The eight little humanoid ginseng creatures stared at the three visiting guests with their pretty, darting eyes and began chattering away.
Stone Mama rolled back and forth on the tree, declaring breezily in Spirit Language, "Hello, youngsters!"
"I'm Stone Mama, a staff member of the Multiverse Civilization Expedition Team. I'm here to assess your civilization level. If you haven't received an education, you'll be destroyed! Gahaha!"
"Ee-ya-ya-ya!"
"Now, I need to know your ages, and then I'll teach you the story of the Great Sage Equal to Heaven Sun Wukong. Do you know what age means? In the Demon God's Sea's standard time!"
"Ya-ya! Ya!" The little ginsengs all shouted together, calling out several numbers.
(I'm eighty! I'm 233! 298!)
(I... I'm 668!)
The biggest Ginseng Doll was actually 668 years old. Stone Mama trembled, thoroughly startled.
Already so old, yet still looking just like a little child.
It seemed they were another long-lived species.
In fact, for these Ginseng Dolls, friendly visitors they could communicate with normally were incredibly rare.
In the past, their mother had always protected them with great care, keeping them from contact with the outside world... because their species was rather special. In the eyes of other species, they were like an all-purpose restorative: eating them would grant a great deal of additional lifespan.
They had to be protected!
So having a group of guests visit their home created an atmosphere like a carnival.
The guests had even brought fascinating little toys. That stone could tell stories, and the string of tales left them utterly spellbound.
That Little White Turtle could dance and spin like a high-speed top.
"Awoo! (I'm tired. Time for a snack!)" Little White unceremoniously picked up a piece of fruit to munch on, only to receive a vicious smack on the