Yi Shuyuan stared, somewhat entranced. Only after a long while did he murmur.
"Faster than I imagined..."
Hui Mian, perched on his shoulder, had stopped squabbling with the birds in the tree. It noticed Yi Shuyuan's gaze and followed it to the rock in the stream.
It had missed it earlier, but upon closer inspection, Hui Mian gradually realized that this stone was a treasure.
It seemed the master had come for this stone.
"Young Master Yi?"
A slightly surprised voice came from behind Yi Shuyuan. Hearing that familiar voice, he turned and cupped his hands toward the newcomer.
A smile appeared on Yi Shuyuan's face.
"Old sir, it's been quite some time!"
The newcomer was none other than the old man who had conjured a tea shelter to host Yi Shuyuan during that mountain rain-the human form of that ancient pine.
The old man looked somewhat stunned. He had not even noticed Yi Shuyuan here when he arrived.
Only after returning the greeting did he step closer, studying Yi Shuyuan carefully from head to toe before looking into the stream.
"Young Master Yi truly is no ordinary man. The Mountain God said Wawa had a fortune of its own awaiting it. It seems that fortune has something to do with you!"
As the old man spoke, he also noticed the little marten on Yi Shuyuan's shoulder. Hui Mian immediately grew nervous, huddling there without daring to move.
Aside from discussing the slim chance of survival Yi Shuyuan had mentioned with the already-informed City God of Yuanjiang County, Huang Hongchuan had told no one else.
Even this old pine in the mountains only knew that, despite Wawa's death, another fortune awaited it. He knew one half of the story, but not the other.
"You could say that."
Without standing on