Free Web NovelChapter 95: Chapter 81: All Friends
"Shan Xi Ao, did you really get some honey?" a chubby little goblin asked, flying up to him with a chuckle.
"I did. Why do you ask?" Shan Xi Ao eyed his companion, a hint of suspicion in his gaze.
"I want to go with you," the chubby little one said, folding his wings and fidgeting a bit before revealing his intention.
"No. It’s very difficult. You have to go through an arduous trial, offer your sincerity, and move a new friend to earn the honey," Shan Xi Ao said, puffing out his chest.
"I... I can do it too," the chubby one said in a stuffy voice, rubbing his nose with the back of his hand.
"You?" Shan Xi Ao was about to refuse outright, but seeing the hopeful look in the other’s eyes and remembering how the little guy had just been complaining yesterday, "I don’t want to eat leaves anymore," he changed his tune. "Is your flying Ability good enough?"
"It is, Shan Xi Ao!" The chubby little goblin flapped his translucent wings hard, rising into the air with a BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ. "See? It’s not bad, right?"
"Like a fly," Shan Xi Ao muttered, pursing his lips.
Still, he nodded and agreed to the little fatty’s request. "Alright, stick close to me. Go where I go, and don’t make a scene."
"Okay!" The chubby one nodded vigorously, then shouted, "Shan Xi Ao agreed!"
WHOOSH. Five more little goblins flew over, chattering excitedly. "Take us with you, Shan Xi Ao!"
Shan Xi Ao saw that all the young little goblins he was friends with had shown up. "Fine. But what I just said still stands: follow me, and don’t cause a scene."
All the little goblins nodded earnestly. It seemed none of them wanted to eat leaves anymore.
"Shan Xi Ao, is the new friend you mentioned a human?" the chubby one asked curiously.
"No," Shan Xi Ao fell silent. He didn’t want to deceive his companions. "My new friend is a goblin."
"Ah!" All the little goblins’ wings trembled as they cried out in alarm. They couldn’t believe Shan Xi Ao would say such a thing. Goblins were the evil species their elders constantly warned them to watch out for.
"Maybe he’s a liar," one little goblin whispered.
"If he were lying, you’d be able to feel it for yourselves," Shan Xi Ao said with a small smile, a sense of smug pride welling up inside him. ’Just as I thought. I’m the only one who gets it.’
"I’m going to find my new friend now. Are you still coming?" He looked over his companions.
No one spoke. The little goblins wavered, caught in indecision.
With his head held high, Shan Xi Ao took a few steps, then beat his wings and flew off toward the underground river. His movements were spare and deliberate, giving off the air of a hero walking a lonely path.
"Are you guys going?" the chubby one asked.
"But that’s a goblin," a little goblin said. "I heard they’ll eat anything. What if they try to..."
"I don’t care. I just don’t want to eat leaves anymore," the chubby one declared. He flew up unsteadily and did his best to catch up to Shan Xi Ao.
The other little goblins looked at each other, then silently followed.
After flying for a while, Shan Xi Ao and the others landed on the platform. All the little goblins wrinkled their brows.
"There’s such a strong smell of blood, Shan Xi Ao," the chubby one said fearfully, scurrying behind Shan Xi Ao and grabbing his wing.
Shan Xi Ao found it strange too. He told the others to turn invisible and wait off to the side while he went in to have a look.
A moment later, a goblin walked out.
"Where are they?" Shire asked, surveying the platform, while Shan Xi Ao perched on his shoulder.
Shan Xi Ao flew down to the ground and called his invisible companions out.
"This is my friend, Shire, the leader of the goblin Race," he introduced Shire to everyone.
All the little goblins were timid. They huddled together, shoving each other, not daring to get too close.
"How are your Mushrooms?" Shan Xi Ao asked, ignoring his friends’ behavior. After all, he had acted much the same at first.
"Sigh..." Shire let out a long sigh. "The situation is dire. They’re almost all dead."
"But no matter," he said, his expression immediately shifting to a smile. "I still have honey to treat my friends."
"Take us to see them," Shan Xi Ao said after a moment of thought.
"Do you really want to see?" Shire asked, looking at Shan Xi Ao with a sorrowful expression. After a few seconds, he said, "Follow me."
He then led the little goblins to the Red Bull cultivation area.
In the entire area, aside from the one Red Bull Mushroom that had grown after Shan Xi Ao cast Wind of Nature on it last time, all the other Mushrooms were half-dead. Even the mycelium was starting to wither.
After flapping his wings and flying around to inspect all the cultivation beds, Shan Xi Ao came before Shire. "How about this: we’ll help you take care of these Mushrooms, and you give us honey in return?"
"This... wouldn’t that be me practicing Enslavement on you? No, no, absolutely not." Shire quickly waved his hands in refusal.
"We can get honey just for helping take care of these Mushrooms?" one little goblin asked in a small voice.
"No, friends shouldn’t act like that," Shire insisted. "Honey is for treating friends."
He immediately ordered a goblin to prepare a bowl of nectar. Soon, Buck Teeth walked over carrying a bowl of the sweet liquid.
"I’m so sorry, I only have nectar, no flowers. Please, have a taste," Shire said with a smile as he took the bowl and placed it in front of the little goblins.
"Mmm, it smells so good." Upon smelling the aroma, the group of little goblins descended on it like a pack of hungry wolves, crowding around the edge of the bowl and beginning to drink with loud SLURPS.
Before long, the bowl of nectar was empty.
"If you all want more, I still have a little honey," Shire said. The smile on his face looked a bit strained, as if he were hiding some great difficulty.
"Leader Shire, please let us help you with the Mushrooms," Shan Xi Ao said, flying in front of him and speaking with righteous conviction.
"No, how could I possibly do that?" Shire still shook his head.
"It’s okay, Leader! Just let us take care of the Mushrooms, and then you can give us honey." The chubby little one flew over too. His belly was full, making him look like a plump bumblebee. "I never want to eat leaves again!"
"If you insist..." Shire nodded gravely. "Then I’m counting on all of you."
The little goblins flew cheerfully toward the Red Bull Mushrooms, circling them and casting Wind of Nature. Shan Xi Ao even acted as a foreman, directing his friends to coordinate their efforts.
Shire watched the cheerful, singing little goblins with a smile, feeling overjoyed. ’What’s that saying again? Ah, yes. Happiness is contagious.’
After a while, the Red Bull Mushrooms underwent a visible transformation. The previously tiny sprouts had shot up to over ten times their original size. The mycelium had also grown much thicker, and many new fruiting bodies were sprouting from it. The entire cultivation bed was so different, it was as if it contained a completely different species of mushroom.
"Thank you so much," Shire said, seeing the clear signs of fatigue on the little goblins. He immediately ordered Buck Teeth, "Quick, go get a big chunk of honey!"
Buck Teeth soon returned with a large chunk of honey. All the little goblins’ eyes went wide as they stared at it.
Shire had his subordinates make several tiny cloth pouches specifically for the little goblins to carry the honey. As he filled them with chunks of honey, he thanked Shan Xi Ao. "You’ve been a huge help. I never expected your Magic to be so powerful."
"We’re not that amazing. Yun Xiya is the really powerful one! She could take care of all the Mushrooms here by herself," the chubby little one blurted out while licking a piece of honey, his words tumbling out unfiltered.
Immediately, two other little goblins clapped their hands over his mouth. He realized he had misspoken and snuck a glance at Shan Xi Ao.
Shan Xi Ao’s expression was unchanged, not filled with Anger.
"Alright, thank you all again for today." At the edge of the platform, Shire waved goodbye to the little goblins, reminding them to be careful on their way back.
"Leader, as long as they come back regularly, our Red Bull will be fine," Buck Teeth said cheerfully from the side.
"It’s not enough," Shire said with a smile. "We need to wait."
"Wait for what?" Buck Teeth asked.
"Wait for their entire race to move over here," Shire said with a confident smile.
