Flower Essence

Could it be that the heavens have finally smiled upon me?

A legendary treasure now lay quietly amidst the flowers.

San Dong observed it cautiously for a long while—this must have been dropped by someone, right?

It was so tiny—would picking it up really cause any trouble?

No, no!

With sheer willpower, San Dong turned away, tiptoeing even more carefully as she walked.

This had to be a trap!

How could so many good things be waiting for her in a single night?

It was definitely bait—she absolutely couldn’t fall for it.

As always, one rule stood above all—survival was paramount. San Dong wanted to live for a long, long time.

She walked away without hesitation. All San Dong needed was the moonlight for cultivation—everything else was a death sentence.

After taking a hundred steps, she stopped again.

Was today her trial day?

Not far away, a tiny fragment of Moonlight Essence was hidden among the flowers.

Had San Dong not been exceptionally sensitive to moonlight, she would never have noticed it.

Was… this bait too?

It was so well concealed—if she hadn’t taken this path, she wouldn’t have sensed it at all.

If they went to such lengths, was it still bait?

San Dong’s expression twisted in conflict. The fragment of Moonlight Essence was minuscule, smaller than a human fingernail, yet it was equivalent to three winters’ worth of cultivation for her.

If she wanted to grow stronger, this Moonlight Essence was the shortcut.

Her thoughts warred—was this a shortcut to power, or a shortcut to her demise?

She had cultivated diligently all this time, never taking any shortcuts.

Not that San Dong didn’t want to—she simply never had the chance.

As a flower spirit, her instincts made it hard to resist such temptation.

But the terror of that night, engulfed in flames, still haunted her.

San Dong bit her lip…

Moonlight was a gift from the heavens, meant for all. Spirit stones, though natural, were at least mined by humans—she dared not touch those.

That Wood Spirit Crystal earlier? Pure bait.

But this Moonlight Essence… and such a tiny fragment at that.

So small it was nearly imperceptible—could it really be bait?

Surely not all the world’s treasures belonged to humans by default.

San Dong cautiously scanned her surroundings, then circled the Moonlight Essence, probing carefully.

She sniffed the air, sensing for any presence.

No humans. No other creatures.

This fragment of Moonlight Essence seemed like a serendipitous gift from the heavens—a reward for her diligent cultivation and virtuous nature!

Still, caution was necessary.

San Dong retreated to a safe distance, picked up a pebble, and lobbed it at the Moonlight Essence.

The pebble struck true.

She hid, tense and alert.

A long while passed—no movement, no strange scents.

Only then did San Dong rise, survey the area once more, and finally approach the Moonlight Essence.

Her tiny hand reached out, ready to bolt at the slightest sign of danger.

The moment her fingers touched it, pure Moonlight Essence surged through her.

San Dong’s eyes fluttered shut in bliss.

Exactly. The world was vast.

The truly magnificent treasures could belong to humans—she had no complaints.

But this tiny, insignificant fragment of Moonlight Essence… surely it wouldn’t hurt if San Dong took it, just this once?

Just as she smiled and prepared to pocket it, the moonlight behind her vanished.

Panic seized her.

A human woman’s silhouette emerged under the moonlight, clear as day.

Regret and terror flooded San Dong’s heart.

It was bait!

Such a tiny fragment of Moonlight Essence had lured her in!

She should’ve just thrown herself at the Wood Spirit Crystal earlier—at least she’d have died for something bigger.

Now she was doomed over the smallest thing.

San Dong felt utterly cheated.

Why was her life as a flower spirit so cursed?

How would the humans eat her?

Alive? Or roasted over flames?

San Dong feared fire… but being eaten alive wasn’t much better.

Still, if forced to choose, she’d take the latter.

Trembling, she turned to face the human cultivator.

Someone who could conceal their presence so completely—revealing herself only when bathed in moonlight—was far beyond San Dong’s ability to fight.

Escape was impossible.

With great effort, San Dong finally got a proper look at the human woman—delicate features, a gentle smile.

"Did… did you drop this?" San Dong held out the Moonlight Essence, voice quivering.

"I just found it… was curious, didn’t mean to take it. Here, you can have it back… can I go now?"

Li Yingling didn’t reach for it. Instead, she studied San Dong with fascination.

This was her first time seeing a living flower spirit up close. She’d read about them, but the illustrations were crude—nothing like this adorable humanoid form.

Keeping her tone soft to avoid further frightening the already panicked spirit, Li Yingling spoke:

"Consider it a gift. San Dong, was it? That’s a lovely name."

"San Dong doesn’t want it…" Her face fell, pleading. "San Dong just wants to go home… alive."

"I’m not here to harm you," Li Yingling said, gentler than ever. "Just a few questions. Answer them, and you’re free to leave."

She produced the earlier Wood Spirit Crystal and a large spirit stone, placing them before the trembling flower spirit.

"Cooperate, and these are yours to take home."

San Dong gulped.

Because now, besides Li Yingling, Xie Lingyu and Zhang Miaoyu had closed in from the other directions.

No chance of escape now.

Stiffly, she nodded.

"Ask… San Dong knows nothing—"

She caught herself and corrected:

"San Dong will tell you what she knows."