Chapter 48 (1/2)

Chapter 48 Carrier

“You are not intelligent? How could that be possible?” Owning seven different human brains and able to handle the conversation with Qing Shui in a wise way, no one would believe that the Willow was not intelligent.

“Nothing is impossible, I am not intelligent myself but am only possessing and utilizing these brains. In fact, the ability of organizing the language I am speaking with you comes from the signals of these brains. Hence, I, as a tree, am not intelligent.”

“But I thought if you can utilize these brains, it means you are intelligent too, aren’t you?” Qing Shui was still confused by the Willow’s words.

“It’s different, I am merely a carrier.” The hollow voice spoke again, “My consciousness was given by these brain; in some sense, I am more of a person who changed its body, but not a tree who grew brains! Because my thoughts and everything are generated by the seven brains, I myself, don’t have the ability of thinking.”

“I can even say this is a cross-species human evolution essentially, because I only possess human brains, but the thoughts and ideas were all produced by them, not me. I am simply a provider of a stronger body and a bond of connecting these brains.”

“I have learned that in science fictions, humans are planning to relocate their brain into an artificial body when the technology becomes advanced enough to do so, so that human can live longer. Right now, even though I am a willow tree, I am like the artificial machine that humans have been aspiring for. The ability I gained from the mutation was absorption and possession, it was a coincident that I was able to acquire a human brain. But what am I really? I am still a willow tree.”

“It sounds reasonable.” Qing Shui pondered over the Willow’s statement, “But in the end, you are still different from machines as you are constantly evolving; right now you are already aware of your own existence, I dare to say you are only steps away from having your own intelligence. By the time it comes, you are not limited to possessing human brain but will truly exploit their intelligence and make them your own.”

“I am curious about what kind of world will be created by an organism like you that aggregates intelligence of all mankind.”

“You will see that day coming…” The last word of the Willow sounded determined but with hesitation. It chuckled for a few seconds and its figure began to disappear. The shadow on the top of Qing Shui’s head was getting smaller and smaller, and the warmth of the sun sprinkled on Qing Shui again.

“Where are you going?” In the very end, Qing Shui shouted to the vanis.h.i.+ng figure.

“To the south. I am biding my time. I’ll come back when I am able to think as an individual.” As the Willow said, the shadow completely became invisible, the world returned to bright red.

Gazing at where the Willow left, Qing Shui didn’t make a sound for a very long time.

“Mr. Li, Mr. Li…” Qing Shui did not recover until Jing grabbed on his s.h.i.+rt.

“Mr. Li, let go of the Willow, we still have to find formalin.” Jing didn’t consider too much about the Willow, her world was simple and she had someone and something more important to think about compared to the existence of the Willow.

“Chang and the others are still waiting for us, if we go back late, that bullfrog will expire and we’ll starve again.”

“Right…right! You are right.” After Qing Shui was interrupted by Jing, he grinned to himself mockingly, he looked down to the ground again “I can’t even guarantee my own safety now, why would I think of those problems?” He again glanced at the direction where the Willow disappeared and carried Jing on his back “Let’s go for the formalin!”

“Now that the Willow is gone, we can take advantage of its power; it is certain that there are no other dangerous organisms around us now.” The courtyard was as peaceful as it had been; they found the chemical storage room, and they didn’t run into other dangers as they expected.

In the room, Qing Shui easily found the pungent chemical solution he wanted – formalin.

After confirming the tags on the plastic bucket, Qing Shui picked up two units without hesitation, he also grabbed some small packages of medication just in case. Then the two walked as fast as they could to go back to Chang.