Chapter 544: Chu Mo Island (Ten)
Chapter 544: Chu Mo Island (Ten)
After slicing through a patch of thorns, a narrow path emerged before the five players. The mountain walls on either side had suddenly converged here, leaving only a few meters-wide gorge. Standing right at this sole entrance was a Taunting Tree.
The tree trunk was exceptionally thick, completely sealing the gorge. On either side, only narrow gaps remained—barely wide enough to squeeze an arm through. Its height was equally staggering, ten points tall, with a crown resembling disarrayed anemones clinging to the high cliffs. If a player attempted to bypass from above, they’d inevitably enter the toxic mist zone.
"Hmm… Cutting this down will take quite a bit of time", Tian Ma Xing Kong mused, eyeing the massive tree.
"Hey… If we hadn’t gotten this axe", Ji Bu chimed in, "would we even be stuck here forever?"
"Not necessarily", Feng Bu Jue replied. "At the very least, there are two alternative methods to get through."
Fei Chai Shu added, "Right. We could force our way over the top and then detoxify afterwards." He paused, sunglasses hiding eyes that suddenly sharpened, "Or… use precise angles and force to destroy the mountains on either side, blasting open a path."
Feng Bu Jue continued, "Both methods carry risks, though, and require significant consumption."
"And now…" Ji Bu sighed with mock resignation, "it’s just me doing the hard work, isn’t it?"
"Hehe… Thanks for the hard work", Fei Chai Shu laughed.
"Sigh… Who made me a follower of Edient?" Ji Bu grumbled, already shouldering the axe and marching forward.
Suddenly, without warning, the situation shifted.
A low groan echoed, heralding a bizarre sight. The Taunting Tree’s bark began rippling. A cross-shaped silhouette slowly emerged from the trunk. The players had expected a taunting giant face to appear, but as the form clarified, they realized it was unmistakably… a full human shape.
Twenty seconds later, the transformation ceased. A raised, human-shaped bulge now protruded from the bark—like a living creature trapped inside, its body still twitching slightly.
"Human…" the figure’s head spoke, "…you actually made it here." The head shifted slightly. Since the Tree Person’s form had only basic silhouettes without detailed features, its expression and gaze remained indistinct. The player could only assume… it was scanning them.
"You", the Tree Person addressed Ji Bu, "intend to use that tool to fell this tree?"
"Uh… Depends on the situation", Ji Bu hesitated cleverly.
Feng Bu Jue stepped forward, cutting in, "If you’d let us pass… we’d gladly abandon violence…"
"No", the Tree Person interrupted, "please… cut this tree down."
"Oh?" Feng Bu Jue’s mind raced, "So you and this tree… aren’t connected?"
"Long ago, no", the Tree Person replied. "But now… I only wish to die."
Feng Bu Jue stroked his chin, deep in thought.
"I see", Ji Bu said, glancing back. "Well, we were planning to do it anyway. So… shall we grant its wish?"
"Hold on", Feng Bu Jue waved a hand, stepping before Ji Bu and looking up. "May I first ask—how did you become this way?"
"Does that matter?" the Tree Person countered.
"Just curious", Feng Bu Jue replied casually, as if the three-hour mission timer didn’t exist. Without waiting for a reply, he rattled off, "Was it a deity? Some twisted serial killer? Or… a bunch of Sadducees?"
"Huh? What’s he talking about?" Tian Ma Xing Kong whispered to Hong Hu and Fei Chai Shu.
"Hong Hu explained, "He’s throwing out random theories to bait the truth."
"Wait, I meant… what exactly are these Sadducees?" Hong Hu asked.
"Huh?" Hong Hu blinked. "To be honest… I’m not sure either."
"Ah", Fei Chai Shu cut in, exhaling smoke. "An ancient Jewish sect. They denied resurrection, soul existence, and concepts like the afterlife or angels. They were also involved in the trial and execution of Jesus."
"Wait… Fei Chai Shu, you actually know religious trivia like this?"
"Fu—" Fei Chai Shu exhaled a smoke ring, "Back in college, I joined a club studying ancient religions to impress girls." He tilted his chin up, "Funny thing? The club was full of atheists. To us, the Sadducees were the most rational people in the Old Testament—unlike the Pharisees, they craved power, money, and fame. Their religious indifference was basically ancient atheism."
At this, Fei Chai Shu broke his cool forty-five-degree skyward pose, glancing at Tian Ma Xing Kong and Hong Hu. He expected adoring gazes… only to find they’d moved several meters away, already focused on Feng Bu Jue.
"Oi! You’re not even listening!" Fei Chai Shu muttered in frustration, stamping out his cigarette butt.
Meanwhile, Feng Bu Jue continued his barrage: "Hannibal? Charles Manson? John Hinckley? Chuck Norris? Jason?"
(These names respectively refer to: a fictional cannibalistic serial killer from literature, a notorious hippie murderer, a 'madman' who assassinated Reagan, a True Man, and a fictional humanoid monster.)
"Enough!" the previously calm Tree Person finally snapped, interrupting Feng Bu Jue’s nonsense. "It was Xing Shi… He’s the one who turned me into this state…" His voice trembled slightly, "There’s your answer. Satisfied?"
"Ahh~ I was just asking randomly, really", Feng Bu Jue shrugged nonchalantly.
"Who would believe that!" Ji Bu instinctively shouted.
"Fine…" Feng Bu Jue ignored Ji Bu, turning back to the Tree Person. "Then… Let’s discuss terms. For killing you, what kind of compensation do you offer?"
Ji Bu muttered silently, What’s going on here…? There’s no way this negotiation makes sense!
"Rest assured", the Tree Person replied. "Cut along my waist. When the tree is completely severed, you’ll receive your 'compensation'."
Ji Bu gaped: "Seriously? There actually is a reward!"
(End of Chapter)
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