Chapter 29: So That's How It Is

"So that's how it is."
In a safe spot, Liu Zhi had finished examining the contents of Perkin's bag. By now, he had pieced together Perkin's purpose through various clues.
Unlike Liu Zhi, who recorded maps and information on scraps of parchment, Perkin, wealthy and influential, carried items of much higher quality—high-calorie food, several mysterious luminous objects, and a notebook, exceedingly rare for this era.
The notebook was made of proper paper, something Liu Zhi was accustomed to but scarce in these times, and its quality far surpassed anything he had ever used.
Within its pages lay a wealth of information, as well as sketches.
From the entries, it was clear: Perkin was dying.
He had contracted a grave illness, with less than three weeks left to live. His only hope rested upon a certain plant hidden deep within the jungle.
No one had ever brought this plant beyond the jungle. The local natives called it ‘Namuda’—the Tree That Bleeds. Legend held that this tree appeared ordinary, indistinguishable from any other by its leaves or form.
The only known fact was that Namuda grew by cliffs and waterfalls, thriving on abundant mist and air.
Every seven years, on the night of the full moon in July, the tree would bloom for three days, sprouting crimson flowers, its leaves falling away to reveal a blood-red trunk.
Under moonlight, the tree appeared as if drenched in blood, hence its name among the locals.
Yet, what drew Perkin was not the flower, but the fruit it bore after blooming—a peach-like fruit, no larger than a thumb, said to suppress illness and prolong life.
Perkin needed only a few of these fruits to ease his sickness. If he managed to gather them all, immortality might be within his grasp.
Liu Zhi, reading of such ambition in the notebook, could not help but shake his head.
So this was Perkin’s goal: on one hand, to save his life; on the other, to secure power for his future. Such a treasure, brought back to human society, would be the key to the upper echelons.

Those with wealth and power would spare no expense to extend their lives.
But what did any of that matter to him?
After flipping through the notebook, Liu Zhi tucked it away. Immortality meant nothing to him, nor did the power of this world.
He would stay here for no more than a hundred and eighty days; what use would any influence be?
The City of Gold enticed him far more; at least its existence was tied to his identity’s mandatory quest.
Thus, this notebook—considered a treasure by adventurers here—was relegated to the bottom of Liu Zhi’s pack.
It was the other items in Perkin’s bag that caught his attention.
Perkin had twice drawn luminous objects from his bag, proving they were no ordinary items.
Liu Zhi was all the more curious about the remaining four objects.
There were four in total, and despite their unremarkable appearance, Liu Zhi regarded them with careful respect and stowed them away meticulously.
The first was a piece of some unidentified beast’s hide, its fur still surprisingly fresh.
The second was a quill, its feathers a common white, the shaft adorned with copper, apparently durable. If not for the white light it emitted, Liu Zhi might have thought it belonged with the notebook.
The third was a tube resembling a lipstick. Liu Zhi wondered if they had invented lipstick yet in this era.
Lastly, there was something like a canteen, made of pure silver, etched with ancient mythological motifs; when shaken gently, something inside rattled.
Uncertain of its contents, Liu Zhi had no intention of opening it for a look.
After securing all the items, he dismantled Perkin’s pack.

From its seams, he found two documents resembling land deeds. Upon inspection, they proved to be property deeds for a nearby port. Whether this was Perkin’s contingency plan or a secret base, Liu Zhi could not tell.
Once certain nothing was overlooked, Liu Zhi slung his own backpack, consulted his map for bearings, and set off toward the City of Gold.
Meanwhile, Perkin and Lloyd were advancing cautiously through the jungle.
Perkin’s complexion was tinged blue, lips purple, yet he pressed on, refusing to pause.
Supporting Perkin, Lloyd said, “Uncle, perhaps we should turn back.”
“No, we’re already here. I can’t bear to retreat. Besides, can you? This is our family’s hope for resurgence.”
“But so many entered the jungle—now it’s just us two. I worry…”
“There’s nothing to worry about. All the information is in my head. As long as we can walk, we can reach the Tree That Bleeds.”
“That’s not it, Uncle. I worry about something else. You saw all those giant snakes along the way—I fear there’s something wrong here.”
Perkin chuckled. “You think I haven’t noticed? You’ve adventured with me for years, yet you still lack observation. Didn’t you realize all those giant snakes are just ordinary species? What does that tell us? It means the legend of the Tree That Bleeds is true—those snakes ate the fruit and have lived since ancient times. Unlike humans, snakes shed their skins yearly and grow larger. It’s proof—the legend is real, immortality is within reach.”
Hearing this, Lloyd was reassured. “But Uncle, can just the two of us steal the fruit from the Tree That Bleeds?”
“Not just us. My bag was stolen, and the thief will surely discover the information I left behind. No one can resist the lure of immortality. Once we reach the tree, we’ll hide and wait for the thief to arrive. Let him take the lead—when he gets the fruit, you move in. Lloyd, how is your swordsmanship these days?”
“Don’t worry, Uncle, I’ve mastered it already…”