Mortal To Immortal (Book 1)
Ep. 83 - City of Birth

The Flower Hill City was much quieter than Yao Han's memories and estimations. Not that his hometown is getting crowded or advanced, it is getting quieter. This is increasingly corroborating about the truth of Bolang's previous story about the stealth attack on the City of Flower Hill.

Yao Han's entourage came to the attention of quite a number of people as they got further and further into the city, especially to Shenghao and Honghao due to their unique, almost bald-headed appearance.

Yao Han tried not to show his ugly look on his face when he saw the situation and condition of Flower Hill City after the few years he had left, but the three people with him could still see Yao Han's mood was not good.

The three people who were with him were curious about Yao Han's relationship with the Flower Hill City they had come to this and the answer they knew not long after they had stopped at a simple house that had already been broken in some parts.

From the outside, it looked like the house was unkempt let alone inhabited, but the three people who were with Yao Han could see the young man looking at the house before them with such a sad and longing look.

"Whose house is this, Brother Yao?" ask Shenghao.

"This is my home, after the original owner left eight years ago."

Yao Han's reply slightly surprised the three people nearby. They just found out that they came from a small town called Bukit Bunga.

"So you're from this town, Brother Yao..."

Yao Han let out a long sigh, "I was born and raised in this city. I have never seen or known my parents. From childhood I cared for Grandma Yue until the age of nine. For a year after he died, I became the new owner of this house. And then I 'meet' my teacher and stayed with him on Star Moon Island for seven years before I met you, until I finally returned to this city today..."

Shenghao and Honghao had previously tried not to ask Yao Han about personal matters, but they had just heard the outline briefly of the young man's actual background.

They then understood Yao Han's reaction after hearing Bolang's story of the stealth attack on Flower Hill City five years ago, as this city was his hometown.

Yao Han was still quietly observing Grandma Yue's relic house, while the others could only quietly wait for Yao Han's next plan. Shenghao guessed Yao Han would use his ability to make the city's condition better like the Yao Han habits he saw on their journey.

"Hm?"

Their attention was distracted by the sound of approaching footsteps. An old man approached them. Yao Han looked at the man's face for a moment. His eyes widened from knowing the old man as the leader of Flower Hill City, Hua Ren.

Yao Han briefly held his breath as not only did Hua Ren seem much older than his memory, but rather because Hua Ren now only had one hand left, that of his right hand.

"Mayor Hua..." Yao Han approached Hua Ren.

"You know me young man?"

Previously Hua Ren had been told that a small group had entered Flower Hill City, their unique appearance a little suspicious, even though their faces did not look like bad people.

"Mayor Hua. It's Yao Han...." Yao Han slightly softly looked at Hua Ren.

***

Hua Ren had served as the leader of Flower Hill City for thirty years and among the bad things that had hit the city since he took the lead was the fox tiger bear stealth attack five years ago.

Hua Ren was lucky to be one of the survivors of the attack because he was the cultivator with the highest level of practice in the Flower Hill City, the intermediate stage Mortal Foundation. But unfortunately, the attack made him lose his left hand which made Hua Ren lament his bad luck.

Within five years of the attack, Bukit Bunga City focused on improving and 'rebuilding' the city that lost half its population. Hua Ren had always hoped that nothing surprising would befall the Flower Hill City again like getting a stealth attack, but today he had an unusual shock.

Some time ago he had already 'acquainted' with Yao Han and the others. Hua Ren's attitude towards Shenghao and Honghao was more respectful as it came from a big sect. After hearing Yao Han's short story, Hua Ren looked at the young man with a look of disbelief.

Hua Ren had thought that Yao Han was bragging about her. Despite being over a hundred years old, she still remembered the figure of Yao Han who had disappeared just seven years ago because the boy she knew was quite good friends with Hua Feng, his only son. The disappearance of Yao Han also had made a stir almost the entire city.

"So, are you really the Han'er I know?" Hua Ren let out a long sigh, there was still a hint of doubt, especially since Yao Han's appearance and innateness were different from his memories, "I was at a loss for what to react to... having a spirit root after being struck by lightning then becoming a cultivator? My ears seem to have misheard..."

"Until now I still do not believe in my condition and become a cultivator..." Yao Han laughed softly.

Shenghao, Honghao, and Bolang were shocked to hear Yao Han's story to Hua Ren. The young man had indeed intentionally let them know his little 'secret. No one did not think that Yao Han's extraordinary luck could survive after being struck by lightning that led to his meeting with Feng Xian.

"You've been living on an island in the middle of the Moonlight Lake, yes... Hm, Star Moon Island..." Hua Ren stroked his chin hearing the new information, "I'm glad that you can finally become a cultivator even having a teacher, but aren't you planning on getting into the sect? Maybe it's better."

Hua Ren said like this as he was reminded of Hua Feng who was a member of a sect.

That answer made Yao Han smile thinly, while Shenghao and Honghao without Hua Ren realized instead smiling awkwardly. Being a disciple of Feng Xian the East Wind who was also an Alchemy God was already too much for Yao Han. The resources he had obtained were too special for even the best disciples of a large sect.

There were still things that Hua Ren wanted to discuss with Yao Han, but he understood that Yao Han and his friends needed rest. Hua Ren offered his house as a temporary residence since it took quite a while to clean Yao Han's house, but Yao Han rejected it subtly.

"Mayor, please accept this..."

Yao Han handed me a jade bottle. Hua Ren discovered that there were two grains of pills inside that glowed and emitted a strong aroma.

"It was a Longevity Pill, it could increase a cultivator's age by as much as five years each of its pills and could only be consumed by at most two grains."

Hua Ren's eyes widened, "You got a good thing..."

"Oh, it was me who made it."

Hua Ren's eyes widened again, wider than before, "You're an alchemist?!" screams bailed.

"Hm, yes, I learned alchemy from my teacher." Yao Han smiled faintly.

Hua Ren was stunned for quite a while, "Tomorrow I want to hear your story more, young man."

The old man then left Yao Han and his friends.

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