"The greenwood"-8

Under the military doctor's direction and with Alan's assistance, the unconscious soldiers were rescued from the vine cocoons one by one. Their condition was slightly better than the thin military doctor's had been; at least, they showed no signs of being critically endangered, but all exhibited varying degrees of weakness and dehydration.

However, a strange detail soon caught everyone's attention.

Unlike the previous military doctor, whose face had been as white as a sheet, these newly rescued soldiers all had a… very abnormal, strange flush on their faces. It was as if a fire were burning inside them, or as if they were in some state of extreme excitement.

"Something's… not right."

After checking the pupils and pulse of one of the soldiers, the military doctor wiped the sweat from his forehead, stood up, his expression hesitant and grave.

"I think… before they wake up, we might need to… tie them up first?" he said, looking at Elara and Cassian, proposing this rather strange suggestion in a consultative tone.

"Why?" Seraph asked, confused.

The military doctor pushed up the glasses that had slipped down his nose due to sweat, frowning as he explained, "Their vital signs, like heart rate and blood pressure, are at an abnormally agitated level. Coupled with this unnatural flush on their faces… in my experience, these are symptoms that often appear after being injected with some kind of potent hallucinogenic drug."

He paused, his tone growing more serious. "If they are still in this strong hallucinatory state when they wake up, they could exhibit severe aggression, be unable to distinguish friend from foe, or even engage in self-harm. At that point, given their formidable physical conditioning as soldiers, it would be very difficult to handle if they lose control."

Hearing this, a chill went down everyone's spine.

In this treacherous, strange forest, it was indeed better to be overly cautious. If these soldiers really did lose control upon waking, it would undoubtedly be adding insult to injury for their already short-staffed team.

Zephyr had already subconsciously tightened his grip on the rope, ready to act at any moment.

However, as Elara looked at the strange flush on the soldiers' faces and recalled Jorah's state of being strongly drawn to the forest, a different theory began to form in her mind.

The corner of her mouth twitched slightly, and she sighed in resignation before explaining, "I think… this might not be the effect of a hallucinogen."

Her gaze swept over the surrounding gnarled, bizarrely shaped trees, her voice tinged with gravity and speculation. "This entire forest, including the vines that attacked us, those venomous worms, and even the force that Jorah felt drawn to… they all, most likely, originate from… a single 'mother tree'."

"A single tree?" the military doctor's eyes widened in disbelief. "That's… that's impossible. This forest covers an area of at least several kilometers. How could it be just one tree?"

Just as everyone was reeling in shock from Elara's astonishing theory, Alan, who had been unobtrusively crouching on the ground examining the severed ends of the vines, suddenly scratched his messy mop of curly hair and looked up.

Beneath his heavy goggles, his eyes, framed by enormous dark circles from chronic lack of sleep, blinked. In a slightly pedantic tone, he said hauntingly:

"Have you guys… ever heard of a banyan tree, the kind that 'forms a forest from a single tree'?"

"Banyan trees, especially some ancient ones in tropical regions, have a very unique growth pattern." Alan adjusted his goggles, looking at the confused faces of the others, and began his popular science lecture. "They grow many aerial roots from their branches. These roots grow vertically downwards, and once they touch the soil, they rapidly thicken to form new trunks, which we call 'prop roots.' Over time, a single banyan tree can continuously expand outwards in this way, eventually forming a 'forest' that looks like many trees but is actually interconnected by its root system. This is what's known as 'a single tree forming a forest'."

He pointed to the seemingly independent trees around them, his tone laced with the excitement of discovering a new species. "If Miss Elara's theory is correct, then this forest we are in is very likely a 'banyan tree' that has undergone a super-mutation due to the apocalypse, or some similar plant. Every branch, every vine, even every leaf, could be a part of its body."

After hearing Alan's explanation, the military doctor's face turned even paler.

Elara spread her hands at him, her tone tinged with helplessness. "So, do you understand now? There is no absolutely safe place here to tie them up. If you tie them to a tree, you're essentially delivering them right to the 'mother tree's' mouth. Simply tying them up and leaving them in this clearing is equally dangerous. You just saw it yourself—this entire forest is alive."

The military doctor was rendered speechless by Elara's words. He glanced at the surrounding trees, which seemed to be faintly squirming in the shadows, and felt a chill shoot up from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

But he was, after all, a rigorously trained soldier. After a brief moment of fear, he quickly calmed down. He took a deep breath, accepted the handgun Zephyr handed him, and skillfully checked the magazine and safety.

"I understand," he said, gripping the gun tightly, his gaze firming once more. "Then… you guys go. Leave a communicator with me, and we'll stay in contact. I'll stay here, protect them, and protect myself. Don't worry."

"Are you sure you'll be okay on your own?" Elara was still a little worried. After all, besides the unconscious wounded, he was the only conscious combatant left here.

Her gaze swept over the team, finally landing on Vespera. After a moment of hesitation, she made a decision.

"Vespera, you stay here with this doctor uncle," Elara said, walking over to Vespera, crouching down, and looking into her eyes seriously. "Summon some nearby undead to guard this area, form a temporary perimeter. After all, if we're really going deep into the forest's core, this place… will probably be a relatively safe rear base."

Moreover, Elara had another consideration in mind. The final opponent they would face was likely that powerful "mother tree." In a battle primarily focused on plants, Vespera's ability to control the undead might be limited in its effectiveness. Bringing her deeper into the forest would only add unnecessary risk.

Upon hearing Elara's arrangement, although a flicker of desire to join the adventure crossed Vespera's eyes, she nodded vigorously and obediently.

She silently began to channel her powers. And this silent demeanor quickly made the perceptive military doctor notice something unusual.

Although the doctor's military instinct to obey orders prevented him from questioning why such a young-looking girl was being left with him, he soon realized that this girl… seemed unable to speak.

Just as a hint of confusion and sympathy arose in his heart, he saw Vespera awkwardly trying to communicate something to him with her hands.

The doctor was stunned for a moment, then seemed to understand. He also raised his hands and responded to Vespera with a set of standard, proficient military tactical hand signals!

Vespera's eyes instantly lit up! She hadn't expected this ordinary-looking doctor uncle to know sign language!

For a moment, one large hand and one small one began to move rapidly in the strange forest, like ninjas forming hand seals in an anime, carrying on a silent yet efficient conversation.

Although Elara couldn't understand what they were "saying," seeing the long-lost, happy smile on Vespera's face, she visibly relaxed.

With the rear secured, Elara, Cassian, Zephyr, Seraph, and the two "unofficial members," Alan and Jorah (still slung over Zephyr's shoulder), exchanged a look, their eyes filled with determination.

They turned simultaneously and began to walk towards the deepest part of the forest.

Having come this far, moving with stealthy caution no longer had any meaning.

Because every one of them knew with certainty—

This forest… had already noticed them.