Even Hu Liena and the Nine-Headed Bat King, slow on the uptake as they might have been, had noticed something strange about Ren Tao and the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger by now.
One stared with huge, blood-red eyes, yet failed to notice fish slipping right past him.
The other absentmindedly washed his hands, repeating that simple motion for several minutes.
But both were clever enough to pretend they had seen nothing and carry on eating and drinking.
In truth, Ren Tao had wanted to end his "hand-washing routine" long ago. Dragging it out this long was practically an insult to Hu Liena's and the Nine-Headed Bat King's intelligence!
But the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger still wanted more. Afraid that once Ren Tao left, he would no longer be able to see his idol, the "Tiger God," he pleaded endlessly in his mind.
"Big Brother, wait a little longer, just a little! From now on, I'll work two jobs for you... no, as many as you like! I'll never be picky about food. Whatever you give me, I'll eat!"
Fine!
As it happened, Ren Tao also had questions for the "world seed." He took out a handkerchief and began leisurely drying his hands.
That drying... took another several minutes.
"Seed, I have a question for you. What exactly is the goal of evolution?"
"The goal of evolution?"
The world seed turned the question back on him. "Whatever you want to achieve is the goal. I'm only a seed. The environment I grow in and the person who nurtures me determine what fruit I bear. If you're asking about good and evil, that sort of question is far too dull. But evolution itself is always driven by the desire to advance. Is there anything wrong with survival and development?"
"Then