The world has turned into Hell's Game, why should I stay human?!-Chapter 1340 - 818: Liu Zheng: Honorable Mr. Delago, Please Spare Me_2
Besides, nobility is not inborn—if even a tree can become a Phoenix, then surely we legitimate birds can as well.
Although they can’t directly take over the Phoenix’s nest, by breaking its eggs during the French Plane Tree’s evolution and absorbing the essence inside, they can also have a chance to evolve.
"Yet you let them go? Given your temper, I thought you’d dry them out into bird jerky."
Liu Zheng chuckled.
"Do you think I didn’t want to? If I didn’t need them to pass messages, I would have buried them long ago. Besides, they’re just a bunch of minions; killing them is meaningless."
The French Plane Tree said.
Its biggest disadvantage is its lack of mobility, so it can only lord over this street, relying on others to be its eyes, ears, hands, and feet beyond it.
Compared to other creatures, the French Plane Tree is naturally closer to birds.
If not for its need to evolve into a Phoenix, its relationship with these birds would have been quite good.
Unfortunately, relationships built on interests will always be broken by greater interests.
"Let them spy if they want, more lice don’t itch, more debt doesn’t worry you. Who knows, stirring the waters might be good for you."
Liu Zheng consoled.
"Good my ass, why don’t you get such good fortune?"
The French Plane Tree rolled its eyes.
"Aren’t I already dealing with you?"
Liu Zheng retorted.
"Hmph! Better hope I don’t catch the bastard spreading the rumors, or I’ll hang them on every branch."
The French Plane Tree said viciously, trying to change the subject.
"They’d have to be a giant for that." 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢
He replied casually.
He actually already had a guess about the person spreading the messages.
"Six Feather Tea House."
Liu Zheng silently thought of the name.
The last time they poisoned the French Plane Tree, causing it to go on a drunken rampage, they tried to use the Sanitation Department to transplant it to a volcano, but thanks to his interventions, the plot failed.
And Six Feather Tea House likely found the situation tricky, so they spread the message, wanting others to do the work so they could be the one who benefits.
This aligns with their previous operating style.
He’s not afraid of opponents who attack head-on; he’s robust even in bad shape and has more than one life—whoever takes a bite will lose a mouthful of teeth.
But dealing with clandestine sabotages like these is indeed tricky. Now, Six Feather Tea House only targets the French Plane Tree, but if they realize Liu Zheng is the biggest obstacle and go after those around him, that would be problematic.
Although he has strong companions like Panda and Doctor Nile, and well-connected ones like the novelist and Bai Tianshi, there are also regular ones like Vampire Sister, janitors, and Jiwei Group.
Then there’s Sea Girl, who, despite having a local representative father, is just like any ordinary person on land.
The restaurant might give some face to buy fish, but Six Feather Tea House has no need to deal with fishermen, nor do they necessarily know the relationship between Sea Girl and the fisherman.
"Looks like it’s time to remove this hidden thorn."
Liu Zheng thought to himself.
Once Luo Ping finishes his task for Red Forest Culture, he’ll have him investigate Six Feather Tea House.
If their management disagrees internally, he’ll play one side against the other.
If they’re united, he’ll wipe them out completely.
The recently acquired new bomb is just right for testing on Six Feather Tea House.
"Foolish human, what are you thinking about?"
The French Plane Tree asked curiously, seeing he hadn’t spoken for a while.
"I’m thinking about stripping all your collectibles bare."
Liu Zheng replied casually.
"Impossible!"
The French Plane Tree’s leaves stood up like a startled cat.
"Give it up, I’m not trading with you anymore... damn!"
It cursed.
At this moment, it deeply regretted why it signed the Ring Contract with Liu Zheng in the first place.
"Just kidding, I’m thinking about how to deal with the mastermind. But since we’re talking, do you have anything good I can play with?"
Liu Zheng said.
"Dream on, don’t think you’ll make a fool of me. Hmm, I actually do have something I can give you."
The French Plane Tree seemed to remember something.
"What is it?"
"This."
A root emerged from the black soil, handing him a glass jar about the size of a soda can.
The mouth was sealed with a fruit pit, with an arrow inside.
"I didn’t expect you to have a hobby of collecting arrows, never guessed."
Liu Zheng expressed surprise.
This guy pretends to be noble and elegant every day and criticizes him for being crude or dirty, yet collects such things in secret—really can’t judge a tree by its bark.
But as a tree, collecting fertilizer could be considered instinctual, understandable.
"Nonsense, I didn’t collect this—those birds just brought it to me."
The French Plane Tree explained.
"But you accepted it, didn’t you? Accepting it means it’s part of your collection."
Liu Zheng countered its explanation.
"You! Nasty, cunning, sharp-tongued human!"
The French Plane Tree cursed furiously.
"Thanks for the compliment. How about adding more prefixes? This length doesn’t even fill up a business card."
He said with a cheeky smile.
"If you want me to throw you off Rose Street, just say so—no need to anger me on purpose."
The French Plane Tree extended a root and said coldly.
"Go ahead, no matter how many times you toss me out, I’ll keep coming back."
Liu Zheng declared with affection.
With the Ring Contract in place, the French Plane Tree was unlikely to use real force.
"Your car didn’t sign a Ring Contract with me. Let’s see if the Bloody Restaurant’s vehicles are as tough as its staff."
The French Plane Tree saw through his intentions.
"I apologize, Your Honor, Mr. Delago, spare me."
Liu Zheng conceded instantly.
If the spirit car was damaged too, the driver might not even rent him a unicycle next time.
"Hmph!"
The French Plane Tree raised its face triumphantly.
Humans are easy to handle.
On this street, tigers must lie down, dragons must curl up, and Delago is the true king of Rose Street.
While it was daydreaming, Liu Zheng took the bottle from the root.
No item description popped up.
"So what exactly is this?"
He asked.
"Didn’t you already see? It’s an arrow."
The French Plane Tree replied.
"I mean, what creature’s arrow is this, and what’s its use?"
"It’s the arrow of the Historical Battle King Black Wolf Bird, highly toxic and easily flammable and explosive—one can blow up a building."
The French Plane Tree stated.
"That’s powerful. Why would they give this to you, trying to poison you?"
"Hmph, this level of toxic arrow can’t poison me. If I absorb and digest small amounts repeatedly, I can even boost my poison resistance. But I don’t lack poison resistance. If you hadn’t come, I would have bartered it with other trees."
The French Plane Tree explained.
In fact, absorbing the arrow can also add poison damage to attacks. Given its strength and its forthcoming evolution into a Phoenix, it didn’t need it, but it would be useful for other trees.
"Didn’t you say none of your peers had gained intelligence?"
Liu Zheng asked.
"I meant within the city; there are many trees with intelligence in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains. However, they’re very slow and only send messengers to communicate occasionally, having seen one months ago."
The French Plane Tree replied.
Most trees are naturally Immortal Species, with the average lifespan post-Transcendent being impressively long. A few months are very short to them.
Yet, as a city tree, the French Plane Tree’s sense of time was inevitably influenced by the city’s fast pace.
"I see. Infinite Heavenly Venerable."
Liu Zheng stored the bottle in the Qiankun Ring.
Later, he’ll give it to Guo Koutangzi, to see if it can be added to the Metropolitan Most Smelly Soup.
Speaking of which, he should visit Garbage Street, as the Metropolitan Most Smelly Soup’s ingredients only need waste water from the Garbage Processing Plant.
