Episode 4: I'm Called a Burden at the Management Bureau
883 Words
Lin Xiaoman tenses, hiding her grandmother behind her. Vines start to grow in her sleeves, ready to strike at any moment.
The red-dress woman finishes her chili, hissing from the heat but grinning widely. She walks up to Lin Xiaoman and circles her, eyes wide with amazement.
" She really is pure blood! The wood life force is so strong it's practically leaking out! Old Chen, smell that? It's stronger than a hundred-year-old ginseng!"
A small orange flame dances on her fingertip. Lin Xiaoman's eyes widen.
"Don't scare her," the man says, pulling the woman back. "I'm Chen Gu, from the Earth Grain Clan. I'm the field captain of the management bureau. This is Chili, from the Spice Pepper Clan. We're the ones who called the police. We've been chasing that Blood Beast guy for weeks."
He holds out the basket of strawberries. "We know you love these. They're fresh from our base, no pesticides. Try one?"
Lin Xiaoman stares at the red, juicy strawberries. Her stomach growls loudly. She just used a lot of power fighting the Blood Beast, and she's starving.
She takes the basket and grabs a handful, shoving them into her mouth.
Sweet juice explodes on her tongue. A surge of life force fills her body, instantly replenishing all the power she used. She can even hear the wind rustling the leaves of the sycamore tree outside the window.
"See? Pure blood," Chen Gu says, impressed. "A normal Fresh Fruit Elf would get a little energy from a basket of strawberries. You just ate a handful and your power level went up a whole tier. That's insane."
"No wonder the Blood Beasts are crazy about her," Chili says. "Eating her would make them instantly level up."
Chen Gu explains what the management bureau does.
The five plant clans formed an alliance a hundred years ago to protect their people from the Beast Alliance. They hide their existence from ordinary humans, and they've been searching for the last Fresh Fruit Elf pure blood ever since the sacred land fell.
"Your grandmother was one of our elders," Chen Gu says, looking at the old woman with respect. "She escaped the sacred land with our clan's sacred relic, and hid in the human world to protect you."
That afternoon, her grandmother passes away peacefully in the hospital.
She gives Lin Xiaoman a peach pit pendant, carved by hand. "This is our clan's sacred relic. It will hide your bloodline scent from the beasts when you're in danger."
After the funeral, Lin Xiaoman goes with Chen Gu and Chili to the management bureau base.
It's hidden in an ecological farm on the outskirts of the city. From the outside, it looks like a normal orchard and vegetable garden. But inside, it's a whole world of people with special powers.
Someone is chewing on a sugar cane—Grass Beast Clan. Someone is sipping nectar from a bowl—Golden Flower Clan. Someone is eating a bowl of white rice, not leaving a single grain—Earth Grain Clan.
Everyone stops what they're doing when they see Lin Xiaoman. Their eyes are filled with shock and awe.
"Oh my god, it's the Fresh Fruit Elf pure blood!"
"I thought the clan was extinct!"
"I heard she just awakened and tied up a Blood Beast berserker with banana peels!"
Lin Xiaoman blushes, clutching her strawberry basket tightly.
Chili slaps her on the back. "Don't be shy! You're our bureau's new favorite! Anyone who bullies you, I'll burn them to a crisp with my chili fire!"
But a cold voice cuts through the chatter.
"Favorite? More like a burden."
A tall man stands in the corner, arms crossed. His face is cold, and he looks at Lin Xiaoman with disdain. "So what if she's pure blood? All she can do is eat fruit. Now the entire Blood Beast Clan is coming for her. Is it worth risking all our lives for one person?"
The people around him nod in agreement.
"Yeah, I heard she eats three boxes of fruit a day. Our orchard won't be enough to feed her."
"She just awakened. What can she do in a fight? She'll just need us to protect her."
Chen Gu's face darkens. "Zhao Song! Shut up! Xiaoman is our royal family, and she's one of us!"
Zhao Song snorts. He walks up to Lin Xiaoman and looks her up and down. "One of us? Prove it. Next week is the border match against the Beast Alliance. If you can win one fight, I'll admit you're our royal. If you can't, get out of the base and stop dragging us down."
Lin Xiaoman bites into a strawberry, sweet juice bursting in her mouth. She looks up at Zhao Song, a small smile playing on her lips.
"Fine. But if I win, what do I get?"
Zhao Song laughs. "If you win? I'll rent out the entire fruit market for you. Eat as much as you want, all day long."
"Deal."
Lin Xiaoman agrees easily. Chen Gu and Chili panic, pulling her aside.
"Xiaoman, are you crazy? Those matches are against real Beast Alliance warriors! They're all mid-level fighters at least! You just awakened a week ago!"
Lin Xiaoman grins, shaking her strawberry basket.
"Relax. I have a secret weapon."
- Writer
