Ximen Xueya asked, "Current Yun Suisen. Are you an enemy?"
Once these words were spoken the forest was suddenly filled with the straining atmosphere and stillness the forest originally possessed but at this moment no one else's attention had drifted from the two who caused these changes within the group.
A smiling Ximen Xueya and a calm Yun Suisen. Everyone's eyes were on the two of them. None of them are deaf. With the quietness of the forest, not even one here didn't not hear the question Ximen Xueya had asked.
The group in this mission is made up of two groups. One is Shi Moye's side while the other is Cao Junye's. With the rigidness between Ximen Xueya and Yun Suisen, it will depend on what kind of answer Yun Suisen would reply, or what kind of outcome would this team end with.
They were all waiting for Yun Suisen's answer to Ximen Xueya's question.
Yun Suisen suddenly smiled gently at Xueya and replied with a short bow. "I would never become your enemy. You should have known that already, Baobao."
This reply of Yun Suisen had calmed down the tension within the group but left some of the members dumbfounded, especially Wang Lei and Shi Moye. Su Liye finally let out a smile and chuckled when he saw Cao Junye from the far front frowning with a pissed expression as he clicked his tongue.
Shi Moye even grinned at him while lightly patting his shoulder.
"Seriously, what are you guys playing around for? Following us right away." The general murmured.
Cao Junye glared at him before walking towards the rear to where his wife is. Shi Moye follows behind him smiling brightly but no one could understand why.
On the other hand Xueya lightly frowned his eyebrows and stared at Yun Suisen and Shi Moye in disbelief. He now knows what is happening. In his mind System Yue is extremely confused and couldn't understand the current situation at all. He could only watch his host walk towards Yun Suisen who is still smiling at Ximen Xueya.
Touching his earring lightly, a pile of snacks and drinks appeared on Yun Suisen's arm. It was piled up into a small mountain that even covered Yun Suisen's line of sight, then Ximen Xueya just walked away and approached his incoming husband. He didn't even forget to give a glare at the grinning man behind Cao Junye.
"Aiya~ don't be angry~ You will look ugly this way boss~" said Shi Moye. His personality had instantly changed from the original Shi Moye from before.
Xueya said, "You guys are insane. Why did you all come over here in group? Especially when you've just gotten used to it1."
Yun Suisen responded, "I'll explain it later~"
"I'm only following what my wife wants thought~" replied Shi Moye.
Su Liye responded as well, "Same as above."
Yun Suisen whose face cannot be seen because of the small pile of snacks on his arms. "Can't you two help me with this first?"
Shi Moye and Su Liye helped with carrying the snacks from Yun Suisen's arms. Before the latter put it all in his space.
"Moreover we wanted to see our little nephew." said Shi Moye while staring at the cuddly toddler looking at them with big cute eyes.
Su Liye spoke, "So cute~"
"Of course! It's our nephew after all. Since the cat is already out of the bag. Xiao Jing~ come and give uncle a hug~" said Yun Suisen who ran to hug Ximen Chino.
What is surprising is that neither Xueya nor Junye had stopped him from doing so. Ximen Chino as well let himself get carried by Yun Suisen while having a confused expression on his face. He is looking at the unfamiliar presence within Yun Suisen.
"Who are you, uncle?" asked adorably by our little bun Chino.
Yun Suisen answered, "I'm really your uncle. Come on call Shushu for me~"
Hearing this Ximen Chino looked at his daddy and saw him nod his head. He did what Yun Suisen did and called out cheerfully.
"Shushu~~"
"Ah! So cute!!!" exclaimed Yun Suisen who hugs Chino in his arms. Beside him Shi Moye and Su Liye were crowding around the little bun lightly pinching his cheeks and ruffling his soft hair.
It took quite a long time for the three to calm down after getting their full hug from Chino. Yun Suisen even took the opportunity to carry Ximen Chino to his arms the whole time. On both sides Shi Moye and Su Liye were protecting them. Since these three had moved their position to the center, Baize and Wang Lei changed places with them.
Now the rear is protected by Baize and Wang Lei. The sides were under Shi Moye and Su Liye's shielding. With Yun Suisen at the center carrying Ximen Chino followed by Oreo and Xu Lin, the group was led by Ximen Xueya and Cao Junye this time.
---
They were walking around the forest following the lead of the general and his wife.
[The blood vine is near the cliffs on the east side. 30 meters away. Please be careful there's a mutated old weeping willow tree near the edge and you'll have to pass the white bamboo clumper. There's a special mutated bamboo within the cluster.]
The voice of System Yue resounds only in the minds of Cao Junye and Ximen Xueya. It is because of this that the general had to provide instruction for the team.
Cao Junye said, "We're about to enter a clumper of white bamboo. Don't touch or break anything. There's hidden mutated bamboo within the cluster.
Our target is near the edge of the cliff. That's where the blood vines grew. But near the truth is a mutated Weeping Willow tree, avoid it at all cost."
The soldiers collectively replied, "Yes, General!"
As they got nearer the bamboo clusters within the forest the area turned quieter as if dead still. Not even a hint of bugs nor birds could be heard in the area. Unlike when they've first entered the forest, the sounds of insects, birds and silent growls from afar can be heard. Only this area is completely silent.
The stillness in the area made the group uncomfortable. They've increase their vigilance at they walk through the bamboo forest. The bamboo was unlike its normal green in color. In this area the bamboos were white in color including its leaves. Within the clusters of bamboos, there's one huge bamboo trunk whose color is red. Its trunks were thrice as large as a normal bamboo and what made it creepy is that the color it gives out was like that of being dyed in blood.
Everyone in the group saw the strange colored bamboo. The rest even saw a flying bird just above the cluster being pierced through by the crimson colored trunk of the special bamboo plant at the center.
Clearly that bamboo is a mutated plant with slight intelligence but there is a problem. This thing seems to love blood after seeing the stabbed bird's body suddenly being drained out, its blood turning into a shriveled figure with one bone and skin.
Seeing this scene almost everyone's face paled except for a few who were calm no matter what. With regards to this type of calmness Ximen Xueya is one and Cao Junye is another.
Yun Suisen whispered, "Woa~ what is this a vampire plant?"
"Shushu, vampires don't exist in this world." whispered back by the little bun in his arms.
"That is also true. This is an apocalypse world after all. Then that plant likes to drink blood but unlike the blood vine this one seems to only pierce anything that flies above it." said Yun Suisen.
Despite their conversation this uncle and nephew still talk to each other as if not caring about how alarming that bamboo's existence is.
Yun Suisen murmured, "How creepy~"
"Do you want it?" asked Shi Moye.
Su Liye also said, "If you want it, we can bring the roots home at least and use it as a decoration."
"No! I don't like it!" said Yun Suisen.
Cao Junye finally spoke, "Ignore it. We are passing through. Avoid touching the bamboo. Move in line!"
The group followed the general's order and started walking, ignoring the vampiric mutated bamboo. They've also avoided touching even the other white bamboo in the area as they didn't know whether it would turn like that crimson colored bamboo when they touched it.
Thankfully the mutated bamboo only attacks things that fly over it and not those which come near it. As soon as they didn't shed blood they would be able to pass by this area without any problems. They were about to walk out of the bamboo forest and saw the nearby cliff in the distance.
Getting out of the bamboo forest, they were once again welcomed by a mystical scene. Not far from the cliff, they saw a huge weeping willow. The size of it is humongous. It is as tall as a five floor building. The willow tree is span almost extending to two single houses wide.
It's branches were widely spread and its leaves were flowing downwards. What's surprising is that the leaves from these three are made from rainbow colored crystals. The same crystal which could be found inside the head of those zombies.
This willow tree is so beautiful which makes the scenery heavenly and divine. The soldiers were in awe seeing such a magical scene. As if bewitched they've approached the tree in daze.
"Wow~ this tree is so beautiful~"
"Are those crystals!? We hit a jackpot then!"
"It's so big~ We could share it with everyone in the base."
"I... I really... want to touch it."
Only those who aren't originally a resident of this world knew what kind of tree is now in front of them.
Cao Junye with a frown on his face placed his wife behind him. Standing in front of Ximen Xueya protectively.
"STEP BACK! That is not an ordinary willow tree!" yelled the general but the soldiers ignored his orders as they were bewitched by such a tree.
Wang Lei, Shi Moye, Baize and Su Liye run around pulling the dazed soldiers who were walking towards the willow tree with rainbow colored leaves. As soon as they got too close to the willow tree, some soldiers became dizzy and instantly fell asleep. Some of the soldiers got too near and Cao Junye prevented others from coming over to drag them back.
"Don't go directly under the tree's darkest shade. You'll instantly fall into an illusion and fall asleep. It would be impossible to save you if you got too near it!" said Cao Junye.
Two of the six soldiers had walked beyond the line of saving. The rest could only watch them walk towards the willow tree unable to do anything.
They watched as those soldiers walked under the darkest shade of the tree and fell unconscious. The extending branches of the tree started moving and carried the trapped humans with their branches. Then they watched as those rainbow colored leaves turned sharp as glass shards pierced the bodies of the captured humans.
The humans the willow tree had caught died instantly from being stabbed from all parts of their bodies. While the corpse was left hanging until all blood was drained and sucked through by the willow tree. Those rainbow colored leaves glow brightly. Then within those leaves they've seen cut scenes which involve the prey's life. The Willow Tree uses its prey's life as nourishment and eats it's memories to flourish.
Yun Suisen ran towards Ximen Xueya with his nephew.
"Baobao what is that tree? Is it a demonic tree?!" asked Yun Suisen.
"Who are you calling Baobao? My name is Xueya."
"Fine! Xuexue..."
"Sigh~ It is not a demonic tree but it is far worse than that. It's a Celestial Tree called Eternal Rainbow Willow Tree. It is a special tree which is used to judge deities and Gods. It checks the person's karma. If you are a good person then there is no problem. But only pure souls could approach it.
Pure ones which means souls that aren't tainted by any bad karma. No blood or no sin. Then you would be able to survive."
Yun Suisen said, "Doesn't that make it a useful tree then? Why do you call it worse than a demonic tree?"
This time it was Cao Junye who said, "Demonic trees could be killed but a Celestial Tree, especially this one, is considered immortal. The words Eternal in its name are not for show. The problem is... there is no such pure soul that exists in this world.
It is also impossible to even for me or my wife to carelessly touch it. It's strength could rivals an Immortal God.
Reincarnated Soul couldn't touch it as well as it could even read its past lives memories. That's why this tree is considered as deadly and forbidden to be approached even in upper realms."
Xueya is talking about World Hopping in this case.