NOVPUB
Chapter 87: The Thorny Flower Garden
Yu Ruomei and Yu Fenglian stood side by side, watching Aldrian’s group now prepared to continue their journey. The Yu family manor was slowly regaining its vigor, standing stronger each day. With these two direct bloodline members remaining, it remains to be seen whether they can sustain the momentum and rise to their former glory. However, Aldrian believes they will ascend even higher than before.
Many people passed by within the manor, they were new recruits who had passed the test and volunteered to join the Yu family, though they would serve as outer members. The support from the three great sects had also made Yu Ruomei’s efforts to rebuild and restructure the family much easier.
No noble families dared to obstruct the Yu family’s resurrection, not even their past rivals or enemies. With everything in order and the Yu family on the right path, it was finally time for Aldrian and his group to continue their journey.
Though it was still early morning, Aldrian and his group stood outside the Yu family manor. The meeting with the three great sects was set for tonight, but Aldrian wanted to visit the Thorny Flower Garden first.
Yu Ruomei and Yu Fenglian’s eyes moistened as they bid Aldrian farewell.
"Take care, young master, and have a safe journey."
"Young master, will I be able to meet you again?" Yu Fenglian asked.
Aldrian smiled at them and replied to Yu Fenglian,
"Of course you will. When the time is right, and I have some free time, I’ll visit the Yu family manor."
Hearing this, Yu Fenglian smiled, determined that by the next time they met, he would have become a more reliable person.
"Goodbye, at least for now. When I hear of the Yu family again, I hope it will have reached even greater heights." Aldrian and the others cupped their hands, a gesture returned by Yu Ruomei and Yu Fenglian.
The mother and son watched the silhouettes of the four figures as they walked further away, leaving behind their mark on the city.
Aldrian and his group then made their way to the teleportation station, completing the usual procedures before their number was finally called. Just before stepping into the teleportation portal, Aldrian glanced back at the distant, solitary peak.
It was a strange feeling as he recalled his first arrival. When he had first emerged from this portal, two mighty mountains had pierced the sky with their twin peaks. But now, only one peak remained. Sooner or later, he thought, this city might have to change its name.
He smiled and stepped into the teleportation portal.
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The Thorny Flower Garden was a sect located on the western side of demon territory, bordering the Dwarven kingdom, Forgeheart Kingdom. It could be considered the sole behemoth of the western region, as its vast domain nearly covered the entire area. Even a small portion of its territory bordered the Buddhist sect, and no other power in the region could rival it.
As soon as Aldrian and his group stepped out of the teleportation station, they were met with the familiar bustle of a plaza. Aldrian glanced around and noted that this place wasn’t much different from Dual Horns Peak City, except for the absence of the twin peaks. The only mountains in sight were the distant ranges far away.
According to Xin Haotian, despite being visible from here, those mountains were a six month journey away by horse. Beyond them lay the Forgeheart Kingdom, their next destination. But for now, they needed to find an inn for their stay. They were currently in the city of Blooming Flower, the nearest city to the Thorny Flower Garden sect.
The sect itself was still a few hours travel away, situated atop a vast forested hill outside the city’s border, a secluded spot, undisturbed by the city’s noise and activity.
After some searching, they finally found the best inn in the city and booked four rooms, one for each of them. Once settled, Aldrian decided to explore the city accompanied by Sylphia and Eleine. Xin Haotian, however, preferred to stay behind at the inn.
The three strolled through the city, unconcerned with their destination, simply following wherever their feet led them. Along the streets, Aldrian noticed many women wearing the same uniform—red and white robes with an insignia on their chests.
"They must be disciples of the Thorny Flower Garden," Aldrian thought.
The Thorny Flower Garden was known throughout the world for accepting only female disciples. Legend had it that their founder hailed from ’Outside’ the continent and had established the Thorny Flower Garden as a safe haven for women, particularly in the brutal world of demonic cultivation.
Yes, demonic cultivation is harsher and even crueler by orthodox cultivation standards, but that doesn’t mean female demonic cultivators should be discredited by others. Those who look down on female demons will taste the sting of a thorn from a beautiful flower. That’s what the founder of the Thorny Flower Garden believed.
A belief that had become the very essence of the sect’s way of life. The fate of women in the cultivation world could sometimes be worse than death, especially within demon territory, where demonic cultivators were wilder and more brutal. The women here had no choice but to stand up for themselves, or they would forever be at the mercy of others.
Aldrian was truly amazed by their determination to thrive in such a harsh environment. He couldn’t help but think that the founder of the Thorny Flower Garden was not only a powerful cultivator but also possessed a selfless nature—something quite rare among demonic cultivators, where strength and competition ruled.
Her ideals seemed more fitting for orthodox cultivation, leaving Aldrian to wonder why she had chosen to remain a demonic cultivator within demon territory. He set the question aside for now, choosing instead to enjoy the stroll with the two girls.
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Inside a three story restaurant, on the topmost floor where the most luxurious room was located, four disciples from the Thorny Flower Garden were gathered. They all wore the familiar red and white robes of their sect, though one of them had a distinguishing feature—black color between the red and white, marking her rank above the others.
The group seemed cheerful as they chatted about their daily lives and the latest rumors that had reached their ears.
"This evening, it seems there’s a big event happening at our sect, though the elders are trying to keep it under wraps," one of them said.
"It’s true," another chimed in. "I overheard some elders at my pavilion mentioning that there will be a meeting between the three great sects tonight, hosted at our sect."
The other two gasped, but the last disciple—who had been silent throughout—remained uninterested. Her beautiful red eyes gazed out of the window, taking in the scenery. Her long white hair flowed like snow in the breeze, and her serene expression complemented her flawless, unblemished face.
"Really? Why is there suddenly a tripartite meeting?" one asked, clearly surprised.
"I’m not sure, but it seems to be connected to what happened in Dual Horns Peak City."
"That makes sense. The incident in Dual Horns Peak was shocking. How could we have been caught off guard by devil infiltration?"
"What if the devils have found their way into our sect too?" one of them speculated, her voice hushed with concern.
"No way! If there were devils in our sect, we would’ve already discovered them, right? Senior Sister Ji-Min?" one of them asked, turning to the quiet disciple.
Senior Sister Ji-Min, still looking out the window, finally spoke. "I’m not sure about devils infiltrating our sect, but what’s certain is that the incident in Dual Horns Peak has shaken the three great sects. This meeting is also to invite someone important."
"Someone? Who is it?" one of the disciples asked eagerly.
"I don’t know," Ji-Min replied calmly. "I only heard rumors from one of my master’s closest aides."
The conversation continued, with the disciples often breaking into laughter, their light-hearted banter filling the room. Ji-Min, however, remained distant, answering only when asked, her detached demeanor typical of her personality. Her juniors didn’t mind; they had grown accustomed to Senior Sister Ji-Min’s cold, indifferent nature, her beauty and aloofness often reminding them of the classic cold beauty from many old stories.
As Ji-Min gazed out the window, her attention suddenly shifted to the bustling road below. Her red eyes trembled as she spotted something unusual.
"What is that?" she thought, her heartbeat quickening.
Her eyes locked onto something she had never seen before. Without hesitation, she bolted from the room, leaving her junior sisters in stunned. They barely had time to react as Ji-Min raced out of the restaurant, chasing after whatever had caught her attention.
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Meanwhile, Aldrian, still enjoying his stroll with Eleine and Sylphia, suddenly sensed someone running behind him. He quickly realized it was a woman, but though she seemed to be heading toward him, he chose to ignore it, assuming she might just run past. Just as he thought she would, she suddenly shouted.
"Wait!"
