Mu Tianyi crouched where he was, in no hurry to stand. He merely tilted his head and looked at the little golden flower.
"Are you a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast? What should I call you?"
"Hehe, I'm Aromatic Silk Beauty, but..." The little golden flower's petals trembled gently. "If you don't mind, sir, you may call me 'Youyou.'"
"Youyou." Mu Tianyi repeated the name and nodded. "Alright, Youyou. My surname is Mu. Just call me Mu Tianyi. Don't keep calling me sir—it feels awkward."
Youyou's leaves relaxed somewhat, and its voice loosened as well.
"Please rest assured, Young Master Mu. The immortal herbs and I have grown here for many years, and we mean no harm."
"It's only that no outsiders have come here for many years. Someone with such..." It paused, seemingly searching for the right words. "Such an imposing presence as yours is a first."
Mu Tianyi stood and dusted off his knees. "You're curious about who I am?"
"Simple. I passed through Sunset Forest and saw the poisonous miasma outside. I guessed there might be something good hidden in this valley."
"I followed the source of the poison in and found all of you." He paused, his tone frank. "I figured this was the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well where Tang San gathered immortal herbs ten thousand years ago. No one sent me here—I found my own way."
Youyou fell silent for two breaths. Its golden petals drew in slightly, as though digesting his words.
It knew that when Tang San had planted them here, he had indeed left instructions for what came after, saying someone would come to guide them.
But over ten thousand years, that person had never come. Instead, they had waited for a youth whose aura made it tremble from the depths of