"Leopard Head, give my phone a call and let the Ba Mountain Mosquito come to the school."
"Just tell it that we've found the roots of Master Treasure Tree, and have it come to identify them..."
Master Fuli retrieved his consciousness from the wish list, his expression slightly peculiar, glanced at the Treasure Tree Ant lying on the mossy ground, kicking its feet and crying, and shouted at the Golden Leopard and Wang Qiqi who were guarding the main entrance.
From the reaction of the Treasure Tree Ant and the ridiculously hard texture of the branch...
This branch is undoubtedly a part of that non-existent Master Treasure Tree.
Moreover.
Judging from the settlement page on the wish list, the branch of Master Treasure Tree may be a rare treasure for Spirit Beasts, otherwise, the Treasure Tree Ant wouldn't have developed to its current state.
Once the branch is completely consumed, the Treasure Tree Ant is very likely to cause havoc in the modern city in search of Master Treasure Tree's whereabouts.
But before all that could happen, Master Fuli found the Treasure Tree Ant in advance, making it realize one thing.
When creatures are extremely sad, they truly can stomp their feet in grievance and cry loudly.
Before coming out of hiding to make mischief in the future, the Treasure Tree Ant might deeply consider one question.
And that is...
If it really goes against someone, can the opponent not be like that heartless fox, making it cry?
"Uh..."
While Master Fuli was on the phone, the Forest Ranger, with a hint of caution, handed over a special bottle of mineral water.
The Treasure Tree Ant, which was rolling on the ground, paused, its jade-like nostrils flaring slightly, as if sniffing a food aroma.
The Treasure Tree Ant grabbed the mineral water bottle, drank all the water in one go, then laid back on the ground rolling, pitifully voicing "Tree~ Tree".
But Master Fuli, without even looking, grabbed the branch of the Treasure Tree in one hand, picked up the box that previously held the Luoyang Shovel, and directly packed the sulking Treasure Tree Ant.
"Cry again, and I'll snap the branch for you."
"Oh..." The Treasure Tree Ant responded reluctantly.
The members of the Security Bureau packed up their equipment and luggage, put everything back in the car, and formed a convoy heading towards Xinxing Agricultural Science College.
......
Back at Xinxing Agricultural Science College, Master Fuli didn't immediately head to the meeting room for the meeting, but first went back to the dormitory, made a brief appearance in front of Ah Qing, and then returned to the meeting room beside the armory on the top floor of the teaching building.
"Fu..."
"No time right now, talk later."
Just stepping out of the elevator, Master Fuli saw the row of Hermits sitting, their eyes brightening, wanting to call Master Fuli to a halt, but Master Fuli stood up and waved his hand, signaling them to discuss later.
Compared to their matters, confirming the authenticity of the branch with the Ba Mountain Mosquito and inquiring about the branch's origin with the Treasure Tree Ant were currently more important.
"...Always feels like Master Fuli is so busy." Sitting cross-legged in the corridor, pouting cheeks while eating a lunch box, Liu Lingyu complained to her father:
"Even though Fox Immortal Master is with the Imperial Guards, isn't this considered animal abuse? The Fox Immortal Master is a bona fide nationally protected animal!"
"Others get overtime pay for overtime work, but when you work overtime, it's just the contractor drawing a pie for you."
Liu Qunqing glanced at his daughter, then returned his gaze to his phone's mahjong game, speaking indifferently.
You're just worrying too much over nothing. The level of excitement in Fox Immortal Master's life is beyond your imagination. Why are you suddenly concerned about celestial beings' matters?
"Damn!" Liu Lingyu was instantly frustrated, almost wanting to pounce over and strangle her dad.
"Move over, move over..."
As the father and daughter were just starting to bicker, a girl with a mobile phone casually strolled by, not even glancing at the Hermits in the corridor, and briskly walked towards the meeting room.
"Master Fuli, I can't argue against the other side!" The Ba Mountain Mosquito pushed open the meeting room door, loudly seeking help from the Master.
"Is it a guy or a girl, a native or a foreigner?" Master Fuli, sitting in the meeting room, holding a bottle of cola, glanced at the shouting Ba Mountain Mosquito.
"It's Vimal! I've debated with her for two days, and Vimal was so frustrated she started trading insults with me." The Ba Mountain Mosquito showed a proud expression while saying.
"Vimal?"
Master Fuli was startled, his mouth twitching a bit, suddenly not wanting to deal with the Ba Mountain Mosquito anymore.
Is Vimal that woman human?
You call her trouble, and when she sees it, she'll flirtatiously send you a few lace lingerie photos, ask for your selfie, and if you're handsome, she'll even honeymoon with you.
The shameless fellow actually managed to break through, Ansheng felt like he had truly seen it all.
"Let's put that woman's matter aside for now, take a look at this tree branch..."
Master Fuli took Ba Mountain Mosquito's phone away and pointed at the branch on the conference table with his finger.
"Hmm..."
Ba Mountain Mosquito, somewhat reluctant, looked at the phone being taken by Master Fuli and then at the exceptionally smooth, though somewhat dry, branch on the conference table.
"Yes! It's a part of Master Treasure Tree. The tree's bark is incredibly smooth. When I stepped on it as a kid, it felt slippery. I could only barely stabilize myself by clinging to the tree resin..."
Seeing the smoothness of the branch and catching a whiff of the faint mossy smell, Ba Mountain Mosquito immediately confirmed that this branch was a root of Master Treasure Tree.
But it should be from a very tiny end, for the tree is enormous, even the softest branch should be as thick as an adult man's thigh, not this slender.
"Hmm..."
Master Fuli nodded slightly and looked at Treasure Tree Ant sitting in the box, saying:
"I can give you the branch back, but before that, you need to answer one small question for us."
"Where did you get the branch from? As long as you provide a clear explanation, Master Fuli won't trouble a child."
Upon hearing this, Treasure Tree Ant showed a conflicted expression. After some thought, it reluctantly said:
"I dug it up from the ground!"
"Right under my house. The place where you just caught me is my home, I dug it out from my home!"
"Impossible!"
Before Master Fuli could speak, Wang Qiqi immediately rebutted: "Students from Xinxing Agricultural Science College plow through Mawang Village's fields annually. In September, the students turned over the farmland; there couldn't possibly be roots of any ancient tree."
Wang Qiqi spoke with certainty. Ever since the existence of Master Treasure Tree was known, the Security Bureau established a special file called [Master Treasure Tree].
To track its presence, the Security Bureau even called up past satellite imagery of the Ba Mountain Sky Pit, restoring and identifying each frame in high definition to find images of the tree itself.
The outline of that tree, frankly speaking, was vast enough to cover the sky.
Its leaves were camouflaged in a gray-white color, and the tree was identified as a rocky mountain in satellite observation systems.
The crown of the tree was as large as a hill.
There's a very close relationship between a tree's canopy and its roots; they mutually regulate each other. It's impossible for a tree to have a large canopy but small roots. Small roots could never support such a massive canopy.
Based on initial estimates, the roots of Master Treasure Tree should have a diameter covering several miles around.
If Master Treasure Tree were hiding near the fields of Mawang Village, the college's plowing at the start of the school year should have unearthed its presence.
When it comes to ancient trees, Xinxing Agricultural Science College's usual approach is to protect and report them for research—it wouldn't be like the ancient tomb in the experimental field, which was purposefully reburied after being excavated.
Although Wang Qiqi hasn't reburied that tomb.
But she has covered the one in the artificial lake.
The story of Treasure Tree Ant doesn't hold, unless Master Treasure Tree could change size at will, like Master Fuli.
"I dug it up from my home! I used to live separately from the ant colony, living on my own. I dug it myself, chewed it myself. I know better than anyone how the tree came to be!"
The deeply aggrieved Treasure Tree Ant flew into a rage, raising its hand and slapping the metal box heavily. The force resonated, causing the solid wood conference table to produce a "bang bang bang" sound, shifting it slightly.
Treasure Tree Ant was furious.
How can people be so mean?
They take what belongs to you and then ask for a receipt, and even when you provide it, they accuse you of forgery.
It's simply bullying an ant too much!
Treasure Tree Ant was livid.
"Treasure Tree Ant didn't lie." Master Fuli spoke to Wang Qiqi: "It took my classic physics class; the possibility of it lying is extremely low, unless it wants all its family to be pickled by me in rheumatism wine."
"Master Treasure Tree disappeared suddenly; now, even if it pops out from under my seat, I wouldn't be surprised."
"By the way, ant wine is for treating rheumatism, right?" Master Fuli mused, asking Wang Qiqi.
Master Treasure Tree stir-fried tea.
The Ant Queen soaked wine.
It seems that in the future, Master Treasure Tree and the creatures spiritualized by its influence might have a section all to themselves.