From the way Jiang Zhuer spoke of a spiritual treasure like the purple-wall spirit lotus root, it seemed to be nothing more than an ordinary ornamental flower or herb. She had not even mentioned Lady Yao E taking any particular interest in it.
Yi Shuyuan, however, saw things differently. He had seen the Mountain-Topping Grass on Heavenly Battle Mountain, and knew that the closer that immortal herb came to maturity, the more extraordinary it appeared. The spirit lotus root in the E River Water Palace might be much the same.
Yi Shuyuan bent down and reached into the earthenware basin, taking hold of one of the flower buds. In that instant, his synesthetic perception made it feel as though purple light were blooming in his hand.
For a fleeting moment, the pale purple bud in his hand seemed to grow ceaselessly, its petals opening one by one to nurture a pale purple lotus pedestal. Morning dew gathered upon it, and sunset clouds wreathed it.
Yi Shuyuan's gaze refocused on his palm, and everything he had just perceived faded from his mind. What remained in his hand was still only a broken flower bud.
By now, of course, Yi Shuyuan also knew why the bud was here.
But how should he explain this to Jiang Zhuer, or to the Water God of the E River? In a situation like this, either harsh punishment or laughing it off was possible. Jiang Zhuer would be easy enough to talk to; he simply did not know what sort of temperament Lady Yao E had.
"Mother..."
That soft call drew Yi Shuyuan's thoughts back to reality. He first returned the bud to the earthenware basin, then sent a ray of spiritual light into it before straightening and looking to one side. The voice had come