How did I, a fake bodyguard, become a terrestrial immortal?

Lu Yang lingered over the Xuanwu Ruins for a long time.

The river breeze is blowing again.

Lu Yang stood on the shore, looking at the familiar face reflected in the water, and for a moment he couldn't tell which world was his hometown.

He lived in that world without martial arts for more than twenty years.

His parents and friends were there.

There are also jobs he wants to escape from every day when he opens his eyes, but he has no choice but to go to.

Those experiences did not become false because of a time travel.

Now all he knows is that he originally belonged here.

But that doesn’t mean he can easily let go of those twenty-odd years of his life.

Lu Yang remained silent for a moment, then suddenly squatted down, picked up a flat pebble from the riverbank, and threw it forcefully.

The pebble bounced on the water's surface a dozen times before finally disappearing into the distance.

"Old Fang."

"Um?"

"If I died in that world, would that count as a work-related injury?"

Fang Xuan originally thought he was going to ask something important.

Upon hearing this, my eyelids twitched.

"You died on your way home."

"That's on the way home from get off work, so it should count."

Lu Yang nodded seriously.

"It's a pity he can't go back, and he probably won't receive any compensation."

Fang Xuan did not respond.

He knew that Lu Yang was just using this method to suppress the emotions he couldn't express.

Lu Yang from that world is already dead.

But he's still alive here.

As long as a person is alive, there will always be a chance to figure things out.

As for Xuanwu Ruins...

Lu Yang reactivated the system.

The original escort route still exists, but the mission has not officially started.

Final destination: Xuanwu Ruins.

The current escort route is incomplete.

The conditions for repositioning have not yet been met.

Please continue restoring the original commission file.

Upon seeing the last line, Lu Yang breathed a slight sigh of relief.

At least the system didn't make him rush into Xuanwu Ruins immediately to fight those things that could steer the black ships.

Just as Lu Yang was about to put away the system, a soft cough came from behind him.

The sound was very soft.

Bai Yixin's expression changed instantly.

Bai Miyao, who was nestled in her arms, had woken up at some point. Her face was pale, almost bloodless, and her lips had an unnatural bluish tinge.

Her right hand gripped the hem of her clothes tightly.

A faint wisp of emerald green light peeked through between his fingers.

"Yao'er?"

As soon as Bai Yixin grasped her hand, Bai Miyao's body trembled violently.

A petal-shaped cyan pattern emerged from her palm and quickly spread upwards along her slender wrist.

Wild grass grew wildly in the nearby soil.

In just a few breaths, the grass blades grew to more than half a person's height.

Immediately afterwards, all the weeds withered at the same time.

It was as if something had instantly drained all its vitality.

Fang Xuan's expression changed drastically.

The silver needles flew out simultaneously, piercing acupoints near Bai Miyao's wrist and heart.

After the silver needle fell, it turned emerald green at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Tiny buds sprouted from the tip of the needle.

Fang Xuan quickly formed hand seals, channeling strands of true energy into Bai Miyao's body, which barely stopped the blue patterns from spreading further toward her heart.

Bai Miyao's tightly furrowed brows slowly relaxed.

The person then fell into a deep sleep.

"What happened?"

Lu Yang came to Bai Yixin's side.

Fang Xuan did not answer immediately.

He looked at the silver needles that had already sprouted tender buds, his expression even more solemn than when he faced the Black Ship.

The Azure Emperor's Dao Seed within Bai Miyao's body should have remained dormant.

The Zhenwu Division had not found anything unusual during their two previous inspections because Fang Xuan had used a secret technique to conceal the aura of his Dao Seed.

But concealment is ultimately not a seal.

It's not a cure either.

Fang Xuan originally expected that the secret technique would last for at least three months.

Unexpectedly, when the black ship appeared, the Xuanwu life seed in Lu Yang's body was fully awakened. The two Dao seeds resonated with each other and broke through his concealment ahead of time.

The Azure Emperor's Dao Seed has now begun to sprout.

It will continuously absorb Bai Miyao's essence and vitality, using her body as soil to nurture the Dao seed.

Once the blue lines spread to the heart, the Dao Seed will be fully matured.

By then, Bai Miyao will be dead.

The Dao Seed will also leave her body, attracting all those who covet the Azure Emperor's inheritance.

"How long can this suppression last?"

Lu Yang asked.

"Twelve days."

Fang Xuan withdrew his hands.

"I can use the Pulse-Locking Needle to slow down the growth of the Dao Seed, but I can only use it three times. After three times, the silver needle will lose its effect."

"How can we save him?"

"We still need to go to Wanhua Valley." Fang Xuan looked up at the north bank of the Duanlong River.

Wanhua Valley is located deep in the Cangwu Mountains in the northern border region and has been passed down for hundreds of years.

The people in the valley do not practice swordsmanship, but only the art of healing through herbs and plants.

Legend has it that there is a Spring Spring in the Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers that can replenish vitality and reshape meridians.

The Valley Masters of each generation also possessed a secret technique called the Withering and Flourishing Technique, which could temporarily separate an immature Dao Seed from the human body.

In the entire Dali Kingdom, only there is a place where Bai Miyao can be saved.

"possible?"

Bai Yixin caught the word.

Fang Xuan remained silent for a moment.

"The Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers was closed off ten years ago, and has not treated outsiders since."

"Furthermore, I cannot be certain whether the Valley Master will agree to remove the Dao Seed."

Bai Yixin held Bai Miyao tightly in his arms, his face growing paler.

Lu Yang noticed something else.

"You knew all along that the Valley of a Thousand Flowers could save her?"

From the moment they arrived in Hanlin City, Fang Xuan kept urging them to leave as soon as possible.

He said at the time that it was to evade the Zhenwu Division's investigation.

In retrospect, that was only one of the reasons.

The place Fang Xuan truly wanted them to go to was probably the Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers.

"I am indeed planning to take her there."

Fang Xuan did not deny it.

"But at that time, the Dao Seed had not yet awakened, and I was not sure if the Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers was willing to reopen the valley for a possible trouble."

Lu Yang stared at him for a moment.

This statement sounds fine.

However, Fang Xuan still concealed some things.

He knew more than just that Wanhua Valley could save Bai Miyao.

There is likely some unknown relationship between him and the Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers.

However, Lu Yang did not press the matter further.

The most important thing now is not how many secrets Fang Xuan is hiding, but to save Bai Miyao's life.

The system notification also sounded at that moment.

[A target capable of being escorted has been detected.]

The temporary escort mission has been activated.

[Task Name: Before the Flowers Bloom.]

[Target to escort: Bai Miyao.]

[Destination: Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers. 】

[Remaining time: 12 days.]

[Mission Rewards: One martial arts skill draw, and files related to the Azure Emperor's Dao Seed.]

[Mission failed: The escorted target died, and the Dao Seed matured.]

【Whether to accept? 】

Lu Yang immediately selected "confirm".

Starting from Black Bull Town, his first escort mission was to escort Bai Yixin and her daughter to Hanlin City.

The destination later changed.

The troubles we encountered were getting bigger and bigger.

But one thing has never changed.

As long as the mother and daughter are still with him, this escort mission is not truly over.

Bai Yixin raised her head, her eyes filled with a pleading look.

Before she could speak, Lu Yang reached out and gently touched Bai Miyao's cold forehead.

Don't look at me like that.

"We haven't settled our score yet."

"The money for the inn, the money for buying candy, plus the escort fee for this trip to the Valley of a Thousand Flowers..."

Lu Yang did the calculations carefully.

"When Yao'er grows up, I estimate it will take her decades of working as my accountant to pay off the debt."

Bai Yixin's eyes were slightly red.

But in the end, he made me laugh.

"it is good."

"As long as she can live, it doesn't matter how many years."

Lu Yang stood up and looked towards the north bank of the Duanlong River.

Xuanwu Ruins are located in the north.

Wanhua Valley is also located in the north.

Two routes that were originally unrelated briefly overlapped in the system.

The road stretches out from the foot of Lu Yang, crosses the river, and disappears into the vast mountains.

Lu Yang suddenly had a feeling.

The Azure Emperor Dao Seed within Bai Miyao's body and the Black Tortoise Life Seed within him were probably never a chance encounter.

Perhaps Fang Xuan had always known this...

Lu Yang took Bai Miyao from Bai Yixin's arms and carried the little girl on his back.

"Let's go. Let's set off for the Valley of a Thousand Flowers!"

Bai Miyao, who was in a deep sleep, seemed to hear his voice.

She leaned on Lu Yang's shoulder and mumbled something softly.

"Uncle Lu..."

"Does the Valley of a Thousand Flowers have candy?"

Lu Yang paused in his steps.

"have."

"Even without my father, they can still produce offspring."

The people on the riverbank began searching for boats that could cross the river.

Meanwhile, eight hundred miles away.

In the Valley of a Thousand Flowers, where flowers bloom year-round, thousands upon thousands of blossoms suddenly drooped their petals without warning.

Deep in the valley, a tender bud slowly sprouted from an ancient tree that had been dead for twenty years.

Under the tree, a white-haired woman sat cross-legged.

She opened her eyes and looked in the direction of the Duanlong River.

"The Azure Emperor's Dao Seed has awakened."

Behind the woman, several disciples of the Valley of Ten Thousand Flowers knelt down at the same time.

"Valley Master, shall we continue the closure of the valley?"

The white-haired woman remained silent for a moment.

"Open the mountain gate."

"Prepare to welcome guests."

She raised her hand and gently stroked the tender buds that had just sprouted on the ancient tree.

"I've waited twenty years."

"The person who was meant to come has finally arrived."