Chapter 72: The Gaze of the Abyss
As the evening descended, Hua Mi headed to the greenhouse to tend to the flower field. It had become a routine, twice a day, morning and evening, checking on the three batches of Thundering Blossoms that thrived without any issues. It proved Hua Mi's proficiency as a florist.
"Should I stay overnight here?"
With the beehives stationed there, returning alone felt unsettling. Just as he pondered, a dark figure flew towards him from a distance.
A sudden movement made Hua Mi step back. The shadow landed abruptly in front of him, revealing a beast resembling a black panther but with two tails, six legs, muscles rippling with untamed strength, and shiny black fur.
The creature lay motionless, its neck twisted at an unnatural angle, teeth bared, clearly deceased. Alert, Hua Mi glanced towards the direction the body had flown from.
In the faint sunset glow, behind a large tree, something seemed to peek out intermittently. Hua Mi touched his storage ring, holding the scroll for "Great Imbecile Art" at the ready.
Simultaneously, he opened the greenhouse door, and in an instant, the swarm of bees surrounded him. He directed a scout bee towards that direction, closing his eyes to connect to its senses.
There lurked a figure behind the tree. Hua Mi could tell at a glance that it wasn't human. Towering over two meters, draped in a tight black robe, topped with a black headscarf, the figure had a greenish-yellow complexion and an elongated face, making its features compact.
The being breathed rapidly, nearly thrice the pace of a human, emanating an intense ink-like odor.
The stench was unbearable, prompting Hua Mi to sever the sensory link with the scout bee. A thought crossed his mind: was this the Abyss Scholar? Earlier, he instinctively imagined the being as human, but Alyss had never confirmed it.
"Come out!" Hua Mi's voice was grave.
The figure peeked out from behind the tree, then emerged fully. "It's a Borui person!" Red contacted him telepathically. "Could this be the Abyss Scholar? An Abyss Scholar who's a Borui person? This is worse!"
"Why would it be worse?"
"Borui people are naturally nervous, and with the Abyss influence... Oh my, I can't even imagine. Are you sure about joining them?"
"..."
The Borui person wobbled a few steps toward him. Alert, Hua Mi waited, but the being showed no hostility. Instead, it grinned, gesturing at the beast's body on the ground, its voice oddly high-pitched, as if under helium's influence.
"This is a Displacer Beast..."
The pronunciation was surprisingly clear, more refined than Alyss's standard human dialect.
"Oh..." Hua Mi responded, perplexed.
The being seemed non-threatening, yet why leave a beast's body at his doorstep? It felt like a provocation.
Before Hua Mi could inquire about its identity, the being suddenly became animated, stepping closer and continuing at a rapid pace, slightly stuttering, "Displacer Beasts, very, very powerful. They project false, false images, causing enemies to misjudge their positions, launching surprise attacks. Many inexperienced adventurers, encountering Displacer Beasts, can't last a, a minute."
"Some illusion spells, mimic Displacer Beasts, were, were derived from it. You know, human biomimicry magic is quite, quite formidable."
The stuttering speed made Hua Mi feel breathless.
The Borui person gasped after the rushed explanation, then raised its hand, caressing its elongated fingers, eagerly awaiting a response. "A gift for you. Like it?"
"..."
It was a gift. Were these valuable? Before Hua Mi could answer, the being abruptly turned its head aside, speaking into thin air, "He will like it, right? He resides in the Black Forest, a peculiar alchemist; he'll certainly appreciate this odd gift. You thought I should buy him a gift in town? No, no, no, those items are too ordinary for him; they lack impact... Right? Stop whispering; it's too late for that now!"
"Who are you talking to?"
The Borui person seemed momentarily stunned, then pointed at him, laughing heartily. "You're humorous, I like humorous people! Haha!"
"..."
This was the companion he was supposed to venture with...
Hua Mi suddenly felt the need to reconsider this matter more carefully.
The Borui person chuckled a few times, then abruptly stopped, continuing eagerly, rubbing its hands together, "Do you like it?"
"Um, thanks..."
"I originally wanted to capture a live, tamed Displacer Beast; it would've been more valuable to you, right? But it just wouldn't cooperate! This savage beast! It repeatedly attacked me! Lunged at me, trying to grab me, bite me! I had no choice but to fight back! You understand, right? I had no other way..."
The speed was still rapid but without the stutter. The being's voice grew louder, more aggressive, almost grinding its teeth, instantly shifting its aura.
Sending chills down Hua Mi's spine.
"Is this the Abyss's aura?"
Now, Hua Mi considered the being more dangerous than the Displacer Beast.
Silently commanding the bee swarm, he prepared for combat.
Suddenly, a loud clatter. He turned to see Alyss push open the window, a rare hint of annoyance on her face. "Quiet!"
The Borui person immediately fell silent, reverting to its earlier clumsy, humorous appearance, fidgeting with its fingers, eyes glancing down as if contemplating something, muttering repeatedly, "Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry..."
Clatter—
Alyss closed the window again.
For a moment, only the buzzing of bees surrounded them, an awkward atmosphere settling in.
Hua Mi cleared his throat, asking, "So, you're the Abyss Scholar?"
"Yes!" The Borui person instantly responded, lifting its head to stare at Hua Mi with what seemed like enthusiasm. "But please don't be afraid. We're not as insane as the rumors claim."
"..."
He expressed skepticism.
"It's true, believe me." The Borui person took a step forward, fixing its gaze on Hua Mi, seeming to radiate a certain intensity. "My mind is very clear. As they say, surface madness is to maintain internal absolute rationality. It's a saying passed around in the association, a true reflection of us. Look..."
Saying so, it pulled out a paper from under the comical suit, displaying densely scribbled records, stamped underneath.
"What is this?"
"I received this inspection report a few days ago. Look, all the indicators are normal!"
The transition from one language to another can be tricky, but I hope the tweaks I made help bring out the character's personalities and the narrative's flow more clearly!
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