Thriller Paradise Chapter 209: Cangling Debate of Swords (17) - Novel Cool

Chapter 209: Cangling Debate of Swords (17)

Chapter 209: Cangling Debate of Swords (17)

"Hah! I knew it!" Feng Bu Jue barked at the grotesque face, his voice sharp with accusation. "Demon! Reveal your true form at once!" He shouted with plenty of momentum, though his feet remained rooted in place.

The monster, for its part, abandoned pretense. With a flicker of its waxen face, the coarse, labyrinthine wrinkles hardened into bark-like ridges. In moments, the head and arm that had seemed to hide behind the tree fused into gnarled branches. The limb-shaped branch still clung to a small bell.

On the trunk’s surface, facing Si Yu, two narrow, blood-red slits split open like eyes—lids of bark peeling back to reveal massive ink-black pupils beneath.

"Meddling fools…" A deep, resonant voice rumbled from within the tree. "If you dare, come closer…"

Si Yu answered with action. The Sealed Sainthood sword light blazed, her arm sweeping diagonally. A sword qi infused with spiritual energy slashed forth, carving a gash over two meters long into the tree trunk. Black blood oozed from the wound.

A guttural scream erupted from the tree. "Ahhh!"

Feng Bu Jue circled around to Si Yu’s side, keeping a safe distance. "Its defense seems weak", he mused, eyeing the tree. "Low range too… but if you get close, it could kill you in one hit."

"I can cast ranged attacks, but they drain spiritual energy", Si Yu replied, her tone measured.

"Then leave it to me." Feng Bu Jue grinned, his expression alight with anticipation.

Si Yu sheathed her sword. "Be my guest."

The tree shuddered. "What… do you intend?"

Feng Bu Jue unfolded his Folding Stool, knelt, and mounted Moxxi’s Bad Temper on its surface. The submachine gun’s fiery attribute hummed—a weapon designed to incinerate flesh, plant or animal.

Si Yu watched, skeptical. Who warns a monster not to be afraid?

"If I refuse?" the tree snarled.

The submachine gun answered.

Ta-ta-ta! Bullets tore from the barrel, igniting sparks on the tree’s bark. Flames licked the wounds, smothered only by the creature’s oozing blood.

"Unless you fancy becoming firewood, answer my questions!" Feng Bu Jue paused, finger hovering over the trigger. "First—who are you?"

"I don’t know!"

"Brave answer!" Feng Bu Jue’s finger tensed.

"Wait! I speak truth!" the tree pleaded.

"Hmph. Names don’t matter anyway." Feng Bu Jue lowered the gun. "Explain ‘Beware the Forest’—what’s its meaning?"

The tree hesitated. "If I tell you, will you spare me?"

Ta-ta-ta!

"Alright! Just stop!"

The tree’s bark quivered, oozing blood. "Decades ago, villagers named this place Beware the Forest. Few dared enter… and none returned."

"Because of monsters like you?"

"There are some. But I was once an ordinary tree. A child’s resentment seeped into the woods, twisting all life here." As it spoke, the gash Si Yu had carved split wider, spilling a torrent of black blood—and within the trunk, a grotesque sight: corpses, their faces frozen in terror, limbs mangled and entwined like braids, blood seeping from their orifices.

"These villagers brought ruin upon themselves", the tree hissed, sealing the wound. "Their descendants will share their fate. You’re priests hired to exorcise me, aren’t you?"

Feng Bu Jue smirked. "A tree demon knows of Taoists?"

"Many came—monks, exorcists, hunters. All died by that child’s hand."

Si Yu interjected, "You mentioned Zangling?"

Feng Bu Jue leaned in. "The village below is Cangling Town. Why call it Zangling Village?"

"The name has always been Zangling", the tree retorted. "When did it change?"

Feng Bu Jue whispered to Si Yu, "Something happened decades ago. The village’s abandonment… the one who carved the three characters at the gate might know."

Si Yu nodded. "Ask about the wronged soul."

Feng Bu Jue turned back. "That child—killed by villagers? How?"

"I only know her resentment was boundless", the tree replied. "She hated them all. As for her death… ask her yourself."

"Where is she?"

"Ringing Temple."

"And where is that?"

"Hold my bell to your eyes. Face the temple, and the bell will ring."

Feng Bu Jue eyed the dangling bell. "Toss it here."

"I cannot."

Feng Bu Jue feigned shock, pointing behind the tree. "What’s that?!"

Si Yu startled—Feng Bu Jue’s act was uncannily convincing. The tree’s eyes swiveled. In that instant, Feng Bu Jue activated Spirit Sense Body Technique, snatching the bell in a blur before retreating.

The tree’s last hope died. "Item acquired: Bell. Function: Locates Ringing Temple. Quality: Common. Background: Resonates with a vengeful spirit."

"Done. Let’s go." Feng Bu Jue dismissed the technique, packing away his gear.

"Kill it?" Si Yu asked.

"Save bullets." Feng Bu Jue raised the bell, spinning slowly. At a northwest angle, it jingled.

Without a word, they strode toward the sound.

Behind them, the tree murmured, "You’ll die too… and she’ll return the bell…" Its bark smoothed, fading into an ordinary tree.

(End of Chapter)

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