Chapter 405: Chapter 401: The Blackbird’s Backbone
Tu Xiao’an watched from outside, completely stunned. ’This Crow is way too much trouble. Doesn’t it have any idea what kind of bird it is?’
’It’s acting like it’s a woodpecker, isn’t it?’
Woodpeckers are the divine doctors of the forest. Whenever a tree is sick or has pests, they can sense it. They just peck, peck, peck all day long, helping the great trees heal.
The average woodpecker pecks twelve thousand times a day. It’s a miracle they don’t give themselves a concussion.
Woodpeckers help trees, get rid of pests, and fill their own bellies in the process. They’re born with the professional skills for the job. Can’t argue with that.
’But you’re a pitch-black Crow. What are you doing trying to be a woodpecker and catch pests? Is that even your job?’
Tu Xiao’an was also amazed as he looked at the big tree that could talk and run around.
He’d seen plenty of awakened animals, but this was the first time he’d ever seen an awakened plant, let alone one that could speak.
"Give me Insight."
"Ding... Tree Spirit Charlie, Awakened Plant, Level 25. Innate Wood Attribute, possesses the miraculous ability of Healing."
’Holy crap, a tree that became a Spirit Monster actually reached Level 25? That’s insane.’
But then, Tu Xiao’an’s face darkened. ’You’re a Chinese tree, so why are you named Charlie?’
’Is even a tree a wannabe foreigner?’
’Still, this tree is a top-tier specimen. Innate Wood Attribute and a Healing ability... what a treasure.’
"Big Blackbird, I’m begging you, please stop pecking! You’re really going to peck me to death!"
"Please call me the Bird Divine Doctor. How many times have I told you? If we don’t get rid of the pests, you’ll die sooner or later anyway."
"Die, my ass! I’m an awakened plant! What damn pests could I possibly have?" The Tree Spirit was about to die of anger. It had lived for hundreds of years and never met such a bizarre bird.
The Tree Spirit felt like it was truly being driven mad. It screamed, "Guard! Guard! I demand to be moved to a different cage! I’ve applied so many times, why won’t you change my cell?!"
Being stuck with this perverted Crow every day was a living nightmare. It was tormented on a daily basis.
The Tree Spirit shrieked, but it still couldn’t escape the Crow’s vicious pecking. Suddenly, it saw a person standing outside who had appeared at some point. After getting a clear look, it was utterly shocked.
"Du the Kid, what are you here for again? Don’t tell me you’re still up to no good." The Tree Spirit grew wary.
Tu Xiao’an paused. ’Looks like this Tree Spirit knows Du Tianyi pretty well. There seems to be a hidden meaning in its words.’
The big Blackbird Crow also noticed the person outside. It was about to cry out but hesitated for some reason. It stared intently at the person, its jet-black, jewel-like eyes flashing, and said in a deep voice, "Who are you?"
"Crow, do you have amnesia? Du the Kid has been here countless times," the Tree Spirit said.
The big Blackbird tsk-tsked, staring at the person outside. "Kid, you might fool others, but you can’t fool your Uncle Hei. I, your Uncle Hei, am a peerless genius, the sole possessor of a noble bloodline in this world. I am destined to become a Divine Beast!"
Tu Xiao’an found this clown of a Crow amusing. ’It’s not surprising that I couldn’t fool it. This Crow is incredibly sensitive. It was the only one that ever detected me when I used my Insight Technique.’
If this Crow wasn’t so extraordinary, Tu Xiao’an wouldn’t have kept thinking about it and gone to all the trouble of coming to the Demon Management Bureau’s prison.
"Blackbird, if you’re so amazing, then tell me who I am."
The big Blackbird stared deeply at Tu Xiao’an, trying to see through his disguise. Although it could tell this wasn’t Du Tianyi himself, it couldn’t see anything else.
The person wasn’t revealing even a hint of their aura.
"You sneaky coward, you’re not worthy of speaking to your Uncle Hei," the Crow huffed, preparing to continue pecking the tree. ’Whatever kind of ghoul or goblin you are, it has nothing to do with me.’
"I’m not worthy?" A playful look flashed in Tu Xiao’an’s eyes. "I came here specifically to take you away and fulfill my promise. But it seems you’re quite comfortable here and don’t need me."
Hearing this, the big Blackbird seemed to remember something. It flew off the Tree Spirit and squawked, "Could you be that Snake Spirit?"
"So you haven’t forgotten me."
Once it got confirmation, the Crow flew into a rage. "You damned Snake Spirit! You really screwed me, your Uncle Hei, over! You promised to get me out of here in three days. How many days has it been?!"
Tu Xiao’an gave an awkward smile. He was in the wrong on this one. "Something unexpected came up. Don’t get hung up on a few days here or there. Aren’t I here now to get you out?"
"Can you really get me out of here?"
"What else? Did you think I came for a prison visit?"
’People visit other people in prison. Me, visiting a plain, pitch-black Crow? What’s that about? I’d have to be crazy.’
"Then how will you get me out?" A look of intense desire erupted in the Crow’s eyes, so bright it was startling.
Tu Xiao’an pointed to his own face. "With this face, won’t getting you out be simple?"
The Crow immediately understood and burst out laughing. "Haha... You crafty Snake Spirit, you! Come on, come on, hurry and open this iron gate! Your Uncle Hei doesn’t want to spend another day in this damn birdcage!"
Tu Xiao’an was speechless. ’You’re a bird. Isn’t it perfectly reasonable for you to stay in a birdcage?’
"I can get you out, but do you remember our previous agreement?" Tu Xiao’an asked.
The Crow said dismissively, "It’s just about following you, right? No problem. Your Uncle Hei will deign to lower himself a bit."
"Heh heh..." Tu Xiao’an said cunningly, "Let me correct you. First, you acknowledge me as your master, and *then* you can follow me."
"What?!"
The Crow immediately squawked, "You want me, your Uncle Hei, to acknowledge you, a Snake Spirit, as my master? Who gave you the guts to say that? I’m a magnificent..."
(Five hundred words of indignant squawking omitted.)
Tu Xiao’an said nonchalantly, "If you’re not willing, then forget it. You can keep staying in this birdcage."
"Fine by me! I, your Uncle Hei, am a Divine Bird destined to become a Divine Beast! How could I possibly acknowledge a Snake as my master?" the Crow said huffily.
Tu Xiao’an knew the Crow wouldn’t give in so easily. He smiled and said, "Alright, you’ve got integrity. Then you can spend the rest of your life in this dark, sunless prison. Don’t come crying to me when you get slaughtered one day."
"Your Uncle Hei is a hero with no regrets!"
"Fine." Tu Xiao’an turned, pretending to leave with a smile.
"Wait..."
It was the Tree Spirit who called out. Tu Xiao’an looked at it.
The Tree Spirit said eagerly, "It doesn’t want to leave. Can you take me instead?"
Tu Xiao’an looked at this unusual awakened plant and said, "Getting you out is no problem, but you have to acknowledge me as your master."
This Tree Spirit was no ordinary specimen. After using Insight on it, Tu Xiao’an had actually already set his sights on it.
"I can acknowledge you as my master, but you’re not allowed to harm me," the Tree Spirit said.
’Harm?’
Tu Xiao’an looked at the large tree seriously. ’Could it be hiding some kind of secret?’
But that didn’t matter. He said, "Don’t worry. If you acknowledge me as your master, I will treat you well."
The Tree Spirit let out a sigh of relief and was just about to nod when a sharp pain shot through its body. The Crow was pecking it frantically, squawking, "You damn tree! Your Uncle Hei worked day and night to help you get rid of pests, and now you’re betraying me?!"
That would have been better left unsaid. The moment the words were out, the Tree Spirit’s resentment flared. "You damned Blackbird! If it weren’t for wanting to get away from you and your torment, do you think I’d be willing to acknowledge a Snake as my master?!"
The Tree Spirit was filled with grievances. Its miserable life had begun the day it was locked up with this Blackbird.
It was pecked half to death by this bird every single day, yet the bird had the gall to self-righteously claim it was helping get rid of pests.
’Pests my ass!’
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PS: A note from the author, Qing Bai. Subscribers are welcome to join the QQ reader group: 92050770.
