Chapter 003: Humanity and the Python

Watching the familiar trees beside him being cut down, Qingmu felt anger for the first time after his rebirth

A deep, rumbling sound echoed from downstream of the creek, growing increasingly louder

As I watched the small boat gradually depart, the sound diminished, and the jungle returned to its original tranquility

They were navigating a wide stream in a small white boat, moving upstream. One of the individuals on the boat was continuously pointing around, while the camera kept focusing on him. From their appearance, it seemed akin to the recording of a scientific exploration program

The team leader has over ten years of experience in Amazon jungle exploration. This time, he has been invited by the Columbia Broadcasting System in the United States to record a program on jungle survival knowledge

Often, these ants would crawl all over Qingmu, their antennae waving about, only to be ensnared by Qingmu using 502 super glue, rendering them immobile and ultimately starving to death. However, there were still many naive ones who continued to come over and disturb him, causing Qingmu great annoyance. After having glued more than 20 ants, Qingmu finally gave up

The sound gradually grew louder. After half an hour, Qingmu finally saw these people. They were still the same group, and there were still 5 individuals. They appeared quite disheveled, their clothes completely soaked, and many of their garments and faces were dirty. One person seemed to have a problem with their foot and was being supported by two others as they walked. However, overall, according to the *illustration*, they appeared relatively relaxed, suggesting that they had not encountered any danger in the past few days; otherwise, they would not be so composed. One person seemed to have a problem with their foot and was being supported by two others as they walked. However, overall, according to the *illustration*, they appeared relatively relaxed, suggesting that they had not encountered any danger in the past few days; otherwise, they would not be so composed.

Everyone, stop. We will spend the night here tonight. While it is still light, let's quickly set up camp and prepare some food. The team leader, noticing that it was almost evening, assessed the surrounding terrain once more before issuing this command

Compared to the small trees nearby, the green tree has grown remarkably fast; at this moment, it has already surpassed them in height, aggressively seizing the light necessary for its survival

Thus, two more days passed, and Aoki heard human voices coming from upstream of the stream. However, there was no sound of an engine, perhaps the boat had already been abandoned, or it could be a different group of people.

The team leader and another person had already begun to construct their sleeping beds. They were seen wielding machetes, relentlessly chopping at the tree trunks, each strike fierce and decisive. Trees as thick as an arm were felled, stripped of their branches and leaves, and fashioned into bed frames. Shortly thereafter, they extended their efforts to the trees with broader leaves.

I do not know whether this python will pursue them; if it does catch up, that group of people will be in danger

In less than a month, the body of the green tree has grown to a height of 30 cm, with an average crown diameter of 15 cm. Meanwhile, the roots have astonishingly reached a depth of 120 cm and expanded to a surrounding diameter of 80 cm

There is a saying that goes well: "I never try to outsmart a fool and a bookworm, for they will bring my IQ down to their level and then defeat me with their vast experience"

Not long after having this thought, Aoki was disturbed by a swarm of ants

The saplings possess wisdom, and no one can obstruct them

Not right! There is something else! My God! What am I seeing?! Aoki was filled with terror as he saw a long ripple appearing on the water's surface, but this thing did not rise above the water, and Aoki could not see clearly what it was.

It is akin to a healthy person suddenly becoming a quadriplegic, unable to move and confined to a bed; the sense of frustration and suffocation can easily lead one to feel utterly overwhelmed

Aoki does not have the fanciful desire to possess the ability to walk, as it is essentially still a plant; how could it possibly walk

Aoki was surprisingly astonished, not because of their arrival, but because he finally confirmed that this was Earth

At this moment, countless ants were crawling around the area of the green tree, bustling about, probably numbering in the thousands. A long, winding line formed several columns, moving in an orderly fashion, with black lines connecting one point to another, transporting items back and forth.

I have been wrong all along! I am no longer human; I have become a tree. I can no longer view issues from a human perspective. Afraid that they might be eaten by a python? Just thinking about it makes me feel childish

Oh heavens, why don't you let me be reborn on hetushu.com? Or perhaps be reborn as an animal? I am unable to move at all; are you trying to suffocate me?

"Could it be a giant python? From its appearance, the crocodile shouldn't be that long, right?" Qingmu suddenly recalled the giant pythons from "Anaconda 1" and "Anaconda 2," feeling an unusual sense of fear

Fortunately, it is not some otherworldly realm, prehistoric time, or future; otherwise, I would be completely at a loss again

They are well-equipped and have clearly defined roles. Among them, two individuals used nets to catch some small fish in the stream, then gathered some ingredients nearby, such as mushrooms and wood ear fungus, and collected some dry branches to start a fire

Their appearance, attire, and props all indicate that this is indeed Earth, and the era is quite similar to the time before their death. Alternatively, it could simply be that they died and were directly reborn on a sapling.

At this moment, Aoki finally felt his heart relax significantly, no longer burdened by human thoughts. At this time, the sapling of Aoki was also trembling continuously, as if welcoming the complete integration of Aoki's soul.

In the following days, the nest in the tree gradually grew larger, from nothing to the size of a fist, and then to the size of a basketball. From then on, they considered themselves settled here. As for Qingmu, he now had an additional neighbor, although he did not particularly like these creatures

Therefore, as a new generation of intelligent trees, there is no need to quibble too much with an ant of limitless intelligence, as that would only reflect one's own limitless intelligence

At this moment, he still remains within the realm of human thought, thus feeling an intense fear of these pythons, crocodiles, and the like. He is completely unaware that he has transformed into a tree, and that those pythons and crocodiles hold no interest in him whatsoever

After calming his mind, he no longer pays attention to these human affairs and continues to develop and strengthen himself. However, compared to before, Aoki has gained an additional thought, which is the idea of freedom

However, for Aoki, who has been reborn from a human, freedom is indeed something very important. If it were originally just a tree, it would naturally spend its life in a daze, having no concept of freedom.

Thus, "Xiao Guang, quickly create a function for mental power, thought perception, and scanning detection, the master urgently needs it!"

I hate ants

As they were preparing to start a fire and take a break here, Qingmu felt a bit concerned for them. This was because a few days ago, something resembling a giant water python had been spotted in this area; if it truly exists, then these individuals would be in danger

Fortunately, their target is not the Qingmu, but rather a small cedar tree approximately 5 meters tall, located 3 meters away from the Qingmu.

Thus, the cycle of eating and sleeping continued endlessly. Until one day, Aoki discovered that other things had appeared in this jungle

Small boat! 5 people!

Watching them glide freely on the stream, Qingmu felt an intense envy; at that moment, he deeply loathed his plant-like body

However, there are also many disorganized and undisciplined ants crawling all over Qingmu, wandering about, causing Qingmu's body to feel numb

Aoki, feeling bored, stared at them. It was easy to see that they were moving and building a nest, and the location for the nest was determined at the fork of the branches in the middle of that fir tree. It is estimated that their old nest was destroyed

Due to his extensive experience, he was chosen to lead the team this time. The others, being younger, were initially somewhat unconvinced, but after several days of arduous trekking through the jungle, they began to admire him.

foreigners, and they are carrying cameras, backpacks, daggers, and so on

In order to fulfill his wish, Aoki set his sights on his ability known as the "Light of Life".

After a long time, Qingmu finally thought: "I am no longer human, what does it have to do with me?"

Although I am but a tree, my soul inevitably carries the thoughts of humanity, thus I long to communicate with them

I really want to strike up a conversation with them

However, it was at this point that Aoki began to realize his mistakes.

Aoki exerted 100% of his power, continuously growing: the leaves and branches extended upward and outward, while the roots desperately burrowed deeper into the ground

However, what frustrates Aoki is why the damned ants didn't arrive earlier. If they had come sooner, he wouldn't have had to endure the torment from those two bugs. Now that he has developed a means to deal with the bugs, they come out to show off their power, what is that all about? In any case, Aoki has no fondness for this group of neighbors

Is there really someone here? A living person?