Chapter Fifty-Two: Winter Has Arrived

The arrival of the Winter Year gave Mo Fangyuan an opportunity, turning his idea from a mere fantasy into a feasible plan. In the Winter Year, the monsters' abilities are greatly diminished. This is common knowledge. Furthermore, faced with constant cold, they can no longer enjoy the comfortable existence of surviving without sunlight. In the Winter Year, they can actually freeze to death. Skeletons, zombies, spiders—all are susceptible. Lacking intelligence, they do not know how to keep warm; they can only retreat into deep underground caverns and muddle through their days. But how many caves connect to the surface? How many monsters can fit inside? The number that can survive is self-evident.

The Block Kingdom could wage a battle of attrition against the monstrous tide formed after the Black Forest is set ablaze. Of course, Mo Fangyuan preferred sending a few nimble warriors to lure the monsters elsewhere, relying on nature's power to exhaust them.

If the plan succeeded, the Block Kingdom would not only gain the fertile plains created by the burning of the Black Forest and expand southward for greater living space, but also avoid the immense risks of expanding north, west, or east. They could also temporarily resolve the threat of the monster tide that would come with the next cycle, in the Spring Year.

“Take a chance, and your bicycle becomes a motorbike!”

The great mentor Marx once said: If there is a 10% profit, capital will be used everywhere; with 20% profit, capital becomes active; at 50% profit, capital will risk everything; for 100% profit, capital will trample all human laws; with over 300% profit, capital will commit any crime.

Mo Fangyuan was no capitalist and had no desire to do anything as nauseating and mad as a capitalist, but the benefits of burning the Black Forest for the Block Kingdom were incalculable. Even if the risks were high, he had to try.

“I am indeed the greatest monarch in the history of Block Kingdom!”

The plan was made; next came the execution. Acting now was impossible, as too many factors could disrupt the plan. In Mo Fangyuan’s judgment, the second year of the Winter Year was the best time to act. By then, most monsters would have frozen to death, and the survivors would hide away in caves, leaving the Black Forest with an unusually small number of monsters. Moreover, after burning the forest, a full year of winter would allow the Block Kingdom to secure the region.

As for the exact time and place, that required further consideration. The burning would only affect a small portion of the northern Black Forest, so that the monster tide refreshed in the Spring Year would not sense the Block Kingdom’s presence, thus avoiding an attack. As for burning the entire Black Forest, that was impossible—even if ten thousand people from the Block Kingdom worked day and night without rest, they could not achieve it.

“You can’t become fat in one bite, and greed swallows more than it can digest…”

The Black Forest was vast; the Block Kingdom’s exploration was only the tip of the iceberg. There was no way to gather substantial intelligence in a short time. Mo Fangyuan merely glanced over the explored areas before heading back.

“We have another year to explore…”

“Zhang Lingyun, you don’t have to work nights anymore. I’m giving you a simple task: scout the terrain of this Black Forest. As much as you can—just work twenty-four hours a day!”

Mo Fangyuan set his sights on Zhang Lingyun; she possessed many mobility skills, allowing her to quickly explore the Black Forest, and she could retreat strategically if she encountered monsters she couldn’t defeat.

Moreover, she used to be Zhang San! Her skills all involved fire. Becoming the arsonist progenitor in the Block World was not out of the question. When the time came to set the forest ablaze, the task would fall to Zhang Lingyun, the one who knew the Black Forest best.

A heinous crime? Impossible! Zhang San was a hero of the people! And what is a hero of the people? Someone respected by the people, in accordance with the law! Besides, the Block Kingdom had no laws yet—so what crime could there be?

“Ah, I understand, Your Majesty…”

Under Mo Fangyuan’s meaningful gaze, Zhang Lingyun dared not utter a word. She merely puffed out her cheeks and nodded, resigned.

This is just too hard!

“Alright, it’s getting late… Let’s go back. You can start work tomorrow!”

Seeing Zhang Lingyun agree, Mo Fangyuan immediately put on a cheerful face.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye; by custom, tomorrow would be the Winter Year. Mo Fangyuan prepared early, notifying all citizens of the Block Kingdom to return to their homes.

The Block World was strange—strange enough to make Newton reassemble himself from ashes and lift the lid of his coffin. When one season ended and another began, even if the last day of the previous season saw temperatures as high as fifty degrees, the new season would forcibly reverse the climate.

For example, on the last second of the last day of the Autumn Year, the temperature was twenty-five degrees, with rain. But at the first second of the Winter Year, the temperature instantly dropped below zero, and the rain turned into thick, fluttering snow.

It was magical.

“But it fits the Block World…”

Mo Fangyuan was deeply curious about snow, especially the sweeping, overwhelming snowy landscapes. In his previous life, he lived in Hu Guang, a southern region of China. That area was subtropical; even in the coldest winters, temperatures rarely dropped below zero. Over decades, Mo Fangyuan had only seen snow five or six times, most of which were just light flurries. He often watched videos of the magnificent northern snow, which made his heart itch with longing.

So, Mo Fangyuan had always been very curious about snow. Now, he finally had a chance to witness such a spectacular scene, and he was naturally excited.

“I’ve decided—not sleeping tonight!”

On the last day of the Autumn Year, Mo Fangyuan resolved to stay up late to witness the snowfall in person. He also brought out the mutton, eggs, and sheep’s milk he had been reluctant to eat, to enjoy them.

“Drip, drip…”

Time raced by, and soon it was deep into the night. Monsters refreshed endlessly, charging in groups at the Block Kingdom’s main city, only to be felled like moths to a flame by the night guards.

Standing atop the highest point of the Kingdom Castle, Mo Fangyuan watched coldly as the monsters were slain. If the monsters do not die, how can there be a home?

“Look at that sky… By my calculations, it’s about time…”

“…Lin Ye, go signal them—tell the heroes of the kingdom to put on their warm clothing! Not a single hero must suffer frostbite!”

To his enemies, Lin Ye was as terrifying as thunder and lightning; to the Block people, Mo Fangyuan was gentle as spring rain.

Those who are not of our kind must be destroyed!

“Pala!”

Perhaps the night had reached its darkest, Mo Fangyuan seemed to hear a voice from beyond the heavens.

The next moment, the once peaceful night became restless. The air was filled with crackling sounds. Mo Fangyuan could feel the temperature plummeting. Even wearing three robes, he felt the biting cold wind whip against his face.

“Could this be…”

Before he finished his sentence, a fierce wind began to howl. Along with the wind came tiny white particles. At first, only a few scattered flakes fell with the wind, but as time passed, the entire storm turned white.

The temperature grew colder and colder. By the time Mo Fangyuan lit the stove, the ground was already blanketed in white.

Due to the nature of the world, some snow blown into the farmland did not bury the crops, but disappeared directly into the soil, leaving the crops still vibrant and green.

“So this is snow…”

He reached out, trying to catch the falling snowflakes.

Forgive Mo Fangyuan, who came from the south and had never seen such a spectacular snowfall.

Through this snowy scene, he could sense just how difficult winters must have been for the Block people. The beauty of snow can only be appreciated by those who are well-fed and idle: the officials and poets of wealth. Ordinary folk can only feel the despair and fear it brings…