Chapter 108: Bleeding Criss Grass

Kun collapsed against a tree, swearing in frustration as she did. “I can’t believe we still haven’t found this stupid plant!”

They ad been going foraging more often and both were finding it harder everyday. For Zen, it was the fact that he was beginning to see less and less. For Kun it was that she could not find the single remaining plant on her list to create her Forever Hot Soup.

“We still have a few sections of the forest to search.” Zen said, rubbing the top f Shibi’s head. “If we don’t find anything, we can always go deeper.”

“With our current power level?” Geyi Kun said. “I doubt we cand defeat the beasts there even with me backing you up.”

“Yeah…” Zen said in confusion. He doubted she could provide any useful back up even now. “Wel, nothing to do except look.” He said, getting on his feet.

Kun grumbled but followed him up to her feet. As they walked, something pecular happened. Zen kept coming across more Criss Grass and the more they walked, the more they became.

“What’s going on?” Zen said, voicing out the questions in there heads.

“Don’t know,” she said equally confused. “I did tell you that I found it weird that these plants were getting such a researgence in the forest lately. Especially considering that t is winter. My guess is, we’re nearing the reason why these Criss Grass has been growing the way it has.”

They walked on with Zen and Shibi picking more Criss Grass but Zen was picking only those within arm reach as he was more concerned with the source of these plants. They finally reached it. Surrounded by a carpet of Criss Grass was big glowing flower with orane petals curving open toward the ground. At the centre of the petals was a high, sunny yellow tower had that had thin, almost transparent feelers growing from it, ending in a yellow bud.

“Wow,” Zen said as he stepped closer to the plant. “Do you know what it is?”

“No.”

“How can you not?”

“Cause I’m not a freaking genius and even if I was, only a fool would expect me to know every plant that exists.” She snapped. “You’re full of crap but you don’t see me pointing at every dg hill we come across, asking ‘do you know where that crap came from.’”

Zen ignord her as he stepped closer. “So its heping all Criss Grass to grow. Wonder why?”

“It’s infected.”

Zen looked at Kun in confusion.

She picked off something form the yellow part of the plant and presented it to him. Zen looked at the white worm crawling at the need of her finger. “These are White Catapillars. Really nasty beasts for plants and when they get big enough, they can even cultivate to eat more of a plant. That’s why there are so many Criss Grass here. This plant is most likely trying to ward them off.”

“Criss Grass repels these pests?”

“They are so aweful that insects avoid eating them if they can. But it doesn’t seem to be working, with the combination of winter and these parasites, this plant will ssurely perish.”

Zen looked at the plant and touched it. “Can we save it?”

“You want to save it?”

“Wel, it did give me the means to purifying my ki, so maybe I owe it.”

“One could easily say that you owe ore to the White Catapillars than the plant.” Kun said. “I mean, if they had not attacked the plant, it would not have stoked the growth of these Criss Grass.”

“No, it is the plants doing.” Zen smiled. “You never know, I may be its last of defence.”

Kun rolled his eyes. “What’s with boys and their delusional desires to be the hero of some crappy wuxia novel?” She said as she walked away.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to prepare a remedy.” She said. “We’ll shower the plant in it and it should kill the parasites, then you two can get married.”

“Thank you, Kun Kun!”

Kun had prepared the remedy in two bowls she had fetched from her storage stone. She gave Zen the other bowl. Alright, just pour this all over the plant and on any catapillars that you see. This should kill them off and keep new ones from coming.”

“Alright,” Zen said as he and Shibi took one side of the plant while Geyi kun took another.

Zen poured the contents on his hand and rubbed it on the plant, with Shibi occasionally helping. Everything was going well until Kun screamed.

“Kun!” Zen said in panic as he went to the other side to check on her.

Kun was on the ground and from her arm was a giant wiggling mass. Zen summoned the Zen Blade from his storage stone and sliced at the bulboius body, sending its inards splashing about as its body came to a stop.

“What was that?” Zen said as he helped her to her feet.

“White Catapillar.” Kun said. “These ones seem t have grown to the point where they can cultivate.””

More of the catapillars leapt from the plant. They had been hiding in thetall structure, leaping through the hole that they had chewed through. Zen slashed at two and Shibi punched at another, his hand covered in flame. The catapillar Shibi punched bursted in flame, almost as if it was a fire bomb before falling on the ground where the flames spread oer the numerous Criss Grass plants.

“What happened?” Zen said, stepping away from the fire.

“Cultivating White Catapillar’s have very flameable blood!” Kun said, stepping away.

Zen’s eyes opened in horror as he saw the fire creep closer to the two dead catapillars that he had killed with their bodies full of flameable blood. As soon as the fire engulfed their bodies, it sprouted outward, forcing them to leap back to avoid it.

“No!” Zen shouted before throwing the contents f his bowl at the fire.

“No Zen!” Kun shouted to lae as the liquid became one with the fire making it stronger. “The remedy is also flameable! I didn’t have the materials to make a non-flameable one!”

“Wait, the plant!” Zen watched as the fire leapt n the plant.

“Its too late!” Kun said.

Zen gulped and leapt int the fire. He sailed over the fire and grabbed the plant by the top and pulled, while hoping it would not tear from his pull. The plant was uprooted and pulled away from the surrounding inferno. Zen tried to beat the fire to death but only succeeded in spreading the fire more to the carpet of the Criss Grass. The plant finally came apart in his hands and he had to leap away from the fire he had just spread.

Shibi shouted in horror and made to go after him.

“No, Shibi!” Zen commanded across the growing fire. “Stay with Geyi Kun and get away from the fire. I’ll meet both of you to the west, that way!” Zen pointed just to be sre they knew before both they split up.

The fire had died in the oppressive winter air, however, it had taken most of the Criss Grass with it. Zen sat on the ground, looing at the grey ground with a mostly charred remains of the mystery plant.

“That was a bloody disaster!” he said.

“Tell me about it.” Kun said.

“Why didn’t you tell me that the remedy yu made was flammeable?”

“I thought since your goal was to save the plant, that you would naturally not start any potential forest fire starting flames anywhere near it.”

“I am sorry.” Shibi said in a sad voice.

“Ah, Shibi.” Zen took the aape into his arms. “It’s not your fault. It’s no ones fault.”

“Oh well,” Geyi Kun sighed. “Let’s collect the remaining Criss Grass for you and get back to the acedmy.”