Chapter 113: A Ten-Mile Sea of Flowers, That Single Yellow Bloom

Cheng Guang did not concern himself with Zhang Rui’s thoughts.

In his view, rather than letting Zhang Rui and the others wander aimlessly, it was better to diligently search within Skyfire City. Whether the "remnants of the Great Chu" mentioned in the system task were currently in Skyfire City or not, she would inevitably appear here in the near future.

Furthermore, beyond knowing that the "remnants of the Great Chu" would appear in Skyfire City, Cheng Guang possessed another trump card.

He picked up his teacup and took a light sip, letting the aroma of the tea permeate his mouth, then cast his gaze toward Qin Beifeng. It was difficult to say that the things Qin Beifeng had done in Zhenbei City were devoid of that Great Chu remnant’s influence. Perhaps Qin Beifeng even knew her whereabouts. If he could lead him directly to her, there might be no need for the Lamp-Bearer Division to investigate at all; he could handle it himself, simply letting them go through the motions of their work.

Thinking of this, Cheng Guang looked at Qin Beifeng and asked, "Uncle Qin, do you know her current whereabouts?"

Qin Beifeng shook his head slightly. "Young Master, I do not know. I have tried to contact her often, but I have never received a reply."

Qin Beifeng’s tone was sincere. If he knew where she was, he would have taken Cheng Guang to see her long ago. That had been the agreement: he would take Cheng Guang to meet his mistress, and in return, he would gain his freedom and ensure her safety for a time. In Qin Beifeng’s view, it no longer mattered whether Cheng Guang represented the Emperor of the Great Zhou or intended to kill his mistress. In this world, aside from the noble Heir of the Duke of Zhen, countless eyes were fixed upon her. Her situation was already dire; letting Cheng Guang see her would change nothing. Qin Beifeng was confident that while he was present, Cheng Guang could not harm her.

Sighing, Qin Beifeng felt complex emotions. Ever since his plan failed, she had not contacted him—perhaps she was too cautious, hindered by others, or perhaps her personality had changed since childhood, becoming cold and rational. Either way, this change was for the best, as he was now an unstable variable.

Hearing this, Cheng Guang simply hummed, his expression calm. He sipped his tea, eyes flickering as he stared into the swirling steam, lost in thought.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted outside the teahouse. Cheng Guang looked out to the street, noticing an elderly man with white hair and white robes walking respectfully behind a young girl in a yellow dress, whose smile was strikingly vibrant.

"Is her status very high?" Cheng Guang asked, observing the innocent-looking girl.

Qian Siyuan, who was standing beside him with his usual gentle smile, bowed slightly and whispered, "Young Master, that is the Crown Princess of the Great Yan Dynasty."

Cheng Guang nodded. That explained it. The status of a Crown Princess was immensely noble; barring any accidents, she would eventually become the Empress of Great Yan.

As he watched, Cheng Guang noticed something strange: many hidden gazes were fixed upon her. These were not merely the curious stares of passersby; among those watching were individuals whose very auras sent a chill down his spine. They were experts, at the very least, at the sixth-rank Rebirth stage.

"Aside from her status, is there anything special about this Crown Princess?" Cheng Guang asked.

Qian Siyuan did not know, so he looked at Zhang Rui. Zhang Rui, ever observant, stepped forward respectfully. "This Crown Princess is indeed special. While her status is noble, she is, in effect, a mere figurehead. She possesses a 'Treasure Body' and is fated not to live past eighteen. It is said that after she dies, the item she cherishes most will transform into a rare treasure—at least of the Earth-rank, though the exact grade is unknown."

Cheng Guang’s eyes flashed with surprise. A Treasure Body? Living no longer than eighteen? And the item she cherishes most transforms into a rare treasure? This was a human treasure-generating basin.

Rare treasures were incredibly precious and could not be forged; most people relied on luck to find them. If word spread that there was a constitution capable of manifesting them, the world would go mad.

Zhang Rui watched the girl walking down the street and said, "It is strange. The Crown Prince has always kept her hidden deep in the palace. Why let her out today? Perhaps, with her time running out, he has had a change of heart and wants to let her see the world?"

Cheng Guang tapped the table. "Is she turning eighteen soon?"

"Yes, Young Master," Zhang Rui replied. "It has been five years since the Crown Prince discovered her and named her Crown Princess. She was only ten then; she is nearing eighteen now."

Cheng Guang frowned. This innocent girl, untouched by the world’s malice, would soon be gone. He wondered if she even knew about her own nature.

"The Crown Prince has kept it a secret from her," Zhang Rui explained, his expression somber. "She does not know. She is to be married soon, and she will likely offer her most cherished possession to the Prince. She does not realize that her wedding day will be the day of her death. It is the cruelest fate, but it is the destiny of those with such a body—they can never end well."

Cheng Guang’s expression remained neutral. He lost interest and looked away.

"Wait, Young Master," Zhang Rui exclaimed suddenly. "Is she leaving the city? With only one old servant? Is the Crown Prince not afraid of accidents?" He sent his men to inquire.

Moments later, they returned. Zhang Rui’s expression shifted as he reported, "The Crown Princess said she missed home, and the Prince granted her permission to visit. He provided no protection, only an elderly, powerless servant. The underworld has taken notice; no one has dared move while she is still in the capital, but once she leaves, those desperate for treasures will surely strike."

"Do we wish to join in the fun?" Zhang Rui asked.

Cheng Guang did not answer. He was puzzled. The Great Yan Crown Prince had protected her for five years; why release her now? It seemed like a lure. It was too strange; it would only invite bloodshed. He had no need for rare treasures, and he was not one to meddle in affairs that did not concern him.

Just then, the girl turned back and entered the teahouse. "Waiter, tea." She sat at a nearby table, swinging her legs, and pulled out a thermos-like bowl to pour tea for the road. The white-robed old man watched her with doting eyes, silently paying the bill.

The girl’s eyes wandered, landing on the handsome, noble-looking Cheng Guang. She froze, then quickly looked away, not daring to stare. She clearly recognized that he was someone far beyond her station.

Cheng Guang, however, did not intend to let her be. "The Green Dragon tea here is quite good; it will serve to quench your thirst."

The girl looked around, realizing he was speaking to her. She looked at him, startled. "You are speaking to me?"

Cheng Guang nodded.

She gave a bitter smile. "You are kind, sir, but tea of this grade is too expensive for me. My family is poor; I cannot afford such luxury. You, however, are clearly a man of means." She tried to dismiss the conversation, clearly uncomfortable.

Cheng Guang watched her, his mind racing. He realized that the recent instability in the Great Yan Dynasty, which forced them to withdraw troops from the domain battlefield, might be connected to the "Great Chu remnants." If they had the resources and influence to cause such chaos, they might be behind the Crown Prince’s strange decision to let this girl out. Perhaps she was the key to diverting attention away from them.

He rose and walked toward her. His companions, Qian Siyuan and Li Zhengyang, followed, while Qin Yanqiu remained behind, indifferent to anything but combat. Qing Luan, though she stayed put, pricked up her ears.

"Is there something you need?" the girl asked, standing up nervously.

Cheng Guang noticed how old and faded her clothes were. A Crown Princess, yet she could not even afford new clothes? She was truly pitiable.

The girl, sensing his intense gaze, grew more flustered. When the waiter brought the tea, she grabbed it as an excuse to leave. "Sir, I have matters to attend to. I must go."

"The day is ending," Cheng Guang said. "Are you not afraid of accidents leaving the city now?"

She turned back, offering a bright, sunny smile. "You jest, sir. I have no cultivation, but Great Yan is peaceful, and I am the Crown Princess. Besides, I am very strong!" She flexed her arm, showing no muscle at all, yet she seemed incredibly proud of her strength.

"Who told you to return home? You, or the Crown Prince?" Cheng Guang asked.

"No one, I chose to go myself," she said, nodding politely before turning to run out of the teahouse.

Cheng Guang stood up. "Let’s follow."

They exited the city. Outside the gates, the hidden gazes grew sharp. Many wanted to strike, but there were too many competitors. Furthermore, her Treasure Body was not yet mature; they had to wait for the moment of her death to claim the treasure.

As they traveled, the girl skipped along, stopping to watch ants or gaze at the sky. They reached a basin filled with yellow flowers. As the sun set, the field glowed.

"Fang Bo, let’s stay here for the night," she said to the old man.

She lay down in the flowers, gazing at the stars, and closed her eyes. Suddenly, her body began to flicker with a golden, breathing light. The old man gasped in shock, but before he could speak, a cold flash of steel cut through the air.

He collapsed, clutching his throat, his hand reaching out toward the girl before falling lifelessly to the ground.

The hidden experts, seeing the golden light, could no longer restrain themselves. They rushed forward, tearing through the luggage, desperate for the treasure.

Cheng Guang sighed and stepped forward. "The items are taken. Must you strip her as well?"

The others hesitated. They recognized Cheng Guang, the Heir of the Duke of Zhen from Great Zhou. Was it worth offending him to search her body? They decided it wasn't; her clothes were tattered and simple—surely there was nothing else. They retreated, watching from a distance.

The girl opened her eyes and looked at Cheng Guang. A faint surprise crossed her face, followed by a bright smile. "Sir, you were right. It is dangerous outside the city."

Cheng Guang felt a pang of regret. He had thought she was oblivious, but she had known all along. Today was the day her body matured, and she was fated to die. Perhaps dying in a place she loved was the best outcome for her.

"Thank you, sir," she said, smiling through tears. "In all these years, you are the person who has spoken to me the most, even if it was just a few words. Do not blame me for not listening; I did not want to involve you. I did not expect you to be so noble that everyone would give you face. You are truly amazing."

She picked up a yellow flower and offered it to him. "Sir, this flower is beautiful."

As she spoke, a pillar of golden light erupted into the sky. Beneath it, the girl and her clothes dissolved like snowflakes, vanishing in an instant, leaving only her bright smile etched into the field of flowers.

Cheng Guang took the flower, shaking his head with a bitter smile. "Such a hasty expression of gratitude."

He buried her there, then turned back toward Skyfire City.

In the distance, the other experts stared at the trinkets they had fought so hard for, realizing they were worthless. They had been played by the Crown Prince.

In the East Palace of Great Yan, the pale, effeminate Crown Prince sat in his wheelchair, staring at the fading golden glow. He clutched a jade hairpin—the first gift he had ever given her. He had expected it to transform, but it remained unchanged.

"Why?" he whispered, his face twisting in despair. "I planned for years... why is there no treasure?"

As his aide tried to comfort him, suggesting that perhaps she had truly loved him, the Prince brushed him aside. He couldn't even remember her name—Yingying, perhaps?

Meanwhile, as Cheng Guang walked back, he felt a slight warmth in his palm. The yellow flower he held was beginning to glow with a faint light.

Cheng Guang stopped in his tracks, stunned.