Translator: CinderTL
"But I've never seen anything like it. If I don't tell my big brother, how will I ever find it?" Qing Lian's brow furrowed deeply, clearly concerned about the matter.
Suddenly, her expression softened.
"I've got it! I'll tell my big brother that I urgently need this Yaoguang Lotus. He'll definitely search for it with all his might." Qing Lian's voice carried a hint of pride, as if boasting about her cleverness.
Seeing this, Song Wen suddenly regretted telling the serpent about the Yaoguang Lotus.
This girl is so naive, she's almost foolish!
If she acted exactly as he instructed, King Jianglin wouldn't suspect anything. But Song Wen had just arrived at the Willow Serpent Clan, and Qing Lian's sudden need for the Yaoguang Lotus would make King Jianglin immediately suspect he was involved.
Song Wen worried that Qing Lian's innocence might inadvertently expose his secrets.
"No, that's not necessary. We shouldn't trouble King Jianglin with this. Just discreetly help me inquire about it. If you find anything, that's great. If not, it's fine." Song Wen said.
"Alright," Qing Lian agreed. "But Ji Yin, are you sure our Willow Serpent Clan has this Spirit Herb? What if it doesn't belong to us? Wouldn't that be like trying to find a fish by climbing a tree?"
Song Wen shook his head.
"I'm not entirely sure. When I was still on the Eastern Profound Continent, I heard people mention the Western Rong Continent, your Willow Serpent Clan, and the Yaoguang Lotus of your clan."
"The Yaoguang Lotus is crucial for me. Without it, my cultivation might stagnate at the Body Integration Stage for the rest of my life."
"Originally, I didn't hold any hope for this matter. After all, the Western Rong Continent exists only in legends. No one knows its exact location or how far it is from the Eastern Profound Continent."
"Yet, through an unexpected twist of fate, I was transported to the Western Rong Continent and even met you, Miss Qinglian. Naturally, this gave me some hope."
"However, I am an outsider to the Willow Serpent Clan. If I were to rashly inquire about your clan's treasures, I would undoubtedly be viewed as a schemer with malicious intentions. Therefore, this matter must be kept absolutely secret from outsiders. Otherwise, I fear for my life."
Qing Lian didn't doubt Song Wen's half-true, half-false words at all. Instead, she felt deeply honored that 'Ji Yin' trusted her completely, sharing such life-and-death matters with her. This filled her with joy.
"Ji Yin, rest assured, not a third person will learn of this. I will even keep it from my big brother. I will do everything in my power to help you find the Yaoguang Lotus."
"Thank you, Miss Qinglian," Song Wen said.
"We need no thanks between us," Qing Lian replied, her gaze as soft and tender as autumn water.
At noon, Song Wen bid farewell to Qing Lian and set out alone for the Human Pavilion.
The Human Pavilion was not far, only a thousand li from King Jianglin's domain.
Since Willow Serpents were sparsely populated in this region, Song Wen encountered only a few dozen during his journey. Though he was noticed, he faced no harassment and arrived at the Human Pavilion smoothly.
The Human Pavilion was built within a mountain valley.
At the valley's entrance stood a massive stone tablet inscribed with:
Human Pavilion - Willow Serpents Forbidden.
Beside the tablet stood two sixth-tier Willow Serpents, both female, their human forms completely unadorned. One had fiery red hair, the other a cascade of black.
"Halt! This is a restricted area of the Human Pavilion. No Willow Serpents are permitted entry!" the red-haired serpent barked.
"I am human," Song Wen replied calmly.
"You are human?" The two serpents exchanged puzzled glances. "We have guarded this place for generations. How have we never seen you before? Could you be the male human King Jianglin recently brought back?"
"That is indeed me," Song Wen confirmed.
"It really is you!"
The two serpents exchanged a look, a flicker of intense heat passing through their eyes before they forcibly suppressed it. The red-haired serpent's expression turned stern.
"This is your first time at the Human Pavilion, so we can't just let you in. We need to verify your identity."
"How do we verify my identity?" Song Wen asked.
"It's simple."
As he spoke, the tails of the two Willow Serpents swayed and slithered forward.
Simultaneously, they reached out and touched Song Wen's chest.
Song Wen's expression froze, and he instinctively took two steps back.
How could they just lay hands on me like that?
He suddenly recalled the common sight in the mortal world: petty officials taking advantage of their authority to grope respectable women while on duty.
How similar this scene was to that!
He never expected such a situation to befall a seven-foot-tall man like him.
"Don't worry, we're just verifying your body. We won't do anything to you," the red-haired Willow Serpent explained.
The two serpents showed no signs of stopping. They pressed closer to Song Wen and began touching him all over.
A flicker of despair crossed Song Wen's eyes as he slowly closed them.
What choice did he have but to endure this silently while living under someone else's roof?
Fortunately, the two Willow Serpents merely took liberties with their hands and didn't go further.
After thoroughly patting down Song Wen's entire body, even checking the soles of his feet, the two serpents retreated about ten feet.
"You are indeed human. You may enter," the red-haired Willow Serpent declared.
"Thank you."
Song Wen smoothed his robes, slipped between the two Willow Serpents, and strode toward the entrance.
Behind him, the two serpents erupted in excited whispers.
So soft... so warm... so firm...
Passing through the mountain valley's entrance, Song Wen's eyes fell upon an extravagantly luxurious courtyard.
At its center lay a Spirit Spring, its waters shimmering with golden light. The spring radiated a misty aura of Spiritual Qi, which refracted sunlight into a rainbow of colors.
Artificial rockeries and cooling pavilions were scattered along the spring's edge.
The pavilions, all crafted from white jade, were connected by elaborately carved corridors with painted pillars.
Flanking the corridors were exotic flowers and rare plants.
Yet, the entire Human Pavilion was deserted.
Though slightly disappointed, Song Wen drifted gracefully to land in a pavilion by the spring.
After two days of constant attention from Qing Lian and King Jianglin, the sisters, he was utterly exhausted. This quiet retreat would be a welcome respite.
He waited until dusk, but no one appeared.
Then, the red-haired Willow Serpent's voice echoed from the valley entrance.
"Human young master, the pavilion is closing. Overnight stays are not permitted. Please depart promptly."
Helpless, Song Wen rose and left.
As he returned to his cultivation cave, he saw Qing Lian standing outside, her head tilted and eyes full of anticipation.
"Ji Yin, you're back! Did you see any of your kind?" Qing Lian asked eagerly.
"No. Besides me, no one visited the Human Pavilion today," Song Wen replied.
"That's alright. If you visit a few more times, you're bound to encounter them," Qing Lian said.
"I plan to go back tomorrow," Song Wen said. "Miss Qinglian, it's getting late. You should return to your cultivation cave soon."
"Then I'll come see you again tomorrow," Qing Lian said.
After watching Qing Lian depart, Song Wen entered his cultivation cave.
Not long after, Jianglin appeared once more.
She arrived earlier than yesterday, materializing as soon as the sky had fully darkened.
(End of the Chapter)
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