Don't farm, cultivate immortality!

After all, in a war-torn place like Xizhou, it would be unreasonable to not have some skills to stand firm.

He then followed the woman to see the valley master, while the horse ran off to play with the monkeys.

There are no houses in this valley, but caves are carved directly into the mountainside, providing genuine and authentic "cave dwellings".

After walking for a while, Zhuang Xing saw a lot of macaques. Some of the monkeys were wearing clothes and were sweeping the ground with brooms. Others were pruning flowers and plants with scissors. The branches of the spruce trees stretched in all directions, which was just right for the monkeys to grab and crawl on.

Not only that, Zhuang Xing also saw houses in the trees, though few, but a few treehouses were visible.

The treehouse wasn't made by nailing planks to the tree; rather, it was formed by the branches of a spruce tree, making it a naturally grown treehouse.

Zhuang Xing had seen similar things before.

Just like when Yunling used her life-giving magic to control the earth-hidden vines and make them coil into a house.

It's more accurate to call it a "tree nest" than a treehouse.

Compared to "cave dwellings," the number of "tree nests" is pitifully small. These houses may have some special purpose.

As they walked, the woman continued to ask them questions.

They asked where Xuanqing Temple was and how many days it took them to reach Baihua Valley.

When the woman heard that Xuanqing Temple was located near Yidu in Chenzhou, and that it had taken Zhuang Xing and his companion a month and a half to reach the valley, she was taken aback.

"I never imagined that the two of you would have come this far."

"In any case, you two must be tired from this trip. The Valley Master said he would treat the guests well. Since you're here, why don't you rest for a few more days? The monkey wine we brewed last year is almost ready, so we can take it out to serve the guests."

"Then I shall respectfully comply," Zhuang Xing said.

He had the same idea; he wanted to find out more about things related to the Great Sage Tiger.

After walking along a path through the valley, the woman led the two to a spruce tree.

Its thick trunk resembles a pillar supporting the clear sky; even twenty or thirty people stretching out their arms might not be able to encircle it.

There is a temple in front of the tree; it is the only building in the valley.

The woman led the way into the temple, and Zhuang Xing followed behind her.

In the place where gods should be worshipped, sat a woman with white hair and a youthful face.

Zhuang Xing was stunned when he saw her. The woman's appearance was eight or nine parts similar to Yan Huai'an, but her aura was completely different.

The person before me is not a "human"; according to the classification in the temple, she should be called a "demon" or a "spirit".

She has simply transformed into this form. When demons and spirits transform into humans, it is mostly based on their own preferences, and most of them follow a template.

Those with the ability can transform into children, men, or women, and their appearance can be almost identical to the original owner.

The person in front of me, judging from her facial features, is almost identical to Yan Huai'an, and she has not concealed her aura.

Unexpectedly, the master of Hundred Flowers Valley was actually the tree spirit transformed from that spruce tree.

Chapter 191 Hundred Flowers Valley and Yan Huai'an

This temple is just a small temple, and there is no place for people to sit on the ground.

Zhuang Xing and Yun Ling then stood respectfully before the Valley Master of Hundred Flowers Valley and bowed.

"Greetings, senior," the two said in unison.

When traveling, it's always important to observe proper etiquette.

The Valley Master of Hundred Flowers Valley nodded and said, "There's no need for such formalities. I have no connection with your Xuanqing Temple. Your master doesn't know me, and I've never met your master. You've come here to visit other people in the valley."

"I summoned you here simply to ask if you two, coming from Xuanqing Temple, have seen a woman who looks exactly like me?"

Although she has the same face as Yan Huai'an, her speech doesn't sound the same as his.

Zhuang Xing was about to ask about Yan Huai'an when the Valley Master brought up the topic, so he continued the conversation.

"Are you referring to Miss Yan Huai'an, senior?"

"It's her," the Valley Master asked. "Have you seen her before?"

“Miss Yan is a benefactor to my family. Ten years ago, she saved my mother and my life from a man-eating tiger demon. She stayed at our home for a while at that time.”

"Ten years ago...the last time you saw her was ten years ago?"

"I also met Miss Yan in Yidu, Chenzhou the year before last," Zhuang Xing said. "I originally planned to visit her again this spring, but when I went there, I found out that she had already passed away."

"Is that so? Is she alright?"

"She was fine when I saw her."

"Is that so..."

"I wonder what your relationship is with Miss Yan, senior?"

"As you can probably tell, I am actually a tree spirit born from that spruce tree, not a human. I have simply transformed into her former form."

"It was only many years ago, before this place was called Hundred Flowers Valley and before anyone lived there, that I spent some time with her," the Valley Master said slowly.

"My master also said that fifty years ago, he received help from Miss Yan. Is Miss Yan... truly an immortal?" Zhuang Xing asked.

“A person who lives forever… perhaps so…” The Valley Master’s expression was somewhat forlorn. “This temple was actually built for her. At that time, the Western Continent was in turmoil, plagued by demons and disasters, and people were suffering. A group of people fled to this valley.”

“They received help from Yan Huai’an, so they regarded her as a deity, built this temple, and worshipped her.”

“I found it interesting to talk to people, so I transformed into her appearance, took those people in, and named this place Hundred Flowers Valley.”

“I don’t know what she was thinking. I just stayed here with her. If any evil spirits came, she would draw her sword and rush to their aid. And so, I stood behind her and watched for many years.”

"So, this Hundred Flowers Valley was established by Miss Yan herself?" Zhuang Xing asked.

“Although she did it unintentionally, the construction was entirely thanks to her,” the Valley Master said. “I haven’t seen her for many years. Sometimes she would ask someone to send her things back, but they were just paintings or something. I never saw her in person.”

“It wasn’t until last year when she wrote back a letter, writing down some things here and there, mentioning Xuanqing Temple, that I thought I’d ask you if you’ve seen her…” the Valley Master said. “People live no more than a hundred years. All the people who lived in this valley back then have passed away, leaving only her and me.”

"She didn't say anything to me when she left. Perhaps she was tired of the scenery in this valley. I am a tree spirit. The spruce tree is rooted here, and I can only stay here. I can't leave with her."

"Knowing she's alright, I'm relieved..."

"I see."

Zhuang Xing never expected that there was such a connection in Hundred Flowers Valley.

"I have another question for you, senior. On my way here, I learned that there was a monster in Xizhou called Tiger Great Sage who wreaked havoc in many places. The people of Xizhou say that the immortals of Hundred Flowers Valley eliminated that tiger spirit. I wonder if this is true?"

"Great Sage Tiger..." The Valley Master paused for a moment, "I have heard of that tiger demon. About twelve years ago, there was indeed such a demon who suddenly became famous."

"That tiger demon loves to eat people. The soldiers and Taoist priests sent by the government are no match for it, so it becomes more and more rampant."

"Although some people have come to my valley to ask for help, there is actually no way to cultivate in Hundred Flowers Valley. Most of the people living in the valley are just descendants of those who fled back then."

"Besides that, there are just some wild creatures that I took in."

"The people of my valley only know a little bit about planting flowers and grass."

"If that tiger demon dares to come into the mountains, I can fight it in my original form and perhaps subdue it. But if I send people, it would only be sending them to their deaths."

"That tiger demon was not eliminated by my Hundred Flowers Valley. As for why it is said that my Hundred Flowers Valley eliminated the tiger demon, it's just because after the tiger demon disappeared, no one came to claim the reward. Later, the tiger demon's tiger skin somehow ended up in this vicinity, and that's how the rumor gradually spread."

"Perhaps it's not just a rumor," Zhuang Xing said. "Miss Yan, didn't you come from Hundred Flowers Valley?"

"This..." The Valley Master paused for a moment, as if only then realizing that Zhuang Xing had just mentioned something.

Zhuang Xing guessed that at the time, she was only focused on things related to Yan Huai'an and did not listen carefully to what Zhuang Xing said about Yan Huai'an saving people from the tiger demon.

"Ten years ago, Miss Yan chased after a tiger spirit and came to Chenzhou," Zhuang Xing said. "Miss Yan eliminated that tiger spirit, which may have been the Great Tiger Sage."

"Maybe..."

The Valley Master suddenly smiled, a very faint smile.

“You’ve traveled a long way and must be tired to get here.”

"Although there is nothing of great wealth in my valley, the monkey wine brewed from the spiritual fruits of the mountains should be beneficial to your cultivation."

"Tomorrow, I will have someone prepare a pot of monkey wine to properly entertain you."

That's enough for today.

After saying that, accompanied by a wisp of green smoke, the Valley Master disappeared from sight, leaving only a wooden statue.

The Valley Master seemed unwilling to talk any further, and the spirit returned to the tree.

"Please come with me, both of you," said the woman beside him. "I'll take you to your guest rooms to rest."

The main deity has left; there's no point in staying in this temple any longer.

Before leaving, Zhuang Xing took one last look at Yan Huai'an's statue.

This statue is very old, so old it's crumbling.

He also learned one thing: Yan Huai'an had lived for more years and met more people than he had imagined.

He thought that many people must have worshipped this statue here in the past.

There are old incense burners and offering dishes on the altar in front of the statue, but they are empty, as if only the furnishings from those years have been preserved.

As the valley owner said, those who enshrined the statues here back then are all dead.

The once bustling place has become deserted.

Why did Yan Huai'an leave this place and not return for so many years?

Zhuang Xing couldn't quite understand. He remembered how the female knight-errant clumsily memorized words with bamboo strips, and suddenly felt a little sad.

Is she somewhere, alone right now?

Chapter 192 A Day Trip to Hundred Flowers Valley

After leaving the temple, Zhuang Xing followed the woman to a cave.

The cave should have been completely dark, but a fluorescent plant grew on the stone walls, hanging like small lanterns. Instead of making it feel gloomy, it gave off a very strange feeling.

All the furniture in the cave was made of stone.

The woman told the two that no one was allowed to come into the mountains to cut firewood.

This place is full of spiritual energy; most of the trees, whether big or small, possess a spiritual charm.