CHAPTER 1006: CHAPTER 199: ARMISTICE

"Those who harm the jungle will be avenged by the jungle."

The giant tree refuses to let go of its hatred.

However, the logic of the giant tree has already become clear enough: as the leader of the jungle, it considers itself as the collective consciousness of the jungle. Its thoughts are as naïve as a newborn, and its actions follow the nature of trees.

"He didn’t harm the jungle voluntarily; your war started due to an invasion by the jungle." Lu Li stated the facts.

"Then, as your friend suggests, ceasefire. However, the jungle has a request..."

Perhaps it has read some books.

...

In the silent forest emitting a faint glow from the glowing grass, the light of an unplaceable oil lamp appeared deep in the jungle.

Lu Li was sent back to the battlefield, which was now silent.

"Shortly after you left, they stopped the attack."

The Mother of the Marsh approached the returning Lu Li: "You succeeded..."

"Not completely."

Standing on the permafrost, Lu Li circled around the drooping roots of the Banyan Tree to rejoin the group, saying to the Mother of the Marsh, "You need to stand before it yourself to put an end to the war with the jungle."

"Can I meet... my broken body?" the God of the Deep Sea inquired.

"Are you imitating... me again?"

"I... deeply apologize." the God of the Deep Sea whispered. "But I feel... that a god should speak like this."

Lu Li replied, "The broken body is in the hands of the jungle. It’s not completely successful, and the jungle requires us to accomplish four tasks before they return it. One of which is ending the war with the Mother of the Marsh."

"What are the other three..."

"Polluted, everything-corroding water, wind that extinguishes all, and a shadow that shrouds everything." Lu Li repeated the jungle’s narration, translated into understandable terms: "To resolve the sea water seeping into the North Swamp, turning it into an alkali desert that kills plants; the damage of the harsh winter to the jungle; and the lack of light in the environment."

The easiest to resolve is the intrusion of seawater and the salt-covered land on the northern coast—just need to build a breakwater, then purify the land with the power of the broken body, just as the jungle can survive tenaciously in the seawater.

However, easy is only relative to the latter two: building a 50-li long breakwater will consume an unknown amount of time.

"If we destroy the jungle to retrieve the broken body..." whispered the God of the Deep Sea.

"We can’t defeat it." Lu Li answered.

He also wouldn’t do so.

There’s another problem: the jungle requires the Mother of the Marsh to go to it, which implies risk. If the jungle breaks the agreement, the barely powerful Mother of the Marsh will be difficult to defend herself.

"I trust you..."

The Mother of the Marsh softly said. She would follow to the jungle to stop the war.

However, Ophelia, Puxiu, and the God of the Deep Sea also wished to go.

"Then let’s go together." Lu Li said.

Except for the God of the Deep Sea.

It’s not about sarcasm, but the current God of the Deep Sea is indeed not smart enough, or rather, not good at thinking, like the opposing jungle.

Letting two straightforward, unhidden intention individuals meet is never a good idea.

Because the roots no longer surged to lift and escort them, they moved slowly.

This was a good thing for the Mother of the Marsh, an opportunity to observe the layout of the Twisted Jungle. If the war continued, it might help her somewhat.

After moving for dozens of minutes through the roots and mud of the swamp, the jungle seemed to lose patience and couldn’t wait to take Lu Li away, leaving the others to continue their journey.

And bringing Lu Li back before the giant tree in the jungle, it was like a child showing off a toy to a playmate, hoping Lu Li would tour its treasury—

The treasury was on top of the canopy, very close to the finger bones supported by layers of branches. The jungle that sent Lu Li to the canopy was clearly unguarded against its "friend" Lu Li, and Lu Li did not betray its trust.

A broken-down carriage, several dirty unrecognizable clothes, a book with a barely identifiable cover, and the best-preserved items were a few coins.

This was a barren collection that even the Mother of the Marsh, an evil deity, found irresistible.

"History of the Romalian War"

Lu Li’s gaze paused briefly on the book cover, finding the source of the jungle’s behavior. Perhaps if the owner of this carriage had brought a fairy tale, nothing would have happened today.

A thin, finger-like root reluctantly and arduously picked among the "treasures," rolling up the highest-value coin, bringing it to Lu Li.

"This is a gift for you, my friend."

So Lu Li also gave the jungle a gift, opening a wooden box and summoning Merchant Anthony.

"Is this for me? My friend." asked the giant tree.

"Not yet."

As Merchant Anthony appeared amid the giant tree’s exclamation, Lu Li let it extract some seeds, placing them on the curled root.

"Young... life in budding... I like your gift, my friend." The joy of the giant tree could be felt through its vibrations.

"Then be kind to my companions."

However, the meeting between the Mother of the Marsh and the giant tree was not pleasant.

When they arrived before the giant tree, root tendrils arose from deep within the jungle.

"Do you wish to continue the war?" Lu Li asked.

"The jungle doesn’t deceive friends."

The giant tree trembled, recalling the jungle’s hostility.

Thereafter followed the details of the truce. The Mother of the Marsh could abandon the land invaded by the Twisted Jungle, but the giant tree required the marsh to be handed over to it.

This is the essence of a tree, along with the significance of a jungle leader: survival and expansion.

"Why not grow towards the ruins of Shadow Town." Lu Li asked the giant tree.

"Where is that...?"

Lu Li unfolded the map of the Ailen Peninsula, indicating to it the location of the Shadow Swamp, then circled over the Falling Leaves Mountain Range and the ruins of Shadow Town.

"There’s no nutrition, no water, just rock underneath."

"Indeed... there’s such... a theory." Whenever discussing knowledge, Ophelia would speak as precisely as a scholar wearing glasses: "The Ailen... Peninsula... is a whole... piece of rock... forming... the land, except the swamps."

The Shadow Swamp is not the main body of this rocky Ailen Peninsula, but a shallow formed by long erosion and seawater.

This theory, like many unproven statements, is merely a hypothesis.

Moreover, the main restriction of jungle expansion might not be the underground rocks but the water source—at least the vast abandoned farmland outside Shadow Town indicates that trees and plants can indeed grow there.

"I’ll find a way to resolve the water source issue to stop the jungle’s expansion into the South Swamp." Lu Li said.

"Okay, my friend."

The South and North Shadow Swamp officially reached a truce.

Despite the complicated and tedious conditions, it’s better than flames, death, and destruction.

Although Ophelia really liked the former.

Puxiu bounced around happily, chasing the floating glows.

"You are my hero."

The Mother of the Marsh crouched low, veiled with silk, her beautifully glowing body embraced Lu Li.

"I should not withstand your embrace." Lu Li stopped the Mother of the Marsh’s affection.

"Then next time..." the Mother of the Marsh softly and expectantly asked: "Do you still have the bracelet I once gifted you?"

"It’s at Seaview Cliff."

Lu Li’s dark eyes lowered.

Anna wouldn’t allow Lu Li to wear it, using excuses such as the deceased’s relics being ominous and that it was a ladies’ bracelet.