Spirit Maple and the So-Called Truth

Xiao Xiao was the one he had brought.

He had also told his uncle that he believed in Xiao Xiao.

He wanted to be able to help his uncle.

But what was this supposed to mean now?

Had he given his uncle hope, only to disappoint him?

Xu Zizhen regretted it a little.

Perhaps he shouldn't have brought Xiao Xiao and the others here today on the off chance that something might happen.

Had he made his uncle sad again?

"It's right there in the tree."

Xiao Xiao didn't show the slightest reaction to Xu Zizhen's questioning tone.

He tilted his head back and met those white eyes.

So it was Maple Ghost.

The old spirit of the maple tree takes human form; it is also called Spirit Maple.

Long white hair hung between the maple tree's branches.

A few exquisite green maple leaves adorned it.

They looked as though they had been plucked straight from the tree.

Green and white made it seem all the more ethereal and otherworldly.

Xiao Xiao couldn't help reaching out to gently touch the strands of hair before him.

They felt smooth and cool, and carried a faint maple-leaf fragrance.

Everyone was following Xiao Xiao's gaze up toward the leaves, so for a moment, no one noticed his somewhat strange behavior.

Even though he knew there was nothing in the tree—he had just checked countless times.

But hearing how certain Xiao Xiao sounded, Xu Zizhen couldn't help looking up at the maple tree's canopy again.

Pale golden sunlight outlined the delicate shapes of the leaves, making them glimmer before his eyes.

But there was no one there.

Xu Zizhen looked at Xiao Xiao. "But—" There wasn't anyone there.

The rest of his words caught in