Chapter 539 - 536: The Wall and the Sinner

Chapter 539: Chapter 536: The Wall and the Sinner

The rain in Red Spirit Flower Valley fell harder and harder. Xi, standing amidst the swaying flowers, suddenly seemed to remember something and looked off into the distance.

"Wait for me. I have to go confirm something."

With that, Xi hurriedly ran out of the valley.

Li Luo saw this and immediately followed with Block.

...

At the edge of the valley, Xi stood among a cluster of Red Spirit Flowers, looking out.

Despite the heavy rain, no Red Spirit Flowers grew outside the valley, as if completely suppressed by some unseen force.

A gust of wind blew, and the Red Spirit Flowers leaned toward the valley’s exit, only to be stopped by an invisible wall, unable to topple over.

With a trembling hand, Xi reached out and placed it on the invisible wall.

"There really is a wall! A wall that can contain the Red Spirit Flowers!"

He muttered in disbelief, stroking the invisible wall before him again and again.

"That soil actually worked? Who in the world is he?"

The ball of light on Xi’s head flickered erratically in his shock. But no matter how hard he thought, he couldn’t fathom the Mysterious Healer’s origins.

Li Luo and Block made their way through the Red Spirit Flowers and came up behind Xi.

Hearing Xi’s muttering, Li Luo’s curiosity was piqued. She stepped forward and placed her hands on the invisible wall.

But then, something even more shocking happened.

The hand Li Luo had that was host to the Red Spirit Flower was stopped by the wall, but her other, un-hosted hand passed right through, never touching the invisible barrier at all.

"What’s happening? It only blocks the Red Spirit Flowers?"

Xi saw this and immediately understood.

He looked at his arm. The Red Spirit Flower entwined around his hand gradually receded. Then, he extended this now-unaffected arm toward the wall.

Sure enough, the hand passed through without any resistance, reaching out beyond the valley.

Xi was even more stunned...

"This is a selective barrier. It only isolates things related to the Red Spirit Flower—including the flowers themselves, their pollen, and any life they’ve taken as a host. This is a wall that only contains the Red Spirit Flowers..."

The swaying Red Spirit Flowers also noticed the strange phenomenon.

"Father, we’re blocked! We can’t get past."

"CHARGE!" one Red Spirit Flower yelled, ramming into the barrier, only to be thrown back.

"I’m not charging anymore, it hurts..."

It gave up immediately, its bud drooping in a picture of misery.

"What is this thing, Father?"

The Red Spirit Flowers asked, puzzled.

Xi touched the invisible wall. After a moment of silence, he explained, "This is a wall that will protect you."

"Protect?"

"Yes, protect," Xi said, a sense of relief washing over him.

’This is the best possible outcome...’

’The red flowers, once seen as a plague, are now forever contained within their own garden. These simple blossoms won’t seek freedom—all they know is how to sway without a care. For them, this is the best protection.’

’If the Elder Council could see this, surely they’d be satisfied?’

’I’ve finally put you all at ease...’ A sliver of guilt rose in Xi’s heart. He had desperately tried to find the best solution, yet he had failed everyone.

’The Elders and my companions left before they could see my realization.’

’Hundred Flowers Island became a wasteland because of me. I unconsciously unleashed my power in the Healing Space, causing the entire island to suffer a drought.’

’The Red Spirit Flowers were forced to guard me for so long, waiting for salvation in this dark, sunless valley.’

’Now that the issues with the Red Spirit Flowers and Hundred Flowers Island are resolved, it’s time to answer to the Elders and my companions.’ Xi was already prepared for his punishment.

’He wanted to personally apologize to the Elders who had such high expectations for him. He wanted to say he was sorry to the companions who had protected him and never given up on him. Though he didn’t know where they were now, he would find them eventually...’

"I will."

Xi’s thoughts were transmitted through the Red Spirit Flowers on his body, and the entire grove felt the fighting spirit rekindle in his heart.

"Father, are you leaving?" a Red Spirit Flower suddenly asked.

"How did you know?"

"I can feel it. Father, you have other things on your mind, very important things," the Red Spirit Flower explained.

Xi faltered for a moment. "I... I do have to leave for a while. I need to find my companions."

"Will you come back, then?"

"Of course I will," Xi answered without hesitation.

"Then we’ll wait for you, Father." The Red Spirit Flowers swayed obediently.

The Red Spirit Flowers on Xi’s body began to recede, detaching themselves from him and falling to the ground.

"Father, you have to protect yourself, just like you protected us before."

"Watch out for bad guys!"

"If you feel tired, drink lots of water! It will give you lots of energy!"

"Yeah, drink, drink, drink! Drinking water makes you grow tall!"

...

Meanwhile, Li Luo discovered that the Red Spirit Flower on her own hand was receding. Its roots, which had burrowed deep into her arm, carefully withdrew. The wound on the back of her hand healed instantly, leaving no trace that it had ever been a host.

"Purple Person, please take good care of Father. Thank you..."

The moment the Red Spirit Flower completely left her body, the world became quiet.

The cacophony of voices vanished, leaving only the patter of raindrops. A light wind blew, and the Red Spirit Flowers continued to sway, but now they did so in silence.

Xi and Li Luo stood stunned, as if everything that had just happened was an illusion.

Even in the downpour, the vibrant red of the flowers was striking. Neither the life-giving rain nor the dazzling red lightning could overshadow their thriving vitality.

Xi gazed at the now-peaceful grove of Red Spirit Flowers and placed a hand over his heart.

Cold raindrops pelted his body, but his heart remained warm.

’I... I don’t think I was sick after all...’

Xi had never stopped doubting himself. He had ignored the advice of other healers and insisted on keeping the Red Spirit Flowers, a decision that had left his heart in constant turmoil.

He couldn’t remember if he had imbued them with his own emotions when he created them, but the Red Spirit Flowers had certainly cured his loneliness.

Now, even though the Mysterious Healer had helped him temporarily solve the problem of the Red Spirit Flowers, Xi knew it was time for him to atone...

’At the very least, I can be of some help.’

Xi turned and looked out of the valley. On the distant Central Island, the other healers seemed to be waiting for him...

"May I ask your name, human?"

Hearing the strange language, Li Luo realized she could no longer understand Xi. She had no choice but to put on her translator.

"Can you say that again?"

"What is your name?"

"Li Luo. My name is Li Luo."

"Alright. You’re heading to the Central Islands, aren’t you? We... should go together."

The ball of light on Xi’s head flared brightly. The Red Spirit Flowers swayed like banners, sending off a champion on his expedition.

’But Xi knew he was no champion setting off on an expedition.’

’He was merely a sinner, waiting to atone.’