by Tai Baiyang
Stone chips fell down, as Zhang Mu easily reached the Great Buddha's shoulder. Looking at the Buddha's ear from a distance, Zhang Mu couldn't stop his heart from pounding.
"Will I finally get to see the treasure hidden within the Buddha?"
Quickly, Zhang Mu noticed that his emotion was very abnormal.
Why did I get so excited?
Zhang Mu took a deep breath. Looking at the Buddha's big ear hole, he slowly walked toward it.
The danger he expected didn't appear. Zhang Mu was still careful, but deep in his heart, he didn't sense any danger.
What is happening? Why can it tease my emotions, but not make me feel threatened?
Although Zhang Mu walked step by step, he still quickly saw a dead end.
The closer he got to the wall, the stronger the power of attraction got and the more it affected his emotion.
Zhang Mu's hand slowly moved over the wall, feeling the source of the power of attraction.
Eh? Is it here?
Zhang Mu found the right place and dug into the wall with the claw's sharp point. The stone was not hard and, with the help of the Obsidian Beetle's claw, a hole was easily excavated.
"Boom!"
As Zhang Mu drilled once more with all his strength, the whole wall instantly collapsed. Zhang Mu felt as if the wall had been corroded for a long time.
And at this point, the scene Zhang Mu saw gradually made his eyes blur.
A pure white lotus was lying quietly at the center of the Buddha. From the moment the wall collapsed, it lit the surrounding in a flawless light.
Its beauty was breathtaking.
Zhang Mu quickly rid himself of the weak influence on him.
“Is it a power that magnifies different emotions according to different people? It's just an unconscious self-protection, this is why I haven't sensed any danger. This Blood Lotus is interesting. If the person’s will wasn’t firm enough, they would probably meet with danger. Tsk, tsk. It is truly not simple!”
Zhang Mu wasn’t bewitched. However, he still slowly reached out his hand towards the hole where the light was exuded.
Chapter 41: The Bloodvine Demon Lotus
When Zhang Mu put his hand into the hole he dug, he immediately sensed that the white light became stronger.
Unsure if the light was a figment of his imagination, he continued reaching into the hole. Zhang Mu noticed his hand had started to slow down, as if the light turned tangible and viscous.
"What's wrong? Why is it resisting? Did the lotus sense danger? It shouldn't have the ability to tell a hunter from a prey. As long as anything is attracted to it, a part of his energy would be drawn to the lotus."
Zhang Mu frowned and felt very confused. How did the Blood Lotus know that his mind was unaffected? Unknown to Zhang Mu, the lotus could actually distinguish that Zhang Mu was not under its control, so it tried to stop him from getting close to it.
Did it have its own consciousness? It shouldn’t be. It was just the third day and it was impossible for mutated plants to open up their intelligence so early. Even if the lotus was the plant which boasted the fastest growth and the most powerful ability, it was still impossible.
Zhang Mu got nervous as unknown things were the scariest. Although he knew about how the owner of the lotus had avoided the mutated King Kong, protected himself with a spiritual armor, and became the master of the Bloodvine Lotus - rather than its nutriment - but by accident; Zhang Mu had just heard it from someone in his past life. Who knew if it was actually true?
However, Zhang Mu had no choice but to seize the chance tightly. He needed anything that could provide him with power as he didn’t have any evolutionary ability.
Zhang Mu ground his teeth as his veins swelled. He roared and pushed against the resistance of the white light. Finally, he managed to touch the Blood Lotus.
Even though he was a step closer to success, he did not dare to let his guard down, because he knew the greatest danger was coming. Zhang Mu stared at the lotus with all his attention.
Zhang Mu did not know if it was his mistake, but he actually felt the Blood Lotus tremble.
Is it alive?
When the frightful thought surfaced in his mind, a great change happened.
From the surface of the Blood Lotus, countless thin tentacles grew out and stuck themselves onto Zhang Mu's right arm. Zhang Mu's blood flowed into the Blood Lotus at a very high speed.
Zhang Mu sensed danger as he felt his right arm become limp.
What happen? Because the speed at which he lost blood was too fast, Zhang Mu's whole arm soon became dry.
He had heard that when the person who got the Bloodvine Lotus had nearly gotten sucked into a mummy, he had tried to cut down the tentacles, but it didn't work. Instead, the crystals and cores that dropped from his body accidentally drew the Blood Lotus' attention.
Zhang Mu quickly took out all the crystals and beast cores from his Merchant's Ring and used them to wrap his right hand.
All of a sudden, the feebleness he felt in his arm disappeared. The tentacles of Blood Lotus had left Zhang Mu's hand and went for the crystals and animal cores.
The man who told me the story did not deceive me! Although he was drunk, he said the truth. I gambled right!
Those crystals and beast cores quickly shrank.
The Blood Lotus could directly take energy from crystals and beast cores as expected.
Zhang Mu didn't just wait idly. He inserted his left arm into the hole as well and held onto the last tentacle that tried to leave his right arm and let it suck his blood continuously.
Even if the Blood Lotus had intelligence, it only possessed the instinct to eat and protect itself. As it wasn't willing to give up the huge amount of energy presented to it, the Blood Lotus let Zhang Mu do whatever he wanted to do.
At this moment, Zhang Mu didn't feel dizzy from losing so much blood Instead, he was excited.
It was too naive. Creatures whose intelligence wasn’t high enough had a deadly weakness: they couldn't control their greed.
In Zhang Mu's opinion, a creature dominated by its instincts would eventually become a puppet no matter how powerful it was.
The lotus had become blood red as it sucked on Zhang Mu's arm. The pure white light was corrupted by the blood.
This was its true nature. It had only pretended to be pure before.
This was the truest form of the Bloodvine Demon Lotus!
The lotus continued absorbing the energy from the crystals. Quickly, a lot of them were depleted and turned into powders. Seeing that, Zhang Mu felt heartbroken. However, as the saying goes, no pain, no gain.
Overcoming the pain from his arm, Zhang Mu focused on the change of the Bloodvine Lotus. Seeing that it was trying to leave after eating enough crystals, Zhang Mu sneered, "You want to leave after eating you fill? Dream on!”
Zhang Mu held the tentacle with all his might and didn't let it go no matter how it slapped him.
Are you kidding me?! If Zhang Mu let the Bloodvine Lotus go, he wouldn’t be qualified as a businessman!
When the amount of blood the lotus had absorbed reached a certain degree, the lotus would recognize the owner of the blood as its master. The Bloodvine Lotus needed blood to replenish its energy and it would let go of its host only after it has sucked the victim dry or after it was full.
There were two methods it used to release the host: hallucination or violence. The choice depended on the degree of control it had over on its prey.
Zhang Mu met all the requirements to become its master. As time went by, the Bloodvine Lotus lost interested in Zhang Mu's blood. It had gotten enough energy from the crystals.
Finally, Zhang Mu let go of the lotus after making sure that it didn’t ‘eat’ anymore.
Feeling the faint connection between himself and the lotus, Zhang Mu was ecstatic.
God bless, everything was going according to his plan.
Chapter 42: Temptation of Lotus
Zhang Mu clutched the Bloodvi
ne Lotus in his hand, making sure that it didn't resist him. He scrutinized it.
The Bloodvine Lotus’s vitality had been woken by Zhang Mu's blood and the energy from the numerous crystals. An unremarkable sprout had emerged from the tip of the lotus seed.
Seeing the tiny sprout, Zhang Mu felt a surge of excitement.
Was this the sign of fusing that the merchant had once mentioned? The Bloodvine Lotus was ready and was only waiting for Zhang Mu’s decision.
Why did Zhang Mu hesitate? The reason was that the stronger the power, the greater the cost. The Bloodvine Lotus was very strong. Consequently, it took way too much energy to support it. Ordinary people could not provide for the Bloodvine Lotus.
The lotus in the Great Buddha was a fossil seed from the ancient times. Later, it fused with the stone used to carve the Buddha. There was nothing special about the lotus before the mutation occurred.
However, when the new era came, the lotus totally transformed and had its potential enhanced by the evolving wave at the start of the debugging period. As the stones on its surface began to fall off, its strong vitality was gradually restored and it awakened incredible abilities.
In the new era, the effects of the evolving wave benefited everyone. Even if it was just a dog tail grass on the roadside, it may possess lethal danger.
Now the lotus just came out of its hibernation and entered the wakening period where it only knew based on instinct to use illusions to attract humans or creatures without firm wills. The lotus would use them as fertilizers and absorb their vitality until their death.
Zhang Mu accelerated its process of absorbing energy. The reason Zhang Mu let the lotus suck his blood was that the lotus followed the owner of the blood. Luckily, Zhang Mu didn't die as he used crystals and beast cores to substitute for the major part of the energy it would have otherwise taken from his blood.
Right now, the Bloodvine Lotus looked very enticing as it gleamed with red lights.
Yet, Zhang Mu understood it was just like Pandora's box; the charm it had made people forget the terrible danger it poses.
Come. Fuse with me.
An alluring voice echoed in Zhang Mu's mind.
"Do you still want to use me as a nourishment?" Zhang Mu chuckled, unaffected. He glanced at the lotus snidely.
The host of the Bloodvine Lotus needed to be a rank higher than it and be able to provide enough energy for it. Otherwise, the host would be completely eaten by the hungry Bloodvine Lotus.
Unlike the "servant-obedience" contract that the mutated animals enjoy, the arrogant Bloodvine Lotus had a parasitic relationship with its host. It was an association for mutual benefit, however, if the host relaxed his vigilance, it would end in his death.
"You don't have to tempt me. I, Zhang Mu, know exactly what you are. If I don't feed you until you're full, then I don't deserve my title as a first sub-merchant."
Zhang Mu grasped the Bloodvine Lotus tightly as if squashing any rebellious intentions it may have.
Indeed, if Zhang Mu couldn't even feed the Lotus, sooner or later, he would be eaten clean by the Merchant's Ring on his finger.
The Bloodvine Lotus seemed to understand what Zhang Mu said. Gradually, the voice echoing in Zhang Mu’s mind faded.
Seeing the Bloodvine Lotus calm down, Zhang Mu smiled. Unbelievably, the Bloodvine Lotus still retained its intelligence even after it had been weakened by the wave. Maybe Zhang Mu's blood had helped it recover.
Zhang Mu quickly took out the claw and made a slight incision on his left arm, cutting a small yet deep wound. He bled profusely, but Zhang Mu ignored it as if the arm wasn’t his.
Zhang Mu immediately pushed the Bloodvine Lotus into the wound and planted it into his body.
Sensing Zhang Mu’s warm blood, the Bloodvine Lotus began to take root, germinating and growing inside his body.
Zhang Mu felt a little frightened when he thought about how this thing was growing in his body. After all, in his past life, he was just a small merchant and had no way of obtaining this kind of mutated plant that could maintain a symbiotic relationship with its host.
“I finally got my hands on it, although I don't know how powerful it is yet.”
Zhang Mu looked at the wound on his arm as it immediately started to recover. He had high expectations for the Bloodvine Lotus.
The first benefit Zhang Mu obtained, which was a kind of passive awakening ability, was an increase in recovery speed.
Even if the lotus only brought this benefit, it would still be fiercely fought over by countless people. This was especially true after people found out that the Bloodvine Lotus would seek a new host in its surroundings after its original host died. Endless skirmishes broke out just for it.
Of course, this was just the start. The Bloodvine Lotus had many more advantages to offer.
"Bloodvine Lotus! Come out!"
Immediately, a strong vine covered with sharp spikes shot out from his arm and swayed in the air.
Under Zhang Mu's control, it lashed at the Buddha's ear.
"Boom!"
After striking, the rattan retracted back to Zhang Mu and coiled like a snake around him as if ensuring his safety.
Seeing that the Buddha's ear had been cut off cleanly, Zhang Mu was in a good mood. All the crystals and cores he had paid were worth it.
However, Zhang Mu was not satisfied with just that.
The Buddha was just an inanimate object and couldn't fully show the extent of the Bloodvine Lotus' power. Its power would be displayed much better on living beings.
Living things! The apocalypse never lacked monsters.
Zhang Mu was itching for a fight. He had never looked forward to battling the zombies and mutated animals as much as he did now.
Zhang Mu couldn't wait to reveal the true power of the Bloodvine Lotus.
Chapter 43: Taking a Night Off
After seeing that Zhang Mu had walked out of the cavern, Yuan Rui complained, "Uncle, why did you stay in there for such a long time? I've been waiting for a while now. Little Black didn't play with me, so I was dead bored.”
Zhang Mu smiled slightly and touched her head, "Don't worry, haven't I come out already?”
When Yuan Rui noticed that Zhang Mu was in a good mood, she guessed that Zhang Mu should have gotten what he wanted. She asked curiously with wide open eyes, "Uncle, did you get the thing you wanted? It's the first time I've seen you so happy."
Zhang Mu scratched his head in embarrassment and grinned, "Is it so obvious?"
Staring seriously at Zhang Mu, Yuan Rui answered, "Yes! It looks like you've reaped a great harvest! Uncle, tell me about it! I'm so curious!"
After hearing that, Zhang Mu sighed and spread out his hands, "It's not that I don’t want to show you! I'm just worried that you will be frightened! It's just a helper like Little Black."
However, Yuan Rui became more excited after listening to his words and asked, "Is there something more ugly than Little Black after it becomes big? I won't be afraid. Come on, show me what you got! Is it a bug again? Do you like collecting bugs? It would be a little scary if it's true. I can't stand anymore, just Little Black is enough. It's just too nauseous to imagine myself surrounded by worms."
Little Black moved slightly on Yuan Rui's shoulder as if it had heard that someone was speaking ill of it. However, it just shifted a little and quickly fell asleep again. After all, everything Little Black had eaten was only half digested. As sleep was the best way to absorb, just let it sleep.
"It's not a bug! I'll show you, but you'd better take a few steps back."
Zhang Mu asked Yuan Rui to stand far from him. Yuan Rui walked away a few meters and looked at Zhang Mu with wide eyes.
Then, after hearing Zhang Mu's call, the Bloodvine Lotus emerged from Zhang Mu's left arm and brandished itself in the air.
The Bloodvine Lotus attacked Yuan Rui immediately once it found her, making Yuan Rui so frightened that her legs gave out.
Luckily, Zhang Mu always kept an eye on the
Bloodvine Lotus and ordered it not to hurt Yuan Rui the moment it came out.
However, its instinct was stronger than its intellect after all. Fortunately, Zhang Mu had asked Yuan Rui stay away from him, otherwise, she might've been in danger.
The speed and explosive power of the Bloodvine Lotus were terrifying!
Zhang Mu still felt the lingering fear after that burst of strength from the Bloodvine Lotus, but Yuan Rui was even more terrified. She refused Zhang Mu’s hand to help her up until he recalled the vine that was still twined around his arm back into his body. Even so, Yuan Rui still avoided Zhang Mu's left arm subconsciously.
After a long while, Yuan Rui hit Zhang Mu and cried, "Uncle! Why do you always scare me? Don't you know that it nearly disfigured me?"
Zhang Mu didn't know what he should say. "I had warned you to watch out. I didn't know it would be so sensitive to living things. Is this my fault too?"
After hearing that, Yuan Rui felt even more wronged as she thought Zhang Mu was blaming her. She kept crying, "It's your fault. Who told you to put such a dangerous thing into your arm? It's so disgusting!"
"It's my fault, it's my fault," Zhang Mu had no choice but to apologize, "All right, it's dark. Let's rest here for a night." Zhang Mu distracted Yuan Rui's attention successfully.
"The rock cave is cold and the Great Buddha in it is horrible. I'm not going to stay there." Yuan Rui still felt scared when she recalled the piercing cold, so she absolutely disagreed with Zhang Mu's decision.
But they had no other options. As it was getting dark, they couldn't move on even if he had the Bloodvine Lotus and Little Black. He didn't have the confidence to walk in the darkness.
There were still lots of things that Zhang Mu didn't know of even though he came back from the future. It would be the regret of his life if he died from hubris. (excessive pride/arrogance)
Thinking twice, Zhang Mu decided to stay here. Zhang Mu worked out a compromise and said to Yuan Rui, "The treasure hidden in the rock cave has been taken out by me. So you needn't worry. Since you don't want to go in, we can stay outside and rest. It's very dangerous to move in the night."