Ascension of the Sylvan Cosmos.

Chapter 332. Lakeborn’s Wisdom.

Everyone looked around them with shocked expressions. While the news about what happened in the Golden Sap Province was relatively widespread, most people thought that the World Tree that managed such feats would take a while to expand beyond certain borders. Those borders were the Dark Aether Swamp and the Wall Forest. According to many informants, it was clear that the Dark Aether Swamp and World Tree Tianlian Liu Shu were in a constant war for expansion. The sight of trees and other flora being killed at the border by Liu Shu was plentiful enough to reach such a conclusion.

And yet, no one had noticed anything similar on the Wall Forest’s borders. With such a striking difference in attitude, it was normal for most people to reach the same conclusion. Liu Shu had not started her advances toward the Wall Forest. But everyone was wrong. The boss of the caravan looked around and mumbled. “Impossible… How could you be so far into the Wall Forest already?”

Liu Shu giggled and answered honestly. “The Wall Forest doesn’t reject me like the Dark Aether Swamp does. But that’s not important, I’ve come to talk with you for another reason. Could you hear my demand?”

The man’s expression turned serious, and he quickly went down to one knee. “It would be my honor to serve you, Lady Liu Shu! Thanks to you, our business has bloomed like the most beautiful flower. Hence, we owe all we have to your presence and help.”

It was a few years ago, but the boss of this caravan was about to lose everything due to debt. His carriages, wagons, and stable were on the verge of being sold due to the lack of movement between Fortuna City and the other side of the Wall Forest. Yet, when all hope was lost, and the man resigned himself to stop doing what he loved, news about Liu Shu spread far and wide. The result was an increase in natural people flow, which led to abundant profits. He boosted his caravan’s reputation and became one of the most popular, used by many top-ranked Explorers and Crafters to travel this section of the Wall Forest. 

While Liu Shu didn’t know all of this, she could feel the sincerity in his words. ‘Hm… I am unsure on how I helped this person, since I have no memory. But, well, he doesn’t seem to have wrong or evil intentions. I should accept his words.’

“I understand, wolfkin. I am searching for traces of Life Trees in the nearby area. However, I have neither maps nor knowledge of this forest. It seems that no one has it mapped, and hence, it’s still terribly difficult to pinpoint landmarks.”

“Life Trees…” The wolfkin pondered, his eyes flashing with hesitation. He wanted to ask why she wanted to search for them, but doing so felt disrespectful. 

Liu Shu looked at him closely, noticing his hesitation. “Hm… It doesn't matter if you can’t tell me about it. Go about your business.” She sighed and left them alone. Honestly, she wouldn't have tried to bring out the matter if she hadn’t felt slightly rushed to build the new temple and complete the quest and temple. 

Interacting with those living in her domain was something Liu Shu avoided as much as she could. 

Sensing that Liu Shu’s presence was about to retreat, the wolfkin rushed to speak up. “Wait!”

Liu Shu paused and looked at him. “Is there anything wrong?”

The wolfkin sighed and spoke with difficulty. “I do know the existence of a Life Tree around fifteen kilometers from here. However, it is one that has saved my life in the past. Could I learn what it is that you want from it?”

“Aren’t you afraid that I would lie about my intentions if they were nefarious? I believe that not hiding the intent to harm the Life Tree after your words would be rather easy.”

The man spoke firmly. “I trust that Lady World Tree will be as straightforward as nature!”

Liu Shu’s mind flashed with that woman that had been lingering in her mind, and her tone subconsciously became slightly cold. “You know nothing about Nature. A facade of beauty hiding countless conflicts and vast suffering. Aren’t a bunch of insects below your feet currently fighting a war? Aren’t the birds in their nest losing their children to other predators? Aren’t both carnivores and herbivores feeding off nature to survive?”

The man was unwavering. “Yet, the cycle remains strong and unending. Regardless of the chaos, catastrophe, or the many vortexes of conflict, Nature still remains the most powerful influence in the World.”

The relatively young World Tree looked at the man for a few seconds, her gaze complicated. “Your thinking is noble yet naive. Nature is ruthless and cruel… myself included.” Seeing the man’s smiling face, Liu Shu sighed and commented. “What I want from the Life Tree are a few of their branches. I need them for something very important.”

“I see. If that’s the case, I don’t think giving you the location will be much of a problem. You need to search the area around twenty kilometers in that direction.” Liu Shu noticed him pointed toward the northwest area and hummed. “I am sure that you’ll be able to converse with it and reach a conclusion quickly, Lady Liu Shu.”

Our World Tree looked at him in a slightly complicated manner and stretched one of her roots. The wolfkin was confused until Liu Shu spoke up. “Take a jar. I’ll fill it with a bit of my sap. My sap has very strong healing properties. Take it as a thank you from me.”

The wolfkin quickly scrambled to search for a rather large jar and placed it under the root. Then, the root opened up, revealing the gorgeous glowing blue sap hiding underneath. The tempting scent and appearance made many gulp in awe. After filling the jar entirely, Liu Shu didn’t say anything more and hid all of her roots underneath.

Her thoughts were slightly messy at the moment. She was still asking herself why she chose not to act back then, why she left Fiera to die. Yet, while there was guilt inside of her, it was not as prominent as expected. 

‘It is too easy to be indifferent about life compared to caring about it.’

She didn’t want to become a noble being. Neither did she want to be the salvation of those who suffered. Yet, deep inside her, she felt a duty to at least fight unnatural or unjust deaths. Wasn’t that why she kept watch in the cities and towns she dominated? Wasn’t the reason for punishing those who committed crimes to make my population happier? 

‘If that’s the case… why did my nature as a World Tree fight against me acting? Was it because I would feel burdened by everyone’s sins and troubles once I became altruistic once?’

Liu Shu’s intelligence was far from stupidity. She could considered someone who thought very profoundly about the things she wanted to do. Yet, even that type of intelligence seemed unable to fight her instincts sometimes. 

Since the day Fiera died, Liu Shu had felt even more tied down when dealing with outside matters. ‘If I didn’t save Fiera, why should I save these people?’

A strange logic that felt reasonable but was faulty in nature filled her mind. Far from perfect, Liu Shu’s responsibilities were growing at blinding speed. Her responsibilities went from herself, to a few Rose Fairies, to a small town and then to a city. Currently, an entire province fell under her canopy’s shadow, including other World Trees. The province's population was above a million individuals, not counting the ants underground or other monster populations. The level of responsibility was high and almost too much to bear for her relatively young mind.

Even at that very instant, Liu Shu could feel a few people doing evil across the province. 

Without anything to do, Liu Shu mulled about her actions. ‘Should I always interfere? Should I remain a spectator like nature? Should I only interfere when I notice about it? Should I…’ Liu Shu sighed in her mind. ‘What should I do?’

“Liu Shu.”

A myriad of voices echoed in her mindscape with a gentle tone. Liu Shu answered back, her tone restrained. “Lakeborn? Is there something wrong?”

“Yes,” Lakeborn commented and then spoke, a hint of a smile in her chorus of voices. “You are feeling distressed, and I can feel it. That’s quite a problem, don’t you think?”

“Huh?” Liu Shu was surprised. “What do you mean?”

Lakeborn Forest explained gently. “As the Lord of the domain, your emotions are able to affect your surroundings. Especially those deeply connected to you.”

“Ah.” Liu Shu sighed and nodded. “I see.”

Lakeborn Forest asked gently. “What’s the problem, Liu Shu? You can tell us.”

Liu Shu chuckled. “Don’t worry. I was thinking about my nature. It is strange how my mind conflicts with what I am supposed to be. A World Tree is supposed to be indifferent to the evils in their domain… and yet, the longer I live, the stronger I become… the more I can’t remain as indifferent as in the past.”

Lakeborn Forest looked closely at the roots of the World Tree that she was currently connecting with. They were full of vitality and strength. Below the strong surface, a torrent of energy flowed endlessly, fueling the gargantuan tree known as Tianlian Liu Shu. Her words were quite a surprise for Lakeborn Forest. As a relatively mature World Tree, Lakeborn felt that Liu Shu’s domain was not only beautiful but one full of happiness.

Not only that, everyone in Liu Shu’s domain felt the aura of the World Tree as warmth. A protective aura that covered the entire province and followed them wherever they went. The children played in the streets without worrying. The mothers and fathers laughed and felt relaxed, knowing that their progeny would have a bright future, the elderly felt revitalized and slowly passed down their knowledge to new seedlings. 

Lakeborn Forest had seen a lot of the World back when she was a World Tree. She had reached Level 62, spreading her roots well over a quarter of this entire Continent and deep into the ocean. However, while her roots spread, Lakeborn Remembered that the people didn’t truly change as much. Each World Tree she swallowed for her ascension was nothing but an obstacle, and the people left behind would all get used to the absence in just a few months or years. 

The day she fell, Lakeborn Forest strangely looked at her population. She remembered seeing several towns and cities that had sprouted in her domain collapse under the charge of the enemy. She heard the howls of anguish, she saw how evil intelligent beings could become during wartime. And yet, even when such atrocities were ocurring, Lakeborn never heard anyone calling for her help. 

She remembered that sense of emptiness well. That sense of alienation. Would the same happen if Tianlian Liu Shu fell? Lakeborn could answer with a definitive “no”. People would mourn her death, those under Liu Shu’s gentle canopy would feel like their shelter had been cut down.

And yet, Lakeborn realized that the gentleness of this World Tree, who defended the grand majority of the population piously, felt inadequate. She felt like she did too little. Lakeborn Forest didn’t even know how to answer, how to console her. Hence, she spoke words that she felt deeply in her heart. “Liu Shu, when we fused with your domain, we felt a purpose other than trying to expand—a purpose to protect you and your purity. You might not be perfect, and you will never be as such. No one can. Yet we can say for sure that your core beats with the warmth of the sun and the gentleness of the moon. Whatever you are worried about, continue worrying. Continue thinking, and we believe that eventually, you’ll overcome it.”

Liu Shu listened to everything and felt a strange stuffiness in her heart, together with a wave of sweetness. “...I will try my best, Lakeborn.”

Lakeborn Forest’s myriad of voices reached Liu Shu, filled with confidence and certainty. “We know you will.”