Volume One: The Soul-Drawn Gourd and the Flame of Spirits Chapter 94: The Bamboo Cottage
Looking out across the entire microscopic jungle, the vegetation barely reached waist height. The unique fragrance of the plants and trees wafted into the nostrils. Unknown dangers lurked in the shadows...
Rustle rustle~
Amid the foliage, faint footsteps could be heard.
Li Hetang, who was gathered around Min Wenhua, wore a forced smile and kept asking questions.
“Old squad leader, since we share the same combat unit number, won’t you tell us?”
“I’m really curious—weren’t you killed years ago? How did you end up at the Well of Gods and Demons?”
“Even now, your exploits are still the talk of the brothers.”
“Brother Cat, why aren’t you saying anything?”
...
Hearing this, Min Wenhua’s eyes seemed to glisten with unshed tears.
After pacing several dozen steps, the orange cat appeared somewhat annoyed by Li Hetang’s incessant chatter.
Finally, with a world-weary sigh, he opened his mouth to speak.
“Honestly, I don’t know what happened. At that moment, everything went black before my eyes, and I was captured...”
At this, a bitter smile flickered across Min Wenhua’s face.
“Before I lost consciousness, from my hiding spot, I saw someone who looked exactly like me... When I opened my eyes again, I was already in a dim laboratory.”
Li Hetang’s heart jolted sharply upon hearing this, as a flood of questions surged like a tide.
“So Brother Cat, you really were captured by the White Lotus Sect.”
Min Wenhua only gave a wry smile in response, then asked,
“Hetang, what did you say just now? ‘Well of Gods and Demons’?”
This revelation left Li Hetang momentarily stunned; it turned out Min Wenhua had no idea where he was.
“Brother Cat, you don’t even know where this place is?”
Min Wenhua used the sharp spear in his hand to part the vegetation ahead, forging a narrow path.
“No, I don’t.”
These surprising words caused a dark shadow to fall over Li Hetang’s face.
“Don’t you find this place strange? The plants and insects are all enormous!”
Min Wenhua’s eyes, deep and solemn, surveyed the perilous jungle, then shook his head calmly.
“At first, I wasn’t used to it either. I thought this place was hell. But over time, I adapted.”
Hearing this, thunderous thoughts roared in Li Hetang’s mind.
“Brother Cat, do you know what year it is now?”
Min Wenhua lifted his eyes and pondered for a moment.
“It should be the year 2000, right? I record it every day in standard script.”
Buzz—
In an instant, Li Hetang’s mind went blank, utterly disoriented.
By all accounts, the exceptional Min Wenhua was a top operative in the special forces. He wouldn’t miscalculate the date!
Could it be...
The only explanation was that the entire Well of Gods and Demons was controlled by the Earthbound Master, manipulating its time and space.
Thinking of this, Li Hetang turned to look at Xiao Yulou.
The ethereal and otherworldly Xiao Yulou glanced at Gu Mo resting on his shoulder, then turned his face away with a bratty pout.
“Brother Hetang, you’re so improper. You refused to pay more before, and now you’re thinking of this poor Daoist!”
Li Hetang’s expression drooped in response, surprised that this sly Taoist was still scheming for extra money.
“Master Xiao, as long as we get out safely, I will definitely apply to the organization.”
At this, Li Hetang suddenly looked toward the already unconscious Gu Mo.
“Master Xiao, how is Mr. Gu doing?”
Xiao Yulou sighed deeply.
“I have already administered a pill to Brother Gu. Now it depends on his fate.”
Hearing this ambiguous half-promise, Xiao Yulou began quietly chanting the Infinite Heavenly Venerable incantation, then spoke leisurely.
“Brother Hetang, the reason the Well of Gods and Demons is in such a wretched state ultimately comes down to the Earthbound Master!”
Upon hearing this definite answer, Li Hetang furrowed his brow and pressed on.
“Brother Cat, how did you escape from the laboratory? What happened afterward?”
Facing Li Hetang’s questions, Min Wenhua sighed again.
“When I woke up in the lab, aside from all sorts of unfamiliar electronic instruments, there was no sign of the people who had been controlling me...”
---
Upon receiving this vital clue, Li Hetang looked at Min Wenhua with sincere eyes and said,
“Brother Cat, if you don’t mind, may I probe your memories?”
At these words, Min Wenhua’s curiosity mixed with reluctance.
Having lived long in such an environment, this iron-willed warrior no longer trusted outsiders easily.
After a moment’s hesitation, Min Wenhua pointed toward a nearby direction.
“Let’s have a drink of water first, then we’ll talk.”
Hearing this, Li Hetang suppressed his curiosity and followed Min Wenhua.
After what felt like a long time, a towering emerald bamboo shoot appeared, like a colossal pillar reaching the clouds. A small bamboo hut, about seven or eight square meters, sat hidden high above. On the giant bamboo, a thin rope was tied.
At its base grew a dense patch of verdant plants.
Li Hetang looked upward but could not see where the bamboo led.
Min Wenhua turned to Li Hetang and Xiao Yulou with a smile.
“Welcome to my humble abode.”
With that, Min Wenhua parted the camouflaging plants.
Looking closely, the plants grew atop a large bamboo plank. Beneath the plank was a ring-shaped, pitch-black pit dug around the massive bamboo stalk.
A single pebble-paved path led straight down to the bamboo’s base.
Looking down, the circular pit was more than ten meters deep, filled with sharp wooden spikes. On these spikes were rings of dried sap stains.
It was clear that this spike pit trap was Min Wenhua’s creation, with the spikes coated in some kind of plant toxin. Otherwise, how could he have killed a giant spider instantly with just a wooden spear?
Min Wenhua then untied the rope on the bamboo pillar.
Soon, a large bamboo basket dropped before the three of them.
Min Wenhua tightened the rope and told Li Hetang,
“Hetang, you and that guy sit first. We’ll figure things out in the hut.”
Li Hetang nodded obediently, helped the unconscious Gu Mo into the basket.
With the sound of ropes rubbing, the bamboo basket slowly ascended.
After a while, it reached the door of the small bamboo hut.
By faint light, a roughly four-square-meter bamboo platform stood before the door. As guests, Li Hetang supported the unconscious Gu Mo and crouched on the platform, waiting.
While waiting, Li Hetang surveyed the surroundings.
The hut sat over twenty meters above ground, offering a broad view. Everything around was in sight, so any danger would be detected immediately.
Both the hut and platform were dusted with a layer of pale green powder.
Curious, Li Hetang touched some powder and brought it to his nose.
“Mugwort and mint powder—Brother Cat really is excellent!”
Muttering to himself, Li Hetang examined the bamboo hut.
It was exquisitely constructed, with a thick covering of giant bamboo leaves on the roof. The slender bamboo slats were tightly tied with handmade ropes. This tough warrior surprisingly had a delicate touch.
After a while, Xiao Yulou and Min Wenhua arrived on the platform by bamboo basket.
Once Min Wenhua secured the basket, he gently pushed open the hut’s door.
A strong scent of mugwort immediately filled their noses.
“Hetang, do you have a lighter?”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yulou quickly pulled out a lighter and cigarettes.
Min Wenhua reached out and took them, trembling slightly, as if he hadn’t seen these things for a long time.
Click—
A flickering orange-yellow flame appeared, and Min Wenhua lit a yellow candle.
The small bamboo hut was instantly bathed in warm light.
By the candlelight, Xiao Yulou and Li Hetang took in the interior.
The hut was built around the bamboo pillar. Bamboo tables, chairs, and stools were arranged inside. On the table were cups made from small bamboo tubes. To the right, a bamboo rocking chair could be seen.
Though small, the hut was well-equipped. Min Wenhua, living here long-term, clearly enjoyed this jungle life.
Afterward, Xiao Yulou and Li Hetang sat on a bamboo plank bed, supporting the middle-lying Gu Mo. Min Wenhua removed his ant-armored suit and walked to the bamboo pillar with a bamboo cup.
Two small bamboo tube stoppers sealed holes in the giant stalk.
With a pop, Min Wenhua pulled one out, and a clear, fragrant stream of water gushed forth.
He filled three cups, handing them to Xiao Yulou and Li Hetang.
“Conditions are limited; please don’t mind.”
Hearing this, the two smiled sincerely.
The sweet water refreshed them, cleansing their spirits.
---
After a few sips, Li Hetang briefly introduced Gu Mo and Xiao Yulou to Min Wenhua.
Min Wenhua studied them curiously, wondering how a soldier like Li Hetang could be involved with these two.
“Hetang, what mission brought you here?”
Li Hetang sighed deeply and recounted the story of code name O and the White Lotus Sect.
Min Wenhua listened without doubt.
Between breaths, Li Hetang asked,
“Brother Cat, why were you in the spider cave?”
Min Wenhua smiled simply.
“I was originally scavenging supplies here. Who knew you would stir up such a commotion in the spider cave.”
Li Hetang could only smile awkwardly.
Then Min Wenhua looked into Li Hetang’s eyes and said,
“To be honest, this bamboo hut is just a temporary shelter. My real home is several kilometers away, where over thirty people live.”
Hearing this astonishing news, Li Hetang was dumbfounded.
“Brother Cat, how can so many people live here?”
Min Wenhua nodded and continued,
“They’re mostly like me—captured. I found them in that laboratory building.”
At this point, overwhelmed by questions, Li Hetang earnestly asked,
“Brother Cat, may I probe your memories?”
Faced with this unusual request, Min Wenhua was curious.
“Hetang, how do you probe memories?”
Li Hetang smiled.
“You can think of me as having a special ability. I can access memories by touching a being’s skin. But don’t worry, it won’t hurt.”
Hearing this, Min Wenhua nodded skeptically.
Then the iron-willed man pointed to the other stopper on the bamboo pillar.
“If you want to freshen up, you can pull out the stopper above.”
At this, Xiao Yulou’s eyes lit up.
“Since the host invites us so warmly, this poor Daoist won’t refuse.”
With that, Xiao Yulou helped Gu Mo toward the bamboo pillar.
Li Hetang, eager for vital information, looked respectfully into Min Wenhua’s eyes.
“Brother Cat, just try to relax. It won’t take long.”
Min Wenhua nodded slightly.
Then Li Hetang took a deep breath and gently grasped Min Wenhua’s closed eyes.
A blue light glowed from Li Hetang’s hands, and fragments of memory flooded into his mind.
Overall, Min Wenhua’s memories fell into three parts.
The first was the dim laboratory, which seemed to have been built by the White Lotus Sect.
The second was life after escaping, living in a cave with many children.
The third was Min Wenhua’s special military training.
Seeing this, Li Hetang promptly copied the third part—it was invaluable experience.
Unfortunately, Min Wenhua’s memories held no information on code name O, nor any trace of the White Lotus Sect.
For a time, Li Hetang felt disheartened...
After a long while, Li Hetang and Min Wenhua slowly opened their eyes as a lavender fragrance filled the bamboo hut.
From outside came Xiao Yulou’s singing voice as he bathed:
“I love bathing, my skin feels so good~
Oh oh oh~
Wearing a shower cap, hopping about~
Oh oh oh~
Mermaid wants to run away~”
...