Eldritch Horror Theatre - Ch. 192: White Porcelain Doll (10)
It took nearly half an hour for Fu Qian to finally get the face right.
On one hand, it was because the bone structure was peculiar and the patterns were complex, making a perfect replica a bit troublesome.
On the other hand, the invisible influence of this area also interfered with the face-molding; one careless move and it would become exaggerated.
Fu Qian adjusted repeatedly before he finally grasped the right amount of force.
After dealing with the corpse, Fu Qian began to explore inwards along the road.
Although the blood-colored doll got away, this trip wasn't without its gains.
Having been a mentor at a top university at any rate, Fu Qian still had some understanding of the concept of a Forbidden Area.
Simply put, some areas in this world, due to the influence of extraordinary powers, such as environmental climate, or a large number of Extraordinary Creatures, had become unsuitable for human survival.
These areas were collectively referred to as Forbidden Areas. Not only were they strictly controlled, but they were also classified according to their danger levels.
Some of the less dangerous ones would even be open to the public, allowing ordinary citizens to enter and visit.
Additionally, not all Forbidden Areas were under the jurisdiction of the Night Watchers; a portion was also in the hands of organizations like the Consortium.
While fulfilling their responsibility to manage them, they also possessed development rights. Many of the special materials produced in certain areas were quite valuable.
But regardless, a situation like surviving in a Forbidden Area long-term was still too strange!
As someone with strong curiosity, Fu Qian's interest was successfully piqued.
And as he continued forward, Fu Qian found that this area was not small.
It was just that most of the buildings were currently sinking in the swamp, soaked in red and green overflowing putrefaction for who knows how long.
That foul stench rushing straight to the brain was truly 'refreshing'.
He finally knew where the stench came from.
Within the swamp, there were also various giant trees covered in burls. On the gloomy, sparsely-leafed branches hung bizarre fruits of different colors and shapes.
Lush yet decaying, that was Fu Qian's impression.
No matter how you looked at it, this place was not suitable for human survival!
Not to mention that those people didn't look like Beyonders, they were just strong.
It was hard to imagine how they survived and reproduced in a place like this.
Living in this kind of place for a long time, it's a miracle they haven't turned into vegetables!
Fu Qian sighed inwardly.
He had to admit, that little girl was much more resourceful than he imagined.
Not only did she run away when the opportunity arose, but her route was also convoluted and bizarre, seemingly afraid he would track her.
She could be said to be full of the desire to survive!
It was just that for Fu Qian, who had memorized her aura, trying to shake him off this way was impossible.
After a long while, Fu Qian finally arrived in front of a building.
Compared to other places, this place looked relatively clean and refreshing.
Although he couldn't deliberately release his perception, judging from the residual aura in the air, the little girl should have hidden inside here.
Fu Qian hesitated slightly, considering whether to go in and disturb her, when a teeth-aching creaking sound came to his ears.
What is it?
Fu Qian turned his head to look to the side and found that a nearby tree was swaying unsteadily.
Accompanied by the sound of the wind, Fu Qian dodged a whipped branch and leaned in for a closer look.
At first glance, it didn't look any different from the other trees; this one was also covered in bumpy burls.
The dark gray bark was covered with various mosses and fungi, there was a tree hole corroded at the root, and a fist-sized fruit was even swaying on top of its head.
No matter how you look at it, it's a tree, and it can actually move?
Fu Qian was struck by a burst of curiosity.
At this time, failing to land a hit, the tree trunk also twisted bizarrely.
At the root of one of the branches, the knotted bark tore open, revealing a blood-red gash.
An eye?
Fu Qian realized the significance of this action.
On the side symmetrical to this eye, the bark was also stretching desperately, unfortunately, it was already pasted over by layers of tree burls.
This thing might really have been transformed from a human.
Fu Qian looked down at his own body. Could his guess have been right?
If the infection on the body can't be controlled, will one really turn into a Treant?
"Who... are you?"
At this time, below the tree trunk, a slanted large mouth suddenly opened.
Almost instantly, Fu Qian felt a stench a hundred times stronger than before hit his face, and there was even blackish-red liquid dripping down.
"Who are you?"
Fu Qian directly activated the ultimate skill of answering a question with a question.
"I am..."
Faced with such an ultimate technique, the old treant obviously couldn't resist and subconsciously began to ponder, but unfortunately, it couldn't give an answer for a long time.
It seemed to have forgotten its own name.
"What are you doing here?"
The treant finally gave up struggling and turned to question Fu Qian.
"I'm looking for someone."
Fu Qian casually described the little girl's appearance.
The latter fell into silence again.
"She's not here."
After a long time, the treant finally spoke.
Your denial is a bit too obvious. Although the aura is very faint, I can still track it. That little girl is clearly inside.
Fu Qian thought to himself.
Why is this treant deliberately misleading me? Do I look that much like a bad guy?
It must be that molding the face affected my temperament, Fu Qian found an excuse for himself.
"That's perfect. Since no one is here, I'll go inside to rest for a bit."
Answering casually, Fu Qian turned around and started walking inside.
The next moment, as if he had eyes on his back, he took a diagonal step and dodged the whipping tree trunk.
Failing to mislead him, the tree spirit actually launched a swaying attack.
Although the speed wasn't fast, the waving of branches thicker than a thigh looked terrifying enough.
Missing the strike, the treant began to shake its body violently.
The next moment, orange-yellow fruits were hurled out like cannonballs, instantly covering a large area.
The egg-shaped fruits shattered the moment they hit the ground, the plump juice instantly splattering out, splashing up a cloud of greenish-yellow mist.
This Gatekeeper's combat awareness is actually pretty good. If all the trees inside are at this level, then it's still somewhat formidable.
Fu Qian praised secretly.
Just as the man and the tree were tangling, a strange sound suddenly rang out in the distance.
The sound came from deep within the swamp, sounding like someone ringing a bell.
The bell sound seemed to carry a special effect; hearing it inexplicably induced a burst of trance.
The originally aggressive treant suddenly stopped, its body twisted a hundred and eighty degrees, and "looked" in one direction.
Fu Qian also followed its gaze and found that a white light suddenly lit up on a small island in the swamp pool.
That white light originated from a leafless tree. It was bright white all over, the tree trunk was straight, and there was nothing parasitizing on it.
In such an environment, looking at it gave an inexplicably demonic feeling.
On the path not far from the small island, a team walked over from a distance.
The leader was shaking the bell in his hand as he walked.
At the same time, an extra person appeared beside Fu Qian.
The little girl who had fled alone earlier had quietly walked out of the house.
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