Chapter Twenty: Adam of the Oak Tree

Around four in the afternoon, Ji Yu returned to his rented apartment, his face etched with exhaustion. This weariness was not physical, but mental. Ma Hongyu proved to be even less reliable than Ji Yu had imagined; many details of opening the shop truly required his personal confirmation.

For now, Ji Yu set aside the matters of the shop, leaned against the bed’s headboard, and began to handle affairs related to the oak tree. At that time, it was about three o'clock in the morning in the Bana Rainforest. According to Ji Yu’s gaming schedule, it was not yet time for him to enter the game. He had now set his gameplay hours for after midnight Federation time, since by then it was already daylight in the Bana Rainforest.

Moreover, since meditation now required photosynthesis, daytime was, of course, the most suitable. Opening the game’s log panel, Ji Yu noticed a prompt that had appeared earlier:

[The Oak’s Nature Spirit has been born.]

[Please confirm the true name of the Oak’s Nature Spirit. The true name solidifies the spirit’s sense of belonging, and will have other powerful associative effects when the oak ascends to higher lifeforms. It is recommended that the player give as long a true name as possible.]

[Please confirm the true name.]

Reading this entry, Ji Yu felt a bit puzzled for a moment.

“So the true name has other mysterious effects? I’d better take this seriously.”

“The longer the name, the better?”

“That’s simple enough!”

Ji Yu immediately opened his computer and began searching for random name generators online. Staring at the various common Western names produced, he deliberated for a long while.

Then, prompted by a sudden mischievous impulse, Ji Yu quickly decided on a name for the oak spirit.

“Adam Asterric Hawthorne Balzesa Floren...”

The full true name spanned thirty-six letters in the Federation tongue—not exactly short.

In truth, there was nothing strange about this name; Ji Yu’s little joke was only in the name Adam. After all, in the West, Adam was the first man in their mythology. Ji Yu chose Adam for the oak because it was the first oak in this world to possess self-awareness.

Ji Yu felt the name Adam was fitting—grand and dignified.

Having selected the name, he immediately opened the game panel and confirmed it.

[True name confirmed: Adam Asterric Hawthorne Balzesa Floren...]

[True name set. The Oak’s Nature Spirit awakens.]

As soon as the prompt for the oak spirit’s awakening appeared, Ji Yu instantly sensed in his mind a presence that shared an inexplicable connection with him. The bond was intense and perceptually strange—difficult to put into words.

Sitting on the bed with his eyes half-closed, Ji Yu curiously sent a tentative mental inquiry toward Adam.

“Adam?”

The moment he projected the thought, a voice replied in his mind.

“Father, I am here.”

The voice possessed a steady, resonant quality—reminiscent of a man in his forties.

Ji Yu was not at all flustered by this, but rather, his curiosity only deepened.

“Adam, how do you feel now? How much do you understand about this world?”

“I feel well. From the moment you created and awakened me, my understanding of this world was complete. If you have any instructions, please let me know directly.”

“I see.” Ji Yu pondered.

As Adam answered, Ji Yu could even sense his emotions—full of respect, longing, and a strong filial devotion. Clearly, Adam was not as calm inwardly as he sounded in speech.

Very good, and just as Ji Yu had hoped.

Having determined that Adam, the oak spirit, had no obvious flaws, Ji Yu responded:

“Very well. For now, you don’t have any tasks. Just continue to meditate and grow as quickly as you can.”

“And be cautious of potential dangers from the outside world. If you perceive anything harmful, act as you judge best, according to the urgency, and simply inform me afterward.”

Ji Yu made no effort to exert superiority; his tone was gentle, even a touch intimate. He had no sense of himself as a would-be deity.

“Understood, Father,” Adam replied, then fell silent.

At that moment, Ji Yu wasn’t sure what else to say. After all, this was his first time being a father—let alone to an oak tree.

What’s more, this oak’s mind was already mature; he couldn’t treat Adam as a child.

Should I maintain a bit of authority? Or keep things friendly? Like a conversation between adult father and son?

But recalling interactions with his own rural father, Ji Yu couldn’t help but feel a little bemused.

The reason was simple: his own father was an honest, taciturn man.

Even at home, the two of them rarely spoke.

This was the generation gap.

Somebody please help me—how am I supposed to deal with a newly acquainted, grown “child”?

In the end, Ji Yu gave up on small talk.

Instead, another question occurred to him, so he asked Adam again:

“By the way, Adam, in your view, what sort of being am I?”

When he posed the question, Adam did not respond immediately. Instead, Ji Yu sensed a surge of emotion—nervousness.

Adam was very anxious now.

Ji Yu was baffled. I just asked a simple question. Is this worth getting so nervous about?

What happened to that mature composure?

Nevertheless, Ji Yu did not comfort or hurry him.

After a while, Adam finally spoke.

“Kind, wise, sagacious, compassionate toward all living things… Based on the miracles you are creating in this world and the blessings you bestow, in my heart, Father, you are the embodiment of all power and benevolence.”

“Forgive me—these are the only words I can find to describe your greatness, but there is no doubt, Father, that you are the sole guiding light in my world.”

Well, damn!

For the first time in his life, Ji Yu blushed.

Truly.

Few people could deliver such direct praise with such earnestness as Adam did. His tone was entirely sincere, and Ji Yu felt a touch of shame.

Kind? Wise? Sagacious? Compassionate? The light of the world?

Since when was I so magnificent?

So this is how Adam sees me?

I suppose I’d better not let his expectations down.

Mulling over Adam’s words, Ji Yu stroked his chin, a look of satisfaction spreading across his face.

There was nothing to be done—he shared the universal human trait of basking in flattery. After all, who doesn’t like to hear nice things said about themselves?