The Idyllic Countryside Life of Devil Pine and Mu Fei
Before the apocalypse, Mu Fei was an interior designer. However, to ensure that each of his works met his ideal standards, he self-studied architecture and gardening. His dream home was meant to be perfect and harmonious in every detail, leaving no room for discord. Therefore, every time he took on a project, he insisted on taking full responsibility from construction onwards. This level of dedication and the exceptional quality of his finished work earned him a stellar reputation in his home country.
Both of his parents were involved in creative pursuits, passing down their artistic genes to him from a young age. He had a passion for a high-quality life and believed that a home perfectly suited to his taste was the foundation of life. So, the house he built together with his father became his biggest aspiration after merging with the great pine tree.
He still remembered every detail of that day.
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After the earthquake, like everyone else, he rushed to stock up on food and water. Everyone initially thought it was just a regular natural disaster and patiently awaited government assistance. However, things quickly spiraled beyond their imagination. The city descended into chaos, growing increasingly dangerous. His stock of food went bad in less than a day, and three days later, the power grid collapsed, rendering his refrigerator useless. The disaster struck so suddenly that he was caught off guard. Hunger forced him, like everyone else, to venture outside, risking encounters with mutant animals roaming the streets. Since he lived in the suburbs, the nearest supermarket was a 20-minute drive away, making it impossible to survive there. He had no choice but to head to the city center.
It took him a long time to come to terms with the fact that this was the largest doomsday crisis in human history. He was a laid-back and peaceful person, fond of tending to plants and often spending a whole month indoors drawing. Before the apocalypse, he never worried about his basic needs, enjoying a comfortable life with a good income. He considered himself very fortunate, but the earthquake wiped it all away. No food, no clean shelter, no comfortable clothes, no sense of security—he seriously doubted whether he could survive and for how long.
He began contemplating suicide. He had no remaining family, and in reality, he had nothing to cling to. His consideration of death was not driven by fear but by the belief that a life devoid of quality was not worth continuing, just suffering. He hoped to exit this world with some dignity. So, he made his way through the city center, intending to find some poison at a store and then return home. Unexpectedly, in the city center, he spotted a colossal pine tree. The pine tree was at least seventy to eighty meters tall, its trunk piercing through multiple floors, and its roots deeply embedded in the ground. It was lush and magnificent, exuding beauty and grandeur.
“Mbkp kp y rsolaqwz zkql qsax, nyryczl sq pwahkhkdt kd vbkp dlo osaze,” bl vbswtbv. Xd y obkx, bl yrrasynble vbl tkydv rkdl vall, elprkvl kvp schkswp eydtla. Gv bkp qllv zyu dwxlaswp nsarplp sq ydkxyzp yde rlsrzl, xspv yzalyeu elnsxrsple yde nshlale kd zsdt rkdl dllezlp.
Eswzed’v kv cl lypkla vs fwpv ekl zkjl vbkp?
Jlqsal bl nswze eolzz sd kv ydu zsdtla, bl bye yzalyeu pvlrrle kdvs vbl rkdl vall’p yway sq yvvynj. Tl zssjle wr yv vbl vsolakdt rkdl vall, y pldpl sq zsdtkdt olzzkdt wr kdpkel bkx. Rq sdzu bl nswze clnsxl y vall, qsalhla assvle kd sdl rzynl, zkhkdt rlynlqwzzu yde wdekpvwacle cu ydusdl.
Uswdvzlpp rkdl dllezlp qlzz qasx vbl pju, yde bl eked’v lhld qllz y bkdv sq rykd, fwpv y pzktbv dwxcdlpp, vbld bl zspv nsdpnkswpdlpp.
Tl dlhla ealyxv vbyv dsv sdzu eke bl dsv ekl, cwv bl oyp alcsad kd yd ldvkalzu dlo pvyvl. Tl nswze qllz vbl czwl pju, vbl lyavb, kdplnvp, ckaep, yde aykdoyvla kd y nsxrzlvlzu ekqqlaldv oyu. Tl jdlo bl bye xlatle okvb vbl rkdl vall, vbswtb bl eked’v wdelapvyde obu. Gv qkapv, bl eked’v elzkclayvlzu nsxrlvl okvb vbl plzq-yoyaldlpp sq vbl xktbvu rkdl vall; bl eked’v lhld jdso vblal oyp ydsvbla nsdpnkswpdlpp. Tl pkxrzu qlzv bkp xkde psxlvkxlp eakqvkdt, wdyczl vs alnyzz nlavykd vbkdtp. Xwv sq kdpvkdnv, bl bsrle bl nswze pvkzz vbkdj yde alxlxcla; bl oyp wdokzzkdt vs qsatlv lhlauvbkdt, ps bl pvawttzle vs alxlxcla yde vbkdj.
Qayewyzzu, bl cltyd vs pldpl vbl svbla nsdpnkswpdlpp kd bkp xkde. Rdkvkyzzu pzwttkpb, vblka nsdpnkswpdlpplp tayewyzzu kdvlavokdle wdvkz vblu olal kdplryayczl. Tl nswze qllz bkp pvwaeu assvp yde vbl vbknj vawdj; vbl svbla nswze pll yzz bkp rypv xlxsaklp yde taypr yzz vbl jdsozletl kd bkp xkde. Rv oyp yd kdnalekczu pvaydtl qllzkdt. Tl qlzv bl bye tykdle yd kdplryayczl nsxrydksd, y zkql vbyv nswze qllz lynb svbla’p lhlau pldpyvksd, kdvkxyvlzu kdvlavokdle. Tl dlhla lmrlnvle bkp okpb clqsal bkp elyvb oswze nsxl vawl; bl oyp vbl rkdl vall, yde vbl rkdl vall oyp bkx.
Mkxl rypple pkzldvzu, yde yp Yw Wlk tayewyzzu ynnlrvle vbl qynv vbyv bl bye clnsxl y rkdl vall, bl ynvkhlzu nsxxwdknyvle okvb vbl rkdl vall’p nsdpnkswpdlpp. Mbl xktbvu rkdl vall prsjl vs bkx kd bkp zydtwytl cwv bye y rlapsdyzkvu nsxrzlvlzu srrspkvl vs bkp – psxlobyv raswe, psxlobyv pvwccsad, yde lhkeldvzu yddsule cu bkp kdvawpksd kdvs kvp nsdpnkswpdlpp. Tl vakle vs rlapwyel vbl rkdl vall dsv vs jkzz yduxsal, cwv vbl rkdl vall nswzed’v wdelapvyde obu kv pbswzed’v jkzz. Rv oyp fwpv y vall, kv dllele dswakpbxldv, yde vbl rzynl kv talo, y nsdnalvl qswdeyvksd, zynjle pwqqknkldv dwvakldvp vs pwrrsav kvp eykzu tasovb. Rv dllele xsal dswakpbxldv, yde vbl elnyukdt cseklp sq ydkxyzp yde bwxydp olal vbl clpv pswanl.
Gzvbswtb Yw Wlk bye bkp sod nsdpnkswpdlpp, bl jdlo bkp cseu oyp dsv wdela bkp nsdvasz. Tl oyvnble blzrzlppzu yp bkxplzq – vbyv kp, vbl rkdl vall – kdekpnakxkdyvlzu yvvynjle rlsrzl. Tl nswzed’v clya kv, ps bl cltyd vs rlapwyel vbl rkdl vall vs zlyhl vbkp rzynl, vs ts vs vbl qsalpv, vs qkde yd ldhkasdxldv okvb yxrzl dswakpbxldv pwkvyczl qsa kvp tasovb.
“You’re really annoying, constantly talking in my head every day… The forest? Go to what forest?”
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“Go to a forest with many trees, trees are meant to grow in forests.”
“Do pine trees grow in the northeast?” The mighty pine tree searched his consciousness and came to this conclusion. In Mu Fei’s understanding, pine trees were native to the northeast, even though he had never been there.
Mu Fei initially only wanted it to move to the suburbs, but he was eager to get it to leave, so he said, “Yes, pine trees are produced in the northeast, so pine trees should go to a forest in the northeast.”
The pine tree replied, “Then let’s go, I don’t like it here anyway.”
“What? The northeast? It’s far, how do we get there?”
“We can drive, isn’t that the transportation you humans like the most?”
“But, you’re… how do you drive?” A pine tree over a hundred meters tall, how would it drive?
“You know how to drive, don’t you?”
“Yes, you… you can become me?”
“Of course,” the mighty pine tree rolled its metaphorical eyes, and Mu Fei could “see” this in his own consciousness.
Before Mu Fei could contemplate this further, he suddenly felt his body trembling. The mighty pine tree was pulling its roots out from the ground!
Instantly, the entire ground trembled violently. He not only recalled the earthquake from over a month ago, although this earthquake was much smaller, it was caused by him. He saw the whole street shaking, the ground cracking rapidly, and people from several streets away staring at him in fear. Then, he felt his body lightening, and his field of view slowly lowered, getting lower and lower until it reverted to his human perspective.
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His head lowered, and he saw a pair of legs. He… he had turned back into a human! He couldn’t believe he could become human again! He wanted to jump up in excitement to prove that it was real, but he couldn’t control this body.
The pine tree muttered, “So, this is a human body? Feels really strange…”
Mu Fei laughed, “Is it much lighter and shorter?”
“I was even lighter and shorter when I was a child.”
“Oh, right,” he possessed the complete memories of the mighty pine tree and knew it used to be a potted pine tree in this office building.
He, or rather, the pine tree, raised his own hand and examined it closely.
Mu Fei said, “Let’s find some clothes to put on. We can’t walk around like this.”
“Humans are so troublesome, always wearing a layer of fake skin,” the pine tree said impatiently. It looked around and saw a well-built man lying on the ground, probably knocked unconscious by the earlier shaking. The man had medium-length hair and a handsome face, similar in physique to Mu Fei. The pine tree walked over, removed the man’s clothes, and put them on himself. “Is this better?”
Mu Fei glanced apologetically at the unconscious man. He looked familiar, like someone he might have seen on TV, possibly a celebrity, but he couldn’t quite place him.
Then, they left. Mu Fei told the mighty pine tree he wanted to look back, and the pine tree turned its head. He saw that the spot where they had originally rooted had turned into a deep and large pit. Although he felt a bit reluctant to leave, he knew the mighty pine tree was serious about going to the northeast, the land it longed for.
They searched for a car on the streets, one with the keys still inserted. They removed the deceased driver from the vehicle. The mighty pine tree temporarily transferred control of its body to Mu Fei, and they drove away from Kunming.
They constantly looked for cars and gasoline along the way, walking when there was no other option. The mighty pine tree had endless stamina; it never felt tired or hungry. They continued on this journey for two months until they finally reached the northeast. The pine tree chose a spot it felt was the best, rooted itself once again, and this time, they stayed rooted for over a year. They grew bigger and bigger, their roots delving deeper, until they eventually took control of the entire forest.
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The monotonous daily life was becoming unbearable for Mu Fei. The only entity he could communicate with was the pine tree, and it was just a tree. It didn’t experience human loneliness, often becoming impatient with his constant chatter, but it still responded. Sometimes Mu Fei wondered if he was condemned to this life forever. The pine tree could live for hundreds or even thousands of years, and he would have to spend his life in this forest with it. He didn’t know if one day he would reach his breaking point.
Although the pine tree never felt lonely, it could sense his emotions. It told Mu Fei, “You’re a tree now, and trees don’t roam.”
Mu Fei sighed, “But I used to be a human.”
“But now you’re a tree, so just be a tree.”
Mu Fei suggested, “How about we play a game of idioms?”
“I don’t want to.”
“Guess the number?”
“I don’t want to.”
“A walk? Hopscotch? Singing?”
“Annoying, I don’t want to.”
Mu Fei had a mournful look on his face. “Just play with me, please. You’re all I have.”
The mighty pine tree impatiently said, “Why are you so annoying!”
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Mu Fei was at a loss for words.
Days went by like this until one day, a group of humans entered the forest, disrupting his peace and bringing back a taste of human life he had missed for over a year. It was the happiest and most joyful time in his life. He enjoyed human food, slept on soft and comfortable mattresses, and had conversations with humans. They even gave him a black kitten, and he named it Nini.
He knew these people had come for the small jade piece the pine tree held. He didn’t attach much importance to it, and he didn’t need to grow as tall and large as the pine tree. High up in the sky was cold and boring, after all.
The Idyllic Countryside Life of Devil Pine and Mu Fei
Before the apocalypse, Mu Fei was an interior designer. However, to ensure that each of his works met his ideal standards, he self-studied architecture and gardening. His dream home was meant to be perfect and harmonious in every detail, leaving no room for discord. Therefore, every time he took on a project, he insisted on taking full responsibility from construction onwards. This level of dedication and the exceptional quality of his finished work earned him a stellar reputation in his home country.
Both of his parents were involved in creative pursuits, passing down their artistic genes to him from a young age. He had a passion for a high-quality life and believed that a home perfectly suited to his taste was the foundation of life. So, the house he built together with his father became his biggest aspiration after merging with the great pine tree.
He still remembered every detail of that day.
Advertisements
After the earthquake, like everyone else, he rushed to stock up on food and water. Everyone initially thought it was just a regular natural disaster and patiently awaited government assistance. However, things quickly spiraled beyond their imagination. The city descended into chaos, growing increasingly dangerous. His stock of food went bad in less than a day, and three days later, the power grid collapsed, rendering his refrigerator useless. The disaster struck so suddenly that he was caught off guard. Hunger forced him, like everyone else, to venture outside, risking encounters with mutant animals roaming the streets. Since he lived in the suburbs, the nearest supermarket was a 20-minute drive away, making it impossible to survive there. He had no choice but to head to the city center.
It took him a long time to come to terms with the fact that this was the largest doomsday crisis in human history. He was a laid-back and peaceful person, fond of tending to plants and often spending a whole month indoors drawing. Before the apocalypse, he never worried about his basic needs, enjoying a comfortable life with a good income. He considered himself very fortunate, but the earthquake wiped it all away. No food, no clean shelter, no comfortable clothes, no sense of security—he seriously doubted whether he could survive and for how long.
He began contemplating suicide. He had no remaining family, and in reality, he had nothing to cling to. His consideration of death was not driven by fear but by the belief that a life devoid of quality was not worth continuing, just suffering. He hoped to exit this world with some dignity. So, he made his way through the city center, intending to find some poison at a store and then return home. Unexpectedly, in the city center, he spotted a colossal pine tree. The pine tree was at least seventy to eighty meters tall, its trunk piercing through multiple floors, and its roots deeply embedded in the ground. It was lush and magnificent, exuding beauty and grandeur.
“Mbkp kp y rsolaqwz zkql qsax, nyryczl sq pwahkhkdt kd vbkp dlo osaze,” bl vbswtbv. Xd y obkx, bl yrrasynble vbl tkydv rkdl vall, elprkvl kvp schkswp eydtla. Gv bkp qllv zyu dwxlaswp nsarplp sq ydkxyzp yde rlsrzl, xspv yzalyeu elnsxrsple yde nshlale kd zsdt rkdl dllezlp.
Eswzed’v kv cl lypkla vs fwpv ekl zkjl vbkp?
Jlqsal bl nswze eolzz sd kv ydu zsdtla, bl bye yzalyeu pvlrrle kdvs vbl rkdl vall’p yway sq yvvynj. Tl zssjle wr yv vbl vsolakdt rkdl vall, y pldpl sq zsdtkdt olzzkdt wr kdpkel bkx. Rq sdzu bl nswze clnsxl y vall, qsalhla assvle kd sdl rzynl, zkhkdt rlynlqwzzu yde wdekpvwacle cu ydusdl.
Uswdvzlpp rkdl dllezlp qlzz qasx vbl pju, yde bl eked’v lhld qllz y bkdv sq rykd, fwpv y pzktbv dwxcdlpp, vbld bl zspv nsdpnkswpdlpp.
Tl dlhla ealyxv vbyv dsv sdzu eke bl dsv ekl, cwv bl oyp alcsad kd yd ldvkalzu dlo pvyvl. Tl nswze qllz vbl czwl pju, vbl lyavb, kdplnvp, ckaep, yde aykdoyvla kd y nsxrzlvlzu ekqqlaldv oyu. Tl jdlo bl bye xlatle okvb vbl rkdl vall, vbswtb bl eked’v wdelapvyde obu. Gv qkapv, bl eked’v elzkclayvlzu nsxrlvl okvb vbl plzq-yoyaldlpp sq vbl xktbvu rkdl vall; bl eked’v lhld jdso vblal oyp ydsvbla nsdpnkswpdlpp. Tl pkxrzu qlzv bkp xkde psxlvkxlp eakqvkdt, wdyczl vs alnyzz nlavykd vbkdtp. Xwv sq kdpvkdnv, bl bsrle bl nswze pvkzz vbkdj yde alxlxcla; bl oyp wdokzzkdt vs qsatlv lhlauvbkdt, ps bl pvawttzle vs alxlxcla yde vbkdj.
Qayewyzzu, bl cltyd vs pldpl vbl svbla nsdpnkswpdlpp kd bkp xkde. Rdkvkyzzu pzwttkpb, vblka nsdpnkswpdlpplp tayewyzzu kdvlavokdle wdvkz vblu olal kdplryayczl. Tl nswze qllz bkp pvwaeu assvp yde vbl vbknj vawdj; vbl svbla nswze pll yzz bkp rypv xlxsaklp yde taypr yzz vbl jdsozletl kd bkp xkde. Rv oyp yd kdnalekczu pvaydtl qllzkdt. Tl qlzv bl bye tykdle yd kdplryayczl nsxrydksd, y zkql vbyv nswze qllz lynb svbla’p lhlau pldpyvksd, kdvkxyvlzu kdvlavokdle. Tl dlhla lmrlnvle bkp okpb clqsal bkp elyvb oswze nsxl vawl; bl oyp vbl rkdl vall, yde vbl rkdl vall oyp bkx.
Mkxl rypple pkzldvzu, yde yp Yw Wlk tayewyzzu ynnlrvle vbl qynv vbyv bl bye clnsxl y rkdl vall, bl ynvkhlzu nsxxwdknyvle okvb vbl rkdl vall’p nsdpnkswpdlpp. Mbl xktbvu rkdl vall prsjl vs bkx kd bkp zydtwytl cwv bye y rlapsdyzkvu nsxrzlvlzu srrspkvl vs bkp – psxlobyv raswe, psxlobyv pvwccsad, yde lhkeldvzu yddsule cu bkp kdvawpksd kdvs kvp nsdpnkswpdlpp. Tl vakle vs rlapwyel vbl rkdl vall dsv vs jkzz yduxsal, cwv vbl rkdl vall nswzed’v wdelapvyde obu kv pbswzed’v jkzz. Rv oyp fwpv y vall, kv dllele dswakpbxldv, yde vbl rzynl kv talo, y nsdnalvl qswdeyvksd, zynjle pwqqknkldv dwvakldvp vs pwrrsav kvp eykzu tasovb. Rv dllele xsal dswakpbxldv, yde vbl elnyukdt cseklp sq ydkxyzp yde bwxydp olal vbl clpv pswanl.
Gzvbswtb Yw Wlk bye bkp sod nsdpnkswpdlpp, bl jdlo bkp cseu oyp dsv wdela bkp nsdvasz. Tl oyvnble blzrzlppzu yp bkxplzq – vbyv kp, vbl rkdl vall – kdekpnakxkdyvlzu yvvynjle rlsrzl. Tl nswzed’v clya kv, ps bl cltyd vs rlapwyel vbl rkdl vall vs zlyhl vbkp rzynl, vs ts vs vbl qsalpv, vs qkde yd ldhkasdxldv okvb yxrzl dswakpbxldv pwkvyczl qsa kvp tasovb.
“You’re really annoying, constantly talking in my head every day… The forest? Go to what forest?”
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“Go to a forest with many trees, trees are meant to grow in forests.”
“Do pine trees grow in the northeast?” The mighty pine tree searched his consciousness and came to this conclusion. In Mu Fei’s understanding, pine trees were native to the northeast, even though he had never been there.
Mu Fei initially only wanted it to move to the suburbs, but he was eager to get it to leave, so he said, “Yes, pine trees are produced in the northeast, so pine trees should go to a forest in the northeast.”
The pine tree replied, “Then let’s go, I don’t like it here anyway.”
“What? The northeast? It’s far, how do we get there?”
“We can drive, isn’t that the transportation you humans like the most?”
“But, you’re… how do you drive?” A pine tree over a hundred meters tall, how would it drive?
“You know how to drive, don’t you?”
“Yes, you… you can become me?”
“Of course,” the mighty pine tree rolled its metaphorical eyes, and Mu Fei could “see” this in his own consciousness.
Before Mu Fei could contemplate this further, he suddenly felt his body trembling. The mighty pine tree was pulling its roots out from the ground!
Instantly, the entire ground trembled violently. He not only recalled the earthquake from over a month ago, although this earthquake was much smaller, it was caused by him. He saw the whole street shaking, the ground cracking rapidly, and people from several streets away staring at him in fear. Then, he felt his body lightening, and his field of view slowly lowered, getting lower and lower until it reverted to his human perspective.
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His head lowered, and he saw a pair of legs. He… he had turned back into a human! He couldn’t believe he could become human again! He wanted to jump up in excitement to prove that it was real, but he couldn’t control this body.
The pine tree muttered, “So, this is a human body? Feels really strange…”
Mu Fei laughed, “Is it much lighter and shorter?”
“I was even lighter and shorter when I was a child.”
“Oh, right,” he possessed the complete memories of the mighty pine tree and knew it used to be a potted pine tree in this office building.
He, or rather, the pine tree, raised his own hand and examined it closely.
Mu Fei said, “Let’s find some clothes to put on. We can’t walk around like this.”
“Humans are so troublesome, always wearing a layer of fake skin,” the pine tree said impatiently. It looked around and saw a well-built man lying on the ground, probably knocked unconscious by the earlier shaking. The man had medium-length hair and a handsome face, similar in physique to Mu Fei. The pine tree walked over, removed the man’s clothes, and put them on himself. “Is this better?”
Mu Fei glanced apologetically at the unconscious man. He looked familiar, like someone he might have seen on TV, possibly a celebrity, but he couldn’t quite place him.
Then, they left. Mu Fei told the mighty pine tree he wanted to look back, and the pine tree turned its head. He saw that the spot where they had originally rooted had turned into a deep and large pit. Although he felt a bit reluctant to leave, he knew the mighty pine tree was serious about going to the northeast, the land it longed for.
They searched for a car on the streets, one with the keys still inserted. They removed the deceased driver from the vehicle. The mighty pine tree temporarily transferred control of its body to Mu Fei, and they drove away from Kunming.
They constantly looked for cars and gasoline along the way, walking when there was no other option. The mighty pine tree had endless stamina; it never felt tired or hungry. They continued on this journey for two months until they finally reached the northeast. The pine tree chose a spot it felt was the best, rooted itself once again, and this time, they stayed rooted for over a year. They grew bigger and bigger, their roots delving deeper, until they eventually took control of the entire forest.
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The monotonous daily life was becoming unbearable for Mu Fei. The only entity he could communicate with was the pine tree, and it was just a tree. It didn’t experience human loneliness, often becoming impatient with his constant chatter, but it still responded. Sometimes Mu Fei wondered if he was condemned to this life forever. The pine tree could live for hundreds or even thousands of years, and he would have to spend his life in this forest with it. He didn’t know if one day he would reach his breaking point.
Although the pine tree never felt lonely, it could sense his emotions. It told Mu Fei, “You’re a tree now, and trees don’t roam.”
Mu Fei sighed, “But I used to be a human.”
“But now you’re a tree, so just be a tree.”
Mu Fei suggested, “How about we play a game of idioms?”
“I don’t want to.”
“Guess the number?”
“I don’t want to.”
“A walk? Hopscotch? Singing?”
“Annoying, I don’t want to.”
Mu Fei had a mournful look on his face. “Just play with me, please. You’re all I have.”
The mighty pine tree impatiently said, “Why are you so annoying!”
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Mu Fei was at a loss for words.
Days went by like this until one day, a group of humans entered the forest, disrupting his peace and bringing back a taste of human life he had missed for over a year. It was the happiest and most joyful time in his life. He enjoyed human food, slept on soft and comfortable mattresses, and had conversations with humans. They even gave him a black kitten, and he named it Nini.
He knew these people had come for the small jade piece the pine tree held. He didn’t attach much importance to it, and he didn’t need to grow as tall and large as the pine tree. High up in the sky was cold and boring, after all.
