Ch. 39 - By the Gates of The Azure Sea Division

"Brother? Brother?!"

"Hm? Yeah?"

Xiao Huoyan had been lost in thoughts. He had not heard as much as even a single word of what his sister had said.

"What are you thinking about?"

"N-nothing important!"

"Then how come you have been lost in thoughts for so long without even listening to me?"

"I-I did l-listen!"

"Then tell me anything that I have said for the past half hour."

"You asked when we are leaving for The Azure Sea Division. "

"So, you did listen..."

Tian Xin had been sure that her brother had not been listening, and she had been right. Xiao Huoyan had simply read her mind to find out what she had been talking about, but that was not something he planned on telling her about.

"SO??", Tian Xin asked impatiently.

"Hm?"

Xiao Huoyan was confused. What did she mean? Did she find out that he had not been listening? Was she mad?"

"WHEN. ARE. WE. LEAVIIING?!"

"N-now! We are leaving r-right away!"

-

Xiao Huoyan was usually fearless, but when it came to his sister, he would usually act rather submissive. Sometimes he had to talk to her seriously as to make sure that she understood the importance of what he was saying, but he still preferred behaving like a child. He felt free and happy, unlike those times when he had to act all stiff and serious. He would much rather behave like the young child that he actually was.

He had always been stiff and serious in nature. That was just how he was! But some people managed to lure out the silly and playful side of him. A side which he thought he had lost together with his mother.

Jin Long were the first person to ever show him kindness ever since he had lost his mother. Tian Mei took him in as her own and then lost her life in an attempt to protect him. His sister Tian Xin never blamed him for what had happened to their mother. If Xiao Huoyan had never entered their home, then Tian Mei would probably have still been alive. He knew that... Tian Xin knew that, yet never did she blame him. Not even once.

These three people had showed him what it felt like to have someone care for him. It was a wonderful feeling. A feeling he thought he would never experience again.

When his mother died he lost all hope. Even though he seemed fine on the outside, he was suffering. Fortunately, he found some people who brought him back to the light he thought he had forever lost.

Jin Long as well as Tian Mei had both died, but they had left him a reason to continue living. Their sacrifices... Xiao Huoyan would never forget them.

-

"Great!"

Tian Xin's tone was filled with excitement.

Xiao Huoyan said nothing. He just quickly took out a Teleportation Talisman, then he took his sister's right hand in his left and crushed the talisman.

The moment he crushed the talisman, everything turned black. A short while later they had arrived at an enormous gate.

"The Azure Sea Division", Tian Xin read out loud.

"Magnificent indeed. Let us enter the gates, sister!"

Xiao Huoyan, who was still holding Tian Xin's hand, suddenly leaped up and landed upon the gate.

"D-did you not say that we would ENTER the gates?! This is simply JUMPING OVER THEM!!"

"Do not be mad sister. I thought this would be quicker. There is a queue over there, but if we were to go there, we would have to wait for at least two more days before we would be able to enter the gates!

It is much more convenient for us to just jump over!"

Tian Xin sighed. She had forgotten that Xiao Huoyan was new to the world outside of the forest which he had been living in for most of his life. Even though she had never been here to The Azure Sea Division, she knew it was forbidden to enter without going through the gates.

One had to go THROUGH the gates. Not OVER them. If a guard were to see them, they would really be in some serious trouble.

The government kept files of all the people who had ever entered The Azure Sea Division for the past few centuries.

One were not allowed to enter unless they identified themselves.

"It is fine, sister. They can not see us. As long as I do not let go of your hand, they will not be able to see you even if you stand right before them!"

"Let me guess; Invisibility is one of your strange abilities, right?"

"Correct."

"How did you know I was worried that they would discover us?"

"Have you forgotten that I am very good at intruding your mind?"

"You could at least have asked for permission first!"

"If I would have asked for permission then I would not be intruding."

"That is pretty much the point!"

"But--"

"But what?!"

"But that is no fun, sister!"

"To hell with your 'fun'!"

"Watch your tongue sis! On top of speaking like that, you are also very violent. If you keep on behaving like that, no man will want to marry you in the future. Then I will have to take care of you for the rest of your life.

It is not that I mind, but who would willingly put up with your nagging?"

"You! How dare you say such--"

"--Sh! Do you want to be discovered by the guard that badly?"

"Hmph! We shall talk about this later!"

Xiao Huoyan responded by jumping down from the gate. Tian Xin, who had been unprepared, almost screamed out loud.

"You could at least have given me a heads up!"

"Next time."

"To hell with you and your 'next time'! If there will truly be a 'next time', then I advice you to beg for mercy! Perhaps I will spare your pitiful self then!"

"What did we say about threatening me; your adorable little brother?"

"Who is adorable? Why can I not see him?"

"That is so cruel, sister..."

"You sure deserved it!"

Tian Xin smiled inside her heart. She knew that her brother had been provoking her intentionally. He did not want her to keep worrying about getting caught by the guards. He had it all under control, but he did not want her to worry for nothing.

This was not the first time he had provoked her on purpose to distract her from her worries. He really cared for her, and just the thought about having such a caring brother was enough to melt her heart.