THE TREE

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"General Shen, Sir." Zhu Jiu's eyes widened. How could he forget about the seniors?

"Didn't Elder Zhang tell you to control yourself? Once you cross the line, it's impossible to turn back." Shen YongZheng gazed at the young man. "My energy is limited. If you are aware of the truth then you better return to reality soon." His body turned translucent as he spoke and disappeared from Zhu Jiu's sight.

"What?" Zhu Jiu blinked. He did not understand the elder's words. But his eyes began to stare at his surroundings. The bright light surrounding him was indeed surreal. Not to mention, Ma TiHua in his hands. Zhu Jiu released his grip on Ma TiHua's collar. "If the man were easy to defeat, we wouldn't be here," Zhu Jiu muttered.

"Still thinking?" The man in his hand asked. "Quickly, finish it."

"No... You are just a shadow. Besides, someone like you is not worth my dirt. I won't tarnish my reputation only to kill you."

"Even if your fiance and child were dead under my command?" Ma TiHua sneered.

"Even if I kill you, they won't live again. Just me and my emptiness. Revenge is not the answer." Zhu Jiu clenched his fists. His body shook. Although his mind understood his emotions kept retaliating. "If I ever catch you, I'll make sure that you will be punished for your sins. I'll make sure you won't escape from jail. I'll make sure you are in your rightful place."

"Coward."

"Call me whatever you want!" Zhu Jiu clenched his fists. "All that I do... I do for those who think about me above themselves. For those who are willing to sacrifice their lives for me. I will never let my actions disappoint them."

Ma TiHua smirked as the light dimmed. When the dark engulfed the entire land, Ma TiHua disappeared along with the men in black and Zhu Hong's body. Excruciating pain crept into Zhu Jiu's head, paralyzing him. The next thing that happened was the man dropped to the ground.

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"Are you all right?" Shen YongZheng asked his best friend.

"What about yourself?" Zhao XinChi returned the question.

"I retrieved my power I left with Zhu Jiu already." Shen YongZheng did not take his eyes off his friend.

"I think Zhang Shi is already back in my body." Zhao XinChi sighed.

"Is he out of his mind?"

"He left for Zhu Jiu." Zhao XinChi explained before his best friend blew up. "Just before he does something stupid. He returned soon after you took over."

"Haaa... That kid." Shen YongZheng rubbed his face. But when he opened his eyes, those black orbs caught something strange.

"What?" Zhao XinChi creased his eyebrows when Shen YongZheng's eyes fixated in one direction. Did not want to wait, he followed his friend's eyes. But then, his eyes widened when he saw what pulled Shen YongZheng's attention. "Is that... A skunk?"

"Where does the skunk come from?"

"If you ask me then who should I ask to?"

As the two debated, the little animal throttled toward them. Its little feet stumbled upon the rocks a few times but the skunk made its way steadily and leaned his head on Zhao XinChi's knee. Zhao XinChi creased his eyebrows when he saw how spoiled the little skunk was, but his confusion turned into another perplexity when he saw the small tiger paws on the skunk's feet instead of its normal paws. "This..." Zhao XinChi touched the paws. "Are you, by chance, the creature?"

The little skunk nuzzled its nose into Zhao XinChi's hand. Right when his hand touched the skunk's head, he saw scenes. The torture scenes the little skunk came through in his life until the day Guo ChangCheng saved him.

"This fellow," Zhao XinChi caressed the little head. "Been came through a lot."

"Huh?"

"Maybe that is why this little one is wary of people."

Shen YongZheng lowered his gaze as his mind traced the whole events they had dealt with since the beginning. The terrifying-looked monster did nothing to attack them and just sat on the field of flowers, minding its own business. It spread the mist not to hurt others but more to protect itself. But something did not sit well in Shen YongZheng's mind. "Wait," he looked at Zhao XinChi. "How do you know about the little one?"

"The skunk sent me the picture to my mind. It seems this one has a special power besides creating the hallucinogens."

"I see... So, this little one is an unusual mutant." Shen YongZheng patted the little skunk's head.

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Zhu Jiu rubbed his head when the pain lessened, slowly opening his eyes. But he closed his eyes in a flash when light stung them. Wait... Light? Zhu Jiu covered his eyes with his palm before opening them again. He frowned when he realized that he could see sunshine piercing through the leaves.

"You wake up now, sleepy head?" Shen YongZheng's words greeted Zhu Jiu when he pushed his body off the ground.

"General Shen," Zhu Jiu jumped but his spinning head forced him to crunch down. "Ow, ow, ow." He pressed the top of his head.

"Careful there," Shen YongZheng laughed.

"Uncle Zhao." Despite his painful head, Zhu Jiu whirled around to find the man.

"I'm here," Zhao XinChi's voice pulled Zhu Jiu's attention. Soon, he caught the man sitting under a tree, caressing a little animal in his lap.

"That's!" Zhu Jiu almost jumped.

"The monster..."

"That little skunk?!" Shen YongZheng's words shocked the younger man to the point he forgot about manners, pointing at the sleeping little creature.

"This little one has a special ability to read people's minds, transfer memories, and manipulate them. This poor creature thinks of this place as his home and tries to protect every creature living in this place." Zhao XinChi caressed the skunk's head.

"What?" Zhu Jiu pressed his head as he sat.

"The fog spread around this realm is his doing. He scans everyone who enters this realm to protect his friends." Zhao XinChi shifted his gaze to Zhu Jiu. "Are you all right?" He asked.

"Yes... Just a little dizzy," Zhu Jiu snickered.

"You seemed uncomfortable in your sleep. What did you dream about?" Shen YongZheng asked.

Zhu Jiu took a deep breath and told the two seniors about his dream. And listening to the story, the two elders shared a glance.

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"I never thought I would ride a monster." Guo ChangCheng caressed Tama's back. The little deer, Tama's friend, was also there with them. Its calm demeanor during the flight spoke that it was not the deer's first experience.

"Me too," Lin Jing patted his little - No, big - buddy's head. Sitting on Tama's neck was awesome. The scenery from above was second to none. "I wonder how others will reach the monument."

"Why?" Guo ChangCheng patted Tama's back.

"They don't have anyone who can speak with the monsters like you." Lin Jing answered. "Tama said they had all finished the last challenge but none of them knew they could ride the creature," he grinned.

"You still want to settle a score with Xiao Zhao?" Chu ShuZhi leaned his elbow to his knee.

"I just wonder why did he not say anything." Lin Jing took a deep breath.

"We all know how protective Lao Zhao is," Guo ChangCheng lowered his gaze, clenching his fingers around his bag leash. "If Xiao Zhao ever tells us everything, he will end up in an interrogation chamber."

"You are right," Lin Jing grunted.

"What?" Guo ChangCheng asked Chu ShuZhi when the man glared at him.

"You are so thoughtful about Xiao Zhao," Chu ShuZhi leaned his temple on his fist, his eyes did not leave Guo ChangCheng.

Lin Jing turned his head around to see the odd man. Guo ChangCheng lifted his eyes, blinking. "What do you mean? Of course, I care for Xiao Zhao... He is like my own brother."

"What so strange about caring for Xiao Zhao? All of us do care about that brat." Lin Jing frowned but soon it dawned on him. "Geez! Can you stop flirting? We still have a mission to do," he yelled.

"Who's flirting?" Chu ShuZhi shouted back. "I'm upset here." he shifted his eyes back to Guo ChangCheng.

"What do I do wrong?" Guo ChangCheng scratched his hair while Lin Jing grimaced in the same confusion.

"Do you know that you are not supposed to talk about another man in front of your lover?" Chu ShuZhi asked with piercing eyes.

"Who is my lover?" Guo ChangCheng tilted his head. Lin Jing's eyes jiggled between both men sitting behind him.

"Of course, it's me. Who else?" Chu ShuZhi showed no emotion for his entitlement.

Guo ChangCheng and Lin Jing's faces reddened although for different reasons. Guo ChangCheng could not suppress his embarrassment, but Lin Jing was boiling in anger. "I told you for not flirting!" He rumbled.

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"So, this is the gate?" Sha Ya stared at the enormous rectangular stone. Ancient characters were engraved on the stone. Sha Ya touched the stone and it shone a yellow light from the bottom to the top, passing the characters.

"What happened?" Zhu Hong rushed to Sha Ya's side.

"I don't know." Sha Ya had not finished her words yet when the light dimmed and disappeared.

"Do you think the other will come?" Da Qing patted the little lamb that took them to the final destination.

"I'm sure they will." Chu NianZhi clenched his fist. Suddenly, the yellow light flashed on the stone once again. Everyone whipped their head to the door. When the light went from the bottom upward.

"What's that?" Da Qing asked, eyes sweeping the stone.

"It seems someone activated the other side," Chu NianZhi gulped.

"Then... Why the door is not open?" Zhu Hong stared at the stone gate.

"Xiao Zhao told us about symmetrical," Sha Ya studied the yellow flash.

"What are you doing?" Da Qing asked when Sha Ya was about to put her hand on the stone once more.

"Just try to test my theory." Sha Ya took a deep breath before she put her palm on the center of the stone.

"Wha-" Da Qing had no chance to argue as Chu NianZhi stopped him.

"Sha Ya is a tomb rider. She used to deal with the riddles. Let's trust her hunch." Chu NianZhi gripped Da Qing's shoulder.

This time, Sha Ya waited for the yellow flash to sweep the entire stone before she touched the center. Everybody, including Sha Ya, gulped their saliva when the yellow light swept the stone downward. A clicking noise echoed in the silence and a cracking voice followed the stone's movement as it opened.

Their eyes glinted in happiness when they saw people who entered from the other door. The fact that the door was opened enough to identify the number of people across them.

Da Qing's smile widened when he saw Zhao YunLan step into the wide stone field. Zhu Hong and Sha Ya still debated whether they should take the little monster or not. But the answer settled at the moment Zhao MingAn carried Xiao Cài.

They almost ran toward each other when the other two doors opened. Chu NianZhi smiled when he saw his twins and Chu ShuZhi returned the affection. Zhu Hong rushed toward Zhu Jiu, leaping into the man's hug. Sha Ya spread her arms to guard Zhu Hong but pulled them as soon as Zhu Jiu caught her. Da Qing jumped at Zhao XinChi in his cat form. However, he soon jumped back down when the mutant skunk punched him in the nose. Da Qing fell, gnarling at the arrogant little skunk while the others laughed at him.

"Is that Xiao Cài?!" Shen YongZheng almost screamed when he saw the green creature in Zhao MingAn's hands. "How can he be here in this place?"

"Madame Gwang brought him." Shen YeZun answered for Zhao MingAn.

"Madame Gwang?" Now, every eye whirled to Shen YeZun. Frowning in disbelief, they stared at Shen YongZheng's youngest son. But soon shifted to Shen Wei and Zhao YunLan.

"So, you know that Madame Gwang is the one who helped us the whole time?" Now, Chu NianZhi's words pulled all the attention toward him.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Chu ShuZhi glared at his brother.

Chu NianZhi stiffened. His eyes swept everyone's expression. Some were curious, some were confused, and others said that he just said something he should not.

"Commander Chu... What do you mean?" Shen Wei's heavy tone pushed the commander to surrender. He took a deep breath and told them how Gwang Li helped them face the demon beasts by throwing the watermelon.

"I never know what that lady up to," Zhao YunLan rubbed his face. "She put a weird idea on my little brother's mind, making us all go into this weird realm, run around chased by the odd-looking animals, dealing with bothersome riddles, facing the scary monster that ended up as some pets or beasts we knew," he pulled his hair. "For what?!"

"If someone ever knows what is in her mind she won't be the dweller of the Blue Tree Meadow," Zhao XinChi sighed.

"Then... Let's do our job here," Shen Wei glanced at his younger brother.

"Mhm," Shen YeZun nodded.

He looked at the headstone in the center of the stone field. He strode to the monument, caressing the stone with his power to find the heart of the stone monument. Taking a deep breath, YeZun unleashed his power. Like a line created the triangle of glitter between the sun, YeZun, and the headstone when he extracted another jewel

Every breath hitched when the round jewel peeked from the stone, drifting to YeZun's hand like an obedient dog. Everyone was appalled. They knew YeZun pulled the first jewel. But now, as they saw the process, they could not stop the admiration. YeZun indeed was not weak although he had a fragile physic.

"Professor Shen..." Zhao MingAn caught the wobbly man right before YeZun fell. That was the time when he stood close to Zhu Hong.

"I'm all right," YeZun straightened his posture. "Ge..." He passed the jewel to Shen Wei.

"Mhm," Shen Wei strode toward his brother, receiving the jewel.

"Xiao Zhao... Why happen to you? Your scent changes," Zhu Hong frowned.

"What?" half of the group threw their gaze to Zhao MingAn. "Can you take a shower in this place?" Guo ChangCheng tilted his head innocently.

"Zhu Hong did not talk about soap scent," Da Qing tensed. "This scent does not belong to a HaiXing man."

"Why nothing is happening?" Zhao YunLan averted everyone's attention.

"Indeed... Where is the door to return to our dimension?" Shen YongZheng saved the atmosphere. "We just have two days."

"That's right," Lin Jing glanced at his watch. "We already spent 32 hours plus two more hours to escape this place. We still have several more to rest before we get to Ma TiHua's trading spot..." he continued the calculation.

"In short we need to hurry." Zhu Jiu meddled. Zhu Hong glanced at her lover, Zhu Jiu's adrenaline rushed faster than usual. She was confused but had no reason to ask.

"All right, little one." Zhao XinChi lifted the little skunk to his face. "Can you help us come out of this place?" he asked. The skunk touched Zhao XinChi's nose with its paw, transferring its knowledge.

"What did he say?" Shen YongZheng was curious.

"He can talk?" Shen YeZun's eyes lightened.

"He can not speak but he can transfer his mind," Shen YongZheng answered.

"He said that he will open the door for us. But as we all know, the time countdown starts soon after the door opens." Zhao XinChi patted the skunk's head. "Then... This is goodbye, Little one."

Listening to the elder, Lin Jing caressed Tama's head. "I'm leaving, Tama... You take care of yourself well," he sniffled.

"You too, bad boy." Da Qing pushed the little lamb's forehead gently. When everybody bid their little monster farewell, Zhao MingAn tightened his hug around Xiao Cài.

"MingAn..." Shen YeZun patted his lover's shoulder.

"No... Xiao Cài goes with us. I won't leave him here."

"Are you for real?!" Zhao YunLan raised his voice in upset. "You know what he capable of and you still want to bring him outside?"

"I can heal him," Zhao MingAn answered back.

"After how many decades will you be able to heal him?" Zhao YunLan lifted his chin.

"Do you want to say that I-"

"You are an adult!" Zhao YunLan cut his brother's words. "You can control yourself. He is still a baby!"

The argument weighed the atmosphere like never before. No one dared to make a noise. This was the first time they heard Zhao MingAn raise his voice against his elder brother. Xiao Cài clutched onto Zhao MingAn's chest, whimpering. Zhao MingAn took the baby kappa deeper and patted his back.

"Rather than argue over nothing. Why don't you ask Xiao Cài himself?" Zhao XinChi intervened. "You can't decide someone's fate while disregarding their opinions."

"Xiao Cài..." Zhao MingAn put the little kappa down on the concrete field. "Now, tell that stone-headed uncle that you want to go with us."

"Who the one you called stone-headed uncle?!" Zhao YunLan shouted.

"Calm down," Zhao XinChi scolded his first son.

"You heard what he said?"

"I'm not deaf," Zhao XinChi rubbed his eyebrows.

"Xiao Cài..."

The baby kappa blinked. He looked at Zhao YunLan and Zhao MingAn in turn. But then he hugged Zhao MingAn tightly. "Cài Cài love Ming Ming..." he said, pulling all ears. The little kappa could talk?

"I love you too, Xiao Cài," Zhao MingAn smiled as he returned the hug.

"Stay," Xiao Cài pulled himself from the young man.

"What?" Zhao MingAn's smile dropped.

"Cài Cài stay..."

"Xiao Cài..." Zhao MingAn squeezed the little kappa's shoulders gently. "I will help you. Don't you want to return to your community? Don't you miss your family? Your friends? Don't you want to go home?"

"Cài Cài home." The little kappa spread his arms. "Family." He looked at the other three monsters. "Friends."

"How about your parents?"

Xiao Cài shook his head. "Mean." a single word escaped the small beak, but silenced all questions. Water filled the biddy round orbs. Even those who did not follow the conversation could grasp the pain behind the complexion. No one could imagine what the little kappa had been through to make such a sorrowful expression.

Zhao MingAn almost said something when Zhao XinChi stopped him. "You already heard him. Now you must respect his decision."

"But-"

"I know it is heavy to let your children's hands go. But it's our duty as parents nonetheless." Shen YongZheng crossed his arms.

"Don't act like this is the end of the world. You can see him some other time." Zhao YunLan added when he saw how broken Zhao MingAn was.

"No..." Zhao XinChi gazed at his youngest son. "Once we take the jewel out. This realm will detach from our dimension within two hours. That's the reason why we should leave as fast as we could."

"Then... Why we don't feel any reaction?" Chu ShuZhi peered around.

"Because they are here." Chu NianZhi gazed at the four little creatures. He remembered the four perils as the guardians of this realm.

Zhao YunLan, Shen Wei, and Shen YeZun glanced at Zhao MingAn. Now, they understand why the young man was so adamant about bringing Xiao Cài out of this realm.

Zhao MingAn hugged Xiao Cài once again. If he could he did not want to let the little kappa go. Tears slipped from his eyes as he struggled to blink them back. "Are you sure?" he asked. The little kappa nodded.

"Xiao Cài..." Shen YeZun fell on his knee after wiping his tears, hiding his reddened eyes behind the UV-layered glasses. "Come here," he spread his arms. The little kappa answered the call by running toward Shen YeZun. "If you don't come with us now, you won't see us again. We will miss you every day. Won't you miss us?"

"Cài Cài sees Papa and Ming Ming every day," Little Kappa answered.

"Where?" Shen YeZun frowned.

"Here..." Xiao Cài touched his heart. Zhu Hong buried her face in Zhu Jiu's hug. This sadness was unbearable for her. Shen YeZun glanced at his lover. It would be useless to persuade the little kappa. Xiao Cài's answer screamed his resolution.

Zhao MingAn took a deep breath, blowing the air through his mouth. His feet pushed his body up. "Xiao Cài..." he took his backpack and strode toward the little kappa. "This is for you," he took out a little tote bag. "I have some can of fruit juice you like," he said as he put some cans in the tote bag. "Here a towel too. I don't bring your favorite cucumber but I will ask Madame Gwang to bring you some later and some new toy ducks," he sniffled.

Everyone around them kept their silence, they did not want to disturb the last moment.

"I know you are strong, but promise me you'll take care of yourself well." Zhao MingAn put the tote bag on Xiao Cài's shoulders like a backpack. "Please, wait for me. No matter how difficult, I'll find a way to see you." He squeezed the small shoulders. Xiao Cài nodded once again.

"Cài Cài loves Papa... Cài Cài loves Ming Ming. Bye-bye..." The little kappa waved his hand and then ran to find his friends. The four cute perils strode to one gate and stepped outside. They waved to the people inside when the stone gate closed subsequently. And the soft bang noise from the locked gate broke along with Zhao MingAn's tears...

Tree, a woody, perennial plant that typically had a single stem or trunk growing to a considerable height and brought lateral branches at some distance. They symbolized life and protection. However, some trees threw their seeds as far as they could. So the seeds would grow somewhere else. Not because they hate their offspring but to let the next generations find a better place and grow better...

**********THIS STORY IS STOLEN BY NOVELHD, PLEASE JUST READ THE ORIGINAL IN WATTPAD OR AO3 **************Picture credit to Nico's photos

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