Chapter 191
Screeeeech—!
The mutated pest, finding itself cornered with no escape, let out a piercing cry. The sound was so sharp that everyone except Zhou Qi instinctively covered their ears.
The Lanhu guards, who had been following orders with skepticism about the forest’s infestation, were stunned. Many Lanhu residents shared their doubts, as they lacked the ability to communicate with the mother tree like Kang Kang or sense its emotions like Lan Yunqing.
During the chase, the guards had felt like headless chickens, blindly following the lead of a child who looked no older than a few years.
But when the screech rang out, all doubts vanished.
The Lanhu Forest had indeed been invaded by a mutated pest!
This pest was the very culprit behind the yellowing leaves and the wilt of the Lanhu trees, endangering the livelihood of thousands in Lanhu Town.
They had to catch it and eliminate it at all costs!
However, things rarely went as smoothly as one might hope.
After the screech, under mounting pressure and finding no suitable tree to parasitize, the pest finally bit through the bark and emerged from the Lanhu tree it had been hiding in.
As its body was exposed to the air, the once fingertip-sized pest began to swell rapidly.
During its two years of concealment within the Lanhu tree, it had never actively chewed through its host, keeping its size small and evading detection by the tree’s guardians. The constant moderate climate maintained by the forest provided the perfect environment for the pest to quietly absorb the tree’s life force, which it hoarded within its body.
This ability to feed on life force explained why the mother tree, despite recovering 60% of its vitality after receiving healing treatment, had begun deteriorating again.
The pest had grown exponentially, preparing to lay its eggs. It required massive amounts of life energy to nourish the eggs. Once the eggs hatched, the larvae would devour the entire forest and everyone living in it, turning it into a massive insect nest.
It was on the verge of becoming a powerful insect queen with an unstoppable swarm.
But its plans were exposed today!
The sprayed pesticide rendered the Lanhu trees unsuitable as nurseries for the eggs and posed a deadly threat to the pest itself.
Cornered and furious, the mutated pest emitted another series of high-pitched shrieks.
Screee! Scree-scree!
It turned its rage-filled attention toward Kang Kang, who was cradled in Tang Yu’an’s arms.
It’s all because of this wretched human child!
The pest’s body, now five meters tall and grotesquely twisted, was a shade of deep blue that evoked not beauty but fear and revulsion.
With its massive body writhing, it opened its gaping maw and lunged at Tang Yu’an and Kang Kang.
But Tang Yu’an remained calm. After a year of battling monstrous insects in another dimension, he had honed his composure and resilience in life-threatening situations.
As the pest began to expand, Tang Yu’an tightened his grip on Kang Kang and quickly took to the air, casting a Light Blessing spell on both of them.
The pest missed its target and prepared to chase, but a flash of golden light streaked through the air.
A machete flew in from the side, striking the pest’s open maw and quickly extending to wedge its mouth wide open.
“Your fight is with me!”
Zhou Qi leaped through the air, gripping another machete. He landed on the pest’s head and drove the blade deep into its carapace.
The pest’s hardened shell was no match for the machete’s mutated metal, which sliced through with ease. The blade extended further into the pest’s body, and Zhou Qi began twisting it violently, channeling his fire energy through the weapon to ignite and detonate inside the pest’s head.
Screeeeech!
The pest screeched in agony, writhing and thrashing violently. Its massive body uprooted Lanhu trees, and the force of its movements sent guards flying.
Despite the chaos, Zhou Qi remained steadfast, clinging to the pest’s head as he continued to unleash fiery explosions within it.
Even as his own body sustained injuries, Zhou Qi endured, recalling the excruciating trials he had faced in the other dimension. Compared to the pain of his flesh being burned by fire spirit insects, this was nothing.
Finally, the pest let out a desperate wail and lifted its bloated abdomen.
It was attempting to release its eggs prematurely. If even one egg hatched, the swarm could rise again.
Lan Yunqing, watching from a distance, saw this and paled. Despite his exhaustion and depleted spiritual energy, he prepared to intervene.
But just as he was about to act—
A blinding surge of energy erupted, halting the pest’s movement.
As the mutated pest began ejecting its eggs, Zhou Qi raised an earthen wall, blocking the viscous liquid containing thousands of eggs.
Seeing this, Lan Yunqing quickly ordered the earth-elemental guards to act.
Under their combined efforts, the soil beneath the pest softened and collapsed, forming a swamp-like mire. Simultaneously, earthen walls rose on three other sides.
The mutated pest became trapped in the muddy terrain, and the eggs it expelled were stopped by the walls.
On the pest’s head, Zhou Qi retracted his blade and leaped backward. Once the pest was fully entrenched in the mire, he poured a freshly acquired container of fuel over it.
The pest’s movements became increasingly sluggish, but the eggs it had expelled wriggled in the mud, seemingly ready to hatch into countless larvae.
The stench of the pest’s secretions mixed with the acrid smell of fuel, creating a nauseating miasma.
Finally, after thoroughly dousing the pest, Zhou Qi threw a fireball.
Boom!
The fireball ignited the fuel mid-air, and flames roared to life, engulfing the pest’s grotesque body.
Before the flames could spread, Lan Yunqing had already commanded his men to dig trenches, creating firebreaks to contain the blaze. He also severed the root systems of nearby Lanhu tree offshoots to prevent any surviving larvae from burrowing and spreading.
Unfortunately, the offshoots in the affected area had to be sacrificed, burned along with the pest and its eggs.
Families tasked with tending those trees watched from a distance, their tears flowing freely.
But this sacrifice was necessary—if the pest spread, it would destroy the entire forest and endanger the livelihoods of thousands.
The crackling of flames echoed through the forest as the stench subsided, replaced by the distinct smell of protein roasting in the fire.
Gulp—
Some onlookers couldn’t help but swallow reflexively.
In the air, Zhou Qi sensed the pest’s life force fade entirely before descending slowly to the ground.
His face was ghostly pale, but his eyes were sharp and piercing, like blades.
Despite his exhaustion, he stood tall and resolute, exuding an aura of unyielding determination. He looked like someone who would fight any enemy, no matter how fearsome, without hesitation.
The surrounding guards gazed at him with a newfound respect, and even Lan Yunqing hesitated to approach him.
Just then, Tang Yu’an returned, having flown back with Kang Kang in his arms.
Unafraid of Zhou Qi’s intimidating presence, Tang Yu’an grabbed his arm and inspected him.
“I’m fine,” Zhou Qi said softly. As he spoke, the cold, murderous aura around him dissipated, replaced by a calm and restrained demeanor, a stark contrast to the fierce warrior he had been moments ago.
Tang Yu’an wasn’t convinced, though. Seeing Zhou Qi’s injuries, he decided to take him back to Shop No. 5 for treatment.
“Brother Yunqing, we’ll head back to the shop first,” Tang Yu’an said before leaving.
“Are you sure you’re okay, Zhou Qi? Do you need a healer?” Lan Yunqing asked with concern. Without Zhou Qi’s intervention, they might have paid a much steeper price to defeat the pest.
Tang Yu’an shook his head. “It’s fine—I can handle it.”
“Alright,” Lan Yunqing nodded. “I won’t say much now, but I’ll handle things here and come find you later.”
“Got it!”
With a wave of Lan Yunqing’s hand, they were teleported to the outskirts of the town center, just steps away from Shop No. 5.
Mo Ke wasn’t at the shop. According to the map, he was heading to the battle site with a few guards, likely having heard the commotion.
After setting Kang Kang down, Tang Yu’an immediately pulled Zhou Qi aside for treatment.
Taking Zhou Qi’s hand, Tang Yu’an saw his palm was mangled and bloody. Even though he had seen injuries like this many times, his eyes still reddened.
“Why do you keep getting hurt…” Tang Yu’an murmured, gently blowing on Zhou Qi’s wounds before disinfecting them with alcohol and expertly wrapping them in bandages.
“It’ll heal quickly,” Zhou Qi said.
“But it still hurts,” Tang Yu’an replied, pouting slightly, his heart aching for him.
Zhou Qi smiled warmly, the pain insignificant compared to the comfort of Tang Yu’an’s care.
“Did you see the fight earlier?” Zhou Qi asked casually.
“Yeah.” Tang Yu’an nodded. “You were so cool, Brother Qi!”
Then, after a pause, he added, “But it’d be even better if you didn’t get hurt.”
Zhou Qi’s eyes curved into a rare boyish smile, though he kept his joy hidden.
“Alright, next time I won’t get hurt,” he promised.
Tang Yu’an muttered, “You always say that…”
At that moment, Kang Kang toddled over and, mimicking Tang Yu’an’s words in his childish voice, said, “So! So cool!”
Tang Yu’an paused, then ruffled Kang Kang’s hair with a chuckle.
“Kang Kang was amazing too! We couldn’t have done it without you!” He didn’t hold back on his praise.
Kang Kang beamed, his round cheeks flushing red with delight, his healthy and adorable face lighting up with a smile.
Knock, knock—
The sound came from the window.
Tang Yu’an glanced at the map. Strange, there was no one outside. Who could be knocking?
He got up and opened the window, only to find a Lanhu tree offshoot growing in the narrow gap between their shop and the neighboring building.
Under his puzzled gaze, one of the tree’s branches knocked gently on the wooden exterior again.
Mystery solved—it was the mother tree!
Tang Yu’an stared at the Lanhu tree offshoot for a moment, then hesitantly asked, “Are you here to see Kang Kang?”
Knock, knock, knock! The branch tapped the wooden wall more energetically this time.
Unsure if he was right, Tang Yu’an turned around and picked up Kang Kang.
The moment Kang Kang’s little head peeked out, the offshoot shook its leaves enthusiastically, producing a soft rustling sound. It seemed excited.
“October’s Mama!” Kang Kang greeted it happily.
He then started babbling in his usual mix of gibberish, chirping and chattering to the tree in a way Tang Yu’an couldn’t understand.
But seeing Kang Kang and the offshoot communicate so joyfully, Tang Yu’an was certain that the mother tree had come specifically to chat with Kang Kang.
Tang Yu’an set up a small table by the window, just the right height for Kang Kang to sit comfortably. The boy leaned on the windowsill, gleefully talking to the tree, both of them delighted with their newfound friendship.
When Tang Yu’an returned to Zhou Qi’s side, the latter had already finished tending to his remaining wounds.
Tang Yu’an sighed in relief and handed Zhou Qi a diluted healing potion.
Zhou Qi tried to decline, as his self-healing ability made the potion unnecessary, but under Tang Yu’an’s firm gaze, he obediently drank it.
Zhou Qi smiled lightly. “Did you add sugar to this?”
“No,” Tang Yu’an replied, blinking.
“Then why does it taste sweet?” Zhou Qi asked casually.
Tang Yu’an took the bottle back and tasted it himself. “It’s not sweet,” he said, puzzled.
“Oh, must be my imagination,” Zhou Qi replied nonchalantly, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Tang Yu’an gave him a curious look but didn’t dwell on it. He put the bottle away and sat down beside Zhou Qi.
“I didn’t expect the Lanhu Forest’s problem to be pest-related,” Tang Yu’an remarked, glancing at Kang Kang chatting with the mother tree. “That mutated pest was incredibly cunning.”
“At least it’s taken care of now. The Lanhu Forest should recover soon,” Zhou Qi said.
Tang Yu’an nodded, then added thoughtfully, “But with the forest restored, Lanhu Town probably won’t need to buy food from outside anymore. Still, we’ve already set up a shop here, so we can sell other goods—like bicycles or snacks.”
Zhou Qi, however, kept his eyes on Kang Kang and the tree. “Whether this is good or bad for Lanhu Town remains to be seen.”
“Huh?” Tang Yu’an looked at him, puzzled.
“With the mother tree revived, they’ll return to their old way of life. But their reliance on the forest leaves them vulnerable to risks,” Zhou Qi explained. “If the Lanhu lord is wise, he’ll diversify the town’s food supply. Otherwise, they’ll face the same crisis if the forest encounters another problem.”
Tang Yu’an thought he made a good point, but watching Kang Kang and the mother tree happily interact, he smiled. “Still, I think it’s a good thing.”
They had saved the forest and the thousands of people living there. How could that be bad?
Future problems hadn’t happened yet, and they still had plenty of time and opportunities to make things better.
Zhou Qi nodded and began discussing dinner plans with Tang Yu’an.
But before they could decide, a weary-looking Lan Yunqing arrived.
Despite his exhaustion, his spirits were high, and his bright eyes and subtle smile gave him an almost radiant presence.
“It’s all sorted out,” he announced to the two boys.
Tang Yu’an blinked in surprise before grinning. “That’s great news! You’ve worked hard.”
Lan Yunqing shook his head. “This was nothing. What matters is that the mother tree is safe.”
Zhou Qi glanced at Lan Yunqing’s glowing face and then at Tang Yu’an, his lips pressing into a faint line.
“What’s the next step?” Zhou Qi asked.
“I’ve designated the affected area as a restricted zone. No one will go there for a long time,” Lan Yunqing explained. “We’ll also keep spraying pesticide in the vicinity to prevent any surviving larvae from emerging.”
“Oh, about that strong pesticide…” Lan Yunqing hesitated. “Is it only obtainable through special missions?”
Tang Yu’an considered this. “Not necessarily. We could try negotiating with the merchant who sold it to us.”
“That would be wonderful!” Lan Yunqing’s relief was evident. He knew the boys, despite their youth, had far more experience than he did, and the merchant trusted them.
“Whatever it costs, just let me know,” Lan Yunqing said earnestly.
In addition to spraying pesticide near the remains of the giant pest, Lan Yunqing had decided that every Lanhu tree would undergo periodic pest control treatments going forward.
This crisis had been a wake-up call for him and the people of Lanhu Town. The forest wasn’t just threatened by external invaders but also by mutated creatures.
They had almost lost the mother tree without even realizing it!
Hearing Lan Yunqing’s urgent tone, Tang Yu’an couldn’t help but chuckle. “Brother Yunqing, you’re not very business-minded, are you?”
Lan Yunqing froze, then looked slightly embarrassed. “I’ll keep working on it.”
“Relax. Like we said before, the mysterious merchant values every employee,” Tang Yu’an reassured him. “We’ll convey your request properly, so just wait for good news.”
Lan Yunqing let out a sigh of relief. “We’re planning to hold a bonfire celebration tomorrow night to celebrate. As the heroes of Lanhu Town, you must attend!”
Word of the three young heroes had already spread throughout Lanhu Town. The residents were immensely grateful for their help, and even Mo Ke had been swept up in the warmth of their appreciation as he roamed the town.
“Sure, we’ll be there,” Tang Yu’an agreed readily.
“And don’t forget—you can name your request anytime. Lanhu Town will do everything in its power to fulfill it,” Lan Yunqing said solemnly.
“Alright, I’ll think about it carefully and let you know.”
After seeing Lan Yunqing out, Tang Yu’an turned to head back inside, only to find Zhou Qi leaning against the doorway, arms crossed and eyes fixed on him.
“Brother Qi?”
“Hmm,” Zhou Qi replied with a quiet hum, then turned and walked inside.
Tang Yu’an quickly followed. Just as he caught up, Zhou Qi commented, “The Lanhu lord is quite striking.”
“Totally!” Tang Yu’an nodded enthusiastically. “He’s really good-looking!”
Almost like a character straight out of a fairy tale!
Zhou Qi lowered his gaze, studying Tang Yu’an’s expression carefully. Seeing only innocent admiration and no hint of infatuation, he finally relaxed.
“I’ll go cook. You should rest tonight,” Zhou Qi said.
As he watched Tang Yu’an dart into the kitchen, Zhou Qi reflected on his own emotions and couldn’t help but smile wryly.
An’an is still so childlike… What am I even overthinking?
Taking a deep breath, he pushed aside his stray thoughts and followed Tang Yu’an into the kitchen to keep an eye on his cooking.
That evening, they planned to send Kang Kang back to Shop No. 1, but the Lanhu mother tree had other ideas.
After dinner, it used its forest-wide transportation ability to whisk Kang Kang away.
Worried, Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi tracked him down, only to find him perched on a swing-like structure that had somehow appeared on the mother tree. Kang Kang was happily playing, oblivious to the fuss.
The guards looked awkward, and even Lan Maolin appeared helpless.
The mother tree—once revered and untouchable—was now letting a child play on a swing tied to its branches. Such a thing was unimaginable in the past and would have been outright forbidden.
But this time, it was the mother tree itself that had allowed it!
When Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi arrived, Kang Kang beamed at them and waved. “Big brother, come play!”
He grabbed Tang Yu’an’s hand and pulled him onto the swing.
The mother tree seemed to enjoy their company, happily shaking its branches as they played until late at night. Only then did it return them to their shop.
When Kang Kang fell asleep in bed, the mother tree extended a branch through the window and kept him company, showing no intention of leaving.
Tang Yu’an and Zhou Qi were at a loss.
In this situation, they couldn’t take Kang Kang back through the teleportation array. They decided to wait a few days and then plan a proper departure.
Leaving Mo Ke to manage Shop No. 5, they used the basement teleportation array to return to the Peaceful Grocery Store’s attic, where they retrieved the day’s floating bottles.
When they returned to the basement, they looked up to find—
Kang Kang was awake and had climbed out of bed. He was peering down from the basement exit, his little face full of fear and sadness.
The shop was in closed mode, with the protective barrier active and the upper levels retracted underground. To Kang Kang, it was pitch dark and eerily silent.
He must have woken up in the middle of the night, realized no one familiar was around, and climbed out of bed to look for them.
To avoid scaring him, Tang Yu’an took out a glowing fruit and slowly raised it from the basement.
Kang Kang froze for a moment, staring at the glowing fruit as it rose higher and higher. When he saw Tang Yu’an’s hand and then his face, his expression lit up with joy.
“Big brother!”
“Kang Kang, we’re back,” Tang Yu’an said, climbing out and carrying him back to bed. Zhou Qi joined them, taking off his shoes and pulling the covers over all of them.
“Let’s sleep. We’ll stay with you tonight,” Tang Yu’an said.
But Kang Kang, having napped earlier, was wide awake. His big round eyes blinked curiously as he looked at Tang Yu’an.
“Big brother, what’s a ‘lord’?” he asked.
Before Tang Yu’an could explain, Kang Kang continued, “October’s Mama says… I should be the lord!”
