When I woke up, the entire cultivation world was talking about my master.

Upon hearing this, a crack appeared on Yi Chen's usually icy and snow-white face.

Hua Ling coexists with Youxin Valley, and no movement here can escape her perception. Of course, she can also see the scene inside the cave clearly.

"Hey! Why are you looking at me like that? It's kind of scary. I'm just really curious." Hua Ling stood up excitedly, her face all cheeky, and she started talking non-stop.

"Your little apprentice was a bit dazed at the time, maybe he was under some kind of drug? Anyway, he was sticking really close to you... but you didn't push him away."

She covered her rosy cheeks, revealing her eyes: "I even saw you kiss her on your own later! You were so fierce, holding her down and not letting her dodge, you even stuck your tongue in. That child was still injured, and you bullied her like that, it's so pitiful."

Finally, Hua Ling saw a blush of anger flash across the other person's cheeks.

Then, with a wicked grin, he added, "Aren't you a bit of a beast?"

"..."

In the lifetime of Yi Chen, almost no one has dared to speak so recklessly in front of him. But Hua Ling is not human, she is ignorant of human ethics and worldly affairs, and she doesn't care about worldly etiquette at all. She says whatever she wants without any scruples.

"Hehe, to be honest, this was the first time I'd ever seen such a shocking scene in person, and I was quite embarrassed. Um... what did you feel at the time?"

"Aren't your apprentice's lips soft? Isn't his waist slender? When you hold him in your arms, does your heart race? Doesn't it feel good? Say something!"

She kept saying sorry, but one inappropriate thing after another kept coming out of her mouth, completely unconcerned about the impact this kind of soul-searching question would have on the other person.

"Release them," Yi Chen said with a stern face.

Hua Ling shook her head, pretending not to hear, then stomped her short legs and clung to the edge of the table, acting spoiled. "By the way, does your apprentice like you?"

As if a demonic voice pierced his ears, Yi Chen paused for a moment because of these words.

Previously, he wouldn't have thought about such meaningless questions.

If it wasn't because of admiration, how could Chu Xianlan's various intimate behaviors be explained?

But upon closer reflection, it seems that something has changed.

Even after experiencing that absurd accident in the cave, Chu Xianlan never showed any lingering attachment afterward. Instead, she tried her best to erase the incident, wishing it had never happened.

Is it because... you've completely stopped liking them?

Without him interfering too much, the relationship between master and disciple was restored, open and clear.

Yi Chen's eyes darkened slightly.

The disciple has let go, but fragmented images keep uncontrollably surfacing in his mind; those scents, sensations, and temperatures are still very clear to this day…

Yi Chen didn't know what was wrong with him.

He didn't like this feeling of indecision; it was strange, confusing, and unlike himself.

It's like a home invasion robbery where the intruder bursts in, wreaks havoc, and then flees without taking anything, leaving behind only a mess.

Something that should be something to be thankful for... wouldn't it be better to give up?

My thoughts, however, drifted uncontrollably away.

...If Chu Xianlan really lets go, then what will happen next?

That child was born to stand in the sunlight and be loved by many. They will meet the right person, give others the opportunity to get close to them, and be completely open with that person, giving them the magical artifacts they crafted themselves...

The flower spirit on the opposite side was getting impatient.

Why aren't you saying anything? Are you pretending to be deep in thought?

"How about this, you answer honestly, and I'll release one person. One question for one person, isn't that fair?"

The answer is impossible to give.

Yi Chen turned his head away from her and said calmly, "If you have no ill intentions, why deliberately delay?"

He was clearly implying something.

Hua Ling's smile froze for a moment, then she pouted, "...Boring."

Indeed, she had the intention of helping those herb gatherers, which is why she trapped them in the illusion.

However, the place where Chu Xianlan and the others were located was not a painful prison, but a pure and abundant area of ​​vegetation with rich spiritual energy, which was a rare place of nourishment for cultivators.

But I was genuinely curious.

After all, other masters and disciples don't do this kind of thing in her secluded valley.

Although the spirit of all things can take human form, she cannot stray from her original body. Her entire life is bound to this sea of ​​flowers, and all the human affairs and emotions she knows come from the cultivators who have entered the Valley of the Heart.

The more I hear, the more I yearn for this mundane world.

Yi Chen remained silent, while Hua Ling stared at the water mirror in mid-air, glancing at Chu Xianlan in the mirror for a moment, then at Ji Fuyao, and exclaimed, "Don't you think your disciple looked like a pretty little girl when she was young..."

Halfway through her sentence, her expression suddenly changed drastically, and her delicate, beautiful face contorted in pain.

The next second, the entire illusion shook violently!

"ah--!!"

Hua Ling let out a piercing scream, clutching herself and crouching down, her whole body trembling uncontrollably. "It's burning...it hurts so much...! Who, who is burning my true form?!"

The pain on her face seemed genuine, and Yi Chen hadn't expected such a turn of events. He turned his head and looked out the window, only to see the hazy pink sea of ​​flowers billowing with thick smoke, its exquisite beauty gone.

Hua Ling seemed unable to bear it any longer, screaming and rolling on the ground, "I...I'll let you out! I'll let you out right now! Help me, don't burn me! Ah—don't burn me!"

Meanwhile, outside the illusion.

The raging flames had already set half the valley ablaze, billowing thick smoke, and the crackling, burning sounds of the spiritual plants were like mournful cries.

At the edge of the inferno, Bitden stood with his hands behind his back, coldly observing everything before him.

"Lord," a guard from the city lord's mansion, carrying a torch, ran over, his tone hesitant, "Should we continue burning?"

The flames they used were not ordinary fire, but the Crimson Lotus Karmic Fire activated by Biden using secret methods. It was specifically designed to counter the spiritual roots of plant spirits and could not be easily extinguished.

The guards trembled at the sight of the raging inferno before them.

Looking from where he stood, he could see the enormous ancient peach tree deep in the valley. The tree's blossoms had vanished, and the entire tree resembled a giant torch ablaze.

It's a blessed natural place after all... If it continues to burn like this, the spiritual plants in Youxin Valley that have grown for hundreds or thousands of years, and the magnificent scenery they have achieved today, will probably be destroyed.

The servants were simply following orders and did not understand why the city lord was doing this.

Biden stared silently at the raging fire before him, and said in a deep voice:

"burn."

The guard hesitated, "But the legendary Spiritless Immortal Sprout also grows in the Valley of the Dark Heart..."

"It's alright. Just do as I say."

Biden interrupted him with a cold, hard tone.

He knew perfectly well that the herb gatherers were hiding within this sea of ​​flowers, and his son must be in their hands. The current situation left him no room for leniency; a son could be born again, but he had to retain his position as city lord. Only by burning this place to the ground could he truly resolve the matter.

If anyone questions him afterward, he can simply say that he resorted to this tactic to rescue the cultivators trapped in the illusion. After all, he is the lord of a city, and he has a reputation for saving lives; who would really investigate?

Compared to the Spiritless Immortal Sprout, the real catastrophe would be if the secrets of those herb gatherers were exposed...

Just as Biten lowered his eyes to ponder a solution, his guard suddenly exclaimed, "Lord, look over there!"