This Necromancer Just Wants to Plant Trees - Chapter 49

"You're late, Rega, but I am too," a hearty voice chimed in beside Rega.

Upon hearing this voice, a smile spread across Rega's face. He turned around and embraced the newcomer, although the bulky armor limited the gesture to a symbolic waist-hug.

"Welcome back, Peggy."

Rega genuinely patted Peggy's back. He couldn't resist running a hand through Peggy's smooth, unblemished forehead. "Is it still as smooth as it was back in the day?"

"If you dared to touch a wicked monk like the one who reveres the 'Witch Queen Baba Yaga' or the 'Twilight Creator Gailan,' then I can guarantee your brain would have been splattered all over," the monk who had come with the Eastern Giant Eagle said, wearing a somewhat helpless smile. "If you touch Li Weichi's head, you'll only get an eyeroll."

"It's great to see you," Rega said, looking at Peggy with nostalgia. "You haven't changed much in the past ten years. Is it the power of 'Qi' that helps?"

Li Weichi chuckled and replied, "Perhaps 'Qi' can slow down aging, but following the precepts is the true secret to eternal youth."

With that, Li Weichi gazed towards the distant battlefield. "Honestly, I couldn't believe there would be necromancers in your army."

Rega's face darkened, "That was unexpected. He is not one of my people, and in a way, he turned my pre-war declaration into a joke. Necromancers are indeed despised for a reason."

Li Weichi remarked, "You can't say that. If you had had a necromancer accompanying you on your journey through the Abyss, the casualties would have been much smaller."

Rega fell silent for a moment and then grunted, "That makes it even more annoying, doesn't it?"

"Let's not dwell on that. How was your quest for legendary knowledge in the East?" Li Weichi inquired.

Li Weichi replied calmly, "I once climbed a lonely peak that reached ten thousand meters in height, and I frolicked with giant turtles and whales on the ocean floor. But I never found the trace I was looking for. However, I gained a lot along the way, and though my strength hasn't increased, my soul is greatly satisfied."

Rega teased, "So, your power is still at the fourth tier, just like mine?"

Li Weichi glanced at him and said, "It's about the same, except I'm four levels past the fourth tier."

Now it was Rega's turn to roll his eyes.

"Hey, how can you two reminisce without acknowledging the real hero here?" the Eastern Giant Eagle, now in human form, interjected. "Honestly, Hovin, your flying speed can't match my 'Divine Dash.'"

Li Weichi said seriously, "If you'd let me return alone earlier, I might have been more helpful."

Druid Hovin became agitated, "What kind of 'Divine Dash' can cover a distance of three thousand miles? I let you ride me for a day and a night, and this is how you repay me? Li Weichi, there's something seriously wrong with your precepts!"

Li Weichi joked, "My precepts don't include preserving the self-esteem of little animals."

Hovin immediately transformed into a sparrow and pecked at Li Weichi's head. However, Li Weichi's bald head remained unharmed, and the sparrow nearly pecked its own beak bald.

Rega chuckled from the sidelines.

The playful squabble ended when Zeller approached. "Be mindful of your identities and appearances, everyone. You're not the younglings you were twenty or thirty years ago."

Zeller embraced Li Weichi with a smile. The latter immediately expressed his affection, "Oh, Zeller, you're as handsome and charming as ever. Resisting your charm is probably the most challenging precept in my code."

"Li, your compliments are as clumsy and awkward as ever, even a bit nauseating," Zeller retorted, looking at Li Weichi with a shudder. "Hovin is right; I've never met a monk who talks as much nonsense as you."

Li Weichi shrugged, "Is it possible that you monks haven't met enough of them?"

Hovin stood on Li Weichi's head and flapped his wings, "It's rare for all of us to gather, so we must have a good drink. Li Weichi, you're treating!"

Li Weichi reached into his completely empty pocket, "My precepts forbid me from drinking alcohol, and they also make me poor."

Rega shook his head, "Such a shame. Looks like it's just the three of us who'll be drinking."

Li Weichi blinked, "If I don't have to pay, I can break my precepts occasionally."

The four of them playfully pushed and shoved, sharing laughter as they reunited after many years.

Despite being weathered and world-weary, these were old friends from a bygone era. In the presence of their former comrades, everyone saw the shadows of their youthful selves. It was as if they had returned to their vibrant days, free from reservations, without pretense, and unburdened. All that remained were the hopes for a better tomorrow and unwavering courage.

On the battlefield, Matthew rode a bone dragon, brandishing his pale hand recklessly. It seemed that killing improved its effectiveness, although the increase from slaying lower-level foes was minimal. Nevertheless, the attack range of his Pale Hand had expanded to 5.6 meters. This meant that Matthew, perched atop the bone dragon, could sweep away enemies below like a robotic broom.

While dealing with the cannon fodder, Matthew still kept an eye on his surroundings. He noted the arrival of the Eastern Giant Eagle and the monks, as well as Rega's reinforcements. However, what happened next left Matthew somewhat bewildered.

He had expected these people to come to his aid, but instead, they were having a reunion outside the woods? Matthew could even hear their laughter!

"Were they too polite to steal my kills, or do they think there's no need to lend a hand?" Matthew mused.

Just at that moment, he suddenly spotted a multitude of figures near the mine entrance. "More underground creatures?"

Matthew's heart skipped a beat. Despite his current confidence while riding Little Boil and charging through the enemies, he was nearing the end of his strength. If another wave of foes arrived, he would immediately hand the situation over to Rega. However, this time, the arrival of the underground creatures seemed hesitant. They lingered in the vicinity for a while, their red eyes fixed on Matthew and the bone dragon. An implicit standoff ensued.

At that moment, a clear and resonant dragon's roar suddenly emanated from behind Matthew.

Whooosh! A shockwave skimmed along the bone dragon's edge, hurtling toward the mine entrance.

The underground creatures were sent tumbling in all directions.

Soon, this new wave of underground creatures began to retreat, their forms rapidly disappearing at the entrance.

Matthew heaved a sigh of relief but couldn't help but shift his gaze to the information panel.

"Hint: You've encountered the monk (Divine Dragon Disciple) Li Weichi (Level 20). Li Weichi used the 'Dragon's Roar Gust' to drive back the new wave of underground coalition forces..."

"It seems the Dark Abyss is no longer calm," a deep voice echoed from behind Matthew. He turned to find the bald monk levitating effortlessly in the air.

With his peculiar gait, it seemed slow, but in the blink of an eye, he had arrived near Matthew.

Behind him, Rega and the others were also closing in. Matthew dismounted from Little Boil and greeted the monk as he approached.

"Hello, Li Weichi, or just call me Matthew."

The monk extended a friendly right hand toward Matthew. "Young necromancer, I sense nature's favor in you. You are the most peculiar heir to the path of necromancy I have ever seen."

Matthew instinctively reached out his hand, but Li Weichi pulled back. "I've heard that necromancers are very passionate, but using an insta-death spell for a handshake is unnecessary."

Matthew offered an apologetic smile and extended his left hand instead. Li Weichi shook it with a smile and then patted his shoulder.

"Joking aside, I've attained the 'Diamond Body,' immune to all insta-death spells."

At this point, Rega and Zeller approached, and after a brief introduction, they all came together.

Matthew learned that besides Li Weichi, this quasi-legendary figure, there was another semi-divine being among them. It was the Druid, Hoven, who could transform into the Eastern Giant Eagle. However, due to some special circumstances, Hoven was no longer able to participate in combat.

"The enemies haven't been completely eliminated; they've just been frightened off," Li Weichi stated, gazing towards the cave entrance. "You've dug too deep, and I can sense the approach of evil. Perhaps some force from the Dark Abyss is stirring."

Rega and the others wore serious expressions.

While they contemplated this, Li Weichi, in his characteristic fashion, had already boldly entered the cave.

"I'll give them a little warning," he said, and with that, he disappeared into the entrance.

"Um, he just went in by himself. Doesn't he need help?" Matthew couldn't help but ask.

"He's always preferred to act alone," Zeller explained. "Don't worry; Li will be fine. He's the most exceptional monk I've ever met, and he's quite powerful."

Rega, on the other hand, looked at Matthew with a complex expression. "You've surprised me; I didn't expect one person to repel the enemies, saving us from losses. I'm theoretically grateful to you, so is there anything you need help with?"

Matthew thought for a moment. "Cleaning up the battlefield, moving the corpses?"

Rega's expression darkened, but he agreed. "By the way, I'd like to build a graveyard under the forest; you know, I have quite a few undead creatures under my command now."

Matthew scratched his head in embarrassment. "I mean, I don't have the money or the manpower for it."

Rega stared at Matthew in disbelief. "This is your private property; you don't need to inform me about what to build."

Matthew grew even more embarrassed. "What I meant was that I don't have enough money and manpower."

Zeller chimed in, "Matthew guarded Rumbling Rock Town on his own."

Rega turned and walked away. "How much money and manpower do you need, then? You can discuss it with Zeller!"

Matthew halted Rega with a timely shout. "Wait, there's one more thing." He pointed to the source of the snoring.

"There's a cyclops there, a significant member of the Cataclysmic Cult. I don't know how to deal with him."

The group circled the cyclops.

"I think I can wake him up," Hoven, now in human form, produced a pitch-black bottle from somewhere, pulled out the stopper, and a pungent gas emanated from it. Everyone else stepped back several paces, even the cyclops, who was in deep sleep, sneezed repeatedly.

He rubbed his drowsy eyes and half-sat up.

The others immediately drew their weapons, wearing expressions of caution.

"What happened?" The cyclops looked bewildered.

"Your forces have suffered a crushing defeat," Rega sternly declared. "Your comrades have all been killed by us!"

To their surprise, the cyclops' face lit up with joy. "So I've been captured?"

Rega was taken aback for a moment, then confirmed, "Indeed!"

Boom! The cyclops suddenly flopped back onto the ground. "Great, Cynarke has been captured. Cynarke can finally get a good night's sleep!"

A few seconds later, in the midst of their astonished and bewildered gazes, the thunderous sound of snoring resumed, rhythmic and melodic.

Chapter 50 >>

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