The world has turned into Hell's Game, why should I stay human? Chapter 5 The Trees Are Talking

"Boss,"

he called out, but there was no response.

He knocked on the door again, and after half a minute, the door opened.

"What do you want?"

Niu Ma asked impatiently.

"Doesn't the restaurant provide transportation?"

Liu Zheng asked.

"No. We don't need it,"

said Niu Ma, shaking his large head.

After all, his lower half was that of a horse.

Considering the length of his legs, his running speed was probably not far off from a real-world Akhal-Teke horse.

"What about those human employees?"

"You should go now, or it'll really be too late."

Niu Ma closed the door.

Liu Zheng curled his lips, it seed that he couldn't fleece any more benefits from him.

He picked up his delivery bag and headed towards the delivery channel.

The tunnel was pitch dark, without any source of light.

The ground also seed to be made of special material, as he made no sound at all as he walked on it.

In such an environnt, it was good enough to keep one's sanity, let alone determine one's position.

Liu Zheng tentatively raised his arms horizontally, just able to touch the walls on both sides.

The touch felt strange, sowhat like a Sli compression toy but much harder.

If one wanted a psychological support, then walking forward while bracing against the walls was not a bad idea.

But he did not plan to walk that way.

Liu Zheng lowered his arms and let himself be imrsed in the boundless darkness.

While understanding "amyotrophic lateral sclerosis," he had also learned many other dical pieces of knowledge, among which was sothing called "desensitization therapy."

Simply put, it involved repeatedly injecting an allergen into an allergy patient, gradually inducing the patient's tolerance so that they no longer have an allergic reaction to it.

Liu Zheng felt that "desensitization therapy" should also be applicable to the psychological aspects of light and dark.

Of course, if the system advised him that his "rationality was decreasing," he would stop imdiately.

Fortunately, Liu Zheng's tolerance for sheer darkness and silence was surprisingly high.

Moreover, the tunnel was not completely silent.

Every so often, he could not help but cough and wheeze.

At the sa ti, his lungs and throat would convey a strong sensation of discomfort, asserting their existence.

The pain of the flesh beca the anchor of his Spirit, a bit of black humor there.

After the seventh cough, Liu Zheng finally exited the tunnel.

The not-so-violent Sunshine hit his eyes, giving him a feeling of it being a whole different world.

He felt so sympathy for his forr colleagues. He only had to endure for three days, while they had to work for months or even decades.

Although, they might not live that long.

After a mont of silent tribute to those fellow humans he had never t, Liu Zheng embarked on his delivery journey.

Just like on his way there, the streets were still desolate.

There were no pedestrians, no vehicles, and not even traffic lights.

If he had a small electric scooter, he couldn't imagine how joyful it would be to ride it.

Too bad that was not an option.

"Heeheehee..."

A bizarre lody started to play.

Liu Zheng took out his phone and saw that it was a ringtone for an incoming call.

"13871XXXXXX."

It was Niu Ma's phone number, as he rembered it.

"Boss, what's up?"

he asked as he clicked the answer button.

"I forgot to remind you, when you go to the toilet outside, you must do it next to plants, and preferably trees or green belts,"

Niu Ma's loud voice sounded as if it sprang to life.

"And I thought only dogs did that."

Liu Zheng snarked.

"They have specific regulations, they can only do it against column-shaped objects,"

Niu Ma hung up the phone.

Nice stereotypes there.

Don't let dog lovers hear this, or they might pee on your leg.

Liu Zheng chuckled and continued walking.

In fact, Niu Ma didn't need to rush to remind him, as he had neither eaten nor drunk before entering the instance, and his stomach was empty.

Even if forced, he couldn't pee...

Wait, that was odd.

Liu Zheng stopped in his tracks and clenched his sponge tissues.

He indeed started to feel the urge.

He looked around and noticed that the world of the instance had many correspondences with reality, such as the species of street trees, which were primarily camphor and French Plane Trees just like in the real world.

He even found a few photinias, fortunately, it wasn't the blooming season, otherwise, the whole street would be suffused with the vigor of life.

Liu Zheng hurried to a camphor tree and with one hand, unzipped his fly.

A faint yellow arc fell, splattering a few drops of liquid on the bark.

"Been feeling quite heaty lately, huh?"

"Yeah, had too much barbecue."

Liu Zheng casually replied, then turned his head.

Not far away, a French Plane Tree was staring at him intently, along with his 'tool of the cri.'

"And there's the sll of alcohol, is that Mao Tai?"

The French Plane Tree sniffed and several pieces of bark fell off.

"Skyrocketing Mao Tai at 53% alcohol volu."

Liu Zheng silently pulled his pants back up.

"Good stuff, co on, pee in my mouth."

The French Plane Tree opened its mouth eagerly.

"You have to answer a question for first."

"Ask quickly, ask quickly."

"What on earth are you?"

"Isn't it obvious? I'm a tree."

The French Plane Tree looked at him strangely.

Are humans nowadays all this dumb?

"Then why can't it talk?"

Liu Zheng pointed to the camphor tree beside him.

"Because it's ntally challenged."

The French Plane Tree replied.

"ntally challenged?"

"That's right, all the trees on this street are ntally challenged, only I am the one and only genius."

The French Plane Tree boasted proudly.

"Even if they are ntally challenged, then why don't they have faces?"

He had spotted a key point.

"If they can't talk, what do they need a face for? It's a waste of nutrients."

The French Plane Tree argued forcefully.

One had to admit, its argunt had so rit.

"Alright then."

Liu Zheng shrugged and then turned around, intending to find another spot.

"Hey, didn't I tell you to piss in my mouth?"

The French Plane Tree clamored.

"I don't have the habit of peeing in anyone's mouth."

He said without turning back.

"I'm not a person."

"Still, no other tree either."

"So troubleso, tell , what would it take for you to let drink?"

The French Plane Tree retorted.

"I want a car."

Liu Zheng stopped in his tracks and tentatively said.

"Nope."

"A little electric scooter."

"Don't have that either."

"A bicycle has to be okay, right?"

"No, no, I'm a tree, get it? A tree!"

The French Plane Tree shook its branches vigorously, and leaves scattered all over the ground.

"Then what can you give ? Hurry up, I need to make a delivery."

Liu Zheng urged.

"I only have this."

A thick root thrust out of the soil, tossing a white cane onto the ground.

"Na: Human Bone Cane"

"Type: Equipnt"

"Quality: Excellent"

"Effect: Increases movent speed by 10%."

"Note: There was once a big fraudster who always liked to sell canes to normal people; later on, his legs were broken by soone."

"Can it be taken out of the instance: Yes"

Trading a pee for an item, a very worthwhile deal.

But Liu Zheng didn't imdiately go over to pick it up; instead, he looked at the root that hadn't retracted.

"I should ask just in case, you're not planning to eat , are you?"

He asked with a flicker of unease in his eyes.

This Human Bone Cane couldn't possibly have grown out of the ground.