Chapter 886: Seventy-nine. Speaker of the Trees
The surging humanity flowed into the body like fireflies.
Lu Li felt the growth of humanity.
Eleven portions, restored to half of his peak humanity.
Facing the Weird Times, Lu Li gained the power to resist the strange, at the cost of becoming more delicious, and [Bloodstained].
As the fireflies in the dark forest became torches and illuminated the surroundings, they also attracted more covetous gazes.
The branches of nearby trees quietly approached Lu Li, drawn by the aura of his humanity, winding toward him.
Approaching was not an act of goodwill.
“Guide…”
The Branched Antler Tree People sensed the change in Lu Li’s aura and bowed, ordering the guards to retreat and stay away.
Sss… a sound of sniffing came from the hood, but the chieftain said nothing.
Following the Branched Antler Tree People back to the gathering place in the Tranquil Forest, the Lina Tree swayed its canopy happily as Lu Li’s aura recovered: “Almost the same as back then…”
Nostalgia is not a human specialty.
After the joy, the Lina Tree regretted being unable to restore more of Lu Li’s humanity. Few anomalies approached the Plant Habitat, and the Tree People never left their homeland proactively.
Lu Li still couldn’t help them now, the Lina Tree said at least five or six more human portions were needed.
“What is it that you want me to help with?” Lu Li asked.
The Lina Tree answered that it could not yet tell Lu Li, as he could not bear the terrifying consequences of hearing the content.
After a slight thought, Lu Li told it about the Cursed Title [Bloodstained]: “Can the Cursed Title be removed?”
“That is power as old as time itself… it cannot be removed…” the Lina Tree told Lu Li, but it could help him in other ways.
The old face closed its eyes, and the sound of prayers began to rise around him. Lu Li looked around and saw that whether it was the Branched Antler Tree People or the gathering place residents, they stopped where they were, closed their eyes, and prayed.
Tiny glimmers suddenly appeared around Lu Li, swirling like fireflies, pouring into his body.
A cryptic content resembling words or speech emerged in Lu Li’s mind.
[Speaker of the Trees]
[They witness the rise and fall of everything like the ocean, they stand firm on the earth like rocks, they bless all creations, they are everywhere. You like them, you care for them—they feel the same]
[Every tree feels affection for you]
[—they are your good friends]
The Plant Habitat also granted Lu Li a Cursed Title.
Perhaps the curse should be removed because almost no side effects could be found: possessing it, Lu Li would almost never suffer attacks from tree anomalies.
If, outside the Plant Habitat, there were other tree anomalies.
Like in the old sewer swamp’s branch with leftover tree seeds from withered trees.
“Thank you,” Lu Li said.
“This is a gift from the Ancestral Spirits… hopefully, it will aid you…”
The thin mist surrounding the forest gradually vanished, the outside Mist of Strangeness finally retreated.
Lu Li must leave now.
“The Guardian awaits you at the habitat’s edge… it will escort you to Storm Corner…” the Lina Tree swayed its branches. “Remember to visit us… we will prepare prey…”
“I will,” Lu Li said, after finding Anna.
In the farewell of the Lina Tree, Lu Li followed the Branched Antler Tree People out of the Tranquil Forest.
Because of [Speaker of the Trees], the once lifeless forest suddenly turned bustling and lively, Lu Li could sense their presence, their breathing.
The trees expressed goodwill towards Lu Li. They lowered their branches, gently touching Lu Li, while roots moved aside thick fallen leaves, sweeping out a path.
At the edge of the habitat, the Guardian awaited there.
The Guardian was even taller than the Lina Tree, human history’s most magnificent walls couldn’t match its chest.
Only such a colossal being close to a leader could walk through the anomaly-ridden wilderness.
It slowly crouched, opening a house-sized palm, creaking as the wood moved, spreading out, allowing Lu Li to step onto the palm.
“Guide… safe journey…”
The silently stoic Branched Antler Tree People bowed goodbye.
The Guardian stood up, carrying Lu Li, turning its back to the Spine of the World Mountains, stepping forward with earth-shaking steps, heading toward the wilderness’s edge.
…
Lu Li sat in the Guardian’s palm, the wild winds on the plains blowing his black hair and clothes, calmly gazing at the horizon’s end, as if seeing the land’s edge, the ever-rolling tides.
Lu Li recalled his experiences in the Plant Habitat.
The appearance of acquaintances resolved many troubles and brought much help, such as restoring humanity and providing escorts.
Unfortunately, they couldn’t freely leave the habitat; otherwise, Lu Li’s journey to the Main Affinity Continent would not be so difficult.
He recalled scenes seen in the two Death Retraces. Were they killed by The Time of Silence?
Why do those killed by The Time of Silence become anomalies?
His hand reached into his pocket, gently caressing the straw doll, and Lu Li fell into thought.
The chief lay in the hood behind him, not speaking for a long time, seeming out of sorts.
Lu Li usually ignored such things, but suddenly remembered what Katerina once said: “You should try to change yourself.” Slightly pondering, Lu Li spoke, “What’s wrong with you?”
The downcast chief spoke softly, “Will you kill me… like you killed that leader…”
“No.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
The chief perked up again, rolling around lively in the hood like a cat.
Lu Li asked it about the specific changes in himself, and the chief’s reply was “more delicious,” “more likable.”
Fortunately, the increase in humanity did not make Lu Li’s scent more potent. The anomalies couldn’t smell him from afar yet, except for those with keen senses.
This prevented the terrifying scenario of anomalies swarming.
However, when anomalies appeared around Lu Li, they clearly wouldn’t pass up the delicacy.
In the distance, a dilapidated village emerged on the land.
It grew closer and closer, with no intention of being bypassed by the Guardian.
“Can we go around it?” Lu Li said to the Guardian.
“Village, no, danger.” A buzzing, vibrating voice came from above.
The Guardian had detected nothing out of place, and its judgment was infallible.
Perhaps.
The village grew nearer. This Old Era abandoned village seemed desolate for a long time.
But with increased humanity, the more perceptive Lu Li sensed malicious intent from the village.
Yet the stubborn slow-moving Guardian already stepped into the village.
Lu Li watched below, answers revealing, greedy glances illuminated from broken holes in the roadside house windows, more and more.
This was like a gathering place resembling a Weird Lair.
Greedy for Lu Li’s aura, yet they gathered at the Guardian’s terrifying presence; until the Guardian left the village, they didn’t storm out from the houses.
Indeed, the village posed no danger.
If only Lu Li were there, it might have been an entirely different scene.
No shadows of anomalies appeared on the remaining journey, weaker anomalies dared not approach, and truly dangerous areas were avoided by the Guardian.
The dry air gradually turned humid, and near the afternoon, Lu Li saw at the horizon’s end, coastal standing stone pillars.
That was Storm Corner.