Chapter 279: Smart

Chapter 279: Smart

Bran vanished from his spot without leaving any trace. The Tributary, which had gone astray by flowing through his body, disappeared along with him. During the Ancient Tree’s Evolution, Bran had let the Tributary experience his past and present lives. And while the Tributary was experiencing his various moments, Bran was also bearing everything of the Tributary. Unknowingly, they had completed a fusion, becoming each other.

Washed by the Tributary, he finally became a complete Mana creature. Apart from his memories and obsessions, the traces that once belonged to this world within his body were completely gone. Having returned to the Sea of Magic, Bran did not notice the anomaly for a moment; he only felt an unprecedented sense of ease.

Huahua was not far beside him, wrapped in a medium-sized gray bubble. Beneath it, a Tributary composed of countless small, fragmented gray bubbles was tightly clustering around it. Those bubbles constantly formed and vanished, endless.

As Bran entered, Huahua also cast its gaze toward him. Here, the mental connection became clearer and tighter. So Bran sensed the confusion in Huahua’s spirit. The confusion was not about the current situation, but about him.

What’s wrong with me? Along with this thought, Bran shifted his attention back to himself. He was immersed in the Tributary, or perhaps it couldn’t be called immersion because he was the Tributary. Although the Tributary was not yet him, that sense of separation had completely vanished. The Key was no longer the rock that carried him but had turned into a pearl hidden within his body.

He raised his hand, watching the tide of Mana surge and flow within it, and then something obscure and hard to understand remained there as well. Bran turned his head to look toward the source of the Tributary, where a black line vanished into the horizon.

Compared to the surging waters of the Tributary, Bran seemed far too insignificant. Want the Tributary to experience everything about him? This was just the beginning…

Lily looked here, watching the suddenly appearing Huahua and the Bran who followed closely behind, feeling very pleased.

A few days ago, her younger sister Xirui had finally made up her mind to begin her Trial, to find her own direction. Xirui should have taken this step long ago, but at this stage, they could only let things take their natural course. Neither she nor Bran would remind or pressure her, because will would be the key to determining success or failure. A Wizard ultimately needed to follow their own will to possibly condense their own Fruit.

Xirui would cross the Western Territory to reach the Wasteland, then cross the Wasteland to enter the Far North. Xirui said that the whispers carried by the wind were calling to her.

With her sister’s departure, Lily turned her attention back to the Sea of Magic.

She did not know what mischief Bran was up to again; that Tributary had actually submerged him. He floated in the Tributary, his entire body crystal clear and completely unaffected. The Torrent of Mana poured into his body, as if influenced by some will, swirling and flowing along a strange route, forming an ink-black line inside him before finally being discharged.

Lily did not quite understand. Bran had said before that he did not intend to truly entangle himself with this Tributary, only to learn. But the current situation had probably gone beyond Bran’s plan.

Lily sighed. Bran ultimately failed to break free from this Tributary and became a part of it. Fortunately, he still possessed his own will and could still act autonomously.

She watched as Bran habitually sat down cross-legged, his whole body gradually floating to the surface, then grinned at her. The worry from a moment ago instantly faded a lot with this expression.

Then she saw Bran and Huahua begin to stare at each other, and her heart, which had just settled, rose again. She knew them too well. Huahua and Bran did not want to be separated like this, even if this was the Sea of Magic, even if they were not familiar with this place. Perhaps precisely because they were unfamiliar, they needed each other even more, needed the sense of security from holding each other even more. So she saw this human and cat move simultaneously.

A wave rose from the Tributary beneath Bran, pushing him to slide toward Huahua. The bubble wrapping Huahua began to shake and twist, finally breaking free from its constraints and rolling toward Bran.

The two Tributaries were already adjacent, so Bran and Huahua met at the edge of the Tributaries. Bran instinctively reached his hand into the Tributary composed of fragmented bubbles, wanting to hug Huahua. But the bubble Huahua was in, which seemed fragile, became an insurmountable barrier between them.

Influenced by this, the two Tributaries began to rub and twine around them, eventually forming a whirlpool. In the whirlpool, Bran happily hugged that bubble. Inside the bubble, Huahua also narrowed its eyes with a satisfied expression.

Lily watched all of this from afar until Bran raised his head and gave her a proud smile. Amidst envy and jealousy, she snorted and paid no more attention to that pair of fools.

In Northland City, the moment Bran disappeared, Mikkel thought, “Not good!” He immediately appeared at the spot where Bran vanished, carefully examining it, hoping Bran had left some clues because that was the basis for his return to the Mortal World.

The Ancient Tree Tansuo did not understand and was instead extremely excited, thinking Bran had made another breakthrough. So he asked the nervous Old Fairy, “Why are you so nervous?”

“Bran is gone. He left nothing behind.”

“I know. So what?”

“He left nothing behind.” Mikkel repeated, seeming somewhat distracted.

“I know. So what then?”

“What do you know?” Mikkel became a bit annoyed, and his voice turned somewhat sharp and piercing. “The remnants in the Mortal World are the basis for his return!”

“Oh, isn’t there Huahua?”

“Is that the same?” Mikkel almost couldn’t stop himself from cursing.

“How is it different?” Tansuo swayed his crown. “Their connection is far tighter than you imagine. Don’t worry unnecessarily. Even we Ancient Trees have always maintained a close connection with him.”

As he spoke, Tansuo pointed beside him, his tone envious: “Bran’s Wood, they have always maintained a deep mental connection. Oh right, and the Little Fairies, go ask Rando and Langa who are still sleeping.”

Tansuo’s explanation relaxed Mikkel. He hovered there for a while before asking, “You’ve always maintained a close connection?”

“Mm.”

“Are there secrets hidden between you?”

“No!” Tansuo immediately raised his voice.

The Old Fairy chuckled, “Oh, then I’m relieved.”

After saying that, he turned and left.

Just as the Ancient Tree Tansuo expected, it wasn’t long before Bran reappeared. Shortly after, Huahua also woke up. So Tansuo immediately told Bran about the conversation they just had.

As he recounted it, Bran’s expression suddenly became very stiff, and he remained motionless for a long time. So Tansuo explained, “I didn’t leak any secrets.”

Bran gritted his teeth, “You’re really smart! Even smarter than the Old Fairy!”

Tansuo was baffled by this praise. First the Old Fairy’s chuckle, now Bran’s praise. He needed peace and quiet, needed to think carefully about what they were really trying to say?

Before that, there was one thing that could not be ignored – put Huahua on top of his head first. This was good for physical and mental health, and helped keep the mind clear.