Zou Yue was thoroughly astonished. This tree really had feelings. It was a big thing.
Mutated plants he had seen in the past did not act like this one.
Even the pea wine in their house did not have thoughts of its own. It moves whenever father used his powers. Sometimes it can even conserve that energy his dad provided and move on its own.
But otherwise, pea plants can't move on their own.
This willow tree, though..... it was fucking spectacular.
It had a mind of its own.
It had likes and dislikes.
Just like an animal.
"Meow~" blackie meowed cutely and rubbed gain the branches. The willow tree happily petted her.
"It even likes blackie,"
As soon as he spoke the tree attacked him with its branches.
Fan Xui pulled him back safely. "This plan it can be of use at your house. It can defend your house much better. Why don't you try using your space ability?"
Yue hesitated a bit. The space ability he copied from Juda had a small limitation as well. He had seen Juda use her touch to absorb things into her space and take them out.
If he touched the willow tree, he will end up copying its ability rather than taking it in his space.
Yue peered down at his palm. 'as far as I remember, the copy power works when my fingers come in contact with the subject. So... if.. I mean, if I use my palm to touch this plant, will it take it into the space?'
He was curious indeed.
Before he could test it out in the willow tree, he needed a smaller tamer test subject.
He glanced around. A small pink peach tree was growing right by the shutter, beautifully spreading its branches all over the ceiling. Its pink flower petals fluttered down like snowflakes.
"Fan, catch a petal for me,"
Fan Xui did so and handed it to him.
Yue carefully touched the petal with the back of his palm. "Please work please work...."
The petal disappeared from his lover's hands.
"It works. It actually works! Wohoo~" Yue happily hopped around. "Let me test it with other trees."
He could easily absorb the petal into his space. But what about the huge trees? He was not sure if his powers can absorb them into his space.
Then came another issue.
What if he took them into his space... what then? What if he copied another ability? What will happen to the items he stored in there? Will they disappear?
"Yue," Fan Xui gently poked his cheeks. "You can do it," he cheered him on with a cute look on his face.
Yue chuckled. "Of course, I can," he confidently walked over to the cheery blossom tree and touched it with the back of his hand.
With his eyes closed, he used the powers in his body.
The tree disappeared instantly, leaving behind a huge space the tree was taking up.
The willow tree, which was happily petting the cat, looked like it was stunned.
"Whoa..." Yue slightly tripped a bit. He felt slightly woozy and dizzy..
Fan Xui supported him by grabbing his waist. "do you feel okay? did you exhaust your energy?"
"Don't know.. It feels like I'm drunk..." he glanced at his palm. The back of the hand had a small mole-like mark on it.
It was a bright red shaped like a leaf.
"Yue, that's enough for today. We can come pick up the other trees later on,"
"No, they will destroy them."
The military was on its way. If they find traces of mutant plants, they will either destroy it or they might take it for themselves.
There were a lot of fruiting trees here.
He was still not sure if they were edible or not. Even so, the sight of this place will cause a lot of scuffle between the soldiers.
"I will take them all into my space if I can and send some to uncle, too. They can test the fruits and if they end up edible they can ration this as well," he whispered, taking another mango tree which had beautiful yellow fruits handing on it inside his space.
Every time he took one tree inside, his body felt drained.
It was like something was entering his body through his veins...
He could not describe that feeling at all. It felt tiring and exhilarating at the same time.
There were only five trees in there excluding the willow tree. A peach tree, a persimmon tree, a pear tree, a mango tree, and a jackfruit tree.
Yue was able to easily absorb all of them into his space, all except the willow tree.
His body was so tired at this point. He fully leaned against Fan Xui's back for support. He was literally lifting him and walking around.
His noddle-like legs were useless.
Yue sighed. "only the willow tree was left..."
The haughty tree would not even let him near it.
Every time he got close, it would whip its branches at him.
Fan Xui stopped its attacks for him. "What do you suggest we do? Do I zap him?"
"no, I can't believe I'm doing this but... ley me try talking to it,"
He got down from Fan's back and tired stood there. "Hey there. hi, I'm Yue. You must be willow, I'll call you willow…. I know our first meeting was not so spectacular, i made a terrible impression. But I wish to change that. I want to be friends,"
The tree just whipped his wispy leaves around like a child throwing a tantrum.
"I won't hurt you…..you can hate me all you want. But if you remain here, some people will find you and try to destroy you. It's not safe here anymore,"
The tree paused for a second.
Blackie, who was sitting on its branches, jumped down and walked over to him. "meow~" she meowed and rubbed against his legs.
"If you come with me, you can pet blackie all you want," the tree looked slightly conviced by that even so it remained vigilant. "I'm not a bad person. I will never hurt you, I promise."
The tree just paused for a second.
Yue stopped two steps closer. "I'm sorry for talking to you like that at our first meeting. Can you forgive me..." he held out his hand, waiting for the tree to take the initiative.
Slowly the hesitant branches moves close and nudged his outstretched hand.
"Thank you for trusting me,"
Yue touched it with the back of his hand.
Right after it got absorbed... he became weak as heck....
he lost consciousness.