Astrology Hall with Flesh and Blood

Chapter 26

What...what does that mean? I don't understand.

"I hate after-sales service the most!" The man impatiently crumpled the empty yogurt bag into a ball. "Besides, it was a free sample, and even the government stipulates that there's no need to promise 'three guarantees'... Don't you agree?"

Volume Two: The Beauty Bonsai of the Spider Lily and the Soul-Summoning Tree (Part 8)

Wait, wait, a sample? I remembered the little red Christmas bag he slipped into my hand that day, inside which was a seed from the Summoning Tree, supposedly from the underworld, that was incredibly cold... Could it be that Feng Lei's coma was indeed closely related to Lei, no, the Summoning Tree?

"Guest, if you operate it haphazardly without following the instructions and cause any trouble, don't blame the shop." The man gave me a meaningful glance. "You... summoned the spirits of the living, didn't you?"

Indeed, I vaguely remember him saying something like the Summoning Tree could summon the spirits of the dead. Could it be that Feng Lei fell into a coma because her soul was summoned, causing her to lose her mind? But I don't remember anything like that! On Christmas Eve, I was constantly thinking about her, and then, Lei appeared before me like a goddess descending from heaven…

“The Summoning Tree will grow according to your wishes,” the man said, as if he could read my mind. “Even if you don’t make a wish, the desires that exist in your subconscious will be directly reflected on the Summoning Tree. Your deepest thoughts, even the secrets in your heart that you can’t control, will be recorded and reflected by the Summoning Tree, and materialized into the form of a tree.”

Good heavens! Isn't this a bit too much like artificial intelligence? What if I wasn't really thinking about Feng Lei at the time, but instead indulging in the pleasure of fantasizing, imagining all sorts of hot and exciting performances by AV actresses? Wouldn't that have caused chaos in the world, no, in the boys' dormitory? I wiped my forehead in a show of bravado, thankfully I have a thick skin and didn't break out in a cold sweat.

In other words, it was precisely because I was worried about Feng Lei that the Soul-Summoning Tree forcibly seized her soul, leaving her unconscious? "Is there any way to save her?" I asked. "Should we send her soul back to her body?"

The astrologer nodded approvingly. "You're very clever," he said, "but are you sure you're doing the right thing?"

"As long as it possesses a human soul, the Soul-Summoning Tree gains a life akin to that of a human. Like a human, it experiences birth, aging, sickness, death, joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness; it feels melancholy at the last yellow leaf falling in autumn and rejoices at the first flower blooming in spring. It lives only for you, its gaze fixed solely on you; the rest of the world is but birds, beasts, and insects in its eyes. From the day of its birth, it lives wholeheartedly for you alone, sharing life's storms with you, growing old alongside you in your happiest moments, never leaving your side until death. Its lifespan is neither long nor short, on the same day, month, and year as you peacefully close your eyes, taking its last breath at the same moment… What ordinary woman in the mortal world could compare to it? And yet you are so cruel, having just brought it into existence, you immediately push it into the abyss of death?!"

"No, I didn't..." I was a little confused by his fierce attack. "You mean, once the soul is returned, Lei will die?"

Yan Wuyue finally spoke up, "Excuse me, may I interrupt you two?" Her bright eyes glanced at me and then at him, "What have you two been saying about trees? I haven't understood a single word."

Without time to think, I treated Yan Wuyue as if she were invisible. Gazing into the astrologer's unfathomable, deep green eyes, I asked him again, my voice trembling, "Will tears die?"

“As I said, the Tree of Souls has the ability to summon the dead,” he casually crossed his hands in front of his knees, “and it can also steal the souls of the living.”

"You still haven't answered me!" I was infuriated by his irresponsible attitude and stood up abruptly. "If Lei returns Feng Lei's soul, will she die?"

“Sit down,” he said slowly, his voice carrying an indescribable air of authority that intimidated me. “Listen, your guess was not wrong.”

I held my breath and listened to him continue. Although I didn't quite understand, Yan Wuyue knew that no one would specifically answer her questions, so she rested her chin on her hands, focused intently, and made sure not to miss a single word.

"The Summoning Tree is a selfish creature, no, or perhaps it carries a tragic destiny," the astrologer's eyes flickered in the darkness like will-o'-the-wisps floating in the night. "It begins to 'live' upon receiving a human soul, 'grows' according to its master's wishes, and 'dies' along with its master's soul at the moment of its master's death. It craves the warmth of a human soul's attachment, and except for the death of its master, at any time, out of instinct, it will hold tightly to the soul that originally belonged to the human. In other words, once the soul is returned to the human, the Summoning Tree is left with only one final fate."

He deliberately let out a long sigh, bringing the final chapter to the fate of the Summoning Tree.

“That is eternal death,” he said.

For a moment, all was silent. Although I had a premonition from his gradual teasing, when the two terrible words "death" came out of his mouth clearly, my mouth was filled with bitterness.

Why didn't I think of that sooner? Tears, that shy, adorable, innocent Tears, was created out of my dissatisfaction with Feng Lei and my unrealistic fantasies! Tears possessed everything Feng Lei had, and not only that, she was kinder, more innocent, purer, and gentler than Feng Lei, and devoted to me... She overcame all of Feng Lei's shortcomings, presenting me with a flawless girl, the perfect Feng Lei of my ideal!

And what about the real Feng Lei? Her soul has been taken from her; she lies on a cold iron bed like a vegetable, her fate unknown. This shouldn't be happening! If I hadn't met that astrologer and hadn't had my inner desires stirred by the Soul-Summoning Tree, life should have been as ordinary and happy as ever! Even if Feng Lei and I had a little argument, it was just a dark cloud drifting across a clear sky; it would soon dissipate and the clouds would clear again! If Feng Lei can't return to normal, not only her family, but even we classmates are worried to death!

But what about Lei? As the Soul-Summoning Tree, she was so innocent. In order to retrieve Feng Lei's soul, must Lei be sacrificed and her life taken? I could almost see myself grabbing her long hair, ignoring her cries and pleas, and slashing at her slender waist with a knife, blood spraying all over my face...

"So?" The astrologer calmly crossed his legs, his voice as alluring as a magnet in the darkness, full of the unknown and temptation. "Have you thought it through, my guest? Will you keep your beloved but temperamental and flawed girlfriend, or will you fulfill your dream and choose the perfect Summoning Tree that perfectly suits your heart? Please tell me your answer."

"Is it..." Yan Wuyue finally interjected, "that if he chooses one, the other will die?"

No answer was needed; my violently trembling hands had already given her the unmistakable answer. What to do? What to do? Not just my hands, but my whole body was shaking uncontrollably. Why must two beautiful lives be placed in my hands to be decided? In my heart, a high scale had already been erected, with Lei and Feng Lei on either side, rising and falling endlessly within its pan. Life itself has no inherent value or worth, so why must it be me who weighs them to determine which is more important and decides life or death?

Volume Two: The Beauty Bonsai of the Spider Lily and the Soul-Summoning Tree (Part Nine)

I don't know how I got back to the dormitory; I was in a daze. When my consciousness returned to my body, I found myself standing at the dormitory door. The familiar, creamy-yellow plywood door was ajar, and a faint light shone through the crack.

I took a deep breath from my dantian and held it in my nose for a long time, as if chewing on a green olive. Finally, as I slowly exhaled, I made up my mind.

He slammed his hand on the wooden door.

The blinding sunlight streamed onto the tiled floor, so bright it made my eyes water. The dorm was completely empty. Aside from the familiar, faint smell of sweat, there was a subtle, almost imperceptible, yet deeply alluring fragrance. Following this scent, I found Tears behind layers of jerseys next to the wardrobe. Long eyelashes, like a spiderweb, covered her face. A single, glistening tear clung to her dark lashes, trembling precariously with the slightest tremor of her eyelids.

"A living person dies after their soul has been separated from their body for three days," the astrologer's eerie voice echoed in my mind again. "If you choose the Soul-Summoning Tree, you only need to maintain the status quo for three days, and it can possess Feng Lei's soul forever; conversely, if you choose your human girlfriend..."

He sighed softly, seemingly a little tired.

"What will happen?" I gripped the back of the chair anxiously, my knuckles turning white from the force.

“Quite troublesome,” the astrologer replied. “Unless special methods are used, the Soul Tree will not release the souls it possesses.”

"Special methods?" I repeated as if in a dream.

“A suffering deeper than death,” he said slowly, “is what is called ‘worse than death’ so that the Summoning Tree would willingly give up its life and yearn for the darkest and most permanent death.”

As he said this, a strange light seemed to flash in his eyes—was it pity? Or sorrow? I have no way of knowing.

Did I have to deliberately torment Lei, making her suffer unbearable pain until she regretted being born? My hands trembled as I gently grasped her slender shoulders. Perhaps I was too rough, for the instant I touched her, she shuddered violently and opened her large, watery eyes.

"Tong Wei, is that you?" Afraid she couldn't see clearly, she rubbed her eyes hard and exclaimed, "Is it really you?"

She lunged at me, her two supple, snake-like arms wrapping tightly around me, as if afraid I would disappear if I wasn't careful. She buried her head deep in my chest, repeatedly saying, "That's great! That's great!" I consciously told myself not to hug her, but I just couldn't resist.

"What's wrong with your eyes? They're all red, like a rabbit's." I cupped her face in my hands. Why was it that her face, which was exactly as beautiful as Feng Lei's, looked far more delicate and charming than a living person's?

"I'm fine, really." How could she lie? Her eyes were downcast, avoiding my gaze, and she said she was fine? I reached out and traced a path down her eyes, feeling the rough texture remaining on her smooth skin. There was no mistake, it was a path of dried tears.

She cried.

Do plants cry? I couldn't help but chuckle at my own bookishness. That's called metabolic water, isn't it?

"Tong Wei, where did you go last night? Lei..." She lowered her head again, her cheeks flushed red to the roots of her ears, and said hesitantly, "Lei... has been waiting for you."

Suddenly, I felt short of breath, as if a heavy boulder had fallen from the sky, pressing down on my heart and making it difficult to breathe. How could I forget the purpose of my trip! Hadn't I already made up my mind? Even if Lei was perfect, she was still just a plant, while Feng Lei was a living, breathing human being! I came to force Lei to abandon her soul, not to sit here and indulge in sentimental entanglements with her! You must know, Feng Lei is still waiting for me!

So I swallowed hard and reluctantly began to speak:

"Tears... there's something I want to ask you..."

Before I could even speak, she happily covered my mouth:

"Don't say anything more," her eyes were as clear and bright as dewdrops on rose petals, "I will do whatever Tong Wei asks me to do."

My heart clenched, and my throat tightened. "What if... what if I wanted to hurt you?"

"No way!" She shook her head resolutely, "Tong Wei would never hurt Lei! As long as Lei is devoted to Tong Wei, Tong Wei will cherish her in return!"

As if she felt the amount wasn't enough, she added:

"Tears are so lucky to have an owner like Tongwei."

Looking at her innocent face, I was overwhelmed by guilt. Tears trusted me so completely, but what about me? Was the man she had waited all night, the one who had come specifically to take her life? I was hypocritically embracing her with one hand, while coldly murdering her with the other! No, I couldn't do it! I stumbled out of the dorm, retching into the trash can for a long time. Tears were still pitifully calling my name, but I couldn't stay by her side any longer. I rushed back to the astrology hall on Frozen Street before finally stopping.

The astrologer showed no surprise whatsoever at my return. He held aloft a sealed aluminum can, a black crossed skull gleaming in the light, sending chills down my spine. My failure was already expected; he silently handed the can to me.

"This is……?"

“A powerful, non-selective herbicide can kill all plants, including the 'Ghost Tree',” he said. “This is a return gift; your yogurt is really delicious.”

"Thank you." I mechanically moved my lips, unable to discern whether I felt hatred or gratitude towards this mysterious astrologer. As I stepped out the door, he called me back, "If you really can't bring yourself to do it..."

I stopped in my tracks.

“Just ask someone else for help,” he said. “Only in your eyes is she the unique Summoning Tree; to others, she’s just an ordinary bonsai.”

After saying all that in one breath, he sighed heavily and waved for me to leave quickly. I clearly heard the creak of the door closing behind me.

I had no choice but to try this. After much deliberation, I settled on Xiao Liu. He's a simpleton, easy to fool, and we're very close. I led him to the wardrobe, gritted my teeth, and pulled open the jersey. Tears were exposed right in front of us.

Volume Two: The Beauty Bonsai of the Spider Lily and the Soul-Summoning Tree (Part Ten)

Upon seeing a stranger, Lei instinctively covered her chest and wrapped her coat tightly around herself. I couldn't bear to look at her; I could only observe Xiao Liu's expression.

"Oh my god!" Xiao Liu suddenly slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "What happened?"

I was extremely nervous; my palms were sweaty and slippery, which was very uncomfortable. "What's wrong?" My voice was slightly trembling.

"Why did you plant such a perfectly good sapling in a washbasin?" Xiao Liu rolled her eyes at me. "The basin doesn't leak, won't it rot the roots?"

While he was talking, his restless hands kept fidgeting, pulling at Lei's hair and tugging at her arms; poor Lei's coat was almost completely ripped off. He even grabbed a few strands of her hair and started groping her face. Lei endured his harassment, her eyes welling up with tears. I couldn't stand it anymore, so I stopped his groping hands and put on the biggest, most obsequious smile I could muster. "Yes, yes, you're absolutely right. Good brother, can we start asking you something now?"

"This tree is perfectly fine, why spray it to death?" Even through the door, Xiao Liu's bewilderment was clearly audible. How could I bear to let Lei die? But... there was really no other way! Even if Lei possessed all the virtues in the world, I couldn't possibly sacrifice Feng Lei's life for a mere potted plant, could I?! Xiao Liu's mutterings gradually faded away; it was time for him to act. I closed my eyes, leaning weakly against the wall, wishing this unbearable river of time would flow quickly, ending this nightmarish moment instantly. Suddenly, without any warning, a piercing scream came from inside. The scream mercilessly shattered my eardrums.

"Tears..." I weakly murmured her name, as if that could erase all memories of her—her first cry from the earth, her first basking in the sun, the warm scent of that sunshine still lingering around me... Tears' screams continued, one after another; she was enduring unimaginable pain. "Tong Wei..." The cries grew weaker, turning into feeble groans. From those barely audible moans, I clearly heard my own name, "Tong Wei..."

I couldn't hold back any longer. I kicked the door open like a whirlwind, not even bothering to glance at the stunned Xiao Liu, and scooped up the trembling Lei. Her face was sallow, and her once vibrant cherry lips had turned a hideous purple from the poison. As I supported her delicate body, I noticed that her feet, the parts that had been in contact with the soil, were necrotic, and large, horrifying black patches were beginning to appear on her snow-white skin.

"Brother Wei, what's wrong with you?" Xiao Liu asked, looking bewildered. "Should we... should we still spray the herbicide?"

"Thank you so much," I said, never expecting to remain so calm. "You can go out now."

"Not spraying anymore? What if they're not completely dead?" That hateful little blockhead, still trying to spray weed killer on Lei, thankfully I snatched it away on the spot.

"Enough!" I practically spat out each word through gritted teeth, "I told you to get out!"

Tears lay limp in my arms, like a ball of cotton, utterly powerless. I gently wrapped my arms around her upper body, feeling her gradually cooling in my embrace. "Tears, I'm sorry..." My words were so inadequate that, in this moment of farewell, this was all I could say to her, "I'm sorry..."

Her withered, twig-like hand touched my cheek, icy cold. "Why apologize... I'll never forget how good Tong Wei was to me..."

"No way!" I pounded my head frantically. "I'm the one who made you like this! It's all my fault! If I hadn't had those unrealistic fantasies in the first place, none of this would have happened!"

"No..." she trembled as she grabbed my arm, "Don't hurt yourself, otherwise, tears will..." Her hand slowly slid to her chest, "It hurts so much here, much more than before..."

"As long as Tong Wei smiles, I feel comfortable and happy here;" she raised her sallow little face, her eyes clear as water, "I don't want Tong Wei to be sad. Even if I leave, I want to leave behind a smiling silhouette, okay?"

I took a deep breath, feeling the air was sweeter than ever before—pure oxygen purified by my tears. "Come on, Tears," I said to her, "tell me what you want to do most right now? I'll give you my life for it!"

"Would Tong Wei be happy if that were the case?" she asked me eagerly.

"Okay! Go ahead and say it!"

Her eyes suddenly became ethereal and transparent, as light as in a dream. "I think..." she finally spoke, "What I want most is to be with Tong Wei, never to be separated from him for a moment."

“I want to walk hand in hand with Tong Wei on a sun-drenched path; my feet will tread on the fallen petals, leaving a fragrant footprint with each step, and behind us will be endless footprints… Is that alright?” She asked me with eager eyes.

“Of course.” I gave her a smile, then stood up and gently lifted her into the air, naturally taking the basin from her feet with me. Before she could react, I had already slammed the basin, which was still attached to her body, onto my left sneaker. I reached under her armpits and lifted her up from my arms, letting her lean limply against my shoulder. I shouted, “On your marks—get set, go!” My left foot carefully lifted the base of the tear, then, struggling to maintain my balance, I took a small step forward before gently placing my foot on the ground. Throughout this bouncing, the tear clung tightly to my neck, not daring to utter a sound, until we landed safely and I came to my senses.

"Are the tears really flowing?" she asked me repeatedly, hardly believing her own feelings.

"Of course!" I picked her up and spun her around. "Not only can she walk, but she can also dance! Miss Tears, would you like to have the honor of dancing with me?"

In the distance, the school radio station broadcast Anita Mui's "Woman Flower." I silently counted the beats; it was perfect for a slow waltz. So I repeated my request. Tears fell onto my shoulder, and she nodded repeatedly, desperately. Her emotions unknowingly ignited my passion as well.

Volume Two: The Beauty Bonsai of the Spider Lily and the Soul-Summoning Tree (Part 11) - Complete

"Woman Flower"

Swaying in the mortal world

Woman Flower

Swaying gently in the wind

If it were you

The fragrance of flowers is strong