Chapter 5

As he walked further ahead, Wang Hao's mood improved. The scenery was picturesque, and every scene was a masterpiece. He would occasionally glance at the ring hidden under his glove, feeling incredibly elated. Picking up a ring while traveling, he wondered if it was a trouble or a blessing from the gods.

Looking around, he saw nothing but greenery, birds singing, and undulating green mountains that seemed to stretch endlessly, like a green ocean, a paradise for plants! The clear river flowed along the roadside, forming large pools where the water converged. The water in these pools was emerald green, and in the shallows, one could see the swaying aquatic plants and playful fish. There were many mountain meadows in the hills, where cows grazed leisurely on the gentle slopes. The cows here were very free, with no reins or bells, and no herders to watch over them.

Unconsciously, Wang Hao drove into an open area, which seemed to be a small forest farm. The low, cozy resort buildings blended seamlessly with the environment, just like ordinary farmhouses.

"Kid, are you planning to visit Shennongjia?" An old man with a smoking pipe took a few puffs and gently exhaled, smiling. "It's rare to see someone traveling alone. This isn't a good time, you know. It's already afternoon, and the sun will set in a couple of hours."

That was true. Wang Hao was almost starving, having barely eaten anything at noon, and the bowl of tofu pudding he had in the morning was long digested. He patted his empty stomach and smiled, nodding. "You're right. It's almost evening. I'll have to go tomorrow morning. What should I call you, sir?"

The old man tapped his pipe on a nearby stone and stood up. "I'm Old Huang. To be honest, my home is right over there. We run a small farm stay. You know what that is, right?"

Indeed, with the development of tourism, many places had been developed, and farmers had shifted from farming to serving the tourism industry. Farm stays were a small example of this. They could be found in many places, offering cheap accommodation and a closer connection to nature and the farm, making them a popular choice for many tourists.

Wang Hao looked at the spirited Old Huang and patted the back of his motorcycle. "Let's go. I'm looking for a place to stay anyway. It doesn't matter where I stay, but I'd rather stay at your place! But I have to warn you, don't overcharge me!"

Old Huang patted the seat and slowly climbed on, saying curiously, "It's been a long time since I've seen someone like you riding a motorcycle for a trip. Your motorcycle is quite beautiful compared to the ones we have here! As for the price, we just want to make a little money, not to cheat you."

As they spoke, they arrived at a two-story building. After turning off the engine, Wang Hao heard Old Huang's robust voice shouting, "We have guests! Make some tea quickly!"

Parking his motorcycle under a thatched awning, Wang Hao took off his helmet and gloves, and jumped a few times to relieve the discomfort in his thighs from the long ride.

He put his bag on a chair and looked around the house, finding it very familiar and cozy. Just as he was curious, a gray-haired woman in an apron walked over with a cup of tea.

"Here, your lips are dry. You must be thirsty. Drink more water. This is our Shennongjia cloud mist tea."

Wang Hao nodded and smiled at her. "Thank you! I've heard that cloud mist tea tastes best when brewed with Shennongjia water. I'm finally getting to try it."

He picked up the cup, gently blew on it to let the tea leaves circulate, and took small sips. As someone who didn't know much about tea, he found it better than the usual jasmine or bitter buckwheat tea.

Old Huang, who had appeared from somewhere, smiled and held a piece of cured meat. "Let me treat you to our local cured meat hot pot. The vegetables are all home-grown, absolutely fresh, and what you call 'environmentally friendly'!"

His cheerful demeanor made Wang Hao feel very comfortable. The relaxed farm atmosphere was the most pleasant. Old Grandma Huang led Wang Hao upstairs, wiping her hands on her apron and smiling shyly. "This is my son's room, but he only comes back during the New Year. It's usually empty, so we thought, since it's empty anyway, we might as well let tourists stay here. Don't worry, it's very clean. I just changed the sheets, and the quilt is freshly aired, with a hint of sunshine."

"Very good, very good. I think it's great. You can go back to your work. I'll rest for a bit; I'm quite tired from the ride."

Closing the door, Wang Hao sat on the bed and lay down. He was really exhausted. If not for the excitement, he would still be on the road! But the ring on his little finger caught his eye, and he couldn't help but be curious. Now that he was in town, his phone had a signal, and he could look up unfamiliar words to decipher the content of the paper.

He took the wooden box out of the space ring, placed the unknown branch on the bed, and carefully took out the white paper. He first took a photo to save it, then read it carefully in the light from the window.

"What's an oak?" He used his phone to look up the dictionary and wrote down the translated meanings on another piece of paper. "Nature? Wizard? What a mess!"

He threw his phone, feeling like he was going crazy. Why was he even translating this? But then he thought about the magical ring, which was even cooler than Harry Potter. Maybe there really were wizards?

After venting his frustration, Wang Hao used his phone and the internet to translate the content of the paper, almost draining his phone's battery.

Each word's meaning was almost clear, but the overall meaning required Wang Hao to ponder.

"Our Oak Order? What kind of order is this?" He read and questioned, "Our Oak Order was once the largest order in England. We lived in the forest, peaceful and content, blessed by the god of harvest, and nature was our friend. We Druids were the rulers of the tribe, advisors to the royal family, and the spokespersons of the gods. As the last great Druid, I came to China by chance but failed to find a successor. The Druid tradition must not be lost. Just a drop of blood on the sacred branch will grant the inheritance. Everything in the space ring is useful."

Wang Hao was shocked. As a standard WoW enthusiast, he knew the Druid class well, but he never expected to encounter it in real life. The branch he had casually placed on the bed turned out to be a sacred branch, which was simply unbelievable.

He folded the white paper and put it back in the wooden box, holding the plain branch in his hand, feeling conflicted. Should he really try to squeeze out some blood? He must be crazy. He took a deep breath, peeled off the band-aid, and squeezed a few drops of blood from the unhealed wound.

The blood immediately caused a change on the branch. The withered branch suddenly turned green and vibrant, even sprouting a tender yellow bud. Wang Hao's eyes widened in amazement. The legendary revival of a withered branch was happening right before his eyes, utterly unbelievable. He had never experienced anything as strange as this in his life.

Images flashed before his eyes, from a great Druid in England's Stonehenge raising a staff and shouting, to the mass slaughter of Druids by the Roman Empire, and then to various training methods and Druid spells.

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**End of Chapter**