Treasure-hunting: Into the Unknown

"And now, will you hold up your end of the bargain? Tell me who you are," said Zachary, smiling.

Vivian plucked the flower from the air, handling it with reverence. It was a lovely gesture. But she narrowed her eyes, still not ready to give Zachary what he wanted. Slowly she said, "It's not enough. If you want to know my name, I will need you to get something else for me." She wanted to push him to his limit and see how far he would take this. So she thought of another difficult task.

"All right. What else do you need?" Zachary asked calmly. It did not surprise him that this aloof woman was not so easy to win over.

She said in a musing tone, "I want the Autumn Flower! And it must be at least ten years old." In all honesty, this flower was something else she badly needed to refine pills. But it was also another scarce material. She wondered if this man would be able to obtain an Autumn Flower as easily as he had obtained the Marine Magic Flower.

Zachary stepped away again to consult with Mimi. To his relief, she did have one, and it was twenty years old. Just as he did before, he returned with the Autumn Flower and sent it inside the room.

Vivian couldn't help being impressed. These were two scarce flowers, both requiring a high level of skill to obtain, but he owned both and gave them to her without thinking twice. It was quite generous of him. She wondered if he spent a lot of time collecting flowers and herbs. He must! How else could he have two scarce flowers on hand?

"Now are you satisfied?" Zachary asked, but his lips had curled up. Somehow he already

vel can accomplish. So even if you go to the cliff, you may not be able to actually enter the forbidden area." She had decided to be completely frank so he would reconsider his decision to go there.

"Well, I'll have to find a way to go down the cliff. It's the only way you'll tell me your name, after all," Zachary said lightly. "What kind of plant do you want me to get for you?"

Vivian sighed. It seemed he would not be dissuaded. "It's called the Mandala Grass. It usually grows in the habitat of a martial beast, and takes excrement as nutrients. But even if you manage to find it, I'm afraid that it will be difficult to collect it, and that you may die in the attempt. I am being kind to warn you. Please think carefully if you want to do this." Although she did not like him very much, she realized she did not want him to end up dead just to get her a rare plant. Despite the cold front she had shown him, she had a kind heart, and she truly hoped he would give up on wanting to know her name and just stay away from the Xiao Clan's forbidden area.