Chapter 440: 57. Peach Blossom Spring
“Everyone, please follow me.”
“To the Duke of Peach’s tent?”
“Yes, actually the order to summon beings of the Fourteenth Rank was issued by the Grand Dukes, but they have already consulted with the King, and it was us from the Royal Capital who were sent to request it, without overstepping our bounds.”
As Fischer’s group approached the Royal Capital bit by bit, the accompanying black snake race guide surprisingly did not lead them toward the Royal Capital but instead pointed them in the direction of the Duke of Peach’s tent, leaving Fischer quite puzzled.
The outer area of the Royal Capital was already intimidating with a circle of Elf Grand Duke tents, not to mention now they were being directed straight to a Grand Duke’s tent. It was obvious to Fischer that the situation inside the Royal Capital or even the entire Tree Continent was quite unusual.
However, as Fischer glanced at the open gate of the Royal Capital and the Grand Dukes outside, he paused for a moment but ultimately decided to follow the black snake race messenger and head to the Duke of Peach’s tent first.
What needed to be thought about was: why were the elves summoning those of the Fourteenth Rank to the Royal Capital?
Fischer first thought of the Fourteenth Rank’s closeness to the Mythical Rank, not being a mythical being themselves. Could it be that these elves needed to accomplish something that could not be done by those of the Mythical Rank?
Fischer looked back at Gouwen, signaling him to keep an eye on the front for the time being. He then moved into the carriage and saw Hela, who was still mindlessly playing with her fingers. He leaned closer and quietly asked,
“We might meet the Elf Grand Dukes later. Their rank is not low; do you think they could see through your disguise?”
Hela looked at him and leaned in even closer, teasingly blowing air by his ear, and replied quietly,
“Don’t worry, these elves will definitely not see through my disguise.”
“Is it really that impressive?”
“Absolutely, as long as I don’t make any moves, I won’t be exposed. So until it becomes absolutely necessary, don’t worry about me, it’s better for everyone.”
Fischer took a step back, speechless, wanting to rub his ear which had become itchy from her breath.
He even wondered if it were possible that this girl wouldn’t expose herself as long as she didn’t act in front of the Elf Grand Dukes, and she was saying this just to fulfill her desire for endless playtime.
However, this girl did seem quite skilled at disguises.
Fischer’s gaze drifted to her modestly enhanced figure, surprisingly catching her sharp attention.
Her smile deepened, and she purposely arched her back, putting on a mischievous expression as if to say, “Look how big I am,” leaving Fischer both pained and wanting to execute the “abstinence” actions Gouwen had just taught him.
“We are the messengers sent to perform duties in the Wutong Kingdom. Please inform Duke Peach that I have brought the Phoenix back.”
Ignoring the mischievous angel, Fischer’s carriage got closer to Duke Peach’s tent, and the leading black snake jumped down from the carriage, moving toward the tent’s entrance, while Fischer, who was behind the reins, was moving somewhat slower. He watched as the black snake approached the tent entrance to report.
The Duke Peach’s garrison was composed of various subhumans, but in reality, there were not many with high ranks, most of them even being lower than those of the dragon race. Only after the black snake reported did a maid wearing a long white cloth that covered her entire face emerge from the middle of the tent.
The white cloth on the maid’s head was intricately embroidered with branches adorned with pink peach blossoms. Fischer couldn’t discern whether she was human or subhuman, but a subtle feeling told him that this maid’s rank was not low.
“I understand. Please bring them with me. Duke Peach is currently not in the tent but is outside discussing matters with other Grand Dukes. He might return a little later; please allow them to dine first.”
“Understood.”
The black snake turned to the few others who had also dismounted, signaling them to come over. Although the maid’s face was covered by a piece of white cloth, she seemed to still perceive that among them there was someone of only Zero Rank. She paused for a moment, looking into the void at Tang Zeming Asuka and Mikhail, and spoke,
“How can Grand Dukes only allow those of the Fourteenth Rank and still permit them to bring slaves?”
“Well…”
The black snake hesitated, moved in closer, and quietly explained something to the maid. After a moment of hesitation, she nodded and allowed them to enter the tent but seemed to plan to wait for Duke Peach’s return before making a decision.
“I’m not a slave!”
Tang Zeming Asuka, who had overheard the maid’s words, was about to mutter something lowly again when she suddenly recalled the troubles that had come from her words last time. Not wanting to cause any more trouble for her companions, she immediately covered her mouth, not letting a single word slip out, and cautiously looked around to confirm no one had heard her before she finally relaxed her hand.
Gouwen noticed her small movement and smiled, of course knowing what she was thinking, and shook his head.
Fischer and the others entered the tent. To his surprise, as a faint fragrance of peach wafted in, when he lifted the tent flap, an incredibly dense peach orchard unexpectedly appeared inside the tent, creating an experience as if they had entered another realm. Birdsong, flowers, and bubbling brooks formed a picturesque scene.
As Fischer beheld this otherworldly sight in the tent, the ethereal golden text of the Supplement Handbook for Sub-Humans flickered back into his mind.
[You have discovered an ancient clue of the Elf Race·One]
[Would you like to read this clue to gain progress in studying Elf society?]
Fischer was slightly taken aback, staring at the very familiar interface as he walked into the spacious sea of peach trees inside the tent, internally contemplating “Yes.”
[Ancient clue of the Elf Race·One: The Momentary Peach Blossom Spring]
[Clue content: The so-called path of fate from the elves’ perspective consists of two directions, namely “Yu” and “Zhou,” corresponding to the ultimate concepts of “space” and “time.” The higher a rank elf’s status, the clearer their perception of fate, stemming from their blood as offspring of the World Tree. Therefore, although all elf abilities seem to vary greatly, they all lead to the same destination.]
[The stunning Peach Blossom Spring before your eyes has already forged a terrifying ability of a high-rank elf; the true marvel of destiny can be glimpsed from here.]
[Recorder’s comments: Tsk, not much to say, let’s recite the “Peach Blossom Spring” I learned in middle school~ During the Jin Taiyuan era, the fisherman of Wuling engaged in fishing, yeah, I think I forgot what came next. I’ve been here for too long, and my memory fails me; what a pity.]
Fischer looked at the cryptic text and couldn’t quite keep up with the contributions of the Sub-Human girls. After hesitating for a moment, he turned to Tang Zeming Asuka and asked,
“Tang Zeming, do you know what ‘Peach Blossom Spring’ is?”
“Yeah, Peach Blossom Spring. I think I don’t really know. It sounds like ancient literature? Is it from our world?”
“Yes.”
“I… I’m sorry, I don’t know.”
Tang Zeming Asuka lowered her head, her face slightly reddening.
Although she was supposedly a transmigrator from another world, it seemed that for the few questions Fischer had posed, she knew none of the answers and didn’t feel much like an outsider.
Tang Zeming Asuka didn’t realize that Fischer was not surprised at all. He glanced at Mikhail behind him, who also subtly shook his head and said,
“If I had the chance to connect to the internet, I could probably tell you the answer. Not many people are concerned with ancient literature where I live; for us there, the past is a scar, where touching it brings pain.”
“That’s… okay.”
Fischer didn’t feel particularly disappointed not to obtain an answer; he had already received some hints from this ancient clue.
However, where could he find a female elf to study the progress of Elf society? They were all mythical beings, astonishingly powerful, and it would ultimately be a rare case for someone like Eil to just sit still for Fischer to study.
“Everyone, you are the first group to arrive in the Royal Capital. The Grand Dukes might wait until everyone has arrived before making an appearance; until then, please wait here.”
“…We have to wait for everyone? How long will that take? The Royal Capital’s decree should not have been issued for long, right?”
Upon hearing this, Gouwen was the first to raise a question, after all, the Tree Continent was so vast that gathering everyone and transporting them to the Royal Capital could take a month, right?
“Indeed, but here in the Duke of Peach’s set-up barrier, the flow of time will be distinctly different; you won’t have to wait long before Duke Peach will appear.”
The maid with the white cloth embroidered with a peach blossom on her face spoke as she led everyone into a wide peach forest. Several wooden tables and mats had already been set up here, adorned with various foods. Upon a glance, Tang Zeming Asuka noticed that all the food consisted of big, juicy pink peaches. The moment she saw the peaches, she couldn’t help but swallow, clearly yearning to taste them.
“And what’s the specific time?”
“Within a day. During this time, you may roam and rest freely. The peaches can be taken at will for food. But be cautious not to overindulge; for us, eating too many of Duke Peach’s peaches can lead to discomfort.”
Before she could finish her words, sounds of feasting had already come from the table. Everyone turned to see that Hela had somehow already seated herself before a wooden table, holding a big, plump peach in each hand, taking bites alternately.
The juice from the peaches dribbled onto her lips, but she paid no mind, continuing to eat while looking innocently at the maid who had just been explaining, saying,
“Please, go on.”
“I… have nothing more to say, then please wait here a moment.”
Seeing Hela so carefree as if she had returned home, the maid became momentarily silent. She paused for a moment before finally continuing.
Then she turned away, extended her hand to pinch at the void, and the space seemed to lift like a curtain of the outer tent, allowing her to walk out through the opening, leaving Fischer and the others within to look at each other.
“You really are casual; we were just brought directly into a barrier set by an Elf Grand Duke, and we don’t even know how to get out.”
Fischer sat beside the gorging Hela, surveying the tranquil, beautiful peach forest that resembled a fairyland, and spoke.
Though remarkably beautiful, Hela’s eating habits were anything but graceful. Rather, she could be elegant but simply chose not to. As she spoke, she cheekily spat out a peach pit that flew far away onto the ground and continued with her unclear speech,
“The Elf Grand Duke is of the Nineteen Rank, and the Duke of Peach is among the best. Compared to the Elf King, he is just as formidable. Worrying now won’t help; if exposed, we’d just be dead. It’s not like we can run away anyway. Don’t you really want to eat this peach? It’s really delicious!”
“…”
Looking at the fat peach that Hela cheerfully offered, Fischer no longer worried about her poisoning him.
As Hela said, the peak existence of the Nineteen Rank would not need to use such means to discern they were from the Holy Realm. They could easily take them to grow peach trees.
Fischer took a bite of the peach, and in an instant, his mouth was filled with a refreshing sweetness, a flavor so delicious it was beyond description. Beside him, Tang Zeming Asuka, who was tasting it simultaneously, covered her cheeks and exclaimed in delight,
“Yum! So good!”
“The elves love to use the bodies of intelligent beings to grow plants, and then use the fruits produced from these plants as food. It’s an elf custom; reincarnate trees, leave behind corpses to plant trees; defeated foes, dig graves to plant trees; during festivals, kill a slave to plant a tree and eat the fruits. Different plants offer different effects, you know? Tastiness, strength enhancement, prolonging life, and all that good stuff.”
At this moment, having eaten two peaches as if she were full, Hela lay lazily on the ground, as if reminiscing about something, and said so.
Fischer, who was chewing on a peach, stiffened slightly, while Tang Zeming Asuka turned pale, her grip on the peach trembling.
“No way… Hela Angel, are you saying—”
“Ah, no, this is normal peach! I’m just sharing the elven cultural customs with you~”
“Don’t share such terrifying knowledge at a time like this!!!”
Tang Zeming Asuka could no longer contain herself and exploded with anger, wanting to draw a circle to curse the smiling Hela. But of course, she knew that such intimidation tactics would have no effect on this angel.
Fischer silently continued to eat the peach, while Gouwen, having eaten only one, had already stopped, seemingly aware that Hela was just toying with them; Mikhail, on the other hand, displayed no appetite and sat meditating, as if he had not fully recovered from the aftereffects of his mental disturbance.
Meanwhile, Tang Zeming Asuka, who had only eaten one peach and felt almost full, noticed that the others went quiet, even the usually playful Hela was lying on the ground resting. She too decided to quiet down and carefully leaned against a nearby peach tree to practice the magic her instructor, Fischer, had taught her.
Although she had been really poor at studying in her past life, she was greatly interested in this completely new subject, and every time she held the carving knife to engrave, it felt as familiar as writing calligraphy.
But had she ever practiced calligraphy before?
Don’t joke around; whenever her father asked her to copy Buddhist scriptures, she always slacked off.
As her Magical Circuit ignited once again, she gradually entered a focused state to carve magic, the surroundings quieting down little by little, as if there were only her breathing in the world.
“Thud thud… thud.”
But the next moment, in this peaceful state, she suddenly felt something was wrong behind her. However, when she turned around, there was only a quiet peach tree.
The peach tree was laden with the same large peaches they had just eaten, and it appeared all the trees in this orchard were in their bearing stage.
Gazing at the silent peach tree, Tang Zeming Asuka squinted her eyes, and as if sensing something, she gently touched the tree.
With her slight touch, the peach tree’s branches began to sway slightly, causing the plump fruit that couldn’t hold on any longer to tilt and roll silently towards her.
“Thud.”
The peach almost hit her head, but once it fell, Tang Zeming Asuka was astonished to find that the spot where the peach fell instantly bore another identical plump peach.
Time reversed?
Tang Zeming Asuka stared blankly at the newly grown peach above, suddenly curious about the connection between the fallen peach and the ones still hanging on the tree.
She lowered her head, wanting to pick up the fallen peach to compare, but before she realized it, she found herself on a hillside, where the rolling peach had already rolled down the slope.
Not good.
She hurriedly stood up and ran in the direction the peach rolled. She thought she had only taken two or three steps, but when she easily picked up the peach and turned around, she found herself in another unfamiliar place.
Holding the peach in her hand, she felt a wave of panic, but in contrast to that simple feeling was a stronger surge of regret and guilt that rose in her heart.
She seemed to have… caused trouble for the others again.
She didn’t dare to make a sound, as if prolonging the time before Fischer and the others discovered she was missing would give her some breathing room.
Tang Zeming Asuka pouted, suddenly squatting down on the ground and hammering her face with her fists, muttering,
“Picking peaches, damn peaches… woo woo.”
“Eh? Why is there a crying little fish here?”
“Eh?”
Just when she squatted down, tearfully filled with self-reproach, wondering why she had wanted to follow a fleeting inspiration to compare whatever damn peach, a very childish voice suddenly rang out nearby.
Tang Zeming Asuka looked dumbfounded and realized she was by a clear stream, with pink peach trees lining both sides, their blossoms hanging down, creating a breathtaking scene of fallen petals.
The peach petals scattered in the stream, on the moist earth by the bank, and on the small stones jutting out from the stream.
At the end of the stream stood a peach tree that was significantly taller than the others.
Perched on the central branch of that tree was a girl, as beautiful as jade.
The girl wore a pale pink dress, her small feet bare; as she sat on the branch, the motion made her slightly sway. Her long black hair was tied in two elegant scroll-like buns, with a delicate pink peach blossom adorning the center, its authenticity uncertain if it was real or merely an accessory.
The girl’s appearance was adorable and youthful, elegantly dressed and exquisite, but her expression was both mocking and disdainful, with a hint of mischief.
She held a small pink folding fan in one hand, gently waving it while the other hand covered her mouth stifling a laugh. But that condescending look was clearly captured by Tang Zeming Asuka.
“Huh? What did you say?!”
“Ah, didn’t you hear me, little fish?”
The little girl tilted her head in confusion, her expression seeming to question whether Tang Zeming Asuka had any brain at all. But the repeated term “little fish” only made Tang Zeming Asuka more furious.
Fuming, she rolled up her sleeves and pointed angrily at the girl above, shouting,
“You rude little brat!”
The girl looked at the fiery high school girl below, her eyes reddened with anger, and laughed even more deeply. She opened her small folding fan, which covered her childlike face but not her gloating mouth.
“Getting anxious now, are we? Little fish is getting anxious~”
(End of Chapter)
