Chapter 183 - An Unlikely Friend
The Golden Emperor Vine was usually not seen in such small forests as this mountain forest. It would be in primeval areas that were near impossible to access. The plant would have a whole territory of its own, and every life that lived within would be seen as its food. It would let them live peacefully, fatten them up, and allow them to grow, but when they reached a certain level of strength, it would gobble them up, drain the essence blood within their bodies, and leave nothing but a withered husk behind.
These plants were, at first, unable to move. They would slowly grow alongside the livestock that they reared in their territory; however, upon reaching a certain level, they would be capable of taking a human shape.
While this Golden Emperor Vine was a plant, it was very similar to a beast, and even its progress was very similar to that of beasts.
Other herbs could also grow conscious, and slowly begin to become spiritual before taking a human shape. Still, this Golden Emperor Vine was amongst the few species of plants that had a mind of its own from the very first time it began sprouting.
Bai Rouyun did not need to think much to know what had happened here. The sweet scent that the Golden Emperor Vine exuded had attracted the Cloud Leopard.
The Cloud Leopards were extremely intelligent, but they did not inherit knowledge from their older generation. Hence this little fellow, who had lived in the mountain forest for so many years, had never encountered a Golden Emperor Vine before.
When it smelled the sweet scent, it knew that this plant was not ordinary. For a beast like this, it had never encountered a plant with a mind of its own, so the Cloud Leopard took the plant home, and planted it in its cave.
The plant slowly grew while the leopard catered to its every need. The only problem was that the Cloud Leopard did not know the nature of this plant, so the only nutrients it got were light and water.
The plant, however, did not mind. It had spread its vines outside of the cave, catching smaller prey every night, which it slowly drained of essence blood, before it grew to the size it had now.
The reason that this plant had followed the Cloud Leopard from the very beginning was to consume its essence blood, but looking at the two, Bai Rouyun's lips could not help but twitch.
While the thorns of the Golden Emperor Vine had embedded themselves deep inside the Cloud Leopard's skin, it had not begun absorbing the essence blood.
Looking at the two of them entangled like this, she could not help but wonder whether the plant had gotten emotionally connected to the Cloud Leopard.
Shaking her head, Bai Rouyun stepped forward. The vine was swaying dangerously in the air as if to warn her not to come closer.
Slowing her steps, she opened her mouth to speak. "I say, do you want to eat this Cloud Leopard, or do you want to become its friend? What you are doing now is not good, no matter which way you want to go."
The vine, which had been swaying in front of her, froze suddenly before it withdrew.
Bai Rouyun's lips twitched even further.
"Is it your friend?" she asked as she looked at the vine. The vine was clearly juvenile. It was not very powerful, and it was somewhat naive. Grown Golden Emperor Vines were emotionless, and only cared for their own increase in strength. They would never care about something they considered their meal, but this little plant was clearly hesitating to absorb the leopard's essence blood.
The vine in front of Bai Rouyun first shook from side to side, but then it hesitated before it slowly changed to moving up and down, as if it was nodding.
"What you are doing now is hurting it," Bai Rouyun said gently. "Your thorns might not be too poisonous now, as you are still rather young yourself, but if you had been a mature Golden Emperor Vine, then you would have killed it already."
The vine withdrew in fright, and the thorns began to leave the Cloud Leopard's body.
Bai Rouyun was not sure if she could be considered lucky or unlucky. In the Primal Chaos Dimension were two small treasures in the shape of children, and now she felt as if she was about to abduct another child.
That was right; she truly wanted to capture this Golden Emperor Vine. The plant was much more useful than a beast, especially for her. As long as the root was not damaged, it would be able to keep growing. No matter how the vines themselves were injured, it was merely a question about time and resources for it to grow once more.
The root could easily be placed within the Primal Chaos Dimension, and it would never be in danger, while she could have a few branches outside, which could assist her in her battles.
She naturally also wanted to find a contracted beast one day, but this plant was something she would not pass on, now that she had come across it.
There was a gentle smile on Bai Rouyun's face as she was speaking with the plant, but for some reason, shivers were running down Little Chu's back, as he was standing behind looking at the young woman con yet another innocent soul into joining her group.
While Mo Chu knew that Bai Rouyun was treating everyone with respect and love when they followed her, he still could not help but shake his head. The way she was conning someone into joining her group was enough to make even he, a grown man, flush red with shame.