Chapter 65: The Crane's Disgrace

With the winter blossom in hand, the marshland returned to its former state, and the world grew peaceful once more. Luo Gan glanced around, quietly awaiting a miracle. A gust of wind swept behind him; he turned, seeing no one, then turned again only to find Yuan the Magician standing directly behind him.

"Yuan... Yuan the Magician! Why are you standing behind me like that?"

"I'm standing in front of you. You turned around and said I was behind you. That's not quite right."

A nest of oddballs, Luo Gan cursed inwardly. None of the NPCs he encountered were normal, and at critical moments, they were liable to set traps like Yuan the Magician. The road to revolution was fraught with unknown dangers, leaving one with nothing but regret and frustration.

"Oh! Incredible, truly remarkable!" Yuan the Magician stared at the winter blossom in Luo Gan's hand, visibly astonished.

Seeing Yuan reach out as if to take it, Luo Gan instinctively shielded the blossom, unwilling to let the eccentric magician touch it. He feared some evil energy might taint the hard-won treasure.

Yuan, denied his desire, looked thoroughly disappointed, then feigned nonchalance and cleared his throat.

"Well, it seems you are the first to complete all three trials. This winter blossom is your reward for coming here."

"Reward? Does this flower truly have the power to lift the frozen calamity from Anping County?"

"Who can say? Those who pass the trials receive the favor of fate. This blossom must be of help to you, otherwise it would not have found its way to you."

Luo Gan was, of course, delighted to have obtained the winter blossom, but there was something he cared about even more.

"Erhu, Erhu and Xiao Zhi—where are they? How are they?"

"They? Hmph, the three who got lost in the pursuit of money at the second trial? They're all waiting for you so you can return to the real world together."

Yuan's reply was as indifferent as a constable in the magistrate’s office—helpful only when pleased, otherwise surly and dismissive, never considering the welfare of the common folk. If they didn't cause trouble, one ought to thank the heavens. Yuan's arrogant and inscrutable expression reminded Luo Gan of those officials, and the sports jersey beneath his magician’s robe was as striking as ever.

Luo Gan was curious: "You've changed your sportswear, haven't you? Are there places here that sell them?"

Yuan was clearly pleased to be asked about his clothes.

"Few in the Tang Dynasty appreciate this style. Too bad it's not store-bought—the game designers rushed to meet their targets last night and switched my outfit. Looks good, right?"

Whenever his attire came up, Yuan grew delighted that someone admired his taste. Luo Gan was momentarily stunned, realizing that the game's progress was controlled in real time by the designers. All those bizarre trials and clues—they had been concocted by those half-witted designers!

Thinking this way, neither Wang Ji nor Yuan the Magician seemed so annoying. Once he won and escaped the game, Luo Gan resolved to give those designers a proper scolding to ease his resentment.

"Wait, you said I was the first to complete the third trial. What about Yanshan and..."

Yuan flashed a sly smile, pressing his fingers together with an air of mystery. "What? Winning isn't enough—you want to check on the other two? They're safe and sound."

Luo Gan breathed a sigh of relief, silently vowing not to let his companions risk their lives for such things again. He knew he could never live with himself if they paid the ultimate price.

"But if you want to see how they're doing, I can show you."

"I didn’t mean..."

"No, no, you do want to see."

Luo Gan suspected it was Yuan himself who wanted to check, forcibly dragging Luo Gan along. Yuan waved his hand, and a holographic projection appeared before them.

"What? Now you’re too lazy for smoke and effects, just using holograms? That’s half-hearted!"

Yuan shrugged helplessly. "Limited budget. Here’s your bonus content—don’t complain too much."

In the projection, Yanshan was absorbed in figuring out how to play chess with Wang Ji, still making random moves, having lost all hope of winning. Eventually, the two simply drank together and stopped discussing how to escape. Farmer Jia was even more amusing—he never found Wang Ji’s house, wandering in circles outside, muttering, "Something’s wrong, something’s wrong." He then wandered to the altar of the Wine God outside the hill and was nearly frightened to death by the statue of Du Kang.

Luo Gan couldn’t help but laugh, somewhat unkindly sizing up his two companions. The sense of accomplishment befitting an elder brother welled up within him. Some things must be done by oneself to have credibility, and the winter blossom seemed even more precious and beautiful in his hands.

Despite these thoughts, the question of what comes next lingered in his mind. Since he was returning with the winter blossom, things would surely take a turn.

"Time’s up. Let’s go back. The real world is hardly peaceful."

Yuan once more flashed his wicked smile, his face full of tricks that made people uneasy and restless. If he weren’t a magician, he’d make a fine charlatan, perhaps even a decent quack.

"Isn’t unrest common enough already? I’m used to it. It doesn’t matter."

Clearly, Luo Gan had no idea what was happening outside. Yuan only grinned, speaking in half-sentences as was his habit, indifferent to the flow of time.

"Since you’re the first to pass the trials, I’ll grant you an ability."

Before Luo Gan could respond, Yuan slapped him across the face, then pulled a palm fan from his robe and waved it toward the sky. Several immortal cranes descended from above, grabbing Luo Gan by the back and soaring with him through the clouds.

Luo Gan nearly screamed in midair: "Hey! You hit me and don’t let me hit back! What kind of immortal crane grabs people instead of letting them ride?"

"Put me down, put me down!" Despite his shouts, the cranes paid him no mind.

The immortal cranes were as heedless as porters, running off with their cargo until reaching their destination. Their brusque demeanor made Luo Gan suspect Yuan had instructed them, and he silently vowed to give Yuan a good thrashing next time they met.

He squirmed and twisted, finally provoking the cranes to annoyance. One loosened its grip, and Luo Gan, caught off guard, plummeted swiftly from a hundred meters above!

His hair stood on end, heart suspended in midair, pupils dilated wide. With a piercing scream, he hurtled toward a small mound on the ground below!

His body was beyond control; no matter how he struggled, only the rush of air sliced through him like blades, mercilessly cutting his skin. His ears could no longer discern sounds, and the sky was filled only with fear and anxiety. Countless images flickered through his mind.

With a bang, Luo Gan opened his eyes to darkness, not a trace of light in sight.

"Take them all away! Every last one!" A fierce voice echoed in the room, accompanied by hurried footsteps and the scrape of iron tools, filling Luo Gan with tension and unease.

"Hey! What crime have I committed, you..." His voice boomed.

A crisp slap resounded, followed by the clank of shackles.

"Daring to sneak into the house! Bold scoundrel, take him away!"

"Hey, sir, sir, we’re innocent!" It was Uncle De’s voice!

"Innocent, my foot—take them all!"

"Hey! Mind your words! My old mother is still alive, and you dare curse her!"

Sensing trouble, Luo Gan looked around and spotted a patch of light. He tried to slip toward it, only to find his body fused with the floor! Swimming beneath the boards, he watched the source of the commotion—it was Li Bu’er and the short constable!