Chapter 229: Chapter 229: Cured

After an early breakfast, Lu Xiao followed Mao to the place where the tribe’s previous witch doctor had lived.

Her main purpose in coming here was to examine the tools the witch doctor had used, hoping they might offer some inspiration regarding the Crystal Fruits.

When they arrived, Lu Xiao found the place was kept very clean. It wasn’t dilapidated or messy, despite its owner being gone. It was clear that someone came to clean it regularly.

With this in mind, Lu Xiao asked, “Do people from the tribe come here to clean often?”

Mao nodded. “Yes, everyone does it voluntarily. Even though the witch doctor is gone, this was her home. We all benefited from her kindness, so of course we can’t neglect the place after she’s left. But don’t worry, we only clean. We don’t touch anything.”

“That’s not what I meant. I just didn’t expect everyone to be so dedicated.” She was also beginning to truly understand the witch doctor’s esteemed position within the tribe.

Mao chuckled. “It’s mainly because we don’t know how else to express our gratitude. There’s so little we can do for the witch doctor.”

But often, it’s these simple, small acts that best reveal the heart.

Lu Xiao nodded and replied with a smile, “The witch doctor would surely feel everyone’s sincerity and affection.”

“That would be wonderful!”

After speaking with Mao, Lu Xiao began to carefully examine the items in the hut. She didn’t rashly reach out to touch anything. For the people of the Canghe Tribe, these objects were a way to remember their witch doctor. They treasured them so much that she knew she couldn’t touch them casually.

Seeing Lu Xiao’s cautiousness, a warmth spread in Mao’s eyes.

’Lady Lu Xiao may be an outsider, but she’s very respectful of us.’

Lu Xiao’s respect for the former witch doctor would, in turn, earn her the respect of the Canghe Tribe’s people.

Inside the room were many clay pots of various sizes, left behind by the previous witch doctor.

As Lu Xiao looked them over, she realized they formed a complete set of extraction tools. It was clear the former witch doctor had used them to extract substances from things.

Next, Lu Xiao went to look at the various herbs the former witch doctor had left behind.

Although the herbs had withered somewhat from a lack of care, she could still tell that they had been meticulously tended to before.

From these details, it wasn’t hard to see that the previous witch doctor had been a very meticulous person.

“Where is your tribe’s Crystal Fruit Tree? Can you take me to see it?”

She had heard from Shield that the Canghe Tribe’s Crystal Fruit Tree had stopped bearing fruit after they lost their witch doctor, and she wanted to see why.

On the way, Lu Xiao asked Mao, “Did the Crystal Fruit Tree bear fruit every year when the witch doctor was alive?”

“Of course not. The Crystal Fruit Tree isn’t an ordinary tree, so how could it bear fruit every year? It only fruits once every ten years. It always happens at night, and someone has to stand guard to pick them immediately. Otherwise, they’ll melt when the sun comes up. The harvested Crystal Fruits have to be stored in a wooden box. They can be preserved for a long time out of the sunlight, but they’ll spoil if exposed to it.”

“But ever since the witch doctor passed away, the Crystal Fruit Tree hasn’t flowered or borne fruit in the most recent ten-year cycle. The elders in the tribe say it’s because the tree knows the tribe lost its witch doctor, so it won’t flower or fruit anymore.”

These words sounded magical, but Lu Xiao didn’t doubt their truth.

After all, this world was full of things that defied explanation.

“How long has it been since the last ten-year cycle passed?”

“It’s been seven or eight years. Our tribe has been without a witch doctor for seven or eight years.” As he said this, Mao couldn’t help but look at Lu Xiao, his eyes filled with meaning.

After seven or eight years without one, she was the first witch doctor the Canghe Tribe had welcomed. Everyone in the tribe understood what Lu Xiao represented to them.

As they spoke, they arrived in front of the Crystal Fruit Tree. It wasn’t quite what Lu Xiao had imagined. If Mao hadn’t told her this was it, the tree would have looked no different from any other large tree.

If she had to point out a difference, there was only one: the tree was large, but it looked listless, not nearly as lush as the other large trees.

To put it simply, it looked a little malnourished.

That was Lu Xiao’s most immediate impression upon seeing the tree.

Lu Xiao raised her hand to touch the trunk, but as her fingers made contact, a flash of surprise crossed her eyes.

She could feel that the inside of the tree was filled with the Dark Element—the same substance found in the Spirit Seas of S-Class Male Beastmen!

This discovery shocked Lu Xiao.

’Is this tree silently absorbing the harmful Dark Element for the Canghe Tribe?’

But it was clearly reaching its limit. If left untreated, it wouldn’t be long before the great tree died completely.

’So, could it be that the previous witch doctor also had the ability to purify this Dark Element? Is that why the tree was able to bear fruit normally when she was here?’

Lu Xiao realized this world wasn’t as simple as she had thought.

She infused her purification power into the tree. The moment her power surged in, the Dark Element within the tree scattered instantly, as if it had seen a ghost.

But Lu Xiao’s purification power wasn’t about to let them get away.

Purifying the tree was much simpler than purifying an S-Class Male Beastman. However, the tree was so massive that it would still take a few days to cleanse it completely.

At her side, Mao saw Lu Xiao fall silent after touching the tree. Though he was full of questions, he didn’t dare to speak up.

He knew that every witch doctor had their secrets, and it wasn’t his place to pry.

After a good while, Lu Xiao opened her eyes, turned to Mao, and said with a smile, “Let’s go. We can head back now.”

Mao nodded. He glanced back at the Crystal Fruit Tree, and he wondered if it was just his imagination, but it seemed like the tree looked much more vibrant after Lu Xiao had touched it. Even its yellowing leaves seemed a bit greener.

But he didn’t dare to think too much about it. After all, the Crystal Fruit Tree had been listless for many years.

Still, he couldn’t help but ask, “Lady Lu Xiao, do you think our Crystal Fruit Tree can flower and bear fruit again?”

Looking at the hopeful Mao before her, Lu Xiao smiled and nodded. “The people of the Canghe Tribe are so devout. It will.”

Hearing this, Mao’s face broke into a joyful smile. “If it can, that would be truly wonderful!”

’The tribe elders were right. As long as a new witch doctor arrived, our tribe would be saved!’

’Lu Xiao is our hope!’

Lu Xiao didn’t know what he was thinking. On the way back, she made a detour to check on Hunt. After two consecutive days of treatment, Hunt’s condition had improved significantly. Although he was still in his beast form, his temperament had become much gentler.

When he saw Lu Xiao, Hunt, who was lying by the window, started whimpering softly at her. Though she couldn’t understand the sounds, Lu Xiao knew he was thanking her.

Lu Xiao didn’t rush to treat Hunt. She simply instructed him, “Rest well for the next two days and eat plenty. I’ll come treat you the day after tomorrow.”

Beside her, Mao stared in disbelief at the now-docile Hunt. “La-Lady Lu Xiao, did you really heal Hunt?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep