Chapter 422: 39. Gold
Listening to Gouwen’s description, Tang Zeming Asuka couldn’t help but swallow, not because she wanted to taste the flavor of the fruit made of living flesh and blood, but it seemed to be her usual action when she was thinking and shocked, very similar to her habit of biting her lip.
Beside her, Luk Ming also looked at the Whale Folk sitting in the carriage with some surprise, seemingly unaware that this far-traveled guest knew so much about everything in the Tree Continent. However, this saved her the effort of awkwardly introducing everyone.
“Everyone, we are about to enter the city. Please allow me to take you to meet the Prime, who will inform Duke Chuan.”
Lu An, who was behind Luk Ming, stepped forward and said this to Fisher and the others. Gouwen also cupped his hands and thanked Lu An, saying, “Thank you for your trouble.”
Tang Zeming Asuka watched Luk Ming walk away with her father, her eyes fixed on the four deer hooves beneath her, seemingly interested in her non-human structure.
They soon approached the city under the shade of the giant tree transformed from Duke Chuan’s avatar. Unlike the houses in Nali or the Northern Region, most of the houses here were spacious hollow structures made of wood, and many were directly built on the giant tree, with various wooden bridges and hooves in midair. Various subhuman races walked and talked among them.
The language and etiquette used were very similar, with a few armored individuals among them, holding a strange wooden weapon that seemed to shimmer with purple fluorescence.
Hela squinted interestingly at the fluorescence, looking at the wooden weapons and said, “Oh, those weapons are not ordinary weapons, but made from Chuan’s wood.”
Gouwen also saw the weapons held by the soldiers, touched his chin, and muttered, “This is indeed quite strange.”
“Hey, why? Duke Chuan’s wood wouldn’t be chopped off from him, would it?” Tang Zeming Asuka asked curiously.
Gouwen shook his head, explaining, “No, unlike the angels who rely on sunlight to drive energy, the elves draw their power from plants. They possess the most advanced planting techniques in the world. If you understand the Tree Continent language, you’d know that all elves’ names are actually names of trees. An elf with the corresponding name can channel miraculous powers through the strength of that tree, and it depends on the type of tree they use.”
“But the key is that because the trees are closely related to the noble elves, these trees are symbols of identity in ‘ritual’ and cannot be casually used by others. Otherwise, it would be an act of [usurpation]. And here, even common patrolling soldiers have weapons made from the branches of Chuan, which is very unusual.”
“Moreover, there’s something else quite strange: this kingdom seems a bit small. I calculated carefully; we landed at this country’s border, and the capital of the elves is usually at the center of the country, which means we just rode the carriage for less than an hour from the border to the capital. Logically speaking, the elves’ kingdom shouldn’t be this small.”
Just as Gouwen expressed his doubts, the carriage suddenly stopped. They had arrived in front of a not very spacious wooden house by the street. The curtain was lifted, revealing Lu An outside. He seemed to have heard Gouwen’s previous doubts and provided an explanation.
“It seems Mr. Gouwen is quite knowledgeable about our Tree Continent. You are correct; our Chuan Kingdom’s land was indeed not this small before. Our Duke Chuan is truly merciful; he dislikes how the elf lords treat other beings, so he declared that there would be no more slaves in Chuan Kingdom. Although the ‘ritual’ hasn’t been completely abolished, it must be said that our lives are indeed much better than those of beings in other kingdoms.”
“Therefore, from a long time ago, many slaves from other countries have continuously crossed the border to escape here, wanting to join Chuan Kingdom, most of whom are [Shiran’s] slaves. Duke Chuan couldn’t bear to return the escaped slaves and exchanged treasures and lands with Shiran for them, which is how many escaped slaves stayed. My ancestors escaped from Shiran Kingdom; I’ve heard many people have done so.”
“Fortunately, a few years ago, [Shiran] was reincarnated, and there had been no ruler for four years. The new Shiran, who was recently born, is still very young, and I’ve heard this new Shiran is much kinder. So, in recent years, very few slaves have escaped. But anyway, we have arrived at the Prime’s residence. Please get off the carriage, and allow me to report this matter to the Prime.”
Gouwen thanked him again, indicating it was a trouble. However, after Lu An left, he still had some doubts and said to Fisher beside him, “But how can land be traded? This is land bestowed by the Elf King, and logically, it should remain unchanged.”
“Because the Elf King is also going to be reincarnated. He has lived for eleven thousand years, longer than many of your elves, but no matter what, death will catch up to him. During his last birthday celebration, he was already in poor condition, and he is probably leaving within this decade. So initially, when Jianmu Palace was closed, Lord Salie also wondered if it was due to the Elf King’s passing rather than the Tears being stolen.”
Hela smiled and picked up on Gouwen’s doubts, then yawned, nonchalantly jumping off the carriage and said, “The ritual was established by the Elf King, and now most elves have reincarnated. Once he reincarnates, the rituals in the Tree Continent may have even more changes, right?”
Tang Zeming Asuka got off, feeling somewhat understand, while Mikhail remained unchanged until Fisher and Gouwen were the last to step off, then the surrounding scene completely entered Fisher’s eyes.
The entire city seemed to be completely built within the forest, merging with it as if it were part of the forest. The sounds of insects and birds chirping filled the air, making Fisher feel somewhat novel. Hela seemed to have completely given up teasing him and stretched lazily as she walked closer to the Duke’s residence of Chuan Kingdom.
Tang Zeming Asuka’s gaze followed the little deer Luk Ming, who seemed to sense her vague gaze, glanced back, and instantly got startled, bouncing and dashing deep into the residence.
“Hmm, but the environment here is indeed much better than that of other nations. I’ve been to the royal capital under the World Tree before, and many different races there don’t seem to live happily. Hey, what’s wrong with you? Your expression has been particularly serious ever since we got in the carriage.”
“Nothing, just a few things I want to ask you,” Fisher replied to Gouwen’s words.
“Yeah, you can ask. I know a bit about the Tree Continent since I’ve been here many times before.”
“No, I want to ask if you know a Whale Folk named ‘Xu.’”
Gouwen was slightly taken aback, glancing at Fisher with a barely noticeable evaluation, then stroked his chin, furrowing his brow in thought.
“Hmm.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Just recalling the name you mentioned. You should know that many of our kin are quite lazy, the type that won’t move for decades. Even though before my wife and I led them to a new settlement, there are still many whose names I don’t know. But honestly, that name is quite unfamiliar; I probably don’t know them. Why? Is this the Whale Folk you mentioned earlier?”
Is Xu not born yet?
Then how about her crown?
Perhaps this item was indeed passed down from her ancestors? Or could it be that the “ancient” mentioned in the Supplement Handbook for Sub-Humans actually refers to a broader timeframe? It is possible Xu has not yet been born, but she definitely was born during that “ancient” period.
“What about the term ‘Destruction God’? Have you heard of it?”
Gouwen opened his mouth, shaking his head with a strange expression, then suddenly lowered his voice, “What kind of term is that? It sounds ridiculous. Not to mention a few demigods, even the main gods don’t have such a silly title. Hahaha. But seriously, is it related to that Whale Folk girl you mentioned earlier? If you want, you can tell me more, and when I return to the trench, I can help you inquire.”
Fisher glanced at him and replied, “Didn’t you say you don’t want me to tell you about future matters?”
“Well, that’s true, but after all, it’s about my kin, so it’s impossible not to care at all. But I never expected you humans to know so many Whale Folk; aren’t my kin supposed to be quite lazy? Have they changed in the future?”
“No, in fact, I only know these two Whale Folk. The Xu I mentioned is the mother of the Whale Folk girl I talked about before.”
“In that case, I really don’t know her.”
“It’s okay; it’s not important. Just came to mind suddenly.”
Fisher didn’t take it to heart, and not getting an answer was also expected.
Hmm?
Wait.
Speaking of mothers, Fisher suddenly recalled something worth noting.
According to Gouwen’s previous explanation, he had already learned that mythical beings finding offspring is basically impossible, yet Xu had clearly reached the twentieth rank during the mythic war period three to four thousand years ago, the peak of mythical ranks.
So, the question arises: Jasmine is only 160 this year, which means she is two years old in Whale Folk terms. How did she break through the reproductive barriers of mythical beings to be born?
By the power of life?
But evidently, Ramastia only granted the power of life to its three offspring, and Xu shouldn’t have such an ability. Ramastia also probably wouldn’t personally intervene to create offspring for Xu facing it directly.
Could it be through natural reproduction?
But this is a problem that even the Heavenly Lock couldn’t solve. How did Xu resolve it?
Or is it that Jasmine was adopted?
Without an answer, Fisher instead fell into another conundrum, but now it was nearly ten thousand years ago, and pondering future events is completely meaningless. He concluded that “Xu wasn’t born in this era” and then entered the Prime’s residence.
Following behind him, Gouwen looked very relaxed, hands behind his back, stepping in rhythm as he walked into the residence.
However, in an inconspicuous place, Gouwen looked up at the sky with a smile, but his eyes seemed to carry some indescribable meaning.
In his hands behind him, he seemed to be fiddling with something. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a very short golden short knife, about the length of two fingers, with a curved blade that was extremely thin, seemingly ready to break easily. Compared to a weapon for combat, it was more like a surgical knife for medical use.
As he skillfully toyed with it, the golden short knife slowly melted and transformed until it took the shape of a ring he had never worn.
It seemed to be a wedding ring, and on the inner side of the ring, in Whale Folk script, were written two names:
“Gouwen Xu”
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(End of Chapter)
