"Brother Tree, open the door, Brother Tree, I'm back..."

"Click!"

Du Yu's words came to an abrupt halt. As the door swung open, a Firethorn branch stretched out.

The branch poked its "head" out, peeking left and right in front of Du Yu, exuding a lively aura, as if to say: Whoa there, who's this?

"Hehe~ Brother Tree, did you miss me?" Du Yu gave a mischievous laugh, watching as the branch hovered near his face, only for the lush branch to inexplicably withdraw again.

Not only did it shrink back, it even shook side to side, looking quite disdainful.

Du Yu was a bit puzzled. What kind of reaction is this from Firethorn?

Sniff~

He turned his head, lifted his shoulder, and sniffed his own clothes.

Is it because I smell like bamboo?

Well, that's true. I've been living in the Red Bamboo Courtyard, drinking Bamboo Leaf Tea for a good month and a half, inside and out, I'm pure bamboo... Whoa!

Whether Firethorn's disdain is real or not, the longing must be genuine.

The next moment, it wrapped itself tightly around Du Yu, dragging him into the house.

"Bang!"

The door slammed shut loudly.

What must come, always comes...

After more than a month of sleeping on bamboo beds, Du Yu thought he could finally enjoy the comfort of a soft bed tonight. As it turns out, he was way too optimistic.

People might not believe it if he said it, but the Firethorn Tree simply didn't let him set foot on the bed!

Du Yu even summoned Little Tai Sui, trying to distract Firethorn and redirect its "firepower"—but it was useless.

That night, Du Yu and Little Tai Sui spent it on a giant Firethorn leaf bed.

Little Tai Sui, of course, slept sprawled out, while Du Yu lay with a Chi Bear Pillow beneath his head.

Gotta say, it actually felt pretty cozy~

The next morning, Du Yu was woken by Little Fen Yang's bright, cheerful laughter.

Still groggy, Du Yu tried to part the layers of leaves, just in time to see Little Fen Yang chasing and playing with the Firethorn branch.

This house was the only place where Little Fen Yang could truly relax and play freely.

Her body was illusionary, but her naïve and joyful smile was very much real.

That scene—there's just no describing how wonderful it was.

"Du Yu, Du Yu~" Seeing Du Yu awake, Little Fen Yang zipped right over, "Want some candy? Maple syrup."

"Ah." Du Yu had just tried to get up, and the leafy bed tilted slightly under him.

As the leaves shifted, Du Yu went from lying down to standing up, naturally stepping out of the bed.

He couldn't help glancing at the Firethorn Tree—talk about smart!

No wonder it's a Spirit-level Firethorn... Eh? Where's my Chi Bear Pillow?

Du Yu hesitated a second, then headed for the dining room. Whatever, let Little Tai Sui stay in the leaves for now so he could move around freely.

When he got to the kitchen, he found the sealed maple syrup in the cupboard. The stuff keeps well for over three years, doesn't even need refrigeration. No need to mention how good the quality is.

Of course, the better the quality of the maple syrup, the more Du Yu's face contorted.

After feeding Little Fen Yang three big spoons of maple syrup, Du Yu grinned—though it looked more like a grimace—as he gazed around his home.

The windows sparkled, the place spotless.

Du Yu couldn't help but be moved. After a month and a half away, there wasn't a speck of dust inside.

Firethorn was really responsible.

"Mmm~ So tasty." Little Fen Yang was full of satisfaction, mumbling softly.

"Yep, Firethorn should get some too." Du Yu grabbed a large ladle of water from the sink and headed straight for the northeast corner of the living room.

Drink up!

All you want! Don't be polite~

"Right, Brother Tree." As Du Yu watered the gigantic flowerpot, he said, "In a bit, I'm gonna go play at the Ten Thousand Plants Garden.

Supposedly there are loads of kinds of Demonic Plants there. I'll bring a couple back so you have some company, yeah?"

Just then, Little Fen Yang floated in to translate for man and tree: "Firethorn doesn't want that."

Du Yu pinched a Firethorn leaf between his fingers. "I have to go out on missions anyway. You'll be home alone—won't you get lonely?"

Little Fen Yang: "It doesn't want any trees."

Du Yu gave her a suspicious look. "Is it that Firethorn doesn't want any trees, or is it you who doesn't?"

"Hmph~ Neither of us want them." Little Fen Yang got that 'busted' look but still insisted, ducking into Firethorn's thick leaves. "Right?"

Instantly, branches all over nodded up and down in agreement.

"Alrighty then." Du Yu handed the ladle to a waiting branch and headed for the master bedroom. "Oh, when Little Tai Sui wakes up, make sure to train him properly."

Firethorn's branches bobbed up and down again.

Like YOU needed to say so?

I haven't gotten to play with the black-and-white dumpling in over a month. When Little Tai Sui wakes up, it's his turn to suffer!

A few minutes later, Du Yu changed into a grey tracksuit, slipped on a baseball cap, took the Demon Soldier· Orange Juice from a branch, and said goodbye to Firethorn.

Since Du Yu promised he'd be back soon, Firethorn didn't try to stop him.

Or maybe, since Du Yu left Little Tai Sui at home, Firethorn knew there was no way he'd go far?

Yeah, has a bit of the "hostage" vibe.

After getting into a taxi, Du Yu scrolled through his phone. That weird unfamiliar number, as well as his big bro and little sis, still hadn't replied.

But Lin Shihao and Lin Shumeng messaged back last night. They both understood he'd been on missions and couldn't respond right away.

Along the way, Du Yu wondered if it was just him, but he kept feeling like the cab driver was sneakily checking him out through the rearview.

He instinctively pulled his cap lower, putting on a "stranger, don't bother me" face.

Should I buy a car?

Du Yu started weighing it out—if I had a car, I could take Bai Yujing with me to the Ten Thousand Plants Garden.

Right now, taking a taxi, there's no way he could bring Xiaobai out for everyone to see.

And if he had a car, he wouldn't need to keep bothering his senior sister and junior sister—heck, he could even drive Master Qing around?

The more he thought about it, the more tempted he was.

Learning to drive shouldn't be that hard! I'm a mighty Demon Tamer, my body control and reaction speed blow regular people out of the water.

Worst case, I've got the Eye of Burning Sun!

My eyes are built-in rulers!

Heck, I could reverse into the garage with "Hunting Moment" active—what are the odds I'd still hit the lines?

Hmm...

Lost in random thoughts, Du Yu's taxi pulled out of the city center and arrived at the East Suburb of Ancient Pine Tower·Ten Thousand Plants Garden Demon Spirit Realm.

Du Yu paid the fare and hurried off, clutching his Demon Soldier Orange Juice.

The street outside Ten Thousand Plants Garden looked exactly like the roads around every Twin Tree Realm—buildings in the same spots and everything.

Du Yu gave a quick glance around, then headed straight for the Demon Spirit Bookstore on the right.

"Ding-a-ling~ ding~"

He pushed open the bookstore's door and heard the familiar sound of a bell.

Behind the counter, a young male clerk looked up—and then froze.

The clerk stared right at Du Yu, who also looked back, pretty sure he'd never met this guy before.

"Wow!" At last, the clerk broke into a grin, gushing in excitement.

He stood up, leaned over the counter, and reached out to shake Du Yu's hand: "It's an honor, a real pleasure!

There are only so many third-level Demon Spirit Realms in Ancient Pine Tower—I knew you'd show up sooner or later!"

Du Yu glanced at the name badge on the guy's chest: Li Lin.

"Nice to meet you." Du Yu nodded with a smile, shaking his hand.

Looks like I really am a bit of a celebrity in Ancient Pine Tower territory~

Du Yu thought to himself, then placed his identity card pack on the scanner. "Let's do a deluxe boxed meal and two 'Love of Fire.'"

Li Lin peered at the screen and sucked in air through his teeth, even drawing out the sound: "Whoaaaa~~~"

For a second there, Du Yu thought this dude was going to break into an opera song...

"Tsk tsk~" Li Lin kept shaking his head in awe, eyes fixed on the row of rings next to Du Yu's name on his card. The guy looked like he might faint.

A full set of four rings!

Each one more awesome than the last!

The first two rings were issued by the Ancient Pine Tower South Suburb and North Suburb bookstores.

The third, a Dark Gold Ring, was straight from Ancient Pine Tower City Bookstore Headquarters, good for all Bottomless Realms in the city!

And the fourth Dark Gold Ring was from the Shaohai Province Bookstore Bureau itself, good for any third-level realm in Ancient Pine Tower City!

As expected—the legendary Ancient Pine Tower's Top Paper Crane Disciple!

Even if he didn't do a single thing for the rest of his life, he'd be living the good life—all he had to do in Ancient Pine Tower was show up and eat!

Du Yu ignored Li Lin's Oscar-worthy performance and looked up at the blackboard on the wall. There were twelve tasks listed, which honestly blew Du Yu's mind.

Ten Thousand Plants Garden—it does what it says on the tin: Demon Spirit Realm filled with all sorts of Demonic Plants.

And today's bookstore assignments were all, predictably, plant-related.

Collecting fruit, gathering fallen branches, harvesting flowers and leaves, chopping vines...

Du Yu looked them over, but couldn't find a single one about Demon Beasts.

Li Lin: "There! Right there!"

"Hm?"

Li Lin pointed at a blackboard hanging over the bookstore entrance. "The main task is up there!"

Du Yu: "..."

You've got a lot of faith in me, huh?

Besides, with the Provincial Bookstore Bureau ring, I can go anywhere in Ancient Pine Tower—I don't really need your Library Ring, do I?

That's what he was thinking, but his body instinctively looked up at the main entrance. The urgent bounty task caught his eye:

"Ten Thousand Plants Garden Zone 6, a precious and rare attributeless Demonic Plant is growing here: the Nameless Tree, which blooms and bears fruit all year round.

Legend has it, eating the Nameless Tree Fruit will grant Demon Beasts many offspring, all with health and longevity.

Task Requirements: Collect 10 Nameless Tree Fruits.

Task Level: Xuan Platinum. Task Reward: Demon Spirit Bookstore—Ancient Pine Tower Ten Thousand Plants Garden Ring."

Du Yu was a bit stunned. The Nameless Tree was certainly rare—this was the first he'd ever heard of it.

Plus, its fruit apparently has such incredible power?

Du Yu asked, "The fruit really works that well?"

Li Lin laughed. "There's some truth to it, but it's not as magical as they say. After all, it's just a legend~

You can think of Nameless Tree Fruit as a supercharged version of folic acid."

Du Yu was even more confused. "And what's folic acid?"

Li Lin thought a moment. "It's a supplement people take when they're trying to have kids, to prevent birth defects in newborns."

"Ah..." Du Yu replied blankly. Clearly this was outside his field of expertise.

He'd been solo for 18 years, even training true Child Skill the whole time.

Not to mention, he was still so young—definitely not interested in thinking about the next generation.

But I can pick some Nameless Tree Fruit for Tai Sui God and Forbidden City... Hmm, wait, those two are still too little.

Right, Bai Lu and Yiren!

Sure, our Little Bear may be small, but our Little Deer is big!

For the sake of a Little Immortal Deer being born soon, healthy and blessed, Du Yu decided he ought to help!

If we had a Little Immortal Deer at home to tug Firethorn branches and nibble leaf pieces every day, Brother Tree wouldn't be so lonely~

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