Meat for a Question

"How could that be."

The French Plane Tree instinctively tried to deny it, but though its mouth kept opening and closing, it could not make a sound.

"Let me guess again. You can't lie, can you?"

Liu Zheng raised an eyebrow.

The French Plane Tree simply shut its mouth.

"What's the best thing you have?"

His eyes shifted as he tested the waters.

"I can't lie, but that doesn't mean I have to tell you. Stupid human."

With the truth exposed, the French Plane Tree's attitude immediately turned nasty.

"Then let's make a deal, Mr. Tree."

Liu Zheng spread his hands.

"I'm not making deals with humans, damn it."

The French Plane Tree cursed loudly.

"You throw the crutch over here, and I'll throw the urine over to you."

He said it while holding back a laugh.

"Why should I believe you?"

The French Plane Tree said arrogantly.

"Want some alcohol? Not alcohol-flavored urine—real alcohol. There's also juice, cola, coffee, milk tea."

"Stop, stop. You can get all that?"

The French Plane Tree's branches straightened.

"Don't forget, I'm a deliveryman for the Bloodstained Restaurant."

Liu Zheng pointed to his uniform.

"I know. If you weren't a restaurant employee, I could eat you right now."

The French Plane Tree rolled its eyes.

Several branches shot out like venomous snakes, circling above his head as if in warning.

His heart skipped a beat.

He had thought he was outside its attack range. Turns out it simply had not met some condition yet.

It seemed the restaurant employee identity really was a layer of camouflage. No wonder Cow-Horse had told him to be bolder outside.

"I can't guarantee I'll get any, but I promise that once I do get something to drink, I'll bring it here to trade with you."

Liu Zheng said.

"Fine, human. You've convinced me."

The French Plane Tree's branches twitched twice.

"You have to say, 'I sincerely want to trade with you, human.'"

It emphasized.

"I sincerely... Oh, purée!"

The French Plane Tree cursed again.

Liu Zheng silently watched it lose its composure, its branches and leaves thrashing about.

"Fine. I sincerely want to trade with you, human."

After a moment, the French Plane Tree finally accepted reality.

"Then answer one question first. How can I complete a trade safely?"

"As long as you don't step on the soil or take my things without permission, I can't attack you."

The French Plane Tree answered readily.

There was a two-meter-wide ring of soil around it, nearly black in color.

"Then throw the crutch over here, and give me a container for the urine."

Liu Zheng said.

"Zut, why are humans getting smarter these days?"

The French Plane Tree complained as it tossed him the Human-Bone Crutch and a rusty iron can.

"Because all the stupid humans got eaten by you."

He sneered.

"What do you humans have to complain about? You use our limbs for warmth, eat our embryos, and drink our blood."

The French Plane Tree said disdainfully.

"You're right."

Liu Zheng nodded and returned beneath the camphor tree.

He had no intention of debating with this tree. He had neither the interest nor the time.

After emptying out all his stock, Liu Zheng carried the iron can back to the French Plane Tree.

Standing at the edge of the black soil, he aimed the can's mouth at the French Plane Tree's mouth.

"Mince, what are you doing?"

The French Plane Tree cried out.

"Feeding you the alcohol I filtered out. What's wrong?"

Liu Zheng asked in confusion.

It had been so desperate just now. Why was it acting disgusted now?

"Tree. I'm a tree, understand? This mouth is just decoration. My roots are my mouth."

The French Plane Tree rolled its eyes dramatically.

"Fine, my mistake."

He shrugged and poured the strongly scented filtered alcohol over one of its roots.

"Bien! That's the smell."

The French Plane Tree wore an intoxicated expression.

"As long as you like it. Goodbye, Mr. Tree. I need to get to work."

Liu Zheng tossed the iron can to the ground.

"Don't call me Mr. Tree. I have a name. Call me Dai Lego."

The French Plane Tree said unhappily.

"Got it, Mr. Dai."

He went along with it smoothly.

"You fucking—forget it. I won't stoop to the level of a stupid human. Listen, if you can get me a bottle of Ascension Maotai 53°, I can give you something genuinely good."

Dai Lego said.

"I'll do my best."

Liu Zheng nodded.

Since Cow-Horse could get one bottle, he should be able to get a second.

"You won't be disappointed, human. If you want to stay alive while working at the restaurant, you'll definitely need it."

Dai Lego said meaningfully.

After bidding farewell to the man-eating tree, he set off again.

That piss had delayed him quite a bit, but fortunately, the new item he had gained was enough to make up for it.

"Speaking of which, how do I use this thing?"

Liu Zheng muttered as he swung the crutch a few times.

"A crutch. It's a crutch, you stupid, suspicious human."

Dai Lego's irritable voice came from behind him.

"Oh, thanks."

He replied without turning around.

Not bad. It even had after-sales service.

Tap, tap, tap, tap.

To the rhythm of the crutch striking the ground, Liu Zheng felt his legs becoming much lighter as well.

"Walking with a crutch is faster than walking normally. The supernatural really is interesting."

He shook his head as he strode forward.

There was not much time left.

--

Hurrying all the way, Liu Zheng finally reached his destination with ten minutes remaining.

Merlin Residential Compound.

There was a guard booth at the compound entrance. Inside, the security guard leaned back in his chair with his face covered by his peaked cap, seemingly slacking off and sleeping.

Liu Zheng stared at the booth for a few moments and decided not to approach him voluntarily.

Fortunately, although the compound had access control, he could slip in beside the parking barrier.

Liu Zheng cautiously stepped one foot inside, then watched the guard booth.

Only after seeing that the guard had no reaction did he bring his other foot in as well.

This instance world was full of strange rules. Without any prompts, he had to be careful everywhere.

"Building 3, Room 503. Which one is Building 3?"

The compound was not large. He quickly made a circuit and discovered that none of the buildings had any signs.

"Looks like I can only ask someone."

Liu Zheng sighed.

Just delivering takeout was this troublesome. Workers in this world really had it rough.

He returned to the compound entrance and knocked on the guard booth window.

"Hello."

Liu Zheng called out.

The guard sat upright as if waking from a dream, but his hand did not move away from his hat.

"What is it?"

He asked.

His voice was hoarse and thin, like that of a castrato who had smoked too much.

"I'm a deliveryman from the Bloodstained Restaurant. Could you tell me which building is Building 3?"

When he heard the words Bloodstained Restaurant, the guard's hat seemed to tremble.

"One piece of Flesh."

He said.

"What kind of Flesh?"

"Any kind. One piece of Flesh for one answer."

The guard replied.

Liu Zheng looked at the delivery box. The fish head inside should satisfy the condition.

However, stealing from the order would definitely bring punishment.

He looked at his phone. Six minutes remained.

Since he could not steal from the delivery, he could only find Flesh elsewhere.

"Give me a knife."

Liu Zheng said.

"No need."

The guard removed his hat, revealing a head like an eel swaying in the air.

The smooth, scaleless top opened, exposing rings upon rings of tiny teeth.

It quickly swam up to Liu Zheng, pressed itself against him, and wriggled around as if searching for a good place to bite.

"Hurry up. If I miss the delivery time, we'll both be in trouble."

Liu Zheng suppressed his discomfort and threatened it.

Perhaps those words worked. Eel Head stopped moving and bit down on his arm.

The pain of having Flesh gouged out of him made cold sweat pour from Liu Zheng's forehead, but he gritted his teeth and did not cry out.

Yet strangely, after Eel Head left his body, he found that there was no wound on his arm.

"That building."

The guard raised its thick, stubby finger and pointed Liu Zheng in the right direction.

"Thanks."

Ignoring the pain, Liu Zheng ran toward Building 3.