"...Forget it."
Celine gave up on the idea and returned the fruit to Zhang Xiu.
Even if she ate it, it would only give one person a longer life, and she would still grow old alone. What was the point of that?
Besides, this fruit had to be incredibly precious. If she ate it, how great a debt of gratitude would she have to repay?
"...Pretty impressive. Very few creatures can resist that longing." Zhang Xiu looked at the fruit in his palm, then ate it himself.
Since it had condensed from his own power, no branches sprouted from Zhang Xiu's body.
Yaoshi heard the regret in Celine's voice and wanted to say something. Unfortunately, she was only a branch at the moment, so she simply stretched onto the table and arranged herself into a line of words:
"I can grant everlasting life to you all."
This time, Celine's eyes lit up outright-not figuratively, but literally, like lamps casting beams through the dark surroundings.
Those words moved the Insect Girls around them as well. Only Naya remained quietly lost in thought.
As for Stelle? She wanted to eat some more insects and had left the table long ago, heading to the food storehouse under an Insect Girl's directions.
"Then what's the price?"
Naya was certain she could not resist this temptation, so she simply asked what they would have to pay. Her words also silenced the Insect Girls who had been discussing it.
At the mention of a price, the corners of Zhang Xiu's mouth curled up. He leaned back in his chair with an air of mystery and even ignited Black Flame to frame his features.
"Ah, the price. Of course, everything has a price..."
They held their breath and watched Zhang Xiu nervously. Even their biological fields grew