The Rich Cultivator-Chapter 269. Why are you two ---

The Bad Boy statue loomed over the group like a silent guardian of the eerie, desolate street. Its menacing posture and chipped stone features seemed to mock their predicament. Tyler White stood at the forefront, his sharp eyes scanning the materials in his hands. Behind him, Rabbit Kyla and Human Kyla prepared their gear, while Brolin paced impatiently.

"We’re running out of time, Tyler," Brolin muttered, his voice low but urgent. "Are you sure this is going to work?"

"Trust me," Tyler replied, pulling a few items from his storage device. He glanced at his watch, flipping through some documents.

"What are you looking at?" Brolin asked, his tone laced with doubt.

"I’ve only heard about this technique," Tyler admitted. "I’m reading the instructions to make sure I get it right."

"It’s over... everything’s over," Brolin groaned, throwing his hands in the air.

Ignoring him, Tyler placed a series of beakers, a portable heating unit, and oddly shaped tools on a makeshift table. His focus was unwavering, his movements precise.

Rabbit Kyla, her ears twitching, eyed him suspiciously. "Why do you even have those documents saved on your watch?"

Tyler glanced at her, unamused. "Why are you always so curious?"

"I’m curious too," Human Kyla added, smirking.

"Are all Kylas like cats?" Tyler muttered under his breath. Then, louder, he explained, "It’s study material from a friend. She asked me to download it and send it back. I forgot to delete it afterward."

"Oh, a girlfriend?" Human Kyla teased, her tone playful.

Tyler sighed, shaking his head. "More like a friend who might steal your girlfriend." His mind wandered briefly to Mathilda, who was always causing trouble in the most amusing ways.

"Heh. She sounds fun," Human Kyla said, a hint of sarcasm in her voice. "I wonder if she’s interested in me."

Tyler ignored her, choosing instead to focus on his task. He picked up a chunk of limestone, placed it on the table, and grabbed a mallet. With steady, rhythmic motions, he crushed the stone into a fine powder. The clinking sound of the mallet echoed through the tense atmosphere.

"Why does this smell weird?" Brolin asked, wrinkling his nose.

"It’s called science," Tyler replied with a smirk, not missing a beat. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm

He transferred the powdered limestone into a metal bowl and set it atop the portable heating unit. A controlled blue flame flickered beneath the bowl as the limestone began to decompose, releasing faint wisps of gas.

Once the quicklime was ready, Tyler carefully added water. The mixture hissed and steamed, a reaction that created a thick paste. He stirred briskly, then added sand from a nearby pile to form a sturdy plaster.

"Done," Tyler announced, stepping back with a trowel in hand. He glanced at the group. "Now let’s break this wall without making a scene."

Brolin crossed his arms, watching as Tyler approached the side of a decrepit building. Tyler spread the plaster into the cracks and gaps in the stonework, his movements deliberate. As the chemical reaction took hold, the structure groaned ominously. Fractures began to spider across the wall’s surface.

Tyler gave the wall a gentle knock. The weakened structure crumbled, the debris collapsing in a muffled heap that was barely louder than a whisper. Dust billowed in the air, settling quickly in the heavy Abyss fog.

"It works," Tyler said with a grin, grabbing Rabbit Kyla and Human Kyla by the arms. He pulled them back before gesturing for the others to follow.

Brolin stepped through the newly created opening, his axe drawn and ready. Rabbit Kyla hesitated for a moment, her nose twitching nervously. Human Kyla offered a reassuring nod, and the group pressed forward.

Inside, they found themselves in a vast, hollowed-out structure. The dim interior connected to the other street, where the Good Boy statue stood. Faint cracks of light seeped through gaps in the walls, casting eerie shadows.

Tyler raised a hand, signaling the group to stop. They all froze as the creak of a door echoed across the space.

One of the humanoid-shaped Undying Plants walked in casually, its movements unnervingly human-like.

"They can open doors?" Tyler muttered.

The group retreated as silently as possible, their breaths held. Tyler’s mind raced. If the plant detected them, it would alert the rest of its kind, and they’d be overwhelmed.

Once they were a safe distance away, Tyler waved his hand, and a surge of icy mana flowed through the air. Ice began to form rapidly, sealing the hole in the wall they had just created. The crystalline barrier shimmered faintly in the dim light, blending seamlessly with the surrounding debris.

"Back to the Bad Boy statue. Now what?" Brolin asked, his axe resting heavily on his shoulder. His frustration was evident as he surveyed the ominous figure towering over them.

"Wait for reinforcements?" Rabbit Kyla suggested, her ears twitching nervously.

Tyler shook his head, his sharp gaze fixed on the surrounding terrain. "Those Undying Plants are everywhere. They’ll find us before the camp even realizes we’re missing."

"How about we just break this creepy statue?" Brolin grumbled, his voice laced with impatience. "It’s giving me a bad feeling."

Tyler hesitated for a moment, glancing at the unsettling figure. Its shadow stretched unnaturally, as though the statue itself was alive. "Let’s do it," he agreed finally.

Rabbit Kyla clapped her hands. "Then let’s make another batch of plaster."

Unbeknownst to them, a small flower hidden in the rubble pulsed faintly, its petals glowing with an eerie green light. It had been observing their every move, and now it began emitting a steady radiance, as though summoning something.

---

The group worked quickly, repeating the process Tyler had taught them earlier. Powdered limestone, water, and sand combined to form the plaster they needed.

"I’ll do it this time!" Rabbit Kyla declared, grabbing the plaster bucket. Her enthusiasm was contagious as she dashed toward the statue.

But before she could get close, the ground erupted. Massive petals, as wide as shields, shot up from the earth and ensnared her in one swift motion.

"Brolin!" Rabbit Kyla cried out, her voice filled with panic. She locked eyes with him just as the petals began dragging her down.

Brolin roared, "Kylaaaa!" Without a second thought, he swung his axe at the ground where she had disappeared. But it was futile. The earth closed seamlessly, leaving no trace of Rabbit Kyla.

"Calm down, Brolin," Human Kyla said, her voice trembling. "We need to stay quiet, or we’ll attract—"

"How can I calm down?" Brolin shouted, his face red with fury. "You’ll only understand when one of those things eats you or Tyler!"

As if on cue, petals emerged around Tyler, wrapping around him like a constricting snake. His eyes widened in shock as he was yanked into the ground before anyone could react.

"I— I didn’t mean that literally," Brolin stammered, his anger giving way to disbelief. "That’s just... coincidence!"

He looked nervously at Human Kyla. "You’re next," he muttered, trying to keep his voice steady.

Nothing happened.

Brolin paced nervously, clutching his axe. "See? Nothing’s happening. I guess it’s just—"

Human Kyla froze, her fear palpable. Then, without warning, petals enveloped her too. She let out a scream as she was dragged underground, leaving Brolin alone.

"Oh, come on!" he shouted into the silence. "Next is me, right? Just get it over with already!"

But nothing happened.

The commotion caused by Brolin had attracted the attention of the Undying Plants. They poured into the area like a swarm, their humanoid forms moving with an unsettling grace. The ice wall Tyler had created earlier cracked, then shattered under the weight of their assault.

"Ahhh... Not this again.." He grumbled and took his axe.

Before he could swing his axe, the petals emerged again. This time, they wrapped around him, pulling him. Brolin didn’t struggle.

Moments later, some plants themselves began falling victim to the flower’s petals, disappearing one by one into the ground.

---

Tyler woke up with a groan, his body aching from the rough journey underground. He blinked, trying to adjust to the dim light filtering through the dense canopy of vines overhead. He was lying on a massive, pulsating leaf, its surface soft but strangely warm.

"Ahhh..." A faint sound caught his attention.

Tyler shot up, his heart pounding. He recognized the voices—it was Rabbit Kyla and Human Kyla.

"Where are you?" Tyler called out, his voice echoing in the cavernous space. He looked around, taking in his surroundings.

The underground chamber was enormous, its walls and ceiling completely covered in thick, glowing vines. The light they emitted bathed the area in a sickly green hue. Massive flowers dotted the space, their petals slowly opening and closing as though they were breathing.

Tyler spotted the others on similar giant leaves, suspended above a pit that seemed to descend endlessly. Rabbit Kyla struggled against the vines binding her arms and legs. Same for Human Kyla.

But They were both tied up in sexy poses. It almost made Tyler nose bleed. Another question popped in Tyler’s mind.

He also blurted out, "Why are you two naked?"