But it always couldn't understand why, after just saying a couple of casual words with passersby, they would cry and want to follow it back to the Pear Forest.
"Miss, thank you for giving me the answer," said the gentle and passionate young lady, filled with gratitude. "Now I finally know what I should do."
It should have decided on a male or female gender long ago. Constantly suppressing itself like this not only hinders its cultivation growth, but frequently changing genders is also inconvenient in many ways.
It eagerly asked, "Do you know where she is now?"
Wen Ran shook her head, "I haven't seen her for a long time either."
The plot had long since become a mess, with Shen Wu having no intention of starting a pursuit akin to a burial ground.
The Tree Demon who originally appeared midway through the plot appeared earlier than expected, and yet hadn't even decided on a gender, while Qin Susu was somewhere wandering with the Demon Clan leader, whom Wen Ran really didn't know about.
It was somewhat disappointed but quickly became determined again, "It's okay, I will find her!"
The wind rose, and for a moment, the fragrance of pear blossoms filled the air. The white flowers on the surrounding pear trees fell freely, creating a rain of petals, as if welcoming a grand event.
Wen Ran was dazzled by the waves of floral fragrance.
It cheerfully said, "I'm going to truly transform."
The figure of the young lady in white was wrapped in petals, gradually integrating with the flowers, until the silhouette disappeared and was replaced by the shadow of a lush and flourishing tree.
All the white flowers in the air disappeared. The surrounding pear trees were left with only green leaves; only the center tree had a tiny bud on the highest branch, waiting to bloom among the green leaves.
It's the first time Wen Ran saw the scene of a Tree Demon transforming. She looked up at the towering tree and, thinking of how it saved her life, couldn't help saying, "You haven't seen her for so long; she might already have someone she likes."
The branches swayed, and its indistinguishable voice came, "I've learned many ways men pursue girls; I won't lose."
"That's not the issue. She now knows some powerful people from both the black and white sides. Seeking her out could easily put you in deep trouble," Wen Ran was referring to the crisis of the Tree Demon's fate—burned to death for Qin Susu, leaving not even ashes.
"Alright, Miss, don't distract me anymore. I'm trying hard to grow stamens."
Trying hard to grow stamens...
Wen Ran was shocked; were those stamens the thing she was thinking of for men?
If her interruption caused issues with someone's "stamens," she'd truly be to blame.
Wen Ran could only choose silence for now, deciding to talk more with it later. Moreover, she had already guessed time had stopped here when she noticed something strange in the sky.
That is to say, this world is essentially created by it as a barrier.
She also couldn't understand how this Tree Demon, whose magic isn't high, could create such a large barrier.
But obviously, unable to use magic now, she could only leave if the Tree Demon was willing to let them go, thereby revealing an exit in the barrier.
Qiu Shui and her cultivation couldn't be used; surely, they couldn't punch through the barrier empty-handed?
A sound like shattered glass suddenly startled Wen Ran as she waited.
She looked toward the source of the sound and saw that in mid-air, spider-web-like cracks appeared as if a mirror had shattered.
Then there was the sound of smashing objects, and the cracks grew larger and larger.
Wen Ran nervously picked up a stick from the ground, using it as protection.
A hand reached over from the other side of the crack; he grabbed the void here as if holding the edge of thin paper, slowly tearing it into a larger opening.
A young man's head appeared inside, and he grinned, "Ranran, good evening!"
Wen Ran, startled by his loud voice, threw the stick from her hand, "Shen Wu, you want to scare me to death!"
What kind of demon is this! Tearing the barrier apart with his bare hands!
Shen Wu dodged the thrown stick, heartbrokenly saying, "Seeing you fall off a cliff, I searched for you tirelessly. How could you be so unfeeling to me?"
"While saying that, wipe the grease off your mouth!"
Upon hearing that, Shen Wu wiped the corners of his mouth, smiling innocently without a hint of embarrassment, "I wasn't worried you'd be hungry, so I specially roasted a chicken on the way here to bring for you."
"Where's the roast chicken then?"
"It didn't taste too good; you probably wouldn't like it, so I took care of it myself."
Wen Ran snorted twice.
Shen Wu easily jumped through the crack; behind him was the night, but the ground where he landed was day. As if he had never seen the world before, he marveled, "How magical!"
Is it the barrier that's magical, or is it him, who can break through the barrier bare-handed, that's magical!
Shen Wu didn't wear a hat, and his right eye had a bruise. Not embarrassed but rather had the vibe of a troublemaker; his white clothes stained with others' blood.
Wen Ran refused as he approached, rejecting, "Stay away from me!"
Shen Wu stopped abruptly, suddenly showing sadness, "Not seeing you for a day feels like three years; my longing for you is evident to heaven and earth, yet you treat me so coldly."
"...Where did you learn such flowery words?"
"I picked up an interesting book on the way." Shen Wu maintained seriousness for barely a second before losing it, flipping through a book he took out casually, his eyes bright with curiosity, seemingly mad to others, "The book also says that when meeting a young lady after a long time, it's best to bring a gift."
Before Wen Ran could react, a swift gust of wind brought the young man's figure suddenly to her side.
"Ranran, here's this for you!"
Wen Ran looked at the twig in his hand, at the little white flower that had just bloomed on it.
He eagerly said, "I came in a hurry and didn't bring a gift; let's make do with this."
Wen Ran glanced up; the tall tree was left with only lush green. That sole little white flower, now held tightly by Shen Wu.
Her eyes widened slowly, "You actually pulled off someone's stamen!"
Shen Wu blinked in confusion.
What's wrong with just picking a flower?
Why did her words sound like he had pulled off the essence of life?
Wen Ran hurriedly reached out to rescue that flower, but thinking about the stamen being that thing, she couldn't bring herself to touch it, offering hopefully, "It should still stick back on, right?"
Shen Wu kindly reminded, "Nope!"