Chapter 48: The Gemstone

The thin skin melted instantly on his tongue, the tender meat filling bursting with savory broth, its aroma quickly filling his entire mouth. Unable to resist, he scooped up a second one.

As he ate the wontons, he gazed out the window at the street scene. The sun gradually climbed higher, and more people appeared on the streets—the new day had officially begun.

"Since there’s nothing pressing now, might as well take a stroll," Lin Tian thought suddenly.

After finishing breakfast, he took the bus to the nearby park.

Sunlight filtered through the sparse clouds, scattering golden patches of light that danced softly along the winding paths in the gentle breeze.

Lin Tian walked leisurely, stepping into this peaceful and beautiful place.

His mood mirrored the early autumn weather—tinged with a faint sense of ease and tranquility, as if the entire world had slowed down just for him to savor the scenery before him.

This was the first time since childhood that he wandered the park freely, without fear or restraint.

Recalling the embarrassment of feeling inferior here due to his insecurities, a bittersweet smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"Back then, I’d instinctively shy away even at the sight of people from afar..."

Emotions surged within him as he stepped deeper into the long-familiar park.

At the park’s entrance lay a broad lawn.

Dewdrops clung to the tender green grass blades, sparkling like countless dazzling diamonds embedded in a soft, verdant carpet beneath the sunlight.

Lin Tian knelt down, gently touching the dewdrops, which slipped through his fingertips, leaving a trace of coolness.

Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath; the fresh scent of grass instantly filled his chest, revitalizing him.

Walking along the path, the lush trees on both sides displayed dense foliage.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting mottled shadows. Lin Tian looked up as the leaves swayed gently in the breeze, as if waving to him.

He quickened his pace, eager to explore this green world more deeply.

After some time, Lin Tian reached the edge of a lake.

The water was crystal clear, shimmering under the sunlight like a giant sapphire.

A few ducks leisurely paddled about, occasionally dipping their heads underwater to search for food, then flapping their wings to splash droplets into the air.

Lin Tian sat quietly on a bench by the lake, watching the scene unfold. The lake’s calmness and the ducks’ liveliness melded perfectly, creating a vivid picture.

Suddenly, a breeze stirred ripples across the water’s surface, twisting like silver snakes weaving their way forward.

His heart stirred along with them.

He recalled childhood days spent playing by a small river just a few hundred meters from the orphanage, running and laughing freely by the water’s edge.

But those joyful times were short-lived—the river dried up after a severe drought, its riverbed flattened.

Now, though here in this park, the sight of the lake brought those precious childhood memories rushing back.

Lost in thought, a butterfly suddenly fluttered by.

Its colorful wings glittered brilliantly in the sunlight. The butterfly danced around Lin Tian, as if inviting him to join its joyful ballet.

Unable to resist, Lin Tian stood and swayed gently with the butterfly.

Sensing his enthusiasm, the butterfly sped up its flight, perching first on his shoulder, then near his hand, playing a game of hide-and-seek.

Drawn along, Lin Tian unknowingly wandered into a flowerbed.

A riot of colors burst forth—red, yellow, purple, pink—blending into a magnificent tapestry of blossoms and fragrance.

Wait... a tapestry?

Suddenly, Lin Tian remembered something and hurriedly recalled the genealogy records of the Xiao clan.

Legend held that such naturally formed spectacular scenes might conceal innate treasures born of heaven and earth.

The butterfly flitted among the flowers, resting on petals then taking flight again. Lin Tian crouched to observe them closely.

Each flower bore its unique posture and beauty, swaying gently in the autumn breeze, as if showing off their charm to him.

"Perhaps, I can use the Heavenly Eye to take a look," he thought.

He activated his Heavenly Eye but, regrettably, found nothing.

Suddenly, a small squirrel leapt down from a tree, landing at Lin Tian’s feet.

Its round eyes curiously regarded him, as if asking to play.

"Little guy..." Lin Tian gently extended a hand. The squirrel didn’t run but brushed its furry tail softly against the back of his hand.

Lin Tian smiled, pulling a small sugar cube from his pocket and placing it in his palm.

The squirrel cautiously approached, took the sugary treat with its front paws, then scampered back up the tree to a branch, munching vigorously.

Watching the adorable creature, warmth filled Lin Tian’s heart.

Suddenly alerted to something, he bent down, plucked a flower, and compared it to the hollow in the tree trunk.

To his surprise, they matched perfectly.

More amazingly, all the flowers growing beneath the tree were identical in size and shape!

"Looks like there’s something special inside this tree."

Pondering this, Lin Tian took out another sugar cube to lure the squirrel down again.

Taking advantage of the moment, he continued wandering among the flowers, admiring their beauty and the mysterious significance they seemed to hold.

Then, he spotted a flower unlike the others.

Its petals were pale purple, speckled with tiny white spots resembling sparkling dewdrops.

Lin Tian leaned closer and inhaled its fragrance—a fresh, delicate scent with a hint of sweetness that intoxicated him.

He carefully picked the flower, held it to his nose, and took a deep breath.

At that moment, he suddenly thought of the girl still at the orphanage.

Bai Yun always loved strolling through flowerbeds, searching for beautiful blooms.

Lin Tian remembered how much she adored this shade of pale purple, her eyes lighting up with joy whenever she saw such flowers.

He gently pressed the flower to his chest, feeling as if he could sense her presence.

With thoughts of her in his heart, Lin Tian seized the moment while the squirrel was distracted munching and swiftly climbed the tree, peering into the hollow.

“What’s this?”

Amazement filled him as he spotted a pale purple gem at the bottom of the hollow, the same color as the flower in his hand.

"This is something I must have!"

Though it was difficult, he reached in and slowly pulled it out.

Turning around, he found the squirrel standing upright, watching him.

"Hehe, don’t be nervous, I’m leaving now."

Lin Tian chuckled awkwardly and headed toward a nearby bamboo grove.

Tall and slender bamboo swayed gently in the breeze, rustling softly.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting beams of light on the ground.

Walking along the bamboo-lined path, Lin Tian felt as if he had entered a mysterious realm.

The grove’s serene beauty brought a moment of calm to his soul.

Emerging from the bamboo, he reached a hillside.

Wild grasses and flowers blanketed the slope, with a lush forest stretching out in the distance.

Lin Tian sat on the hill, gazing at the scenery, feeling a surge of emotion.

“It seems fate has its own design,” he murmured.

He had a premonition that he might find more treasures here, so he stood and walked toward the distant woods.

Birdsong echoed through the forest, crisp and melodious.

Entering the woods, sunlight pierced through the leaves, dappling his figure with light and shadow.

He closed his eyes, quietly listening to the birds’ songs.

Their melodies seemed to whisper nature’s secrets, cleansing his spirit.

Suddenly, a small bird flew down from a branch and landed on his shoulder.

With curious eyes, it looked at Lin Tian, as if asking to be friends.

Lin Tian gently extended a hand; the bird didn’t fly away but softly brushed his hand with its feathers.

He smiled and tenderly stroked the bird’s plumage, feeling its warmth.

At that moment, a breeze rustled the leaves, as if providing a musical accompaniment.

Time slipped by unnoticed. The sun dipped westward, painting the clouds with hues of orange and red.

“If this were during school, time would never pass this fast,” Lin Tian said, shaking his head with a wry smile, knowing it was time to go home.

He softly patted the bird’s back. The bird seemed to understand, fluttered its wings, circled a few times in the air, then vanished deep into the woods.

Lin Tian smiled and stepped out through the park’s gate.

That evening, Lin Tian returned to his room, closing the door to shut out the world’s noise.

He switched on his old desk lamp, its soft, yellow light bathing every corner, creating a tranquil atmosphere.

He slipped off his shoes, sat cross-legged on the soft bed, and began to meditate.

At first, his body felt stiff, the crossed-leg posture uncomfortable.

But he didn’t give up. Taking a deep breath, he worked to relax.

Closing his eyes, he focused on his breathing.

Air flowed slowly through his nostrils, down his throat, into his lungs,

then out again, retracing the path through his throat and nostrils.

He felt the rhythm of each breath, and gradually his mind calmed.

As time passed, his body adapted.

He began to sense changes within.

Initially, it felt as if invisible shackles bound him, every cell tense and working hard.

But as meditation deepened, the tension eased, cells loosening into ease and freedom.

He felt warm, powerful blood coursing through him.

His heartbeat steadied, rhythmic, like a peaceful melody accompanying his body.

His thoughts grew clearer. Normally, his mind teemed with countless ideas and distractions.

But now, they faded away, leaving only tranquility and focus.

He seemed to float in an empty valley, surrounded by silence, only his breath echoing.

After an unknown time, his body felt lighter, as if about to drift upward.

He sensed his consciousness roaming through him, from head to toe, each part vibrant with energy.

His fingers twitched slightly, feeling this wondrous change; his toes curled softly, as if declaring their presence to the world.

A surge of inexplicable joy welled within him.

Gradually, his awareness blurred.

He seemed to enter a dream—not like his usual dreams filled with strange sights or thrilling adventures.

Here, he merely floated in darkness, sensing his own existence.

His body emitted a faint light that grew brighter and brighter, until it illuminated the entire darkness.

Lin Tian awoke from meditation, opened his eyes, still seated on the bed.

The room’s light remained soft, yet his body had undergone a profound transformation.

He felt energized—every cell seemed activated.

His eyes sparkled with newfound clarity, as if able to see through the world’s mysteries.

His spirit was calm, as if freshly cleansed.

Slowly, he stood and stretched.

Each joint clicked crisply, as if cheering his body on.

He walked to the window, drew the curtain aside, and gazed out at the night view.

The city lights still glittered brilliantly, but Lin Tian no longer found them harsh.

“Given my current strength, can I be considered a martial cultivator?” he pondered, recalling his earlier conversation with Lin Ruyu.

Honestly, as a youth, he had longed to become a cultivator himself.

“Ah, whatever. I’ll just eat some instant noodles and go to sleep.”

He tidied his clothes, then fetched the kettle to boil water.

Entering the kitchen, he opened the cupboard and scanned the assortment of instant noodles.

He grabbed a pack at random, tore it open, carefully took out the noodle cake, placed it in a bowl, and carried it away.

Having done all this, Lin Tian sat at the table and devoured the noodles.

Earlier exertion had drained his energy; now he needed to replenish it.

After finishing and washing the bowl, he lay down on his bed and drifted off peacefully.

The next morning, just as dawn broke, he rose early and took a bus to school.

Since it was the first week back, only the seniors had been required to arrive the previous night; other grades came fresh that morning.

Just as Lin Tian reached the school gate, a thought occurred to him, and he headed to the security office nearby.