Chapter 9: Trespassing the Sanctuary

Hundred Flowers Hall.

"Little flower sprite, how long do you intend to sleep?"

Beiming Yanhuo walked lightly and gracefully into the flowerbeds outside Hundred Flowers Hall, nudging the slumbering Xiao Huayan with his foot, who lay on the ground unmoving.

Amidst the blossoms, Xiao Huayan tugged the quilt over her head.

"I'm only dreaming up ways to help you, Immortal Lord!"

Beiming Yanhuo carelessly tossed aside the quilt covering Xiao Huayan's head, speaking with ill intent, "You little flower sprite, do you wish to be planted in the earth?"

With the quilt swept aside, Xiao Huayan felt a cold breeze slip into her collar, sending a chill down her spine, prompting her to stand up.

She quickly straightened her clothes and, with a round-cheeked face, said, "No need for Immortal Lord to trouble himself. Xiao Huayan will go at once to search for the Flower of Corpse Bones for you."

Beiming Yanhuo looked at Xiao Huayan's plump, rosy cheeks and sneered, "It seems Water Heaven's Long Dream is truly a place of good fortune. Even a damaged little flower sprite like you has grown so fair and tender."

With that, he reached out, intending to pinch Xiao Huayan's soft cheek.

Nimbly, Xiao Huayan dodged, successfully escaping Beiming Yanhuo's grasp.

She grinned foolishly and darted away.

Beiming Yanhuo's hand caught only air, his face twisted in embarrassment as he withdrew it.

Moments later, Xiao Huayan returned, arms full of fine wine and delicacies.

Beiming Yanhuo pressed his hand to his forehead, watching Xiao Huayan with a headache, then instantly appeared beside her in a flash of movement, roaring with rage.

"How long do you intend to dawdle?"

Xiao Huayan smiled at the persistent Beiming Yanhuo who had suddenly appeared before her.

"If I don't eat, I'll starve."

With a wave of his jade hand, Beiming Yanhuo scattered all the fine wine and dishes Xiao Huayan was holding onto the ground.

A chilling aura radiated from him, freezing the flowers and grasses in Hundred Flowers Hall to the point of wilting.

"Why did you do that? That was exquisite nectar gifted to me by Liuying, so precious that only the Lanxi Hall possesses it. I brought it for you, and now you’ve spilled it all, boo hoo... ah..."

Beiming Yanhuo was driven to agony by Xiao Huayan's crying and barked harshly,

"Stop crying. I told you—you are not allowed to cry."

Tears welled in Xiao Huayan's eyes, but in an instant, she held them back in fright.

"Why so fierce? I'm not deaf. The flowers and grass in Hundred Flowers Hall are nearly frozen to death by you, and you even set fire to me."

Beiming Yanhuo let out a weary sigh, "You little flower sprite... dare to talk back."

"Alright, alright! Once I'm full, I'll help you seek the Flower of Corpse Bones. No need for Immortal Lord to be so anxious."

Beiming Yanhuo's patience had reached its limit; he could no longer contain his fury and was ready to strike this little flower sprite dead.

Oblivious to the impending danger, Xiao Huayan continued to chatter,

"Immortal Lord has saved my life, but I still don't know your name."

Beiming Yanhuo thought it a worthy deed to let this little flower sprite know his mighty name before her death.

Thus, he prepared to announce his name before killing her.

"How could someone as lowly as you know my true name? I am—"

Before Beiming Yanhuo could finish, Xiao Huayan clamped her hand over his mouth.

"Never mind, let’s leave it at that."

"Mmph..." Beiming Yanhuo’s nose was pinched shut, his breath cut off; his eyes widened in shock, rendered speechless.

He, an ancient deity, a member of the Beiming Divine Clan, once the god of war in Water Heaven's Long Dream, now the immortal Demon Lord—had been subdued by a mere flower sprite.

Seeing his state, Xiao Huayan quickly withdrew her hand and smiled innocently.

"If Immortal Lord has no name, Xiao Huayan can give you a splendid one. I'm quite good at naming things."

She patted her chest with confidence.

"No need," Beiming Yanhuo gasped, intent on killing her to wash away his humiliation.

"Then Xiao Huayan will go find the Flower of Corpse Bones for you." With that, she dashed away once more.

Beiming Yanhuo looked at his empty hand, his heart collapsing with shame.

Clear Moon Hall.

The night was cool, clouds drifting and fading, the pale moonlight filtering through the dense, swaying pear blossoms, casting dappled shadows.

A breeze scattered the petals across the smooth porcelain floor.

A faint sorrow seemed to linger in the air as Xiao Huayan walked over the dried, withered petals, slipping into the sleeping chambers of the Moon-Linked God.

She rummaged about, searching for the Flower of Corpse Bones as Beiming Yanhuo had instructed.

"Forgive me, forgive me, I didn't mean to come here searching for things," she prayed earnestly, hands pressed together.

Yet her expression betrayed her—she truly had no idea what this Flower of Corpse Bones looked like.

She had asked every flower spirit in Hundred Flowers Hall last night, but none knew of its existence, nor its appearance.

"Since they're all flowers, perhaps I should use my spiritual sense to search."

Xiao Huayan worked her magic, tapping her forehead gently.

A five-colored glow emerged from her brow, hovered at her fingertips, then dispersed throughout Clear Moon Hall, guiding her search.

Unexpectedly, she was caught by Frost Rao the Immortal, who had just entered, forcing her to quickly withdraw her spiritual sense.

"Who dares trespass in Clear Moon Hall?"

"Oh no, I've been discovered."

Frost Rao glared at Xiao Huayan, scolding, "You little flower sprite, how dare you intrude upon the Moon-Linked God's chambers."

Flustered, Xiao Huayan darted her gaze about, "I'm here to find something—no, to borrow something."

"Utter nonsense, you are clearly trespassing."

"No, Frost Rao, please listen. I truly didn’t mean to trespass, honestly."

Hearing the commotion, celestial soldiers rushed in, surrounding Xiao Huayan.

Seeing her chance, Frost Rao seized Xiao Huayan and declared, "Take this trespassing flower sprite to the Thirty-Three Heavens Palace and let the Moon-Linked God decide her fate."

"What?" Xiao Huayan looked at Frost Rao as if bidding farewell to this life.

Frost Rao was a minor immortal servant of Clear Moon Hall, who, emboldened by her role serving the Moon-Linked God, wielded power with impunity throughout Water Heaven's Long Dream.