Chapter 370: Half Tree
Ashlock paused for a while, trying to think of the best way to explain how Stella was half tree, but the girl in question beat him to it.
"My background is quite the mystery. I've never met my Mother, and I only vaguely remember my Father teaching me a few techniques when I was tiny before he apparently died after failing to reach Star Core. Until recently, I believed both my parents were dead, so to me, Ashlock is the only one I could call family." Stella raised a finger in the air, "But then a cosmic being guarding a library pointed out some inconsistencies. Where is the rest of my family, the Crestfallens? I was told they all died protecting Vincent Nightrose, but why would that man need saving? He's the strongest in the region."
"I always did find that rather odd," The Redclaw Grand Elder admitted as he rubbed his chin. "I met Grand Elder Crestfallen once at a summit for all the peaks. He was the only person representing Red Vine Peak and the Crestfallen family and drew a lot of attention as he was at the measly Soul Fire Realm. He never shared his name and sidestepped any questions. One day, I heard he died and didn't think much more of the matter."
"You have met him?!" Stella sat up straight from the bench and stared at the Grand Elder with wide eyes. "What did he look like?"
"Nothing like you. I honestly fail to see how you could possibly be related that closely." The Grand Elder said thoughtfully as he looked Stella up and down, "He did have similar eyes to you, but that's about it. That's why I never even brought him up or felt like asking about him until now."
Stella fell quiet for a while, and nobody dared say a word. "Grand Elder Valandor told me—"
"Grand Elder Valandor?!" The Redclaw Grand Elder almost fell out of his chair. "The White Reaper of the Blood Lotus Sect? You spoke with him and survived?"
"Yes, he is a friend of my Father. He was searching for new bloodlines for Vincent Nightrose when he found my Father traversing the wilderness and became interested in us. My Father was apparently alone, crossing the wilderness as the survivor of a group from the Celestial Empire. All he had with him was the clothes on his back, some supplies in a spatial ring, and me. A baby girl bundled in cloth. He never disclosed anything about himself to Valandor."
"So Valandor brought you into the sect, but it sounds like he sold you and your Father out to Vincent rather than an act of kindness. That sounds like the White Reaper that I know of."