Chapter 114: Faded Flowers of Yesterday, a Father’s Concern (Please Subscribe)

Cheng Guang clearly saw that the plain, ordinary yellow flower in his hand was undergoing a somewhat strange transformation.

Though held firmly in his palm, it gave him a sensation of being somehow unreal.

Qin Beifeng, standing beside him, noticed the change in the flower. His eyes widened in astonishment. He truly had not expected that his young master, after merely walking around without participating in any looting or making any special moves, would somehow end up with the very thing the Crown Princess cherished most.

Come to think of it... that the high-ranking, noble Crown Princess would cherish a flower picked from the roadside above all else in her life was truly a poignant thought. Even a rough man like Qin Beifeng felt a tug at his heartstrings upon seeing this.

Qian Siyuan and Li Zhengyang also noticed the small yellow flower in Cheng Guang’s hand flickering with a faint luster. Qian Siyuan, who usually kept his eyes narrowed in a gentle smile, was so shocked by the sight that he froze, his eyes widening significantly. Li Zhengyang’s breath hitched as he stared at the flower. After a moment, he hurriedly looked around; only when he realized no one else was paying attention to them did he let out a sigh of relief.

"Young Master, you should put this flower away," Li Zhengyang said respectfully.

Cheng Guang shook his head. "No need. This transformation won't last long."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the luster on the flower began to fade and vanish. At the same time, a piece of information surfaced in his mind.

[Fleeting Flower of Tomorrow (One-time Royal-grade Exotic Treasure): If one laments the wine left for the yellow flower, fears the flower, and mocks one’s own loneliness—yesterday’s affairs cannot remain, and tomorrow’s flowers are all reports of the past. Everything is fleeting and ultimately an illusion. Upon use, it reverses the time of the world back by one day. Time is reset; apart from you, no one remembers anything that happened during this day.]

Cheng Guang gently pinched the flower. Initially, he had been casual and indifferent, not taking it to heart. But as the information flooded his mind, he froze, then hurriedly cupped the flower in both hands as if it were a priceless treasure!

A Royal-grade "Fleeting Flower of Tomorrow"!

The only Royal-grade treasure Cheng Guang currently possessed was the Taiji Diagram, which could control a concept that even ordinary Heavenly Beings could not reach—time! He had originally assumed that even if the girl in the yellow dress had transformed her most cherished object into an exotic treasure, its rank would not be high. To him, it would have been an optional existence.

He never imagined that the yellow flower given to him by the girl would turn out to be a Royal-grade treasure! It was an artifact that touched upon the domain of time, and in some sense, its effect was even more powerful than the Taiji Diagram.

Forcing time to reverse by one day, with no one but himself remembering the events—was this not, in a sense, predicting the future? If he encountered a fatal situation, he could use the Fleeting Flower of Tomorrow to foresee it and save his life. If he missed an opportunity, he could use it to reset and seize the chance. Such a powerful effect would make anyone covet it!

With the Fleeting Flower of Tomorrow, he essentially had a trump card. Cheng Guang cradled the flower, his joy growing with every look. Yet, he also felt a tinge of regret. It was a pity it could only be used once; after the usage, the flower would dissipate. However, considering its power, it would be absurd if it could be used indefinitely.

Cheng Guang composed himself and carefully placed the Fleeting Flower of Tomorrow into his storage ring. His steps on the imperial road paused, and he looked toward the horizon, where the faint golden afterglow still lingered. He couldn't help but feel a sense of melancholy.

"Thank you," he whispered in his heart.

Such a precious treasure had come to him with so little effort. Protecting the girl and adding fresh soil to her grave had been a mere gesture—he simply could not bear to see the last shred of her dignity trampled into the dirt. To Cheng Guang, it was a small act of kindness; to her, it was a debt of gratitude heavier than the heavens. He wondered if the flower’s transformation into a Royal-grade treasure had been influenced by the girl herself.

As he felt the flower in his storage ring, he felt as if the ring itself had become scorching hot. If the world knew that the girl’s most cherished possession had become a Royal-grade treasure, they would surely go mad. A single White-grade or Gray-grade treasure could trigger a bloodbath in the pugilistic world; a Royal-grade treasure appearing would shake the entire world and surely incite the greed of the four great dynasties.

Cheng Guang withdrew his gaze from the horizon and walked slowly toward Tianhuo City, the capital of the Great Yan Empire. Along the way, his mood remained inexplicably low. Though he was happy to have obtained such a treasure, the girl's fate weighed on him. It was already a misfortune to be born with a special physique. Living happily for eighteen years was perhaps the best she could have hoped for, but once her nature was exposed, those with ulterior motives would never leave her in peace.

He also noticed that the girl had shown no surprise at the changes occurring within her; she seemed to have known all along. The Crown Prince of Great Yan had deceived her for so long, but in the end, he hadn't managed to hide the truth perfectly. She knew what was happening to her, knew that her end was near, yet she still wore that bright, brilliant smile. He didn't know if she was truly carefree or just naive. In the end, she even said she hadn't dared to talk to him much because she was worried about him.

"Such a silly girl," Cheng Guang murmured, shaking his head and rubbing his brow.

Upon entering Tianhuo City, he returned to the teahouse.

"Young Master, we have arrived," Qian Siyuan said, bowing slightly. "Behind the teahouse, there is a courtyard where I have already had Zhang Rui prepare a room for you."

Cheng Guang nodded slightly. "It is late. You all should go and rest as well."

He walked into the teahouse and then alone into the courtyard behind it. Qin Yanqiu and Qingluan were sitting in a pavilion. Seeing him, Qingluan stood up. "Young Master, you're back. I'll go prepare your bathwater."

Qin Yanqiu observed him, instinctively wanting to discuss their sleeping arrangements, but sensing his low spirits, she held back. She was not unintelligent and, linking his mood to the girl in the yellow dress, she suspected he might be upset about not obtaining the treasure. She didn't ask, however.

Cheng Guang entered the bedroom, closed the door, and sat at the desk, lost in thought. He had followed the girl not for the treasure, but to find information on the "Great Chu Remnant" and the Crown Prince's true intentions. He had gained nothing. No one of special status had appeared, only the usual martial artists and local dignitaries.

He was at a dead end. If he couldn't find the "Great Chu Remnant" until she was completely exposed and besieged in Tianhuo City, it would be too late. What would be the point of completing the task then?

"The Great Chu Remnant," he muttered. He wondered if the Crown Prince's actions were linked to the recent unrest. The Prince had intentionally let the girl leave the palace to lure someone out. If the Prince's target had attacked, he could have prosecuted them. But the Eastern Palace had remained silent, meaning the target hadn't taken the bait.

Cheng Guang called for Qian Siyuan. "Qian Shu, bring me all the intelligence on the recent unrest in the Great Yan Dynasty. Also, I need information on the imperial court, focusing on those who are rivals or have poor relations with the Crown Prince."

Qian Siyuan quickly returned with a stack of files. Cheng Guang read through them, and a realization dawned on him. The unrest was absurdly rooted in the Great Yan imperial succession, which relied on the "Four Trials"—Humanity, Bloodline, Wisdom, and Fortune—rather than primogeniture. The Crown Prince, Li Zhongxin, and a prince's daughter, County Princess Li Xiadong, had both passed the trials. The Emperor favored Li Zhongxin, prompting the Ning Prince to march his army to Tianhuo City in protest.

"The Crown Prince and the Ning Prince’s daughter," Cheng Guang mused. "The Great Chu Remnant is likely one of them."

He decided he needed to confirm their identities. The Crown Prince had a mother, while the Ning Prince’s daughter did not. The latter seemed more suspicious. He decided to contact the County Princess directly.

He set off for the Ning Prince’s mansion with Qin Beifeng, hoping that if she were the "Great Chu Remnant," seeing Qin Beifeng might provoke a reaction. Upon arrival, he was granted entry. When the County Princess appeared, she was elegant and poised, showing no sign of recognition toward Qin Beifeng.

"Young Master, why have you come?" she asked with a smile.

"Pure curiosity," Cheng Guang replied, smiling back.

The County Princess was momentarily stunned by his unconventional answer. She had expected him to be there for political leverage, not simple curiosity. As they sat, Cheng Guang watched her closely, his mind racing. He was determined to uncover the truth behind this mysterious figure.