novelraw Chapter 468 - 458: The Yellow-covered Book’s Request
Chapter 468 - 458: The Yellow-covered Book’s Request
"So, what’s the matter?" Puki’s peculiar sticky voice echoed in the narrow underground passage.
In this passage, besides Puki, there was only the Yellow-covered Book that Norris sent over; as for Norris himself, he didn’t stay here.
[Most esteemed leader, I just wanted to ask about those... those unusual Pukis in the Mushroom Garden today, what exactly is their origin?]
"Hmm..." Puki’s voice deepened slightly, "Are you asking me to report to you?"
The Yellow-covered Book quickly explained:
[I wouldn’t dare! I would never dare! How could I ask the leader to report to me!]
[I just... just want to know... they...]
"Know the secrets of their souls?" Lin Jun directly exposed the Yellow-covered Book’s little scheme.
This wasn’t difficult to guess. The Yellow-covered Book had the ability to perceive emotions and observe souls, and it must have detected the abnormality in the souls of those intelligent Pukis.
As Norris carried it along the way, Lin Jun had already roughly deduced its intentions.
The Yellow-covered Book eagerly flattered, words filled with flattery:
[Yes, yes, yes, nothing escapes your wise eyes, leader!]
"I don’t have eyes."
[Wise heart! Leader, you have a wise heart and keen insight, seeing through my thoughts at a glance!]
The mycelium tendrils reached over, gently brushed the book’s pages, flicking off a few strands of mycelium: "I don’t have any wise heart or eyes; if I did, would I have been fooled and firmly trapped by you, Holy Scripture, back then?"
[Leader! I realize my mistakes! I truly realize my mistakes!] The handwriting on the book’s pages almost twisted into a crying face, [I’ve already turned over a new leaf; now I’m just a humble and loyal book!]
[Please, forgive my past blunders of not knowing the heights of the mushrooms!]
But Lin Jun didn’t fall for it: "Suddenly seeking forgiveness is nothing more than having a request. If you keep skirting around the issue and don’t state your real purpose, you’ll be sent back to face the wall in Jida!"
[I dare not hide anything!]
[I just want to know, how did the souls of those Pukis come to be?]
[Those... not naturally conceived, yet vividly real and independently existing souls! I want to find from them...]
In Lin Jun’s perception, intense emotional fluctuations came from the core of the Yellow-covered Book wrapped in Lin Jun’s soul.
[Find a way to create a real soul for myself!]
"I see."
Lin Jun recalled that the Yellow-covered Book had indeed mentioned its wish before.
However, one knows oneself best.
All those Pukis were created by peeling off fragments from Lin Jun’s soul using the Sunstone, much like removing scales, and it shouldn’t have anything to do with "creating a soul".
However, since the Sunstone is related to souls, it’s uncertain if there are other special functions that Lin Jun hasn’t developed yet.
But...
"What does your wish have to do with me? Have you contributed anything to the Mushroom Garden?"
[The Vampire’s ascension ritual...]
Oh, that matter; Lin Jun almost forgot.
"Do you think helping Little Pig advance would offset the troubles you’ve caused me? You’re still a guy with a debt unredeemed, and yet you want to enjoy it before paying for it?"
[I also want to quickly atone for my sins, leader; if there’s anything you need from me, just say the word!]
"Holy Scripture, Holy Scripture, you really don’t understand the situation at all. Still waiting for my orders? If I don’t instruct you, do you not know what you should be doing?" The tendril suddenly coiled up the spine of the book, lifting it into mid-air, "You’ve existed for hundreds of years; do you not have a bit of awareness or ability to create value for me or the Mushroom Garden voluntarily?"
[Leader, I...]
"Are you still hoping that I’ll trust you? The only thing you can do is to achieve enough significant merits, big enough for me to disregard past grievances and help you fulfill your wish! Go back and reflect on yourself!"
With that, Lin Jun tossed the Yellow-covered Book onto a cannon-fodder Puki, instructing the Puki to take the Yellow-covered Book to find Norris.
This Yellow-covered Book, after being spared execution thanks to the Little Pig’s advancement ritual, had always shown signs of being aimless and idling away the days.
The tasks given to it were followed, but it lacked any initiative!
Now, it’s a good thing that it has a request!
Within the Yellow-covered Book, not to mention various secrets, the knowledge like the blood-stealing ritual alone is a treasure, just depends on how much it’s willing to organize out!
As for whether to give the Yellow-covered Book a chance to bask in the Sunstone, let’s just say it’ll depend on the mood at the time; after all, the initiative is in Lin Jun’s hands.
On the other side, the Yellow-covered Book was brought by the cannon-fodder Puki to Norris’s hands.
Out of habit, Norris flipped it open and saw his name.
[Norris!]
"What is it, senior?"
[From now on, we must strive for the rise of the Mushroom Garden! Go apply for materials; I want to reinforce the defenses of the Fungus Castle!]
"Huh? Huh?!"
Norris wore a look as if he’d seen a ghost; the Yellow-covered Book had been subjected to the leader’s brutal "thought reform" in the small dark room, the pages forcibly instilled with thoughts of loyalty.
[Why are you still dawdling? Get moving! The future safety of the Mushroom Garden depends on you and me!]
Urged non-stop by the Yellow-covered Book, although Norris grumbled, "Is this necessary," his body ultimately complied, going to seek out Hunting to apply for materials.
...
On the ocean surface, three Demon Race warships, constructed with dark iron and the bones of some gigantic beast, were cutting through the waves, sailing south.
On the deck, Blood Race with pale skin and eyes glowing with red light commanded the half-demon and half-vampire subordinates to check the ropes and spiked bulwarks.
A half-demon tied a knot tightly and couldn’t help but complain softly to his companion beside him: "It’s maddening! I thought I’d get a week’s rest, but we were kicked up in the middle of the night, shoved onto the ship without any notice!"
His companion glanced around, leaned in a bit, and whispered: "You don’t understand, do you? Tasks notified only at the last minute like this usually mean there’s something incredible on the ship, afraid it’ll leak and get ambushed halfway!"
"Ambush?" The previous half-demon sneered dismissively, "The human coastal ports have almost been flattened by us; what decent warships do they have left?"
"Don’t forget about those guys at the Archipelago! I hear a ship was attacked recently, definitely their doing. Besides, once the goods are offloaded on land, it’s not impossible for them to strike..."
"Well, that’s true..."
"Hey, you two, what are you whispering about here?" A cold voice suddenly spoke up from behind, startling the two half-demons, who promptly straightened up.
The Blood Race Viscount officer stood with arms crossed, leisurely looking at them, a playful smile on his pale face: "What, curious about what treasures are on this ship?"
Clearly, the previous discussion had been heard word for word by him.
Since they’d been exposed, the two half-demons simply took the plunge and nodded.
Private discussions might be against the rules, but it wasn’t a major issue.
"Boss, would you be kind enough to give us a hint?" one of them asked boldly.
The Viscount’s lips curved into a meaningful arc: "Had it been before departure, I wouldn’t have uttered a word. But now... since we’re already at sea, telling you won’t hurt... The ship’s hold is carrying the energy core of an Abyss Beast!"
"Abyss Beast core?!" The two half-demons nearly exclaimed in unison.
Even if they hadn’t seen one, they’d heard of the fearsome Abyss Beasts, as well as the story of how the human Sword Saint had felled one, indicating this journey was aimed at replacing the core of an Abyss Beast!
They immediately grasped the significance of this mission.
"I’m dying to see what the core looks like..." the half-demon sighed.
The Viscount scoffed: "Dream on!"
Just as they were engrossed in conversation, the entire ship suddenly listed severely to the right, and at the same time, the half-mage responsible for controlling the Defense Magic Array on board shouted a warning: "Sea Beast! It’s a Sea Beast attack!"