Chapter Ninety-Four: Wang Bing’s Ordeal

“How did you come across that man-eating flower?” Qin Yu asked Wang Bing, who had just finished his meal.

Wang Bing wiped his mouth and sighed, “Boss Qin, we were set up! After we left the base that day, we started working on the task you gave us. But not even a day had passed before several groups kept provoking us, trying to find out your whereabouts. When we refused to answer, they resorted to violence. Luckily, they were just a bunch of nobodies and didn’t do us much harm—just wasted a few bullets.

After that, we grew cautious and gathered some information ourselves. That scoundrel Tian Jian dared to slander you, Boss Qin. He actually claimed in the base that you killed Qian Ying! We kept dodging those ignorant fools while carrying out the mission. But after a week, people started talking about Tian Jian’s misdeeds. Turns out, he’d done countless insane things!

Later, while working with another squad on a task, we accidentally fell into a pit. It was eerie down there. We tried to get the other squad to pull us up, but those bastards ran off! We had no choice but to go deeper into the pit, where we saw a flower—the man-eating one. At the time, it looked weak and small, and beside it was something glittering.

We figured it might be a crystal core, so we went to grab it. As soon as we took the stone, the flower suddenly grew enormous and attacked us. We barely escaped the pit, but who would’ve thought the man-eating flower could chase us? It kept coming after us, and, well, you saw what happened, Boss Qin.”

Qin Yu looked at Wang Bing, whose face was full of shame. “Do you still have the stone?”

Wang Bing nodded repeatedly, then took a sparkling stone from his trouser pocket and handed it to Qin Yu. Qin Yu examined it carefully; except for its shimmering luster, it didn’t seem anything special.

But soon, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes. She heard the voice of her little flower spirit, which hadn’t appeared for a long time.

“Master! Keep that stone, it’s the Earth Spirit!” came the soft, sticky voice from her sea of consciousness.

Qin Yu’s hand paused; she turned to Wang Bing and said, “I understand. I can use this stone. You’ve done a great service this time—ask for anything you want. If it’s within my power, I’ll make it happen!”

Wang Bing scratched his head. “It’s what we should do, Boss Qin. As long as you don’t blame us for acting on our own, we’re happy.”

Qin Yu nodded, saying nothing more. She quietly decided that, once they returned to the base, she would make sure Wang Bing and his team got their rewards. She clutched the so-called Earth Spirit, tossed it into her spatial storage, and followed with her dagger.

Inside the space, the little flower spirit hopped out of the dagger, hugged the Earth Spirit, and kissed it repeatedly. She turned to Little Black and exclaimed, “Master is so lucky! She managed to get the Earth Spirit!”

Little Black patted her head indulgently, then glanced at Little Red, whose fur was bristling in challenge.

Little Red arched his body, eyeing the Earth Spirit in the little flower’s hands. He felt that the glittering stone held immense energy. He did love shiny things, but only when they posed no threat. Now, sensing danger, he just wanted to destroy the stone.

Of course, Little Flower wouldn’t let him. She stroked the Earth Spirit, stored it in her own space, and dragged Little Black away, disappearing from Qin Yu’s spatial domain. Only the flustered Little Red remained, staring blankly at the empty space, ignoring the unconscious man lying there.

No one noticed that, within the space, the faint yellow glow of the Earth Spirit was being drawn toward Little Faint, who, despite his feeble aura, managed to attract a sliver of its power without anyone else—even those who were barely human—paying attention.

Back outside, Qin Yu watched as Nangong Yao and Ruoruo finally returned from their conversation, smiling with a hint of intrigue.

Anyone would think twice seeing a man-eating flower transform into a little girl, chat, and then emerge as a seductive, mature woman.

Nangong Yao looked at Qin Yu, whose amused smile sent a chill down his spine. Why did she seem so terrifying right now? Was she possessed by a demonic cultivator? But Qin Yu—

He shook his head, banishing his wild thoughts. Beside him, Ruoruo suddenly burst into tears. “Wuwuwu, Master, are you disgusted with me? Please don’t dislike Ruoruo, okay? Ruoruo can perform a live swallowing show for you, okay?”

Qin Yu almost lost her composure seeing Ruoruo, with the face of an elegant lady, acting like a little girl. The bizarre incongruity was simply overwhelming! And what on earth was a "live swallowing show"? Sure, she was a man-eating flower, but now she was supposed to be human! Human! Qin Yu roared inwardly, though her expression remained serene.

Nangong Yao looked at Ruoruo’s pitiful act and replied dryly, “I’m not disgusted with you. Besides, that trick doesn’t work on me.”

Hearing this, Ruoruo wiped away nonexistent tears, ignoring Nangong Yao’s reaction, and strode straight to Wang Bing. She lashed the ground beside him with her whip, raised her head, and threatened, “If you don’t return the Earth Spirit, I’ll swallow you whole.”

Wang Bing’s face was a mask of terror—was this the same man-eating flower as before? Wasn’t she the soft, adorable little girl? Boss Qin, help! He’s about to be eaten!

Wang Bing cast a pleading look at Qin Yu. Ruoruo followed his gaze, then walked over to Qin Yu, scrutinized her up and down, looked back at her master, and reluctantly returned to Nangong Yao’s side, swinging her whip.

Qin Yu gazed at Nangong Yao, full of questions, only to hear him say, “The time is not yet right. Fate cannot be spoken.”

The corners of Qin Yu’s mouth twitched—fate, indeed. If fate really existed, why was this land so battered and broken?

Since he was unwilling to say more, she suspected she couldn’t pry further. Though it was unpleasant to be kept in the dark, she seemed to have gained much. The rest could wait until Nangong Yao chose to speak. After all, she thought herself quite understanding, didn’t she?

Just then, Xia Cheng and Zhao Meng returned from the other side. Seeing Meng’s flushed cheeks and Xia Cheng’s triumphant look, everyone exchanged knowing glances.

Except for Tao, who kept her head down from the start, everyone else watched Zhao Meng with teasing expressions, making her blush even deeper.

Meanwhile, Tao’s gaze fell on the flower bud at the center of Qin Yu’s hand, now with one petal unfurled, her expression unreadable.