Chapter 469: She Saw It
Chapter 469: She Saw It
After pushing Zhan Lian out, An Ran coaxes Doll to sleep, then sits for a while watching Zhang Boxun through the window. He’s still hacking away at those strange flowers.
Axe sits outside the flower field, watching Zhang Boxun go crazy, shaking his head.
Since Yun Tao and Little Mint have been collecting green crystal cores for An Ran, she’s been planting vines all the way from the bridal shop to the edge of the Star District. Now that they’ve arrived, the terrain shows a stark contrast: on the left, An Ran’s vines climb and grow calmly under the moonlight; on the right, a sea of blood-red flowers surges like waves, covering houses and roads. A cool breeze sweeps across, causing the sea of flowers to rise and fall. Occasionally, massive tangled vines slither among them, making the area look even more dangerous.
An Ran can feel the chaotic network of roots below ground, fighting for nutrients. Clearly, her “good” vines are slowly being overwhelmed—the temperament of the good is always softer than that of the wicked.
Everyone is exhausted. They have no choice but to rest and continue pushing forward tomorrow.
While lying on the sofa, An Ran suddenly remembers something: she can control mutant plants not because they are her puppets, but because they like her ability. They willingly seek food but occasionally need the comfort of her powers.
Can she, then, comfort the bad flowers too?
She quietly releases some of her power. The good vines respond, settling down in peace. But the bad flowers… their hearts are full of chaos. Their negative emotions surge like waves. They absorb her energy greedily—ungratefully—and show no change in demeanor.
She fails.
After a while, An Ran gives up, disheartened. These evil flowers can’t be saved. She’ll have to destroy the wood crystal core buried beneath them and let them be reborn.
Lying on the sofa, thoughts swirling, An Ran slowly drifts off to sleep. The little baby beside her rolls over a few times, blocked in by the sofa cushions, and falls into a peaceful slumber.
The night is still. Plants continue growing rapidly, silently. In the distance, rats gnaw on tree roots. The entire Star District is engulfed in a sea of flowers.
In her dream, An Ran feels like she’s flying—carried by the wind across the flower fields—until she reaches a dilapidated building that looks like a supermarket. Though heavily damaged, its layout is familiar.
There, she sees it.
A massive, fleshy flower—curled petals layered like a giant red lotus. Its roots stretch underground across the entire Star District. Compared to this monster, the smaller mutant flowers and vines they’ve fought so far are mere minions.
An Ran wakes with a start.
Doll beside her whimpers in her sleep, rolls over, and settles again. An Ran covers her with a blanket and places cushions on the floor in case she falls.
She walks out of the private room.
Dawn has broken. Outside, Zhan Lian sits at a table with Luo Feifan and Yun Tao.
When Yun Tao notices An Ran’s pale expression, he looks up and asks, “What’s wrong?”