"Huh?"
Liu Zheng stopped in his tracks.
"What's up?"
Niu Ma asked.
"It seems like someone is singing."
He said.
The singing was faint and would have been inaudible to him if not for the boost from his vest.
"I didn't hear anything."
Niu Ma perked up his ears.
"Je vois la vie en rose, il me dit des mots d'amour."
Liu Zheng softly hummed the lyrics he heard, a smile slowly appearing on his face.
"So, it's Mr. Tree."
"That tree? Makes sense, who else would be singing on the street at this time."
Niu Ma said with a sneer.
"How far is it from here?"
He asked.
"A little over a kilometer."
Niu Ma thought for a moment and said.
"That's not too far. Boss, should I go over and say hi?"
Liu Zheng inquired.
"Why? You want to dance backup for it?"
Niu Ma mocked.
"It's polite."
He laughed.
"Only you humans make such a fuss. If you wanna go, go, but I don't want to see it."
Niu Ma said, feeling annoyed.
"Alright."
Liu Zheng walked in the direction Niu Ma had pointed, while Niu Ma trailed far behind him.
Before long, Liu Zheng saw Dai Legao.
He didn't need to dance backup at all; the French Plane Tree was having a blast on its own.
Hundreds of roots burst from the Black Soil, dancing wildly with its leaves.
Numerous bones and collectibles collided, clinking and clanking like a percussion orchestra.
The song was meant to be a tender ballad, but the French Plane Tree managed to give it a heavy metal vibe.
"Mr. Tree!"
Liu Zheng shouted several times before Dai Legao turned its face in his direction.
"It's you, the annoying guy. What good stuff have you gotten into finding me so late?"
It first showed disdain, then excitement.
"Not really, I was just passing by. I heard you singing and came over to greet."
Liu Zheng said.
"Pfft."
The French Plane Tree turned its face away, ready to resume its singing.
"But, I did actually bring you something."
He took out a bottle of sake and placed it on the ground.
"If you get tired of singing, take a couple of sips to moisten your throat. I'm leaving."
Liu Zheng waved a tentacle and turned to leave.
"Hey, wait a minute."
The French Plane Tree called out to him.
"What can I do for you, the most talented rock singer in the city, the respected French nobility Dai Legao?"
Liu Zheng turned and smiled.
"A gentleman never freeloads. Tell me, what do you want in exchange?"
Dai Legao struggled to maintain composure, but its mouth twisted with such vigor that the cortex almost showed.
"It's simply a gift between friends. But if you insist on returning the favor, just give me some information."
He said helplessly.
The sake was of ordinary quality, so it wouldn't trade for much.
The tree might be generous, but it certainly wasn't foolish.
"What kind of information?"
"Niu Ma plans to take me to the black market to make some money. Got any advice for me?"
He asked.
"Is it here too?"
The French Plane Tree looked around and quickly spotted Niu Ma hiding in a corner.
"Ptui!"
It spat some tree sap on the ground.
Almost at the same time, Liu Zheng also heard a hissing sound coming from the corner.
"You two got beef?"
He asked curiously.
"That bastard brought me fake booze for a trade, and I gave it a good beating when I found out."
The French Plane Tree huffed.
Liu Zheng was impressed.
Being able to beat up Niu Ma, who was a three-time 'Employee of the Year,' truly made it the street bully of this road.
"Since you've already beaten it, let's put this behind us."
He suggested.
"Put it behind us, my foot. That asshole put weed killer in the booze, it made me miserable for days."
The French Plane Tree said bitterly.
"You knew it was fake and you still drank it?"
Liu Zheng was speechless.
"How could I know how fake it was without drinking it?"
The French Plane Tree retorted righteously.
"You're right."
He conceded.
"I've never been to the black market, so I don't have any intelligence for you."
French Plane Tree said.
"Then forget about it. Good night."
"Wait a second."
French Plane Tree called out to him again.
"What is it?"
"Take this, I don't like owing people favors."
A root dangled down, with a piece of writhing flesh hanging on it.
"Name: Emergency Ration"
"Type: Item"
"Quality: Excellent"
"Effect: Automatically used after becoming 'hollow,' replenishing a small amount of what's missing."
"Note: It's always good to have more friends, especially when you're hungry."
"Can it be taken out of the instance: No"
A life-saving item, eh? Nice.
Liu Zheng was about to step forward to take it when he stopped abruptly.
He looked down at the ground where the moonlight was blocked by the dense branches and leaves of the French Plane Tree, leaving the area beneath the tree pitch black.
Liu Zheng bent down, nearly folding in half.
Then, he smelled the putrid scent of the soil.
"Can't ever be too careful."
Liu Zheng sighed.
"It sure is hard to get a bite of meat."
French Plane Tree sighed even more.
"Let's go through the process once more."
He suggested.
"Sigh. I really do want to trade with you, human. You can make up for the part that's not enough next time."
French Plane Tree resignedly spoke.
"Fair enough, come a bit closer."
Liu Zheng extended a tentacle and took the piece of flesh.
The moonlight, for some reason, shone down again, illuminating the twisted human face on the flesh.
"You continue, I'm heading out."
He turned and left, leaving French Plane Tree there, looking rather downcast.
"What did you swap this time?"
Niu Ma asked.
"This."
Liu Zheng took out the emergency ration.
"Oh, nice stuff."
Niu Ma's eyes lit up.
"With this thing, we might make a big score."
It whispered.
"What did you say, boss?"
"Nothing, let's move. If we're any later, the black market will be closed."
It urged.
Half an hour later, they finally arrived at their destination.
A deep, dark alley; at its entrance, a layer of smooth black mist that undulated continuously.
"Put your hand in."
Niu Ma said to Liu Zheng.
"Why?"
"It's the rule of the black market, to check the visitor's identity and prevent other things from sneaking in."
Niu Ma explained.
"What other things?"
"Why all the questions? Are you here to make money or to do scientific research? Hurry up, hurry up."
Niu Ma said impatiently.
Liu Zheng rolled his eyes and extended his hand into the black mist.
The sensation was strange, like passing through a layer of cooled pig fat.
"Hiss!"
He suddenly grimaced.
Something inside bit him, not hard, but it hurt.
On the other side, Niu Ma stretched its hoof into it as well.
Soon, it made the same noise.
"I thought you'd be used to it by now."
Liu Zheng teased.
"Nerves, I'm not a masochist."
Niu Ma rolled its eyes and tenderly rubbed its hoof.
"Besides, my hooves are still so delicate."
"Heh."
A few seconds later, the black mist turned red.
"All clear, go on in."
Niu Ma took the lead and walked in.
As soon as it entered, Liu Zheng felt that sensation of being watched intensify.
"Really bullies the weak and fears the strong."
He curled his lip and walked into the red mist.
In an instant, the feeling of suffocation engulfed him.
Liu Zheng felt as if he was stuck in a huge slab of butter, which was continually churning and compressing him.
He held his breath and swam forward with his four tentacles waving.