Chapter 103: Charles''s Origins


    Maren had laid out his offer, presenting treasures that were impossible to refuse. Han Ming was utterly stunned.


    For a long time, Han Ming had been desperately seeking the core of the Mystic Ice Silkworm. However, the exact stage of the Mystic Ice Silkworm remained unclear, as no one dared to approach it.


    But it wasn''t hard to deduce. The lords of the five major territories of the Wild Ancient Forest were only at the fifth stage. It was likely that the Mystic Ice Silkworm, located in the outermost Wild Ice Plains, wouldn''t exceed their strength. It was probably a fourth-stage rare beast, at most a fifth-stage creature, albeit with unique abilities.


    Yet here was Maren, offering three treasures, one of which was a sixth-stage Wood Spirit Demon core.


    Damn it, if I had known how valuable the leaf from the Tree of Life was, I would have plucked a few from the remnants of the Tree of Life.


    But then he remembered it was impossible. The remnants of the Tree of Life had withered, and it was just a root, with no leaves.


    Maren''s extravagant offer made Han Ming wonder about Vivian''s true identity.


    Guger was clearly shaken by the three treasures Maren presented.


    However, when he heard that Maren wanted to exchange them for his leaf from the Tree of Life, his expression turned stern, and he firmly refused, "No!"


    Vivian, hearing Guger''s refusal, grew anxious and kept signaling Maren.


    Maren was also caught off guard and quickly said, "Brother, think carefully. Apart from the flying dragon''s claw, the other two treasures can significantly enhance your strength. If you miss this opportunity, you might regret it for life."


    Guger was equally troubled. He knew the value of these treasures, especially the latter two. The moment he saw them, he was tempted, thinking of any means to acquire them.


    "Thank you for your kind offer, Brother Maren. But the leaf from the Tree of Life... you know, thousands of years ago, the Tree of Life vanished from this world. Even the powerful elves and dragons searched for millennia without finding a trace. Not only that, but the Tree of Destruction also disappeared. This shocked the entire world. Now, it seems my leaf might be the only one left."


    Maren was puzzled, "I know all this, but brother, what use is the leaf to you? Although you''re a wood-type Battle King, the leaf isn''t suitable for you. It''s just a rare leaf; it can''t enhance your cultivation or be absorbed."


    Guger glanced at Charles and then said, "Brother, can we exchange for something else? I absolutely cannot part with the leaf. If it''s anything else, even my castle, I would gladly offer it."


    Seeing Guger''s unwavering resolve, Maren sighed, "Fine, perhaps it''s fate. Brother, we''ll stay another night. If you change your mind, I''m at your service."


    Guger''s hands fidgeted nervously. After a while, he said, "Brother, stay a couple of days. But the leaf is not for trade."


    The group had no choice but to accept.


    That evening, Guger had prepared a feast to welcome Maren and his companions, but the disappointing turn of events left no one in the mood for celebration.


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    Maren''s group followed a servant to their prepared guest rooms.


    In the middle of the night, Han Ming heard movement outside his door and quietly got up to investigate.


    Peeking through the door crack, he saw Charles tiptoeing down the long corridor towards Vivian''s room.


    Han Ming sensed something was amiss. Although he didn''t want to get involved, Charles''s pitiful fate tugged at his heartstrings. He couldn''t just ignore it, so he quietly followed Charles.


    Charles reached Vivian''s door, looked around, and Han Ming hid in the shadows, observing.


    Seeing no one in the corridor, Charles pressed his ear against the door, listening.


    "Charles, are you outside? Come in."


    Vivian''s voice came from inside.


    Charles, realizing he''d been discovered, awkwardly stuck out his tongue and entered.


    Han Ming followed, waiting for the door to close before mimicking Charles, quietly eavesdropping while holding his breath to conceal his presence.


    Inside the room, several bright lamps burned. Maren and Vivian sat facing each other, deep in discussion.


    Vivian gestured to a stool, indicating Charles should sit.


    Maren''s eyelids twitched slightly; he had sensed Han Ming''s presence but chose not to reveal it.


    "Brother, why are you up so late?"


    Vivian asked with concern, feeling Charles''s forehead to check for a fever.


    Charles smiled, "Sister, you don''t need to hide it from me. I know everything."


    Vivian, hearing this, panicked, "What do you know? Don''t talk nonsense, child."


    Charles chuckled, "I''ve known for a long time that I''m already dead. But since you didn''t say anything, I didn''t want to bring it up. I was afraid you''d worry. Recently, I''ve felt my time is near. I understand that you and Grandpa Maren came here to exchange for that leaf from the Tree of Life for me, right?"


    Vivian''s nose twitched, and she quickly turned her head to wipe away tears.


    She couldn''t bear it anymore. Charles, her younger brother, whom she had cared for meticulously since childhood, ensuring he never faced any hardship, was now doomed to be trapped in the Wild Ancient Forest, destined to become a black tree. This was an unbearable reality for her. It felt as if her heart was being sliced by a knife.


    Maren''s eyes also reddened. He called Charles over and affectionately stroked his head, "Little one, you know, Grandpa Maren has no children of his own. I''ve always treated you like my own grandson. I watched you grow up. Remember when you were a mischievous child, thinking you were a great mage? You sneaked off to a cliff to pick a beautiful white lotus for your sister''s birthday, but you fell and were trapped on a dead tree for three days and nights. Those three days were like the end of the world for your sister and me. We searched for you frantically, even turning Fera City upside down."


    Charles laughed, recalling, "I remember. The fear on your faces is unforgettable. And I did manage to give the white lotus to my sister, though I missed her birthday."


    Vivian cried even harder.


    Maren''s eyes grew redder as he continued, "As you grew older, you became even more mischievous, sneaking out every day to play. Knowing Grandpa Maren''s legs were bad, you believed some liar and sneaked out to find dragon bones to cure me. Silly child, dragon bones are not something we can easily find. Even in all the southeastern continents, such things are unheard of. That day, when you sneaked out without Grandpa Maren noticing, I was terrified. In the end, I went to the liar''s house, tied up his entire family, and hung them from Fera City''s gates, declaring they wouldn''t be freed until you were found."


    Charles chuckled, "Serves them right for lying to me. I just wanted to cure Grandpa Maren''s legs, but it was all for nothing."


    Maren finally couldn''t hold back, tears streaming down his wrinkled face as he gently caressed Charles''s cheek, "Grandpa Maren knows you''re a good, filial child. You''ve always been lively and cheerful, never fighting or holding grudges. Grandpa Maren loves you dearly. But then, your father fell gravely ill. His disease could only be cured by a ghost flower from the deepest part of the Wild Ancient Forest, in the terrifying Ghost Domain. Our royal family sent countless experts to find it, but none could enter. Even Grandpa Maren risked his life searching the Ghost Domain but found nothing. And you, little one, sneaked out again with a few royal guards, bravely entering the Wild Ancient Forest."


    At this point, Charles fell silent, tears streaming down his face as he whispered, "But I failed. Grandpa Maren, I know you hid it from me to spare my feelings, but I''ve known for a long time that I''m dead. I must have died in the Wild Ancient Forest, right? And I''ll be trapped here forever, unable to leave. Grandpa Maren, is Father... already..."


    Maren, tears in his eyes, nodded.


    Charles couldn''t hold back any longer, bursting into tears and sobbing in Vivian''s arms.


    Han Ming stood silently outside the door, his heart heavy with sorrow. He felt a bitter taste in his throat.


    He couldn''t help but feel a sense of injustice. Why? Why should such a pure and kind child endure such a tragic fate?