The Vine is Sentient

The plant's dark purple tendrils were as thick as thumbs, and they swayed in the air menacingly. It even whipped both the guardsmen, seemingly trying to show its power.

Su Ye's lips twitched, and she turned towards the plant she raised. "That's your doing?"

Meanwhile, the flower bud that had been angry just a moment ago was now shaking itself. It even extended two dark purple leaves, flipping them to signal that it was indeed responsible for it.

Su Ye reached out to pet the flower bud, and begrudgingly said, "Let them go."

The flower bud was unhappy about that, however, and turned away. Then, as if to further display its might, it threw the trio into the air with its tendrils.

Xiao Xing was so scared that she fainted immediately.

Su Ye could tell that the flower bud was bent on toying with them until they died. Hence, she reached out and smacked it softly, then said calmly, "Let them go."

The flower bud did not expect Su Ye to hit it. Flying into a rage, it threw itself at Su Ye's waist.

Smack, smack, smack.

Each hit landed like a tiny fist, and Su Ye smiled exasperatedly. Could this plant actually be an animal beneath the soil? She clutched at the flower bud, stopping it from moving as she said gently, "Let them go. I'll give you something that's even more amusing."

The flower bud seemed to understand and finally relented, throwing the trio onto the pavement indifferently. It raised its flower bud expectantly, as if waiting for praise.

Su Ye reached out to touch the bud which had yet to bloom. After pondering for a while, she murmured, "Should I give you a name?"

The flower bud appeared interested, and waited there silently.

Su Ye stroked the dark flower bud. "Look at you, so pitch black—"

Before she could finish, the flower bud became upset and started hitting her again.

Su Ye had to close her eyes from the glaring sunlight just then. Switching gears, she declared, "Golden Crow—that will be your name. It means you're as bright as the sun in the sky."

The flower bud clearly understood that, and appeared rather satisfied with its name.

Still, Su Ye found the name a mouthful, and changed it to 'Goldie' right after. "Goldie, stay here and take care of yourself. I'll bring you something fun soon."

Once it heard that, Golden Crow accepted the nickname Su Ye gave it.

With that, Su Ye led Xiao Xing and the two guards away from the garden. Around five minutes later, Su Ye returned with one of her guards and a wolfdog, which she let loose in the garden. It barked viciously at the flower bud, "Bow-wow-wow!"

Dog and plant started fighting in less than ten minutes.

Her lips twitching, Su Ye dragged the dog away and tied it to a pillar near the shed. She then carried a bucket of water into the garden, watering Goldie first before putting it in front of the wolfdog. With that settled, she told Goldie, "I'll be quite busy for now and don't have much time—play with it for the time being." Remembering Xiao Xing's tragic accident, she added warningly, "Don't bury that dog beneath the soil."

As a matter of fact, Su Ye's thought process in bringing in a dog was actually very simple: Didn't dogs like playing with balls? Since Golden Crow had nowhere to settle its three tendrils, was it not fitting to let the dog play with it? After giving her instructions, Su Ye glanced at Goldie, which had retreated beneath the soil.

What actually was this contract she had made?