Chapter 49: Vine Mansion
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Guided by a White Crow, Gu Su led his Undead Squad on a slight detour, skirting the more treacherous areas. At last, they arrived near the building engulfed by Fluorescent Vines.
He looked up. This building was a world apart from the shopping mall where the Ash Squad was currently scavenging.
This wasn’t a commercial building, but a residential apartment complex. There were no orderly storefronts on the ground floor, and the construction materials were exceedingly common. Its walls were mottled and peeling, with collapses and indentations in many places, giving it an air of post-apocalyptic decay and desolation.
Only one thing was particularly striking, so much so that it overshadowed the building’s own dilapidation.
A type of fluorescent green vine had stubbornly forced its way out from inside the building. It wound tightly around the entire structure like smooth satin, climbing from the bottom and spiraling up along the walls, window frames, and support beams. The growth was so dense it left not a single gap.
Some of the vines drooped down, forming glowing green curtains that conveniently covered the broken windows and caved-in sections of the wall. In the dim surroundings, they emitted a soft yet eerie glow.
What was even more unsettling was how the leaves seemed to squirm faintly with the light. Glowing green juices dripped from their tips, instantly corroding small black pits into the ground where they landed. A cloying, sweet scent, almost imperceptible, drifted through the air, hinting at some unknown danger.
From a distance, the verdant glow was so dazzling it completely obscured the building’s silhouette. It was as if the entire structure had been swallowed by the light of the vines, creating a bizarre spectacle.
Gu Su narrowed his eyes, his gaze fixed on the Fluorescent Vines. He observed them for a moment, then muttered in a low, bewildered voice, "What the hell is going on here?"
After a moment’s thought, he cast aside his hesitation and decisively ordered the White Crow circling overhead, "White Crow, go test them out. Scout the area."
The moment Gu Su finished speaking, a White Crow beat its wings and took off, flying swiftly toward the vine-choked building. With agile, graceful movements, it swooped past the curtain of vines, plunged straight into the building’s interior, and vanished from sight.
Gu Su kept his eyes narrowed, his gaze fixed on the spot where the White Crow had disappeared, not daring to relax for an instant.
He had already anticipated what would happen. ’The White Crow will probably be attacked by the vines, or trigger some other unknown danger.’
’After all, there’s no way these eerie Fluorescent Vines are harmless.’
But he never would have expected what happened next. The White Crow circled inside the building several times, sometimes landing on the vines, other times swooping past collapsed walls. It remained completely unharmed. It wasn’t attacked, nor did it trigger any strange phenomena. It just continued to fly safely through the building’s interior.
This completely unexpected outcome left Gu Su a bit speechless, and he grumbled to himself.
’Don’t tell me they saw I have Elite Undead Warriors now, so they won’t even give me a chance to fight?’
Although he was eager to test his troops’ combat strength, this utter tranquility actually made him feel a bit uneasy.
Grumbling aside, Gu Su didn’t lower his guard in the slightest.
He’d only been here for two days, but that was long enough to know what kind of hellhole this place was.
In a post-apocalyptic world like this, the safer a place seemed, the greater the danger it usually hid.
He immediately made new arrangements, dispatching several more White Crows to fly over and expand the search area.
At the same time, following Gu Su’s decisive command, two Skeleton Warriors strode forward. They held their Black Iron Shields steady with their left arms, keeping their bodies protected as they cautiously approached the building, remaining on high alert the entire time.
Once they reached the base of the building, the two Skeleton Warriors followed Gu Su’s orders without hesitation. Shield in one hand, Long-bladed Bone Sword gripped tightly in the other, they decisively hacked at the Fluorescent Vines clinging to the wall. The sharp edge of the Bone Sword sliced through the vines with a soft hissing sound.
Gu Su stood his ground, his eyes fixed on the two Skeleton Warriors, his mind still filled with doubt.
He simply couldn’t believe that these eerie Fluorescent Vines posed no threat.
He speculated that the vines might be some kind of mutated, giant plant akin to a Cannibal Flower. ’Perhaps they glow on purpose to lure in small animals or other unsuspecting creatures, then lie in wait to prey on them.’
He wasn’t worried, though. Undead Creatures were naturally immune to the effects of Mind Magic. Even if the vines did possess some strange power, like a mind-affecting ability such as Confusion, his Undead Warriors could handle it with ease. At the very least, they couldn’t be controlled by mind-based Skills. The worst they would face were physical Attacks, which was nothing to fear.
But once again, the result defied Gu Su’s expectations.
The two Skeleton Warriors stood at the base of the building, relentlessly swinging their Bone Swords at the vines. Severed sections fell to the ground with each blow, their sap splashing everywhere. Yet the remaining vines showed no reaction at all. They didn’t strike back or retract. They were like ordinary plants, allowing the Skeleton Warriors to cut them down at will.
This utterly passive scene left Gu Su at a loss for words. But then he realized this wasn’t necessarily a bad thing for him.
’No danger, and I can harvest these weird Fluorescent Vines. I don’t know if they’ll be useful later, but I’ll collect them first.’ Ever the pragmatist, he wasn’t about to pass up an unexpected windfall.
And so, he decisively issued a command to the Undead Warriors behind him. "You, go and help.
I want all of these Fluorescent Vines. Not a single one can go to waste!"
Just as the Undead Warriors were preparing to move forward, the White Crow that had gone inside to investigate suddenly flew back. It landed on the ground in front of Gu Su and let out a crisp cry, relaying the information it had discovered.
According to the White Crow’s report, they had found a hidden room inside the building, a place completely different from all the others.
The room had been protected by the vines, so it hadn’t suffered much from the elements, and its interior was still clearly visible.
It wasn’t an apartment at all, but some kind of home-brewed chemical workshop. Though it was impossible to know what they had been researching and producing, it was clear that the vines’ mutation had most likely originated from this very spot.
A thought struck Gu Su. ’Compared to these harmless Fluorescent Vines, that special room is the real key to this building. It must be hiding valuable supplies, or some kind of secret.’
A sharp glint flashed in his eyes. With no further hesitation, he pointed at the White Crow that had brought the news. "You. Lead a few Elite Skeletons over there. Bring out every single thing in that room for me. Don’t leave anything behind!
If you encounter any resistance, don’t hesitate. Kill on sight. Show no mercy!"