Chapter 119: The Flower on the Other Shore (5/10, Autumn Subscription)

"You—you want what? If you kill me now, you won't get a Spirit Root!" Fang Yue said nervously.

Seeing Fang Yue's expression, Lord Han, whose face had been calm, slowly revealed an intrigued look.

Like an elder who had just pulled a prank, his lips curled slightly into a faint smile.

"What use would I have for your Spirit Root?"

"You want my Spirit Root? Of course, of course…"

Fang Yue wanted to say it was obviously to steal his Spirit Root for yourself, to ascend to the Immortal Realm.

But seeing Lord Han's teasing expression, he was instantly stunned.

"Lord Han, don't scare me—what do you really mean?"

"Relax. I have no interest in the Spirit Root of your bloodline's race. But the reason I've helped you so much is indeed tied to the Spirit Root."

Lord Han emphasized his words: "But what I want is not your Spirit Root!"

"Not my Spirit Root? What does that mean?"

"This matter should only be revealed to someone with sufficient strength—at least someone capable of inheriting my legacy. But since we've reached this point today, I might as well speak plainly."

Lord Han curled his index finger and lightly tapped the ice bed.

The ice on the bed immediately boiled like water, rising and shifting, until slowly forming a bridge.

It was an extremely long bridge, its surface shrouded in mist from the ice bed.

Beneath the bridge, the ice had melted into flowing water, like a river.

From Fang Yue's viewpoint, it resembled a cross-section of a lake.

Beneath the river, countless cold, dark flowers slowly bloomed, then withered, repeating endlessly.

"This place is called Youquan Bridge. Beneath the bridge lies Youquan, and beneath Youquan grows a legendary flower—the Bodhi Flower."

"Legend says…"

"Eating one petal of the Bodhi Flower lets you recall your past and present lives."

"Eating two petals lets you understand reincarnation."

"Eating three petals lets you comprehend this life."

"Eating five petals lets you break through the mortal realm, forge a Spirit Root, reach the Immortal Realm, and comprehend your destiny!"

At this, Lord Han lifted his head and stared directly at Fang Yue.

"Youquan Bridge is a legendary place. Historical records state the Yueye's extinction is tied to it, and many accounts also mention the Yueye once traded in Bodhi Flowers."

"I believe that as a descendant of the Yueye, when your strength reaches sufficient height, you will one day seek out Youquan Bridge to uncover the truth behind your clan's extinction."

"When that day comes, I hope you remember all I've done for you—and pluck me a five-petal Bodhi Flower!"

As he spoke, Lord Han's ice bed transformed again, reverting to an ordinary ice bed.

Fang Yue listened to these words and watched these changes, his thoughts churning.

Youquan Bridge. Bodhi Flower. Past and present lives. Transcending mortality to become immortal.

Perhaps, even without a Spirit Root, I too will end up like Lord Han—forced to risk my life at Youquan Bridge.

Suppressing his thoughts, Fang Yue bowed respectfully. "Lord Han, if you know of Youquan Bridge and understand the Bodhi Flower's power, why don't you go get it yourself?"

"Youquan Bridge is perilous beyond measure. Even Xian-level experts who go there face nine deaths and one chance of survival—let alone my current body. Moreover, no one knows where Youquan Bridge is. I'm still investigating and have no leads yet. Even if I wanted to risk it, I have no opportunity."

"Even Lord Han doesn't know where it is… this…"

Fang Yue was bewildered: "Then why rush to place your hope on me?"

"I'm not rushing. You're the one who insisted on pressing me tonight. In truth, if you lacked the strength to inherit my legacy, I'd have no reason to send you on such a dangerous quest."

Hearing this, Fang Yue felt a pang of emotion.

I actually suspected Lord Han wanted to harm me… how foolish…

"Lord Han…"

"Enough. If there's nothing else, leave. I need to rest. If any powerful strange entity comes to the village, I'll handle it myself—don't worry."

After a pause, Lord Han continued: "Don't tell anyone about tonight's events. It would only cause them needless worry—pointless. Even you, if you can forget it, forget it. Without sufficient strength, no amount of thinking will help."

Indeed, what Lord Han had revealed tonight felt impossibly distant to Fang Yue.

After all, he was only in the Acquired Third-Rate Realm. By the vast scale of cultivation realms, he was a newborn in the Martial Dao—still learning how to walk, yet dreaming of becoming a millionaire, achieving a grand goal—it was utterly unrealistic.

Fang Yue thanked Lord Han and turned to leave, when suddenly he remembered something trivial.

"Lord Han, I saw four-petal Bodhi Flowers beneath the Youquan Bridge you showed me—what happens if you eat them?"

Lord Han had already closed his eyes, preparing to resume cultivation.

Hearing Fang Yue's question, he didn't open his eyes, and replied flatly:

"Four—the number of Yin. It aligns with the Bodhi's meaning. Legend says the four-petal Bodhi Flower is the poison of immortals—it annihilates all, destroys soul and spirit, and dooms one to eternal ruin."

"But legends always exaggerate. Even whether the Bodhi Flower truly exists is questionable, let alone the number of petals, or whether it's an immortal's poison or a means to forge a Spirit Root."

"In short, it's just a hope—a hope of people like us, clinging to life's last breaths. If you believe it, keep it in your heart. If not, treat it as a story."

"If one day you inherit my legacy, I'll tell you more."

Fang Yue naturally understood Lord Han's meaning.

In short, he was not yet worthy to know secrets of this level.

He bowed deeply, and when he raised his head, the ice chamber was gone—before him stood only the back courtyard of Han Fu.

The small artificial hill remained exactly as before, as if everything that had happened had been nothing but a dream.

But Fang Yue knew this was Lord Han's doing.

These arrays—how miraculous. If only I could learn even a fraction of it…

Fang Yue became even more interested in Lord Han's legacy—though he had no idea what level of strength was needed to receive it.

"Forget it—time to train!"

The villagers of Gu Yue Cun don't leave the village every single day.

Instead, according to the village's arrangements, they go out collectively once every three days, or every seven days.

The Guard Team is a bit busier during the day — that is, when the villagers go out — but at other times they only handle daytime patrols within the village, which is very leisurely and relaxed.

As the on-duty day-shift Captain, Fang Yue had it even easier.

Even if he did nothing at the Guard Station, it was fine, as long as nothing happened in the village.

On top of that, he could freeload the basic reward of 2 days of Yang Lifespan, minus the half-day consumption of 6 time-quarters, which still came out to a reward of 1.5 days of Yang Lifespan.

Not to mention there was also the night shift, where he could freeload another 2 days of reward.

All in all, the position of Deputy Captain with the duties of a Captain came with pretty good benefits — he could earn rewards and practice his art at the same time. It was almost too good to be true, provided nothing went wrong.

Just as Fang Yue was about to leave Han Fu and head back to the Guard Station, a message suddenly lit up on his friends list.

On closer look, it turned out to be a message from Niu Niu.

(End of this chapter)