Chapter 2942: Professor Wood's Method

"It's good that it still has a soul. As long as it hasn't continued to go down that path, there is still hope."

Amidst the sound of the pouring rain outside the window, Xia De's mood was very agitated. This way, the possibility of meeting still existed:

"Can I change that tree back to its original state? I mean, the appearance of that tree is not what I want. I want to make it return to its original appearance. Is this possible?"

The old professor shook his head immediately:

"Make a tree that has been grown change back? Young man, we are talking about folklore, not wild imagination."

"But I have heard of a grafting technique that can make a big tree turn back into a sapling."

Xia De pointed out, unwilling to give up:

"Although it is very costly, and currently there is a limitation that it can only be realized for one year (Note), is this not possible either?"

"Definitely not."

Professor Wood said with regret:

"Although I am very happy that you have accepted the fact that the growth of that tree cannot be stopped, wanting to make it turn back into a relatively healthy sapling is still a bit too whimsical.

Young man, Creekwood has had discussions and research on trees turning back into saplings since a very long time ago, but eventually, people discovered that it is better not to defy the laws of nature. We live in this forest, and before a great fire burns this place into a white wasteland, it is better to honestly revere the rules here."

"Can it only be done after it has been burned into a white wasteland?"

Xia De continued to ask, unwilling to give up. This time, the old professor didn't speak, just sighed helplessly, clearly also annoyed by Xia De to the point of not wanting to answer questions:

"Why must you be so obsessed with that tree? I see there are many, many other trees in the forest. The growth and deformity of that tree are already inevitable, so you might as well let go in time... Actually, there are also a few small saplings in the forest near Creekwood that might fit your aesthetic. Would you like me to introduce them?"

Xia De shook his head:

"Is it really impossible to save?"

"Yes, it is really impossible to save. At most, you can only burn it down with a fire. How does that Carsonrick proverb go? Out of sight, out of mind. This is also a relief for that tree."

He said in a consoling tone. Xia De pursed his lips and was silent for a while, still unwilling to give up:

"Is there really no way?"

Professor Wood continued to shake his head, but then glanced at Xia De's "female assistant":

"Do you really want to make that tree return to health?"

"Yes."

"What price are you willing to pay?"

"You set the conditions."

"No, no, what conditions would I set? At most, I am just providing you with some suggestions. Young man, having an obsession that is too deep is not a good thing. I have seen too many people like you who always think they can solve all troubles when they are young, and even if they walk into a dead end, they refuse to turn back. Not only do they end up battered and bruised, but they might also implicate others."

He stood up and took a book from the bookshelf by the window and handed it to Xia De. It was not a book on mysticism, nor was it even a book related to folklore—"Agricultural Planting."

"This is..."

"This is the basic textbook for this school, which is the Carsonrick Forestry Academy. I am a professor of a niche subject like folklore, and this book was left behind by the previous owner of this office. I just want to remind you that the laws of nature cannot be defied. That tree cannot be saved, but if you want to obtain saplings again, why not let that tree produce seeds and then replant it?"

Xia De straightened his back at once:

"Tree seeds? Replanting?"

"Yes, the continuation of trees is itself generation after generation. Even if the trees of this generation are not useful, one can still look forward to the trees of the next generation. As for whether the new tree and the old tree still count as the same tree, that depends on your own thoughts."

"Then how can I obtain the seeds?"

Xia De asked again, full of hope. This time, Professor Wood really didn't answer:

"Young man, that is a matter outside of Creekwood, and it has nothing to do with an old man like me who only cares about the folklore of the Vista woodlands. If you want to know the answer, try it yourself. Of course, the premise is that you first solve the matter at hand—I am referring to the man you are looking for."

The black-haired lady held a pen and looked at Xia De's back. She was not stupid. If she hadn't heard what they were talking about at first, then now she was very certain that they were talking about her own affairs.

"Who is Yuke Wood?"

She thought with doubt in her heart, and Xia De, having ended the previous topic, asked according to the old professor's wishes:

"I also want to ask some questions about the World Tree. I read in 'Creekwood and the World Tree' that the meaning and symbolism of the World Tree correspond to the four elements of earth, wind, water, and fire.

I have conducted some explorations in the forest myself and discovered that the residents of Creekwood have indeed found corresponding symbols for all four elements. Now I have confirmed the symbols for the three elements of earth, wind, and fire, but I just can't figure out what water corresponds to."

Professor Wood nodded and stroked his beard:

"That is a good question. The topic has finally returned to the right track. I don't know what the first three symbols you found are, but as you said yourself, those are the symbols found by the residents of Creekwood. Then what about in the more distant past?"

"You mean..."

"The symbols for earth, wind, water, and fire are not immutable. They are also changing. After all, nothing is truly immortal. Perhaps you can't find the counterpart for 'water' not because you missed a clue, but because the ancestors of Creekwood didn't find a counterpart for it either, or the handover of the counterpart is currently in progress. Now the old one has disappeared, but the new one has not yet appeared."

This way, Xia De understood completely. He even thought of one of the original intentions for his arrival here, and from this, he had more associations:

"Professor Wood, thank you so much this time. You have given me so much help, I really don't know how I should thank you."

"There is no need to talk about thanks."

The old professor said with a smile amidst the pouring rain outside the window. He stood sideways with his back to the window. Even though the light from the old-fashioned gas lamp in the room was bright, there were still large areas of shadow on his face:

"Helping young people is my hobby anyway, otherwise a long life would be too boring. And this is not just helping you..."

He tapped his chest with his right hand:

"This is also helping me."

There was no thunder flashing outside the window, only the boring and monotonous sound of rain pattering. In the warm room, for some reason, Helena Carter actually felt a sense of terror from this scene before her, a fear that was inexplicable, making her feel cold all over.

And Xia De, as if he didn't care at all, stood up and reached out his hand to the old professor with a smile:

"I have disturbed you for too long today. My assistant and I should continue on our way. But we should meet again soon, right, Professor Wood?"

Although the old professor didn't stand up, he reached out and shook hands with Xia De:

"Of course, of course. Creekwood isn't that big, after all. We will definitely meet again. And I bet that the time of our next meeting will definitely be faster than you think. After all, your investigation is progressing very quickly."

He said as he pushed the map to Xia De. Xia De put the map away, then turned and said goodbye.

When turning around, he saw the black-haired sorceress sitting on the chair without moving, so he gave her a puzzled look. Only then did the thirteenth-tier librarian hurriedly stand up and follow Xia De out of here.

Professor Wood's office was located on the third floor of this building. The building style was quite old. One side of the corridor was rooms, and the other side was windows one after another.

The rain outside the window was getting heavier. The two walked one after the other in the corridor without saying a word. It wasn't until they stepped out of the building exit that the sound of Xia De popping open his umbrella with a 'bang~' broke the silence.

"Who was that professor?"

"Who he is has nothing to do with the present of 1821. He is a participant in the story of our era."

Xia De handed the opened umbrella to the sorceress and reached out to take the black umbrella she had just pulled out of the umbrella stand, but was dodged by the latter.

She grabbed Xia De's right hand holding the umbrella again and almost pushed him as she walked outside with him.

The fragrant scent of damp soil rushed toward them. This was the scent unique to midsummer. The black-haired lady's rose-red eyes looked at Xia De. She seemed a bit angry:

"Xia De, don't think I can't hear anything. The tree you and that folklore professor were talking about just now should be me, right?"

"Let's not talk about this."

"Xia De, don't think I can't hear it. This is the answer you gave me when I refused your proposal to 'go see Danister'."

She was truly angry, yet felt she shouldn't be angry at Xia De:

"Who exactly is that person? What does the matter of me that you discussed mean? Didn't you promise me last time that you wouldn't consider stopping my death again?"

"I absolutely abide by the agreement. I just told the story of Anthony Winslett that I am looking for. Doesn't this already explain that trying to deceive time and create history is not feasible?"

Xia De asked with a smile. The two walked side by side under the same umbrella. Helena Carter admitted that facing such a face, it was indeed difficult to be angry:

"But you definitely still have a plan for me, right?"

"That is a matter for the future. I will not change the past to choose history, but it's not wrong for me to create history with my own hands, right?"

He asked again, and then, before the sorceress could ask more questions, he requested very seriously:

"I must state one point: please forget who we visited today. That old professor has nothing to do with the current situation, and even more so, should not have a second contact with you. Promise me, okay? In the days when I am not around, absolutely, no matter what happens, do not come to find him."

"Okay, I promise you."

The black-haired lady, still pondering the conversation in the office just now, answered absent-mindedly, and then noticed Xia De stop his footsteps.

The voice sounded amidst the rain:

"Please swear to the moon, so that I can be at ease." ===== CHAPTER 2943 =====