looked at Yasenia softly and extended her hand, grabbing Yasenia's and patting it gently. "Dear, what's your name?"
"My name is Yasenia, Madam Dan."
The grandma smiled. "That's a beautiful name. Then, Yasenia, since you trust us so much, I will answer." She looked at her husband and asked. "Is that okay, love?"
The grandpa smiled faintly, taking a sip of his drink. "Go ahead. Little Yasenia has proven to be trustworthy as well."
The grandma's smile deepened, her gentle wrinkles crinkling warmly. Her husband was the head of the house, and she, like everyone else, greatly respected him. Though he was always doting and had assured her many times that she could make decisions on her own, she had formed the habit of checking with him long ago—a habit she continued to this day.
Grandma Dan spoke. "North of here, there are a few landmarks, like you said. The [Fulminant Snow Swamp] is one of them. The strange weather there, caused by unnatural causes we are not very aware of, managed to make the temperature astoundingly low while not freezing the dangerous waters of the swamp. The beasts roaming that area are also very powerful."
Yasenia looked at Alaia, who nodded and took a jade scroll to write it down. The grandma smiled, not bothered at all, and she continued. "Then, there is the [Profound Seven Ring Mystic Forest]. A natural formation of trees in a strange circular manner creates a natural formation of illusions. Without a powerful mind and counteracting talismans and formations, don't you dare go there. Understood?"
Yasenia nodded faintly. "I understand. Thanks for the warning, Grandma Dan."
The grandma waved her hand. "No need for thanks!" She added, her tone serious. "There are two more interesting places that are not known to the general public, which is why I asked my husband for permission to tell you, Yasenia."
Yasenia's eyes flickered. "I see. May I ask what their names are?"
Grandma Dan nodded, but first, she warned. "Yasenia, you must promise me two things. First, only those in your group will be made aware of these two places. They are hidden for the safety of the public more than anything else. Second, if you ever decide to go, tell us first so that we can tell your group about the dangers there in detail."
Yasenia pondered for a few seconds, and after a few moments, she nodded. "I promise."
Grandma Dan smiled. "A Dragon's promise has a lot of weight. Don't you dare break it!"
Yasenia smiled. "I haven't broken a single promise I've verbally made in my life. Be at ease."
"Great~!" Grandma Dan smiled widely. "Little Che, Miss Yasenia here was asking for nearby landmarks to the north. You've already studied about this with your Master, right? How about you tell her?"
Lady Gong frowned faintly and said. "Lady Dan, while I don't know what kind of person she is, telling people about the two forbidden lands is not something we should do."
Dan Che frowned slightly. Why was she, a junior, lecturing a senior? Dan Che might not be very bright, but he had respect for his elders and family, which were deeply ingrained in him. It was clear that if his grandmother was agreeable to tell her, she had her own considerations. He looked at Lady Gong and said. "Fen'er, if Nainai is telling Lady Yasenia, then she must've thought about it. It is not our place to tell otherwise."
Gong Fen frowned sadly, her willowy eyebrows looking pitiful as they arched. "W-Why are you so harsh? I was just being thoughtful..."
The pitiful act was so well executed and practiced that Yasenia almost rolled her eyes. 'No wonder Dan Che fell for this woman. An actress of the highest caliber.' Noticing the displeased expressions on both elders' faces when Dan Che started feeling guilty, she pondered. 'Hm... I should give them a hand.'
Before Dan Che spoke, Yasenia uttered softly. "You are an educated lady, Miss Gong. You should accept wrongs when you commit them and be graceful about it instead of searching for the pity of others."
When she saw Dan Che pausing to think, Grandma Dan almost cheered. Still, she kept her composure and spoke. "Indeed. I have my considerations. Now, Dun Che, tell her about those two places. Nainai has already explained the previous two."
Dan Che saw Yasenia looking over with a gentle gaze, and his bones softened. 'Oh Heavens. Having such beauty should be a sin! Focus, Dan Che! Don't become an embarrassment!'
"W-Well..."
Dan Che almost slapped his own face. 'I stuttered my first word! I am done for.'
Yasenia spoke, encouraging the young man. "Continue, Young Master Dan."
Dan Che swallowed his embarrassment and coughed. "Sorry for that, Lady Yasenia."
Yasenia nodded. "Don't mind it. We all have our days."
"Ahem. North of our city, our clans hide two forbidden zones from the public's eyes due to their dangerous nature." After managing to speak the first sentence correctly, the rest flowed easily. "While the two other places you've heard about, the [Fulminant Snow Swamp] and [Profound Seven Ring Mystic Forest], are dangerous, if you are prepared, you can avoid death in the majority of the situations."
Yasenia nodded. "So I heard. What's so different about these two other places?"
Dan Che continued. "Well, the [Deadly Magma Cave] and [Moon Swallowing Mountain] are different because all who enter either don't return or, even if they do, they become crippled and never recover from their expeditions. Yeye- I mean, Grandpa Dan, is one of the few who managed to enter both places and return relatively unscathed. He lost a leg for it, though."
Yasenia hummed. "I see." He looked at Grandpa Dan and smiled. "Senior, you are a Transcendent Realm cultivator, right?"
Grandpa Dan smiled faintly. "Indeed. If you really want to go to those places, you must be accompanied by at least one."
Yasenia sighed. 'Even a Sixth Realm cultivator lost a leg? Those places are beyond what I expected.'