Chapter 409: Anything Goes?

When Yu Lin returned from Gaotianyuan, the Human World's time had already reached the afternoon of the next day.

He did not return directly to the shrine with Feimeng, but chose to walk alone in a cherry‑blossom grove.

It was the season when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom.

Looking out, the trees were covered in powder‑white blossoms, layer upon layer, like gentle clouds cloaking the whole forest.

A breeze brushed by, and countless petals fluttered down, forming a shallow, fragrant "snow carpet" on the ground.

The grove was bustling.

Many citizens and tourists took advantage of the fine weather to come out for a flower‑viewing outing.

Under the trees, picnic mats were spread, families and friends sat together laughing; couples held hands strolling in the flower rain; children chased the falling petals; and girls dressed in kimonos, meticulously styled, held phones or cameras, searching for the perfect angle to photograph.

Yu Lin restrained his aura, like an ordinary flower‑viewer, and walked at a leisurely pace along the forest path.

He avoided the most crowded areas and gradually moved toward the deeper part of the cherry‑blossom grove.

The deeper he went, the fewer visitors there were, and the surroundings grew increasingly tranquil.

The clamor at his ears was gradually replaced by birdsong and the rustle of wind through the treetops.

The cherry trees here seemed older and more luxuriant, their trunks knotted, blossoms clustered, exuding a uniquely deep and serene beauty.

When the path ahead was almost completely blocked by drooping cherry branches, Yu Lin halted.

Not because there was no way forward.

But because, beneath the cherry tree ahead, a solitary figure stood quietly.

It was a woman.

She had a graceful, slender figure, wearing a plain yet exquisitely crafted light‑pink kimono embroidered with delicate cherry‑blossom patterns.

Her jet‑black hair fell like a waterfall, dotted with a few tiny, almost lifelike cherry blossoms.

Her face was exquisitely beautiful, skin fair, exuding an ethereal aura untouched by mortal worldliness, with eyebrows and eyes bearing just the right hint of pitiable melancholy.

She stood quietly beneath the most blossomed cherry tree, as if person and flower had merged.

At that moment, a gust of wind blew.

Whoosh—

The tree's blossoms fluttered like a startled swarm of butterflies, spinning and falling wildly.

The woman's kimono sleeves, skirt hem, and the blossoms in her hair swayed gently with them.

A rain of pink‑white petals surrounded her; strands of hair brushed her fair cheek, the scene as beautiful as a meticulously painted ukiyo‑e, like a frozen moment from an ancient love story—tranquil, elegant, tinged with faint sorrow and longing.

Until the wind eased slightly.

The woman slightly lifted her eyelids, her clear eyes like autumn water fixing precisely on the direction where Yu Lin stood.

She lightly part‑ed her lips, her voice as soft as falling cherry blossoms, whispering:

"Yu Lin‑san…"

Yu Lin raised an eyebrow: "Hey sister, who are you?"

Woman: "……………… "

The atmosphere she had carefully crafted, full of Japanese aesthetics and serendipitous romance, instantly burst like a popped soap bubble, vanishing without a trace.

Her facial expression and posture stiffened imperceptibly for a moment, the pitiable look almost unable to be maintained.

Yu Lin, however, seemed unaware of the awkward atmosphere, stepped forward a few paces, calmly scanned her, then carefully sensed her aura, and spoke again with firm tone:

"Which deity of Gaotianyuan? Earlier in Gaotianyuan, you secretly opened the ShimenFengxi, didn't you?"

Seeing that he had already uncovered her identity and recent action, the woman simply stopped hiding.

She withdrew the pitiable expression, adopting a more natural and solemn demeanor, bowed gracefully to Yu Lin with a standard salute, and then introduced herself:

"Yu Lin‑san, your insight is sharp; I indeed come from Gaotianyuan. I am not a god by birth, but was formed from a spirit cherry blossom essence taken by Tianzhaodashen."

She paused, explaining: "Because Tianzhaodashen and several other principal deities are bound by certain agreements and cannot visit personally, they could only send me to convey their greetings."

"You may call me Tianying."

Yu Lin gave a slight nod, indicating he understood.

But he clearly had no interest in small talk, cutting straight to the point with a crisp tone:

"Speak. What is your purpose in finding me? Do you want me to persuade Feimeng to leave here? Or to stop Hell's forces from meddling in Neihong's affairs?"

Upon hearing, Tianying's face showed a "just as I thought" expression, seemingly unsurprised that Yu Lin could pinpoint their intent.

She nodded, earnestly: "Just as you expected."

"We… the various deities of Gaotianyuan hope you will, as fellow Eastern extraordinary beings, intervene to persuade Hell's side to leave Neihong, returning Gaotianyuan's control to us."

She leaned forward slightly, lowering her posture, and promised: "For this, any condition you propose, as long as we can fulfill and offer, we will do our utmost to satisfy you!"

"Is that so…" Yu Lin nodded, as if seriously considering.

Tianying felt a surge of joy, looking at him expectantly, awaiting his conditions.

Amid the woman's hopeful gaze, Yu Lin pondered briefly, then lifted his head and said:

"What I currently desire… is to become the 'Supreme'. Can you help me achieve that?"

Tianying: "……………… "

The anticipation on her face froze instantly, then fragmented, turning into utter stupefaction and absurdity.

"Become… Supreme?!"

If they possessed such power, why would they still have to grovel here?

If they could let anyone become Supreme at will, they would have already seized Olympus, Asgard, Heaven, the Heavenly Court… making them part of their own divine system!

Where else would one be blocked at home by Hell, forced to "separate the family" and live elsewhere, in such extreme frustration?!

Thus, it was clear Yu Lin was using the most direct, impossible condition to reject them! Even with a hint of mockery!

Tianying's heart instantly surged with intense humiliation and anger, her delicate face flushing slightly.

But she took a deep breath, forcing the feeling down—she dared not, nor could she lose her temper with the unfathomable Yu Lin‑san before her, who even the terrifying Demon treated with great respect.

She could only force a faint smile and, with a hoarse voice, asked:

"You... you are just joking, right?"

Yu Lin spread his hands, his expression innocent yet serious: "I'm not joking."

"What I'm lacking right now is exactly this, and what I want happens to be this as well; the rest..."

"What you have, I also have; what you don't have, I can go to Heaven or the Heavenly Court for a round, and perhaps obtain it."

He looked into Tianying's eyes and added, "I rarely lie."

"Um, but switching to another way works too."

Hearing this, Tianying immediately showed delight again: "Please, go on, please!"

"Ask Tianzhaoyuan whether they are willing to serve as my attendant."

".............. That's impossible!"

"If you can't do it, then don't bother me; my patience is limited."

Having said that, he no longer looked at Tianying, turned around directly, and walked along the path he came from toward the direction outside the cherry blossom forest where voices were gradually rising.

His steps were neither hurried nor slow.

Tianying stood rigidly in place, watching Yu Lin's receding silhouette, biting her lower lip hard as if tasting bitterness.

Finally, she let out a deep sigh, filled with loss and helplessness.

She made no attempt to catch up and plead again; her figure, like cherry blossoms drifting in the wind, gradually became transparent and thin.

In the end she vanished completely among the swirling pink‑white petals, as if she had never been there.