Immortality Cultivation

Chapter 203: Unforgettable Past

Fang Hao emerged from Serenity Court and walked all the way back to the Listening to Rain Pavilion. The cold sweat on his back felt like a sheet of ice when the wind blew against it. As he walked, his heart was pounding like a trapped rabbit, filled with unease.

"What on earth is going on!" The more he thought about it, the more suspicious it felt. What was Princess Mu Yijing up to? She was being so mysterious, not explaining anything and just telling him to wait. Wait for what? To steal something or kill someone? Or to charge into some dragon’s den or tiger’s lair? She even told him to prepare life-saving items... that sounded even more terrifying! It definitely wasn’t going to be a good job!

But what could he do? When one is under another’s roof, one must bow their head. If a Nascent Soul Great Expert spoke, would a Golden Core small fry like him dare to say no? Did he have a death wish? Right now, he at least had the excuse of "sharing her burdens," so he was safe for the time being. If he dared to refuse or showed cowardice, she might flip on him immediately and settle all accounts, new and old, at once!

"Damn it, I’ll just take it one step at a time!" Fang Hao sighed. The excitement he felt from refining High Grade golden spirit pills had long since been doused in cold water. Returning to the small courtyard of the Listening to Rain Pavilion, he had no heart to Cultivate. He sat on a stone bench in a daze, pondering various possibilities, feeling more and more that the future was pitch black.

Forget it, stop thinking! He shook his head vigorously and decided to focus on the present. Didn’t he still have twenty-two High Grade golden spirit pills? While there were no missions, he would improve as much as he could; more strength meant more hope for survival! He took out a High Grade golden spirit pill, looking at the perfect cloud patterns on the Medicinal Pill and smelling the refreshing fragrance, which slightly improved his mood. He sat cross-legged, adjusted his state, swallowed the pill, and began to refine the medicinal power to consolidate his Middle Golden Core Stage cultivation.

Meanwhile, in the small pavilion of Serenity Court, the area returned to its usual cold quiet after Fang Hao left. Princess Mu Yijing remained standing by the window, her gaze indifferently watching the carefree and leisurely koi fish in the pond, her fingers unconsciously stroking the cold carvings on the railing.

She had seen everything—Fang Hao’s trembling and cautious appearance just now. This little fellow was quite sharp; it was good that he knew fear, for only then would he be prudent and obedient. What she needed was exactly someone who had a bit of cleverness, knew his place, and could keep a secret.

"Hundred Flowers Valley..."

As those three words rolled gently off her tongue, a very faint ripple finally appeared in her calm, emotionless eyes. To her, that incident was like a deep scar etched onto her Dao Heart; forgetting it was easier said than done.

That day, she had been trapped by the Lust Dragon’s Lust-Inducing Miasma. She could barely muster any of her Nascent Soul cultivation, her Divine Soul was in a frenzy, her body was burning hot, and her consciousness was blurred. To make matters worse, she was pinned down by the Lust Dragon’s Domain, with no way to escape. Just when she thought she would succumb completely and might even be defiled by that beast, a foolish-looking little Foundation Establishment Cultivator stumbled in...

Regarding what happened after, her memories were somewhat chaotic, yet certain fragments were terrifyingly clear. The young man’s body heat, his clumsy movements, the chaotic breathing, and... that bone-deep, absurd entanglement that still made her cheeks flush slightly when she recalled it... Though her consciousness was unclear at the time, she wasn’t entirely without perception; she was simply unable to help herself.

When she woke up afterward and saw the youth beside her, her feelings—shame, fury, bewilderment, lingering fear—were all intertwined, nearly causing her Dao Heart to fail! She had wanted to kill this little Cultivator who had defiled her purity and grind his bones to ash!

However, once she calmed down and thought about it, if not for this youth, she probably would have... Furthermore, looking at the situation then, the youth hadn’t intended to offend her; he had also been unable to help himself. Was she, Princess Mu Yijing, really going to hold a grudge to the end against a Foundation Establishment little fellow, a man who had saved her by a twist of fate and also "had" her?

More importantly, after that, she discovered that her Bottleneck, which had been stagnant for years, actually showed signs of loosening! Although it was embarrassing to admit, that one time seemed to... by some freak accident, release certain blockages within her body?

This discovery plunged her into deeper contradiction and confusion. Thus, she didn’t make a scene but investigated in secret. She found a Foundation Establishment kid named Fang Hao from the West Province in the Hundred Flower Ruins who seemed to fit the description. But with limited clues, she temporarily suppressed the matter and stopped thinking about it, treating it as an accidental dream.

Until... a few days ago, when she saw Fang Hao for the first time at the Listening to Rain Pavilion.

Even though he had disguised his appearance, reached the Middle Golden Core Stage, and his aura had changed greatly, that hint of something deep in his eyes, the occasional steadiness and cunning that didn’t match his age, and that... indescribable feeling in his bones that made her heart throb for no reason... She was certain almost instantly! It was him! It was that youth who had shared skin-to-skin intimacy with her in the desperate situation of the Hundred Flowers Valley!

At that moment, even with her Nascent Soul Stage state of mind, she almost lost her composure. Only after forcibly suppressing her surging emotions did she send that suggestive voice transmission. She wanted to see how he would react. Fear? Panic? Or... did he have other intentions?

Fortunately, he was just afraid and had no other thoughts, and he was quite clever. This made the indescribable, complex emotions in her heart feel slightly better.

She had sought him out for this task for two reasons. First, she valued his Alchemy talent and his prudence in keeping secrets. Second... perhaps she also harbored a slight intent to settle the Karma, a thought she didn’t even want to examine closely? Once he helped her finish the task, that muddled account would be settled. From then on, they would go their separate ways with no further connection. As for that slight strangeness in her heart... with enough time, it would eventually be forgotten.

"Nanny Li." Princess Mu Yijing called out softly.

"This old servant is here." Nanny Li appeared outside the pavilion like a ghost, standing with a bow.

"Go to the storehouse, take that ’black tortoise spirit shield’ and three ’minor teleportation talismans,’ and send them to the Listening to Rain Pavilion for Fang Hao. Tell him they are a gift from this Princess to help him protect himself."

"Yes." A flash of surprise crossed Nanny Li’s eyes. The black tortoise spirit shield was a Tier 4 Medium Grade defensive Magic Treasure, and the minor teleportation talismans were even more precious weapons for saving one’s life. Her Highness seemed to value this Fang Hao a bit too much? But she asked nothing and bowed as she withdrew.

Princess Mu Yijing watched Nanny Li’s departing back, her eyes returning to calm. She raised her hand and took out an ancient-looking green jade pendant from her storage ring, which emitted a faint starlight and was carved with complex runes. This was the "Ancient Jade" obtained from the core of the Hundred Flower Ruins; it was related to the Star Cultivation Technique she practiced, but it seemed incomplete. She had deduced it for many years without finding a clue. Perhaps it was related to that Star Secret Realm, or perhaps... it was related to "that person" as well?

She gently stroked the jade pendant, her cold eyes looking toward the Listening to Rain Pavilion as she whispered to herself inaudibly:

"I hope you... don’t disappoint me."

A light breeze blew, the gauze curtains fluttered, and the koi in the pond flicked their tails, sinking to the bottom and creating a ripple that soon returned to stillness.