"Wu'er... your Uncle Er Ming... is... is so huge!"
Lin Rourou found her voice again and exclaimed in amazement.
Lin Qingzhu instinctively shrank further behind Lin Qing, showing only half her small face as she curiously yet fearfully studied the terrifying giant ape.
Lin Qing smiled.
He took Rou Rou's hand in one and put an arm around Qing Zhu's shoulders with the other.
"Don't be afraid. He's Wu'er's uncle. He won't hurt us," he said gently.
He led his two daughters onto Er Ming's broad palm as well.
Er Ming carefully held the four of them steady in his palm, then slowly raised them before his face.
His enormous eyes curiously examined Lin Wu'er in his palm.
His nostrils twitched slightly.
He seemed to be distinguishing her scent more carefully.
It really was Big Sister Xiao Wu's scent.
Yet it was somewhat different, as if... brighter and happier?
It was also mixed with another powerful, unfamiliar scent.
He could not figure it out.
He only found it incredibly strange.
"Er Ming."
Lin Qing's voice interrupted his observation.
"Da Ming should have told you everything about Wu'er, right? Take us to the Lake of Life first. Da Ming is still waiting."
Er Ming nodded.
Putting away his curiosity, he took massive strides toward the Lake of Life.
Because of Wu'er, his hostility toward Lin Qing had greatly diminished.
With the Titan Giant Ape clearing the way, the atmosphere of their journey was completely different.
There was no need to sneak around or conceal themselves.
Er Ming openly charged straight ahead.
Wherever he passed, the earth shook and the mountains trembled, while all beasts cowered.
Whether Thousand-Year Soul Beasts or Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts, all fled in panic upon sensing this kingly aura, hiding far away.
The three little girls sat safely and steadily in Er Ming's palm.
They could even look down on the forest scenery from above.
"Wu'er, your Uncle Er Ming is so impressive! Look, all those huge Soul Beasts ran away!"
Lin Rourou excitedly pointed below.
"Of course!"
Lin Wu'er puffed out her little chest, her face full of proud delight.
"Uncle Da Ming and Uncle Er Ming are both incredibly strong. With them around, nobody would dare bully me!"
Hearing the little bean in his palm praise him so bluntly,
Er Ming, who was hurrying along, awkwardly raised his other empty hand and scratched the back of his furry head.
A pleased rumble like muffled thunder rolled from his throat again.
The sight carried an amusingly adorable contrast.
Under the Titan Giant Ape's escort, which could practically be called VIP direct passage,
a journey that would normally require several days of cautious trekking ended in less than half a day.
The Emerald Lake, brimming with immense life force, came into view once more.
Having long sensed Er Ming's return and detected that familiar aura which had unsettled him, the Sky Azure Bull Python had already been waiting by the lakeshore.
His gaze immediately passed over Er Ming and locked onto the tiny figure in Er Ming's palm.
"Big Sister Xiao Wu?!"
Da Ming blurted out instinctively, unable to suppress the excitement in his voice.
But in the next moment, he realized something was wrong.
No, she was not Big Sister Xiao Wu.
Although her aura was extremely similar, sharing the same origin,
it was younger and livelier, mixed with another powerful bloodline aura and the rich vitality of a human child.
This was a human girl who possessed Big Sister Xiao Wu's bloodline!
Just as Da Ming was deeply shaken,
Lin Wu'er in the palm also saw the imposing figure of the Azure Bull-Headed Python Body by the lakeshore.
Her eyes lit up.
She immediately stood in Er Ming's palm and vigorously waved her little hand.
"Uncle Da Ming! I came to see you!"
Her clear, ringing voice carried from afar.
That cheerful call and affectionate form of address made the Sky Azure Bull Python's massive body tremble slightly.
Er Ming carefully set the four of them down on an open patch of ground by the lake.
The Sky Azure Bull Python slowly moved his colossal body, lowering his imposing azure bull head close to the little ones for a closer look.
"Wow!!! Such a huge bull head!!!"
Seeing him up close in his entirety, Lin Rourou could not help crying out in surprise again.
Lin Qingzhu was likewise intimidated by the enormous creature right before her and the naturally imposing aura he radiated.
She instinctively clutched Lin Qing's hand tightly.
"Rou Rou, Qing Zhu, don't be afraid. He's my Uncle Da Ming, a very, very nice uncle!"
The Sky Azure Bull Python shifted his gaze from Wu'er to Lin Qing.
"They are..."
"Like Wu'er, they are both my future daughters. It's just that their mom is not Xiao Wu."
Lin Qing answered calmly.
"..."
The Sky Azure Bull Python's enormous azure pupils gave Lin Qing a deep look.
His gaze moved between him and the three girls, complicated and unreadable.
This human's future life appeared far from ordinary.
He did not dwell on that matter.
Instead, he turned his attention back to Lin Wu'er.
His tone softened somewhat, though it still carried a solemn test.
"Human Lin Qing, may we... spend a moment alone with this child?"
They wished to investigate further, and perhaps ask some private questions among family.
Lin Qing nodded.
"Of course. Wu'er, go play with your two uncles for a while."
"Okay!"
Lin Wu'er happily agreed and ran toward Da Ming and Er Ming on her own initiative.
The Titan Giant Ape Er Ming immediately and carefully lifted Wu'er up again, then headed with his elder brother, the Sky Azure Bull Python, toward a quieter corner of the lakeside.
The combination of two colossal creatures and one delicate little child looked both strange and harmonious.
Lin Qing stayed where he was with the somewhat curious yet nervous Rou Rou and Qing Zhu.
He also took the chance to briefly explain some common knowledge about the Star Dou Great Forest and Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts.
About fifteen minutes later,
the enormous figures of Da Ming and Er Ming returned with that tiny figure.
The atmosphere had clearly changed.
As the Titan Giant Ape Er Ming looked at Lin Wu'er in his palm, the tenderness in his eyes nearly overflowed.
There was even a trace of envy and sourness at times.
Because Wu'er had spent most of her time talking to Uncle Da Ming.
It was all because he could not speak.
Meanwhile, the Sky Azure Bull Python's aura had completely calmed.
His initial scrutiny and wariness had transformed into an indescribably complicated acceptance and emotion.
Er Ming gently placed Lin Wu'er back beside Lin Qing.
The Sky Azure Bull Python lowered his bull head, his gaze settling on Lin Qing.
"Human, what you said... was correct."
His voice carried the weight of dust finally settling.
"She truly is Big Sister Xiao Wu's daughter. In human terms, she is our... Niece."
He had just asked Wu'er many details known only to Xiao Wu and the two brothers.
That had even included certain secrets of the Core Area of Star Dou Great Forest.
Wu'er had answered them all in her childish voice, yet with complete accuracy.
The information from the "future," along with the undeniable bloodline connection and affectionate attitude Wu'er displayed, had ultimately forced him to believe that unbelievable truth.
Beside him, the Titan Giant Ape Er Ming let out a low roar in agreement.
His gaze toward Wu'er had become even gentler than before, carrying the pride of looking upon one of his own.
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