Time Travel: I'm a Flower Thief

The number one manor in the world, the Star Gazing Tower.

The Sky-Viewing Tower, with its windows wide open, lets in the wind that gently stirs the curtains.

Xie Daoyun, dressed in a Taoist robe, stood under the east window, his gaze fixed on the East China Sea.

Light footsteps sounded on the steps as Situ Rui stepped up and bowed, saying, "Master."

Xie Daoyun didn't turn around. He lightly twirled a black jade chess piece between his fingers and said calmly, "How's the news coming from the East Sea?"

Situ Rui bowed his head and replied:

"Reporting to Master, the disciples of the Manor's Records Pavilion are already stationed at the East Sea Cliff. The entire competition, down to the smallest detail, will be reported to the pavilion once the duel concludes."

As he spoke, his gaze swept over Xie Daoyun's fixed profile, hesitated for a moment, and then asked:

"Master, in your opinion, who will win this sword duel between these two?"

Xie Daoyun's gaze remained fixed on the eastern horizon, a half-smile playing on his lips:

"Moon Goddess's Great Searching Divine Hand has now reached a state of perfection. She can use wind, thunder, water, fire, and earth at her disposal, and can even use the opportunities of heaven and earth to forcibly enhance her power."

She was originally at the Moon Void Breaking Dust Realm, and with the help of the sea and sky in this battle in the East Sea, it wouldn't be impossible for her to unleash a killing move at the Earth Immortal Inquiry Realm.

Situ Rui frowned: "Master means... Xie Lingyun will lose?"

Xie Daoyun shook his head: "Xie Lingyun has lived in the East Sea for a long time and is truly the host. If we're talking about taking advantage of the timing and location, how could she lose to Yue Xiaoshen?"

Situ Rui's eyes showed even greater confusion: "Then what does Master mean?"

"Unless they fight to the death, there won't be a clear winner!"

Having said that, Xie Daoyun raised his hand and pointed eastward, lightly touching the horizon with his fingertip.

"Look, on the eastern horizon, a purple glow is rising, swirling with clouds and mist..."

"Master, what kind of strange phenomenon is that?"

"Auspicious purple clouds rise from the east, and the stars shift in an unusual direction. This Sword Challenge in the East Sea was originally a contest between two people, but unexpectedly, others have also joined in the fun."

"Joining the fun? Who is that?"

"Heh, Xie Lingyun is going to fight Yue Xiaoshen, but he's probably going to run into that kid Xie soon."

"You mean... Xie Mo?"

Just then, two steady footsteps came from outside the building.

"Mountains Without Edges, Seas Without Cliffs" stood side by side before the steps: "Master, someone outside the manor requests an audience with you."

"Who requests an audience?"

"Reporting to the Master, it is the Second Prince, His Highness Wang Yu."

Situ Rui frowned slightly and turned to look at Xie Daoyun:

"Master, you have long since retired from the court and do not wish to have any further involvement with the royal family. Should I take care of this matter on your behalf?"

Xie Daoyun shook his head slightly:

"What is meant to come will find its way, even if it hides deep in the clouds. This observatory can observe the celestial phenomena of the world, but it cannot escape the entanglements of human life."

"Disciple understands!" Situ Rui turned to look at the boundless mountains and seas before him, "Please, Second Prince, come upstairs and have some tea."

"Yes, Master."

The building fell silent for a moment, with only the soft sound of the wind passing through the windows.

Xie Daoyun looked up at the east: "The aura of the First Emperor has stirred, and the royal family's spies have arrived. This game of chess is finally going to be brought into the open."

A short while later, the Second Prince Wang Yu slowly stepped into the Lingxiao Layer, followed by four black-clad guards in pairs.

Wang Yu was dressed in a brocade robe, with delicate features and a gentle smile on his face. In every gesture, he showed no arrogance or haughtiness of a prince.

When Xie Daoyun and Situ Rui saw Wang Yu enter, they both bowed and said in unison, "Greetings, Second Prince."

Seeing this, Wang Yu quickly stepped forward, placing his hands lightly on the elbows of the two men, and said in a gentle and earnest voice:

"Grand Tutor Xie and Master Situ, please rise! Such a grand gesture is too much for Wang Yu to bear!"

Xie Daoyun slowly rose and chuckled softly:

"I have resigned from my position as Grand Tutor and retired to the wilderness for eighteen years. Your Highness's address to me in such a way is too much of an honor for me."

Upon hearing this, Wang Yu smiled warmly and politely: "Then I shall address you as—Sir?"

Xie Daoyun smiled faintly and nodded in agreement: "Very well."

Once both sides were seated, there was little small talk.

Wang Yu put down his teacup, his gentle smile fading slightly, and got straight to the point.

"The old gentleman was a master strategist in his time in the court; his reputation was certainly well-deserved. I won't hide anything from him."

The Imperial Observatory previously issued a prophecy: "The First Emperor reappears, shaking the nine heavens; a single sword's roar shakes the dynasty." With the old gentleman's great talent, he must surely be able to decipher the mystery within.

Xie Daoyun paused slightly at the black jade chess piece between his fingers: "I wonder what service this old Taoist can offer His Highness the Second Prince?"

"I need to find the person mentioned in the comment."

"This old Taoist priest is of meager skill and cannot fathom the secrets of heaven. If Your Highness wishes to find someone, why not divine a single character and cast a divination?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Yu immediately picked up the wolf-hair brush from the table and wrote a vigorous character for "dragon".

After finishing writing, he placed the pen on the pen holder, reached out and took the divination tube handed to him by Situ Rui, and shook it repeatedly.

The hexagram is Qian (☰), line 95 – Flying dragon in the sky.

Xie Daoyun lowered his eyes to look at the character "Dragon" first, then swept his gaze over the divination image, lightly twirled the copper coin on the corner of the table with his fingertips, and spoke after a long while.

"The dragon character written by Your Highness is a single, powerful stroke, with a deep and subtle yet sharp brushwork, symbolizing the imperial status of the emperor."

Then, the hexagram Qian (☰) is obtained, with the ninth line in the fifth position, "The flying dragon is in the sky; it is advantageous to see a great man." This hexagram and this word both indicate that the person is no ordinary individual.

He looked up at Wang Yu, his gaze unwavering, and continued:

"A flying dragon in the sky is a sign of supreme power, indicating that this person is destined for greatness and has reached the point where he will rise to prominence, rather than being an unknown figure hiding in the shadows."

Furthermore, the character "dragon" belongs to the element of fire, and its hexagram signifies strength. The combination of these two elements indicates that this person is skilled in weaponry, especially swords, and is likely a prominent figure in the martial arts world whose reputation for swordplay has recently gained traction.

After a slight pause, Xie Daoyun pointed his fingertip at the left-falling stroke of the character "dragon":

"However, the strokes of the character 'dragon' were too hasty at the beginning and end. Although the hexagram is auspicious, it lacks humility. Your Highness is seeking him out."

Remember that "seeing a great man" is not something to be forced; it is obtained by following the natural order. If you insist on pursuing it, you are more likely to lose track of him.

A glint flashed in Wang Yu's eyes, his body straightened slightly, and his words went straight to the heart of the matter:

"Sir, the aura of the ancestral dragon will appear in the world in eighteen years, which will prove that this person is eighteen years old."

I've heard that there's a swordsman named Xie on your list of hidden talents, and he's exactly eighteen. Do you think this is him?

Xie Daoyun lightly pinched the edge of the divination tube with his fingertips, his gaze falling between the character "Dragon" and the hexagram:

"The divination reveals a dragon and a elephant, the list hides the sound of a sword, the year and the opportunity are all just a coincidence in the world."

Wang Yu raised an eyebrow and smiled: "Sir, do you mean that the Ancestral Dragon True Qi has nothing to do with that swordsman surnamed Xie?"

Xie Daoyun raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping over Wang Yu with a seemingly unfathomable look. His fingertips lightly tapped the table, each word cryptic and indeterminate:

"A dragon in hiding has not yet encountered the wind and clouds; how can we know if it is a dragon or a raw jade? The aura of the ancestral dragon is hidden in its momentum, not in its form. If the time is not right, further discussion is of no use."

Wang Yu knew that Xie Daoyun had already stopped there, and further questioning would be pointless, so he immediately stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, and spoke in a humble tone:

"Sir, your insights are profound, and I have learned much from them. Since the Dharma has its own predetermined course, I will not trouble you any further and will take my leave now."

Xie Daoyun also stood up and nodded, saying calmly, "Your Highness, please take care."

......

"Master, placing Xie Mo on the Hidden Dragon List previously, which attracted the attention of the royal family, might have harmed him?"

"A hidden dragon will not be confined to shallow waters; when the winds and clouds rise, it will ascend to the heavens."