"How could..."
The French Plane Tree subconsciously wanted to deny it but its mouth kept opening and closing, unable to make a sound.
"Let me guess again, you can't lie, can you?"
Liu Zheng raised his eyebrows.
The French Plane Tree simply shut its mouth.
"What's the best thing you have?"
He rolled his eyes, testing with his question.
"I can't lie, but that doesn't mean I have to tell you. Idiot human."
Seeing the truth exposed, the French Plane Tree's attitude immediately turned foul.
"Then let's make a deal, Mr. Tree."
Liu Zheng spread his hands.
"I refuse to make a deal with humans... Oh, damn it."
The French Plane Tree cursed loudly.
"You throw the cane over here, and I'll throw my pee at you."
He said, trying to hold back his laughter.
"Why should I believe you?"
The French Plane Tree said arrogantly.
"Do you want a drink? Not pee-flavored urine, real booze. There's also juice, cola, coffee, milk tea..."
"Stop, stop, can you really get all those?"
The branches of the French Plane Tree adjusted themselves.
"Don't forget, I'm a delivery man for the Bloody Restaurant."
Liu Zheng pointed at his uniform.
"I know, if you weren't a restaurant worker, I'd be eating you right now."
The French Plane Tree rolled its eyes.
Several branches snapped out like venomous snakes, circling above his head as if to intimidate.
He was startled.
He thought he was out of attack range, but it turned out there was still a certain condition unsatisfied.
It seemed his status as a restaurant worker was indeed a protective color; no wonder Niu Ma told him to be bolder outside.
"I can't guarantee I'll always get drinks, but I promise that once I do, I'll trade with you."
Liu Zheng said.
"All right, human, you've persuaded me."
The branches of the French Plane Tree moved slightly.
"You have to say that you truly want to trade with me, a human."
He emphasized.
"I truly... Oh, purée!"
The French Plane Tree swore again.
Liu Zheng silently watched it break down, its branches shaking wildly.
"Fine, I truly want to trade with you, human."
A moment later, the French Plane Tree finally accepted reality.
"So first answer me one question, how can I safely complete this trade?"
"As long as you don't step on the soil or take my belongings without permission, I can't attack you."
The French Plane Tree readily said.
Around it, there was a circle of soil with a diameter of two meters, nearly black in color.
"Then you throw the cane over here and give me a container for the pee."
Liu Zheng said.
"Zut, when did humans become so smart?"
The French Plane Tree complained while throwing the Human Bone Cane and a rusty tin can to him.
"Because the humans who weren't smart got eaten by you."
He scoffed coldly.
"What are you dissatisfied with, human? You use our limbs for warmth, eat our embryos, sip our blood."
The French Plane Tree spoke disdainfully.
"You're right."
Liu Zheng nodded and returned under the camphor tree.
He didn't intend to argue with this tree; he had neither the interest nor the time.
After emptying his stock, Liu Zheng, holding the tin can, came to face the French Plane Tree.
Standing on the edge of the black soil, he aimed the mouth of the can at the French Plane Tree's mouth.
"Mince, what are you doing?"
The French Plane Tree cried out.
"Feeding you urine. What's the problem?"
Liu Zheng said, puzzled.
So eager just now, now it's disdainful?
"I am a tree, a tree, do you understand? This mouth is just for show; the roots are my real mouth."
The French Plane Tree rolled its eyes dramatically.
"All right, my mistake."
He shrugged and poured the liquid, reeking of alcohol, onto the root.
"Bien! That's the stuff."
The French Plane Tree showed a blissful expression.
"Glad you like it. So, goodbye, Mr. Tree, I need to get back to work."
Liu Zheng tossed the tin can on the ground.
"Don't call me Mr. Tree, I have a name. Call me Dai Legao."
The French Plane Tree said discontentedly.
"Alright, Mr. Dai."
He easily went with the flow.
"You know what, forget it, I won't stoop to the level of arguing with a stupid human like you. Listen, if you can get me a bottle of Ascension Maotai 53 Degree, I can give you something truly valuable."
Dai Legao said.
"I'll try my best."
Liu Zheng nodded.
Since Niu Ma managed to get one bottle, he should be able to get a second one.
"You won't be disappointed, human. If you want to survive working in the restaurant, you're definitely going to need it."
Dai Legao implied in his speech.
After saying goodbye to the man-eating tree, he was back on his way.
The toilet break had wasted a lot of time, but fortunately, the newly acquired item made up for it.
"By the way, how do I use this thing?"
Liu Zheng swung the cane a few times, mumbling to himself.
"It's a cane, it's just a cane, you stupid and suspicious human."
Dai Legao's irritable voice came from behind him.
"Oh, thank you."
He said without turning back.
Not bad; there was even after-sale service.
Tap, tap, tap, tap.....
Accompanied by the rhythmic sound of the cane tapping the ground, Liu Zheng felt his legs were also much lighter.
"Walking with a cane is faster than walking. Being extraordinary is really interesting."
He shook his head while striding forward briskly.
There wasn't much time left.
-----------------
Hurrying along, Liu Zheng finally made it to his destination with 10 minutes to spare.
Merlin District.
At the entrance of the district, there was a guardhouse. The security guard inside was leaning on the back of the chair, covering his face with a wide-brimmed hat as if he was slacking off and sleeping.
He stared at the guardhouse for a bit and decided it was best not to initiate contact.
Luckily, although the district had an access control system, one could go around it next to the barrier pole.
Liu Zheng tentatively stepped in one foot and then observed the guardhouse.
After noticing no reaction from the security guard, he stepped the other foot in as well.
This instance world was filled with bizarre rules; one had to be careful at all times without explicit guidance.
"Building 3, Room 503, which one is Building 3?"
The district wasn't large, and after a quick walk around, he found no markings on the buildings.
"Looks like I'll have to ask someone."
Liu Zheng sighed.
Delivering takeout was such a hassle in this world; the laborers here really had it rough.
He went back to the entrance of the district and knocked on the guardhouse window.
"Hello."
Liu Zheng called out.
The security guard woke up from his slumber and sat up straight, but his hand did not leave his hat.
"What is it?"
He asked.
His voice was hoarse and fine, like a castrato who had smoked too much.
"I'm a delivery guy from the Bloody Restaurant. May I ask which one is Building 3?"
At the mention of the Bloody Restaurant, the guard's hat seemed to shiver slightly.
"A piece of meat."
He said.
"What kind of meat?"
"Any meat, one piece of meat for one question."
The security guard replied.
Liu Zheng looked at the delivery box; the fish head inside should satisfy the condition.
But surely, stealing from the delivery would result in punishment.
He glanced at his phone; only 6 minutes were left.
Since he couldn't steal the delivery, he had to find meat somewhere else.
"Give me a knife."
Liu Zheng said.
"No need."
The security guard removed his hat, revealing a head similar to that of an eel bobbing in the air.
The smooth, scaleless top opened up, uncovering rows of tiny teeth.
It swiftly swam up to Liu Zheng and then clung to his body, moving around as if searching for a good place to bite.
"Hurry up, if we don't make the delivery on time, we're both screwed."
Liu Zheng said, hardly masking his discomfort and intimidation.
Perhaps those words had an effect; Eel Head stopped moving and bit onto his arm.
The pain of having flesh roughly torn from his arm made cold sweat break out on Liu Zheng's forehead, but he clenely clenched his teeth and made no sound.
Yet strangely, when Eel Head detached from his body, Liu Zheng found there were no wounds on his arm.
"That one."
The security guard raised his thick and stubby finger, pointing the way for Liu Zheng.
"Thank you."
Liu Zheng ignored the pain and ran towards Building 3.