Fruit Beetles (continued)

Shu Tao then said, "We generally don't allow people from other tribes into our forests, Doctor Jian Mo, if you'd like, we can take you into the mountains."

Jian Mo was still hesitating, but after hearing what Shu Tao said, she exchanged a glance with Wu Jiong.

They've been out for so long, it doesn't seem like it would matter if they went back a day or two later, right?

The people from the Dense Forest Tribe have put it this way; it would seem like a huge loss for them not to go.

Wu Jiong grasped Jian Mo's hand and said to the people of the Dense Forest Tribe, "Thank you for your help."

He Yi said enthusiastically, "There are so many ripe fruits in the wild in autumn. If you're going, I can take you to try a fruit we have here called Black Cotton Fruit. It's the best-tasting fruit around here, and I guarantee you'll love it."

Jian Mo was intrigued. "That sounds really good."

He Yi: "Really, you'll see when you try it."

Jian Mo nodded vigorously. "Then we'll wait."

Shu Tao: "We'll make the arrangements and head into the mountains tomorrow. Didn't you say you wanted those pain-relieving leaves? We'll collect a lot, and we'll dig up a couple for you to take back and plant."

Jian Mo nodded repeatedly, "Thank you for your hard work."

Thanks to the warm hospitality of the Dense Forest Tribe, Jian Mo and her large group entered the mountains the next morning.

The climate in the Dense Forest Tribe area is more humid and hot, and there are more plants and insects in the mountains, making it more risky to go into the mountains.

However, it must be said that their local produce is truly abundant.

Not long after entering the mountains, everyone started rolling up their sleeves to dig up a type of large tuber—this tuber is soft, sweet, and has a very good taste.

The people of the Dense Forest Tribe were very familiar with the mountains and forests, so they took Jian Mo and Wu Jiong directly to find the Black Cotton Fruit.

Led by the Dense Forest Tribe, they soon came across a giant fruit tree that was over a hundred meters tall.

Jian Mo looked up and saw black fruits that looked like jackfruit hanging on the branches. Each fruit was large and looked plump and tempting.

Standing under the tree, they could smell the sweet aroma of the fruit. Even though Jian Mo had never eaten this kind of fruit before, she could guess that the sweet fragrance was the smell of Black Cotton Fruit.

He Yi explained, "This is the Black Cotton Fruit. Don't let its ugly appearance fool you; the flesh inside is delicious."

Jian Mo stared at the Black Cotton Fruit: "Are we going to climb the tree and pick the fruit now?"

He Yi: "Right! You guys wait under the tree, we'll climb up."

He Yi gave some instructions, took off his belongings, transformed back into his beast form, and together with several other beastmen who had also transformed back into their beast forms, began to climb the giant tree.

Their animal form is a giant badger, with a relatively slender body, but the sight of them climbing trees is still quite awe-inspiring.

Looking at the giant beast in the tree, Jian Mo felt a sense of magic; she guessed that only a tree this big could allow them to climb up so easily.

The giant beasts quickly climbed to the top of the tree.

The He Yi against the wall and shouted, "Doctor Jian Mo, we're going to throw the fruit down! You all better stay away!"

The sub-beastmen of the Dense Forest Tribe, who were waiting on the ground, pulled at Jian Mo: "Doctor Jian Mo, let's step back a bit so we don't get hit by the falling fruit."

Jian Mo quickly pulled Wu Jiong back.

After everyone had backed up a certain distance, the badgers shouted, "Let's start throwing!"

As they spoke, the giant badgers threw down Black Cotton Fruit one by one.

The giant fruit hit the leaf-strewn ground with a thud, then rolled several times along the ground.

Jian Mo took a closer look and realized that the shell of the Black Cotton Fruit must be very thick, otherwise it wouldn't break even after being thrown like that.

The badgers pelted down more than twenty ripe fruits with a "thump, thump" sound, then clung to the tree and slid down quickly.

The giant badger that He Yi had transformed into picked up a Black Cotton Fruit with its paws, smashed it down hard, and then held the broken Black Cotton Fruit up in front of Jian Mo and Wu Jiong.

Inside the black- Flour Fruit were segments of flesh like mangosteen. Jian Mo hesitated, wiped her hands on her clothes, and broke off a segment of flesh. Wu Jiong also took half.

Jian Mo took a bite; the fruit was very sweet, with a creamy, light, and smooth texture, and a unique fruity aroma.

He took two more bites, finished the piece of fruit, and looked at the remaining black pit in his hand.

Jian Mo: "These Black Cotton Fruit are so delicious! Are they a specialty fruit here?"

The sub-orc beside him said, "Yes, Black Cotton Fruit grows very slowly; it's only found in this area."

Jian Mo carefully put the fruit pit away. "How slow is 'extremely slow'?"

The sub-orc pointed and said, "This Black Cotton Fruit tree seems to have been growing for over thirty years before it started bearing fruit."

He Yi, now back in human form, interjected, "It's not over thirty years, it's over fifty years. But it's been bearing fruit for hundreds of years, from the time it started bearing fruit until now, and it's still bearing fruit."

Jian Mo looked up at the Black Cotton Fruit tree in amazement. "Wow, that's amazing. Can I take the seeds back and plant them?"

He Yi: "It should be possible, I'll ask the chieftain later. I'm just worried that you won't be able to grow them even if you go back. Many tribes have traded with us for Black Cotton Fruit seeds, and so far, I haven't heard of any tribe outside of our region that has successfully grown Black Cotton Fruit trees."

Jian Mo: "Why? Is it because it's cold outside?"

He Yi his head. "We don't know either. It seems like it can't be grown anywhere else. Not only can't fruit trees be grown, but the fruit can't even be taken out of the area. The Black Cotton Fruit will spoil in two or three days after it's picked."

Jian Mo took another segment of Black Cotton Fruit, savoring the exquisite taste of the flesh. "That's such a pity."

He Yi: "We think so too, but there's nothing we can do about it."

Then He Yi added, "We have a kind of insect here that eats Black Cotton Fruit. After eating it, it can turn the fruit into sugar, which is quite nice."

Jian Mo: "Gathering honey to make sugar?"

He Yi his head. "They either collect honey to make sugar, or they eat Black Cotton Fruit to make sugar."

Jian Mo had never heard of such an insect. "Eat the fruit pulp and spit out the sugar?"