Chapter Five: The Mission

Lu Han had just escorted Lie Ruge home and was now hurrying toward the Lu family estate in the west of the city. He felt he ought to inform his father, Lu Tianhong, about what had happened.

"Perhaps Father will have a way to help Uncle Lu Xiong," Lu Han thought to himself, quickening his pace.

Unbeknownst to Lu Han, his father had already gone to the auction a few minutes prior.

"You’re back, Young Master Han," the two guards at the gate greeted him in unison as he arrived.

"Thank you for your hard work, brothers," Lu Han replied with a smile, nodding to them.

Lu Han entered the family compound and hurried toward his father's study. As he passed by the Floating Jade Pavilion, he happened to overhear two branch members of the family in conversation.

"Lu Kun, did you get a mission token from the Task Hall?" asked one.

"Yes, I picked up an escort mission. But apparently there was a fat reward today—picking Purple Spirit Flowers on the outskirts of the Cold Abyss Forest, for two hundred gold coins. I don’t know why the reward is so high. I was too late, someone else took it—seems it was Young Master Ran..." Lu Kun replied with a bitter smile.

"I know about Purple Spirit Flowers—they’re incredibly effective as antidotes. The family is offering two hundred gold coins for them? It’s just on the outskirts of the Cold Abyss Forest. The journey’s a bit long, but the dangers aren’t that great. Ah, what a stroke of luck for him," Lu Cheng, standing beside him, remarked with some envy.

Initially, Lu Han paid little attention, but the word "antidote" caught his ear, and he strode over to them.

"Brothers, what is this Purple Spirit Flower you’re talking about? I don’t recall hearing of it," Lu Han asked, puzzled. Though not an expert in herbs, he was familiar with most common ones, but he had never heard of this particular flower.

"Ah, it's Young Master Han. I know about the Purple Spirit Flower. I enjoy reading, and I once saw it mentioned in a book in the family's library. The Purple Spirit Flower is a second-grade herb with detoxifying properties. It withers three days after blooming, so it’s pretty rare—comparable to most third-grade herbs. I wonder where the family got the news," Lu Cheng explained, cupping his fist in greeting.

Lu Han mulled this over, thanked them, and left, heading, it seemed, for Lu Ran’s residence.

He reasoned that if Lu Ran wasn’t aware of this, he might miss the blooming and the flower would wither. He decided to remind him.

Lu Ran’s home was on the west side of the Lu estate, not far away. As Lu Han arrived and prepared to knock, the door creaked open.

"Eh? Cousin Han, what brings you here?" Lu Ran stepped out in casual clothes, a blue bundle slung over his shoulder.

"I was just looking for you, Cousin Ran. Are you heading to the Cold Abyss Forest?" Lu Han looked over his cousin’s attire—it was obvious he was preparing for a journey, likely to pick the Purple Spirit Flower.

"How did you know I had a mission there? But actually, I’m not going to the far forest right now. I have to deliver silk to Morningstar City nearby. I planned to go to the Cold Abyss Forest after I return. After all, only the family knows the exact location, so I’m not worried someone else will pick it first. What did you want to talk to me about?" Lu Ran adjusted his bundle.

"Actually, that’s what I wanted to ask. I heard from Lu Cheng that the Purple Spirit Flower withers three days after blooming. Did the Task Hall mention when it was supposed to bloom? I’m afraid it might have withered by the time you return," Lu Han said anxiously.

"Ah, I see. The Purple Spirit Flower was discovered by a cousin about half a year ago while on a mission in the forest. It hadn’t bloomed then, but he estimated it would bloom in the next couple days. That’s why the Task Hall posted the mission. But I don’t think I’ll complete it this time," Lu Ran explained. He had to deliver urgently needed silk to Morningstar City, so he was on his way there.

Lu Han grew more anxious. If Lu Ran went to Morningstar City first, wouldn’t the Purple Spirit Flower wither? That flower might help Uncle Lie Xiong, and he had intended to tell his father about it. What should he do?

"Um... Cousin Ran, since you won’t be able to complete the mission, how about you tell me exactly where the Purple Spirit Flower is? I can go pick it for you. Don’t worry about the two hundred gold coins—I absolutely won’t take them," Lu Han proposed. He figured he was at the sixth level of the Postnatal realm and capable of taking on missions himself. He just wanted to pick the flower and then discuss it with his father.

"Cousin Han, what are you saying? If you go and pick it, the reward is yours. Here, I’ll give you the mission token; the specific location is written on the back," Lu Ran said, pulling a token inscribed with the family character from his robe. This was the mission token from the Lu family’s Task Hall.

"Thank you, Cousin Ran! I’ll go see Father now," Lu Han said happily, taking the token.

Watching Lu Han depart, Lu Ran’s eyes turned cold.

Suddenly, Lu Tianlin’s voice sounded behind him.

"Hmph, that’s only if he even gets to see Lu Tianhong," Lu Tianlin said, striding over with the bearing of a dragon.

"Father, your foresight is truly peerless; I am in awe," Lu Ran replied. He sensed his father’s control over every detail. Earlier, sending Lu Tianhong away was likely to prevent the truth about the Purple Spirit Flower from coming to light—after all, the Task Hall had never issued such a mission.

"You two, come out. You did well this time. Each of you gets a top-tier Yellow-rank martial technique." Lu Tianlin waved his sleeve, and two scrolls flew through the air with a sharp sound. With a flip, two figures caught the scrolls and landed before Lu Tianlin and Lu Ran.

"Thank you, Master!" the two replied in unison.

"Stick with me, and there will be no shortage of benefits in the future. Lay low for now; return in three months for the family assembly. Off you go," Lu Tianlin ordered, waving his hand. In his heart, he bled—though martial techniques weren't as rare as cultivation methods, top-tier Yellow-rank techniques were precious indeed. The Lu family had only a dozen or so, and even fewer cultivation methods. Yet he had just handed out two at once.

The two men bowed and left. As they turned, their faces were revealed: they were Lu Cheng and Lu Kun.

"There are a few old fools in the family—I can’t make a move within the estate, but once outside, it’s a different story. The Cold Abyss Forest will be your grave, my dear nephew. Don’t blame your uncle for being ruthless—blame yourself for advancing too quickly. In three months, the Lu family will be mine," Lu Tianlin muttered, clenching his right fist.

Lu Han was in high spirits, having obtained the mission token. Seeing how heartbroken Lie Ruge had been earlier made him uneasy as well. If he could pick the Purple Spirit Flower, perhaps it could save Lie Xiong. This hope quickened his steps.

"Strange—why is Father’s study locked?" Lu Han wondered. His father only locked the study when he was away. He decided to ask the guards in the main hall.

"Brother Lu Bang, if Father returns, please give him this letter. Tell him not to worry," Lu Han said at the door, his bundle on his back.

Originally, Lu Han had planned to find his father and tell him about Lie Xiong and the Purple Spirit Flower, but the guards at the main hall told him Lu Tianhong had taken Meng Wan’er to the Tianbao Pavilion auction, which wouldn’t be over until evening. Lu Han worried that he might not be back before his parents returned and became anxious. Since the matter with Lie Xiong was sensitive, he couldn’t leave a message, and he had other plans as well, so he wrote a letter and entrusted it to the gate guard, Lu Bang.

"Young Master Han, perhaps you should wait until the master returns," Lu Bang said with concern. Though Lu Han had reached the sixth level of the Postnatal realm, he was still inexperienced.

"Don’t worry, Brother Lu Bang. Just give Father my letter—he’ll understand. I should be back by tonight, perhaps a bit later than my parents," Lu Han said as he walked away, his voice trailing behind.

Lu Han felt it best to pick the flower first, as it was said to wither quickly.

Lu Bang exchanged a glance with another guard.

Though Lu Han had never been to the Cold Abyss Forest, he had traveled to his maternal grandfather’s house outside Tianlan City every two or three years, and had heard Meng Wan’er mention the forest’s location.

For someone at the sixth level of the Postnatal realm, with inner strength cultivated, a hundred li was not a great distance.

Lu Han sped toward the Cold Abyss Forest as he remembered it.

Little did he know, this journey would change the course of his life forever.

Announcement: The final three weeks of the preliminary round of the online fiction league are underway! If you haven’t joined yet, hurry up! Grand prizes and a chance at stardom await you! Click here to participate.