Chapter 248: The Guest

Chapter 248: The Guest

Among the buildings in the Eastern District stood a Temple, one of the few places the Ancient Tree could enter. Inside the Temple, huge Statues stood tall on both sides. Their heads and necks reached the top of the Temple, their slightly lowered heads looking down, giving people a strong sense of pressure.

The entire hall had no windows. The sunlight scattered from the entrance made the shadows inside appear even darker. As they went deeper, everyone gradually faded into the shadows. Although it was unusually dim, it didn’t bother Zack and the others much.

On the main seat in the Temple, there was no Statue of any Deity, which surprised them a bit. Facing this situation, Zack also didn’t understand why. So everyone started to discuss in low voices, various ideas being added and refined amid agreement and disagreement. As the argument grew heated, their voices created echoes in the empty Temple.

The echoes were not lingering reverberations; instead, they were cut into countless fragments by some force as they echoed, returning to their ears as incomprehensible murmurs. The murmurs gradually became rapid, like an invisible net slowly tightening around everyone.

The discussion gradually died down, but the murmurs did not fade away. The Statues in the Temple also seemed awakened by the whispers, casting their gaze upon them. Then the murmurs grew denser, as if countless unknown things were hidden in the dim Temple.

When everyone hurriedly escaped the Temple and stood in the sunlight, they couldn’t help but feel as if a whole age had passed.

After leaving the Temple, the group walked on and off. When they were near the High Tower, Zack stopped. Seeing everyone looking at him, he pointed at the High Tower and explained, “This is a forbidden area. Outsiders are not allowed to enter.”

“Can’t even you enter?”

“I can, but only by myself.” Zack scratched his head. “He said it’s dangerous inside and will automatically attack unwelcome outsiders.”

“Won’t you be attacked?”

“No, he said it’s a connection of Bloodline. But the top two floors, we are not allowed up there now without him accompanying us. There, even he cannot control the danger.”

Someone asked curiously, “What danger? Do you know?”

“A Key, a Key snatched from a Monster he couldn’t defeat.”

Jenny’s eyes lit up. “Is there someone even he can’t defeat?”

“Not a person, a huge Monster. I haven’t had time to ask for details. I only know he snatched the thing and ran.”

“Isn’t your Great Wizard afraid that Monster might chase here for revenge?”

“No, nothing dares to cause trouble here. His power increases multiple times here.”

“Multiple times?” Someone was skeptical.

Zack was very certain. “Multiple times. He told us that himself. He said as long as we are in this city, we are absolutely safe. Anyone who dares to mess with us, he’ll smack them dead.”

Saying this, Zack felt a bit proud. “Even if he isn’t here, this city will protect us. It’s alive, carrying the will of the Great Wizard.”

While Zack was showing off to his friends, his fiancée Mary and the Ancient Tree were still wandering outside, with no intention of returning. Behind them, a herd of wild bulls followed at a leisurely pace.

Contrary to Mary’s imagination, the Ancient Tree did not go on a killing spree. He simply walked towards the herd, then released a Mana Fluctuation from his body. Soon, the wild bulls regarded him as a safe shelter and gathered around him.

The Ancient Tree’s performance stirred Mary’s greed. With the thought of going just a little farther, gathering just one or two more bulls, they wandered farther and farther away.

It all came too easily. Mary was already obsessed, even forgetting her original purpose. Her mind was filled only with bulls, more bulls. This herd had already pushed Zack out of her heart.

The Ancient Tree just wanted to go out for a walk. His goal was clear—to walk. He didn’t care about the size of the herd. As long as he could wander a bit longer, anything was just along the way and didn’t matter much to him. So even some of Mary’s seemingly unreasonable requests, he tried his best to fulfill.

Mary thought the Ancient Tree was really cute; the Ancient Tree also thought Mary was great, always finding various excuses for him to wander outside.

If nothing unexpected happened, the two of them might have walked to the ends of the earth. Until an even taller Ancient Tree appeared on their path ahead. An Ancient Tree with long arms that hung all the way to the ground.

The moment they met, both Ancient Trees became very excited and sped up, rushing towards each other. This Ancient Tree didn’t have exaggerated eight legs, just two short little legs supporting him. When walking, his long arms rested on the ground, like a crawling gorilla.

“My name is Tansuo.” This Ancient Tree introduced himself very politely to Mary. “I am heading to Northland City to see my long-time pen pal, Bran.”

Mary bowed slightly on her horse. “My name is Mary. Welcome.”

Hearing Tansuo mention Northland City, Mary suddenly woke up. Only then did she remember her purpose for capturing the bulls, and the wedding that was so near.

How foolish I was! I actually wandered out with the Ancient Tree for so many days. If it were Bran, he would definitely have reminded me. This silly piece of Wood is totally unreliable. Awakened, Mary couldn’t help feeling waves of resentment in her heart.

Not mentioning Northland City was fine, but once mentioned, even the Ancient Tree grew anxious. Being out for so many days, Bran and Huahua must be worried, right? Just like when they went out, he had been worried too. This Mary is so unreliable, he also complained in his heart.

Tansuo was eager to see Northland City, eager to see Bran with his own eyes. And the Ancient Tree and Mary were eager to return to their families. So they picked up speed and began to run.

…

Bran was indeed worried. Not many days after the Ancient Tree and Mary left, he regretted it. He regretted putting these two unreliable people together. He should have found someone else to supervise them.

He wanted to go look for them, but also thought this was a kind of training, an experience. So, hesitating, the days passed one by one. Afterwards, whenever he thought of going to find them, he felt they might be on their way back, and meeting them halfway might not be good, showing too much distrust.

In anxiety, the Ancient Tree and Mary returned, and brought back a rare guest.