The disciple holding the flower pot walked by, and as one looked in that direction, they could see the swaying flower branches. The petals were delicate and vivid, their colors so bright they seemed almost unreal.
Zanxing turned around and said, “I think that flower is very beautiful. Do you know what kind of flower it is?”
The surroundings were deathly silent.
Gu Baiying stared at Zanxing with shock in his eyes. After a long time, he finally managed to speak, “Did you… did you see the flower?”
“Wasn’t it a flower?” Zanxing asked, puzzled. “Could it be a fake flower in the pot? Or perhaps a spiritual herb or spiritual beast that looks like a flower?” In the world of cultivation, there are all sorts of spiritual treasures and magical artifacts, so it could just be something with a unique appearance.
The boy’s eyes were tumultuous, and he did not immediately answer her question. After a long time, he finally said hesitantly, “That wasn’t a flower.”
“What was it, then?”
“It’s nothing.” Gu Baiying suddenly interrupted her, anxious. “Don’t tell anyone that you saw the flower just now, and don’t mention the flower to anyone!”
Zanxing rarely saw him so stern and instinctively nodded.
He was about to say more when, from the other side, Tian Fangfang’s voice called out, “Junior Sister!”
He had probably just finished cultivating and had returned from the Chu Hong Terrace, his head covered in sweat. He greeted Zanxing, saying, “Let’s go, let’s have a meal together!”
Zanxing agreed and looked at Gu Baiying, asking, “Martial Uncle, are you coming?”
Gu Baiying, distracted, shook his head.
“Then we’ll head out first,” Tian Fangfang said, pulling Zanxing towards the dining hall.
Gu Baiying stood in place for a moment, not returning to the Elysium Hall, and instead walked briskly in another direction.
In the Mingjing Hall, disciples were categorizing and placing various magical artifacts they had found. With the potential threat of the demon clan returning, it was crucial for the Taiyan Sect’s disciples to be prepared with artifacts, talismans, and formations. While they were tidying up, a white-robed youth hurriedly entered the hall.
“Seventh Martial Uncle,” the two disciples quickly stood and greeted.
Gu Baiying acknowledged them and immediately noticed a white porcelain flower pot placed by the entrance. He walked over and stopped next to the pot, his gaze falling upon it.
“Martial Uncle, this Guishou Flower…” one of the disciples began.
Gu Baiying reached out, and the flower pot suddenly appeared in his hand. He put the pot into his Qiankun Bag and told the two disciples, “If the Senior Brother asks later, just say I took it.”
The two disciples replied, “Understood.”
After Gu Baiying left, one of the disciples asked in confusion, “What exactly is that flower pot Martial Uncle just took? It looked quite terrifying.”
The other disciple stopped cleaning dust and thought for a moment. “A few years ago, when the Demon King Gui Diaotang caused chaos in the mortal realm, demons would sometimes disguise themselves as sect disciples to infiltrate sects. Later, a flower was discovered in the cultivation world that, to demons, appeared as a beautiful flower, but to humans, it looked like a white skull. This flower is often used in the sect to identify if someone is a demon in disguise. If a disciple claims to see the flower, they are definitely a disguised demon.”
“I see!” The questioning disciple was astonished. “No wonder I was wondering why a skull would be put in a flower pot; it was really frightening. But why did Martial Uncle take it?”
“I don’t know. This thing is now used throughout the cultivation world. The demons already know about it, so even if they see the flower, they wouldn’t admit it. It should be useless now, probably just needs to be destroyed.”
“Destroying it is fine. Having a skull here is really unsettling.” The junior disciple touched his head. “By the way, Senior Brother, what is this flower called?”
“It’s similar to the Lianshan Flower from the previous selection, and this one is called the Guishou Flower.”
1
*
Zanxing did not know that the flower she had seen during the day had such a chilling name. At night, when the wind rose on the mountain, she sat by the window, staring at her hand.
It might have been her imagination, but the begonia mark on her hand seemed to have extended a little further. Now, the complete shape of the begonia felt slightly raised, as if it might grow out from her palm.
But she hadn’t done anything these days.
Could just being alive be considered a transgression now?
Zanxing extended her hand and carefully examined her palm in the moonlight coming through the window. Hong Su had already become accustomed to her behavior and only gently reminded her, “Miss, I heard that the Immortal Zhao in this sect is quite skilled at divination. He might be able to read palms.”
“Palm reading…” Zanxing sighed inwardly. Not to mention Zhao Mayi, even a Snake Shaman would have difficulty predicting her future with her fate.
Just as she was feeling despondent, Zanxing saw someone walking into the courtyard. The young man was tall, and from the shadow, she could tell it was him. He seemed hesitant, stopping in the middle of the courtyard and lingering under the persimmon tree, not coming any closer.
“Isn’t that Young Master Gu?” Hong Su, who was playing with a fluff ball with Mimi, glanced over and said, “Why isn’t he coming in? Hesitating like that—could he be here to confess his feelings?”
Zanxing: “…”
She stood up. “I’ll go see.”
The courtyard of Miaokong Hall, where Zanxing lived, was kept lively by Hong Su’s daily cleaning and the many flowers and plants she had planted. It was much more vibrant compared to Tian Fangfang and Mu Cengxiao’s courtyards. During the summer, the starlight was low on the mountain, and the mountain breeze gently brushed over the courtyard. The grapevines covered the trellis, and the sweet, refreshing fragrance of melons and fruits filled the air.
The cicadas’ chirping made the night seem even quieter.
He stood under the tree, his shadow nearly merging with the tree’s shadow. The red headband fluttered, much like his current state of confusion.
“Why are you standing here without coming in?” A clear voice rang out from behind.
Gu Baiying turned around to see Zanxing standing before him.
The woman was dressed in a green gauze robe. In the sect, disciples’ clothing was simple and uniform. Regardless of gender, except for a few who always loved to dress up, young girls like Zanxing rarely had much opportunity for adornment. Usually, their attire didn’t offer much variety, so they would often change their hairpins or headbands to alter their mood.
Zanxing never changed hers because she simply didn’t know how. So she always casually tied up her long hair and loosely bound it with a matching headband. Yet, the more you looked, the more refreshing and bright it seemed. The dark scar on her face from the Yu had now faded by seventy percent, and her skin gradually revealed its original appearance. One could almost imagine how charming and graceful she would look when the scar completely vanished and her original beauty was restored.
She had never been distressed over her appearance, nor was she upset about the broken engagement. Every day, she cheerfully and diligently did what needed to be done. From Li’er Country to Wufan City, and then to the treasure site, she had never shown signs of discouragement or sorrow. Spending time with her made one feel that the world’s troubles were not so overwhelming after all.
Unconsciously, he had entrusted all his trust to her, so when he caught a glimpse of the truth, he felt very unsettled.
Guishou means Ghost Head