The Thirteen Trials of the Deceptive Monk

Lu Wenjun began to tremble: "Ms. Cole, if I may ask, how long will this 150 points be valid...?"

Cole stated unequivocally: "At least three months."

"Oh my god!" Lu Wenjun cried out, "Mr. Caboney, we have to think of something!"

Cabone waved his hand: "Calm down, Mr. Lu! The greater the disaster, the calmer we must be. First, we need to determine the general direction. We absolutely cannot think of any crooked ideas that would upset her... that could very well mean a great famine. We need to use a friendly and gentle approach to gradually cool her down."

"Should I call my husband up?" Cole suggested.

"Please, please don't," Lu Wenjun said. "How about we throw a big party? I always feel tired after having too much fun during holidays."

“Good idea, it’s like when you sober up from being drunk and your head clears up,” Cabone agreed. “Let me think of a good excuse… a wine tasting.”

"She probably isn't interested."

"Spring Food Festival?"

"It's obvious we'll be the first to die from exhaustion," said Lü Wenjun.

“How about a flower contest?” Cole suggested. “We could organize a seasonal festival—to select the most beautiful flower of spring or something—so she can focus her energy on the festival preparations, and give the winners some small gifts and commentary.”

The two turned around at the same time, and Miss Cole said shyly, "Well, I admit I'm also very interested in this."

“That’s it!” Caboney said. “A brilliant idea, because what you like is what she likes!”

"Go talk to her quickly," Lü Wenjun urged. "The future of the tavern depends on you! Let's start writing the rules now!"

Chapter 25: When there are no women around, I think of my brothers.

Driven by the instinct for survival, the spring festival was organized very quickly. That evening, Miss Cole subtly suggested the idea, and the next morning, Lü Wenjun presented a highly feasible event plan.

“I suggest naming this spring festival a ‘Floral Art Exhibition’ to clearly inform participants what they should bring, in order to avoid introducing any spoilers,” Lu Wenjun explained. “Considering that many participants lack the ability to cultivate plants independently, we can consider holding this festival as a team competition—there will be more participants and the scene will be more lively.”

“That’s a great idea!” Huise agreed without hesitation. “We can give the children more prizes to encourage them to participate. Let’s each contribute a gift!”

“I can offer you a pamphlet of unorthodox tales,” Cole said with a grin. “I wrote it while passing the time underground, and it’s full of jokes.”

“I’ll offer a bottle of good wine,” Cabernet said, already prepared. “And Aunt, what are you planning to offer?”

“I can provide some small tools for growing plants…” Huise thought for a moment, “and I’ll also make some easy seeds! So that the clumsy children won’t not know how to grow flowers.”

With that thought in mind, she turned and got back to work, while Lü Wenjun and Cabone quietly gave each other a thumbs up.

“Well done,” Cabone mouthed. “At least we can rest for a few days while she’s busy preparing for the festival—”

"Also, you two wipe the tables clean. I'm planning to open two hours early today!" Huise said, turning her head.

Lu Wenjun let out a silent howl, and Caboni lamented, "Let spring pass quickly!"

“Spring has only just begun,” Cole chuckled.

With the strong encouragement of the two hard-working individuals, news of the festival spread quickly. Lü Wenjun spared no expense in ensuring the success of the festival, even hiring professionals from the forum.

【~A bouquet of flowers in full bloom, a riot of springtime~】

Udumbara Kaguya: Spring Seasonal Event Promotion, see the image below for rules, that's all!

-[Millennium Cave] Home Hero: Is this a new event in which mobile game?

-Miko Sora: Teacher, I didn't see the picture this time. It seems it was posted in the wrong section.

-[Magic Research Institute] Golden House: Adult Content Section is here!

- [Demon Theory Research] Golden House shared a link to the forum 【Golden Bottle Wine】.

Kaguya Udumbara: Seriously, all of you should get your heads checked.

Udumbara Kaguya: @Kingsman, please explain.

-Kingsman: This is a real-life event promotion.

-[Magic Theory Research] Golden House: In Reality?!

Tree: Wow!

- Shrine Maiden Sora: Watch out, you might get arrested by Asami-senpai!

-Kingsman: I can't stand it anymore! What are you guys thinking?! This is a gardening festival where you grow bouquets, okay?!

-[Magical Research Institute] Golden House: It turns out to be flowers...

-[Millennium Cave] Homebody Hero: Hey, it's not a mobile game...

-Tree: It turns out it's a flower...

-BlazingBloodPrincess: After all, it was her post. I don't think it's anyone's fault.

-Kingsman: I feel the same despair as the thought processes of forum users and the public's reaction to Udumbara Kaguya's reputation. Anyway, here are the rules again in text...

(The following discussion of 15 layers is omitted)

-Vilsa: There are 3 prizes, and there is no limit to the number of people in a team?

- [Millennium Cave] Elusive and unpredictable: If you want to win by virtue of your numbers, you'll have to face an ugly struggle over how to divide the spoils~

-Anonymous: Kuku, the guys from the styling agency are out of luck this time.

- [Styling Studio] CNC Engraving Machine: Laughed

- [Styling Studio] Engraving Machine: I'm not targeting the upper echelons.

- [Styling Studio] CNC engraving machine: I mean, everyone here is trash.

- [Styling Club] Craftsman: I'm currently assassinating the club president. Sorry to have shown you all the ugly stuff.

-Anonymous: Styling Club Daily Life 1/1

-AI-ice: But beauty is a very subjective concept. How will this competition determine beauty and ugliness?

-Kingsman: Strictly speaking, the winning criterion this time isn't "beauty." Because this is a festival held for Miss Cole, the winner is Miss Cole's favorite thing.

-Kingsman: But she likes beautiful flowers, so it doesn't really matter.

-[Millennium Cave] People appear and disappear like ghosts: Kuku...

-[Millennium Cave] Explosive Maniac: Heh...

-Kingsman: Please, I beg you guys, don't cause trouble, okay?

-Udumbara Kaguya: You're dreaming.

Lu Wenjun put down the jade pendant, his eyes vacant: "For some reason, I feel like I can see Senior Kano laughing wildly in the venue."

“Look, you’ve already learned to foresee the future,” Faris said. “In two more days you’ll be able to do the daily divination for old Merdin.”

The Druid class had just ended, and everyone was, as always, dizzy from Merdin's monologue-like lecture. Lu Wenjun, eager to get started, took advantage of his intelligence advantage as someone who ran errands for the organizers and extended an olive branch first: "Ling Gong, come participate with us!"

Although the tavern owners are known for their unpredictable tempers, they are often quite generous when it comes to giving out prizes. This time, Miss Cole's book should also be an authentic copy, and Lu Wenjun is now a respectable sorcerer; he can learn by reading and studying on his own! Having such a good book is a reliable source of spells—why not take advantage of it!

Linggong waved her hand with a smile: "Sorry, I already have a team~"

"Okay, then let's schedule it together after class... What did you say?" Lü Wenjun was shocked. "With whom? Could it be?!"

He whirled around, looking at Pershka at the next table. The witch was letting out an exceptionally wicked laugh!

Linggong walked behind Pershka and pretended to wipe her glasses: "I'm sorry... Wenjun is too late. I'm already Pershka's teammate."

"Why would you be interested in such a boring match?!"

“Unlike some gentleman with absolutely no aesthetic taste, I like pretty flowers,” Pershka chuckled, covering her mouth. “Besides, if I win the competition, I’ll get to see your disappointed expression. It’s a win-win situation, isn’t it?”

"You've never even grown any flowers or plants yourself! What makes you think you have the determination to win?"

Pershka snapped her fingers with a cold laugh, and a third member appeared beside her. It was Kukuki, who had just gotten a haircut yesterday and now sported a strangely short, student-style bob!

"I've teamed up with Pershka too~~" Jiujiu Mu said with a smile.

"Damn it, it's Grandma—I was hoping to win her over right away!"

Miss Pershka rose with a smug expression, grabbing Reiko and Kukuki by the hands of each of them, her laughter almost pitying: "That's how it is. We need to go prepare for the competition now, so you should do your best in your own way... If you start intensively studying gardening today, you might even be able to grow a cute little flower. Hahaha, ahahaha!"

"Pershka, that laughter sounds so tasteless," Reiko whispered.

"Really? You should adjust your approach next time you laugh at him."

Miss Witch and her cheerful friends strode away, while Lü Wenjun slumped onto his desk, clenching his fists in anger and letting out a feeble wail.

"Ugh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh—"

What a pitiful scene! He not only lost his teammates, but also the secret weapon he wanted to keep all to himself. At this moment, he looks like a pitiful and harmless nerd being bullied by the cheerleader in a European or American school!

"Anyone who didn't know better would think you were something special," Faris commented.

Lu Wenjun slammed his fist on the table: "Persica, you have some nerve! Now that things have come to this, I'm determined to win this match!!"

“It might be my imagination, but it seems like I’ve seen similar scenes more than once,” Virsa said.

Lu Wenjun suddenly reached out and grabbed them both: "Brothers! Brothers!"

Faris responded with the middle finger: "Oh, so you finally remembered your brothers when there are no women around. I say you're a true friend."

"Nonsense! Do either of you even know how to grow flowers?!"

Faris proudly exclaimed, "Laughable! How could I possibly do that!"

“I am a warrior,” Virsa said with a smug smile.

“You two are barely able to grow tomatoes, who would want to team up with you if they wanted to win?” Lu Wenjun sighed. “Since things have come to this, let’s not worry about compatibility. Let’s just register our names first.”

"I am a warrior!" Virsa emphasized again.

Lu Wenjun waved his hand and said, "What are you afraid of? Charge with me! The three of us are veterans, how could a mere flower pose a challenge to us!"

"But I..."

Vilsa pointed at herself in shock, while Faris shook his head repeatedly.

“Give up,” Faris told him. “He’s clearly made up his mind. Even if you were a pile of shit, he’d still take you down, let alone a warrior.”

“Oh my God,” Velsa said.

·

After class that day, the men who knew nothing about gardening gathered behind the teaching building, staring at a bag of seeds in Lü Wenjun's hand.

"Just in case, I'd like to ask if anyone has ever grown flowers before?" Lü Wenjun said.

Do I look like one?

"No, and I don't want to."

"Okay, to summarize, we currently have no experience, no relevant knowledge, no professional tools, and no related spells," Lü Wenjun said. "And our opponents are the True Witch, a Shinto priestess, and the God of Wood..."

"I said the lineup is so bad, just click the X in the top right corner and start the next game," Faris said.

"Don't give up easily!" Lu Wenjun took out the seed. "Fortunately, we are a magic academy, and we have magic seeds! According to Huise, this thing has a certain ability to transform thoughts and can grow into whatever you imagine within a certain range."

“I think this seed is better than the prize,” Virsa commented.

“I took advantage of my position to smuggle a small packet; we can try them one by one,” Lü Wenjun said. “Each seed can be used four times. Who wants to go first?”

Faris took a step back: "It's obviously you."

Lu Wenjun planted the magic seed in the ground and watered it according to the instructions. He pressed his hand to the soil and began to whisper, "I want a beautiful flower... a very beautiful flower..."

The magic seed remained motionless, seemingly somewhat bewildered.

Faris shook his head: "Dude, I have to say, it's a bit much to feed AI with these prompts, let alone a seed."

"Oh dear, I can't do anything about it! Who knows what a beautiful flower looks like?"

"Like Morana's ice sculpture?" Velsa suggested.

“That’s worth a try.” Lü Wenjun rubbed his hands together, eager to try. “Okay, I want a deep blue flower, its petals and stems should have a wavy, layered gradient of colors, and its overall texture should be similar to ice but with the softness of water…”

The magic seed lay dormant underground for a while before sprouting a tacky, dark blue rose. The flower then struggled to emerge, displaying layers of distinct gradient colors resembling default artistic lettering.

"It's hideous!" Faris said mercilessly.

“So ugly,” Vilsa agreed. “Really so ugly.”

Lu Wenjun was completely baffled: "That shouldn't be... I won that flower back then, I remember the details very clearly..."

“Could it be because your expression is inadequate?” Vilsa said. “The difference in information between words and images is too great. If I only read what you said, I would also think of similar flowers.”

"That makes sense. Shall we try reducing the number of prompts?"