"As long as the soul still exists, as long as it doesn't continue, there is still hope."
Amidst the sound of rain outside the window, Shade was very excited, so there was still the possibility of meeting:
"Can I change that tree back to its original state? I mean, that tree doesn't look the way I want it to. I want it to change back to what it was. Is that possible?"
The old professor immediately shook his head:
"Planted trees turn back? Young people, we are talking about folklore, not crazy imagination."
"But I've heard of a cutting technique that can turn big trees into saplings again."
Shade pointed out unwillingly:
"Although it costs a lot, and there is currently a limit of only one year (note), is this not possible?"
"It definitely won't work."
Professor Wood said regretfully:
"While I'm glad you've accepted the fact that the tree's growth is unstoppable, it's still a bit too far-fetched to try to turn it back into a relatively healthy sapling.
Young people, Ximu Town has had discussions and research on the transformation of trees back into saplings from a long time ago, but in the end people found that it is better not to disobey the laws of nature. We live in this forest, and the fire will burn it to pieces.
Before leaving the land, it's best to respect the rules here honestly."
"Can it only be done after it has been burned to a white ground?"
Shade continued to ask relentlessly. This time the old professor did not speak, but sighed helplessly. Apparently, Shade also made him not want to answer the question:
"Why do you have to be obsessed with that tree? I see that there are many, many more trees in the forest. The growth and distortion of that tree is inevitable. It is better to let go in time. In fact, there are also several trees in the forest near Ximu Town.
Do you want me to introduce a small sapling that may suit your aesthetics?"
Shade shook his head:
"Is it really irreversible?"
"Yes, it's really irreversible. The most you can do is burn it with a fire. What's the Kasenlik proverb? Out of sight, out of mind. This is also a relief for the tree."
He spoke in a comforting tone. Shade pursed his lips and remained silent for a while, still not giving up:
"Is there really nothing we can do?"
Professor Wood continued to shake his head, but then glanced at Shade's "female assistant":
"You really want that tree to be healthy again?"
"Yes."
"What price are you willing to pay?"
"You come up with the conditions."
"No, no, what conditions do I offer? At most I can only give you some advice. Young people, it is not a good thing to be too obsessed. I have seen too many people like you. When I was young, I always thought that I could solve it myself.
No matter how troublesome it is, he refuses to look back even if he reaches a dead end. In the end, he will not only break his head and bleed, but may also hurt other people."
He stood up and took a book from the bookshelf by the window and handed it to Shade. It was not a occult book, or even a book related to folklore - "Agricultural Planting".
"This is"
"This is a basic textbook for this school, Carson Ridge Forestry College. I am a professor of folklore, a less popular subject. This book was left by the previous owner of this office. I just want to remind you,
The laws of nature are irreversible and the tree cannot be saved, but if you want to regain the sapling, why not let the tree give birth to seeds and then plant it again?”
Shade straightened up immediately:
"Tree seeds? Replanting?"
"Yes, the continuation of trees itself is one generation after another. Even if the trees of this generation are no longer useful, they can still look forward to the next generation of trees. As for whether the new tree and the old tree are still the same tree, this depends on
It depends on your own thoughts."
"So how do you get the seeds?"
Shade asked again hopefully. This time Professor Wood really didn't answer:
"Young man, that is a matter outside of Ximu Town and has nothing to do with me, an old man who only cares about the folk customs of Vista Woodland. If you want to know the answer, try it yourself. Of course, the premise is that you solve the problem first.
The matter at hand—I mean the man you’re looking for.”
The black-haired lady looked at Shade's back with a pen in her hand. She was not stupid. If she hadn't figured out what they were talking about at the beginning, now she was sure that they were talking about her own affairs.
"Who is Euke Wood?"
She was thinking doubtfully, and after finishing the previous topic, Xia De asked according to the old professor's wishes:
"I also want to ask some questions about the World Tree. I read from "Ximu Town and the World Tree" that the meaning of the World Tree corresponds to the four elements that symbolize earth, wind, water, and fire.
I did some exploration in the woods and found that the townspeople of Ximu Town had indeed found corresponding symbols for the four elements. Now I have determined the symbols of the three elements of earth, wind and fire, but I can’t figure out what the water is.
Corresponds to what.”
Professor Wood nodded and stroked his beard:
"This is a good question. The topic is finally back on track. I don't know what the first three symbols you found are, but you said it yourself. Those are the symbols found by the residents of Ximu Town. So in the longer period,
Where was the past?"
"You mean"
"The symbols of earth, wind, water, and fire are not eternal. They are also changing. After all, nothing is truly immortal. Maybe you can't find the counterpart of 'water'. It's not that you missed the clue, but that Ximu Town
The ancestors have not found a counterpart for it, or the handover of the counterpart is in progress. Now the old one has disappeared, but the new one has not yet appeared."
In this way, Xia De understood it completely. He even thought of one of his original intentions for coming to the local area, 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 to thank you."
"It goes without saying thank you."
The old professor said with a smile in the pouring rain outside the window. He turned his back to the window. Even though the light of the old-fashioned gas lamp in the room was very bright, there were still large areas of shadow on his face:
"Helping young people is my hobby, otherwise my 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 lightning flash outside the window, only the boring and monotonous sound of rain. In the warm room, for some reason, Helena Carter felt that the scene in front of her made her feel a sense of terror that she had not seen for a long time, this fear of unknown origin.
It even made her feel cold all over.
As if Xia De didn't care at all, he stood up and smiled and stretched out his hand to the old professor:
"I've been interrupting you for too long today. My assistant and I have to continue our journey. But we should meet again soon, Professor Wood?"
Although the old professor did not stand up, he stretched out his hand and shook it with Sha De:
"Of course, of course. Ximu Town is not that big, and we will definitely meet again. And I bet that the next time we meet will be sooner than you think. After all, your investigation is progressing very quickly.
.”
As he spoke, he pushed the map to Shade, who put the map away and turned to leave.
When he turned around, he saw the black-haired sorceress sitting on the chair and not moving, so he gave her a puzzled look, and then the thirteenth-level librarian lady hurriedly got up and left with Shade.
Professor Wood's office is located on the third floor of this building. The building style is quite old. There are rooms on one side of the corridor and windows on the other side.
The rain outside the window was getting heavier and heavier, and no one spoke as the two people walking in tandem walked through the corridor. It wasn't until they stepped out of the building's exit that the sound of Xia De opening his umbrella broke the silence.
.
"Who is that professor?"
"Who he is has nothing to do with the present in 1821. He is a participant in the story of our time."
Shade handed the open umbrella to the sorceress, and then reached for the black umbrella she had just pulled out of the umbrella tube, but the latter dodged it.
She grabbed Shade's right hand holding the umbrella again and almost pushed him to the outside with him.
The fragrant smell of moist earth came to my face, a smell unique to midsummer. The black-haired woman looked at Shade with her rose-red eyes, and she seemed a little angry:
"Xia De, don't think that I can't hear anything. The tree you and the folklore professor were talking about just now should be me, right?"
"We won't talk about it."
"Shad, don't think I can't hear it. This is the answer I gave you when I refused your proposal to 'go see Daniste'."
She was really angry, but she felt that she shouldn't be angry with Xia De:
"Who is that person? What do you mean by what you are talking about about me? Didn't you promise me last time that you would not consider preventing my death again?"
"I absolutely abide by the agreement. Just now I told the story of Anthony Winslet that I am looking for. Doesn't this already show that it is not feasible to deceive time and create history?"
Shade asked with a smile, and the two walked side by side holding the same umbrella. Helena Carter admitted that it was indeed difficult to be angry when facing such a face:
"But you must have another plan against me, right?"
"That will happen in the future. I will not change the past and choose history, but it is always right for me to create history with my own hands, right?"
he asked again, then seriously before the sorceress could ask more questions:
"I must make it clear: Please forget who we came to visit today. That old professor has nothing to do with what is happening now, and he should not have a second contact with you. Promise me? In the days when I am not around
, absolutely, no matter what happens, never come to him."
"Okay, I promise you."
The black-haired lady, who was still thinking about the conversation in the office just now, answered absentmindedly, and then noticed that Shade stopped.
The voice rang out amid the rain:
"Please swear to the moon, so that I can rest assured."
PS: This means that "Breath of Time" can currently rewind the time of items by one year.