Chapter Forty-Five

Chapter Forty-Five

The ground was covered with thick and broad ink-green leaves, emitting a gentle scent of grass and wood, surrounded by plants and minerals glowing with a soft luminescence.

It looked incredibly comfortable.

As soon as the guide left, they immediately sat down together to talk.

Xiao Fu had been curled up quietly by Lin An's side, but now he became a bit livelier, standing up and sniffing around.

Xu Fang had already gotten chummy with the locals, even calling many by name. They had a friendly competition outside the tree, and he's been remarking on the impressive use of abilities by the people here.

Back in Chuxi City, although he wasn't among the strongest of the ability users, he was still quite capable, handling four or five average ability users with ease.

Plus, with the training he had undergone recently, he felt that if he were back in Chuxi City, he might be able to challenge the strongest of them.

Of course, this doesn’t include the boss and An Ge; they've already surpassed the realm of ordinary people.

But in the sparring match with the people of Muling City, he found their abilities to be expertly honed. Had it not been for the new techniques he developed over the past few days in Muling City, he might have been defeated.

Granny Wu, however, was not surprised: "Before the apocalypse, most people in Chuxi City rarely trained. Those from Muling City, living in the forest from a young age, naturally have better physical conditioning, not to mention their constant battles with beasts. It's only natural their abilities are formidable."

After "eating," Lin An put his mask back on and crouched in a corner to observe the glowing plant while listening to Xu Fang.

This was a plant known as Lantern Grass, emitting a pearly white luminescence from leaf to stem. Lin An was seeing it in real life for the first time. The books mentioned that this grass only grows in dark, damp places where sunlight cannot reach, making this an ideal environment for Lantern Grass.

Xiao Fu approached Lin An, who was intently observing the glowing plant and not giving him any attention, and with a woof, took the Lantern Grass into his mouth.

Lin An hurriedly wrestled the grass from the dog's mouth.

Xiao Fu hadn't really eaten it, just gently holding it to draw his owner's attention, and let go as soon as Lin An moved.

"You can't eat this," Lin An instructed the dog, "This grass is poisonous."

"Poisonous? Can eating it kill a person?" Ouyang Dong, overhearing this, cried out in shock.

The others looked over, and Lin An shook his head, "It won't kill, but it can cause hallucinations."

Humans would experience hallucinations if they ate this grass, but the books didn’t say what would happen to dogs, though certainly, there would be adverse effects.

To prevent Xiao Fu from eating anything harmful, they took turns holding him, keeping him away from the grass.

Shen Xiuzhe eyed the bright Lantern Grass; since entering the tree hollow, there were glowing plants everywhere. Apart from Lantern Grass, there were other colored plants, placed in wooden pots and arranged all around, he noticed other hollows with glowing plants when coming up the stairs.

Shen Xiuzhe had visited Muling City more than half a year ago, and although the people were friendly then, most had their own affairs and would help outsiders when needed. They showed a welcoming side but weren't as excessively enthusiastic as the people here.

Standing up and looking towards the entrance of the hollow where no one was around, Shen Xiuzhe shared these anomalies with the others to hear their thoughts.

Xu Fang looked puzzled, "Isn't enthusiasm a good thing?"

Udo, the youngest, was always vigilant, "They're only this welcoming when they want something from us."

Ouyang Dong nodded, "I don't like it here anyway; it feels oppressive."

Since entering the tree hollow, he had felt uncomfortable. Although there were various glowing plants inside, the absence of sunlight made it damp, and the air was tinged with the musty scent of decaying wood. It wasn't until he smelled the fresh scent of leaves and grass here that he felt slightly better.

Lin An agreed wholeheartedly; the people were too enthusiastic. Despite his efforts to remain inconspicuous, many had their eyes on him and even attempted to strike up conversations.

This awkwardness, akin to being thrown into a gathering of strangers, made Lin An very uncomfortable and restless.

He would rather be alone than scrutinized by unfamiliar eyes.

If not for Shen Xiuzhe's fierce expression deterring many, he might have already sought a hiding place.

After discussion, they decided to leave the next day. Their next destination was Mou City, and the distance was unknown, so an early departure seemed wise.

In the dead of night, the tree hollow was silent; everyone was asleep.

Lin An, now a zombie, did not require rest at night, but he too lay under a blanket on the cotton-sheeted ground.

The other three slept beside him, with Xiao Fu curled at his feet, sometimes pressing directly against him through the blanket or sleeping bag.

Granny Wu and Udo slept in an adjacent hollow.

Lin An blinked and turned his head, glancing sideways a few times, somewhat unaccustomed to the setup.

When they were in the forest, they used sleeping bags at night, each man in his own, lined up side by side. Xu Fang snored in the middle of the night, and Ouyang Dong talked in his sleep punctually, together performing a "Requiem" in the quiet night.

Shen Xiuzhe was often woken up by the noise, glaring with murderous intent at the two men. He was grumpy when woken and despised disturbances, often wishing he could silence the thunderous snores of Xu Fang and the ceaseless chatter of Ouyang Dong with a gag and a good thrashing.

However, he eventually got used to it.

Lin An, who didn't sleep at night, sometimes found the intermittent sounds of the two people quite interesting, helping to pass the boring time.

Yet tonight, well past midnight, Ouyang Dong had not spoken in his sleep as usual, and Xu Fang had not snored.

Were it not for the three steady breaths nearby, one might think they were alone.

Were they too exhausted today?

Lin An was feeling a bit bored, idly moving his fingers and toes, only to realize his feet were pinned down by Xiao Fu and immobile.

Might as well practice his special abilities; there was nothing else to do anyway.

Looking up, Lin An saw the canopy illuminated by lantern grass, the tree’s intricate patterns winding and twisting without any apparent order, appearing sporadic and interrupted.

Gradually, droplets began to form in the air above, suspended mid-air, increasing in number, resembling raindrops that hung densely without falling.

The round droplets slowly morphed, stretching from spherical shapes into little dogs.

They took the form of Xiao Fu, neatly lined up in mid-air as if in a queue, even mimicking running motions.

Lin An watched the lively droplets, a small smile curling at the corners of his mouth.

Then, the droplets transformed into Xu Fang, with round heads performing various actions in mid-air, and Ouyang Dong as well, with his large belly, plump and round.

Granny Wu and Wu Duo were also conjured from water by him; rather than practicing his abilities, it seemed Lin An was playing with them.

Finally, Shen Xiuzhe appeared, a group of him in windbreakers floating in mid-air, arms folded and chins upturned, exuding the characteristic haughtiness of Shen Xiuzhe, even in watery miniature form.

Delighted with his play, Lin An couldn’t help but let out a laugh, then quickly covered his mouth, carefully turning his head to check on his companions, afraid of waking them.

But the three slept on, their breathing steady, undisturbed by the noise.

The droplets remained suspended, ready to mimic more of Shen Xiuzhe's habitual gestures, but then a faint noise came from outside.

Startled, Lin An caused the water droplets to collapse, and they happened to fall on the faces and blankets of the others.

Lin An: It wasn’t on purpose!

He hastily withdrew the water from their bodies and blankets, frantic and clueless about what to do with it, finally dispersing it as a mist over the tree, making it indiscernible.

The noise outside grew slightly louder; Lin An recognized it as the footsteps of Chief Muze and several others he had met that day.

What were they doing here so late?

Unsure of their intentions, Lin An could only tightly close his eyes, pretending to be asleep.

He hadn’t removed his mask even in sleep, so there was no worry about being recognized now.

The group outside walked in quietly; their footsteps were nearly inaudible, but Lin An, being a zombie, had exceptional hearing. The scent of human flesh also drifted in, allowing him to identify each person.

After entering, the group stood nearby, seemingly checking if they were asleep. After observing for a while, one of them called out softly, “Xiao Xu? Xiao Xu? Stop sleeping, it's already dawn.”

They were calling for Xu Fang, one of those who had fought against him, and their relationship had progressed rapidly after the brawl, soon addressing each other as brothers.

Xu Fang made no response.

“Ouyang, wake up, I’ll take you to see something good,” another voice said, louder this time.

Lin An kept his eyes closed. He was not adept at feigning sleep; his eyes moved around, and his eyelashes quivered. Fortunately, his bangs covered some of his face, and the dim, soft light from the lantern grass helped conceal him.

It was a struggle for him to keep quiet, wanting to tell the person that Ouyang Dong’s surname wasn’t Ouyang—it was Ou.

Yet, on one hand, he dared not speak, as these people were strangers to him, and on the other hand, their late visit was highly suspicious.

Eventually, they began to call out Shen Xiuzhe’s name, to no response either.

That’s not right! Although Xu Fang and Ouyang Dong were deep sleepers, not waking even with loud snoring and sleep-talking, Shen Xiuzhe would not be so.

In places he didn’t feel safe, he was always on alert, waking at the slightest disturbance.

Yet now, despite the intrusion, Shen Xiuzhe’s breathing remained steady, unresponsive even to his name being called.

What was wrong with everyone?

Lin An thought back on everything the group had touched since they came in, but nothing seemed capable of inducing sleep.

“Lin An, I know you’re awake, get up, there’s trouble.”

Lin An was startled inside but realized it was a ruse. He clenched his hands under the blanket, mimicking Shen Xiuzhe’s breathing, showing no reaction.

Another person entered the hollow where Granny Wu and Wu Duo were, and quickly came out again.

“They’re all asleep.”

Believing that no one would wake, their voices became normal in volume, no longer deliberately hushed.

“Hmm, go call a few more people, we’ll carry them away.” This was Muze’s voice, colder and more detached than his sincere and amiable tone during the day.

“What about this dog?” another voice inquired.

Lin An recognized the person speaking; it was that teenager around eighteen or nineteen.

Muze’s gaze shifted to Xiao Fu, who was still asleep at Lin An’s feet, his tone cold and indifferent, “If you want to keep a pet, keep it. But this dog already has an owner. It won’t grow fond of you with just feeding. It might as well leave with this group. If you really want a pet, catch a wolf pup for yourself later.”

The youth remained silent, not saying anything further, seemingly in agreement with Muze’s words.

Lin An breathed a sigh of relief; he had feared that Xiao Fu would be taken somewhere else.

But where did they mean by ‘leave’?

Could it be that these people didn’t actually welcome them?

Were they planning to throw them out?

Soon, a few more people came in, lifting them two by two, holding the sheets under them and walking outside.

Xiao Fu, who was originally by his feet, was now on his stomach. Lin An, worried Xiao Fu might tumble off during the lifting, secretly secured him with his hand under the blanket.

Lifting the others went smoothly, except for Ouyang Dong, where there was a problem.

He was too heavy, and the two lifting him struggled.

Ouyang Dong had always been corpulent, and even though he had been active lately, fighting zombies daily which should have burned fat, he frequently snacked on various fruits, overcompensating with sugar, so he appeared just as heavy as before.

In reality, some of his fat had turned to muscle, making him an even heavier set man.

The young men barely managed to lift him when the cotton sheet tore with a rip, splitting into several pieces.

Ouyang Dong fell to the ground, cushioned by the leaves, so he wasn’t injured.

Despite the impact, Ouyang Dong still did not wake up.

Eventually, another person was called, and after placing several layers of cloth under him, the three managed to carry Ouyang Dong away.

Lin An feared that opening his eyes would reveal his wakefulness to these people, so he continued to feign sleep, sensing the direction they were taking.

They descended the stairs and kept moving forward; this should be the central area, where the bonfire wasn’t as vigorous as during the day but still radiated heat and crackled.

Then they seemed to stand in place for a while before continuing downward.

Downward?

They apparently hadn't left the tree hollow; what lay below?

Lin An felt a chilling presence envelop him; the people carrying them fell silent, their breathing erratic as if they were terrified of this place.

Below must be those carved steps again, winding their way downward.

They descended for what felt like an eternity, those carrying Ouyang Dong heaving with exertion before finally stopping.

“Let’s leave them here; six individuals in total, all ability users. They should suffice to please the Divine Tree.” It was Muze’s voice again, his tone undulating slightly at the mention of the Divine Tree, much like his reverence and worship earlier in the day.

Lin An could feel they were laid down on the ground; despite the cotton sheet beneath him, he could sense the dampness and coolness of the earth.

More importantly, the ground beneath was uneven to the touch.

What place was this exactly?

The young man around eighteen or nineteen couldn't help but say, “Chief, is this really alright? They are guests from afar; leaving them here, they'll surely die.”

Muze’s voice was chillingly indifferent: “Would you prefer to take their place?”

The youth fell silent.

“They came here of their own volition. You don’t want these strangers to die, but would you rather have us die? Don’t be foolish, go on out.”

After Muze spoke, he led everyone away.

Lin An cautiously opened one eye and noticed the people hadn't gone far. Above, the wooden steps twisted upward in spirals, seemingly endless.

The surroundings still appeared to be inside the giant tree, yet much smaller than where they had entered the tree hollow, as if they had moved into a much tinier cavity within the colossal tree.

He didn’t dare to move much, as those people had not yet completely departed, and the others remained unconscious, posing a risk he couldn’t take.

If discovered, what if these people decided to kill them? He wasn’t confident in protecting everyone against so many attackers.

He waited in silence until they were utterly out of sight before daring to open both eyes.

His nostrils flared subtly; after the people disappeared from view, even their scent faded markedly, leaving behind only traces, no longer discernible in location.

It was as if they were suddenly separated by two different spaces.

Sitting up abruptly, Lin An placed Xiao Fu, who was on his stomach, onto the bedsheet, then stood up to survey his surroundings.

Only then did he realize why the ground was uneven – it was covered with tree roots.

The thickest root, several meters in diameter, bore Ouyang Dong, who lay on a protruding root, teetering precariously.

It seemed as if the people carrying him had intentionally placed him there.

The thinnest root was as thick as a finger, with roots everywhere, dense and layered.

The dark brown roots were so numerous that Lin An couldn't even see what lay beneath them.

Gazing at his still unconscious companions, Lin An anxiously nudged them.

"Wake up, quick."

"There's danger."

"You can't sleep."

Lin An felt it was all his fault. Their unconsciousness must have been caused by something they encountered, but he couldn’t think of the reason.

Despite having read so many books, he was clueless about this matter, blaming himself.

As Lin An was lost in self-reproach, Shen Xiuzhe slowly sat up, stretching his neck.

"You're awake!" Lin An's eyes lit up. He immediately crouched beside Shen Xiuzhe, finding a semblance of security as if he had found his pillar of strength.

"If I hadn't woken up, you would have been sitting here crying, wouldn't you?"

In reality, Shen Xiuzhe hadn't fainted at all. He had been on guard ever since they approached the giant tree, so like Lin An, he was just pretending.

Lin An pursed his lips, denying the notion that he would cry.

"Ow, my back!"

Ouyang Dong rolled like a plump carp, but misjudged his positioning and fell off the tree root, landing on a pile of roots.

“What’s with those people? Didn’t they eat? Such weak strength, and the quality of the sheets is so poor too. It nearly killed me falling off.”

Ouyang Dong felt like he was cursed with bad luck. Bullied by beasts outside was one thing, but here he was bullied by people. The fall when the bedsheet tore was not light at all.

If it weren't for his good acting skills and enduring the pain, he might have been discovered earlier.

"Haha, serves you right. I told you you're fat, and you kept denying it. Three men struggled to carry you, your weight is terrifying," Xu Fang also jumped up, skillfully teasing Ouyang Dong.

Wu Duo, helping his grandmother sit up, asked, "Where is this place? Why did they bring us here?"

Lin An, looking at everyone suddenly ‘resurrecting’, said happily: "You're all finally awake."

The group exchanged glances and couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Now it seemed that none of them had actually fainted; they were all just pretending.

Thinking they were the only one awake while the others were unconscious, each chose to keep pretending to be unconscious to see what the others would do.

“After all, one person can't protect so many companions at the same time.”

“In the end, only Xiao Fu was truly unconscious.”

“Udo took a child-carrying backpack out of her space. It's unclear why she had such an item, but eventually Xu Fang volunteered to carry the unconscious Xiao Fu on his back.”

"I think there's something wrong with the barbecue," Wu Duo asserted confidently, "Their enthusiasm was over the top, and I found it strange, so I replaced everyone's meat while they were eating."

Shen Xiu Ze had checked; there was nothing amiss with the barbecue, nor had anything been added. But ever since entering this place, he had maintained a skeptical attitude, so Wu Duo's replacement of the meat went unnoticed.

Wu Duo's space contained an abundance of barbecue, leftovers from their forest excursions. Sometimes it was uneaten food, other times extra catches of delicious prey, all roasted and stored, as her space preserved the freshness well.

Among these were whole cuts and already sliced pieces. While Wu Nai Nai distracted others, Wu Duo subtly swapped the meat right beside everyone, unnoticed.

Although their abilities had been inquired about, Wu Duo and Wu Nai Nai claimed to have none. Their abilities were uncommon, non-elemental types, so it was safer to keep them hidden.

This decision now proved to be useful.

Only Xiao Fu couldn't be tricked, as many here adored dogs and watched each piece of meat it ate, leaving Wu Duo with no chance to substitute.

Shen Xiu Ze, surveying the surroundings, suddenly said, "I smelled the barbecue; it was fine. And since everyone else ate it, I think it might be a combination of things causing the drowsiness."

The barbecue had spices added, harmless when eaten alone. But if they came into contact with other substances, the combined effect, even with caution, could go unnoticed.

Lin An immediately thought of the hallucinogenic properties of lantern grass.

Although he didn't understand the reason, Ouyang Dong recalled that the lantern grass seemed to grow only on the edges of tree holes and uninhabited cavities. The inhabited cavities they passed contained different types of luminous plants and minerals.

He only knew each plant's appearance and effects, not which combinations had special uses or were mutually enhancing or counteracting—none of this was mentioned in books.

Only those who grew up in the forest of Mu Ling City would know these details.

Xu Fang stood on a massive tree root, supporting a limp dog with one hand, and asked, "Never mind the dizziness for now, what exactly is this place?"

Lin An thought, considering the route they had taken and the surrounding environment, that this place must be at the base of a giant tree's roots.

But why were they brought here?

"Did you hear that conversation? Will they die here?"