A hundred flowers bloom in full splendor.

All things possess a spirit; this means that everything in the world is alive, and it is spirituality that gives true meaning to life.

Qin Yi smiled, “That’s how you understand it? Well, reaching this level of comprehension is already quite good.”

After feeding the horse, Zhang Ling set the bowl aside and said, “Yesterday, after you spoke, I suddenly felt something shift within me. Now I’ve truly reached the fourth rank. I was tired from training, so I grabbed two chicken legs. I noticed the horse liked them, too, so I figured most things in the world are like this—there’s no need to rigidly follow the path of those who came before.”

Suddenly, a powerful bird cry echoed from the sky. An eagle descended slowly, landing on the horse’s back. The two creatures became inexplicably excited, the eagle and horse running wildly together.

Zhang Ling continued, “I never tried to tame it, yet I can still ride the horse freely. Similarly, you chose to walk the old path and return to the Origin Realm, but you remain stuck on the threshold. Since you’re starting over, shouldn’t you try a different path? That’s the first point.”

Qin Yi, intrigued, asked, “And the second method?”

Zhang Ling hesitated before replying, “Death.”

The entire manor fell silent.

After a long pause, Zhang Ling walked toward the horse and said, “I’ve given you my advice. The choice is yours.”

Qin Yi called out in a deep voice, “Wait. Yang Xiao and the others have left, right?”

Zhang Ling was surprised, but, thinking of Qin Yi’s cultivation, found nothing unusual. He nodded. Qin Yi folded his sleeves behind his back, a mischievous smile appearing. “Since they’ve gone, you can finish planting the remaining trees. Otherwise, you won’t be allowed to leave.”

Zhang Ling was instantly furious. “Qin Yi, you’re burning bridges after crossing them!”

…

A dewdrop fell onto Zhang Ling’s sleepy eyes. He pushed himself up from the ground. After tending to Yang Xiao’s needs last night, exhaustion overtook him and he slept where he lay. Stretching, a lingering soreness refused to leave.

“Such suffering!”

Looking around and confirming Qin Yi’s absence, Zhang Ling decided to avoid further troubles and quietly led the horse away.

At the gate of the manor, within three feet, a man sat on the ground. His appearance was refined and handsome, so striking that even women would feel ashamed in his presence. Across his knees lay an ancient, deep green zither, painted with a fierce, unknown ghost. The twelve strings, each uniquely adorned, spoke of their own stories. Beside him was a sealed jar of wine.

Just then, Zhang Ling arrived with the horse and stumbled upon him. Surprise gave way to calm as Zhang Ling looked at the gentle man and asked softly, “Are you Qin Yi?”

The gentle man without a mask smiled and nodded. That smile, enough to move women and even proper men, made them marvel at his beauty. Qin Yi stroked the zither strings, wiping away lingering dust, and asked, “Leaving now?”

Zhang Ling nodded, anxiously awaiting what would come next.

The already spotless strings gleamed brighter under Qin Yi’s touch. He gently brushed them again and asked, “Do you know why I let you into this manor?”

Zhang Ling was puzzled and retorted, “Do you think we’re kindred spirits?”

Qin Yi plucked a note—it was not pleasant, but struck directly at the soul.

“That’s part of the reason. Another is, when I first met you, I felt you were somewhat like her, though not quite the same gender.”

Zhang Ling stepped back, suddenly alarmed. “It’s completely different, isn’t it?”

Qin Yi plucked another string, a calming note. Zhang Ling immediately felt at ease. Qin Yi teased, “Just joking. I waited here for you because I have something to give you.”

Without standing, Qin Yi opened the wine jar beside him. Zhang Ling sniffed hard, but found no expected aroma. Qin Yi handed him the jar. After Zhang Ling took it, Qin Yi said, “This wine is not the same as what you drank before. After I summoned the hundred flowers last time, I used their petals to brew this Hundred Flowers Wine. Even I haven’t tasted it yet.”

Zhang Ling tried to return the wine, but Qin Yi waved him off. “No need, this jar is for you. There will be more later.”

Seeing Zhang Ling’s hesitation, Qin Yi asked, “Any other questions?”

Zhang Ling spoke, “I’m about to leave. Drinking now—isn’t that riding under the influence?”

Qin Yi laughed, “Riding under the influence? That’s a novel term. I’ll have to try it next time. But if you don’t drink now, you won’t be able to leave the manor.”

Zhang Ling raised the jar and drank greedily. There was a hint of intoxication, but surprisingly no drunkenness. After finishing it, he said, “The wine tastes good, and it seems to carry all the flavors of life.”

Qin Yi said no more, gently plucking the zither strings. Each note rang clear in Zhang Ling’s ears. He had considered using his spiritual power to resist, but found no threat, so he dropped his guard.

Zhang Ling gazed at Qin Yi’s zither; the melody was calm, yet he could not make out the order of Qin Yi’s fingers on the strings. Sensing something, Zhang Ling shifted his gaze around him. Peach, plum, apricot, and plum blossoms—all the flowers that had wilted overnight began to bud, form blossoms, and bloom at speeds visible to the naked eye.

Decline and flourishing, withering and thriving, all happened in an instant, displaying the full life of a hundred flowers.

The melody continued. Qin Yi played the twelve strings, quietly reciting, “Gathered in delicate splendor, a hundred flowers bloom together.”

As Qin Yi finished speaking, the entire manor’s flowers reached their peak. At the same moment, a mist rose and spread throughout the manor, while outside everything remained unchanged.

In the haze, Zhang Ling saw lotuses blooming in the mist. Barriers in his heart broke down, and he sat, closing his eyes. The zither’s melody gradually faded, and in his inner vision, the manor appeared as a celestial paradise. As his gaze wandered, he saw the fallen willow tree.

Outside the dream, when the music truly stopped, the hundred blooming flowers began to shed their petals. Zhang Ling opened his eyes, feeling clear and refreshed. Rising, the soreness in his waist had vanished.

He looked at the handsome man who stood with him and asked, “How long did I sleep?”

Qin Yi replied, “The span of a breath, I played for only a quarter hour.”

Zhang Ling hesitated, but Qin Yi said, “You’re truly fine now; you can go.”

Taking up the reins, Zhang Ling walked out of the manor without a second thought. The oppressive feeling in his heart lifted. He rested his hand on the horse and looked back. “By the way, I have something else to say to you.”

Qin Yi looked at him, his presence suddenly intensifying. “Just as I step out the door, I run into your messy affairs—really puts me in a foul mood.”

With that, Zhang Ling mounted his horse, slapped its side, and the man and beast swiftly departed, not lingering for a moment, fearful that the one behind him might change his mind.