Soul under the cherry tree

"Thank you."

The girl held the pearl milk tea in her hands and softly said, "Thank you," then she opened her cherry-like mouth and began to sip it gently.

"As long as you like it."

The boy scratched his head slightly, feeling a little embarrassed.

"Let's go and sit over there."

Linyin pointed to a bench in the nearby park.

"Sure!"

Shui Yuting nodded lightly.

"That's a really big tree."

With nothing else to do, Linyin looked around and saw a tall cherry blossom tree not far away, his eyes filled with astonishment.

"Hehe, you don't know about this, do you? This tree has an interesting story behind it!"

Shui Yuting said with a smiling face.

"Huh? Is there a story behind it?"

Linyin awkwardly rubbed his head.

"Look, there are many people under that cherry blossom tree."

"Oh, indeed! And they all seem to be couples."

Linyin looked up and exclaimed in surprise.

"Well, because it's a fate tree."

"A fate tree?"

Shui Yuting swayed her two fair and slender legs, causing Linyin to be dazzled and captivated.

"There's a romantic story behind the fate tree."

"Legend has it that in ancient times, there was an emperor who fell in love with a woman."

"This woman was not from a wealthy family, she was just a newly entered palace maid."

"But this maid was different from the scheming women in the palace. She was straightforward and even dared to confront the emperor in public."

"Surprisingly, this caught the emperor's attention, so he brought her into the palace and made her one of his consorts."

"The emperor doted on this maid greatly and even personally planted a cherry blossom tree for her in her palace."

"After countless years, the cherry blossom tree grew into a towering giant tree, and the emperor's kingdom was struck by disaster."

"In a situation where everyone left him, only this maid remained by the emperor's side."

"In the end, the two of them, facing a siege of a million troops, tied themselves together under this cherry blossom tree and died together, never to be separated again."

Shui Yuting finished telling the story with a hint of sorrow.

"That tree has remained since that time, witnessing their love."

"It is said that the two people who bathe in the cherry blossom rain under the tree will be together for their entire lives, never to be separated until death."

"Let's go!"

Shui Yuting stood up and held Linyin's hand.

"Hey! Where are we going?"

Linyin stood there in a daze, but he didn't resist. He let the other person lead him, feeling the softness of her hand. He felt a bit embarrassed.

The two of them arrived together under the giant cherry blossom tree.

"It's so beautiful!"

Shui Yuting twirled under the tree, watching the shower of blossoms falling all around, her smile radiant.

"It truly is beautiful."

Linyin stood there dazed, unsure whether he was referring to the flowers or the person.

Just then, Shui Yuting pounced on Linyin like a swallow returning to its nest.

Mwah!

Linyin touched his cheek and stared at her in a daze.

"Why are you staring? Geez."

Shui Yuting awkwardly pinched her hem.

"Uh, no, it's nothing."

Linyin rubbed his nose, feeling secretly delighted.

They had been dating for a month now, and it was the first time he had seen her being so proactive.

As a slayer of anomalies, Linyin was busy with his daily work and rarely had free time.

Today was a rare opportunity for him to bring his girlfriend to Yunluo Park.

Yunluo Park was a newly constructed park near the city center with a large number of visitors.

"If the legend is true, I hope we can be together forever too."

Linyin sincerely looked at her.

"Mmm."

She shyly lowered her head.

Seeing the opportunity arise, Linyin stepped forward and embraced Shui Yuting.

Shui Yuting's body stiffened slightly, but she didn't struggle too much.

Just then...

"What's that!"

Shui Yuting pushed Linyin away in terror.

"Huh? What?"

Confused by her frightened expression, Linyin looked around.

"Look over there, there's another figure!"

"Uh..."

Linyin turned his head, seeing people everywhere.

"No, it's not the same. That figure is different."

With a look of astonishment, Shui Yuting screamed, "She's wearing ancient clothing, her figure is ethereal, her skin is pale, and there's blood flowing from her head."

"That's definitely a ghost!"

"Ah! Could it be the consort who died under the cherry blossom tree!"

"She was staring at me the whole time, it's so frightening!"

Watching Shui Yuting's reaction, Linyin shook his head slightly.

"You know, I'm a slayer of anomalies. If there's anything strange, I can sense it."

"You must be tired recently, distracted, and mistook it. Get some rest earlier at night, don't stay up late."

"But..."

Shui Yuting wanted to say something more, but now she couldn't see that figure anymore.

"Let's go, I'll take you home. Rest well when you get back."

Linyin touched her forehead and said.

"Well... okay, fine."

Shui Yuting nodded helplessly.

And so, the two of them supported each other and left.

On the other side...

"You're saying you've been having nightmares these past few days? Feeling like someone is seeking your life?"

Mu Zhiqing sat on the couch, looking skeptical.

"Yes, I feel like I'm being haunted by something."

Suying's face turned pale as she spoke.

"But that shouldn't be the case. You're a slayer of anomalies yourself. Would anything strange dare to provoke you?"

"I don't know either, but I haven't sensed any anomaly. It feels like just a simple dream."

Mu Zhiqing shook her head and said, "No, having the same dream continuously for a month is definitely not simple. Suying, have you done something recently?"

"No way. It's been so chaotic recently, escaping from death several times. I don't have time to do anything wrong."

Suying dismissed her suggestion.

"If that's the case, then there's only one possibility."

Mu Zhiqing spoke solemnly.

"Uh, what possibility?"

Mu Zhiqing's face grew slightly grim, and she said each word deliberately, "That anomalous power far surpasses the two of us!"

"Hiss!"

Thinking of this possibility, Suying couldn't help but shudder.

Could it be that she had attracted the attention of a powerful entity?

But she was just a mere C-ranked slayer of anomalies. What qualifications did she have to be targeted by someone?

At this moment, Mu Zhiqing casually looked around Suying's home and spoke.

"Suying, your lease will be ending soon. Have you thought about renting a different place?"

"Huh?"

Suying was taken aback by this unrelated topic.

"I can recommend a place to you. The landlord there is an extraordinary individual."

Mu Zhiqing said mysteriously.

"Extraordinary individual?"

"Yes, with the involvement of that extraordinary individual, your problem will surely be resolved effortlessly. It will be a piece of cake for them to deal with it."

"Is it true?"

"Of course it's true. So, do you want to consider moving?"

"I suppose I can."

"Great, then tomorrow I'll take you to meet that extraordinary individual!"

They quickly reached an agreement.

That night, coolness filled the air.

A figure strode through the streets, exuding a cold and eerie aura.

She moved boldly, crossing one street after another.

The surrounding slayers of anomalies seemed blind, unable to see her presence.

"Suce, it has been 800 years. I have waited for 800 years!"