The green Little Tree Spirit looked up at Su Mo, then ran off to one side. When it returned, it held a green leaf, which it gently offered to Su Mo.
There was a hint of reluctance in its eyes, as though this green leaf were its cherished possession.
It wanted to give this cherished possession to Su Mo as thanks.
Their fledgling Spirit Consciousness knew little, but they felt that Su Mo was a very kind, very gentle person... just like this Heart Tree.
Su Mo paused slightly at the little Tree Spirit's gesture, then turned to look at the other little Tree Spirits.
The other little Tree Spirits were also looking at Su Mo expectantly, waiting for him to accept the green leaf.
"All right, I'll take it." Su Mo nodded.
As he spoke, Su Mo gently took the green leaf from the little Tree Spirit's hand, then smiled mysteriously and hid it behind his back. When he brought his hands out again, there was an identical green leaf in each of them.
Before the little Tree Spirit's eyes, Su Mo tucked one of the green leaves into his sleeve, then handed the other one back.
"I'll accept one, then give you one back. How's that?"
The little Tree Spirit stared blankly at Su Mo's magic trick, then dazedly accepted the leaf he handed back, a smile of utter contentment on its round little face.
It never saw that the green leaf Su Mo had tucked into his sleeve had dissipated...
"I'm off. See you again if fate allows!" Su Mo rose with a smile, waved goodbye to the incomparably "ferocious" Tree Spirits, then continued farther inside with the Brush of All Living Beings.
In the Tree Spirits' eyes, that fluttering white-robed figure was so gentle and peaceful!