Chapter 336: The Strange Little Courtyard

"I'm back!"

Stepping onto this land again, you feel an inexplicable excitement.

As your realm expands, the premonition in your heart grows stronger; the thing you seek is there, within that mansion, without a doubt.

You dash swiftly toward Yan Du's Lin Fu.

The moment you step into Yan Du, you see a person standing atop the high city wall, silently watching you.

"So strong!"

Just a single glance at him leaves you utterly shocked.

He is undeniably the strongest you have ever seen, far surpassing anyone in the Second Jing Tu Elders Group, and by a great margin.

"He is the guardian responsible for the Qingyun Prefecture incident? That senior who comes from before the Jing Tu era?"

"Bai Li Ming?"

You guessed his identity.

From the corner of your eye, he has already vanished from the wall, and a terrifyingly powerful aura settles behind you.

"The passage into Qingyun Prefecture is sealed; how did you break through?"

A cold, questioning voice sounds behind you.

"I have met Senior Bai Li."

You realize you cannot escape, turn and bow, speaking bluntly, "Within that mansion lies the doubts in my heart; I must go find the answer."

"Answer?"

Bai Li Ming fixes his gaze on you, a strange gleam in his eyes, "Do you know what lies within the mansion?"

"I don't know."

You shake your head, then resolutely say, "But there will certainly be no danger."

At this moment, even you, bearing the divine nature of a newborn Deity, cannot see through Bai Li Ming's emotions.

But you can feel that he harbors no great malice toward you, and his inner attitude is far less cold than his words.

You do not know why.

Perhaps Bai Li Ming cannot handle the affairs here, and also hopes for the birth of a miracle?

"Come with me."

Sure enough, after the thought formed in your heart, Bai Li Ming no longer hinders you, but steps toward the interior of Yan Du.

Upon reaching that familiar street, you see Lin Fu again.

"Let me ask you again, do you know what lies within Lin Fu?" Bai Li Ming asks solemnly.

"I don't know."

You answer honestly, "In the unseen, a voice guides me here; as my realm rises, that voice grows ever stronger."

"I must enter it."

"Otherwise I will regret it for life."

"You look very much like an old acquaintance of mine," Bai Li Ming suddenly says an inexplicable sentence.

"An old acquaintance? Me?"

Curiously you ask, "Is that old acquaintance of yours also from before the Jing Tu era?"

"Yes."

Bai Li Ming nods, "If it weren't for him, the current Jing Tu era would not exist; unfortunately, he still failed."

"No!" you say firmly, "He did not fail."

"The existence of Jing Tu proves that every senior predecessor's effort was not in vain; someday, we will defeat An Ying Zhu."

Lin Chuan did not expect that Bai Li Ming had lived into the Jing Tu era and become one of its guardians,

That being said, perhaps some 'acquaintances' are still alive.

For example, several Heavenly Pride who fought alongside him in the Three Thousand States Genius War, all possessing great potential.

The three interred Fozhi of Golden Spirit Mountain, Qingqiu Fox Clan's Bai Miao Miao, Cloud Kingdom's Yun Lian, and the wandering cultivator Mo Sha, all have decent strength.

They are only a hair's breadth away from Bai Li Ming.

What he most longs for are Sangyu, Jiao Jiao, Xiao Qingmei, Ye Xue, and Lü Ya—whether those romantic ties are still alive.

Lin Chuan already harbored a suspicion in his heart,

yet still clings to a sliver of hope.

……

"You may go in."

Bai Li Ming sighs, "I hope you can find what you desire there."

"Thank you, senior."

You express thanks and stride toward Lin Fu.

Bai Li Ming still stands there, silently watching you; you lock eyes, then resolutely push open Lin Fu's great gate.

Creak! The door opened.

The moment you push the door, an aura incongruous with the An Ying Zhu world rushes at you, incomparable even to the beauty of the Jing Tu world.

Its existence is like an oasis in a desert.

Where your eyes fall is an immaculate courtyard, planted with myriad blossoms and foliage, dazzling in violet and crimson.

The breath of life in this An Ying Zhu‑shrouded world is so refreshing to the soul.

"Why can life endure in a world cloaked by An Ying Zhu? Is it my illusion?"

You quickly dismiss that notion.

Everything here is too real; it is certainly not an illusion.

"Is anyone there?" you shouted.

No sound responded to you.

You boldly stepped inside, curiously observing every flower and plant here.

Innocent Deity heart, all things have Tribe of the Spirits.

You can feel that every blade of grass and every flower here is brimming with happy emotions.

They are all very happy.

There must be a very good person taking care of them.

Walking on this land, you seem to see some vague traces rippling in your heart.

You saw several women quarreling jealously over a man, almost coming to blows.

You couldn't help but feel moved.

He is truly happy.

Having so many people willing to fight for him already seems like happiness to you.

You have seen far too many solitary, unattended elders.

Even those betrayed yet unaware of it are immersed in a false life they mistakenly deem harmonious.

You inevitably follow those vague traces toward the deepest part of the mansion, finally stopping before a small courtyard.

It is a strange little courtyard.

On the low wall of the courtyard, lotus blooms grow, half red and half white, like two completely different worlds merging together.

"Is anyone there?"

You shouted loudly again.

Still no one responded.

"Then I'll come in."

Trespassing into someone else's residence is very impolite, but you couldn't suppress your curiosity and entered the courtyard.

Wafts of fragrance drifted into your nose.

"What a fragrant smell."

In the corner room of the courtyard, oil smoke rose; it was the scent of Ren Jian fireworks.

"Someone's really here!"

Your excitement surged as you stared at the smoky room, where a figure emerged.

She wore a green dress, holding a plate of fragrant dishes, apparently burned her hand, and hurriedly ran toward you.

She looked clumsy, dazed yet somewhat cute.

She didn't notice you at all, until she placed the dishes on the stone table in the courtyard, when she finally became aware and jerked her head up.

In the instant their gazes met.

You gave an awkward smile, greeted, "You… hello."