Evolution Of A White Lotus

A peaceful week had passed by before the highly anticipated words that Bai Lian had been waiting for had come out of the children's mouths.

"Granny, when we went to sell the Black Lotus branded medicine at the Golden Leaf Pavilion yesterday, two interesting things happened."

"Go on."

The children noticed a rare hint of excitement in the gentle voice.

"Firstly, when we inquired about the price of golden lionheart roots, the store manager offered some as a gift. He said he was looking forward to having many future transactions with us and the Black Lotus."

"I see…"

Lin Tao raised a brow, 'Didn't you need those roots? Why do you seem so disinterested?'

Ji Yun smiled as she continued, "We'll throw them into the burrow before we head back today. Those roots were a gift from the Golden Leaf Pavilion, not us. We still need to buy a gift for you, master. Would you like more golden lionheart roots or something else?"

Bai Lian pondered for a minute before answering, "A lot of sea kelp."

The two children were dumbfounded.

Ji Yun sheepishly laughed, "Uhh… Master? Isn't sea kelp only useful as food?"

"It's also very cheap. Don't be stingy when buying some for you dear master."

Bai Lian's gaze was filled with mirth as she observed the dumbfounded children, 'A property of sea kelp that humans are unaware of is its abnormally large signal range.'

The only city that was near the Obsidian Forest was Obsidian City. However, automatic signals from a sea kelp farm of a different city were able to reach the Obsidian Forest.

"Sea kelp is way too cheap in comparison to the golden lionheart roots! Don't look down on your favorite disciples! We are definitely capable of buying a much better gift than that for our master."

"No, Yun. It's fine if this is what master truly wants. A gift is not all about the cost." Lin Tao's voice was filled with a sense of self-righteousness.

Bai Lian studied Lin Tao's face, 'You little brat… You just want to spend less money.'

"You're right, Little Yun. Sea kelp is really way too cheap. It's practically worth nothing compared to golden lionheart roots. Fine, I won't look down on the two of you any longer. You two may get both for me."

Ji Yun beamed, "We won't disappoint you!"

Lin Tao frowned as he glared at the beaming girl.

Ji Yun winked at him and tried to send a message with her eyes, 'These things are surely very useful to granny. With these, she should be able to leave the forest sooner!'

However, there was only so much a gaze could tell. Lin Tao raised a brow at the smiling girl who was staring holes into him.

"So what's the second interesting thing that happened?" The gentle voice had spoken slightly more hurriedly than usual.

"The store manager had said many people had inquired about the Black Lotus. There are many who wish to build a good relationship with the Black Lotus. Two people, in particular, stood out."

"Two people?" The excitement in the gentle voice had morphed into surprise.

Ji Yun's voice grew solemn, "The first person is Bai Ru. He's the older brother of the late Bai Lian."

Excitement coursed through Bai Lian once more. She could already picture the young man standing in front of her. His eyes were just as gentle as the ones she used to have. Although she was no longer human, she envisioned the young man sporting his usual doting expression as he stared at the white lotus in the Floral Lake. Just hearing that one name filled Bai Lian with a warm sense of security.

"Meet with him and bring him to me." The gentle voice did not reveal a single shred of the excitement that Bai Lian truly felt.

Lin Tao raised a brow, "You must have been really close to that Bai Lian lady. Last week, you were interested in that Bu Shu Qing lady, the one who was considered the crown prince's beloved before Bai Lian's death. Now, you're interested in meeting Bai Lian's brother."

"I was indeed close with that young girl. Recalling my memories of her, I can't help but feel regret. When I think about how her family, who loved her so dearly, must have felt when she died… She was so close to them and yet… My regret cannot possibly compare to the regret they must have felt."

The gentle voice gradually became softer the more she spoke. Her every word was filled with sorrow and remorse. The weight of every word felt so heavy despite how softly she spoke them. Her last sentence, which was merely a whisper within the minds of the two children, echoed as though the sentiment within those words could not bear to disappear from the minds of those present.

Lin Tao and Ji Yun felt sorrowful as they listened to the echoing in their minds. All was silent, but the echoing still persisted. The two children were disheartened as they stared at the ground.

Bai Lian felt dazed as she spoke about her family. She had planned on acting out her sorrow towards dead self. However, her act shifted to reality as memories of her family resurfaced to the front of her mind.

Bai Lian recovered before the two children. She forced her voice to sound more cheerful as she broke the silence, "So who was the other notable person?"

Lin Tao and Ji Yun frowned.

The two stared at each other. Their gazes held the same message, 'You tell her.'

As seconds of silence morphed into minutes, Bai Lian thought to herself, 'Is this how they feel whenever I go silent? No, they can't see me, so they should have felt a bit more worried…'

Finally, Lin Tao sighed as his gaze locked itself on the ground. He mumbled, "The crown prince."

The two children grew nervous as the silence extended itself. After a couple of minutes, they heard a soft humming in their minds.

The gentle voice spoke up once more, "Do not meet with him. Remember to be careful whenever you two sell medicines at the Golden Leaf Pavilion. No one can know you two are associated with those medicines or the Black Lotus."

The seriousness that was laced into the gentle voice caused the two children to stiffen up. They silently nodded in agreement.

Bai Lian continued, "Remind the store manager at the Golden Leaf Pavilion that all matters regarding you and the Black Lotus must be kept confidential. Otherwise, our business with them is over. As for the crown prince… It's best if he keeps waiting for some sort of reply from the Black Lotus."

Bai Lian's voice turned cold as she whispered, "That man can go ahead and wait for eternity. No… he should not be around for any eternities…"

Lin Tao and Ji Yun shivered as the voice that crept into their mind lost all traces of its usual gentleness. Their eyes widened in shock, for this was the first time they had heard the guardian spirit's voice without a shred of gentleness. Gradually, the shock subsided and slowly, the corners of their mouths lifted.