Chapter 040 The Strange Elf Mother Tree
In front of a giant bald tree with an umbrella-shaped crown, a tiny fairy cub was floating. The cub's wings were glowing with a faint fluorescent light, flickering like a lost firefly.
"Good boy... come closer... come closer to me..."
That ethereal voice still echoed in Shu Li's ears, as intimate as his mother's whisper. He flew forward involuntarily, and when he was about to get close to the bark, he suddenly stopped.
An unpleasant smell rushed into Shu Li's nostrils. He shuddered, regained consciousness, and suddenly opened his eyes.
"ah?"
Shu Li stared blankly at the dark brown bark so close to him. He was startled and quickly stepped back. The stinky fishy smell then faded away.
He rubbed his poor little nose, looked around in confusion, and was shocked to find himself in the middle of the courtyard, with this ugly, almost bald elf mother tree.
It was quiet all around, without a sound, even insects were nowhere to be seen, it was dead silent.
Shu Li felt a little cold and couldn't help hugging her arms.
Strange, why is he here?
Is he sleepwalking?
Just now, there seemed to be a strange voice urging him, constantly calling "Come, come", as if calling a soul, and as a result... he appeared in the courtyard, facing the bald elf mother tree.
When he woke up, the voice disappeared.
Shu Li was confused.
Who is playing a prank on him, bringing him out and not showing up, acting mysteriously, what does he want to do to him?
I'm not afraid.
This is the Crystal Castle of the Elf Kingdom, which should be the safest place.
The only thing that puzzled him was, if he wanted to ask for help, could he use a more normal way?
"Hello, is anyone there?" he called out.
He was answered by silence.
"Who are you? What do you want from me?" he asked again.
Still no response.
Shu Li had no choice but to flap his wings and fly around the courtyard.
It must be said that the courtyard where the giant Elf Mother Tree could be planted was quite large, equivalent to half a playground. Except for the area near the tree's roots, the ground was paved with smooth stone slabs. The stone slabs were of different colors, forming an exquisite pattern. Looking down from above, it looked like a symmetrical magic circle.
The courtyard was clearly visible and no one could be hidden, so Shu Li could not see anything unusual.
He flew back to the Elf Mother Tree and looked up to see if the mischievous creature was hiding on a branch.
Unfortunately, however, this elf mother tree has distinct branches and sparse leaves. At a glance, there is no place to hide people, not even a bird's nest!
Up close, the Elf Mother Tree looked even more miserable. A large section of branches in the middle was bare, and the leaves were not much better, half-bare. The bark was like cracked earth after a long drought, patchy and uneven, as if it had been weathered and full of vicissitudes.
As I got closer, a foul smell hit my nose.
Shu Li quickly covered her nose to avoid being overwhelmed by the stench.
He was a little bit unbelievable.
If Elsa hadn't told him that this was the mother tree that gave birth to elves, he would have thought it was a sick tree that was about to wither.
In his hometown, diseased trees that cannot be saved must be uprooted and processed to their final use. For example, thick trunks and branches are cut down and planed to make various wooden tools.
However, the Elf Tree is the only hope of the elves, and it is impossible to deal with it in that way. There is no other way but to save it.
Shu Li felt more sympathetic. He endured the stench and slowly flew closer. He stretched out his little hand and touched the dry bark.
"You have to get better soon!" he said seriously.
The elf tree naturally did not respond.
Shu Li couldn't stand the stench any more and was about to go back to his room to continue sleeping when suddenly he felt a tingling sensation in his fingers.
"Ah——" He quickly withdrew his hand, frowned and stared at the elf tree.
Is the bark so rough?
I just pressed it with my hand and the skin was broken.
Looking down at his fingers covered in blood, Shu Li felt extremely distressed.
How precious is a drop of blood!
How much food would he have to eat to make up for it?
Moreover, the skin was broken and it hurt.
The cubs have delicate skin and they can't help crying when they fall, let alone when their skin is broken and bleeding.
Shu Li tried very hard to control her tear glands and not let herself cry, but the tears seemed to have a mind of their own and kept rolling around in her eyes.
Unable to hold it in any longer, Shu Li pulled the cloak from behind without thinking and wiped his face vigorously, making his eyes and nose red, looking so pitiful.
"Sperian, why are you here?"
A pleasant voice like the sound of nature sounded behind him, and Shu Li's body stiffened, and his pointed ears stood up.
It’s the Elf King!
He was just feeling lucky that there was no one in the courtyard and that it wasn't shameful to cry, but in less than a second, he was slapped in the face.
Seeing the little cub hunching its shoulders and looking frightened, the Elf King frowned slightly and stepped forward to check.
When Shu Li heard the approaching footsteps, he wiped his face hastily, let go of the cloak that was slightly wet, and tried to keep a normal state.
When the Elf King came to his side, he immediately raised his little face and saluted respectfully. "Good afternoon, King."
The Elf King nodded and looked at the cub carefully.
But his blond hair was disheveled, his eyes were slightly swollen, his eyelashes were wet, the tip of his nose was red, and there were still water stains on his cheeks that had not been wiped off, as if he had just cried.
"Good afternoon." The Elf King didn't point out the cub's embarrassment, which he tried hard to hide. He asked gently, "Why don't you take a nap?"
Shu Li breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the Elf King looked normal. He scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "That...hiss...hurts..."
He was so nervous that he forgot that his right index finger was injured. When he scratched his head and touched the wound, the pain made his tear ducts about to burst again.
"Injured?" The Elf King frowned, "Let me take a look."
Shu Li hesitated for a moment, then raised his right hand, revealing the small wound on his index finger. Although the bleeding had stopped, a thin red mark remained.
Sometimes the smaller the wound, the more painful it is, especially when the nerves at the fingertips are sensitive. After an injury, the pain is amplified and even more uncomfortable.
The cub's fingers were so small that the Elf King had to bend down and observe closely to see the scars on them clearly.
Shu Li was suspended in place, holding her breath, not daring to move, watching the flawless face approach her.
Fortunately, he overcame his megalophobia, otherwise he would be trembling with fear now.
The Elf King stretched out a finger, gently placed it on his injured little finger, chanted a short spell, and a soft light came on.
Soon, Shu Li's pain disappeared, replaced by a tingling and numb feeling.
When the light disappeared, the wound on his fingertip disappeared and his skin was intact.
Wow, as expected of the Elf King, he has mastered healing magic to perfection.
"Thank you, Wang!" Shu Li thanked him happily, her bright eyes full of admiration.
"You're welcome." The Elf King stood up and distanced himself from the little cub. "Go back to your room and sleep!"
"Hmm," Shu Li responded repeatedly, shaking the small hair on his head. Just as he was about to leave, something suddenly occurred to him. He pointed at the huge, bare tree and asked the Elf King hesitantly, "Um... is it sick?"
Otherwise, why would it be bald, ugly, and smelly, and have thorns on the bark that would prick your fingers if you touched it?
The Elf King looked up at the Elf Tree, a hint of sadness between his brows. "Yes, the Elf Mother Tree is sick."
Shu Li couldn't bear to see the beauty sad, so she flew to his side and comforted him, "I heard... I heard from Doxia that plant growth is basically affected by water, temperature, light, air, and nutrients. For example... if it's infested by pests, it can cause disease. As long as we find the source of the disease, we can definitely cure the mother tree."
The Elf King turned his head, looked at the little cub with clear eyes, and smiled: "You are right."
Shu Li lowered her head shyly.
Of course, those words were not said by Dosia, but came from the old biology textbook. He just read them word for word and could not offer any constructive suggestions.
"King, I... I'm going back to sleep." Shu Li politely saluted the Elf King again.
"Go!" replied the Elf King.
Shu Li flapped her wings and flew towards the window of the room.
Although he was half asleep before, he still had some memory that he flew to the courtyard through the crack of the window. Now it would be most convenient to return to the original place.
After flying halfway, he blinked and turned back.
The Elf King remained standing, his emerald green eyes softly looking at the little cub that flew back, and he asked softly, "What's wrong?"
Shu Li stopped half a meter away from him, clutching the corner of her cloak with both hands, and stammered, "King...can you...take back the green...green crown on my head?"
Normally, he could take the flower crown off and put it on freely, without much of a problem, but today it was throwing a tantrum, occupying his head and refusing to let him take it off. He was afraid that he would not be able to take it off in the future, which would prevent him from combing his hair and affect the growth of his head.
If as the body grows, the head is caught by the corolla and grows into a "gourd" shape, that would be too scary!
He doesn't want to be the ugliest goblin in the forest!
The hall was too crowded before, so he was embarrassed to ask the Elf King for help. Now that there was no one around, it was a rare opportunity, so he quickly sought help.
Of course, you should ask whoever put it on him to take it off.
The Elf King asked, "Don't you like it?"
Shu Li immediately shook her head. "No, no, I like it. It's just that it's too overbearing. It won't let me change the forehead ring, let alone take it off. It's stuck on my head and I can't take it off anymore."
The flower crown is a symbol of the Elf King's blessing. Any elves and fairies who see it can recognize who he is at a glance. It is like a business card that shows his identity.
Except for the green color, there are no other flaws.
But now, it was tightly clasped around his head, causing him considerable trouble.
It would be great if the Elf King took it back and helped him solve his troubles.
Shu Li tilted her little face upwards, her watery eyes gazing expectantly at the Elf King.
The Elf King raised his hand and stroked the little cub's head. In the blink of an eye, the domineering crown fell off.
Shu Li looked at the green corolla floating in the air in surprise, and rubbed his head to promote blood circulation.
To be honest, my head was numb after wearing it for most of the day.
"Thank you, Wang!" He was so happy that he almost danced with joy.
The little green crown floated in the air, eager to move, as if wanting to return to the cub's head, but was bound by the power of the Elf King, unable to move, and could only tremble continuously.
Shu Li glanced at Little Green Crown apologetically.
It's not that he doesn't want it, it's just that it's too overbearing.
Accessories should look like accessories. Isn’t it better for them to be worn by their owners as they choose?
The Elf King looked at the little cub, whose body was covered in rainbow bubbles, and laughed, "This flower crown contains a bit of my power. It can protect you from magic at a critical moment. Do you really not want it?"
"Ga!" Shu Li was stunned.
The flower crown is not an ordinary ornament. It is a symbol of the Elf King's blessing and a rare and precious thing.
The other world is so dangerous, and possessing a crown containing the power of the Elf King is like having an extra layer of protection.
If you don't, you will really suffer a loss.
If he wanted it, he was afraid it would get angry and he wouldn't be able to take it off its head.
Oh, what a contradiction!
The little cub frowned, sighed, and glanced at the green crown, hesitating.
The Elf King stretched out his right hand, sucked the corolla into his palm, chanted a spell, and a faint golden light emerged from his palm, wrapping the corolla.
Shu Li didn't know what the Elf King was going to do, and stared at his movements without blinking.
After a moment, the golden light disappeared, and the crown floating in the palm of the Elf King's hand completely changed its appearance, becoming an exquisite and beautiful yellow forehead ring inlaid with emeralds.
Shu Li's little mouth turned into an "O" shape.
The Elf King flicked his fingers, and the yellow forehead ring moved, returning impatiently to the little cub's head, fitting perfectly against the white and plump forehead, looking extremely beautiful.
"Well?"
Shu Li raised his hand and touched the yellow gold ring, and a question mark appeared in his head.
Can this thing transform?
The Elf King said, "I will teach you a spell, and from now on you can change its appearance at will."
Shu Li was excited.
A treasure that can change at will, you must have it!
"Okay!" He nodded heavily and quickly took out a notebook and a quill from his storage ring, his tender green eyes sparkling.
He was prepared and recorded Wang Nian's spells at any time to prevent him from forgetting them.
Elf King: ...
Shu Li waited for a long time, but still didn't hear the other party chanting the spell. He tilted his head and asked, "King?"
"Hmm~" The Elf King raised the corner of his mouth slightly, and with a stroke of his slender white fingers, a string of complex elven characters appeared in the air.
Shu Li was stunned, holding the feather pen in his right hand without moving.
I simply...can't understand it!
As a cub less than four months old, he had only learned fifty basic words. This long and twisted spell was like a heavenly book.
"Wang..." he said pitifully, "I...I can't read."
The Elf King whispered, "Aren't you going to take notes?"
"Uh, yes..." Shu Li was confused. It wasn't that he didn't want to take notes, but he couldn't even copy them!
If the basic words are small tadpoles with short tails, then these spells are large tadpoles with long tails. What's even more outrageous is that some of the tadpoles' tails are tangled together, so entangled that they are indistinguishable from each other.
Seeing the little cub's embarrassment, the Elf King moved his fingers, and the next second, Shu Li's hand holding the quill moved by itself.
That complex string of spells appeared on the notebook like a replica.
Shu Li was shocked.
What kind of magic is this?
So awesome!
The Elf King received the cub's admiring gaze and said with a smile, "I'll read a sentence, and you follow."
"Okay!" Shu Li held the notebook and nodded seriously.
Twenty minutes later, he learned the spell, and with the help of the Elf King, he tried to change the yellow gold ring into a silver hairpin, and then change the silver hairpin back into a yellow gold ring.
The domineering green corolla became the "Versatile Martin".
Shu Li put on the yellow forehead ring again, put away the notebook, waved to the Elf King, flew happily to the window, squeezed into the narrow gap, and pounced on the bed happily.
On the bed, Discio was sleeping in a spread-eagle position, kicking off the quilt.
Shu Li pulled the quilt over his belly to prevent him from catching a cold.
He lay down on the other side, yawning repeatedly, and fell asleep quickly as sleepiness overwhelmed him.
In the courtyard, the Elf King stood before the Mother Tree, quietly examining the bare branches.
After an unknown amount of time, the mother tree seemed unable to withstand the Elf King's devilish gaze and finally changed.
I saw a tiny, tender green leaf emerging from a thin branch.
The Elf King said calmly, "This won't happen again."
The branches and leaves of the mother tree trembled, and a few yellow leaves fell off.
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