C1 Men Were Not Allowed to Stay in the Whispering Blossoms(1)

Zhong Wen had a dream. In it, he encountered a young girl floundering in a lake. He leapt into the water without a second thought for his own safety because he yearned to play the hero just once.

The girl, unable to swim, was in a state of panic. In her frantic struggle, she elbowed Zhong Wen in the nose, leaving him disoriented. Swimming was not his strong suit, and in the chaos, he forgot how to swim altogether.

As Zhong Wen sank to the bottom of the lake, a single thought crossed his mind: "Women are truly frightening!"

Next, he experienced suffocation, bitter cold, and an engulfing darkness.

Just as Zhong Wen felt he was about to freeze to death, a warm current began to flow into him. This warmth spread through his body, banishing the icy chill. Soon, he felt cozy and warm, as if he were nestled in his mother's embrace.

Once Zhong Wen relaxed, he slipped back into unconsciousness.

Time passed, and eventually, Zhong Wen opened his eyes.

"What an incredibly long dream," he mused. "It's given me a headache. Thankfully, it was just a dream; otherwise, I'd be the butt of every joke. I tried to rescue a drowning beauty, only to be struck by her and end up drowning myself. That would be a laughingstock in any place."

"You're awake!" A gentle voice reached Zhong Wen's ears, soothing and pleasant.

He turned his head to see a charming little girl. She appeared to be eight or nine, with long black hair cascading over her shoulders. She wore a costume resembling those from historical dramas, yet it was somehow unique.

The little girl's face lit up with a sweet smile upon seeing Zhong Wen awake, which left him transfixed, his heart feeling as though it might leap out of his chest.

"Little girl, who are you?" Zhong Wen asked, after making sure he didn't recognize her.

He was certain he would never forget someone as adorable as her.

"I'm Lin Xiaodie. You can call me Xiaodie. What's your name?"

"Nice to meet you, Xiaodie. My name is Zhong Wen." With no sense of caution, Zhong Wen smiled warmly at the delightful little girl.

Zhong Wen mustered a gentle smile despite the sharp pain in his head that felt like it was splitting open.

He reached up with his right hand to touch his forehead and, to his relief, he didn't have a fever. Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Zhong Wen surveyed his surroundings.

It quickly became clear to him that he was not in a hospital.

The room was adorned with an old-world charm, reminiscent of sets he had seen in historical dramas. There was a wooden bed, a tea table, and a writing desk. An incense burner on the desk emitted a unique fragrance that seemed to clear the mind. A landscape painting hung on the wall, though it leaned towards realism and lacked a certain poetic quality.

What truly caught Zhong Wen's attention was the unconventional lighting fixture hanging from the ceiling. It was neither a modern LED light nor an ancient candle. Instead, it resembled an inverted porcelain basin with a palm-sized, luminous stone inside that bathed the room in a bright glow.

"How are you feeling? Is there any pain anywhere?" Lin Xiaodie asked, her eyes wide with concern.

Zhong Wen thought, "If I ever have a daughter as adorable as her, that would be wonderful."

He sat up, rotating his neck, twisting his waist, and stretching his limbs. Aside from the persistent headache, the rest of his body seemed to be functioning normally.

"I'm okay," Zhong Wen replied softly. "Xiaodie, where is this place? How did I end up here?"

"This is Whispering Blossoms Palace. I brought you here," Xiaodie declared with a hint of pride.

"What?" Zhong Wen was utterly perplexed.

"I found you on the back mountain, nearly dead. Senior Sister and I carried you back, and my master has been treating your wounds."

"Whispering Blossoms Palace? Master? Senior Sister? Treatment?"

What was this, some kind of period drama?

Zhong Wen's confusion grew. "Have I traveled back to ancient times?"

His head throbbed unbearably as he cradled it in his hands, blurting out a question that sounded absurd even to him, "What dynasty is this?"

"Dynasty? What's a dynasty? Oh, do you mean the year? It's the year 296 in Spirits Rising."

Zhong Wen was groggy and couldn't make out what Lin Xiaodie was saying. Her voice seemed to fluctuate, now high, now low.

With a pained cry, Zhong Wen exclaimed, "Ah!"

Unable to bear the throbbing in his head any longer, he cried out and then passed out once more.

"Zhong Wen! Zhong Wen!" Lin Xiaodie's anxious voice faintly echoed in his ears.

When Zhong Wen came to again, daylight had filled the room. The stone-like "lamp" no longer glowed. Sunlight filtered through the window paper, and the chirping of birds and insects was audible.

The headache was gone, and Zhong Wen felt a wave of relief wash over him. He sat up and stretched languorously.

He noticed Lin Xiaodie asleep at the edge of his bed, her delicate features peaceful in slumber, irresistibly charming. He was tempted to gently pinch her cheek.

Not wanting to disturb her rest, Zhong Wen slipped out of the covers and tiptoed to the door. He eased it open, squinting against the bright sunlight.

"What's this?"

As he squinted, a bookshelf came into view.

It was a towering, seven-tiered bookshelf of immense size.

About a meter from the ground, the bookshelf had a solid panel inscribed with bold, golden characters.

Sanctum of Scrolls!

A twitch played at the corner of Zhong Wen's mouth, accompanied by an intriguing sense of anticipation.

His eyes quickly adjusted to the sunlight, and he peered outside. The door opened onto a spacious courtyard, encircled by buildings with an ancient charm. The main gate stood open, revealing glimpses of a verdant forest. A thin mist shrouded everything, lending an ethereal, otherworldly quality.

He inhaled deeply, the crisp air filling him with a refreshing energy that seemed to pulse with vitality. His spirits lifted.

"You're awake!" Lin Xiaodie's voice came from behind him.

"Xiaodie, did you stay with me all through the night?" Zhong Wen asked, turning to see her bright, eager face. His spirits soared even higher.

"Yes, you suddenly fainted last night, and it really scared me," Xiaodie said, nodding and placing a hand over her heart. "Thankfully, Third Senior Sister gave you a Minor Rejuvenation Pill."

"Thank you," Zhong Wen replied, feeling a warmth in his heart as he affectionately patted her head.

"Xiaodie, ever since I woke up, my mind's been a blur. I only remember that my name is Zhong Wen; everything else seems to be gone," Zhong Wen fibbed. "Could you fill me in on what's been happening here? It might jog my memory."

"Of course! You're in the Wild South Province of the Puidorin Kingdom. This place was once an ancient ruin discovered by the Ancient Progenitor. Seeing the abundant spiritual energy, he founded Whispering Blossoms here. The current leader is my master," Lin Xiaodie explained, clearly enjoying her conversation with Zhong Wen.

Zhong Wen steered the conversation to gather information. In less than half an hour, he had a clear grasp of his situation.

He could confirm that he had traveled through time and space.

That wasn't the frightening part. The terrifying realization was that his dream about drowning was actually true.

He had been plunged to the bottom of a lake by someone, which led to his transmigration.

The thought of his past life's demise gave Zhong Wen a sudden, overwhelming impulse to experience death once more.

"Have you remembered anything?" Lin Xiaodie asked, noticing Zhong Wen's distant gaze and assuming he was struggling to regain his memories.

"I'm still feeling a bit woozy," Zhong Wen admitted, snapping back to reality. "Do you have any books about the Puidorin Kingdom? They might help me."

"There are cultivation methods, arcane techniques, panaceas, and novels in the Spire of Knowledge. But Wang Quanxin often brings some old issues of the Puidorin Bulletin to my master. I'll fetch some for you," she said before hurrying out of the room.

She truly was a kind-hearted young woman.