206: vineyard

Chapter 203: The Vineyard

The assault on the grape Plantation proved to be quite challenging.

Sariya selected five people to join the team, but before they could even reach the core area, three members were already lost.

One was dragged into the depths of the Plantation by mutated grapevines.

The other two were affected by the phylactery, began babbling incoherently, and even attacked their companions indiscriminately.

Arthur had to use magic to calm their minds, which only partially restored their lucidity.

Then, they had to assign one person to escort the two affected individuals out.

As a result, the entire team was ultimately reduced to Arthur, Drax, Flora, Sariya, and another soldier named Duncan.

As they drew closer to the center of the winery, the wildly growing grapevines became increasingly dense.

Arthur judged that these terrifying plants were likely the guardians of the phylactery.

They immediately launched an attack as soon as Arthur and his group approached.

Initially, the attacks were merely probing, but after the soldiers severed them with their weapons, their offensive instantly intensified.

Arthur had reason to suspect that these grapevines, like the oak trees of the Whispering Place, had become sentient beings.

Even more bizarrely, what flowed from the severed vines and branches was not ordinary sap, but a foul-smelling, blood-red liquid.

Arthur noticed the unusual state of his companions.

Especially Sariya and Duncan; their nerves were stretched to the limit, almost to the point of seeing enemies in every bush.

Drax was relatively better, but his expression was also very grim; the high-intensity combat, coupled with the constant whispers and hallucinations, had already left him drenched in sweat.

Only Flora remained the most stable.

She fought while loudly reciting prayers to the Forest Mother.

It must be said that these prayers indeed had an effect; it was through this power that they were able to persevere and reach this point.

At this moment, they were in a room at the winery.

The vines covering the room had been cleared, making it a temporary safe zone.

Arthur could vaguely sense that the phylactery—or rather, the core of these mutated plants—was not far away.

It was luring them to continue forward in an almost ingratiating manner.

The young priest noticed something amiss.

This was a sweet trap.

He had a strong premonition that once they stepped into the location of the core, everyone around him would be ensnared.

This premonition surged into his mind like a divine revelation.

It was also like a sharp buzzing constantly ringing in his ears, though, of course, all of this could also just be the phylactery's temptation.

It wanted Arthur to abandon his guards and go to its location alone.

But no matter which was the truth, Arthur had to make a decision quickly.

He had personally witnessed how fast these grapevines recovered.

“Give me the Blazing Fire Glue,” Arthur said, turning to Flora. “I'll go the rest of the way myself.”

As soon as he spoke, everyone present immediately objected.

“Listen, you've already reached your limit.” Arthur's gaze swept over everyone present. “Continuing further will only lead to the same fate as Brand and Baker.

“At that point, I won't be able to look after each of you.”

He knew his words were a bit cruel, but they were all true.

“I can still keep going,” Flora immediately said. “My lord, let me go with you.”

“No, you must take them and leave here.” Arthur's tone was unyielding. “That's an order!”

Flora's temples throbbed, filled with the desire to argue.

But ultimately, she could not defy the Saint's will.

“I understand,” she replied.

If an invisibility cloak could be used, that would be even better.

Unfortunately, the vines here were like fungi.

Even a slight, accidental touch was enough to attract their attention.

Arthur took the Blazing Fire Glue Flora handed him, carefully stowing it away.

He closed his eyes and once again sensed the location of the core.

“Leave this place. Don't worry, I won't die here,” he told his subordinates.

With that, he stepped out.

The vines outside stretched out their tendrils like living creatures, reaching for him.

Arthur quickly assessed his surroundings and then sprinted towards the corridor on the left.

The vines there were scarcer than anywhere else.

Or rather, they were actively retreating, as if deliberately clearing a path for him.

Undoubtedly, this phylactery was guiding him forward.

Following this deliberately cleared path, he eventually reached the underground wine cellar.

Before him was an unusually thick tree root.

It was so thick that it would take three or four people with outstretched arms to encircle it.

It had burst forth from the ground, extending straight upwards until it touched the warehouse ceiling.

And in the very center of the tree root, a crimson eye was embedded.

“Please, don't hurt me,” a soft voice suddenly whispered in his ear.

Arthur looked in the direction of the voice, only to see a blurry figure swaying before him.

“I can't promise that,” he replied.

The figure gradually became clearer.

It was a petite girl, wearing a long red dress.

“So, you intend to kill your own child?” she asked.

“What do you mean by that?” he frowned, pressing for an answer.

“Have you forgotten?” The girl slowly walked towards Arthur.

The young baron instinctively took a few steps back, watching her warily.

“Don't be afraid, my Master,” the girl said with a smile.

The next second, she was already in front of Arthur, reaching out and grasping the Goddess's scepter in his hand.

“Don't you remember me? It was you who planted me with your own hands back then—all so that the people of this land could survive.”

Arthur pondered for a moment, then speculated, “Are you referring to Saint John?

“I have indeed heard the story of him planting grapes and saving the local people back then.”

The girl looked up, her eyes full of confusion: “I don't know what you're talking about, Master.

“You've finally returned; I've been waiting for you.

“Year after year, and now you've finally come back. I'm truly happy.”

Just then, the vines had silently coiled around Arthur's feet.

Arthur pulled out the Blazing Fire Glue, clutching it in his hand.

The girl blinked her watery eyes, “Do you know how lonely I've been all these years? I've missed you every moment.”

Before she finished speaking, the vines suddenly went wild, wrapping around Arthur's body and lifting him high, sending him towards the crimson eye in the center of the tree root.

Arthur saw the piles of white bones accumulated beneath the tree root's coiled roots.

“Now, we can finally be together forever, Master,” the girl said with a sweet smile. “Forever, we'll never be apart again.”

“What do you plan to do?” Arthur asked coldly. “Do you intend to completely absorb me, just like those you used as nutrients?”

“No, no, no, I merely invited them to come and play with me.”

The girl shook her head, her tone terrifyingly innocent.

At this point, Arthur was close enough to the crimson eye.

Close enough to see the crisscrossing blood vessels on the eyeball.

“Let me embrace you, Master!” the girl whispered softly.

“No,” Arthur firmly refused, “I'm afraid you've mistaken me for someone else!”

With that, he let go, and the Blazing Fire Glue fell onto the eye.

Flames instantly erupted, spreading along the tree trunk.

The girl let out a sharp shriek, demanding angrily, “Why? Why would you do this?

“Why do you hurt me? Don't you love me anymore?”

Her face twisted and deformed in the flames, and the vines that had bound Arthur also loosened.

The young baron fell to the ground, but without a moment's pause, he immediately got up and charged forward.

Flames ignited his robe, and he gritted his teeth, gripping the Goddess's scepter tightly, and fiercely plunged it into the crimson eye.

He knew very well that a single bottle of Blazing Fire Glue could not completely burn down this tree root; the only thing he could do was to trust the revelation given by the Goddess.

If this truly is the evil fruit sown by Saint John back then, then I shall be the one to end it with my own hands!

Arthur thought.

The flames, the shrieks, the dancing vines, and even Arthur himself, all fell silent.

Everything was as if a pause button had been pressed, frozen in place.

Arthur took a deep breath, but instead of the acrid smell of fire, his nostrils were filled with the sweet aroma of ripe grapes.

“You received my message, Messenger.” A familiar voice came from behind the grape arbor. “Come here, lend a hand.”

Arthur exhaled and quickly walked behind the grape arbor, taking a basket of grapes from the old woman.

“Where are these going?” he asked.

“These are for you,” the old woman said with a smile. “But don't eat them directly; these are grapes for making wine. Come with me.”

Arthur followed the old woman to a winery, where the basket of grapes was placed into a press.

Immediately after, all the winemaking machinery began to operate.

“So much has happened recently; I've been wanting to contact you,” the old woman said, pouring a glass of wine from the machine. “But ever since you entered Qingfeng Valley, my connection with you has weakened considerably.”

Arthur waved his hand, declining the wine offered by the old woman.

“I forgot you don't drink much,” the old woman said. “How about some tea then?”

Arthur shrugged, a hint of self-deprecation in his voice: “Considering I'm still being burned by fire right now, a cup of tea might actually help me cool down.”

No sooner had he spoken than a tea set and a kettle full of water bounced towards him, automatically brewing him a cup of hot tea.

“I can hear the complaints in your words, Messenger,” the old woman said.

“I just want an explanation.” Arthur picked up the teacup but didn't drink. “You gave me a revelation.

“And I met a little girl who called me ‘Master’.

“I guess she must be my predecessor's masterpiece?”

The old woman did not answer immediately, but unhurriedly swirled the wine glass in her hand, watching the crimson wine swirl within the cup.

“Do you know? A long, long time ago, long before humans were born, grapes, this ancient crop, were already being cultivated and made into wine.

“Back then, whether it was giants, elves, or elementals, they all believed that wine was my blood.

“They firmly believed that drinking this liquid could bring them divine power.”

“So, are these claims true?” Arthur asked.

“Of course not.” The old woman couldn't help but laugh. “Those were just absurd superstitions.

“We at least have to talk about basic science, don't we?

“Why do you look so surprised?”

Arthur pondered for a moment, then replied, “Hearing the word 'science' from the mouth of a deity is quite beyond my expectation.”

“I exist in countless planes, and the sights in some of those planes, well, I'm afraid they're beyond your imagination.”

The old woman explained, “Take your tea; winemaking takes some time, and we have many things to discuss.

“Especially about the mark on your chest.”

Arthur instinctively raised his hand to touch his chest.

He steadied his teacup and followed the Goddess's footsteps.

“That mark strengthens your connection with other realms, and it's precisely because of this that I can contact you,” the old woman explained as she walked. “But at the same time, it's slowly corrupting your body and mind.

“It will gradually shield your senses, allowing you to hear only its voice.”

“the king in yellow,” Arthur blurted out.

“It seems you've already learned about your enemy; that's good.” The old woman nodded approvingly. “They come from other realms, distant universes, and are ancient and powerful beings.

“They have tried to invade this world more than once, but ultimately failed.

“And the threads of fate have tightly intertwined you with them.

“I cannot see through the mysteries behind these threads; only the stone tablets left by our Father can explain the causality involved.

“But the last time a god tried to look at the stone tablets, the outcome wasn't so good.”

Tablets of Fate? Arthur thought.

He frowned and asked, “So, you can't help me remove the Yellow Mark?”

“Be patient, Messenger, I am explaining all of this to you.”

“My apologies,” Arthur immediately said, “I shouldn't interrupt a lady.”

“The mark is not unremovable.” The old woman stopped walking.

Further ahead was a decaying, withered vineyard.

“But I cannot directly intervene; we are not allowed to interfere in mortal affairs.

“So, this matter ultimately falls to you.

“But rest assured, I will give you a way to remove the mark.”

With that, the old woman tilted the wine glass in her hand, pouring all the wine onto the barren ground.

The previously blackened, cracked earth showed a hint of vitality under the nourishment of the wine.

“Yes, the child you met is indeed related to John,” the old woman continued. “He merely wanted the people of this land to live better lives back then.

“He wouldn't have imagined that this child would be corrupted in the future, becoming what it is today.”