"How could..." The plane tree instinctively wanted to deny, but its mouth kept opening and closing without producing any sound.

"Let me guess again - are you incapable of lying?" Liu Zheng raised an eyebrow.

The plane tree simply shut its mouth.

"What's the best thing you possess?" He rolled his eyes playfully, testing the waters.

"I can't lie, but that doesn't mean I have to tell you anything. Stupid human." With its deception exposed, the plane tree's attitude turned hostile immediately.

"Then let's make a deal, Mr. Tree." Liu Zheng spread his hands.

"I don't make deals with huma— oh for fuck's sake!" The plane tree erupted in curses. Find the newest release on novel•fire.net

"You throw me the cane, I'll give you my urine." He suppressed a laugh.

"Why should I trust you?" The plane tree said arrogantly.

"Want some alcohol? Not piss with alcohol flavor - real liquor. Also juice, cola, coffee, milk tea..."

"Stop stop— you can actually get these?" The plane tree's branches straightened attentively.

"Don't forget, I'm a deliveryman for the Bloody Restaurant." Liu Zheng pointed at his uniform.

"I know. If you weren't restaurant staff, I'd have eaten you already." The plane tree rolled its non-existent eyes. Several branches shot out like snakes, circling above his head in a clear threat.

Liu Zheng's heart skipped a beat. So it wasn't about attack range—certain conditions simply hadn't been met yet. The restaurant employee status really was protective camouflage. No wonder Bullhorse told him to be bolder outside.

"I can't guarantee I'll get them, but I promise any drinks I obtain will be traded to you." Liu Zheng said.

"Fine, human, you've convinced me." The plane tree's branches twitched twice. "You have to say: 'I sincerely want to make a deal with you, human.'" It insisted.

"I sincerely want to— oh merde!" The plane tree cursed violently again.

Liu Zheng silently watched its mental breakdown, leaves shaking wildly.

"Alright! I sincerely want to make a deal with you, human." Finally, the plane tree accepted reality.

"Then answer me first—how can I safely complete our transactions?"

"As long as you don't step on my soil or take my things without permission, I can't attack you." The plane tree answered readily. Around it lay a two-meter diameter circle of near-black soil.

"Then throw me the cane, and give me a container for the urine." Liu Zheng requested.

"Zut! Since when did humans get smart?" Grumbling, the plane tree tossed over a human-bone cane and a rusty tin can.

"Because the dumb ones all got eaten by you." He retorted coldly.

"What are you complaining about, human? You burn our limbs for warmth, eat our embryos, drink our sap." The plane tree said contemptuously.

"You're right." Liu Zheng nodded and returned beneath the camphor tree. He had neither interest nor time for botanical ethics debates.

After emptying his bladder, Liu Zheng carried the tin can back to the plane tree. Standing at the edge of the black soil, he aimed the can's opening at the tree's mouth.

"Merde! What are you doing?" The plane tree exclaimed.

"Feeding you filtered alcoholic urine? What's wrong?" Liu Zheng was puzzled. So eager earlier, now suddenly picky?

"I'm a tree, understand? This mouth is decorative—my roots are the real mouth." The plane tree rolled its eyes dramatically.

"My mistake." He shrugged and poured the pungent filtered liquid onto a protruding root instead.

"Bien! That's the stuff!" The plane tree looked intoxicated.

"Glad you like it. Well then, goodbye Mr. Tree—I've got work." Liu Zheng dropped the can.

"Don't call me Mr. Tree—I have a name. Call me Delago." The plane tree said irritably.

"Sure thing, Mr. Delago." Liu Zheng obliged.

"You fucking— whatever, not worth arguing with a stupid human. Listen—bring me a bottle of Ascension Maotai 53°, I'll give you something truly valuable." Delago proposed.

"I'll try." Liu Zheng nodded. If Bullhorse got one bottle, a second should be possible.

"You won't regret it, human. To survive delivering for that restaurant, you'll need what I offer." Delago said meaningfully.

Leaving the man-eating tree behind, Liu Zheng resumed his journey. The urination detour cost significant time, but his new acquisition compensated adequately.

"So how does this thing work anyway?" He waved the cane experimentally.

"It's a cane, you paranoid idiot. Just a fucking cane." Delago's irritated voice carried from behind.

"Oh. Thanks." Liu Zheng replied without turning. Nice—even came with after-sales service.

Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap...

The rhythmic cane taps made his legs feel miraculously lighter.

"Walking faster with a cane than without—supernatural stuff is fascinating." Shaking his head, Liu Zheng picked up pace. Time was running out.

----------

Pushing hard, Liu Zheng reached his destination with exactly 10 minutes to spare.

Merlin Residential Area.

The gatehouse contained a security guard leaning back with a peaked cap covering his face—apparently napping on duty.

After studying the guard post, Liu Zheng decided against interaction. Fortunately, though gated, one could bypass the barrier by the vehicle entrance.

Testing the waters, he stepped one foot past the boundary, observing the guardhouse. When no reaction came, he committed fully.

This dungeon world operated on bizarre rules—caution was mandatory without explicit prompts.

"Building 3, Unit 503... which one's Building 3?" The small complex revealed no markings after a quick circuit.

"Guess I'll have to ask someone." Liu Zheng sighed. Even food delivery came with excessive complications—workers here truly suffered.

Returning to the gatehouse, he knocked on the window.

"Hello?" Liu Zheng called.

The guard jolted upright, though his hand remained on the hat.

"What?" The voice emerged raspy and high-pitched, like a chain-smoking castrato.

"Bloody Restaurant delivery. Could you direct me to Building 3?" At the restaurant's name, the guard's hat trembled slightly.

"One piece of meat." He stated.

"What meat?"

"Any meat. One piece, one question." The guard clarified.

Liu Zheng eyed the delivery box—the fish head inside would suffice. But stealing from orders surely carried penalties.

His phone showed six minutes remaining. Since he couldn't take the delivery's contents, alternative meat sources were needed.

"Give me a knife." Liu Zheng demanded.

"Unnecessary." The guard removed his hat, revealing an eel-like head swaying in air. Its smooth, scaleless crown split open, exposing concentric rings of tiny teeth.

It darted to Liu Zheng, gliding over his body like a predator seeking optimal striking position.

"Hurry up! If I miss the delivery, we're both screwed." Liu Zheng threatened through gritted teeth.

Perhaps the warning worked—the eel-head stopped its inspection and chomped down on his forearm.

Agony exploded as flesh was excised. Cold sweat drenched Liu Zheng's forehead, but he refused to scream.

Miraculously, when the eel detached, his arm showed no wound.

"That one." The guard pointed with stubby fingers toward a building.

"Thanks." Disregarding residual pain, Liu Zheng sprinted toward Building 3.