C557 Star Bead

“Have you never heard of this place before? Weren’t you intentionally coming back here?”

“I honestly hadn’t heard of it before. My being here is purely by chance.”

“Well, I’m not sure what’s going on, but one thing’s for certain: you are who you are, and there’s no mistake about it!” Yun’er said with unwavering confidence.

Woo Zhengyang felt a bit embarrassed. This girl was straightforward—if she didn’t understand something, she didn’t dwell on it. She just accepted that he was who he claimed to be.

“Miss Yun’er…”

“Just call me Yun’er,” she said with a slight pout.

“Alright, Yun’er, could you step out for a moment while I get dressed?”

“Let me help you, Master!” Yun’er offered, starting to move toward him.

Woo Zhengyang was startled and quickly said, “No, no, I can manage on my own!”

“Hehe... Why so shy, Master? I’ve already seen everything anyway…”

Woo Zhengyang was speechless. Even though he was a man and it wasn’t a big deal to be seen by a woman, he still felt uncomfortable and repeatedly declined her help.

Yun’er didn’t insist, giggling as she got up and left the room.

Woo Zhengyang took a shirt out of his Hidden Heaven Bag and put it on, then placed the No Life Sword to the side. Yun’er returned just as he finished.

Seeing how perfectly timed her return was, Woo Zhengyang wondered if he was fooling himself. Whether Yun’er left the room or not didn’t seem to make much difference—she seemed to be aware of his every move.

Woo Zhengyang had no doubt about it. With Yun'er's skills and status, she could easily keep an eye on this palace, and even the entire Hundred Flower World. Otherwise, she wouldn't have shown up at the crucial moment back in the Ocean World.

Noticing the faint smile on Yun'er's face, Woo Zhengyang was even more certain that she had seen everything he had just done. However, knowing this, he decided to keep quiet to avoid further embarrassment.

"Young Master, would you like to rest here for a while, or should I take you to the Path of Stars?"

"You can take me back?"

"Yes, but I can't stay long anywhere outside the Hundred Flower Palace. So, on the Path of Stars, I won't be able to assist you. You'll have to obtain the Star Bead on your own."

"The Star Bead?"

"Yes, it's the most important item in the Star Pavilion. You must acquire it."

"But I'm really not your Young Master!"

Woo Zhengyang knew the Star Bead must be something valuable. However, he was also aware that he was definitely not the Young Master of the Hundred Flower Palace. As tempting as it was, taking it recklessly could offend a powerful Martial Emperor or even a Martial Lord, so he had to be cautious.

"Young Master, there's no need to doubt it. I would never mistake you. You carry the mark left by the Pavilion Lord and the Palace Lord."

"Do I have a mark on me? Where?" Woo Zhengyang asked, puzzled as he examined himself. He had never noticed any mark before.

"The mark is a soul mark, and you wouldn't be able to see it, Young Master. Even Yun'er could only sense it because she controls this world. It's unmistakable. That's why I specifically altered this trial in the Hundred Flower World to reduce its dangers, so you could safely reach the Path of Stars and obtain the Star Bead."

...

"You mean, the moment I entered this world, you sensed the soul mark on me, appeared before me, and then reduced the trial's dangers?" Woo Zhengyang was still skeptical after hearing Yun'er's explanation. However, reflecting on his experiences, he had to admit that Yun'er's words seemed true.

Woo Zhengyang clearly remembered that as soon as he entered this world, the woman named Yun'er appeared and spoke words he couldn't comprehend. The subsequent trial, though still fraught with danger, didn't match the terrifying descriptions he had heard from others. Now it seemed that she had indeed controlled the level of danger.

"Yes, Young Master. And think about it, aren't you a bit different from the others?" Yun'er continued.

"Different? You mean... flying with a sword? That..."

Yun'er smiled and nodded, looking a bit smug.

"Isn't this something you control?"

"Young Master, I have no authority to change the rules of this world. Otherwise, I wouldn't be limited to brief stays in the Hundred Flower World. Your ability to fly with a sword is because this world recognizes you."

This time, Woo Zhengyang had nothing to say. No one else in this world could fly with a sword, only him, and that was indeed inexplicable.

He initially thought his privilege came from this woman named Yun'er, but it turned out to be the world's recognition.

Thinking a bit more, Woo Zhengyang couldn't help but recall the inexplicable sense of familiarity and warmth he felt since entering this world. Now, it felt like he was truly coming home.

"Could it be that I really have some connection to the Hundred Flower World? Am I the Young Master Yun'er mentioned?"

Woo Zhengyang's steadfast beliefs began to waver.

"If I am indeed the Young Master you speak of, what is my relationship with the Pavilion Lord and the Palace Lord you mentioned?"

"The Young Master is naturally the son of the Pavilion Lord and the Palace Lord!"

"The Star Pavilion's Pavilion Lord and the Hundred Flower Palace's Palace Lord?"

"Yes."

Hearing Yun'er say this, Woo Zhengyang felt something was off again.

He had never met his parents, but he was certain his mother was from the previous world. Could she have come to this world and become the Palace Lord of the Hundred Flower Palace?

"Is your leader's last name Wu? And is the Palace Lord's last name Liu?"

"Wu? Liu?" Yun'er furrowed her brows, looking puzzled. "I really don't know. I've only been training for over four hundred years. The leader and the Palace Lord left a long, long time ago..."

"Over four hundred years? A long, long time?" This time, it was Woo Zhengyang's turn to frown.

"Yes, according to the sisters who previously guarded the Hundred Flower World, the leader and the Palace Lord left about ten thousand years ago. At that time, a great catastrophe was approaching, and the leader used immense power to seal the Hundred Flower Palace and the Star Pavilion here. Then, they left together."

"Ten thousand years ago? A great catastrophe? Your leader and the Palace Lord were figures from the ancient era of calamities?"

"Exactly. Back then, our Hundred Flower Palace and Star Pavilion were renowned. Unfortunately, after they were sealed, we sisters couldn't leave this place. We have no idea what happened outside. We've just been waiting for the leader and the Palace Lord to return. But after ten thousand years, they haven't appeared. Instead, we welcomed the young master."