Path of Alchemy Mastery
Chapter 149 - 151: The Role of the Little Tree People

Chapter 149: Chapter 151: The Role of the Little Tree People

"Dad, Dad, Xiao Hong is bullying me." A young man sat on the back of a huge tiger, looking helplessly at a small sapling perched on his left shoulder.

"How many times do I have to tell you, don’t call me dad." The sapling had arms and legs, and its small face on the trunk was clearly visible, with its leaves serving as eyebrows.

It was none other than Mu Can and Poor Tiger, having just left the Tree People’s chamber.

It wasn’t until leaving the Tree People’s chamber that Mu Can realized he had been tricked by Luo Ding, what Spirit Fruit feast, it was just using him to help the little sapling escape the Death Maze.

Bringing a little sapling back to the Mortal World might have nothing to do at that moment, but what’s the deal with a single guy like himself dragging along a tag-along?

Even though he was extremely unwilling, Mu Can eventually took the little tree person out of the chamber. He even named it Ben Ben, just to get back at the sapling for calling him dumb.

But then again, Mu Can’s naming skills were indeed not very impressive, what with names like Luck, Xiao Hong, and now Ben Ben... It really reeked of rustic simplicity.

"Bad names are easy to raise." Mu Can reassured his Beast Pets in this way.

No sooner had they left the Tree People’s chamber than Ben Ben and Xiao Hong started fighting, a bird and a tree energetically duking it out.

The reason was simple, Ben Ben was playing boss to Xiao Hong. Although Xiao Hong’s intelligence had greatly declined, how could it accept a small sapling as the boss?

Having just been born, Ben Ben, lacking in strength and status, got thoroughly clawed by Xiao Hong, even losing a leaf from its little head. Unable to win, Ben Ben started crying and complained to Mu Can.

Mu Can was full of black lines; this little sapling had none of the honest and simple characteristics of the Tree People. Its crispy and cheeky demeanor forecasted it growing up to be a Demon Lord of Mayhem. Mu Can began to worry about how to handle this mischievous Ben Ben after returning to the Mortal World.

Leaving it alone was definitely not an option for Mu Can. It was hard to ensure that no one would find out about the Tree People’s heart, and by taking Ben Ben out, he might be leading him into danger, something Mu Can absolutely did not want to see.

"Your tree son is not bad, right? Be content with what you have. You don’t know how many people are kneeling before Luo Ding, begging for a Luo Ming fruit, and can’t even get one," said Poor Tiger with a look that seemed to say you don’t appreciate what you’ve got.

"So this little burden is actually a sought-after item?" Mu Can picked Ben Ben up from his shoulder, holding him in his palm and scrutinizing him.

"Dad, what are you going to do?" Ben Ben covered his non-existent private parts with both hands, asking shyly.

"Why are you covering up; it’s not like you have anything there," Mu Can looked at Ben Ben disdainfully.

"Brother Tiger, what use is this tree son actually?" Mu Can observed for a while but couldn’t see any particular use in Ben Ben.

"Hey, do you know what Tree People’s greatest ability is?" Poor Tiger slowly stopped walking, asking in a serious tone.

"Of course, it’s their life force. Isn’t the Tree People’s life force claimed to be the strongest?"

"Life force is just one aspect. Every Tree Person is the best in caring for plants. Their powerful life ability can significantly speed up the growth cycle of medicinal herbs. You know about Alchemists, right?"

"Damn, I’m an Alchemist!" Mu Can looked at the unremarkable Ben Ben in his hand in shock.

Now, in Mu Can’s eyes, Ben Ben is no longer the troublemaking character he was before; instead, he’s seen as a rare treasure.

For a Pill Master, a Tree Person that can help nurture medicinal materials is just like a Divine Artifact, and this artifact even reduces the growth cycle of the medicinal materials.

"Dad, what are you doing? Ben Ben is getting shy," Ben Ben said, feeling embarrassed under Mu Can’s fervent gaze.

"Chirp chirp chirp chirp." Xiao Hong couldn’t stand it anymore and went up to peck off the only three leaves on top of Ben Ben’s head.

"Stay away, Xiao Hong I’m warning you, from now on, Fu Qi ranks first, Ben Ben second, you third. You better take good care of Ben Ben," Mu Can quickly stopped Xiao Hong, sternly instructing.

"Hurry, Big Dumb Bird, call him ’Second Brother’. Right, dad, who is Fu Qi? How come they rank first? Ben Ben also wants to be first," Ben Ben, supported by Mu Can, started to taunt Xiao Hong.

"Chirp chirp chirp chirp." Xiao Hong knew it was hopeless to hurt Ben Ben with Mu Can around and started yelling at Ben Ben from a distance.

"Xiao Hong, listen." Although it was in bird language, Mu Can could sense the threat in Xiao Hong’s tone.

"If you take good care of Ben Ben, I promise to provide you with an unlimited supply of the Elixirs you love," Mu Can said, knowing that Xiao Hong loved consuming the Elixirs he refined for Fu Qi, but since he hadn’t taken a liking to Xiao Hong previously, he hardly ever refined them for her.

"Really?"

"Of course it’s true. Why would I lie to you? You can share with Fu Qi when the time comes."

Under Mu Can’s coercion and bribery, Xiao Hong thus accepted her position as the third in rank and devotedly started serving as Ben Ben’s sidekick.

"Rest assured, how could this old tiger deceive you? This little fellow is probably the first Tree Person to leave the Death Maze in many years. You must take good care of him." The old tiger nodded in satisfaction, seeing the Tree Person enjoying Xiao Hong’s care.

"That Spirit Fruit Banquet isn’t just hosted for anyone, is it?" Mu Can was no fool; he quickly realized that the banquet was specially prepared for him.

"Of course, did you think a Tree Person would just easily entrust their offspring to someone else? Although Ben Ben is still young, he will eventually manifest a Heart of the Tree Person, and you know the worth of that," said the old tiger as if Mu Can had just realized something.

"Then why choose me?" Mu Can was puzzled; he didn’t know what made him stand out in Luo Ding ’s eyes.

"The Mother Tree can sense a person’s heart, and Luo Ding said your heart is pure, so he decided to choose you, especially since the number of outsiders entering the Death Space has been reducing lately."

"I knew I was being plotted against," Mu Can said in a sullen mood, initially thinking Luo Ding was honest and straightforward, but turned out he schemed right after meeting.

"Don’t complain about getting a good deal; this little guy will bring you many advantages. You’ll realize it later; it’ll at least increase your life by a third."

"Hehe," Mu Can chuckled sheepishly, genuinely fond of Ben Ben, or else he wouldn’t have really considered keeping Ben Ben by his side. It was simply a bit hard for him to accept Ben Ben calling him ’dad’.

Whether there is also a factor from Purple Cloud here is unknown to others.

"Be careful up ahead, keep the two little guys with you quieter; a group of monsters lives in this secret chamber." The old tiger paused, cautiously advising.

"Is it the monster that scared you to death?" Mu Can’s expression became grave, understanding from the old tiger’s reaction that the dangers within the chamber were imaginable.