Chapter 657 The Genius

In Lin Wanrong's heart, a softness stirred. With a playful twinkle in his eyes, he teased, "Sister, no need to be so impatient. Let your little brother handle some serious matters first!"

"You're the one being impatient!" An Biru's pretty face blushed like the dawn sky. She uttered a light snort, her eyes tender and dewy, as if they could squeeze out drops of water.

Lin Wanrong laughed heartily and walked over to Hannong, speaking earnestly, "Please rest assured, Uncle. I have considered all the consequences! That will be all, please help me prepare these items."

Could this youngster truly possess some miraculous ability? The Elder eyed him suspiciously.

Paying no heed, Lin Wanrong called Si De out from the crowd and whispered a few instructions. Nodding, Si De followed the Miao people designated by Hannong to fetch the items.

As twilight deepened, the view grew dimmer. Several bonfires were lit, yet the entire Flower Mountain Festival site was eerily silent. Everyone waited in hushed anticipation for the magical moment when Lin Wanrong would raise the multicolored flag.

Lin Wanrong's gaze was piercing as he surveyed the crowd. Cheng Zili, lurking in the shadows, stealthily gestured to him. Lin Wanrong responded with a subtle nod and an almost imperceptible smile.

On the high platform, Prefect Nie silently observed his figure, biting his lip. A fierce gleam flashed in his eyes, but as soon as Lin Wanrong's gaze swept over, it was replaced by a warm, affable smile. "Ah Lin Ge, are you really confident?"

"Thank you for your concern, Lord Nie," Ah Lin Ge replied with a chuckle. "Rest assured, I handle matters without a hitch!"

Nie Yuanqing's facial muscles twitched slightly, but his expression remained unchanged. "Then, I shall await the spectacle you're about to present!"

"I assure you, it will be quite a show. I stake my reputation on it!" Lin Wanrong declared.

As they spoke, Si De hurried back with the Miao youths. In his hands, he carried bamboo strips, rice paper, fine iron wire, kerosene, gauze, and an assortment of other trinkets, all packed in a large bag. Si De also carried a brine bucket. He nodded at Lin Wanrong, indicating everything requested was there.

Elder Hannong smiled, "Ah Lin Ge, I've prepared everything you asked for. Now, it's all up to you!"

"Thank you, Uncle Hannong, for your generous help," Lin Wanrong said as he walked over and poured the contents of the bag onto the table, spreading them out.

The Miao people crowded around, curious to see the pile on the table. Their initial excitement turned to disappointment and anxiety upon seeing the thin papers, bamboo strips, iron wires, and threads. How could these raise the flower flag? Ah Lin Ge, after such great efforts and overcoming numerous challenges, had been hailed as the most outstanding Miao of the region. Now, it seemed all his efforts might be in vain.

Everyone sighed in silence. The young men and women of Yingyue Hamlet were particularly anxious. Although they had claimed to sever ties with Ah Lin Ge, their admiration for him remained unchanged. Aside from his coldness towards Yilian, Ah Lin Ge excelled in every other aspect and was their true idol.

"Let's see what he does now," Zitong muttered resentfully, almost taking pleasure in Lin Wanrong's predicament.

"He will find a way," Yilian said, shaking her head firmly. "Ah Lin Ge is the smartest person in all of Miao lands!"

During their conversation, Lin Wanrong had already begun his work. He first picked up the thin bamboo strips, carefully winding them into a circle. He gently tied the loose ends with a thin thread, forming a circular arc about six or seven feet in circumference.

Then he took a piece of fine iron wire, cutting it into two segments equal to the diameter of the bamboo circle. He crossed them and tied them vertically to the circle, creating a center point in the middle.

What was he doing? As Ah Lin Ge started, everyone held their breath, their eyes fixated on his hands. He sometimes frowned, sometimes smiled, his hands constantly moving in a busy flurry, leaving the onlookers clueless about his intentions.

After securing the iron wire, Lin Wanrong meticulously adjusted the angles. Squinting for a good while, he finally nodded in satisfaction. He then picked up the thin paper, measuring it against the bamboo circle for a long time, making a cylinder with a sealed top and an open bottom, ensuring both had the same diameter. He gently pasted it together with glue. Still not fully reassured, he blew hard into it a few times, listening to the rustling sound of the paper before finally setting it down with joy.

Not only the villagers of the Miao settlement but also the elders on the high platform and Prefect Nie Yuanqing were growing more puzzled by the minute. What was he doing with the paper cutting and circle making? Even An Biru, who knew her little brother's capabilities well, clasped her hands together, full of tension.

After finishing both parts, Lin Wanrong carefully fitted the bamboo circle into the open bottom of the cylinder, gently propping up the paper-covered cylinder. Then, at the intersection of the two iron wire pieces, he tied a small bamboo ring, wrapping it with layers of cotton thread. He tidied everything meticulously, observing for a long time before finally exhaling deeply.

Now, the people could see clearly; Ah Lin Ge had made something resembling a lantern. However, unlike the typical oval lanterns, his was cylindrical and open at one end.

Seeing him pat his hands with ease, the Elder asked eagerly, "Ah Lin Ge, are you ready?"

Lin Wanrong chuckled and shook his head, "Just one is not enough; I need to make two more. Please wait a moment."

With the experience from the first one, the next two were easier to make. In just a short time, three peculiar paper lanterns were presented before everyone. Lin Wanrong grinned, "Alright, everything is ready!"

Is that really ready?! The Miao people on the grassland became restless, whispering and discussing non-stop. How could a few tattered lanterns raise the flag? Was Ah Lin Ge bluffing?

The men and women of Yingyue Hamlet also gathered, whispering among themselves. Yilian's heart thumped wildly as she stared intently at Ah Lin Ge, not daring to move.

"Are you serious? That's all the preparation?" Buyi, who had been watching him busily for a while, asked incredulously.

Ah Lin Ge hummed in affirmation, grinning, "Of course, it's ready. I'm quite efficient in my work! Uncle, help me hold this."

He handed one of the oddly-shaped "lanterns" to Buyi and carried the other two himself. He walked unhurriedly towards the flower pole, with the old man hastily following behind.

"Ah Lin Ge is about to raise the flag!" Seeing his confident demeanor, a wave of cheers erupted from the crowd. Those Miao villagers who had just been disappointed in Ah Lin Ge were quickly infected by his emotions, watching his every move with bated breath, not wanting to miss the spectacle.

Holy Maiden hesitated for a moment but ultimately couldn't suppress her nervousness and quietly followed Lin Wanrong. Consequently, Prefect Nie and all the elders naturally came to witness the event. The crowd slowly moved, forming a large circle around the sleek flower pole, with all eyes focused on Ah Lin Ge.

"Silk thread!" Lin Wanrong commanded. Si De hastily handed over a bunch of thread. Although light, the thread was incredibly strong, carefully selected by Lin Wanrong. Under the watchful eyes of the onlookers, he tied the left wing of the flag at both the top and bottom, then made two slip knots with the silk thread, looping them over the flower pole. The other end of the thread was left very long, held in his own hands.

No one understood his actions. Even Prefect Nie Yuanqing couldn't help but shake his head, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes: "Can the flag really be raised like this? Will it fly? Ah Lin Ge, you're said to be the smartest and most cunning in the world. I doubt that!"

"Whether I am the smartest in the world, I dare not presume. But as for being the foremost in Xuzhou, that is undoubtedly you, Lord Nie," Lin Wanrong replied with a smile that did not reach his eyes, his gaze sharp as arrows, coldly fixing on Lord Nie.

Nie Yuanqing shuddered, stealthily lowering his head, his eyes flashing dangerously.

"Ah Lin Ge, please start quickly!" the elders, growing impatient, urged him on.

Lin Wanrong hummed in acknowledgment and nodded with a smile: "Brine!"

Si De brought over a wooden bucket, the same used for making tofu. It contained some silk threads soaked in brine. Lin Wanrong took them out, dried them, then tied one end to the bamboo ring at the bottom of the "lantern." He threaded the other end through the flag, tying a loose slipknot, and instructed Si De to lift the lantern. The flag was partially hoisted.

Repeating the process, he hung two more "lanterns" on the slipknots at the center and left side of the flag. The middle lantern, with the longest and highest rope, created a three-lantern formation.

After adjusting their direction, he personally took a bamboo tube filled with kerosene and soaked the cotton threads hanging on the iron wire. Finally, he chuckled and nodded, "Alright, we are about to raise the flag!"

Hearing him mention raising the flag, everyone's hearts leaped. Ah Lin Ge had been busy for so long just for this moment! Would he succeed? Everyone was sweating for him. Yilian was so nervous she even bit her lip.

Among them all, only Lin Wanrong remained calm. He took a torch from the Elder, smiling as he lit the three kerosene-soaked cotton threads. The sparks crackled gently, and the threads slowly burned. Within moments, the initially limp paper lanterns became full and inflated. The dim yellow light shone through the paper, casting a warm glow on his face.

Lin Wanrong held the middle lantern himself, feeling the paper heat up, sensing a faint rising motion. Suddenly, he chuckled and shouted, "The flower flag is about to rise!"

The villagers, their hearts in their throats, wondered how this could possibly work.

Lin Wanrong turned his head, winked at An Biru, and chuckled, "I assure you, just a breath of celestial air from the Holy Maiden, and this flower flag will surely float high and far!"

Intrigued by his enticement, the Miao villagers instantly buzzed with excitement. "Holy Maiden, Holy Maiden—" they called out An Biru's name with high spirits and loud voices.

The Holy Maiden slowly stood up, casting a flirtatious glance at him, and gracefully made her way to the front of the flower flag, eliciting a tidal wave of applause from the crowd that instantly boiled over in excitement.

"Please hold the 'lantern' and blow a celestial breath," Ah Lin Ge instructed playfully, handing the lantern to her slowly.

What mischief is this little brother up to now? An Biru's cheeks flushed, casting a coquettish glare at him. She gently cradled the "lantern" in her arms, the dim yellow light casting an indescribably beautiful glow on her face.

Puckering her red lips, she blew gently on the burning cotton thread. As the flame wavered slightly, Lin Wanrong called out softly, "Release!"

An Biru quickly loosened her grasp. Before everyone's eyes, the three dim "lanterns" gently swayed and began to ascend slowly, then rapidly, resembling a glowing "品" character.

Under their influence, the flower flag, as if pulled by an invisible hand, smoothly ascended along the pole, fluttering in the wind. The vibrant, colorful flag, illuminated by the firelight, was breathtakingly beautiful.

The flower flag had truly risen, in an unexpectedly romantic way! Ah Lin Ge's magic amazed all the Miao villagers, who were so excited they were lost for words.

As the flag reached the top of the pole, halted by a crosspiece, Lin Wanrong waved the silk thread in his hand, tightening the two slipknots tied to the flag, then wound the thread around the pole. With that, the flag-raising ceremony was complete, and the colorful flower flag waved proudly in the wind.

"Holy Maiden, this is for you!" Lin Wanrong said with a grin, handing the remaining three slipknots to An Biru.

"For me?!" The Holy Maiden blinked in surprise, tugging at the threads to see that they were still attached to the three "lanterns" on the flag.

Delighted, she asked eagerly, "Little brother, what kind of lantern is this? How can it fly into the sky? Where did you learn this?"

"This is called a Kongming lantern, my favorite thing to make when I was a child. It's said to have been invented by a man named Kongming, who was very clever—"

[TL: Kongming i.e., Zhuge Liang from the Three Kingdoms.]

"Cleverer than you?!"

"Oh, compared to him, I might still have a little way to go!"

An Biru giggled, "I don't believe it. Is there anyone in this world cleverer than you?"

Lin Wanrong shook his head silently, "That's because you have the shadow of someone etched in your heart. Thus, he becomes the most intelligent person in the world, undisputedly."

"Self-praise!" The Holy Maiden playfully spat, her pretty face blushing as she looked at him with tender eyes that seemed to melt him.

Lin Wanrong took her hand, smiling, "Actually, the Kongming lantern isn't just for raising flags. It has some more beautiful meanings. Sister, let go and see—"

As An Biru released her delicate hand, the soft silk thread danced in the air. The moment the Kongming lantern was connected to the flower flag, it was only loosely knotted. With a sudden release, the lantern, freed from its binds, surged upwards with vigor. In an instant, it had escaped the knot, wavering unsteadily as it soared towards the heavens.

The Kongming lantern flew higher and higher, its flames flickering fiercely, piercing the clouds. The specks of light from the lanterns shone like the brightest stars in the night sky.

"Will it reach the nine heavens?" An Biru, holding his hand, gazed up with the excitement of a little girl seeing the stars for the first time, her eyes blinking rapidly.

"It might!" Lin Wanrong patted her hand and said softly, "If I could release a thousand Kongming lanterns at the same time, I could create a sky full of stars just for you. Your own starry sky!"

"My starry sky?" The Holy Maiden gazed at him, both shocked and delighted. She silently leaned into his chest, her eyes inadvertently moistening: "Little brother, you truly are a genius, a genius at deceiving women!"

Never in the centuries-old history of the Flower Mountain Festival had such a wondrous star lantern been seen. This unprecedented creativity aligned perfectly with the festival's spirit—beautiful, romantic, and incredibly moving.

The Miao people joyfully climbed the high mountains, gazing at the twinkling lights, following the lanterns' path. Surrounding applause was like a tidal wave, endless and resounding. This beautiful star lantern would surely become an immortal legend in the Miao lands.

Even the most critical among the Miao could find no fault with this Ah Lin Ge. The elders exchanged glances; at this point, who could stop Ah Lin Ge's stride?

"I told you, Ah Lin Ge would succeed, he's the most incredible!" Yilian exclaimed excitedly, gazing dreamily at Ah Lin Ge's figure, tears glistening on her face.

"Yes, he is the most incredible," Zitong, focusing on the distant figures, humphed: "Even the Holy Maiden has thrown herself into his arms—Yilian, when will you wake up? He's not your Ah Lin Ge; he belongs to the Holy Maiden!"

Yilian, stunned, saw the Holy Maiden laughing softly as she leaned into his embrace, her heart breaking as tears streamed down her face.

"Little sister, forget him. There are plenty of good Miao men around. Why cling to this one?" Zitong gently wiped the tears from her face, consoling her softly.

Yilian shook her head silently, about to speak, when suddenly a series of clear, melodious singing came from afar:

—

Brother has a home, I have none,

A lone skylark wandering the ends of the earth!

Brother has a companion, I do not,

A solitary magpie chattering alone.

—

Zitong's eyes widened in surprise, "It's the Holy Maiden! She's singing with Ah Lin Ge! Yilian, you've no chance now!"

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