Turtle Dove

A flock of Turtle Dove flew in from afar and landed on the Hazel Tree. Cinderella wept under the Hazel Tree, her tears watering the Hazel Tree, which was left by Cinderella's birth mother. It was originally just a sapling, but with the watering of Cinderella's tears over the years, it grew into a large tree.

Lu Li squinted at the Hazel Tree and the Turtle Dove on it. The hint said that Cinderella had a good mother, and obviously the mother in the hint was not her Stepmother. As for Cinderella's biological mother, Lu Li could not get any information, only that she died when Cinderella was very young.

Perhaps it was time, perhaps the tears had been enough, or perhaps for some other reason, the Hazel Tree changed the moment the Turtle Dove arrived. Lu Li, now a semi-shadow creature, possessed a vision fundamentally different from that of humans. Coupled with his Eye of Reconnaissance skill, he discovered the Hazel Tree's strangeness:

[Hazel Tree]

[Category: Wraith Tree]

[Reason for formation: Originally a Sacrificial Spirit Tree symbolizing sharing and sincere emotions, it mutated due to the constant watering by the daughter's tears.]

[Special Abilities: (1) Illusion of Vanity: Able to realize some false fantasies, though they may disappear at any time; (2) Companion Spirit: The Witch's soul that originally resided and slept on it has changed, transforming into a vicious Companion Spirit.]

[Weakness: Aside from its special abilities, it's just a tree.]

[Comment: Resentment only breeds more resentment.]

[Turtle Dove]

[Category: Companion]

[Reason for formation: The soul residing in the Sacrificial Spirit Tree, after falling into a deep slumber, was watered daily by the daughter's tears, transforming into a vicious vengeful spirit.]

[Special Abilities: (1) Painful Bite: It often drinks tears containing pain and resentment, which gives it the power of pain. A peck from it can bring ten times the pain; (2) Curse of Resentment: Resentment brings only resentment. Their purpose is to vent Cinderella's resentment. Anyone targeted by them will lose their mind; (3)?.]

[Weakness: You could try using divine abilities to influence them?]

[Comment: This is a pitiful woman who was betrayed by her husband and then by her daughter.]

Seeing this, Lu Li roughly understood what was going on. Cinderella's mother must have been a Witch died for unknown reasons, and her soul resided in the Sacrificial Spirit Tree, attempting to transform herself into a special state.

But unexpectedly, the offerings were not for her daughter and husband, but for her daughter's tears of pain and resentment. This caused the soul inside to mutate along with the Hazel Tree, transforming into a vengeful spirit seeking only revenge.

Cinderella had cried and complained before, but she had never received a response. After crying, she desperately picked up the bowl and continued picking beans. She estimated that she would be picking beans until midnight. She had to finish picking beans quickly, otherwise, if she hadn't finished by the time her sisters returned from the ball, she would probably be beaten again.

This time was different. Dozens of Turtle Dove that had been perched on the Hazel Tree took flight and landed on the black ash. They pecked at the beans, picking them out one by one and putting them into the basin. In no time, all the beans had been picked out.

Cinderella watched all this in astonishment, her eyes lighting up. She carefully placed the selected beans down, then hurriedly knelt before the Hazel Tree, asking hopefully, "Was it Mother's help?"

"Mother, you have terrible taste in men. Father married my Stepmother immediately after you died, which shows how awful that man is. You have no idea how much I've suffered all these years. My Stepmother bullies me, my two older sisters bully me, and even Father bullies me."

"But now I have a great opportunity: His Highness the Prince's ball. If I am chosen by Prince Highness and become his queen, I can escape this hellhole. So please, Mother, help me!"

"I want to look beautiful for the Prince's ball, please help me, Mother," Cinderella pleaded. Then she saw the Hazel Tree sway, and countless leaves fell, piling up to form a blue dress.

Cinderella quickly wiped her hands clean, picked up the blue dress, which seemed to shimmer and attract everyone's attention. Cinderella believed that as long as she washed herself clean and put on this dress, she would definitely attract the Prince's attention and become a true princess.

Cinderella carefully concealed the dress before returning to the Hazel Tree. Kneeling, she said, "Mother, the streets are so dirty that even the most beautiful dress will become filthy if I walk on them. I need a means of transportation so that I can arrive at the ball clean."

Upon hearing Cinderella's words, the Hazel Tree, filled with delusions, shook again. A large pumpkin placed under the eaves suddenly swelled up, transforming into a fairytale Pumpkin Carriage, and a mouse that was munching on the pumpkin was transformed into the coachman.

Cinderella was overjoyed. She quickly ran to wash herself and put on a blue dress. In the blue dress, she looked like a princess. She hurried to the carriage and was about to get on when she realized that she was still wearing a pair of tattered cloth shoes. How could she possibly attend the Prince's ball like this? So she quickly went to the Hazel Tree.

Cinderella carefully pulled up her blue dress before kneeling again before the Hazel Tree, her eyes filled with hope. "Mother," she said, "I'm going to the Prince's ball. I'm beautiful, and the Prince will surely choose me to dance with. But my shoes are tattered, and I'm sure people will look down on me. Please help me, Mother."

Upon hearing Cinderella's words, the Hazel Tree shook once more, dropping two branches that transformed into a pair of crystal Glass Slipper. These shoes were incredibly beautiful, as if they were the most enchanting treasures in the world.

Cinderella was overjoyed and quickly threw away her old cloth shoes, putting on the new Glass Slipper. Cinderella tried them on and found they fit her feet perfectly. Her clean, white feet, paired with the sparkling Glass Slipper, were sure to make the Prince fall head over heels for her.

Thinking this, Cinderella happily boarded the Pumpkin Carriage. As if she had escaped from hell, she urged the coachman to leave quickly and head straight for the Prince's castle to attend Prince ball.

After Cinderella left, Lu Li revealed himself and looked at the tattered cloth shoes. Although they were very worn, it was still possible to vaguely see that they must have been quite nice before. Lu Li sensed that there was still some magic left on them, so it was obvious who had given them to her.

As darkness fell, the Turtle Dove, after sunset, would coalesce into a beautiful woman draped in feathers, appearing before Lu Li's eyes.