Chapter 631 - 628: Smelling

Chapter 631: Chapter 628: Smelling

By now, Mo Ling was no longer as naive and clueless as he had been at the beginning.

This world of scents was a dangerous place; the Grass and Wood Fragrance had reminded him of that more than once.

Harmless scents were everywhere, but dangerous ones were also plentiful. They either hid themselves amongst other scents or gathered into enormous clouds of fragrance that one could stumble into if not careful.

But Mo Ling no longer wanted to stay swaddled and protected. This wasn’t an act of petulance; rather, he felt he ought to face this world alone and personally experience the scents he had never before encountered.

"If you want to go out, hold on to me. If you don’t, then shrink back."

The leader had given Mo Ling a choice, and after a moment of internal conflict, the Grass and Wood Fragrance also chose to let go.

Mo Ling didn’t hesitate, latching on to the fruity scent and slowly drifting out from the protection of the Grass and Wood Fragrance.

The surrounding scents grew clear once more. Although the fruity aroma and the Grass and Wood Fragrance still lingered around him, they could no longer interfere with his perception. The complex and chaotic scents of nature slowly enveloped Mo Ling.

"From now on, you must advance on your own..." The fruity scent lingered for a moment before slowly drifting away, leaving only a faint, residual fragrance.

As for the Grass and Wood Fragrance, it hovered reluctantly behind Mo Ling for a long time before finally growing fainter and fainter, choosing to let go.

"Take care..."

The usually steady Grass and Wood Fragrance’s fluctuations were now trembling slightly.

Mo Ling turned, wanting to bid farewell in his own way to this Guardian who had always protected him, but the Grass and Wood Fragrance had already drifted into the distance, leaving nothing behind.

Once it decided to let go, it never looked back.

The natural scents of the flower patch gradually took dominance. Mo Ling remained quietly within those natural fluctuations for a while before drifting into the distance, going with the flow...

Scents were like rivers. Different rivers would intertwine and mix, or they might fork and diverge. The direction of a river’s flow is fixed, its valley long since carved, but the flow of scents was complex and ever-changing, for the wind could carry them anywhere.

A Fragrance Bee could control the movement of scent molecules, even traveling upstream against the current. Although Mo Ling’s body was composed entirely of uncollapsed scent molecules, his ability to move was unaffected.

Aside from being unable to control his concentration to move faster, he could still roam freely through the surging currents of scent.

This was something he felt very fortunate about.

However, Mo Ling still chose the more effortless method: going with the flow.

This way, he could quickly find the place he was looking for...

The current of scents meandered through the flower patch before finally arriving at a nearby rock crevice. This crevice was the only gorge-like opening in the vicinity, so all the surrounding air currents converged there. Likewise, different types of scents also met at this spot.

Upon arriving, Mo Ling gently attached himself to the rock face.

This was the "dwelling" he had chosen for himself.

Fragrance Bees generally never leave the source of a scent. Those with a floral fragrance don’t leave the flower patch, and those with a fruity one don’t leave the fruit trees. This allows them to hunt more effectively.

But Mo Ling had no need to hunt. He couldn’t strengthen himself by consuming others, only through the self-replication of his scent molecules. He chose this rock face as his dwelling for a single reason—the scents here were abundant.

There were more than enough scents here for him to encounter. Depending on the weather and the time of day, the wind blowing through the crevice would change direction, allowing him to perceive scents from all around.

The wind would bring scents from afar, and the jumbled aromas would gather in the crevice, where Mo Ling could easily receive them.

’Perhaps one of these scents will be the one that lets me solidify.’

Mo Ling still hadn’t given up on solidifying. He firmly believed there was nothing wrong with his body; he just hadn’t found the right scent yet.

’As long as I keep encountering different scents, I might just find the right one... a stimulating aroma that can make these stubborn scent molecules collapse.’

Full of hopeful anticipation, Mo Ling pressed himself against the rock face and began to feel the gentle breezes passing through the crevice.

’Flowers, grass, fruit, soil...’

Countless scents caressed Mo Ling’s form. They came and went quickly, but for Mo Ling, who had long since memorized them, this posed no problem.

As he perceived these scents, Mo Ling found himself slowly becoming immersed.

He had never experienced the scents of nature in such detail before. He was usually snatched back into his protective swaddling before he could perceive much, so this was the first time he had spent so long within a current of scents.

Only by spending enough time could one feel the magic of nature.

As the breeze blew continuously, Mo Ling was astonished to find he could glean all sorts of information about the flower patch from its scents:

Where were the flowers? What kinds of flowers were there? Were there any companions among them?

The soil’s fertility, its moisture level, its specific composition...

Whether the fruit trees were ripe? The number, distribution, and size of the fruits...

Was it about to rain? What was the humidity in the air?

Previously, Mo Ling would have been unable to discern any of this information because he’d had too little time to move about freely.

To understand this information, one key factor was needed: change.

—The changes in scent over time.

Whether it was a change in concentration, purity, or the direction of the scent current.

Scents were not static. Only by perceiving their changes could one determine the specific state of things.

’The scent of rain is increasing. It must be about to rain soon...’

’The concentration of the fruit’s fragrance is rising, but suddenly it’s mixing with the smell of soil... and a hint of decay?’

’I see. A piece of fruit must have fallen to the ground.’

By sniffing out the scents, Mo Ling had managed to understand the entire situation of the flower patch in a short amount of time.

He became completely immersed, and a long time passed without him realizing.

It wasn’t until night fell and the breeze blowing through the rock crevice shifted direction that Mo Ling snapped out of his sensory trance.

’How interesting.’

Mo Ling had never imagined that getting to know the world through scent could be such a fascinating affair.

Perhaps because his body was made entirely of uncollapsed scent molecules, he was exceptionally sensitive to aromas. He could easily capture the most minute changes, making the entire world of scents exceptionally clear to him.

The wind in the crevice changed direction, and the scent molecules it carried were completely different. Before Mo Ling could even marvel at his realization, his attention was captured by scents he had never experienced before.

’Is this the outside world? The world beyond the crevice?’

The breeze blew through the crevice, and information from the outside world surged into Mo Ling’s mind like a tidal wave.

’The scent of water, very strong, and it’s gushing continuously. That must be a stream, right? Or maybe a waterfall?’

’The scent of some kind of fruit—very sweet. But something seems off about this smell. Is it toxic? Or hallucinogenic?’

’Why is there a scorched smell in the distance? Did something catch fire?’