Chapter 643 – By Not Contending (2/2)
Hua Chenglu shot a glance at Li Qingshan in a hurry. That was the Great Banyan Tree King for heaven’s sake. Even Si Qing would treat him with great respect. If he angered him, then that would be terrible.
“Old person? Hehe, young fellow, this old person wants you to help him out,” said the Great Banyan Tree King.
“What is it?”
“Recently, the insects population in me has gotten a little out of control, so please clear them for me! Also, the vines around me have gotten a little too tight, so please find a way to loosen them a little. It would be even better if I could get some rain.”
Li Qingshan was unable to understand what was going on. “With your ability, can’t you deal with a few measly insects and vines yourself? Why would you need the help of someone else?”
“I’m a tree!”
What kind of answer was that? Li Qingshan corrected him. “The Great Banyan Tree King.”
“If you drop the ‘king’, I’m actually just a great banyan tree. Have you ever seen a banyan tree catch insects by itself?”
Only with the Great Banyan Tree King’s explanation did Li Qingshan understand that originally in the Mist province, a complete ecosystem revolved around the great banyan tree. If there were insects, then there were birds to eat the insects. Sun vines were vicious, but there were also creatures that could keep them at bay.
However, after Si Qing moved it into the Dragon Arena, the birds and beasts had obviously been either expelled or killed, and this ecological chain had been broken.
“Even if that makes sense, there’s a saying where plucking a single hair can affect the entire body. Surely you can’t just let someone dig you up, roots and all, while sitting on the side indifferently! If I hadn’t come, wouldn’t the insects have devoured you and the vines strangled you to death?”
The Great Banyan Tree King said with deep meaning, “If I were to fly into a rage over a single plucked hair, I wouldn’t be able to grow until today. Moreover, travelling around can always make you more knowledgeable. If you hadn’t come, I could just ask others for assistance. That kid Si Qing won’t watch me wither to death either. The worst-case scenario is losing a hair, but if I can’t even bear to part with a single hair, then I’ll end up parting with my entire body.”
Li Qingshan was taken aback. He muttered to himself, “By not contending, not even the world can contend with him.”
He vaguely understood that this was his way of survival. Although he already possessed the unbelievable power of kings, he still followed the principles of nature, living the way a tree would.
Even if people stripped his bark, even if the vines drained his tree sap, even if burrowing mites ate his body, he would not abuse his power. Instead, he would do his best and maintain the balance of nature, providing a home to creatures of all races. If any enemies were to attack him, these vines and insects would all fight for him.
This was different from yet also similar to the wisdom of the spirit turtle. He seemed vulnerable, refusing to fight back even when damaged, but this instead maintained his most optimal way of survival. Li Qingshan had only heard of people hating wolves and tigers, but never had he heard of anyone hating trees.
“Hmm? That’s quite profound,” the Great Banyan Tree King said.
Li Qingshan released Hua Chenglu and folded his hands. “Alright, I’m willing to help you out, fellow!”
He was already convinced that the Great Banyan Tree King had no ill intentions. He could even put up with the insects that devoured its body all this time, refusing to use his powers to purge them, so what ill intentions could he have towards them?
He also found the Great Banyan Tree King’s wisdom and knowledge very admirable. This was just like how people would always rise up and revolt, fighting with their lives on the line when facing an oppressive thug who wielded a dangerous weapon. On the other hand, if they faced a gentle, wise old man with a cane, they would bend over and ask for guidance, possessing the absolute power to win people over.
As for Li Qingshan, the thing he paid the most attention to was a clear account of his debts of kindness and grievances. Since he had eaten his bark and drunken his tree sap, he obviously should pay him back. He could also obtain the burrowing mites’ daemon cores, so it could be described as guaranteed benefit. Before he knew it, he had naturally become a part of this ecosystem.
If the Daemon King of the Green province was this Great Banyan Tree King and not the Dragon King of Ink Sea, he definitely would have gotten along with him much better.