Vol. 6 Chapter 3: The Pigeons

Chapter 3: The Pigeons

A flock of pigeons flew in from a distance and landed on the hazel tree. Cinderella was crying beneath the tree, her tears watering it. This tree was left behind by Cinderella's biological mother. Originally just a sapling, it had grown into a large tree over the years due to Cinderella's tears.

Lu Li squinted as he observed the hazel tree and the pigeons on it. The hint mentioned that Cinderella had a good mother. Clearly, this did not refer to her stepmother. As for Cinderella's biological mother, Lu Li knew little, only that she died when Cinderella was very young.

Perhaps the time had come, or maybe the tears were sufficient, or for some other reason, the hazel tree changed the moment the pigeons arrived. Now partially a shadow creature, Lu Li's vision had some fundamental differences from that of a human. Using his "Eye of Detection" skill, he discovered something peculiar about the hazel tree:

**[Hazel Tree]**

**[Category: Wraith Tree]**

**[Formation Reason: Originally a sacrificial spirit tree symbolizing sharing and sincere emotions, it mutated due to being watered by the daughter's tears for years.]**

**[Special Abilities: (1) Illusory Fantasies: Capable of realizing some illusory fantasies, though they may disappear at any time; (2) Symbiotic Spirit: The witch's soul originally residing within has transformed into a ferocious symbiotic spirit.]**

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

**[Evaluation: Hatred only begets more hatred.]**

**[Pigeons]**

**[Category: Symbiotic Spirit]**

**[Formation Reason: The soul residing in the sacrificial spirit tree turned into vengeful spirits after being soaked in the daughter's tears every day.]**

**[Special Abilities: (1) Painful Peck: Constantly drinking tears filled with pain and hatred has granted it the power of pain, making its pecking ten times more painful; (2) Curse of Hatred: Hatred begets more hatred. Their existence is to express Cinderella's resentment, driving those targeted by them mad; (3) ?.]**

**[Weakness: You could try using holy powers to pacify them?]**

**[Evaluation: This is a pitiable soul, tricked by her husband and later by her daughter.]**

Seeing this, Lu Li understood more. Cinderella's mother was likely a witch. After her mysterious death, her soul resided in the sacrificial spirit tree, trying to transform into a special state. However, instead of receiving worship from her daughter and husband, she was soaked in the daughter's tears filled with pain and resentment, causing the soul within the tree to mutate into a vengeful spirit.

Cinderella had cried and pleaded before, but never received a response. After crying, she hopelessly continued sorting the beans. This tedious task would likely take until midnight. She needed to finish quickly, or else face another beating when her stepsisters returned from the ball.

But this time was different. The pigeons on the hazel tree flew down, pecking through the ashes, sorting out all the beans and placing them in the basin. Cinderella was astonished, her eyes brightening. She hurriedly placed the sorted beans in a safe place and knelt before the hazel tree, filled with hope.

"Is it your help, mother?"

"Mother, your choice in men was terrible. Father remarried as soon as you died, showing what a scoundrel he is. You wouldn't believe how much I've suffered all these years. My stepmother bullies me, my stepsisters bully me, and even father bullies me."

"Now, I have a great opportunity. If I am chosen by the prince at the ball and become his princess, I can escape this hell. Please, mother, help me!"

"I want to look beautiful at the ball. Mother, please help me." Cinderella pleaded desperately. The hazel tree shook, and countless leaves fell, forming a blue dress. Cinderella quickly cleaned her hands and picked up the dress, which seemed to shine with a magical glow, drawing everyone's attention. Cinderella believed that if she cleaned herself up and wore this dress, she could captivate the prince and become a true princess.

Cinderella hid the dress, then returned to the hazel tree and knelt, saying, "Mother, the streets are so dirty. If I walk on them, no matter how beautiful the dress, it will become filthy. I need a means of transportation to stay clean."

In response to her words, the hazel tree shook again. A large pumpkin under the eaves suddenly grew into a fairytale-like carriage, and a mouse nibbling on it transformed into a coachman. Overjoyed, Cinderella washed herself, put on the blue dress, and felt like a princess. As she approached the carriage, she realized she was still wearing her tattered shoes.

"How can I attend the ball in these?" She hurried back to the hazel tree.

Carefully lifting her blue dress, she knelt once more, filled with hope. "Mother, I'm going to the prince's ball. I look beautiful, and the prince will surely choose me to dance. But these ragged shoes will disgrace me. Please help me."

The hazel tree shook again, dropping two branches that transformed into crystal-clear shoes, glittering like the most enchanting treasure in the world. Overjoyed, Cinderella discarded her old shoes and put on the new crystal ones, which fit perfectly. Her clean, white feet paired with the crystal shoes would surely captivate the prince.

Happy and excited, Cinderella boarded the pumpkin carriage, as if escaping hell. She urged the coachman to leave quickly, heading straight to the prince's castle for the ball.

After Cinderella left, Lu Li emerged, noticing the old shoes. Despite being tattered, they still held traces of magic. It was clear who had given them to her.

As night fell, the pigeons transformed into a woman draped in feathers, appearing before Lu Li.