Chương 396: Parents, Children, Grandparents, Grandchildren.

Liu Shu's roots continued advancing south at a constant pace. She was slowly taking over the large forest separating the <Blooming Aether Swamp> and the southern side of the continent on her side of the Wall Forest. Not only that, Liu Shu's roots had also started diving into the Wall Forest, taking over without a single pause.

"The Wall Forest doesn't have a controlling World Tree. It seems to be a completely natural forest that coincidentally grew to cut off the continent from side to side. Naturally, strong flora like Aurelise does exist inside. However, there are zero traces of a World Tree." While thinking of those matters, Liu Shu's family had gathered in the Golden Sap City's inner location. There, Verena, Branthis, Flor, Ignatia, and even Cinderielle's parents were looking ahead with confused faces.

Cinderielle's mother blinked twice and asked, her tone incredulous.

"Um… Can you repeat what you just said, Cinder?" Cinderielle coughed and spoke while pointing behind her at a rather large tree with a gorgeous dark orange trunk and fiery red leaves.

"Well, erm. Mom, Dad, I wanted to present your first grandchild to you. This is her." Verena and Branthis looked at Verdantia first and then moved their gaze toward the very similar tree with a gentle brown bark and lush verdant green leaves that shone like beautiful emeralds. Verena pointed at the tree and looked at her daughter incredulously.

"This beautiful tree…" Verdantia scratched her faintly blushing cheek and smiled shyly.

"Yes. My child." At the side, Harmonixia and Tempestria couldn't help but sigh in relief.

"Thankfully, my parents are not here." Tempestria laughed at Harmonixia's words.

"Well, that's true."

"Is it now? Why should it be a relieving experience? Do you mind telling me?" Flor's smiling voice reached them, making both Sylvans shudder for a second. Seeing the Flower Fairy floating mid-air, pointedly staring at them, almost pushed them to ask for forgiveness. Ignatia grabbed Flor and cuddled her in her soft embrace.

"There, there. Don't be too angry, love." Flor glared at Ignatia and spoke while pointing at the four Sylvans.

"They've defiled my baby! Didn't they say that they would take it easy!? Liu Shu is barely 23 years old!" Cinderielle complained, feeling wronged.

"We have not defiled Liu Shu! She is still a virgin tree!" Flor's eyes widened with disbelief.

"You dare tell me that after showing me a child between you two!?" Verena coughed.

"Flor, wait. There might be another explanation." Flor glared at the mature Sylvan.

"Explanation!? What other way is there between a Sylvan and a World Tree to have a child other than having intercourse between each other!?" Cinderielle's father spoke to Flor at this time.

"Lady Flor, I understand that you might feel that they've taken advantage of your child. However, could you listen to their explanation? If they had hurt Liu Shu in any shape or form, I don't think Lady World Tree would've stayed silent for several months after giving birth to these trees, no?" Flor looked at the old man, who was pushing 70, and controlled her growing temper. She sighed and looked at him with a serious expression.

"Look, it is not that I want to blame them. However, your children and I had a talk not long ago. Regardless, it's not like I wasn't going to let them explain. At the end of the day, Liu Shu can make decisions by herself. However, her innocence in this aspect is much more pronounced than you might think." Flor sighed, looked at the other parents, and the four Sylvans.

"Liu Shu is a World Tree. Liu Shu's age is between twenty and thirty years old. If we dared to make a conversion taking average lifespans of World Trees and humans, the comparative age for Liu Shu in human years would probably be enough to give the four Sylvans a death sentence!" Actually, no one could refute Flor's words. It was the truth. Then, if you added how many years Liu Shu had been sleeping, the numbers became even more dangerous. Verena coughed.

'I taught her to catch the being she likes in the future quickly, but this is a bit…' Flor looked at everyone and scratched her head.

"Don't misunderstand that I am unhappy. I mean, seeing these four pretty children is a very joyful moment. In truth, I'd rather not be angry on such a special day. However, what needs to be said can't be delayed. If I don't say anything, I'll meet Liu Shu's children first before my baby can even move her Avatar out of her Core Room." The only time Flor was able to see Liu Shu's avatar was during the corruption event. The quest at that time allowed Liu Shu to break through her limitations for the sake of saving her.

However, after the event ended, Liu Shu's ability to move outside her Core Room was also taken away from her. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings. Verena slapped Verdantia's arm and spoke sternly.

"Explain honestly and leave nothing behind. Even if it is embarrassing. Flor's words are logical." Looking at the four beautiful trees that reached around three meters tall, Verena added.

"Of course, since these pretty babies are here, you four need to take care of them. We will help you if you need it as well. Nevertheless, we need to hear the explanation before that." Verdantia looked at Cinderielle and commented.

"You were the first one, so you should explain how it developed to that extent, no? After all, the day I went, all the initiative was in Liu'er's hands." Cinderielle blushed and sighed. Then, she told the process from beginning to end, leaving a few intimate details and processes out.

"… Then, a week later, we received a package from Liu Shu with four potted plants and a note that said…." After explaining, Cinderielle saw the incredulous expressions of all the people gathered and sighed.

"We thought of not breaking it to all of you until they grew up for a while. That way, we could show that we can take care of them on our own and that you didn't need to worry about it." After Cinderielle stopped speaking, her mother approached and slapped her shoulder with a stern expression.

"Is your ego more important than the child!? What if something went wrong!? You should've told all of us the same day you got them so that we could take care of them together!" Verena glanced at Verdantia as well and added to her words.

"She is right. Regardless of whether you are capable of taking care of the children or not, the most important thing is that they grow up healthy. They are part of our family, and their safety goes above any ego or proof! This time, you made a big mistake, Verdantia. I want you, four children, to apologize to Ignatia, Flor, and Tree." Verdantia and the other three saw that Flor was looking at them with a serious expression, but there was no deep anger in her eyes.

The emotion was more like annoyance and helplessness. After looking at each other, they bowed to her.

"We are sorry. We should have informed you the day we received them. Our eagerness to prove our status and ability to be Liu Shu's lover took precedence over more important matters." Cinderielle added, her eyes serious.

"Even then, while we are sorry, these four children have grown up strong and healthy. I hope that you can separate our efforts and results from the what-if scenarios." Harmonixia finished off by saying.

"Our initial intention to develop them into tree houses won't change either. Even if you are Liu Shu's mother, that's what Liu Shu wanted, and what we chose was best for them. I hope you can trust our choice so that no conflicts appear when educating the babies." Flor looked at the four of them for a few seconds, her ruby-like eyes profound and swirling with unknown emotions. The four Sylvans were nervous, but their faces were solemn and their eyes straight.

After facing off for a few moments, Flor sighed and relaxed her shoulders. She flapped her wings and sat on Ignatia's shoulder.

"I understand. That was not my intention at all. What I wanted was for you to understand that, the next time that something similar happens, I want you to tell us. Liu Shu is quite innocent in this matter, and she is also very young for a World Tree. However, that doesn't mean that Liu Shu is a child. Her mental development is clearly enough for her to be considered an adult. She makes choices for many other important matters, and having children is not something extraordinary in comparison."

She added, her tone firm.

"Of course, it is not an unimportant matter. Don't take those words as me downplaying the importance of my grandchildren." Ignatia chuckled and commented.

"Flor and I have had many children as well. The way of reproduction for Liu Shu is also very similar to ours. Therefore, this entire city could be considered to be filled with our children and grandchildren." Ignatia smiled.

"We just want to make sure that all of them have a good chance at life and don't get bullied." The four Sylvans nodded seriously.

"We understand." Flor sighed and leaned on Ignatia's head while sitting on her shoulder.

"Anyway, now that everything has been expressed and everyone understands where we stand…" Her gaze turned toward the four babies, and she smiled.

"We need to make sure that we create an area for your future children. I think that we can expand outward from here. After all, they won't be the last child you four have." Flor asked, curious.

"So… When are you going to take that last step?" Tempestria's lips twitched.

"Um, Flor. Asking us when we plan to… well… to truly defile your child is quite uncomfortable to answer." Flor snorted.

"I know, but I asked it either way. I just want to have some mental preparation before you four appear one day with a little baby in your arms!" Verdantia coughed.

"How about we inform you when Liu Shu is pregnant instead? After that week, we've taught Liu Shu the importance of being conscious when having children, so if anything like that happens, she will inform us first." Verena pouted.

"You don't plan to get pregnant, girl? You should tell Liu Shu to impregnate you as well! I want to see my baby girl's stomach get big!" Verdantia blinked, confused.

"How? Liu Shu's avatar is completely female." Verena rolled her eyes and pointed at the gargantuan tree that covered the sky above them.

"Have you forgotten that your lover is [Her] and not the <Avatar>? The Avatar is a representation of her true self to ease communication!" Verena's face turned serious.

"I hope you four don't forget that and stop loving who Liu Shu truly is. Your lover is a World Tree, not a pretty human girl." The four of them felt their hearts skip a beat, and some muddledness disappeared from their minds. Tempestria answered with a firm voice, "We understand. Thank you for the reminder." Branthis spoke at this moment, curious.

"Is this why you never asked me to create something similar to an Avatar myself?" Verena hugged the small potted plant in her arms tightly and kissed its leaves.

"Naturally. My husband is you, a handsome plant with beautiful vines and gorgeous leaves. Nothing more than that, and nothing less than it."