Chapter 225

Chapter 225: Mount Beasts

The old monster was taken aback.

"Can I smell it?" After a moment of silence, he looked in Ajin's direction. Ajin handed him the specimen, and the old monster finally took the green leaf in his hands.

Carefully holding the specimen, the old monster closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Then, he opened his eyes again to examine the veins on the leaf closely. After a while, he shook his head.

"It looks very similar, but this is not the Greenleaf Tree from my hometown." A hint of regret appeared on his face, but nostalgia predominated. He took another deep whiff of the leaf in his hand before raising his head to look at the black-haired monster beside him.

"But you actually know about the Greenleaf Tree. Most monsters nowadays have no idea what it is," the old monster said slowly.

"This tree is scientifically known as the Yuria Tree. It's a species unique to cold regions. Due to its distinctive leaves, many locals refer to it as the Greenleaf Tree. It's written in books," Ajin explained, showing no disappointment in his eyes as he continued the conversation on the old monster's topic.

"The Yuria Tree? Such a beautiful name... I had no idea that there were many of these trees in my homeland. They don't grow very tall, and their leaves are succulent and delicious. They were the staple food for our people. When I was young, I used to eat a lot of green leaves every day..." The old monster examined the leaf in his hand carefully once more. "Greenleaf Trees vary in different regions. We were taught from a young age how to identify their origin based on their characteristics. Unfortunately, I was too young when I left, so I didn't finish that lesson..."

"You mentioned that the veins on this leaf are distinct, implying that the fibers might be coarser. This could indicate that it grew in a colder region than your hometown."

A thought struck Ji Huan, and he asked the old monster across from him, "So, adult monsters in your tribe can determine a Greenleaf Tree's origin by its leaf?"

The ancient creature nodded. "Our monster race is composed of herbivorous monsters, unlike carnivorous ones. We must consume vast amounts of leaves daily. From a young age, our people learn to distinguish various plant species and their distribution. In addition, we study how to approximate a plant's general location by examining its parts."

"After all, sometimes we can't find an entire plant. Often, we only discover a branch, a root, or a leaf. These could have been carried by the wind or other monsters, possibly originating from distant locations but not too far away. They might serve as our future food sources. Over centuries, we've developed unique methods through accumulated knowledge."

"Unfortunately, I left my homeland before mastering this subject..."

Thus, it was an elderly monster who had missed out on this education.

"However, this specimen is well-preserved. Is it from several hundred years ago?" After a long sigh, the old monster praised the specimen in his hand.

Hmm?

Ji Huan looked at him quizzically. "Why would you think that?"

"After all, I haven't seen such a tree in hundreds of years. It might have gone extinct by now. After all, the climate is much warmer these days," the old monster said matter-of-factly.

"In fact, we found this leaf less than two weeks ago and preserved it as a specimen," Ajin explained. Upon hearing this, the old monster froze.

Suddenly, he grew agitated but managed to compose himself enough to pull out a vial of medicine from his bosom, taking a pill before continuing his question. "You found this recently? Where did you find it? Are you saying there are still trees with green leaves in this world? Could it be... Could it be... that my kin...?"

Ajin smiled, and the old monster's surging emotions subsided somewhat at the sight of it, regaining some composure. He looked expectantly at the black-haired monster beside him.

"Obviously, there are still Yulias... Greenleaf Trees in this world. I found it in Yumac City. As for where it grows, that's something I'm currently eager to find out," Ajin said calmly.

He wasn't surprised by the old monster's reaction, nor was Ji Huan.

In fact, this world was enormous, much larger than the place Ji Huan had once lived. In this land without a governing authority, high-ranking monsters were the unseen lords of each region. Though they held no formal titles, they ruled over their territories in reality.

Though there were means of transportation, the infrastructure was still relatively underdeveloped. The journey was fraught with perilous monsters and magical beasts. Many creatures spent their entire lives within a small area, never venturing out. To them, the world was as vast as what they knew.

This old monster, due to his wanderlust, had been to many places. However, limited by his knowledge, he believed the northernmost point was Winter City, assuming it might be where his kin had settled. He made an annual pilgrimage, hoping to encounter his people or their descendants one day.

It sounded a bit comical, but that was the reality of this "world."

This "world" lacked maps, at least none that were universally used. Monsters had their own methods for navigation. Trains only operated within major cities, while more remote areas like Ye Falar required individual effort to traverse. Many monsters in Ye Falar merely knew they would venture "outside" when they grew stronger, but where "outside" was or how to get there, 99% of them had no clue. If not for Ajin's knowledge of various locations, Ji Huan might have assumed the West Ninth District encompassed the entire world.

"Winter City is the northeasternmost point in the West Region, so its seasons are more distinct. Heading further northeast, it gets colder, reaching the East Region. Continuing on leads to the North..."

Ajin's words stirred a longing within the ancient monster.

For so many years, he had been searching for his homeland, a place that separated from the original landmass during an earthquake. In the old monster's heart, home was a cold region, thus his travels always led him to colder lands. However, due to limited knowledge, he might have been going in the wrong direction all these years...

The old monster fell silent for a moment before lifting his head to look at Ajin. "You... Are you heading to the East or North to find the origin of this leaf?"

"Yes," Ajin replied, his dark eyes meeting his gaze steadily.

"Then..." The old monster fidgeted slightly before mustering the courage after a while. "Could I trouble you, if you encounter my kin on your journey, to tell them that you've met me?"

"I know this request is rather bold, but..."

"Of course." Just as the old monster was at a loss for words, Ajin granted his wish.

Next, the old monster retrieved Karas's scale from his chest once more. With determination, he carefully chipped off a small fragment and then hurried to the restroom at the end of the carriage. After a while, he returned with a clump of grayish-white hair in hand, its roots still tinged with blood.

"This is a token," he said.

"At that time, I was too young to have a name. But now, I'm called Nira, after the Karas who saved me. You can tell my people this name if you ever meet them," the old monster said.

"Of course, only if you encounter them. If not, it's fine as well," the old creature added, his wrinkled face suddenly filled with vitality. "Because, sooner or later, I'll head to that northeastern region myself."

"I have about ten years left in my lifespan. I thought my homeland was lost, but now that I know it still exists, albeit in a place I've yet to visit, the next decade seems full of hope again," the old monster chuckled.

Winter City had arrived.

After bidding farewell to Ji Huan and his group, the old monster left, and the bodyguards posing as ordinary passengers resumed their vigilant protection around Ji Huan's family. After resting for a brief night in Winter City and purchasing sufficient supplies, they boarded a secret train to the east the following evening.

The train was called 'secret' because most monsters were unaware of its existence, leading to the eastern region. However, among high-ranking monsters, the route was not a secret.

The terminus of this line was a town named "Gaul." It was a barren settlement with no local produce, relying solely on travelers passing through for sustenance.

Exiting the station revealed an endless desert, a vast yellow expanse that separated the west from the east. No modern vehicles could traverse this desert; monsters had to rely solely on their own two feet.

"Didn't you say there were no transportation methods? This magical beast... wouldn't it count as one?" Protected by the bodyguards, Ji Huan walked amidst the crowd, pointing at a camel-like magical beast being sold by a vendor along the way. He looked at Ajin.

"Indeed, there were no means of transportation before…" Glancing sideways at the magical creature Ji Huan pointed to, he waved over the leader of this escort group – also the boss of the bandit group Abu currently belonged to. He whispered a few instructions, and the unassuming creature went off with a smile to make arrangements.

Before long, the guards led a dozen magical beasts over.

"These creatures were originally native to the desert and are quite obedient after being tamed. If you manage to reach the edge of the desert, there will be our people. You can return them to those individuals," the small merchant who led the beasts over said with a smile.

Then—

"There's no need. Our boss only buys, never rents," the leader of the escort group replied with an even more sincere smile. Suddenly, a hint of ruthlessness tinged the unremarkable beast's grin. "Isn't the journey rather long? Once our food runs out, we'll slaughter five of these each day. I've done the math, and it should just about see us through the desert~"

The peddler's smile suddenly appeared a bit strained. The magical beasts he held in his grasp seemed to sense some impending danger and trembled. However, the negotiation had progressed this far, and Ajin's offered compensation was truly generous. Thus, the transaction ultimately proceeded.

Ajin had purchased a total of sixty "Pack Beasts," ensuring that each magical creature had its own mount. Ji Huan and Ajin sat within a carriage pulled by two of these beasts, commencing their grand journey with a formidable entourage.

In the surrounding caravans, there were also those who, like them, had hired or purchased a herd of pack animals. However, there were also those who insisted on proceeding with human power alone.

Towards the sun, the travelers set forth on their journey.