Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo' Chapter 1268 605: Flowers God

Zhang Xiuling emerged from Tongqing Theater, her expression somewhat dazed. Duan Shuqun and Shen Rongqing followed behind, seeing her off until she boarded the rickshaw.

Today was the opening ceremony of Tongqing Theater. Zhang Xiuling attended by invitation, and afterwards, He Jiaqing discussed some matters with her, things she found unacceptable.

"Xiuling, I noticed you drank quite a bit, be careful on the road." Shen Rongqing handed the handbag to Zhang Xiuling.

Zhang Xiuling took the bag without speaking and signaled the coachman to drive away.

Duan Shuqun called out from behind the rickshaw, "Master Zhang, I'm waiting for your news."

Once the rickshaw had gone far, Duan Shuqun turned to Shen Rongqing, "Rongqing, after so many years of friendship, I don't want to say much. Your little maneuvers, Jia Qing can see them. Don't be fooled by his usual laughing demeanor; he's never been magnanimous. When he truly turns against you, it will be hard to handle."

Shen Rongqing sneered, "Your eyesight is good, what did you see? Go ahead and tell him, I want to see what grave sin I've committed, and how he plans to punish me!"

Duan Shuqun shook his head repeatedly and said no more.

...

Zhang Xiuling arrived at Hundred Flower Garden, the main hall of Hundred Flowers Gate, encircled by four gardens. The hall masters of each entrance gathered in the mansion's lobby, waiting for her decision.

He Jiaqing presented terms, henceforth, Hundred Flowers Gate would belong to He Family, with the sect leader appointed by He Jiaqing. All business within the gate would be handed over to He Family, and each entrance would receive monthly funds based on headcount.

These terms were unheard of; He Jiaqing intended to aggressively swallow Hundred Flowers Gate.

He gave Zhang Xiuling three days to make a decision, but she was unwilling to agree.

"Our Hundred Flowers Gate is among the top gangs in Puluo State, no previous sect leader has been spineless. Though I, Zhang Xiuling, am a woman, since I've taken the seat of the sect leader, I absolutely cannot give up the gang's heritage. Even if I'm pulverized, I will never bow to He Family!"

Seventh Layer Literature Cultivator, first talent of Puluo State, spoke with natural strength.

But when these words were spoken, the hall masters did not respond.

To them, there was something more compelling than the words Zhang Xiuling had just said, that was Han Yaomen's head.

No matter how beautifully one spoke, He Jiaqing really killed, and not only Han Yaomen. Over a hundred people from Qingyun Society died, their heads all packed in wooden boxes.

Zhang Xiuling noticed the situation was wrong, and first let everyone disperse.

Back in her bedroom, Zhang Xiuling was filled with turmoil. Hall Master Fu Lianhong of Red Flower Hall knocked and entered.

The two of them usually got along like sisters, and seeing only Zhang Xiuling in the room, Fu Lianhong straightforwardly spoke the truth: "Sister Xiuling, you can't hold the sect leader position anymore. Let's not talk about how ruthless He Jiaqing is, the hearts of the gang members are already scattered."

Zhang Xiuling stared at Fu Lianhong for a moment without speaking.

Fu Lianhong slapped her own face, "Blame me for speaking too much. Surely sister feels I have other motives for saying these words just now. From my heart to yours, if you're not in the gang, I definitely won't stay either. Once you make up your mind, let's leave together.

These years, I have accumulated quite a bit of savings. Let's find a quiet place and live well. We are literati, why not do what literati should do, focusing more on cultivation is stronger than anything, why suffer here tugging and pulling with a bunch of desperados?"

"Literati..."

Zhang Xiuling stared at the handbag for a moment, thinking of another literati.

Shen Rongqing had helped her take out the bag; he seemed to have had something to say at that time.

Zhang Xiuling took the handbag, opened it and glanced at it. Inside the powder case, there was a slip of paper.

The slip only had three words: Find Li Qi.

This was Shen Rongqing's hint to Zhang Xiuling.

Fu Lianhong took a look and nodded repeatedly: "This is also a way, setting aside the deities above the clouds, among mortals who can fight He Jiaqing, the only one left is Li Qi."

Zhang Xiuling went to Xiaoyao Lodge, but Li Qi was not there. She asked around about his whereabouts, but no one knew.

The manager of Xiaoyao Lodge, Zhang Shuning, admired Zhang Xiuling greatly, he offered her a suggestion: "You should go to New Land to find Master Wu, speak with him about any matters."

Zhang Xiuling thanked repeatedly and took a carriage to Lu Family Mansion, Fu Lianhong was puzzled: "Weren't you supposed to go to New Land to find Ma Wu? Why are you going to Lu Family?"

"Do you know the price of finding Ma Wu?"

Fu Lianhong stamped her feet in anxiety: "At this time, do you still care about such things? Ma Wu is young and promising, many young ladies want to cling to him, yet find no way."

"Finding Li Qi is doable, Ma Wu isn't, I'm not that base." Zhang Xiuling refused, intending to go to Lu Family Mansion to find Duan Shaoxia.

Back when Duan Shaoxia faced troubles, Zhang Xiuling had spared no effort to help, through perilous situations without any hesitation, their bond was like that of sisters.

Now hearing that Zhang Xiuling was in trouble, Duan Shaoxia packed up and returned to her old home overnight; Zhang Xiuling couldn't find her.

Not a word was said by Fu Lianhong, she couldn't bear to ridicule Zhang Xiuling.

Zhang Xiuling returned to Hundred Flower Garden, instructing her subordinates to arrange the flowers.

Selected a hundred fresh flowers from four gardens, each flower of a different variety.

Arranged these flowers in one place, Zhang Xiuling knelt in the flower beds silently praying, she intended to invite the Flowers God.

Regarding the origin of the Flowers God, there are two theories. One states the Flowers God is the creator of Hundred Flowers Gate, having reached a certain cultivation level, transcending the mundane.

The other theory is that the Flowers God was never of the human world, originally a celestial beauty in the heavens, the Hundred Flowers Gate's love and reverence for flowers earned the God's protection.