The Bizarre Detective Agency

Chapter 788: The Guardian

A torrent of humanity, like a river of fireflies, surged into his body.

Lu Li could feel the influx of humanity.

Eleven units—half of the highest level of humanity he had ever possessed.

In the Age of Anomalies, Lu Li had gained the power to resist anomalies, but the price was that he had become even more "delicious" to them, and he had also acquired the [Bloodied] title.

When fireflies in a dark jungle gather into a torch, they not only illuminate their surroundings but also attract more greedy eyes.

The branches of the surrounding trees silently stretched toward Lu Li, drawn by the aura of his humanity, coiling around him. This was not a friendly gesture.

"Guide..." The Branching Plantperson, sensing the change in Lu Li's aura, bowed and ordered the guards to retreat.

A soft rustle came from his hood, but Elder Sister said nothing.

Following the Branching Plantperson back into the settlement in the Serene Forest, the Elder Tree swayed its crown joyfully at the restoration of Lu Li’s aura:

"Almost like it was back then... Nostalgia is not a trait exclusive to humans."After its moment of joy, the Elder Tree expressed regret that it could not help Lu Li recover more of his humanity. Anomalies rarely approached the Plantpeople's domain, and the Plantpeople themselves never willingly left their home.

For now, Lu Li could not help them either. The Elder Tree told him he needed to accumulate another five or six units of humanity.

"What do you need my help with?" Lu Li asked.

The Elder Tree replied that it could not tell him yet, as he was not ready to bear the terrible consequences of hearing it.

After a moment of thought, Lu Li told it about his Cursed Title, [Bloodied]:

"Can a Cursed Title be erased?"

"It is a power as ancient as time itself... It cannot be erased..." the Elder Tree told Lu Li, but added that it could help him in other ways.

The ancient face closed its eyes, and a prayer gradually filled the air. Lu Li looked around and saw that everyone—the Branching Plantpeople and the settlers alike—was standing still, their eyes closed in prayer.

Suddenly, points of light appeared around Lu Li, swirling like fireflies before flowing into his body.

A vague message, like text or speech, formed in Lu Li's mind.

[Treewhisperer]

[They are like the ocean, witnesses to the rise and fall of all things; they are like the cliffs, standing firm upon the earth; they bless all creation, they are everywhere. You love them, you care for them—and they do the same for you.]

[Every tree feels an affinity for you.]

[—They are your good friends.]

The Plantpeople's domain had also bestowed a Cursed Title upon Lu Li.

Perhaps the word "cursed" should be removed, as this title had almost no side effects: with it, Lu Li would be nearly immune to attacks from tree-like anomalies.

Assuming, of course, that other tree-like anomalies existed outside the Plantpeople's domain.

Like the withered tree that had left its seeds in a branch of the Old Sewer.

"Thank you," Lu Li said.

"It is a gift from the Essence of the Ancestors... We hope it will help you..."

The thin mist that shrouded the forest began to dissipate, and the anomalous fog outside finally receded.

It was time for Lu Li to leave.

"The Guardian awaits you at the edge of our domain... It will escort you to the Port of Storms..."

The Elder Tree swayed its branches.

"Do not forget to visit us... We will prepare a bounty..."

"I will," Lu Li said, "as soon as I find Anna."

With the Elder Tree's farewell, Lu Li followed the Branching Plantperson, leaving the Serene Forest behind.

Thanks to [Treewhisperer], the dead forest suddenly came alive with sound and motion. Lu Li could feel their presence, their breath.

The trees showed Lu Li their kindness. They lowered their branches to gently brush against him, and their roots shifted the thick layer of fallen leaves, clearing a path.

When they reached the edge of the Plantpeople's domain, they saw the Guardian waiting for them.

The Guardian was even taller than the Elder Tree; even the most majestic city walls in human history would have barely reached its chest.

Only such a colossal being, with power approaching that of an anomaly leader, could travel through a desert overrun with anomalies.

It slowly knelt, its massive, hut-sized hand opening with a wooden creak, allowing Lu Li to step onto it.

"Guide... A safe journey..." The silent Branching Plantperson bowed in farewell.

The Guardian rose, carrying Lu Li, and with its back to the World's Spine mountains, it strode toward the edge of the desert, making the earth tremble with each step.

Lu Li sat on the Guardian's palm. The desert wind whipped through his black hair and the edges of his clothes. He gazed calmly at the horizon, as if seeing the end of the world and the relentless ebb and flow of the tides.

Lu Li thought back on his time in the Plantpeople's domain.

Meeting these acquaintances had solved many of his problems and brought many benefits, such as restoring his humanity and providing him with an escort.

Unfortunately, they could not freely leave their domain; otherwise, Lu Li's journey to the Main Continent would have been much easier.

He recalled the scenes he had witnessed in the two Memories of Death. Had they been killed by Silence?

Why did people killed by Silence turn into anomalies?

His hand, tucked in his pocket, gently stroked the straw doll as he sank into contemplation.

Elder Sister lay in the hood on his back. She had been silent for a long time, and her state seemed unusual.

Normally, Lu Li wouldn't have paid it any mind, but he suddenly remembered Katerina's words: "You should try to change." After a moment's thought, Lu Li asked:

"What's wrong?"

The crestfallen Elder Sister asked quietly:

"Will you kill me... like you killed that leader?"

"No."

"Really?"

"Really."

Elder Sister immediately perked up, tumbling playfully in his hood like a cat.

Lu Li asked her about the specific changes in him, and Elder Sister replied that he had become "tastier" and "more pleasant."

Fortunately, the increase in his humanity did not make Lu Li's "scent" any stronger. For now, anomalies couldn't detect him from a distance based on his humanity, except for those with exceptionally keen perception.

This prevented the horrifying scenario of anomalies swarming toward him.

But if an anomaly appeared near Lu Li, it would certainly not pass up such "delicious" prey.

In the distance, a ruined village stood out against the land.

It was getting closer, and the Guardian had no intention of going around it.

"Can we go around this place?" Lu Li asked the Guardian.

"Village. No danger," a deep, vibrating voice boomed from above.

The Guardian hadn't detected anything, and its judgment couldn't be wrong.

Perhaps.

The village drew nearer. This abandoned Old Era village seemed to have been deserted for a long time.

But after his humanity increased, Lu Li's perception had sharpened, and he could feel the malice emanating from the village.

However, the stubborn and slow-moving Guardian had already entered the village.

Lu Li looked down, and behind the shattered windows of the houses along the road, greedy eyes began to light up, their numbers growing.

This was a congregation, something like an anomaly nest.

Though they craved Lu Li's aura, they were deterred by the Guardian's terrifying power. They did not leap out from the houses, not even after the Guardian left the village, shaking the earth as it went.

The village truly posed no danger.

If Lu Li had been alone, the outcome might have been completely different.

No more shadows of anomalies appeared for the rest of the journey. Weaker anomalies dared not approach, and the Guardian simply steered clear of truly dangerous zones.

The dry air gradually grew moist. As evening approached, Lu Li saw a row of standing stone pillars on the horizon, near the coast.

It was the Port of Storms.