As the vines grew more agitated, Cai Zetao's expression became increasingly distorted and pained. His already skeletal body shriveled even further.
More vines burst forth from the green tumors on his skin, his entire being transforming into fertilizer for this eerie plant.
The vines, growing from all directions, stopped half a meter away from Yue Shi, seemingly wary of his sharp claws.
The flower bearing Cai Zetao's face suddenly broke into a cunning smile and spoke in a voice identical to Cai Zetao's:
“Wonderful... I have finally obtained true supernatural power!”
He stared intensely at Yue Shi, his nostrils flaring. “I smell a sweet fragrance. The flesh and blood of a transcendent is the best fertilizer. I shall bloom into an even more beautiful flower...”
A scent wafted from his mouth, an intoxicating fragrance that made one feel as if they were lost in a dazzling dream.
It was a hallucinogenic floral scent. The staff at the isolation center had likely fallen victim to this, as they were all unconscious on the floor.
Yue Shi held his breath, backed into the corridor, and immediately activated 【Raven's Secret Whispers】: “Are you still Cai Zetao?”
“Of course,” the Cai Zetao within the flower replied.
Then, he quickly reacted with a look of confusion, seemingly not understanding why he had answered the question so truthfully.
Yue Shi gave him no time to think, his voice filled with a seductive quality as he spoke again: “Relax. I am not your enemy. I am just curious—how did you become like this?”
“Why do you ask?” the other party countered.
“I envy you. You were able to obtain such powerful strength through your own efforts. If possible, I would like to join as well. You wouldn't mind sharing your experience of success, would you?” Yue Shi improvised his acting, doing his best to put on an expression of longing.
“Hahaha...” The validation from another seemed to bring Cai Zetao immense joy, and his expression suddenly became fanatical.
“I knew it! Someone would eventually understand me!”
“I'm not a madman! What is wrong with chasing power? What humans couldn't give me, I naturally had to seek from the supernatural.”
“I succeeded!”
While resisting the floral scent, Yue Shi continued, “Then you are truly lucky. Most ordinary people who encounter the supernatural find only a dead end, yet you survived and even got everything you wanted.”
Cai Zetao giggled, seemingly very proud. “I am indeed lucky. The first one I found was the ‘Life Vine,’ and it bestowed its blessing upon me.”
“At first, I didn't realize it, but later I understood—the seed had already sprouted inside me, deterring other supernatural entities... none of them dared to harm me!”
Yue Shi instantly caught the keyword: “The ‘Life Vine’? Is it some powerful supernatural creature?”
“You want to know?”
Yue Shi nodded.
“Come over here, closer, and I'll whisper it to you,” Cai Zetao said.
At the same time, the surrounding vines spread out, clearing a path.
Yue Shi smiled and walked toward him.
Unexpectedly, after only two steps, all the vines in the room moved impatiently.
“Didn't you say you envied my power and wanted to join? Come, merge with me. We shall be one. You will know everything of mine, and I will know everything of yours...”
Cai Zetao murmured in a low voice as the vines suddenly lunged at Yue Shi.
But in the next second, Yue Shi's talons struck the Cai Zetao within the flower. The wound was horrific, and the aura of decay spread instantly. The vibrant vines withered and decayed at a visible rate; no matter how much they thrashed about, it was in vain.
Soon, the flower fell from Cai Zetao's now mummified body. The face in the flower was full of pain and malice, glaring fiercely at Yue Shi. Its mouth opened wide, but it could make no sound, finally withering away completely.
Illusory, invisible tentacles lightly brushed past, and the fourth eye upon them opened a bit wider.
A moment later, rapid footsteps echoed from the corridor.
The transcendents from the Investigation Bureau arrived just in time and cordoned off the nearby area.
Ling Xun, an old acquaintance, led a young woman with a high ponytail into Isolation Chamber 13.
Decayed vines were scattered everywhere, and the hospital bed was covered in layers of withered branches, concealing a hideous mummified corpse. The sight left them with a lingering sense of dread.
“Are you all right?” Ling Xun asked with concern.
“I'm fine.” Yue Shi waved his hand, then immediately asked, “I helped the isolation center deal with a supernatural creature. Is there a reward?”
Ling Xun was stunned, seemingly not expecting Yue Shi to ask such a thing. After a moment of silence, he spoke cautiously: “This was an act of bravery. The Investigation Bureau will award you an honorary pennant at its discretion.”
“Are you very short on money?”
“Who would complain about having too much?”
Ling Xun asked again, “Did Cai Zetao reveal any clues before he died?”
Yue Shi shook his head. “No.”
Ling Xun frowned slightly.
The unconscious staff were sent for emergency treatment, and Cai Zetao's body was placed in a special container. The detection lights in the corridor turned from red to yellow. Zhou Zhiheng and Zhao Lin were giving a detailed account of the incident to the young woman with the ponytail.
Once everything had settled, Yue Shi and the other two left the isolation center. After such a thrilling and exhausting experience, Zhou Zhiheng let out a long sigh of relief.
“Let's disband for today. Go back and get some rest. We'll continue investigating the ‘Heart Thief’ tomorrow.”
“Alright.” Yue Shi hailed a taxi on the roadside. Sitting in the back seat, he fell into deep thought.
The “Life Vine,” a thing that could turn a living person into a plant-like supernatural creature...
Rate on N.U.
