A treasured herb often used in pill refinement, known not only for accelerating cultivation speed but also for replenishing yin energy in the body. It also possessed a natural aura. It was said that even a brief moment spent gazing at their glowing petals could ease the heart and clear the mind, washing away fear, worry, or grief like ripples across a still pond.
But more than just their medicinal value, it could also be made into something delicious. The seeds, once dried and prepared properly, could be made into fragrant, slightly sweet treats that were as nourishing as they were tasty.
However, there was something strange about them blooming here.
These lotuses usually only blossomed under the gentle glow of moonlight, and only in ponds rich in yin energy. Yet this place was buried deep within a dark, cursed valley, sealed from the sky, without even a sliver of moonlight.
Langtian squinted at the vibrant blooms, their crimson petals glowing faintly against the inky gloom. "So perhaps... the demonic energy here is acting as a substitute for moonlight? Triggering them to bloom anyway?"
"Mmm! Nice guess!" Yue Ling grinned, clearly pleased. "Looks like someone’s been studying their alchemy notes. You got all three plants right!"
Langtian scratched his cheek, embarrassed but pleased. "It’s all thanks to you! You were the one who taught me botany in the first place."
"Haha, don’t be so modest." Yue Ling chuckled, her voice warm. "I’ve always known you were more hardworking than anyone."
Then her words faded, her gaze drifting toward the pond.
A moment of silence passed.
"Do you still remember... back then, at the sect?" Yue Ling asked softly. "Every night, you’d come to the lotus pond and study under the moonlight."
Langtian blinked slowly, his expression softening. "Yeah... it was a long time ago."
"There was one time I asked why you always stayed out so late. Do you remember what you said?"
"It was... because of the nightmares," he replied quietly.
Back then, there was hardly a night when little Langtian could sleep peacefully. The memory of that day, of the screams, the fire, the blood, of his family being slaughtered by bandits right before his eyes... it haunted him endlessly. No matter how tightly he shut his eyes, it always returned.
"Right." Yue Ling nodded gently. "The lotus pond was one of the only places that could calm your spirit."
"It was." Langtian nodded again. "And after that, you started studying with me too. Sometimes... you even brought me desserts," he added with a small smile.
He could still remember the taste clearly.
A warm, gentle dessert soup made from Spirit Lotus seeds and the extract of Ghostshade Fern. The seeds were soft and nutty, soaked until tender and fragrant, while the fern gave the broth a cooling aftertaste that soothed both body and soul. She always added a touch of honey and a few slices of red dates. That dessert was like drinking moonlight, so he always called it Moonlight Spirit Lotus soup. Just one bowl would wash away the heaviness in his chest and make the world feel a little lighter.
"You had such a sweet tooth back then," Yue Ling teased.
"Haha... yeah, I totally did."
The two of them fell into a quiet stillness, standing side by side at the edge of the pond.
The gentle splash of the waterfall, the shimmer of spirit crystals on the rocky walls, the soft glow of the red lotuses... everything was calm, peaceful.
And just like that, wrapped in the stillness of the valley, the two stood there quietly, letting their memories carry them away for a little while longer.
"Senior Sister Shangguan," Langtian asked, breaking the silence as he turned to her. "You probably have a name for this place, right?"
"Oh yeah. I call it... Crimson Lotus Wolf Spring."
"Eh? Crimson Lotus... Wolf Spring?" Langtian blinked, puzzled. "Well, I get the crimson lotus part. But... why wolf?"
"Hehe," Yue Ling gave a mischievous grin, but didn’t answer right away.
Then suddenly, Langtian’s eyes widened in realization.
"Wait... wolf... that’s my name! Langtian!"
"That’s right," Yue Ling said warmly, ruffling his hair like she always used to. "When I first found this place, the first thing I thought of... was you."
"I-I see..." Langtian murmured, rubbing the back of his neck, a little flustered.
But deep down, her words struck something in him, something warm, and a little painful.
His smile faded slightly as he stared into the pond.
"...You know... after you disappeared, I stopped going to the old lotus pond too."
"Ah... is that so?" Yue Ling asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Yeah..." he nodded, eyes distant. "It just didn’t feel the same anymore."