Chapter 113 Watering Flowers and Fishing Lights on the River: He was well hidden.

The heavy iron gate slowly closed behind her, and the voices of those people in the Prayer Hall gradually faded away. All Jia Yue could hear was the howling of the cold wind.

This is the highest peak of Tianque Mountain, Baifeng Peak. Whenever a major event occurs within the sect, the Grandmaster and the seven elders gather here.

Jia Yue was there to follow orders—"The essence of the Heavenly Pillar has been destroyed. We must find another way to achieve godhood. Perhaps... perhaps the risk of failure is higher, but there is no other way. Lord Zongzi, we hope you will cooperate in everything."

With a simple arrangement, Jia Yue smiled and offered no objection. He had agreed, so his involvement was no longer an issue. Without a true Grandmaster, the Elders' Council exercised the highest authority in the Heavenly Palace.

Jia Yue walked out of the Prayer Hall. Inside, the seven elders were still engaged in a heated discussion.

The person inside the Spirit-Sealing Array died, along with the Heavenly Pillar Marrow. His death was complete, and it also signified the utter failure of Tianque's efforts to cultivate into a god using the marrow body.

He couldn't quite remember what Situ Xin looked like anymore, only that he was a very gentle person, without the airs of a grandmaster, and always had a faint smile on his face.

When he first arrived in Tianque, Xingxuan took him to see Situ Xin and had him cultivate under Situ Xin's tutelage. The man stood in the snow and asked him many questions. Each time he answered, Situ Xin smiled and nodded.

He was chosen as the disciple of the Heavenly Palace Sect, but he didn't tell him a word about what to do next. Until one day, he completely lost control, killed many disciples, and had to lock himself in the Spirit-Sealing Array.

A blue-haired merman in white robes walked along the road, his long hair fluttering wildly in the mountain breeze.

At the summit of Baifeng Peak lies a sacred pool, whose waters irrigate a field of Udumbara flowers, allowing this flower, which should have faded in an instant, to bloom for an extended period, akin to a miracle.

The disciple who was watering the flower field looked at the suddenly appearing Sect Master in surprise, and the gourd in his hand accidentally fell into the bucket.

Normally, the disciples would offer freshly picked Udumbara flowers to the various temples and the Washing Flower Hall below. This was the first time they had seen the Sect Master come in person.

Seeing Jia Yue wave to him, the disciple who was watering the fields immediately bowed and took his leave.

Jia Yue rolled up her sleeves, scooped up a gourd ladle from the bucket, filled it with water, and began to water each plant.

The pure white flowers bloom in the snow, infinitely beautiful. But once removed from the sacred pool, the Udumbara flower will wither and vanish on the same day, forever confined to this small space.

His life was just like this Udumbara flower, living on unsuitable land by relying on spiritual power, for people to admire, and every word and action of his was seen by people.

Looking back now, he realizes that he was most at ease only in the mortal world, only during the time he spent by her side.

Without the expectations of his clan or the pressure from the Heavenly Palace, he was just an ordinary mermaid, kept in the water by her. When he felt like it, he could go out and explore mountains and rivers; when he didn't feel like it, he could stay quietly in the house, listen to her talk, and wait for her warm gaze to fall upon him.

Jiang Yuhuo hid him very well.

While in Liyue Village, Jiang Yuhuo was unaware of his presence and always assumed he was leaving. He himself hadn't realized that being cherished like that, and having his deepest desires stirred within him, was something he couldn't bear to do.

But those days only lasted a brief moment, like a plucked udumbara flower, appearing and disappearing in his life in an instant.

He raised his hand, removing the ring from his finger, revealing the faded inscription clearly, a constant reminder of what he had lost.

Time and time again.

Jia Yue sat quietly by the pond, watching the blooming Udumbara flowers.

A man gradually walked out from behind the flower field. He was an old man with gray hair and sharp eyes.

"Lord Zongzi, what brings you here?"

Jia Yue composed herself and slowly spoke, "Elder Xing Xuan, don't you have anything to say to me?"

Xingxuan's expression turned serious. What had he found out?

The incomparably handsome merman turned around, his smile gentle yet his gaze captivating. He spoke slowly and deliberately, "For example, seven years ago... For example, some of my lost memories..."

*

The moon in Shannan County hid behind the clouds, refusing to come out for a long time; the night was dark and the wind was high.

Jiang Yuhuo crept to the base of a courtyard wall, listened carefully to the sounds inside, and confirmed that no one was there.

This is a rare manor in the nearby villages. Not only is the architecture magnificent, but it is also surrounded by high walls, indicating that the owner is undoubtedly a wealthy family.

Since they were wealthy, a lack of food shouldn't have been a big deal for them; they might even have some fine food at home to satisfy their discerning palates.

Jiang Yuhuo never imagined that she, who had never stolen a single penny when she was homeless, would become a thief after several years of cultivation. The only thing she could convince herself of was that she had only taken the furs of the rich, and that she would repay them someday.

Just as Jiang Yuhuo finally convinced herself to take action, someone tugged at her clothes.

She could go alone; she absolutely couldn't bring him along. So Jiang Yuhuo told Li Mengbai to wait for him at the temple.

Upon hearing this, Li Mengbai stared at her intently, his eyelashes trembled, and tears welled up in his moist eyes again. The clear teardrops clung to his flushed cheeks, making him look pitiful.

"Are you just going to leave me alone in the temple like this? Aren't you afraid someone will inform on you and bring those soldiers here?"

"You caused this mess. You need to understand that I am in this state because of you."

Jiang Yuhuo felt a headache coming on. She had only gone out to find him something to eat, but he made it sound like she was going to abandon him.

But then she thought of the little boy. He had been bullied by Li Mengbai, and she wondered how he would tell his parents about what had happened when he got home. What if his parents were interested, and happened to have seen the wanted poster for the thief outside the city gate...

This place is not safe now either.

Outside the courtyard wall, Jiang Yuhuo lifted Li Mengbai up, letting him climb up first. Fortunately, although he was sick and weak, he was quite tall, so climbing the wall wasn't difficult for him. Then Jiang Yuhuo climbed over the wall and landed on the other side to catch him.

The kitchen was located in the back, so Jiang Yuhuo led his men to sneak into the backyard. They didn't encounter anyone along the way. It seemed that this family didn't have any servants to look after them. There was only a young woman holding a lantern and locking the door.

Jiang Yuhuo hid in the corner and couldn't see the woman's face clearly.

After the woman left, the two climbed through the window into the kitchen. The food left in the kitchen was only slightly better than what an ordinary family would eat, far from being considered refined.

This time, Li Mengbai finally didn't pick and choose, and directly picked up a piece of corn cake and ate it. After finishing one piece, he picked up another piece and handed it to Jiang Yuhuo.

Seeing that she didn't open her mouth, Li Mengbai pouted, "Didn't you say that we should eat our fill so we could travel faster?"

Jiang Yuhu hesitated for a moment, but did not open her mouth. She simply took the pastry with her hand.

Li Mengbai's gaze dimmed slightly, and he stopped eating.

"You still hate me after all."

Jiang Yuhuo frowned. "That's not important. You should eat something first."

"How can this not be important? We still have a long road ahead of us. If you continue to dislike me like this, how can I feel at ease being with you? I have no spiritual power; I'm just a mortal with no strength to even kill a chicken. But you have a sword and martial arts skills. You can injure me or even kill me if you're unhappy, while I can't do anything to you and even need you to rely on me. You're the only person I can trust now..."

So that's what he was worried about.

Jiang Yuhuo thought she finally understood the reason for his strange behavior these past two days, and immediately assured him, "Don't worry, the Earth Flame Vine is in your hands, I won't hurt you."

"Earth Flame Vine, Earth Flame Vine, all you know is Earth Flame Vine! If it weren't for Earth Flame Vine, would you have abandoned me long ago? You don't care whether I live or die, everything you did was for that..." Li Mengbai became agitated again, his voice rising unconsciously. Seemingly realizing their current predicament, he stopped abruptly, took a deep breath, his body trembling slightly as he struggled to control his emotions. He lowered his voice, helpless like a butterfly with its wings caught in a spider web, "I'm sorry, I'm just very scared..."

Jiang Yuhuo really wanted to say something, but without the Earth Flame Vine, the two of them wouldn't be here, would they?

Even if she was slow to react, she knew she couldn't say that. If things continued like this, Li Mengbai would never stop. The most urgent thing was to stabilize his fragile emotions and then satisfy his fragile body.

They were stealing, so why didn't they finish stealing first and then talk about it?

Jiang Yuhuo's mind raced. "Don't be afraid, I won't abandon you. Eat some more."

Li Mengbai seemed to have finally been appeased and silently swallowed a few bites of food. But he hadn't forgotten the rejection he had just suffered, so he picked up another piece and offered it to Jiang Yuhuo's lips, staring intently at them, as if he wouldn't give up until Jiang Yuhuo ate a bite from his hand.

Jiang Yuhuo just wanted him to fill his stomach and get on his way, so she agreed to everything he asked and took the food from his hand in one bite.

Li Mengbai curled her lips into a smile. "Then will you protect me?"

Jiang Yuhu stuffed a large piece of rice cake into her mouth, her speech becoming slurred. She could only nod vaguely and say, "I'll protect you."

Upon hearing this, Li Mengbai finally beamed with joy.

But the next moment Jiang Yuhuo suddenly stopped moving. Li Mengbai was puzzled and was about to ask her what was wrong when Jiang Yuhuo's index finger was already pressed against his lips.

Jiang Yuhuo focused her mind; she seemed to have just heard footsteps.

It is extremely light, but there is still a slight friction.

Who came in?

I was certain the door was closed and there was no movement from the windows.

Jiang Yuhuo and Li Mengbai hid under the stove, which concealed their figures but also blocked their view.

The footsteps grew closer, and Jiang Yuhuo was certain that the person was walking towards the stove. She felt a little annoyed; if Li Mengbai hadn't argued with her, she would never have only just realized it now.

She pointed with her finger, signaling to Li Mengbai to run out the window. As long as they ran fast enough, the man wouldn't be able to catch them.

Li Mengbai also noticed the newcomer and didn't understand why Jiang Yuhuo was panicking. He licked his lips, which seemed to be covered in food crumbs, and said leisurely, "Why don't you just knock him out?"

Jiang Yuhuo was surprised by his calmness; how could a thief not feel guilty? But at the same time, she thought this was a good idea. She just needed to control her strength and not hurt him.

With the sword hilt in his hand, Jiang Yuhuo was about to stand up when he looked up and saw a simply dressed young woman in front of him, holding a wooden stick as thick as an arm.

Jiang Yuhuo recognized her as the woman who had locked the door earlier.

"thief……"

The woman only uttered one word before falling silent. The wooden stick fell to the ground. She stared blankly at Jiang Yuhuo, her eyes wide with disbelief. It took her a long time to open her mouth and utter a single sentence.

"benefactor……"

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Author's Note: Although I've been writing slowly, I've still reached 400,000 words!! I'm doing a giveaway, thank you everyone who's read this far! ^_^