The Endless Promise

133. Spring...

.

A calm silence had descended upon the Silver Urchin, Yin Xiaolong's underwater residence, and most of the lanterns within had been dimmed or turned off...

...making it easy for Yan Liwei to sneak about.

She quickly found a hidden spot, shut her eyes, and held up two fingers, whispering, "Phoenix Light- Disperse!"

A swirl of golden light surrounded her then burst apart into hundreds of feathers which dispersed, darting in every direction and entering every single space within the household, from bedchambers, to halls, to kitchen, to storages...

'There!' She thought, as one feather shot into a beautiful bedchamber. It was easily the biggest within the household, and Liwei didn't think she had come across a more lovely space.

'That's surely the Master's room!' She concluded, and the feather glowed a little brighter as Liwei felt around it for any presence.

She smirked. She couldn't sense any presence around the feather for quite some distance, and the room itself was in a secluded courtyard, protected by several powerful wards.

This would deter most intruders...

Not Yan Liwei.

She was weak for an immortal, but her Phoenix Light techniques could get past most wards and arrays, while hiding her own presence, and this was why the feather had been able to enter the secluded courtyard in the first place.

Soon, the feather exploded in a mild puff of light and Liwei appeared in its place without any hassle, completely bypassing the wards.

"Hmph." She stepped around the room and began her search, glancing through half written scrolls atop the desk, looking through bookshelves, cupboards, and small chests.

'What should I be looking for?' She wondered, mildly annoyed.

A map? A written document or letter? Another questionable talisman?

Apart from the grand luxury of the room, and the fact that it was well protected, she had not seen a single thing out of the ordinary, and it was seeming more and more like this trip was indeed wasted.

She sighed. 'At least I can add this place to the endless list of 'sites not to look'!' She thought bitterly, turning to leave.

But then something flared by a far window, and a small voice said, ~Don't leave!~

Liwei swivelled in surprise and her gaze fell on a few potted plants, each giving off a dull glow.

'Wah...' Her eyes were rounded. 'Those weren't there before...'

The aura and appearance of these plants told her they were likely rare treasures, and merely breathing in their scent was slightly improving her qi, making it surge.

But the one which drew her attention sat right in the center of the plants, larger than the rest, with brilliant pink pear-shaped leaves, and a mild purple glow surrounding it.

Liwei wasn't sure if she was imagining, but the leaves of the other plants appeared to be bowing towards it, and she herself felt drawn to it. She appeared right before it, and her hand lifted on its own, reaching out to touch...

*Whoosh!*

Liwei felt a sudden pull and found herself within her own internal sea, seated in the lotus position, the strange pink plant before her.

She tried to rise, but was forced back down, and she watched in horror as her own hands rose on their own, her fingers forming one seal after the other.