Chapter 63: The Mother Tree

Chapter 63: The Mother Tree

"No, no, no!"

Ji Jing shook his head like a rattle drum. If Doma had just confessed his feelings, he could have simply refused.

But he couldn't bear the heavy responsibility of deciding Doma's gender. Ji Jing didn't want to ruin Doma's life because of himself.

"Your gender is your decision, not mine. My opinion doesn't matter at all, no... I don't have any opinion."

Ji Jing was afraid that Doma might act impulsively and earnestly comforted him, "Doma, you're still young and haven't seen the world outside. Your feelings for me might just be a passing fancy. Such feelings aren't enough to last a lifetime. Don't change your mind because of me. Follow your heart and decide your future path."

Doma replied calmly, "But I'm already a hundred years old. If I were human, I could be your parents' age. Don't treat me like a child."

Ji Jing: "Ah, well..."

He couldn't do anything about the age difference between their races.

However—

"You see, we have a significant age gap, and our races are completely different. Humans live for about two hundred years on average, while elves can live for nearly a thousand. If we were together, aside from the racial differences, the age gap would also be an issue. By the time I pass away, you'll still be young. You can't spend hundreds of years alone, can you?"

Doma shook his head, "I've thought about this, and I don't care."

I care, though!

But before Ji Jing could speak, Doma covered his mouth with his hand.

"Don't rush to reject me!" Doma said. "You can take some time to think about it. After all, we've only known each other for a short while, and you don't know me well enough yet."

"I'll wait for your answer, okay?" Doma finished, then suddenly leaned in close to Ji Jing.

He didn't kiss Ji Jing directly but kissed his own hand instead.

But that incredibly beautiful face still gave Ji Jing a stunning visual impact.

It wasn't until Doma left that Ji Jing, holding his pounding heart, muttered, "Ouch, I've met my match."

What Ji Jing didn't know was that after leaving the room, Doma didn't leave immediately but went to the shaman who was drying herbs in the courtyard.

"Chief?" The shaman looked at Doma, her eyes full of affection for the child she had watched grow up.

But Doma's expression was cold, "Shaman, don't say what shouldn't be said."

The shaman opened her mouth in surprise, "But—"

"No buts," Doma interrupted her coldly. "Regarding Ji Jing, only you and I should know. I don't want anyone else to find out, including Ji Jing himself."

The shaman was taken aback by Doma's attitude but, seeing his icy gaze, had no choice but to comply, "Understood, Chief."

Over the next three days, Ji Jing felt like an NPC with a leg injury who couldn't run fast. He was constantly being charmed by Long Su and Doma.

Ji Jing was almost starting to see a pattern: whenever Long Su came to visit, Doma would show up within half an hour.

Both of them looked at him with bright, hopeful eyes, and Ji Jing really wanted to say: "I don't have any treasure chests or gold coins here!"

Fortunately, Doma's coming-of-age ceremony finally arrived.

Ji Jing's leg had healed well, though his left leg still couldn't bear much weight. He no longer needed a cane, but he limped, placing more weight on his right leg, which made him look a bit comical.

On the day of the ceremony, Long Su helped Ji Jing to the Elf Mother Tree, while Doma, as the main participant, had to temporarily give up his chance to impress Ji Jing.

But it didn't matter.

Because during the ceremony, Ji Jing would enter the shade of the Mother Tree with Doma, while Long Su, as a guest from the dragon clan, could only watch from outside.

The Elf Mother Tree was different from what Ji Jing had imagined. It wasn't towering into the clouds, and its canopy wasn't infinitely vast.

From a distance, it looked more like a cluster of layered mushroom caps.

The most unique feature was the countless clear, luminescent veins visible on the Mother Tree, with occasional flashes of light passing through them, making it seem more like a sci-fi creation than something from the real world.

When Ji Jing saw the Mother Tree in person, he understood why it was considered a treasure by the elves.

In front of the Mother Tree, a unique elven array had been drawn, and Doma, dressed in ceremonial attire, stood at its center. Several elderly elders stood around, their eyes closed as they prayed for Doma.

They prayed for the Mother Tree to bless Doma and for Doma to lead the elves to a brighter future.

Suddenly, a mushroom-shaped tree canopy split open, and Doma turned to look at Ji Jing, extending his hand.

Ji Jing didn't refuse, placing his hand in Doma's and following him through the opening into the tree canopy.

As they entered the shade, the opening behind them closed, and Ji Jing was once again amazed by the sight before him.

The space inside the tree canopy resembled a domed mushroom house. The leaves forming the "roof" and the grass forming the "floor" glowed with a soft, white light, bright but not blinding.

What struck Ji Jing most was the warm, soothing sensation surrounding him, as if he were soaking in a hot spring. The pain in his leg disappeared, and even his lack of appetite and discomfort vanished.

His body suddenly felt full of energy.

Ji Jing couldn't help but exclaim, "So amazing!"

Doma smiled in response, "Yes! Our Mother Tree is itself a miracle!"

A luminous vine descended from above, landing in front of Doma. He clasped the tip of the vine with both hands, pressing it to his forehead and closing his eyes to pray silently.

Ji Jing really wanted to capture this moment with his optical brain and use it as a screensaver, it was so beautiful and captivating.

But the elves didn't allow photography of the Mother Tree, so Ji Jing restrained himself.

At that moment, another luminous vine descended and landed in front of Ji Jing.

Ji Jing was taken aback at first, but then he followed Doma’s example, cupping the tip of the vine with both hands and pressing it against his forehead.

"Mother Tree, Mother Tree, can you protect the other soul within me?" Ji Jing closed his eyes and silently prayed in his heart.

He waited for a few seconds, feeling no unusual sensations.

Ji Jing then cautiously opened one eye to glance at Doma beside him, who was still in the posture of closed-eyed prayer. He had no choice but to close his eyes again.

But Ji Jing had no other requests, so he could only repeat his question over and over, hoping that after dozens of repetitions, the Mother Tree might hear him.

Then, perhaps his prayers really did work, a strange scene suddenly appeared in his mind—

On a stone-built altar, a figure dressed in ceremonial robes was waving a staff, surrounded by a group of people dancing in a ritualistic manner.

The most peculiar thing about the entire scene was these "people." They were completely transparent, like water beings, and if not for their movements and occasional light changes, they would hardly be noticeable.

Author's Note:

Mother Tree: Stop chanting, stop chanting, I’m getting a headache, really.

Thank you to “Yue Yue,” “27066309,” “Chang Xiao Yizhi Hua,” and “You You Qianqian” for your support. Thanks, my loves~