Falling Flowers and Flowing Water, Inner Demon Love Tribulation (End of the Three Hundred Years Arc)

How do you see me? For a woman in ancient times, this was probably the boldest, most straightforward question she could ask—like confessing under the cherry blossoms behind the school building in a Japanese manga. Jack Young was taken aback by the question; he didn’t get the hidden meaning at all and answered without hesitation, "A good teacher and helpful friend, a confidante, a companion through life and death, someone I trust completely."

Those sixteen words were already high praise, but Princess Embroidered Jade didn’t seem satisfied. Unwilling to let it go, she pressed further, "Is that all?"

Jack Young was stunned by the question. He thought for a moment, then shook his head in confusion. "I don’t get what you mean."

Princess Embroidered Jade trembled at his words, her face turning pale. Jack’s gaze was honest and clear, hiding nothing, but that only made her feel more lost. Was it really a case of falling flowers with intent, but running water without feeling?

Suddenly, she remembered something, pulled herself together, and looked into Jack’s eyes, probing, "Do you still... not remember everything from your past?"

"That’s right," Jack Young replied with a troubled look. "Most of my memories have come back, but there are still some blanks I just can’t fill. It’s like looking at flowers through the fog—always a layer apart."

"Then... have you ever truly loved a woman?" Princess Embroidered Jade tried to steady her breath, keeping her voice from trembling.

"Loved a woman..." Jack Young stared blankly for a long time, then finally shook his head. "I don’t remember. Every time you mention it, I get a weird feeling, like something’s about to surface, but right now I have no memory of that at all."

"I see..." A complicated, unfathomable look flickered in Princess Embroidered Jade’s eyes. Those were her thousand tangled knots.

Jack Young asked, puzzled, "What’s wrong? You seem upset."

"No, not at all." Princess Embroidered Jade took a deep breath, her complexion less pale than before, though her brows were still furrowed. Shaking her head, she finally tucked away her swirling thoughts and returned to her usual self. "While you’re gone, I’ll look after Ling Ji. Anything else you want to tell me?"

"Take good care of yourself."

"I will. You too."

"Alright, then..." Jack Young’s gaze grew unfocused. "There’s just one more thing..." Whenever he wore that expression, it meant someone was about to be in trouble. Suddenly, a wild laugh echoed. Princess Embroidered Jade turned to see Lady Sanmiao standing at the hall entrance, holding a small porcelain bottle, its mouth pointed down, clearly having poured something out. Lady Sanmiao’s meridians had long been sealed, so she couldn’t use her inner power, but her face was twisted with manic triumph, as if she’d just pulled off the ultimate comeback.

"I’ve endured humiliation, been careful for so long, and finally, I got my chance!" Lady Sanmiao smashed the porcelain bottle on the floor and shrieked at them, hysterical, "You’re both poisoned! The Ten Evil Soul Scatter isn’t the deadliest—Sacred Water Palace is nothing! Without my Sanmiao Sect, how could they make Ten Evil Soul Scatter? Listen up, you’re poisoned by my sect’s secret toxin—colorless, odorless, carried on the wind, just touching your skin is enough! Ha ha ha! Only I can cure it, only me! Ha ha ha!"

Lady Sanmiao laughed like a madwoman, her once-beautiful face now twisted. Staggering like a drunk, she pointed at Jack Young, gritting her teeth, "You! Yes, you! From now on, you won’t be able to ignore me. Whatever I say, you’ll do! If I tell you to grovel, you don’t get to stand and grovel! If I tell you to bark like a dog, you better not cluck like a chicken! No man in the world can ignore me—absolutely none!"

Then she pointed at Princess Embroidered Jade, her hatred overflowing. "And you! Just looking at your fairy face makes me sick! All that lovers’ affection, all those sweet vows—none of it beats raw desire! I’ll train him every day. When he kneels before me, after he’s been with every woman in my sect, I want to see your face! No woman can beat me, no man can leave me. I’m the most beautiful, the strongest!"

She was panting so hard, her face twisted in pain. Suddenly, she ripped open her collar, exposing her skin. Burning with heat, hunger, and an unquenchable emotion, she roared from deep in her throat like a wild beast, "You two! What kind of witchcraft did you use on me? If you want me dead, then undo it! Undo it now—right now!"

Lady Sanmiao screamed herself hoarse, lost in manic joy and hysteria. Maybe for her, there was no way back—this was all she had left. The two across from her were calm, saying nothing, just watching her like she was a clown. The more they ignored her, the more she screamed and howled, utterly unable to deal with it.

Then, someone kicked her in the butt, and a furious shout rang out in her ear: "So you’re here—get lost!"