Chapter 82: The Blooming of Seeking Flowers

Winter Blossom in Hand, All Life Can Be Saved.

The AI system provided by the monks of the Nameless Temple was of great help to Luo Gan. Yellow glowing circles appeared in his field of vision, guiding him toward the next mission point.

Yan Shan had already returned from the prefecture, and the delighted Prefect Lu had released him, so Bamboo Zhang was finally safe. Han Chong, Xiao Zhi, and the others went home to recuperate, all utterly exhausted.

Zhang Jifeng, whose loyalty had seemed exemplary, had at the critical moment switched sides and informed Prefect Lu, plunging the Bamboo Forest Guild into immense trouble. To reward his service, Prefect Lu wrote another letter, sending it by messenger to Wang Gemao, praising Head Constable Zhang’s courage. In a fit of anger, Wang Gemao tore the letter apart and, in a public display of promotion but a private demotion, sent Zhang Jifeng back to his old post, ordering him to watch the gates.

Old Hu, with his honest face, had hidden schemes; taking in Luo Gan was merely a way to bait wanted men. Luckily, he had given Luo Gan a fake flower for the offering, or the consequences would have been dire. Prefect Lu, seeing the tide, rewarded Old Hu with some money, ensuring that everyone had an ending they could accept.

Sometimes Luo Gan felt lost. Whether fighting the dragonfolk or searching for treasures, relying on his own strength or following the hints from the game, he could unravel clues step by step. Yet the human heart, even in a game, remained unfathomable.

Now before Luo Gan lay the task of harnessing the power of the Winter Blossom to end the freeze disaster in Anping County, to bring closure to the matter.

Only Erhu and Uncle De remained uneasy. They followed Yan Shan to find Luo Gan, determined to fulfill the Winter Blossom’s final mission.

Passing by Wangqing Pavilion, the county seemed devoid of life except for this place, where music and dancing continued as if never ceasing. The people inside were so boisterous, as if protesting the injustice of fate, drinking endlessly to vent their sorrows.

No familiar faces were seen in the tower; Luo Gan felt nostalgic, believing they had gone to distant Chang’an—one absence meant a faraway place.

In his mind, Luo Gan imagined Jun Tao’s return, riding a carriage, her face veiled with a conical hat and gauzy scarf, a hint of ethereal charm in her blue robes. The coachman dared not hurry, afraid to disturb the goddess; the little horse ambled slowly toward him. The air should be fragrant with the exuberance of spring, the vibrant spirit of green hills and clear waters, birds awakening to sing! If unwilling? If unwilling, I am rich—the world should revolve around you...

A child’s wailing broke Luo Gan’s reverie, passing a household wracked with tears. The woman, unwell, had stayed in the city; the child, as feared, had not survived, and the family was like lost souls.

Uncle De’s parched lips moved slightly, his voice low: “When we arrived, the elder sister in this family had lost a child, the younger one was pregnant and wanted to leave, but the elders wouldn’t allow it. And now, it’s come to this.”

Erhu said, “I just can’t understand! Isn’t carrying on the family line the most important? How could they be so ruthless as to lose their own grandson... ah!”

Yan Shan replied, “Perhaps the old folks’ health is failing, and they fear they’ll never see their children again if they travel far.”

Uncle De nodded, sighing again. Luo Gan kept silent; trapped in the confines of the county, so many ambitions were buried.

Luo Gan proceeded cautiously, the screen flashing yellow light repeatedly. Curious, he instinctively felt there must be a new clue ahead, and without much thought, he ran toward the spot indicated by the yellow circle.

He ran all the way to the city gate, where the circle vanished. Panting, Luo Gan found the entrance deserted; all who could leave had gone, and Anping County seemed as if the apocalypse had arrived, ice piled waist-high.

The Winter Blossom in his hand remained a bud, glowing faintly yellow. Around the gate, only withered branches and fallen leaves, all in ruin.

Erhu and Yan Shan arrived one after another, Uncle De last, alone and looking about. The snow was indeed deeper, everyone coated in thick frost, except for the Winter Blossom, which remained untouched by snow.

Luo Gan carefully recalled all he had experienced here—whether the three trials from Sorcerer Yuan or the timed entry in Sima’s mansion, each step had hinted that this place held a special force. The game’s clues had again brought him to the gate; could the Winter Blossom be a key? Might it open a door?

He pondered deeply, when Erhu, unable to hold it any longer, rushed to the gate’s edge, a wave of heat spreading out. Feeling relieved, Erhu shook himself, then twisted his ankle as he turned, nearly falling.

“Damn it! Which bastard tripped me?”

Luo Gan laughed, “Country bumpkin, who’s here to trip you? Open your eyes!”

Erhu looked down, surprised to find a small altar at his feet, inscribed with strange characters he couldn’t understand.

“Come look! What odd thing is here!”

Nearest were Uncle De and Yan Shan, who went first; Luo Gan thought it was just a stone and paid little attention.

Uncle De examined it, troubled. “Small platform, the inscription is... Oracle bone? Bronze script? Neither, really.” He pondered, trying to decipher some meaning.

The writing was unclear, frozen over by ice and snow. Yan Shan traced the characters with his finger, focused as if conversing with the stone.

Erhu and Uncle De watched Yan Shan, hoping he might sense something. Luo Gan’s gaze, lost in thought, returned to the little altar.

“How is it?” Erhu asked.

Yan Shan exhaled, “Hmm, the stone is cold.”

Erhu retorted, “How could it not be? In this icy world, if it were warm, that’d be a ghost!”

Uncle De said, “No, no, at least the stone isn’t anything special! That’s good news.”

Yan Shan stood up. Luo Gan approached, and saw that the stone was inscribed with a line of English letters.

The characters were hazy, so Luo Gan leaned in, trying to discern the pattern by tracing with his fingers. As he rubbed the stone repeatedly, the frozen letters grew clearer; he withdrew, blowing warm air onto his reddened hands, and carefully examined the inscription.

“huafangshangmian”

Erhu frowned, puzzled. “What kind of rat’s writing is that? If it crawled into the ground, I’d smash it with a slap!”

Yan Shan scratched his head, his face twisted as if he’d drunk a mouthful of vinegar.

Uncle De relaxed a little; after all, he couldn’t understand it either.

Uncle De said, “Could it be someone from beyond the heavens? These letters are here to intimidate us!”

Erhu and Yan Shan were both startled, everyone looked at Luo Gan, who finally broke into a triumphant smile.

“President, have you figured it out?”

Luo Gan placed the Winter Blossom atop the small altar, and told everyone to step back.

In an instant, chaos engulfed heaven and earth; a tremendous sound echoed across Anping County! All lost their balance and fell, only to see the Winter Blossom on the altar blaze with light! White radiance enveloped everything before Luo Gan’s eyes...