24 Zhu Xiao Qian's Brother-In-Law

Inside the house, Ning Rui Yu was holding a maroon bow and a sword that was similar to a katana.

"Husband, these are...?" Fu Yan Xin asked.

Ning Rui Yu did not answer but looked at his eldest son.

"Mother, these are for Xiao Qian and Xiao Wan." Ning Su Cai studied the curved sword.

Just a beat after Ning Rui Yu nodded, Ning Hai Heng looked at the maroon bow. "Father, who are you giving the bow to?"

"Xiao Wan."

Ning Hai Heng lowered his head vaguely. He had prepared a silver bow for Xiao Wan. The bow was not thing valuable but it should be better than a maroon bow. But...He signed inwardly. 'I'll just buy something else then give her the bow later.'

"These will be useful when they go to Tenebrous Billow Academy." Ning Rui Yu put the weapons back into its place.

Although there are contractual spirits, normal weapons and beasts were serviceable; some plants, too. When one went to school, they would learn some skills - Spirit Interjection: one would insert their spirit into the weapons to make the weapon more proficient. Beast Subjugation: one would learn the praxes to tame beast; the beasts might not stay loyal - following another person. As for plants, since they were rare - the school didn't teach the students; they couldn't.

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Zhu Xiao Wan was sipping tea while sitting on a stone bench in the Bamboo Pavilion. Her silver hair was left undone, even a simple hairpin was not there. The leaves from the bamboo forest were fluttering and some were dancing to the floor. On the stone table were papers, ink, and brushes. In the cursive script, with elegant strokes, she wrote:

'Red-dyed robe, leans on a giant cane.

Wind gently blows, leaves of bamboo sway.

There's a content beam, closes the view.

Soundlessly asleep in eternal tranquility.'

After she finished writing, Zhu Xiao Wan lifted her head. "Big Brother."

Zhu Xiao Qian and Zhuang Yin entered the Bamboo Pavilion. They hadn't even sat down before Zhuang Yin introduced himself. "This must be Young Miss Xiao Wan, my name is Zhuang Yin." He sat down next to her and continued, "You can call me Brother Yin."

Zhu Xiao Wan looked at Zhuang Yin's face full of smiles then turned to her big brother. She saw Zhu Xiao Qian's mouth was twitching. So this was the flirt Big Brother talked about, Heir of Thousand Rain Sect. She beamed cutely, a lively face shining with radiance. "Brother Yin, Xiao Wan heard a lot about you!"

"You did?" Zhuang Yin laughed and looked at Zhu Xiao Qian who had poured himself tea. "Xiao Qian must have told you that I'm an heir."

She giggled while nodding, "Mm-hmm, he also told Xiao Wan that Brother Yin is a big skirt-chaser!"

Zhuang Yin's charming smile froze. He noticed Zhu Xiao Wan chuckling and Zhuang Yin gave him a light glare.

Zhu Xiao Qian smiled, "I have to talk to Uncle Ning. Wan Wan, accompany him well." He turned to leave. He changed his mind, it was fine to let Xiao Wan kept Zhuang Yin company. 'Young Master Zhuang, you're hitting an iron pan this time.'

"Brother Yin can call me Xiao Wan." She pointed at the paper and asked, "Xiao Wan practices a lot, is it good?"

Zhuang Yin gazed at the paper. "It's very well written and looked beautiful." In truth, he didn't learn calligraphy. The characters should be beautiful, right? But... He couldn't read it. 'What does it means?'

Zhu Xiao Wan's eyes shone, twinkling with stars. The smile on her face became more apparent.

Staring at her adorable little face, he unashamedly said, "Xiao Wan is really cute that I want to be your brother's brother-in-law."

Without changing expression, she said, "Xiao Wan also hopes to have Brother Yin's sister as my sister-in-law!"

Zhuang Yin: "But I don't have sisters."

Zhu Xiao Wan: "Xiao Wan thought that Brother Yin has sisters since Big Brother told Xiao Wan that you don't have brothers..."

Zhu Xiao Wan gasped then she looked at Zhuang Yin with a peculiar gaze. "It can't be...that Brother Yin wants to be Big Brother's husband? Big Brother may not accept that!"

"..." His brows jerked as he stared at the lively but clueless little girl. He felt like an idiot talking to this ignorant girl. 'How can I be your brother's brother-in-law if I am your brother's husband...And I'm not marrying a man!!'