Time Travel: I'm a Flower Thief

Looking across the rivers and lakes, the number one manor in the world.

At the Star Gazing Tower, Xie Daoyun was drinking tea with his disciple Situ Rui. The tea was fragrant and the atmosphere was serene.

A white jade teacup tapped lightly on the table. Xie Daoyun looked up, his gaze passing over the window and landing on the cloudless clear sky outside the building.

"It should be around the next day or two; some visitors should come."

Situ Rui paused slightly in the teacup he was holding, and looked up at his master: "Master, how do you know that?"

Ever since Master Ninghua and you sat down to discuss the Dao, very few people have set foot in the Star Gazing Tower. Could it be that Master has once again foreseen the cause and effect?

Thinking of Ning Hua and his master sitting down to discuss the Dao, or rather, to argue, Situ Rui couldn't help but secretly smile.

The scene from that day quietly surfaced in his mind.

Ning Hua of the Zhenwu Dao Sect, nearly a hundred years old, possesses the art of preserving her youthful appearance, looking like a young girl. She has reached the realm of returning to simplicity and is a master of martial arts.

She spoke to her master politely at first, but when her master lightly pinched his fingertips and revealed the secret of heaven, her Daoist heart was slightly disturbed on the spot.

That day—

Xie Daoyun looked at Ning Hua, made a hand seal, and suddenly burst into laughter:

"Master, your martial arts are nearing their peak, and your lifespan is long, so there should be no major problem. However... your marriage line has been moving extremely fiercely recently."

Ning Hua frowned, her beautiful face stiffened, and her tone became more urgent:

"Old ghost Xie, don't talk nonsense! I'm devoted to the Dao and have long since severed all worldly ties. How could I possibly have any romantic entanglements?"

Xie Daoyun shook his head slightly and pointed to the direction of her destiny palace: "The path cannot sever the bond, and the heart cannot escape the affection."

The red thread that binds you is not to an ordinary youth, but to a young man far younger than you, whose brilliance can overwhelm the heavens.

"I don't believe it! It's impossible, absolutely impossible!"

"You are cultivating immortality, while he is defying fate. The more you try to avoid it, the more this destiny will entangle you; there's no escaping it."

"Nonsense! I have cultivated the Dao for decades, how could I be hindered by a mere youth? You are disturbing my resolve!"

"The Taoist priest can defy time and retain the youthful appearance, but he cannot defy this predestined fate."

"Old ghost, this time... you're definitely wrong."

Just as Xie Daoyun was about to speak, he suddenly raised his finger, pointed it straight to the western sky, and slammed his hand on the table.

"Above Kunlun Mountain, the azure energy soars into the sky, and the radiant light pierces the sun—a phenomenon signifying that someone is about to break through to the realm of Earth Immortals!"

Ning Hua was taken aback: "An Earth Immortal seeking guidance? Could it be Cui Juqing?"

Xie Daoyun nodded slightly, his expression solemn: "If he truly reaches the level of an Earth Immortal, there will be no rivals in the world who can catch his eye."

Harboring hatred, the only thing he would do is go to Mount Fuyu and demand Xie Lingyun's return!

......

Xie Daoyun picked up his teacup and took a sip: "The other day, you came with me to climb the tower to observe the sky. Do you still remember the strange things that happened during the day?"

Situ Rui snapped out of his reverie and instantly recalled the scene from that day: "How could I forget? The day before yesterday, at 9:00 AM, the sun was high in the sky."

My master looked up at the sky and was greatly alarmed, saying that he had suddenly seen stars fall during the day. I even asked my master what was going on...

But you seem preoccupied and haven't yet revealed what kind of strange phenomenon it was.

He paused, then pressed on, "Master, what star fell that day? How could it manifest in broad daylight and then suddenly vanish?"

Xie Daoyun put down his teacup and sighed, "This is no ordinary star; it is the Eighth Star of the Left Wall of the Heavenly Market—the East Sea Star."

So that's how it is!

Situ Rui nodded, then asked again:

"Master! The East Sea Star... what does that represent? And why did it fall in broad daylight? What exactly happened?"

Xie Daoyun remained silent for a moment, his tone carrying a hint of confusion:

"Donghai Star was originally the natal star that was drawn together by the energy of Xie Lingyun."

When a star falls in broad daylight, it is generally believed that the star of destiny has passed away and the person is no longer alive.

But judging from her appearance and demeanor, she is by no means destined for a short and premature death. Her destiny is extraordinary, her brilliance has not faded, and her vitality has not been extinguished.

One dies, one lives; one perishes, one flourishes. These two are diametrically opposed, and even your master cannot fathom the mystery within them.

Situ Rui smiled slightly: "Master, aren't you supposed to be able to foresee all the secrets of heaven? Even you have times when you're stumped?"

Xie Daoyun chuckled upon hearing this:

"Your master can observe the stars and glimpse the secrets of heaven, but he is not an omnipotent immortal."

Some things, Heaven can see, but I may not understand; some destinies, the stars can write them down, but I cannot calculate them.

He looked up at the sky outside the window again, his voice as soft as a breeze: "I only know... when a star falls, people move! When a star dies, something happens."

As for the true cause and effect behind it, no one can say for sure until the very last moment.

Situ Rui smiled without speaking, but suddenly remembered what his master had just said, and immediately looked up and asked:

"Master, you just said... that in the next day or two, some laymen will come to visit."

Could it be that someone has come seeking answers from the martial world because of the fall of the Eastern Sea Star and Xie Lingyun's destiny?

Suddenly, the guard Shan Wuling strode in, bowed, and reported, "Reporting to the Master, Xie Mo requests an audience."

"Xie Mo," Situ Rui looked at Xie Daoyun, "Master, is this that worldly guest?"

Xie Daoyun poured himself a cup of tea, smiled faintly, and said, "Let him in!"

Shan Wuling accepted the order, turned around, and walked out.

Soon, Xie Xiaoyi entered and bowed to Xie Daoyun and Situ Rui: "Junior Xie Xiaoyi greets Master Situ and Senior Xie!"

Knowing that his identity as a notorious womanizer was common knowledge, he decided to stop hiding it and simply state his name.

Xie Daoyun smiled slightly, not caring.

Immediately afterwards, Situ Rui had a seat added for Xie Xiaoyi.

After Xie Xiaoyi sat down, he got straight to the point.

He recounted in detail the events of Xie Lingyun's sword duel with Cui Juqing, and how Xie Lingyun disappeared into thin air after the final sword strike.

After saying this, he stood up and bowed to the two of them, saying, "Please enlighten me, Senior Tiansuanzi."

Situ Rui gripped his teacup tightly, his eyes wide with astonishment: "A mere Earth Immortal asking a sword question can vanish into thin air? Such a thing is unheard of!"

Xie Daoyun tapped the table lightly with his fingertips, his gaze calm: "Tell me again the details of the final moment of the sword duel."

Xie Xiaoyi dared not conceal anything and clashed Xie Lingyun and Cui Juqing's final sword strikes, their sword energy reaching its peak.

The two sword intents converged and distorted space, finally tearing through time and space. At that moment, Auntie vanished without a trace.

It was described exactly as it was.

After listening, Xie Daoyun didn't say anything more. He picked up a divination tablet with the character "Qian" engraved on it from the wooden box on the table and casually tossed it onto the jade table.

The divination tablet landed and, with its momentum, crashed into the neat row of sixty-four divination tablets next to it. With a "thud," it knocked out a "Li" divination tablet and bounced away a "Kun" divination tablet.

The three divination tablets stood upright in a triangle on the table, completely still.

He glanced down at it, his fingertip lightly pressing on the "Li" hexagram, his tone devoid of emotion:

"The sword energy soars to the sky, and the two elements complement each other, splitting the boundary between reality and illusion."

As he spoke, he raised his hand and put the three divination tablets back in their place, then looked up at Xie Xiaoyi:

"Xie Lingyun neither dispersed nor left; he was sent into the Primordial Illusion by this sword."

Xie Xiaoyi suddenly stood up, both surprised and delighted: "Senior, you mean... my aunt is still alive?!"