Interwoven Time and Space, Different "Tree Rings"

[Longevity Island, county bank]

The old ceiling fan still whirred overhead. Sunlight passed through its blades, casting wavering patches of light across the bulletproof glass.

The moment Chen Kong stepped into the banking hall, he was wrapped in a smell of ink mingled with mildew. Compared to the damp odor of the guesthouse, this place carried an inexplicable chill of metal.

The staff behind the counter wore faded blue work uniforms, their bow ties starched stiff and their hair combed without a strand out of place.

He raised his head. His misty pupils swept over the three of them, and his voice was as stiff as static from an old radio.

"Hello. What service would you like to handle?"

Just like when Tiandao had opened his savings account, the counter clerk in the hall spoke almost exactly the same words as before.

Faced with the question, Chen Kong and Mi Yao instinctively exchanged a glance, then turned in unison toward Vivian.

Of the three of them, only she had handled business here before and knew the "rules."

Vivian stepped forward and said calmly, "We'd like to open savings accounts and make an exchange."

She deliberately stressed the words "make an exchange," while pulling an oil-paper parcel from her tactical pocket and revealing one corner of a dark-red Rotten Vine Corpse core inside.

At those words, the clerk's hollow eyes instantly lit up.

The curve of his lips widened slightly. With a smile that did not reach his eyes, he said, "Is that so? Then please fill out these forms first."

As he spoke, he drew three yellowed application forms from beneath the counter and handed them over.

"We have to fill in our real information?"

Mi Yao frowned as he looked over the form.

"Don't worry. Look at the words