Chapter 74 – The Jumping Fruit Tree (2/2)

Shao Xuan looked around after having another few sips of the liquid in his gourd. The terrain was relatively high and Shao Xuan could see some plants in weird shapes.

“What is that?” Shao Xuan pointed at something afar and asked Ah-Suo

Ah-Suo glimpsed at that direction and shared a meaningful sneer, “That is call the human head tree. Every one of them had eaten at least one human head!”

Shao Xuan said nothing, but he was not frightened either. He just stared at those trees. No wonder it was called the human head tree. It looked like a head, and there was even long ‘hair’ dancing in the wind. However, he did not buy the story of eating a human head or something.

Ah-Suo felt a little bored seeing that Shao Xuan was not scared, but he continued, “It’s a shame that now there’s no flower on the top. When the flowers blossom on top of the human head tree, it would be really beautiful, as big flowers covered the whole tree.”

Shao Xuan was speechless again.

According to Ah-Suo’s description, Shao Xuan pictured the scene in his mind. However, he did not think it would be beautiful if he saw a giant human head covered in giant flowers.

“Ahead, we’ll reach the spot where the jumping fruit trees grow. You should keep your distance later. Just do not come near.” Said Ah-Suo.

“Got it.” Shao Xuan was not someone without self-knowledge.

After a short break, Ta indicated that they should go for the Jumping Fruit Trees.

Further ahead, the density of the trees was not as thick as before. People could see the scene in front of them without standing on a high terrain.

The jumping fruit trees that Ah-Suo said looked like giant weeping willows. However, the difference was that along every drooping branch, there were a lot of circular fruits the size of an adult’s fist.

Seeing that everyone had silenced their breathing, Shao Xuan reduced his own sense of presence. He thought that perhaps that tree was especially sensitive to sounds.

Ta raised his hand to point at Shao Xuan, and then opened his palm to press the air. He was indicating Shao Xuan to stay there, right behind the trunk.

Shao Xuan nodded to say that he got it. However, he felt that something bad was about to happen. He wanted to say something as warning, but with other warriors waiting for Ta’s order, Ta had no time for Shao Xuan at all.

Looking around, Ta waved his hand. About twenty warriors immediately rushed towards the tree like lightning. They were running on their toes, as no sound was made, yet the speed was fast enough. They were surrounding the tree.

However, just when they got near the jumping fruit tree, Shao Xuan heard Ta make a quick shout, “Withdraw!”

The others had no hesitation, even when some warriors almost reached the jumping fruit tree. All of them withdrew quickly at Ta’s command. While some of the fruits, which were tightly grown on the branches earlier, promptly dislocated themselves from the tree. As if running for their lives, the fruits rushed out and fled.

Shao Xuan had no idea what had happened. He saw Ta running back with the others, and the next second, he was lifted up by Ta.

They were running very fast, as if dodging something. Shao Xuan looked back as he was lifted by Ta. He found that some things in the air were flying their way.

The wind grew stronger, and the things in the air reduced the distance with the warriors.

Shao Xuan was brought up to some tall plant. Warriors were divided into five-people groups, and two of the groups tried hard to pull the thick leaves together as shields. They created a small enclosed space with the leaves. When they were pulling, Shao Xuan heard the sound of cracking as if thick wooden planks were being folded.

At the last moment when the leaves were folding, Shao Xuan finally saw what the things in the air were. They were like dandelions, with ‘soft white hairs’. It’s just that the white hairs were much longer. Each one was about two palm’s length.

They densely filled the air, and flew everywhere in the sky as well as in the woods. From afar there came ‘poof’ sounds.

When all the leaves met each other, it became very dark inside. Not much light was able to pierce through the thick leaves. The visions of the warriors became vague.

It was very tense in this enclosed space, and Shao Xuan could hear people’s intense breathing. It seemed that it consumed them a lot of energy running there.

Not only the others, Shao Xuan smelled the danger as well. His eyelids twitched hard, while he couldn’t help but raise his head.