《I Shall Rule The Heavens》


 1 Ch. 1 - Extremely Rare Genius

    My name is Xiao Huoyan and I''m currently 5 years old. I used to live with my mother far into the woods, but my mother died 2 years ago while trying to protect me when I got bullied by some mercenaries. I have never met my father, since he left before I was born.


    I had been out to pluck some apples but when I came home, a man was laying in front of my door unconscious. He was bloody all over, and he barely breathed. I knew that he could possibly be very dangerous, but I couldn''t bear to simply watch him as he was at the brink of life and death.


    I went up to him and tried to lift him up, but he was too heavy. After a few tries I came up with a solution. I rolled out a few blankets at the floor and then I rolled him over and started to clean his injuries and bandage his wounds. After I finished, I sighed a deep breath of relief. He should be fine with a few days of rest.


    As he was currently still unconscious, I couldn''t help but take a closer look. Only then did I discover that he was actually still quite young. He seemed to be in his early thirties. I went up a little closer, but as soon as I came close, he turned his face up and looked at me with eyes filled with shock. Seeing his sudden movements, I couldn''t help taking a step back instinctively. When he saw my movements, he hurriedly said:


    "I have no malicious intents, so please do not fear me!"


    Hearing how he suddenly spoke in such a panicked manner, I slowly began to walk up to him again as he tried to sit up. I could see how hard it was for him to try and sit up on his own and thus I disregarded my own safety and hurried up to him to help him up.


    When he finally sat up, I also sat down beside him. He asked me where my parents were, and I told him what happened 2 years ago.


    After that he continued to ask me questions, like how old I am and why I never left this place.


    "Hey! Can I ask you some questions now?! You just showed up out of nowhere and I don''t even know why you''re here! All you have done since you woke up is asking me a bunch of questions, while I still don''t even know your name!"


    Hearing the sudden change in my attitude, he looked a little startled.


    "Uh¡­ oh, right! My name is Jin Long, and I came here by chance. I was chased into the forest by some bad people from my clan and got injured. I just happened to find your house by accident. I was going to ask for help but I collapsed at the door. Thankfully there were someone who lived here. Thank you for treating my injuries! I will definitely pay you back sometime!"


    He said as he quickly and respectfully clasped his fists.


    "I do not need for you to pay me back, but would you mind telling me why your own fellow clansmen were chasing after you while deliberately trying to take your life?"


    "They are jealous of my strength. That''s why they want me dead."


    "I''m sorry sir, but I still don''t understand. I can tell from a single glance that you have a powerful force inside of you. I can''t really tell what it is, but I know for sure that it is something extremely powerful. It''s like some mysterious kind of force, and I am pretty sure that you know how to use this mysterious force of yours. Am I right? So how come they could still manage to injure you this badly?"


    As I finished saying what I wanted, the man besides me seemed to be a little bit startled. He looked at me with eyes filled with shock and a little glimpse of wonder and admiration. Shortly after, he began to regain his calm and indifferent appearance.


    "They poisoned my drink while I was at a banquet. As soon as I realised it, I began to escape, but they had already planned this all out well in beforehand. They had placed people outside to keep watch and wait for me to try and escape. That''s how they managed to catch up to me so fast and even injure me."


    "If that''s how it was then it''s much easier to understand it now."


    "Uhm¡­ may I ask you how you found out about this so-called ''mysterious force'' of mine?"


    "Oh, since you only wanted to ask that, why did you make such a serious expression? The answer to that is simple. I simply saw it."


    "You saw it?"


    He asked in a quite confused matter.


    "Correct, but I not only saw it. I felt it too."


    "Wha¡­ Could you possibly tell me what exactly you saw and felt?"


    "Well of course! I felt that mysterious force swirling inside you like a wild wind. It felt extremely cold to the touch. And I could see something inside your body, that looked like some kind of bone chilling hurricane with countless snowflakes swirling inside of it."


    "Incredible!"


    "Hmm?"


    "Haha, to think that I would stumble upon such a treasure! This is truly finding fortune within misfortune!"


    "Did you go mad or something?"


    I said in a slightly confused manner.


    "You, my little friend, are an extremely rare genius!"

 2 Ch. 2 - Disciple Greets Master

    "Me? A genius?"


    I asked in a very confused manner.


    "Yes!"


    He answered with a voice filled with excitement.


    "But a genius regarding what?"


    I asked in a still quite confused manner. I didn''t understand anything. What did he mean? How could I be a genius?


    "Cultivation, of course!"


    "Cultivation? What is cultivation?"


    I had never heard that word before, so naturally I didn''t know what it meant.


    "Are you kidding?! You don''t even know what cultivation is?!"


    He seemed to be extremely puzzled. Was this ''cultivation''-thing really that important?


    "No, I''m not kidding. I have never heard of it before. Would you mind explaining it to me?"


    He heaved a deep sigh and started to explain it.


    "Cultivation is practising and learning techniques, as well as meditating and refining cultivation resources in order to reach a higher level and realm. Those who practise martial arts are called Cultivators or Martial Artists.


    Every Cultivators dream and purpose is to become an immortal, but no one has ever been able to reach that realm. That rwalm is calledGod Realm, and I''m pretty sure there''s probably been someone in the past that have reached that realm, because otherwise we wouldn''t know about it''s existence. Just because we have no records of it, doesn''t meen necessarily have to mean that it''s absolutely not true. People think of it as nothing but a myth, yet it''s every cuktivators dream.


    In order to practice martial arts, you also have to go through the ''Awakening''!


    The ''Awakening'' is something that many children go through when they''re 6 or 7 years old. After your Awakening, you can also ask someone to test your Spirit Power. Spirit power is something that you''re born with, and the higher your Spirit Power is, the higher your talent is!


    Back to the other topic, Spirit essence is something that is very important to cultivators. The level you will be able to reach is closely related to which spirit essence you have. You can only have one spirit essence, and you can''t change your spirit essence. But even though you can''t change it, it can evolve. An evolved verision of a spirit essence can be stronger or weaker than the original spirit essence.


    Reaching a higher level and realm is equal to becoming stronger, and you have to be strong. Because strength is the only thing that matters if you want to have a say in this world. To put it simply, the higher cultivation you have, the stronger you are! But remember, that not anybody can become a strong cultivator.


    You need to have enough resources, have techniques to learn, and you also have to know how to use these things."


    After listening to his explanation, I felt that I actually understood what it meant to be a cultivator. I also understood the importance of becoming strong. Although he didn''t say much about it, I understood that without strength, nobody will ever listen to you and you''ll have to follow others like a slave for the rest of your life. I didn''t want to be a follower! I wanted to be strong enough to have my own say in this world!


    "Hmm¡­"


    "What? Was something unclear?"


    He asked in a little worried manner. He seemed to worry about whether I had understood his explanation or not.


    "Oh¡­ I understood it perfectly, no need to worry about it. And also, thank you for explaining it to me. It has truly broadened my horizons¡­"


    "It''s good that you understand, and no need to thank me! But something seems to be bothering you. Mind telling me what it is?"


    "It''s just that¡­ you said that I was a cultivation-genius, but I don''t have any of the requirements that you mentioned."


    "That''s also why I was so puzzled earlier! You could both see and feel my spirit essence! To feel someone else''s spirit essence, you have to be a Grand Master or above, and there will still be limits. But you could actually both feel and see it, and to actually see a person''s spirit essence so clearly and detailed, that''s something that only those who''re a Half Martial Emperor, can do!


    You don''t even have any cultivation, and yet you could do all of this. It''s simply unimaginable! You are a true prodigy!"


    He said it with such excitement, yet you could still hear the shock in his voice. There was even a hint of admiration in his last words.


    "Am I really that special??"


    I asked with the words ''Confused Yet Excited" clearly written across my face.


    "Oh, yes indeed!"


    "Doesn''t that mean that as long as I can find a master to guide and nurture me, I can also become a cultivator??"


    He suddenly started to smile. It was a really bright smile. I didn''t understand why he smiled, but I felt like he was thinking about something. It was that kind of happy smile that you''d have when you came up with a brilliant idea, that you thought would become your greatest success.


    "Hmm¡­"


    He just smiled and kept on thinking while I just stared at him, trying to figure out what he was thinking. I was still waiting for an answer. We stayed like that for quite a while, until he finally decided to speak.


    "Would you like to become my disciple? Naturally, I would provide you with cultivation resources to refine, and high-grade techniques for you to learn. I wold also guide you through your training. So, what do you say? Do you want to come with me and become my disciple?"


    What he had said sounded like something out of a dream. I couldn''t believe that he actually wanted me to become his disciple. I, who knew nothing about cultivation and other stuff related to that, before he told me about it today. It was simply unbelievably! I was so shocked by his question so I just sat there without making a sound.


    Seeing that I just sat there abnormally quiet, he started to look a little worried."


    "Of course, you don''t have to. If you don''t want to, I won''t force you. It''s just a suggestion. You sure are promising, and thus I couldn''t help but ask. At least that way I won''t regret it later on."


    He said in a slightly embarrassed manner.


    "Do you really mean that you''re willing to take me with you, and having me become your disciple, for real?"


    "But well of course I do!"


    He started to smile again. This time even brighter than before.


    "Then¡­ Disciple greets master!"

 3 Ch. 3 - Is He Even Human?!

    Seeing as Xiao Huoyan kneeled down beside the bed and greeted him with his fists clasped respectfully, he was instantly shocked. He didn''t think such a small child would show such manners!


    ''Small children are usually spoiled and cheeky, but Xiao Huoyan is obviously not.'', he thought to himself.


    And not only did he posses'' great manners, he was also very smart, as to know how to show respect to his master.


    "Huoyan''er¡­ Where did you learn such manners?"


    He asked curiously. Xiao Huoyan was only five years old, and he had lived almost half of his life alone in the woods, so who taught him to show so much respect to his master?


    Xiao Huoyan hadn''t shown such respect at the beginning when they''d met, but just as I, Jin Long, became his master, he suddenly showed me such respect. It didn''t make sense that he knew such things.


    "I-I can''t remember¡­"


    "What do you mean? Someone must''ve taught you all of this."


    He asked in a state of confusion.


    "Please don''t be mad! I''ll really can''t remember!"


    Seeing as Xiao Huoyan was yelling with panic written across his face, Jin Long started speaking with a calm voice.


    "If you really can''t remember, then would you mind if I tried to read your memories?"


    "Is it really that important?"


    Xiao Huoyan said, looking a little confused.


    "No, it''s not. But I''d really like to know some other things too¡­"


    "What do you want to ask? I can just answer."


    "Well that''s true, but what if you say that yo can''t remember and start to panic again?"


    "Oh¡­ maybe you''re right. Then feel free to read my memories!"


    As Xiao Huoyan said that he smiled brightly and sat down beside Jin Long.


    Seeing that Xiao Huoyan was willing, Jin Long closed his eyes and tried to focus on Xiao Huoyan''s mind in order to read his memories. But soon after, he noticed that there was something strange blocking him from seeing Xiao Huoyan''s memories.


    "AAAH!!"


    Hearing Xiao Huoyan screaming out with a voice filled with pain, Jin Long looked down at Xiao Huoyan again and what he saw struck him with both shock and confusion. He saw Xiao Huoyan, who sat on the side of the bed, starting to hug his head, with his face deeply buried in his knees with streams of tears flowing down his face. He expressed a face full of pain, and yet this little boy didn''t make a sound.


    There was no wailing, nor sniffling. He was so quiet to the point where you couldn''t even hear his breathing! He just sat there without moving an inch for almost half an hour! It was as if he had gone mute.


    As Jin Long slowly began to come back to his senses, he extended his hand trying to comfort Xiao Huoyan by lightly patting his little head, but as soon as his hands came close, Xiao Huoyan lifted his head. When Jin Long came into contact with Xiao Huoyan''s skin, Jin Long''s face instantly turned ashen.


    Xiao Huoyan''s skin was extremely cold! This caused Jin Long to instinctively draw his hands back. Unbelievable! Jin Long''s spirit essence was an evolved verision of wind, called ''Icy Hurricane'', and yet this kind of chilliness that Xiao Huoyan''s skin emitted, was something that he couldn''t even match up to! It felt familiar to his own spirit essence, except this being way much stronger!


    Knowing that he could do nothing to help, he started to panic!


    " Xiao Huoyan''er! What''s happening to you?!"


    He screamed in panic! Never in his life before had he ever felt this helpless!


    Just as he was going to give up, Xiao Huoyan suddenly started to fly up in the air. Then suddenly after that, a strong and extremely cold wind started to swirl around him like a hurricane. Suddenly his eyes opened, but they seemed nothing like those cute and innocent brown eyes, that he had before!


    They were pitch-black, except for something that looked like snowflakes, currently moving uncontrollably inside those pitch-black eyes of his! These eyes were more akin to the ones of a demon!


    He felt so helpless, watching as Xiao Huoyan turned into something he had never seen before! Did him, trying to intrude into Xiao Huoyan''s memories, cause this little boy to become like this?


    While Jin Long was lost in his thoughts, Xiao Huoyan extended one of his fingers and pointed at Jin Long. Then he started speaking with a voice lacking as much as a hint of emotions.


    He spoke in a language that Jin Long had never heard before. It sounded like some kind of chant. After he''d finished speaking, a bone chilling wind started to fly towards Jin Long at a rapid speed!


    Jin Long felt that he had no way of stopping it and thus he just sat there, awaiting his death. Never would he had imagined that just as the bone chilling wind was about to reach him, it suddenly disappeared, leaving nothing but a mess and an unforgettable memory. He looked at Xiao Huoyan, who was now laying on the floor unconscious.


    "How could this be the same little boy that almost just killed me?"


    Jin Long sighed in confusion and misbelief as he went up from the bed, picked Xiao Huoyan up from the floor and carefully placed him onto the bed. Then he laid down beside him and fell asleep.


    After a few hours, he woke up. He looked beside him and saw that the spot where he put Xiao Huoyan yesterday, was empty. He started to panic and quickly raised up from the bed.


    He was feeling much better compared to yesterday. Thinking back at how he almost died yesterday, he began to wonder¡­ ''Xiao Huoyan said that his father left before he was born and that his mother died two years ago, so how come he knew how to treat such severe injuries? Where did he get the medicines from? Who in this world was able to make such miraculous medicine? How come I, Jin Long, are almost fully recovered after only one night?!''


    Jin Long''s head was full of questions, but he didn''t really have the time to think too much about it, since Xiao Huoyan seemed to have ran away.


    Jin Long began to search the whole house but even after searching every single room, he still found nothing. Just as he was going to give up, he looked out the window and saw Xiao Huoyan sitting cross-legged on the ground. He seemed to be holding something. He began to carefully observe what Xiao Huoyan was doing, and then he saw something really strange.


    The thing that Xiao Huoyan was currently holding was a Magical Beast! And it was even a seven ranked one! This one was called Demon Wolf, and they were known for how merciless and bloodthirsty they were! Even though Demon Wolves were quite small, if I, Jin Long, were to meet a five ranked one, I would still have to use everything I''ve got to escape. Not to mention being able to fight it, I would probably die instantly! And yet this little five-year-old boy just held it in his arms as if it were completely harmless!


    After taking a closer look, Jin Long discovered that this Demon Wolf was severely injured. The Demon Wolfs stomach was cut open and the Bloody Demon Wolf seemed to be at the brink of life and death.


    Then to Jin Long''s surprise, Xiao Huoyan actually bit his own wrist! But what Xiao Huoyan did after that left Jin Long completely dumbfounded. After he bit his own wrist, he feed the Bloody demon Wolf his blood! And what was even more strange was that quickly after drinking a little bit of Xiao Huoyan''s blood, it slowly started to heal!


    Two minutes later, Xiao Huoyan Had already stopped feeding the Bloody Demon Wolf, and it had completely healed, leaving nothing but a scar!!


    "To be able to do something like that is something that have never been heard of before! Is he even human?!"

 4 Ch. 4 - You Sure Are Full Of Surprises!

    As he saw such a miracle occur right before his eyes, he felt as if he was witnessing the act of a god! Xiao Huoyan had actually healed the Demon Wolf, using nothing but a little bit of his own blood! This was something that had never been heard of before, so naturally Jin Long would feel stunned. What Xiao Huoyan had just done was truly unbelievable!


    As Jin Long was lost in thoughts, Xiao Huoyan suddenly started to rise up from the ground. He then turned around and was now facing Jin Long. Upon realising that Jin Long had probably seen everything, Xiao Huoyan''s face turned ashen. He looked as if he was about to run away into the forest, but to Jin Long''s surprise, Xiao Huoyan did not turn around and run.


    Instead of running away, he strated to walk towards Jin Long. When he then almost reached the outside wall, he did not stop. Thus, caused Jin Long to instinctively take a step back. As Xiao Huoyan continued to walk, he reached the outside wall, and instead of stopping or simply crash into it, he went through!


    "You actually went through the wall!"


    Seeing such an incredible sight, Jin Long cried out in surprise and misbelief. No matter what cultivation you have, you shouldn''t be able to walk through walls! You could smash the wall and then pass, but not really walk through the wall as it is still standing there without a scratch!


    "What in the world are you?!"


    "I-I d-don''t know¡­"


    As Xiao Huoyan said that, he expressed a face full of sorrowful pain. As if he didn''t want to answer, yet couldn''t find out why there was a reason to hide it anymore.


    "Ok, but what else can you do and who else knows about this?"


    Jin Long could feel that this was a topic that Xiao Huoyan would rather not talk about, but he couldn''t help but wanting to find out more about this mysterious little child.


    "I can pass through anything that I''ve tried up until now, I can also move things with my mind and turn invisible¡­"


    "Hmm¡­ but it sounds as if there''s more to it than just that, am I right? For an example, the thing that happened yesterday?"


    "¡­ Yes, you are right. There''s indeed more to it than what I''ve told you. When I get stressed, scared or angry, I turn into a state in which I can do nothing but attack. It''s like can''t control my own thoughts and movements. It''s really horrible!


    It''s like I can see everything through my own eyes, but I can''t do anything but watch as I slaughter people¡­ I only turn back to normal after everyone at scene is dead."


    As he started speaking about it, he burst out crying uncontrollably.


    "I didn''t want for those people to die, but I couldn''t stop it! Then you came and treated me so nicely, but as soon as you tried to enter my memories I-I¡­"


    "It''s okay. I''m fine right now, aren''t I? I just can''t understand why you didn''t kill me, cause you clearly had the power to. If you couldn''t control yourself, then why did you stop right before your attack reached me? It makes no sense! And also, how come your spirit essence was the same as mine, but so many times stronger?"


    "I don''t know why you''re alive either. I just woke up and saw you laying there beside me. I also don''t know why I suddenly stopped in the middle of my attack. But regarding the thing with my spirit essence, I have quite a few-"


    Jin Long abruptly cut off in the middle of Xiao Huoyan''s sentence as soon as he heard the part about Xiao Huoyan having more than one spirit essence.


    "WHAT?!?! How could you possibly have ''quite a few'' spirit essences?!"


    "Oh, it''s simply because I can absorb other people''s spirit essence. When I meet someone, I can clearly feel what spirit essence they have, and I can also absorb it if I want too. That''s how I''ve collected many different types of spirit essences. I have never absorbed anyone''s spirit essence while being¡­ you know, ''normal''."


    Hearing about this amazing ability that Xiao Huoyan possessed, Jin Long''s feelings was very complicated. This could either be a blessing or an upcoming calamity.


    "Wait¡­ but how much can you absorb?"


    "Uhm¡­ from very little to all of it."


    "But if you absorb other people''s spirit essences, won''t they be left without spirit essence?"


    "That''s only if I absorb everything!"


    "Then how much of mine did you absorb?"


    "Oh, so that''s why you acted so tense! Don''t worry, I only absorbed around half of it!"


    "Can you transfer your spirit essences to other people?"


    Hearing that last question, Xiao Huoyan went silent. He seemed to be a little worried.


    "Are you one of those people that would want to take me away for your own interests?"


    He answered with another question, as if he first wanted to confirm it before continuing the discussion.


    "Of course not! I don''t want you to take you away, nor do I want you to transfer it to me."


    "What, really?! Not even the part of your spirit essence that I absorbed from you before?!"


    "Not even that. I''d rather leave you have it, since it''ll be easier to train you. But that still depends on if you''re still willing to come with me."


    "Why wouldn''t I want to come with you? You''re the first person that have ever treated me fairly! Of course, I want to come with you! Besides, haven''t I already accepted you as my master?!"


    While speaking about how he truly wanted to come with Jin Long as his disciple, Xiao Huoyan couldn''t hold in his excitement.


    "That''s great! I know that you''re way stronger than me, but from what I''ve seen yesterday, you seem to have a clear advantage in power. It''s just that you''re lacking techniques. That''s why I want you to come with me, so that I can pass down my techniques to you."


    "I'' would''ve never thought that you thought about it that much¡­ Thank you!"


    And as Xiao Huoyan thanked his new master, Jin Long, he once again clasped his fists out of respect.


    "To find a disciple like you, I must''ve done something very great in my past life! When do you wish for us to set off, my dear disciple?"


    Jin Long said with a beaming smile on his face. He was extremely happy for two reasons: one, he actually survived after getting poisoned and attacked, and two, he also found such a promising disciple who actually were stronger than, yet willing to follow him.


    "That depends on how long it''ll take to get there from here, and when we have to be there¡­"


    "Hmm¡­ It should take about 3 days to reach there from here, and we''d probably have to be there within a week at the very most."


    "Oh, but then how about we leave the day after tomorrow? We should be there within a week from now and also have some time to rest on the way."


    Xiao Huoyan said after a short moment of thinking it through.


    "That sound great, but aren''t you worried that I might collapse on the way because of the poison and injuries from earlier?"


    Jin Long knew that he would be fine, but still wanted to know how considerate his dear disciple was."


    "I''ve already thought about that. Technically, you should already be completely healed from both poison and injuries."


    "Hahaha, you got me there. You''re right, I''ve already healed. I''m not even tired! What kind of medicine did you use? To actually be able to cure both fatal poison and injuries, that must have been some real damn treasure! Hahaha!"


    As Jin Long laughed, Xiao Huoyan was a little worried. What if Jin Long gets mad once he finds out that he had fed him his blood without his permission?


    "I-I just used a bit of blood¡­"


    Even though he was afraid of Jin Long getting mad, he still didn''t want to lie to him.


    "Oh, you mean like you did with the Demon Wolf outside?"


    "Yes¡­"


    "That''s quite a gift you''ve got there. Remember! Do not heal anyone besides yourself unless it''s someone you know and care for very much! Don''t let anyone find out about your special abilities. Even if you trust them, the fewer that knows, the better. People are greedy, they will take advantage of you if they get the chance."


    "Yes master, I understand."


    "Hmm¡­ ''Master'' sounds so formal. You''re my disciple, not a slave. How about you just call me teacher instead? It sounds somewhat more appropriate."


    "Yes, teacher."


    "When we begin traveling, I''ll tell you a few rules that you''ll have to follow."


    "Yes, teacher. Do you want something to eat? I caught a Monstrous Beast this morning, and I also picked some fruits before you woke up."


    "You sure are full of surprises!"

 5 Ch. 5 - Tears Of Happines

    "May I ask what kind of Monstrous Beast you caught?"


    "Sure! I caught a seventh rank Fire Serpent. It should be able to last for around a week or so."


    "WHAT?! You caught a seventh rank Fire Serpent?! If I were to encounter one, I wouldn''t even be able to run! I would probably be dead within a few seconds! And what''s this about it only lasting for about a week? A seventh rank Fire Serpent should be around 8 ft tall and 34 ft long! For it to only last that long, how much do you think that I eat?!"


    "I don''t know how much you eat, but I''ve been told that I eat abnormally much. If you eat at least half as much as I usually do, then it should last for about a week."


    "Ok, where is it?"


    "One second, I''ll get it out."


    As he said that, the ring on his left hand, started to glow. Then an enormous Fire Serpent appeared on the empty space beside them. It was truly enormous!


    "You actually have a storage ring? Those are extremely expensive. How did you get it?"


    "Oh, it''s just one of many things that I''ve collected over the past 2 years. When I go into ''That'' mode and kill people, I usually collect their stuff afterwards. It''s better than just throwing them away."


    "Hmm¡­ I know that you''d rather not talk about it, but I feel like I have to ask anyways. Those mercenaries that killed your mother, how come they let you escape?"


    "¡­"


    Jin Long had not really expected an answer, so he wasn''t really disappointed. He already had his guesses, it''s just that he wanted to confirm it. Xiao Huoyan on the other hand, wanted to answer. It''s just that he didn''t really know how to explain it so that it won''t sound too bad.


    "You don''t have to answer. I just wanted to ask."


    "¡­ No, I''ll answer¡­ I k-killed them¡­"


    "I thought so¡­ Then did you go ''insane''?"


    "Yes, I did. That was the first time."


    "I know that it''s very painful for you to talk about it, but would you mind telling me everything that happened back then? From what you did right before they arrived, when your mother came and when you went ''insane''. How you felt and what happened afterwards that day. I want to know as much as possible."


    "Sure, but I was quite small back then. I was only 3, I think. I was out, playing in the yard, when those mercenaries came. I remember that we talked for a bit, but I can''t remember what. However, after that they got mad for some reason, and then they started to hit me."


    "¡­ok, go on."


    "T-then my mother came and started to talk to them. I remember seeing her standing in front of me, holding my hand. Then she started to apologize to those people. They were five people, or maybe six, I can''t really remember. They were all men, and I remember seeing they gazes wandering all over my mother''s body. It made me really mad.


    They looked like wolves staring at their pray, right before going to attack. My mother also noticed their gazes, but she simply chose to ignore them. After she finished apologizing, we both turned around to leave.


    Then one of them suddenly grabbed her wrist and started to pull her towards them, while saying that she should come with them. That they would treat her nicely if she behaved. She firmly refused them and pulled away from his grip. He got so mad, he slapped her.


    That resounding slap mad my emotions go wild. I felt so helpless, seeing my mother get bullied right in front of my eyes. I wanted to help her, yet I couldn''t do anything but watch.


    That feeling¡­ the feeling of sadness, helplessness, fear and despair¡­"


    Was it those feelings that triggered it for the first time?"


    "Yes, it was¡­"


    "What did you do after you went ''insane''?"


    "I''m not quite sure¡­ Everything that happened afterwards is a blur."


    "Do you remember anything?"


    "I do. I remember telling them that they had to pay for hurting my mother. I told them that it was too late to regret it. Then I attacked¡­ They screamed a lot. They kept calling me cold blooded, a monster, a demon, a devil¡­ Teacher, am I a monster?"


    "How could you possibly be a monster? You saved me, a stranger, without any thoughts of gaining any kind of benefit. Would a monster be that kind hearted?"


    "But I still attacked you¡­"


    "Well, that was mostly my fault. It was I who triggered it by trying to enter your memories."


    "¡­"


    "But, back to what happened back then. From what you said, your mother was still alive before you started attacking those mercenaries. So how did she die?"


    "I can''t remember¡­ I remember attacking them, and then everything blacked out. Then I woke up and saw my mother and the mercenaries laying on the ground, dead."


    "How did you react when you saw your mother laying there, dead?"


    "I did not go ''insane''. I just felt a bunch of emotions surging inside of me. I felt as if something inside of me shattered. I felt¡­ scared¡­"


    "Scared of what?"


    Jin Long couldn''t really understand what could possibly scare Xiao Huoyan, after he became so powerful. Not even Jin Long himself, would be able to do anything to Xiao Huoyan.


    "I-I was afraid of b-being a-alone¡­ and I still am."


    Hearing this, Jin Long felt as if his heart was about to break from sadness and empathy. Seeing Xiao Huoyan like this¡­ Jin Long could almost feel the pain and sadness in this little boy''s heart. Before he knew it, a single tear ran down his cheek.


    "I''m sorry!"


    When Xiao Huoyan saw his teacher wiping of a single tear of his face, he started to panic. Causing one''s teacher to cry was not something good.


    "What the hell are you apologizing for?! You have to stop being so soft. Don''t apologize to anyone just like that!"


    "B-but you''re, my teacher. You''re not ''anyone''. At least not to me¡­ Teacher for a day, father for a life!"


    And as he said that, Jin Long felt as if his heart melted. He started to cry again. This time, a lot more than a single tear.


    "I can''t believe that I actually cried in front of my dear disciple TWICE on the same day!"


    Jin Long said while smiling. He looked a little embarrassed. He immediately changed the topic.


    "Eh, well¡­ so you don''t know how your mother died?"


    "No, I don''t."


    "But you said that it was those mercenaries¡­"


    "Yes, but I never saw them do it. I just assumed that it was them, since nobody else was there."


    Jin Long already had a guess regarding what happened to Xiao Huoyan''s mother, but he wasn''t really sure if he should reveal it to him, or not. After thinking for a while, he thought that it''d be better if Xiao Huoyan didn''t know. He didn''t really want to hide anything from his dear disciple. Especially not something this important. But he couldn''t bear to break his heart. He decided to change the topic.


    "You must have loved her a lot¡­"


    "Of course, I did."


    "Did you talk much?"


    "Yes¡­ we did."


    "Did she ever mention that state of yours, or maybe how you were supposed to control it?"


    "No, but my mother always told me that I was special. That I was naturally smarter than most grownups, even though I was so young. She said that I had power that others couldn''t even dream of acquiring in their whole lifetime, and that I had my father to thank for that."


    "Hmm¡­ Then did she ever mention something strange? Something that you couldn''t understand but felt was very important? Something that she mentioned very often but were unwilling to explain."


    "No¡­ or¡­ well¡­"


    "What did she tell you??"


    "She didn''t tell me anything¡­ except, that my father left something for me before he left."


    "Did she tell you how to find it??"


    "She said that in my sea of consciousness lays a secret. By the time that it''s unlocked, she''ll probably be long gone."


    "Then what is it?!"


    "It''s an imprint."


    "Wait, you''ve already found it?! When did that happen?"


    "Uhm¡­ well I had forgotten all about it until about a year ago. I found a letter."


    "What did it say?"


    "There were only 4 big words. It said, ''YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER''. Then after that I instantly remembered what my mother had told me before she died and so I explored my sea of consciousness and found it."


    "Then what does it say?"


    "It says, ''Light shall be your key to freedom! This light is something that only YOU can find! Don''t let anyone else try, or they''ll face the consequences. You have to remember this no matter what! I''m sorry I had to leave. Don''t come and look for me! You can''t expose yourself to the world yet. Stay with your mother! When you understand this, I''ll already be long gone. Love, Dad!"


    "Didn''t you say that your father left you before you were born?"


    "Yes, my mother always told me that he did."


    "Hmm¡­ How far back does your memories reach?"


    "I can remember most of the things that happened since I was around two years old. On my second birthday, my mind went blank."


    "Wow, you sure do have an extraordinary mind! But your mind went blank?"


    "Yes. My mother said that it was normal, since I was so young."


    "Hmm¡­ I think that your father left after you were born. He probably erased your memories before he left."


    "¡­"


    "You don''t believe me?"


    "I do, but¡­"


    "But?"


    "It makes me sad that I can''t remember anything about my father. To think that he erased my memories of him and made me live a lie¡­"


    "I understand that it breaks your heart¡­ I swear that I''ll help you retrieve your memories one day! The heavens shall bear witness to my words!"


    Swearing and having the heavens bear witness also meant that if one were to go back on one''s words, one shall be punished by the heavens! This were no small act! Hearing his teacher say all of this¡­ it truly warmed Xiao Huoyan''s heart. Streams of tears started flowing down his cheeks.


    "Why are you crying? Did I say something wrong?"


    Hearing the panic in Jin Long''s voice, Xiao Huoyan couldn''t help but to reveal a beaming smile as he said:


    "No¡­ These are tears of happiness!"

 6 Ch. 6 - A Blessing By The Heavens!

    Seeing his dear disciple so happy, Jin Long couldn''t help but feel very grateful. To think that he would actually find such an amazing disciple! Xiao Huoyan sure is the disciple everybody would dream of having! His potential was truly unmeasurable. He was smart, strong, kind and caring. He was not the least bit arrogant, even though he knew that he was both smarter and stronger than even most adults.


    "You hungry?"


    "Uhm¡­ a little."


    "Then do not worry my dear disciple! I, Jin Long, happen to be an amazing cook! How do you wish for me to cook this Fire Serpent?"


    Jin Long said while patting his chest, looking extremely proud with a beaming smile on his face.


    "Cook? Why do you have to cook it?"


    "Well, you couldn''t possibly think of eating it raw, right?"


    As Jin Long said that, he couldn''t help but laugh a little.


    "I''ve never cooked anything before. I always ate it like it was."


    "What?! But Fire Serpents are extremely venomous!"


    "I know, but it has never really affected me."


    "Ok, but would you like to have a taste of my cooking? I can guarantee that it will taste a lot better than eating it raw!"


    Jin Long said and started to smile again.


    "Well then please cook it as you wish!"


    As he said this, Xiao Huoyan was also smiling brightly.


    "Then I shall grill this Fire Serpent!"


    "Hahaha, ok. Can I try too?"


    "Of course, you can. But be careful not to burn yourself."


    "Ok!"


    Then they both helped each other prepare the Fire Serpent. They Xiao Huoyan used one of his spirit essences to light a fire. Then they started to grill it.


    To make it more fun, they decided that Xiao Huoyan would have to eat the part that Jin Long had grilled, while Jin Long would have to eat the one Xiao Huoyan had grilled.


    Jin Long knew that since Xiao Huoyan had never grilled anything before, it was most likely to become half raw or burned to a crisp. Whether it taste good or not, he would still eat it. It would be worth it as long as he would be able to see his dear disciples bright smile.


    "The food is finished!"


    As he said that he brought his part of the grilled Fire Serpent to Xiao Huoyan. But when he saw Xiao Huoyan sitting quietly on the ground, he was greatly surprised.


    Xiao Huoyan''s piece of the Fire Serpent was levitating in the air! And beneath it was Xiao Huoyan was holding his hand, while his palm was emitting a small flame. He had great control of his fire, and the piece of meat that was levitating in the air, moved very slowly.


    Seeing as Xiao Huoyan was sitting there, cross-legged on the ground, while looking so concentrated and grilling his piece of meat so skilfully, Jin Long was shocked beyond belief.


    ''How could this possibly be his first time doing this?!'', Jin Long thought to himself.


    "You sure this is the first time you''ve done


    this, my dear disciple?"


    Jin Long couldn''t help but ask.


    "Oh, I''m sorry if it''s not good enough. I promise I''ll try harder next time!"


    "That''s not what I meant!"


    "¡­Then what did you mean?"


    "I meant that this couldn''t possibly be your first time grilling something since you''re doing it so skilfully. It''s as if you haven''t done anything else for all your life!"


    "Really?! Then here!"


    As he said that, Xiao Huoyan smiled while the piece of meat flew towards Jin Long, stopping only a few inches from Jin Long''s face.


    Seeing as Xiao Huoyan could make it move as he pleased, Jin Long understood that it was probably another of his spirit essences.


    "How many spirit essences do you have?"


    "Uhm¡­ let''s see¡­"


    And as Xiao Huoyan said that he started to count them one by one.


    "¡­ one, two, three, four¡­"


    As he kept on counting, Jin Long couldn''t help but admire his dear disciple, for his amazing gifts.


    "¡­ seven, eight, nine, ten and eleven!"


    "WHAT?! You actually have ELEVEN spirit essences?!"


    "¡­Uhm, yes."


    "Then quickly tell me!"


    "Tell you?"


    "Yes! Tell me what kind of spirit essences you have!"


    "Uhm¡­ ok. Well it''s: ''Absolute Ice'', ''Silver Lightning'', ''Demonic Flame'', ''Shadows of Darkness'', ''Holy Light'', ''Evil Nightmare Illusions'', ''Vines of Judgement'', ''Asura''s Wrath'', ''Heaven''s eyes'', ''Icy Hurricane'' and ''The Golden Dragon''."


    "WHAT?!?! You even absorbed my second spirit essence without me knowing it?!


    "Oh¡­ about that¡­ It was an accident! I didn''t know about it since just now either."


    "Ok, then that''s fine, but how come you have so many top tier spirit essences?! All of them are in the top 50! If you only collected them from people who came here, then I wonder who the hell those people were?!"


    "I don''t know who they were either. I just know that they were bad people. Some of them even tried to force me to come with them! How rude!"


    "Yeah! Trying to take away my dear disciple against his will? Hmph! They deserved to lose their lives!"


    "¡­"


    "Hmm? Did I say something wrong, my dear disciple?"


    "¡­ I didn''t mean to kill them. I went ''insane'' and had no control. I didn''t want them to die!"


    And as he finished saying that, he started to cry. Seeing his dear disciple cry, Jin Long felt as if his heart was going to brake. He wanted to do something, but he didn''t know what.


    "I''m sorry. I know it wasn''t your fault. You didn''t mean for them to die, but I''m happy that you killed them."


    "Why?"


    "Because if you didn''t kill them, then I might not would''ve had the chance to meet you. If you would''ve let them go, I''m afraid that they would''ve exposed your secret."


    "But I never treated it like a secret. Besides, what''s wrong with letting the world know that I''m too strong for them to bully?"


    "Have you heard of the royal family?"


    Hearing Jin Long''s question, Xiao Huoyan couldn''t help but let out a sigh of disappointment.


    "What the hell are you sighing for?!"


    "Just because I''ve never taken a step outside of this array, doesn''t mean that I''m stupid to the point where I don''t even know about the existence of the royal family!"


    "Oh¡­ S-sorry. But what did you say about


    you, never taken a step outside of ''this array''?"


    "Hahahaha, didn''t you know? We''re currently inside an array. You really must have ended up here by chance, just like everybody else that have ever come here."


    "You¡­! Don''t make fun of your teacher!"


    "Haha, ok sorry. The array confuses you by using different kinds of illusions. If you stray of from the right path even once, you will forever be lost inside of it."


    As he said that, Xiao Huoyan had a proud smile on his face.


    "Wow¡­ May I know what this array is called?"


    "Sure! It''s called ''Death''s road of Illusions'' and should be an eight ranked array."


    "Eight rank?!"


    "Yes."


    "Could it have been your father who left this array here, before he left?"


    "Hahaha!"


    "What the hell are you laughing at again?! Didn''t I tell you to stop making fun of your dear teacher?!"


    "Hahaha, sorry! It''s just¡­ I already know who made this array, and it''s someone really strong!"


    "You already know?! Then, hurry up and tell me already!"


    "Well, the super strong and amazing person who laid this array is¡­"


    "Just tell me already!"


    "It''s¡­ me!"


    Xiao Huoyan let out a beaming smile. He looked very proud.


    "YOU?!"


    "Yeah, ME!"


    "To think that you''re actually capable of laying an eight ranked array all by yourself! But who taught you this array?"


    "Self-taught."


    "You''re kidding, right?"


    "No, I''m not! I accidently created it while playing wit some of my spirit essences!"


    "Which spirit essences did you use to create such an amazing array?"


    "Uhm¡­ let''s see¡­ I used ''Evil Nightmare Illusions'', ''Shadows of Darkness'' and ''Heaven''s Eyes''."


    "You actually used three spirit essences at the same time?!"


    "Uhm, yes."


    "Then, how many can you use at the same time?"


    "I don''t know. I''ve never tried using more than five at the same time."


    "Five?! Then how about we try it out right now?"


    "You mean I''m supposed to try and use as many of my spirit essences at the same time, to see when I reach my limit?"


    "Exactly!"


    "Ok, then I''ll start right now!"


    As he finished his sentence, Xiao Huoyan started to use them all at the same time! Jin Long originally meant that he should calmly add them one at a time, but Xiao Huoyan actually started to use all eleven at the same time!


    "How long am I supposed to do this for?"


    "Until you feel tired."


    3 hours later, Xiao Huoyan was still continuing without showing any sign of wanting to quit. This made Jin Long feel astonished beyond belief!


    "Don''t you feel tired yet?"


    "Not really."


    "You can stop now. I''ve seen enough. To think that you can actually use all of them at the same time incessantly for more than 3 whole hours!"


    Jin Long shouted excitedly! He was truly happy to have found such an amazing and talented disciple.


    As soon as he came back to his senses, he cleared his throat and quickly changed the topic.


    "Ok, go back to bed now! We''ll begin our travel tomorrow morning, so rest well!"


    "Rest well teacher!"


    Then they both went to bed. Xiao Huoyan let Jin long stay in his bed, and so they slept side by side.


    "What are you thinking about, my dear disciple?"


    "¡­ I miss my parents¡­"


    "Then what would you say if I told you that I could be-"


    "Are you for real?!"


    "Hahaha, you didn''t even let me finish speaking!"


    "S-sorry, but do you really mean it?!"


    "Yes, I mean it. If you''d like, I could adopt you legally as soon as possible."


    "¡­"


    "You don''t'' want to?"


    "Thank you."


    "For what?"


    "For being like the father I''ve never known."


    Hearing this, Jin Long really felt his heart melt.


    "To have a son like you is truly a blessing by the heavens!"

 7 Ch. 7 - Please, promise me!

    Now they were both crying with bright smiles on their faces. They were truly happy. Now none of them would ever have to feel alone.


    Soon they both fell asleep. They hadn''t known each other for that long and yet they were already as close as family.


    A few hours later, Jin Long woke up. The spot beside Jin Long were empty, but this time, he did not feel panic at all. He knew that Xiao Huoyan couldn''t have left.


    After seeing how happy and excited Xiao Huoyan had been the night before, he knew that he couldn''t have possibly left.


    Jin Long was full of energy. He rose up from the bed and went over to the door, but as soon as he was about to open the door, it got opened from the outside.


    Through the door came Xiao Houyan. He was holding a plate with many kinds of fruits on as well as a cup of water.


    "Wake up, it''s time for breakfast!"


    Right after saying that, he noticed that Jin Long was behind the door.


    "Morning, teacher! Uhm... what are you doing back there?"


    "Eh... morning! Well, thanks to a certian ''someone'', I got smashed against the wall when this ''someone'' opened the door!"


    "O-oh, sorry! But I''ve prepared breakfast!"


    Hearing that, Jin Long heaved a deep sigh. Xiao Huoyan was truly a good and innocent child. He had done a lot of bad things while not being himself, but the fact that he actually regretted it, is enough to know that he''s a good person by heart.


    "Thank you, my dear di-..."


    "Hm?"


    "... After yesterdays talk, I''m not sure what I''m supposed to call you. We already decided that I''d adopt you legally as soon as possible, but even as my son, you would still be my first and only disciple."


    "... You''re right. So, what am I supposed to call you?"


    Jin Long thought of it for quite a while, then he suddenly remembered what happened yesterday. He started to remember how excited Xiao Huoyan had been. Those big and bright eyes, they were filled with both happiness and excitement. Those eyes were something Jin Long knew that he''d never forget.


    "Since we''ve ready decided to be a family, then how about, from now on you call me father instead of teacher? But if you don''t want to, you can just keep calling me teacher. It''s up to y--"


    "--Father!"


    "Geez! Won''t you let me speak until I''m finished?!"


    "Haha, sorry... father!"


    As he said ''father'', Xiao Huoyan smiled brightly. Hearing his now dear son call him father with such a bright smile on his face, Jin Long felt his heart melting into a puddle of happiness. He couldn''t think of a time when he''d been happier.


    He gladly ate the breakfast prepared by his son. While Jin Long ate, Xiao Huoyan started to think about how it would be outside. He felt a little sad knowing that he might be unable to ever come back. Jin Long noticed his son''s worried and sad expression. He understood the reason, yet he didn''t know how to comfort him.


    "I understand that you might be sad about leaving this place. I know that it can be hard to leave a place that you grew up in and are familiar with, just to go to a place that you know nothing about. You just have to take it all in slowly."


    "Take what in slowly?"


    Xiao Huoyan looked a little confused. What was he supposed to take in?


    "Information, knowledge and stuff. When you learn more about the outside and what waits for you there, you''ll understand that it was good to leave this forest."


    "But my mother said that I would become the most knowledgeable person there is."


    "You''re only five years old. I do believe that you will stand on the peak of humanity, but that doesn''t change the fact that you currently only five years old. How much could you have learnt on that short time? You''re simply too young to--"


    "--I know that I''m young, but I have abilities that other can only dream of."


    "Geez, will you stop interrupting me?! I know about your abilities, but to go invisible, go ''insane'', or absorb someone else''s spirit essence will not help you increase your knowledge."


    "¡­But it will."


    "Huh?!"


    Hearing that, Jin Long felt as if he had just explained everything to goddamn pole or something. What his dear son had said didn''t make any sense! Unless¡­


    "I--"


    "¡ªYou can read minds, or maybe you can absorb knowledge and memories¡­ right?!"


    "Now, who interrupted who?"


    "That''s not important! Just answer my question!"


    "Right, sorry! I can read minds and I can absorb both knowledge and memories, but if I absorb someone''s memories, their memories will get either wiped out or temporarily sealed. That will depend on how much I absorb. I can either absorb all of it, causing the memories to be wiped out, or I can absorb fragments of it, causing the memories to be temporarily sealed."


    "¡­ Can you ''give'' the memories back?"


    "Yes, I can."


    "How do you read their minds? Could you possibly seal a portion of that power into an object, so that it could be used by anyone?"


    "I just focus my thoughts on that person, and then I enter a space. Then it''s like all of their memories rush against me like a huge wave. Now I''ve learnt to control that ''wave'' to the point where I can search for certain memories. I could create a small orb which can be used by whose ever blood I use to create the orb."


    "Hm¡­ how much blood would you need, and which of the two effects would that orb have?"


    "I would only need a drop of blood, and the orb would not erase somebody''s memories, only temporarily seal them."


    "How long would this orb keep the other person''s memories sealed?"


    "That would depend on how big that orb would be."


    "Then¡­ could you make me one that can seal another person''s memories for about¡­ half a year?"


    "Of course! But why do you need it?"


    "If we run into some trouble on our way through the forest, then I would like to use it on you to make you forget me, your gifts and the people who killed me."


    "WHY?!"


    "Because I want you to be safe. I want you to forget about me and the people who killed me, so that you won''t go ''insane'', and I want you to forget about you gifts so that you will have no way of exposing them."


    "If that''s really what you want¡­ then I will make you one¡­ but why will you only seal it temporarily then? What will happen when I regain my memories?"


    "When you regain your memories, I hope that you will already have found someone whom you can trust. Someone who will take care of you without thinking of gaining benefits from your special abilities. By then you can try to get into a great school and start learning techniques, so that you can get strong enough to avenge me."


    "¡­"


    "I know that this makes you sad, but I just want you to be safe. And about that orb¡­ could you imply some of that invisibility into it? I want you to be able to hide from them, even after losing your memories."


    "Yes¡­"


    "I want you to promise me something."


    "Anything!"


    "If we meet with trouble on our way through the forest, then you have to listen to my every command, absorb all of my memories before I die, keep this letter with information that you''ll need when you wake up and¡­"


    "And what?"


    "¡­And please live on well!"


    "¡­"


    "Please, promise me!"

 8 Ch. 8 - Die Without Regret!

    "I-I promise!"


    "¡­ Good¡­"


    "But why would I need to absorb your memories?"


    "All the knowledge I''ve gathered outside, the techniques I''ve collected, as well as the place where I want you to go to when your memories reawaken¡­ All of that resides inside of my memories. I want to pass down everything I know down to you before I die."


    "¡­ How come you seem so sure that those bad guys will attack you on our way out?"


    "They and I are of the same clan and we''ve known each other for years. I simply just know that they will show up!"


    "Hmm¡­ Shouldn''t they think that you''re dead or something? They poisoned you with a poison without cure, and on top of that, that poison should be able to kill you within five to six hours, right?"


    "You are indeed right."


    "So then why? Why would they keep looking for you, knowing that you should already be dead?"


    "There are rumours about this fores--"


    "--What rumours??"


    As his son once again interrupted him, he decided to give up. Getting worked up over something like that won''t help in our current situation. ''Better say what I want to¡­ while I still have the chance to speak with this son of mine'', Jin Long thought and heaved a deep sigh.


    "Rumours about a hidden expert who can do both good and evil. They say that it depends on the heart of the person who''s passing through the forest. If the heart''s not pure enough, he shall kill that person without even blinking, but if the heart''s pure enough, he shall reward that person with an elixir that can heal any even the most severe injuries. It''s said that this elixir can heal someone, even at the brink of death!


    All the alchemist''s associations in the neighbouring cities are trying to find out what''s inside that miraculous elixir, and the young man who brought it back from the forest is now famous."


    "Hmm¡­ I did indeed lose a small jade bottle with a few drops of my blood to someone who came by¡­ May I ask for his name?"


    "His name''s Xingyun Feng."


    "Hmm¡­ As I thought, it''s him. To think that he actually came up with such a convincing story, as an excuse!"


    "What?! That miraculous elixir was just your blood?! And what damn excuse??"


    "Hmph! He''s just a thief who found it while wandering around in the forest! It had a If he has a pure heart then I''m the king of this continent!"


    "I''m sorry, but I don''t understand. Since your stronger than him, why didn''t you just stop him?"


    "I didn''t know if anyone around was observing, so I didn''t want to just walk out, kill somebody and take it back."


    "Why would there be anyone in the forest just quietly observing?"


    "To be able to venture that deep into the forest, he couldn''t have done it alone."


    "¡­You''re right."


    "I figured it would be fine to let him take the bottle--"


    "--So you just gave it to him?!"


    "I took something in exchange."


    "What did you take?"


    "I absorbed both his spirit essences and a part of his memories. That''s how I knew his name."


    "That guy has dual spirit essence too?!"


    "Yes, he HAD."


    "Did you--?"


    "--Yes, I absorbed both of his spirit essences completely. He is now a commoner without spirit essence."


    "Isn''t that too high of a price? I mean, he didn''t know it belonged to you and besides, you have plenty. So why did he have to pay such a high price for an honest mistake?"


    "But it wasn''t an honest mistake. He did it on purpose!"


    "How do you know?"


    "Because I already warned him!"


    "But didn''t you say stayed hidden?"


    "I did indeed stay hidden, but I also didn''t talk with him face to face. I just sent a mental message, warning him about the consequences of stealing from me!"


    "¡­Then I guess he did it on purpose¡­"


    "He even dared to threaten me, saying that his clan was going to give me a painful death!"


    "Since he did all that, why did you let him go? I''m pretty sure that you would''ve been able to kill those so-called hidden experts, right?"


    "You are indeed right. I had a purpose of letting him go."


    "What purpose?"


    "He would be able to spread the news about him venturing into the forest, being threatened by me and in the end, losing both of his spirit essences. Then, hopefully people would give up on coming here."


    "To think that you actually managed to predict so much with just the little time and information you had! Just¡­ WOW!"


    For every word that Xiao Huyan spoke, Jin Long realised more and more that his dear son was more mature than most adults. And not only was he mature, he was also extremely clever and quick-witted.


    To be able to predict another person''s future actions as well as the response of the world, that was something that Jin Long himself was unable to do.


    "You sure are extraordinary!"


    "Thank you, father!"


    Hearing how happy his dear son got after just a few words of praise, Jin Long felt his chest getting warm and his heart melting once again.


    "Haha, shall we start packing now then?"


    "I''ve already packed our stuff!"


    "Oh¡­ then shall we get going?"


    "¡­"


    This time Xiao Huoyan didn''t answer. He just stared out the window, in silence. Then he suddenly turned his head to Jin Long again.


    "Yes!"


    Xiao Huoyan seemed to have made his final decision¡­ and he had decided to go. That made Jin Long feel relieved.


    As they now had begun walking, they also started talking. Jin Long wanted to present some ''rules'' that he wanted his son to follow no matter what.


    "You are not allowed to speak about any of your abilities to anyone, expose them by using them in front of other people recklessly, turn ''insane'' in front too many people unless you plan to kill them too, and last but not least, you have to keep this letter close to you! You are not allowed to read it until after the effects of the orb wears off. It''s written on the letter, since you''re going to forget about this conversation. The rules are written in the letter as well as some other necessary things to know."


    "¡­"


    "What is it? Was something unclear?"


    "¡­ No, I understand, but it''s just¡­ How can you be so sure that your going to die somewhere in here? Maybe they''ve already gone back to


    your clan and reported you as dead?"


    "They wouldn''t do that unless they''ve personally witnessed my corpse."


    "Well, that does make sense¡­ But why won''t you just let me kill them?"


    "Because you''re a good kid. I don''t want you to go ''insane'' just for the sake of killing them. If someone of them manages to escape, then you''ll be in trouble. I don''t dare to risk anything. Besides, I''ve already lived enough. To be able to save my dear son''s life, what is my life in comparison to that?"


    "How come you have ''lived enough''?! You''re only in your early thirties!"


    "Hahaha, no I''m not!"


    "Then are you only in your late twenties?"


    "Haha, I''m certainly not that young!"


    "Then, how old are you really?"


    "Don''t you know it''s rude to ask someone else''s age?"


    "Cut the crap already and just answer!"


    "Geez, how impatient you are! Haha, I''m almost two hundred years old. If I haven''t lived enough, then who has?"


    "T-t-two h-hundred?!?!"


    "Yeah, almost."


    "Why didn''t you tell me you were an old geezer before?!"


    "Who the hell are you calling an old geezer?!"


    "You¡­ obviously!"


    "What do you mean ''obviously''?! I probably look younger than your parents!"


    "You are my parent, haha!"


    "Oh¡­ right, hahaha!"


    "Shh, quiet! I think I sensed something!"


    "What?!"


    "Is it ''them''?!"


    "I think so¡­"


    "Then, what do we do?!"


    "Did you prepare the orb?"


    "Yes, I prepared it this morning, how so?"


    "Good! For now, I just want you to be quiet, go invisible, hide your aura like I taught you, take this map and continue to walk beside me until they arrive. When they do, you just have to hide somewhere close by, and use the orb as soon as I die."


    "Do you really have to die?"


    "Unfortunately, yes."


    "I''ll miss you!"


    Back then he already knew that he didn''t have much time left, and that he would very possibly die in the forest as soon as they got out of the array, but he didn''t regret anything.


    "I''ll miss you too, my dear son! Having been able to find such an extraordinary and kindhearted son as you, I, Jin Long truly feel that I can die without regret!"

 9 Ch. 9 - Letting You Know What You’re Up Against!

    "Don''t say that!"


    "Didn''t I tell you to be quiet?! If you want to talk so much, why don''t you use mental messages instead?"


    "Sorry¡­"


    "Regarding what you said before, I don''t want to lie to you, that''s why I''m telling you everything beforehand."


    "¡­ At least I had a father for a little while¡­ Why?! Why are the happy moments always so damn short?!"


    "Just because I''m about to die, doesn''t mean that I''ll stop being your father. Even though I''ve only known you for less than a week, I still think of you as my son. That is something that won''t ever change!"


    "How can you be so sure?"


    "¡­ I-I¡­"


    "I want the world to know that I''m your son¡­ I don''t want them to think of me as an orphan¡­ I don''t want them to pity me or anything¡­"


    "That''s not a bad idea!"


    "What?"


    "You won''t be able to use your real name in the outside world. That''s why I should give you a new name to use in the outside world!"


    "Why wouldn''t I be able to use my real name?"


    "Because I believe that your father is still alive¡­ I don''t know who he is, but he must be someone extremely powerful! Powerful people usually have powerful enemies.


    There''s probably a reason as to why you and your mother continued to live in this place, even after your father left¡­"


    "You''re right¡­ Then, what''s my new name?"


    "Your name shall be¡­ Jin Xin!"


    "¡­ Jin¡­ Xin¡­"


    "You don''t like it?"


    "¡­ No, I love it!"


    "Well that''s good to hear! Then I''ll write it down in the letter, so that you''ll remember it!"


    "Oh, right! Here!"


    Xiao Huoyan took out the letter from his pocket and gave it to his father, with a smile. Seeing his dear son smile, always made Jin Long''s chest feel warm.


    ''I truly admire this wonderful son of mine¡­ To be able to smile like that, even after everything that he has been through, is really admirable!''


    As Jin Long thought that to himself, he couldn''t help to smile back at his dear son.


    "If only we could stay like this forever¡­ Smiling, happy and together¡­ that would be perfect!"


    "You''re right¡­ If only I''d met you earlier¡­ If only I would''ve been born as a commoner, without all of these murderous bastards trying to kill me¡­"


    "Didn''t you say that you could now die without regret?"


    "These aren''t regrets¡­ they''re just wishes."


    "¡­ Maybe you''re right¡­"


    "This father of yours is always right!"


    Jin Long said that with a beaming smile, yet in his heart, he could feel a pitch-black web enveloping his heart, as he fell down a dark pit¡­ Just endlessly falling¡­


    He didn''t want to leave so soon. He knew that his dear son would feel sad, alone and, soon enough, even deep hatred.


    "I''m doing this to protect you¡­ I--"


    "--I understand. I won''t blame you for doing any of this¡­"


    "Thank you for being so understanding."


    "¡­ I''ll miss you a lot¡­"


    "I''ll miss you too¡­"


    Now they were both just walking beside each other in silence. They both felt that they had a lot more to say, yet they chose to keep quiet. Jin Long could feel five familiar auras moving closer to them.


    "They''ll arrive soon¡­"


    "¡­"


    "Do you want to leave?"


    "¡­ No."


    "Are you sure?"


    "Yes."


    "Then, please don''t forget our promise! Think carefully before trusting someone!"


    "I will!"


    "Good¡­"


    Xiao Huoyan felt something flying at a rapid speed. He felt that it was an object, and it headed straight towards his father. He didn''t have time to call out, so he just acted on impulse. He threw himself in front of his father and took the arrow.


    Right after that five shadows began to emerge from all around them. They''d arrive!


    "What?! Why didn''t the arrow hit the target?!"


    "I-I don''t know, I just--"


    "ENOUGH!"


    "You finally caught up¡­"


    "Did you really think that escaping here would save you?"


    "Well, I''m looking fine right now, right?"


    "Hmm¡­ you''re right¡­ How come you haven''t died yet?"


    "Didn''t you come to kill me?"


    "Don''t flatter yourself! We just came to destroy your corpse!"


    "Hahaha, then all of you must be quite disappointed right now!


    "Enough with the bullshit! I asked you why you aren''t dead yet, and I have yet to receive an answer!"


    "Geez! I see your temper''s still the same, haha!"


    "Don''t test my patience!"


    "Fine! Enough with the screaming already!"


    "I warn yo--"


    "--I''ve been cured!"


    "¡­"


    Everyone went quiet.


    "Finally, some silence! How peaceful!"


    "How? HOW?!"


    "Speak clearly. ''How'' what?"


    "How come you aren''t already dead?!How come you''ve been cured?! You must be lying!"


    "Haha, I''m not lying!"


    "Then who cured you?!"


    "That amazing son of mine!"


    Jin Long shut his eyes and said, while turning his face up to the sky. He was now smiling brighter than ever before. He was really happy to have a son. Especially since his son was so outstanding!


    ''How many fathers can say that their five year old child has surpassed them since long ago?'' Jin Long thought while still smiling brightly.


    "Are you saying that your non-existent son cured an incurable poison?"


    "Yes!"


    "You can''t expect me to believe a lie that obvious! Do you think I''m as stupid as you?!"


    "You asked and I answered! I don''t give a shit about whether you choose to believe me or not."


    "If you told the truth, then where is this ''amazing son'' of yours?"


    "I-I told him to leave¡­"


    "Hmm¡­ Interesting. Qiang Da!"


    "Yes, leader!"


    "Chase after the child!"


    "Yes, leader--"


    "--Wait! Take Feng Li with you."


    "¡­ Why? Isn''t he just a child?"


    "You dare question me?!"


    "N-no, of course n-not! I-I just don''t understand--"


    "You don''t need to understand! Just do as I say! Do you really think that a normal child would be able to cure ''that'' poison?! Use your head once in a while!"


    "Yes, leader!"


    "What are you standing there for?! GO!"


    "Y-yes, leader!"


    Qiang Da and Feng Li hurried back into the depths of the wood. They didn''t know where to search. They only knew that they had to find that little boy as soon as possible!


    "Hahahahaha!"


    "What the hell are you laughing at?! Are you really that eager to die?!"


    "Hahaha, sorry! It''s just¡­"


    "What?!"


    "Do you care for your subordinates?"


    "Why do you ask?"


    "Nothing special¡­"


    "Just spit it out already!"


    "Haha, fine! If you do care about your subordinates, then you better get down and pray!"


    "Pray for what?! Speak clearly!"


    "Pray that they won''t find my son! If they do, I can promise you that they won''t come back alive!"


    "Hahaha! Now it''s my turn to laugh! With us surrounding you, what can you possibly do to them?"


    "Hahahaha!"


    "You''re in no position to threaten us!"


    "When did I say that I would be the one killing them?"


    "How old is your son?"


    "¡­ Five."


    "Do you really expect a five year old little kid--"


    "Don''t be so quick to judge my son. He''s already stronger than me!"


    "How could a five year old little kid be stronger than you?! Stop kidding around!"


    "It''s true. I''m can''t even match up to him!"


    "If he''s really this powerful, why isn''t he here to help you?"


    "Because I told him to leave."


    "Then, why did you tell us all of these?"


    "Haha, I was just letting you know what you''re up against!"

 10 Ch. 10 - Thank you…

    "Since when did you get a son?!"


    "He''s not my real son¡­"


    "Oh¡­ then that''s interesting!"


    "¡­ Who is your son''s real father?"


    "I don''t know¡­"


    "Then, who''s his mother?"


    "You''re not qualified to know! You don''t deserve to know who she was!"


    " ''Was''? Then she''s dead?"


    "That''s none of your business!"


    "Does he know that you''re not his real father?"


    "Of course, he knows! I''d never hide something that important!"


    "Then--"


    "--What''s up with all of these questions all of a sudden?!"


    "Did I ever force you to answer? I''ll admit that my voice might have been a little threatening, but if you would''ve wanted to keep it all a secret, then you would''ve taken those secrets with you to your grave, right?"


    "I-I¡­"


    "I understand that you care for this boy, but why are you willing to risk your life just so that he might escape? Since he''s not your biological son, do you really think that he''ll revenge you?"


    "He might not be my biological son, but in my heart he''s just as important! I know he will revenge me! He already has the power to wipe all of you out in an instant!"


    "Then why isn''t he here, wiping us all out in an instant?! Why is he escaping if he''s that powerful?!"


    "Because he''s obedient! I told him to leave!"


    "WHY?!"


    "Because¡­ I want him to have a rather normal childhood. Even though I know that it''s quite impossible, since he''s such an outstanding little boy, his achievements will be way better than mine. He''s already stronger than me by far. His future is limitless!"


    "You''re so na?ve! Did you really think that we''d believe you? A five-year-old child can''t possibly be stronger than The Golden Dragon himself!"


    ''The Golden Dragon¡­'', Xiao Huoyan thought to himself. ''So that''s why he chose to name me Jin Xin¡­''


    "I''m not lying. The very first time we met, he saved me from your poison, and later on the same day, he almost killed me. Do you really think that I''d swallow my ego and praise a child whom I''ve only known for 2 days, to this extent? Who''s na?ve now?"


    "You¡­!"


    "You better say your last words quickly, or you''ll die with all of those ''oh-so interesting'' words stuck inside of your stupid little brain, while rotting in hell!"


    "Oh, me? I''m going to heaven to wait for my that lovely son of mine. I know he won''t forget about me. He''ll come to see me when he becomes an Immortal!"


    "He? An Immortal? Do you really think that he''ll be able to become even more powerful than a God?! Not even you could achieve that, and you''re already around two hundred years! Stop fooling yourself!"


    "Who''s fooling himself? I only spoke the truth!"


    "You¡­! Prepare to die!"


    "I was just about to say the same."


    "Wha--?!"


    "--Since I''m bound to perish today, why not take all of you with me?"


    Jin Long sneered while picking something up from his pocket. It was an orb, but this one was somewhat different. It didn''t erase minds, it erased people. That small little orb was only as big as an eyeball, yet it actually contained fifteen different kinds of spirit essences. Jin Long had asked his son to make it, right before they set out into the woods.


    This was a bomb!


    "What the hell are yo--?!"


    "--My dear son¡­ I''m sorry for destroying your home, please don''t blame me too much!"


    "Of course I won''t blame you! You''ll be my father through life and death, no matter what! I-I''ll miss you¡­"


    Hearing his dear son''s voice, Jin Long got startled. He turned around and smiled at his son a last time.


    "I''ll miss you too¡­ Protect yourself well!"


    Then he used the scroll that his son had given him together with the orb to detonated it. People could hear the loud bang from miles away.


    Xiao Huoyan, who had been in the middle of it all, just smiled bitterly while a single tear ran down his cheek. There weren''t even a corpse left from his father. The explosion had turned everyone in the entire forest, into ashes. Ashes to be blown away by the wind.


    "Before you died¡­ I made a promise which I intend to keep!"


    Xiao Huoyan''s eyes were now filled with determination. He understood that those who''d been in the forest, weren''t the only ones who had schemed against his father.


    He knew that he had to revenge his father, but he also understood that now wasn''t the right time.


    "As a start, I should probably use the orb¡­ It''s only half a year. Soon enough, I''ll remember you again."


    Xiao Huoyan began to activate the orb with a bitter smile on his face. Then he fell to the ground with his memories erased. He knew that they''d come back after half a year, yet he didn''t want to forget his dear father for even a second.


    He didn''t lay there for long. Soon after he fell to the ground unconscious, many people came by to see what had happened. Everything within the entire forest had turned into ashes. How could people just ignore that.


    Many people came rushing to see what had caused all of this destruction. But when they found nothing but ashes and a little boy laying on the ground, they all got extremely shocked.


    "This boy¡­ Could he have been the one who destroyed the forest?"


    "Don''t be silly. How could such a small little boy have done all of this. It must have been that damn expert!"


    "Do you mean the expert that was rumoured to live inside of the forest?"


    "Who else would be able to cause such a big explosion?!"


    While the people who had all came rushing were discussing what they thought had happened, Xiao Huoyan slowly began to regain his consciousness.


    "Hmm¡­?"


    "He woke up!"


    "The boy woke up!"


    "Do you think he''s knows the hidden expert?!"


    When they saw that Xiao Huoyan had woken up, they all began to discuss even more eagerly.


    "PLEASE BE QUIET!"


    "¡­ He spoke!"


    "Yes, I did. I''m not mute."


    Everyone shut their mouths, and it became as quiet as if everyone had gone mute. Xiao Huoyan heaved a deep sigh of relief.


    "Finally, quiet¡­"


    "E-excuse me, d-do you know who d-did all of this?"


    "I¡­ I can''t remember."


    "What do you mean you ''can''t remember''?!"


    "I mean exactly what I said! I¡­ CAN''T¡­ REMEMBER!"


    "Then, do yo--"


    "Please, just stop!"


    "Why are you in such a bad mood? You should be happy! You actually survived such a huge explosion!"


    "Oh, you''re one to talk. I bet you''d be just as mad as I am, if you''d been the one who lost all memories! I can''t even remember my own name!"


    "¡­"


    Everyone went quiet again.


    "¡­ Make way¡­ make way¡­ ouch, careful! Geez!"


    A man tried to force his way through the crowd.


    "Who are you?"


    "You don''t remember me?"


    "No, I don''t."


    "I''m your dear father! How can you not remember me? Oh, poor son! I''ll take you home right away!"


    "¡­ You''re lying¡­"


    "What?"


    "I said, YOU''RE LYING!"


    "¡­ You¡­ You can''t be serious right? I''m your father!"


    "No, you''re not!"


    "Didn''t you say you lost all of your memories? Stop with all nonsense and come with me now, okay?"


    "No¡­ I might not remember who I am, but I know you''re not my father!"


    "My father gave his life to protect me from them!"


    "Who are ''them''?"


    "I-I¡­ can''t remember¡­ I just know that you''re not my father."


    "You¡­!"


    The man walked closer to Xiao Huoyan, raised his hand and was about to slap him. Then another unknown man came and grabbed his wrist.


    "What kind of father would hit his dear son in public?"


    "I-I-I¡­"


    The unknown man turned to Xiao Huoyan and smiled.


    "Your father sent me."


    "My father''s dead!"


    "He sent a letter."


    "Proof?"


    "He told me that there''s a letter in your pocket. A letter that you''re not allowed to read until we arrive at a place far from here."


    "How much do you know about me?"


    "I know that your name''s Jin Xin and that your five years old. Your father also told me about you being special. He said you have special abilities that can''t be revealed."


    "What ability?"


    "He didn''t say."


    "¡­"


    "Do you want to come with me?"


    "I don''t know why¡­ but I feel that I can trust you¡­"


    "Maybe your father told you about me before he died?"


    "¡­ Your name?"


    "Oh, how rude of me! I forgot to introduce myself! My name''s Jin Niao and I''m your uncle."


    Hearing who the strange man was, the crowd all dropped their jaws.


    "I-if Jin Niao''s that little boy''s uncle¡­ then doesn''t t-that mean that his f-father''s J-Jin L-Long?!"


    The man who was about to hit Xiao Huoyan before, finally understood who he had been messing with. His face turned ashen as he just stood there in complete shock.


    "Jin¡­ Long¡­ It sounds somewhat familiar."


    "How do you mean ''familiar''?"


    "Important."


    "Then that''s a good start! He said that you would regain your memories in half a year, but that you would possibly be able to recall some fragments from your memories before that."


    "¡­"


    "Shall we take our leave now?"


    "¡­ Fine."


    "Great! Just take my hand."


    "Okay¡­"


    As Xiao Huoyan grabbed his uncle''s hand, they both flew up in the sky, leaving the crowd beneath them shocked beyond belief.


    "Are you sad?"


    "I don''t know¡­"


    "You don''t know?"


    "I just want to regain my memories."


    "Well, I have good news!"


    "What?"


    "Since you''re almost six, I can test your spirit essence, battle power and talent! To be able to make my brother take you in as his son, you must be quite extraordinary!"


    "¡­ So, this Jin Long isn''t my real father?"


    "I''m afraid he isn''t¡­ Do you hate him for it?"


    "No¡­ I''m happier¡­"


    "Happier?!"


    "Yes¡­"


    "Why?"


    "Because that shows that he is a good person. He must have loved me a lot to have given me the name ''Jin Xin''. Someone who takes another child as their own and treats them with love, can''t be a bad person right?"


    "Hahaha¡­ You''re right!"


    "Too bad I''ll never see him again¡­"


    "Don''t be so sure! He told me about a promise that between you two--"


    "What promise?"


    "He weren''t willing to tell. He just said that it had to do with both of you meeting again, and that you''d remember it once you regain your memories."


    "¡­ I know my son will come to see me once he becomes an Immortal¡­"


    "What?"


    "Nothing¡­ I just remembered something¡­"


    "If you say so."


    "Then, where are we going?"


    "To his home. He said that everything he owned should be yours."


    "Really?"


    "Yes! He also said that I must protect you with my life. He said you can''t get agitated nor stressed."


    "Why?"


    "Because then, something bad will happen."


    "¡­"


    "I know it''s hard to take in so much information, especially since you have lost both your memories and your father--"


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    "--That''s not it¡­"


    "Then, what is it?"


    "I''m just¡­"


    "What?"


    "¡­ Thank you."


    "For what?"


    "For taking care of me when we''ve only just met."


    "I promised my brother that I would."


    "That''s not an excuse. You could''ve killed me, or just watch as that strange man from back then, would take me away. You didn''t have to do what you did, yet you did. Thank you¡­"

 11 Ch. 11 - You Have Nothing!

    "You sure are an interesting one¡­"


    "Hmm?"


    "Oh, it''s nothing."


    "If you say so."


    "So¡­ How much do you remember?"


    "Not much. Feelings¡­ words¡­ promises¡­"


    "What feelings?"


    "I-I¡­ I don''t want to talk about it¡­"


    "It''s okay, I understand. Then do you want to tell me about ''words'' and ''promises''?"


    "¡­ I remember hearing someone say, ''Promise me'', ''Take care'', ''You''re special'', ''He''s waiting for you¡­'', and other things that I have yet to understand."


    "Hmm¡­ Do you remember who said it?"


    "No, it''s just words¡­ and promises¡­"


    "Okay."


    "Did my father tell you anything else? Something that''d be good to know?"


    "¡­ Now that you mention it¡­ He wrote something about you feeling extreme pain in your head if someone tried to intrude into your mind."


    "Just that?"


    "According to his words, you get panicked when you feel that kind of pain and then when you panic, you turn violent."


    "How did he know?"


    "Hahaha, because on your first meeting, you almost killed him by accident."


    "How do you almost kill someone by ''accident''?"


    "According to his words, you weren''t yourself. He triggered you by trying to intrude into your mind."


    "Even if that''s the case--"


    "I know that you might blame yourself for it even though you don''t remember it, but you weren''t yourself. He said it was like you turned into a completely different person."


    "¡­"


    "Well¡­ Let''s switch the topic! How about attending school?"


    "It sounds¡­ fun¡­"


    "Great! But you''ll have to go through your awakening first, but that shouldn''t be a problem. According to my brother, you''re already stronger than him and you''re only five years old. You don''t even know any techniques yet! This makes you a genius within geniuses!"


    "Am I really that strong?"


    "Yes, you are. My brother said that even he couldn''t measure strength, and he was The Golden Dragon! He was the second strongest person on this continent!"


    "¡­ Was¡­"


    "Don''t worry about that. He had very high expectations of you."


    "I can imagine."


    "Well, let''s get back quickly! I''m truly curious about your spirit essence! To be able to make both of my brother''s spirit essences tremble, your spirit essence must also be in the top fifteen, right?"


    "I¡­ can''t remember."


    "Oh, right! Sorry!"


    "Oh, it''s fine."


    They flew the rest of the way in silence. Xiao Huoyan really felt that he had to remember his past. He knew that he was more intelligent than most adults. He behaved properly, yet he also knew how to spit poisonous words and insults at the people he despised. He knew that he was different, but he wasn''t sure in what way.


    "We''ve arrived!"


    "Okay."


    "Do you feel tired or do you want to start right now?"


    "I''d like to just get it over with."


    "That''s not really the answer I had expected, but we can work on your enthusiasm later!"


    "Okay."


    "I like how obedient you are! Finding a good kid with decent manners nowadays, is like finding a needle in a haystack! Let''s get started now!"


    "Okay. What shall I do?"


    "You don''t really need to do much. Just stand right where you are and wait for me to finish."


    "Okay."


    Just as his uncle had began to do some weird handseals, Xiao Huoyan  felt as if he was being observed from all directions. He felt as if someone was staring deep into his soul.


    Xiao Huoyan''s uncle suddenly stopped and everything went back to normal.


    "How¡­ How is this possible?!"


    "What?"


    "My spirit essence is gone! It felt as if a part o me cracked! What the hell happened?!"


    "I don''t know."


    "Did you do as I told you to?"


    "Yes, I did."


    "Are you sure?"


    "Yes. Very."


    "Then I guess I''ll have to investigate this later."


    "I''m very sorry to interrupt you while  thinking about your loss, but would you mind telling me about my results?"


    "¡­ Nothing¡­"


    "What do you mean ''nothing''?"


    "I felt nothing! I saw nothing! You have¡­ nothing!"


    "I don''t understand..."


    "Me neither! My brother praised you without end, yet you have no spirit essence, no talent and no battle-power!"


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    "Am I really just¡­ ordinary?"


    "Yes, you are! You''re as ordinary as one can be! You have absolutely nothing!"


    "But do you think that I''ll still be able to attend school?"


    "¡­ Yes, you should be able to. Since your intelligence exceeds even most adults, the school would probably love to welcome you there."


    "Really?"


    "Yes."


    "Then that''s positive."


    "I just don''t understand! How come you have absolutely nothing?! Did you hide it from me on purpose?"


    "No, of course not!"


    "Really?"


    "Yes, I promise. There might be a possibility though¡­"


    "What possibility?!"


    "Maybe I''ll regain my spirit essence as soon as I regain my memories?"


    "¡­ Maybe¡­ Then, do you have an explanation to what happened with my spirit essence?"


    "No. I truly don''t know what happened."


    "My brother said that you could even cure a poison without cure. That your knowledge were something that people wouldn''t even dear to dream about. What a joke!"


    "Excuse me for losing my memories! Excuse me for not even being able to remember my own name! for not even remembering my father who thought so highly of me ad even gave his life on order to protect me!


    Instead of scolding me, how about talking like a normal person? So what if you lost your spirit essence?! Don''t take it out on me just because of your own incompetence!"


    "So you really had it in you the whole time, huh¡­"


    "Had what?!"


    "Some temper! You were so quiet, I thought you had no emotions."


    "I''m just a child!"


    "Yeah, but¡­ It was just an honest mistake, sorry!"


    "¡­ Fine. So everything you said was a lie?"


    "No. I really did lose my spirit essence and you really do have absolutely nothing¡­ for now."


    "For now?"


    "Yeah, for now. I''ll try to get to the bottom of what the hell happened with my spirit essence, and in half a year maybe you won''t have nothing anymore."


    "That''s quite a positive way to see things."


    "Why be negative when you can be positive?"


    "That''s a really nice way to think."


    "Yeah! I know, right?"


    "Hahahaha!"


    "Finally! Some emotions!"


    "Why do you sound so chocked?"


    "Because I am chocked. Chocked¡­ and happy."


    "Why do you care for me?"


    "First it was just because of my brother. Then I just liked your personality and decided to take care of you more seriously."


    "Okay. Now what?"

 12 Ch. 12 – You Have Dual Essence?!

    "Uhm¡­ you must be hungry, right?"


    "Now that you mention it¡­ I guess I am a little hungry."


    "Then we''ll go to the kitchen right away! I am an amazing cook!"


    After hearing the last phrase, Xiao Huoyan started feeling dizzy. Then he closed his eyes and saw a man in front of him, saying the exact same thing. ''I am an amazing cook!'', the man said. He looked a little like his uncle Jin Niao, but he felt way more familiar. He felt¡­ important.


    Xiao Huoyan were smart enough to understand that the man in front of him was nothing but a fragment of his hidden memories. He also understood that this man probably was his father, Jin Long.


    He kept his eyes closed until the fragment began to fade. Everything turned black again, and Xiao Huoyan slowly opened his eyes.


    "Why did you stop all of a sudden?"


    "O-oh, it''s nothing."


    "Okay but hurry up!"


    "Ah, yes!"


    Xiao Huoyan felt grateful for his uncle''s care, but he also felt that he shouldn''t trust him. Xiao Huoyan knew that something wasn''t right, but until he had regained his memories, it would be better if he just smiled obediently to avoid suspicion.


    "Here we are! This is the kitchen! Now, what do you want to eat?"


    "I don''t know. Whatever''s fine, thank you."


    "Thanking me already? I haven''t even started cooking yet. Are you always so polite towards everyone?"


    "Uhm, I think so. I can''t remember how I just to act before but acting this way just felt natural. Sorry if it bothers you. I''ll try to stop."


    "Why stop? Since I''m going to take care of you, I''m only happy that you''re not some kind of snobbish child without manners. Showing everybody respect is hard even for adults. You''re naturally polite to everybody even when you insult them!


    That thing that happened with the guy who claimed to be your father, really made my blood boil! I would''ve just killed him on spot if it weren''t for you counterattacking so well! Hearing you say all of those things with such a polite, yet irritated tone was extremely fun! That''s why I find you quite admirable for a five-year-old little kid!"


    "Thank you for your praise, Jin Niao!"


    "That''s a little too polite¡­ how about you call me uncle? Or maybe just Niao?"


    "Okay, uncle Niao."


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    "Fair enough! Well, since you don''t know what you want to eat, I''ll choose! We''ll eat¡­ grilled Fire Serpent!"


    "¡­"


    "What? You don''t like it?"


    "No, that''s not it! I do like it, since that''s what I''ve been eating it very often before."


    "Oh, so that''s why you were so quiet! You regained some memory fragments, right?"


    "Yes, I did."


    "When was your memory from?"


    "I''m not sure¡­ I think it was two or three days ago."


    "Then¡­ were you eating alone?"


    "No. I was with someone."


    "Who?"


    "I think it was father. I couldn''t see his face, nor could I hear his voice."


    "Then how do you know he''s your father?"


    "I don''t know. It''s just that he feels familiar. Very familiar."


    "Well, whatever. I''ll be right back!"


    "Where are you going?"


    "I''m going to ask someone to bring us a Fire Serpent to grill!"


    "There''s really no need for tha--"


    "--Just wait here, I''ll be right back!"


    And so he was gone. When Xiao Huoyan saw his memory of eating grilled Fire Serpent, he also saw other things that happened during the same day.


    He saw himself speaking with someone, killing a Fire Serpent of the seventh rank, roasting it with a fire coming out of his palm and eating together with someone. He remembered that his ring weren''t an ordinary one, but a storage ring. He didn''t know how to get his things out of the ring, but he decided to take a guess!


    First he tried to focus his thoughts on the ring, as if entering a space. Then he could see what he had inside of his storage ring. There was may things, but something that one couldn''t miss, was the enormous Fire Serpent.


    Then he felt as if his consciousness started to move towards the Fire Serpent. He stretched his hand out and lightly touched the Fire Serpent. Then he felt as if everything turned back to normal, except for the enormous Fire Serpent now laying on the floor.


    "Now to the ''weird flame from my palm''-part!"


    Xiao Huoyan said excitedly while releasing a beaming smile.


    He started to concentrate on how to release the flame. He pictured that memory of him grilling the Fire Serpent before. After a little while, he could feel as his palm got warmer and warmer. Then¡­ Finally! A flame! It wasn''t particularly big or anything, but it had a rather peculiar colour. The flame was dark purple.


    He remembered that the flame from his memory had the exact same colour, and decided to stop thinking about it so much, since it didn''t seem especially important. He also remembered that he had more than just one spirit essence.


    He decided to do the same thing as in his memories. He somehow made the Fire Serpent float in the air, by concentrating. Then he used his Demonic Flame to slowly grill it.


    Around fifteen minutes later, Jin Niao came in through the door, at full speed.


    "Sorry l-little one! I-I couldn''t get the¡­"


    One could barely hear what he said.


    "Did you run a marathon, uncle Niao?"


    "Ha ha ha¡­ very funny¡­"


    "Hahahaha, sorry!"


    "Hmm? It smells good."


    "Really? I''m a little worried about the taste though¡­"


    "Taste? What?"


    "Oh, sorry. I forgot to mention it. The food''s ready and on the table!"


    "The food? Did you call someone here to cook for you? Geez you''re impatient!"


    "Hahaha, no. I didn''t call someone here. I grilled it all by myself!"


    "You grilled ''it''?"


    "Yes, I did! I found out that I just happened to have a Fire Serpent inside of my storage ring, so I just took it out and grilled it!"


    "How did you get a Fire Serpent that quickly?!"


    "I killed it a couple of days ago.


    "¡­ Okay, but how did you know how to use the grill?"


    "Oh, I didn''t!"


    "Then, how the hell did you grill it?"


    "I just made the Fire Serpent float in the air and then I used my Demonic flame to¡ª"


    "D-Demonic Flame?! Demonic Flame, as in one of the top fifty spirit essences in the world?!"


    "Yeah, I guess."


    "Now I understand what my brother meant when he said that you were a genius within geniuses! Something I don''t understand is how you could kill that Fire Serpent with your Demonic Flame?!"


    "What''s so special about that?"


    "Your Demonic Flame could eliminate a whole city if you were to accidently set a small stick on fire! Nothing can naturalise Demonic flames except for Absolute Ice!"


    "Oh, then you don''t worry about the city."


    "What?"


    "If I were to accidently set something on fire, I could just cool it down with my Absolute Ice."


    "WHAT?!?!"


    "You have dual essence?!"

 13 Ch. 13 – Why couldn’t I save him?

    "Uhm, yes¡­ and no¡­"


    "What do you mean ''yes and no''?"


    "I do have dual essence."


    "Then what did you mean ''no''?"


    "I have more than just dual essence."


    "MORE?! You have three essences?! Hurry and tell me about all of them! You don''t have to explain them in detail, just tell me the names!"


    "All of them?"


    "ALL of them!"


    "Okay¡­ I have: ''Absolute Ice'', ''Silver Lightning'', ''Demonic Flame'', ''Shadows of Darkness'', ''Holy Light'', ''Evil Nightmare Illusions'', ''Vines of Judgement'', ''Asura''s Wrath'', ''Heaven''s eyes'', ''Icy Hurricane'', ''The Golden Dragon'' as well as ''The Golden Bird''."


    "WHAT?!?!"


    "You have TWELVE spirit essences?!?!?!"


    "Y-yes¡­"


    "You actually have the same spirit essences as my brother and I, as well as nine others?!"


    "Yeah, I-I guess¡­"


    "This is a miracle!"


    "They''re all in the top fifty!"


    "I-I know."


    "Something strange, apart from the fact that you actually have twelve spirit essences, is that you actually have TWO of the spirit essences that only runs in our family. My brother clearly told me that you weren''t his biological son, so how come you have both ''The Golden Dragon'' and ''The Golden Bird''?"


    "Well that''s a little compli--"


    "--Wait! You don''t have to tell me now. I understand that you have your own secrets. Tell me when you feel ready, but I won''t force you to tell."


    "Thank you for being so understanding!"


    "Enough with the chatter now! Time to eat! I wanna try your cooking!"


    They both smiled and went to eat the food grilled by Xiao Huoyan. As soon as Jin Niao tasted his nephew''s food, he burst out in laughter.


    "Hahahaha! To think that a mere five-year-old little boy''s cooking is better than mine! Hahaha, who taught you how to cook?"


    "No one taught me ''how'' to cook, but my father taught me that food tasted better cooked. He''s also the first person who''d ever tasted my cooking¡­"


    "¡­ So, you''re telling me that your mother never cooked for you?"


    "She''s¡­ She was a vegetarian. She always told me that she didn''t want to kill other living beings just to eat their meat. She thought it was cruel."


    "Then why are you eating meat now?"


    "Well¡­ Because of something, my appetite grew stronger. With my appetite, I probably would''ve eaten up the whole forest by now if I had choose to stay a vegetarian."


    "How much can a little guy like you actually eat?"


    "When I eat, the food gets digested almost immediately. Therefore, I can eat quite much. For an example, it would take me around a week to eat a fully grown twelve thousand years old Fire Serpent of the seventh rank."


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    "WHAT?!?! Aren''t they enormous?!"


    "I guess they are."


    "It''s probably going to be quite hard to feed you when you grow up."


    "Oh, don''t worry about that. I know how to catch my own food. I''ve been living alone for around two years, so it''s fine."


    "Okay, but what if you get injured?"


    "I never get injured."


    "But what if you do?"


    "Then I will heal."


    "Of course you will, but what if the wound is too severe? What if you''re alone and hurt? It would take at least a few days before you heal completely, right?"


    "No, not really."


    "What do you mean ''not really''?"


    "I mean that I heal really fast."


    "How fast?"


    "I don''t know exactly¡­ Let''s find out!"


    "What?"


    "You just have to start counting when I give the signal, okay?"


    "Okay?"


    Xiao Huoyan rushed back to the kitchen and came back with a very sharp knife. Then he stabbed his left arm. The knife even went right through. When Jin Long saw that he started to panic!


    "Uncle Niao! Start counting when I full out the knife, okay?"


    "What?! Are you insane?!"


    "NOW!"


    Xiao Huoyan shouted ''NOW'' and pulled out the knife. Then, even though Jin Niao was shocked, he still started counting.


    "One, two, thee, four, five, six, seven!"


    Seeing how his nephew''s arm were completely restored, Jin Niao was speechless.


    "Hahaha, told you!"


    "H-how did you do that?!"


    "I told you I heal fast!"


    Xiao Huoyan smiled happily while his uncle, Jin Niao, was left dumfounded.


    "HOW?! I heard a rumour about a hidden expert living in the same forest as you lived in. Did you meet him? Did he gift you some kind of miraculous elixir?"


    "Hahaha! I guess that my father never told you, huh?"


    "What do you mean?"


    "That ''hidden expert'' is me."


    "You''re kidding right?"


    "Nope."


    "Then how do you explain the elixir that can heal all the wounds?"


    "To keep it short, it''s not an elixir and I never gave it away."


    "Well, I still don''t understand, so don''t keep it short and explain it more carefully."


    "Fine. I usually carry a bottle with my blood, around the forest. When I stumble upon an injured animal, so that I can heal them. One day I dropped the bottle and a man came and picked it up. Those who dare go into that forest are usually only young lords, therefore there should be quite some hidden experts. With that in mind I decided not to show myself.


    Instead I sent a mental message. I told him that the bottle belonged to me and that he couldn''t take it. Then blah, blah, blah, I let him go and he started spreading rumours about some mysterious hidden expert. That''s the whole story! Almost¡­"


    "So, your blood have healing properties?! That explains how you could heal so fast!"


    "You finally get it!"


    "Having those miraculous abilities, twelve spirit essences and so much strength is not something that normal humans would have."


    "I know."


    "What are you then?"


    "I think I''m no different than you."


    "I need a real answer!"


    "That IS my real answer! If I knew anything else, I would''ve told you, but I myself don''t know what the hell I am!"


    "¡­ Did you read the letter my brother left for you?"


    "Yes, I did. I read it on the way here. He didn''t want me to tell anyone about my abilities, but I trust you."


    "I''m really thankful for your trust, but you still haven''t told me everything yet."


    "True."


    "Since you''ve read the letter, you should also know that he didn''t want you to get angry, sad nor scared, right?"


    "¡­ Yeah, I know. You''re right. I almost lost it for a second there. It''s just that I hate questions that I can''t answer.


    I hate that I don''t even know the answer myself. I hate to talk about my biological parents. My mother was killed, my biological father erased my memories of him and disappeared into thin air, leaving without a trace.


    Then your brother came and wanted to take me in. I was so happy, but now I can''t even remember his voice nor his face. It should''ve taken six months, but it seems as if I am immune to my own orbs. I remember everything already. Everything except for how he died and who killed him! Everything except for your brother¡­ My father!"


    Xiao Huoyan burst out in tears. He felt so useless. According to what Xiao Huoyan''s father had written to him in the letter, Xiao Huoyan was probably the strongest individual in the whole continent.


    ''Father¡­ If I''m really powerful, then why couldn''t I save him?''

 14 Ch. 14 - Beautiful dream

    He wanted to know what had happened to his father, how he died, why he died and by whose hands he died?


    He wanted to revenge his father, but he didn''t know who to take revenge on. It made him feel anxious to the point of not knowing what to do.


    "Sorry."


    "For what?"


    "For everything. You must feel pretty sad now that your only family is gone."


    "I have you, right?"


    "Yeah, hahaha!"


    "Then I''m not alone."


    "But I''m not related to you by blood. How can you still trust me this much? They say blood is thicker than water."


    "Blood is indeed thicker than water¡­ but not thicker than my trust for father. If he chose to entrust me to you, then he must''ve believed that you would treat me fair."


    "¡­ You''re right. How come I''m less mature than a child?"


    "You''re not less mature than ''a child''. You''re less mature than this child."


    Xiao Huoyan said while pointing at himself.


    "What''s the difference?"


    "I''m naturally born smarter than most adults. That''s the difference."


    They both burst out in laughter. Then they both silently smiled and finished their food. After dinner, Jin Niao took his dear nephew to the third floor.


    "Which room do you want?"


    "Did father live here?"


    "Uhm, yes."


    "Then may I sleep in his old room?"


    "Of course! I''ll get someone to move his stuff right away!"


    "No! It''s fine."


    "Hmm?"


    "According to the words in the letter that father left me, he wanted all of his belongings to go to me. He also didn''t want anyone else to touch anything."


    "Oh, then I''ll just take you there right away!"


    "Thank you."


    When they finally arrived, Xiao Huoyan was shocked at the size of the room.


    "Is this really just a room?"


    "Yes, why? You don''t like it?"


    "No, I like it! It''s just¡­ The size of this room is bigger than twice the size of my old house!"


    "Oh, really?"


    "Yes."


    Now they both just stood right at the door, completely silent. After a few seconds, that felt like an eternity, Jin Niao decided to break the silence.


    "Uhm¡­ There''s a few sets of clothes in the dresser over there. I didn''t know which kind of clothes you like, so I thought that we could buy some more tomorrow. Towels and other necessities are I the bathroom and in the other dresser over there."


    "Okay, thank you. But how did you prepare all of this in such a short time? I mean, I just told you I wanted to sleep here, a few minutes ago."


    " I had someone prepare it as soon as you said that you wanted it."


    "When did you talk to anyone on our way here?"


    "Oh, I didn''t. I just sent a mental message to the servant closest."


    "Oh, so that''s sit."


    "Do you need anything else?"


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    "No, thank you."


    "Okay then, see you tomorrow."


    "Uhm, wait! Goodnight¡­ uncle Niao."


    "Good night Xin''er."


    *For those of you who doesn''t know, Xiao Huoyan got a ''new'' name in a previous chapter. Jin Long told him not to reveal his real name and gave him the name ''Jin Xin''.


    The ''er'' in ''Xin''er, can be used if one wants to use a more affectionate way of addressing one another. Often used between family members. *


    Xiao Huoyan felt too tired to look through the stuff in the room. He just threw himself straight onto the bed and fell asleep. While sleeping, he dreamt of his mother.


    They were sitting in front of the house. His mom played with his hair. She said that he had the exact same hair colour as his father. She smiled while thinking about his father.


    Xiao Huoyan remembered that he used to ask his mother about who his father was, but his mother always managed to change the topic. She was never really willing to give him a real answer.


    Xiao Huoyan knew that she loved him a lot. He suddenly asked her about how she could love someone who''d left her. She started smiling, and her smile was truly dazzling. Then she replied:


    "You can''t choose whom to fall in love with. Love can be either a blessing or a curse."


    Then he answered:


    "Is yours and father''s love a blessing or a curse, then?"


    "Can''t it be both?"


    She sounded so calm while responding.  single tear ran down her left cheek, yet she still smiled. Her smile¡­ her voice¡­ both could cause even the coldest heart to melt.


    Then he woke up from his beautiful dream. It was early in the morning. The sun wasn''t even up yet.


    Xiao Huoyan had decided that he wanted to start training right away! After dreaming about his mother and hearing her calming voice, he felt as if he''d slept for ages. He wasn''t the least bit tired, just full of energy!


    He decided to look for ''The Seventh Tower''. According to the letter, left by his father, Jin Long, The Seventh Tower was where kept all his techniques. The key to that tower were something that Jin Long himself had come up with. To get access to The Seventh Tower, one had to possess the two spirit essences, Icy Hurricane and The Golden Dragon.


    To be able to pass the barrier that he''d made, one just needed to let the aura of both spirit essences, cover one''s whole body. While surrounded by the aura, one could just step right through the barrier.


    Jin Long was truly smart. Even the letter he had left for Xiao Huoyan, was special. When others opened the letter, it would look empty. Just like a blank paper. But when Xiao Huoyan opened it, all of the letter''s contents would get imprinted into his mind, without really intruding the ''barrier'' protecting his mind and memories.


    ''Haha, father were truly full of brilliant ideas!''

 15 Ch. 15 - I Could Just Kill You

    Since he had already decided to start his training right away, he went to look for his uncle. Just as he stepped out the door, he realised that he forgot to ask where uncle Niao''s room was. He didn''t even know on which floor he should start searching.


    He didn''t spend too much time thinking about it. Instead he decided to look for someone else. Someone who knew where he should go to train. Someone who was awake at this hour.


    At first he just roamed around in the corridors. After a while, he started to think about whether everybody was truly sleeping or not. He felt as if he were completely alone. As if he were the only one who''d survived a calamity. As if everyone else were dead.


    He did like the silence, but he didn''t like being alone. Whenever he was alone, he felt as if someone were watching him from a distance. It made him feel uncomfortable and suspicious.


    Sometimes he just thought he was too paranoid, but some other times, he felt as if he knew that he could die at any time.


    He was aware of his own strength and intelligence. For those weaker than himself, he might seem invincible, but everyone isn''t weaker than him.


    He thought about his biological father. ''He must be stronger than me'', he thought to himself.


    After a while of walking and thinking, he suddenly noticed something. He couldn''t feel any auras. Not a single one. Even if everybody else was sleeping, he should still be able to feel their auras. He thought it was very strange.


    He decided to go outside to look for someone in the yard. Maybe someone knew what was happening.


    As soon as he opened the door, he felt a strong blood smell. It made him feel confused. He was about to take a step out, but noticed that the ground was filled with corpses.


    "I only slept for a few hours¡­ How could all of this happen?!"


    He thought out loud.


    "At-ttacked¡­"


    "WHO?!"


    A man was laying on the ground a few meters away. He was covered in blood and his arm had been cut off.


    "Ugh¡­"


    "Hey! Don''t die yet! I still need to know what happened!"


    Xiao Huoyan ran out, despite the corpses on the ground. He ran up to the man. He then noticed that his breathing was getting weaker.


    "Sorry for breaking my promise so soon¡­"


    He said that and looked up to the sky. He had promised his father, Jin Long, that he wouldn''t heal others.


    The man suddenly lifted his head and looked up at Xiao Huoyan. He looked confused.


    Xiao Huoyan took out a bottle containing his blood, from his storage ring.


    "Drink this!"


    Now the man looked even more confused.


    "Trust me! Do as I say or continue to lay here and wait for death."


    The man said nothing. He just nodded and opened his mouth. Xiao Huoyan then poured a few drops into the man''s mouth.


    As soon as the man swallowed it, he noticed the changes. He felt warm all over. The changes were actually visible to the naked eye. He saw how his wounds started to emit a bright light before they started to close. The light was so bright, it caused the man to close his eyes. When he opened them, his eyes instantly widened with shock. His wounds were gone. Every single scratch!


    "Is everything alright now?"


    Xiao Huoyan asked even though he already knew the answer.


    "I-I''m f-fine¡­ No, I''m actually even better than fine¡­"


    "Well that''s good to hear. Shall we head in and talk, now that you feel better?"


    "Ah, y-yes!"


    "Great!"


    They both headed in. As soon as they sat down, the man asked:


    "Uhm¡­ I''m sorry, but may I know who you are?"


    "Oh, I''m just someone who moved here yesterday."


    "Oh, okay. So, what shall I call you, great benefactor?"


    "Jin Xin."


    "J-JIN XIN?!"


    "Yes."


    "So, you''re from the Jin family, huh? To think that Jin Niao would actually hide his son from me¡­"


    "Oh, you know uncle Niao?"


    "Yes¡­ wait ''Uncle Niao''? So, you''re not Jin Niao''s son?"


    "No, I''m not. I''m his nephew."


    "Then you must be Jin Long''s son, right?"


    "¡­"


    "What? Did I guess it wrong again?"


    "That''s not it. It''s just that my father is a sensitive topic to talk about right now."


    "Oh? You don''t have a good relationship?"


    "We do¡­ We did."


    "Don''t tell me he''s¡­"


    Xiao Huoyan couldn''t bring himself to say it out loud. He felt as if his heart would break as soon as he opened his mouth, so he just nodded with a sad expression on his face.


    Even though Xiao Huoyan didn''t say a single word, the man understood. He didn''t want to believe it, but he knew that there was no need to lie about such a serious matter.


    "Uhm¡­ for how long has he¡­ you know¡­"


    "Around two days."


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    "TWO DAYS?!"


    "Yes. You think I''d lie about something like this?"


    "O-of course not. It''s just¡­ I didn''t think they''d hide his death."


    "Why?"


    "He was such a big character. Usually when someone like him dies, the family announce it to the public immediately."


    "I''m sure they have their own reasons to cover it up. I don''t want to meddle in their business."


    "you have all rights to meddle. He''s your father!"


    "I know what I''m doing. If I wanted to announce it to the world, I would''ve already done so. You probably think that I sound arrogant, right?"


    "Uhm¡­ A little."


    "Even though it sounds arrogant, it''s the truth. If I ever want to do something, nobody would be able to stop me."


    "Even though your Jin family is strong, it''s not the strongest--"


    "--I know, but I never said that I''d be depending on my family. Since I''m not the really related to the Jin Family, I doubt they''d help me anyways."


    "Wait¡­ You''re not Jin Long''s real son?!"


    "That''s right."


    "Aren''t you afraid that I''ll tell others about this?"


    "Not really."


    "Why?"


    "Because I know you won''t. If you decided to tell someone, I could just kill you."

 16 Ch. 16 - Who the hell is he?!

    Xiao Huoyan''s words made the man speechless. He didn''t believe that the little boy in front of him would be able to kill him.


    "You don''t believe me."


    Xiao Huoyan didn''t ask. He just said it as if he already knew.


    "N-No that''s not it--"


    "--I don''t like lies. You don''t believe me and that''s fine."


    The man couldn''t believe his ears. The little boy in front of him sounded more mature than most adults. He had the airs of a great ruler.


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    "Do you know how I and father Long first met?"


    "No. You never told me."


    "That''s because you never asked."


    "True¡­ Please, continue."


    "He showed up at my house in a terrible state. He was almost dead."


    "Who saved him?"


    "I did."


    "You?!"


    "Yes. He was poisoned and badly injured. I saved him just like I saved you, Ji Feng."


    "Y-You¡­ How?!"


    "Do you mean ''how'' as in ''how did you save us'' or as in ''how did you know my name''?"


    "Uhm¡­ Both."


    "Then I''m sorry. I can''t tell you."


    "Why?"


    "That''s not important. What''s truly important is not how I saved you nor how I knew your name. What''s truly important is that I did. Father Long didn''t take me in just out of generosity. I am stronger than he was!"


    "You''ve got to be kidding me. How can you possibly be stronger than The Golden Dragon, Jin Long?"


    "Do you know how the forest disappeared?"


    "You mean the forest that was turned to ashes after a giant explosion?"


    "Yes. Do you know how it exploded?"


    "No, but everyone thinks that it has something to do with the hidden expert that lived in the forest. Some people think that it was an accident, while others think that someone must''ve angered him."


    "Both are wrong."


    "How would you know?!"


    "Because I was there. I''m the little boy who was found lying on the ashes. I''m the one that made the orb that my father used to blow up the forest."


    "You''re joking right?"


    "No, I''m not."


    "If what you''re saying really is the truth, then why do you tell me all of this?"


    "Because I want you to trust me and tell me everything you know about the attack that just happened."


    "What do you want to know?"


    "Everything."


    "More specifically?"


    "Where''s my uncle?"


    "Jin Niao?"


    "Yes."


    "He should''ve already arrived at Rosewood City."


    "Should''ve?!"


    "W-Well, I mean¡­ that was the plan."


    "Plan?"


    "We knew that they''d attack sooner or later so everyone was already prepared. When they attacked, Jin Niao fled towards Rosewood City, while the guards fought back to buy him time. I''m surprised he didn''t take you with him."


    "He left me here because whoever attacked you, does not know about my existence. If he would''ve taken me with him right away, it would''ve been much more dangerous. He left me her to protect me."


    "Maybe you''re right¡­"


    "When do we set off?"


    "''Set off''?"


    "Yes. You expect me to find uncle Niao on my own? I don''t know how to get to Rosewood. I don''t even know where I am right now."


    "You must''ve lived under a rock¡­"


    "I lived in a forest and rarely met visitors! I never left the forest before, so how do you expect me to know where anything is?!"


    "S-Sorry, I--"


    "No, I''m sorry. I forgot again."


    "What?"


    "I must not get angry. The consequences can go from ''me killing one person'' to ''me wiping out a whole continent''."


    "Hahahaha! Who said that? Hahaha!"


    "My father did. I''m dead serious so don''t laugh like a fool!"


    "Sorry, but you haven''t actually killed someone, right?"


    "Only a few times."


    "You have?!"


    "Yes, I have."


    "So--"


    "I don''t wish to talk about it. It''s not like I wanted to kill those people. I''m not going to lie. I did wish for some of them to just drop dead, but I never wanted to personally kill anyone of them. It wasn''t on purpose."


    "You can''t just kill someone and then say that ''it wasn''t on purpose''. Why didn''t anyone come to you for revenge?"


    "Oh, I''m sure there were people who did. My house was placed in the middle of a giant array. Those who took a step inside of the array wouldn''t be able to find their way out.


    There were some lucky people who got to my house, but none of them ever left. The only people who''ve ever left the array is me, my biological father and father Long."


    "Wasn''t there a man who brought back some kind of miraculous medicine from the forest."


    "Oh, long story short, he never stepped into the array, I''m the hidden expert who lived inside the forest, the medicine was mine and he stole it when I dropped it and the medicine isn''t actually medicine."


    "Wait, so you''re the hidden expert?!"


    "Yes, I just said so."


    "Then did you use the same kind of medicine to cure me and Jin Long?!"


    "Yes."


    "Lastly, what do you mean with ''and the medicine isn''t actually medicine''?! If it''s not medicine, then what the hell did you make me drink?!"


    "You don''t have to know what it was, you just have to know that it saved your life."


    "¡­ Fine."


    "Back to what we were talking about before. When do we set of?"


    "When does it work for you, Jin Xin?"


    "Geez! No need to start thinking about courtesy now! Whenever is fine, but rather sooner than later, if you know what I mean."


    "Then¡­ How about right now?"


    "That''s fine."


    Seeing as Xiao Huoyan just stood there, Ji Feng was a little confused.


    "Aren''t you going back to your room to pack your stuff?"


    "Oh, right now? So that you get a chance to get out of here? I could catch you and kill you know. Running away from me would only give you an hour at most, before I catch up and kill you."


    "didn''t you say that you didn''t want to kill?"


    "I never said that I didn''t want to kill. I prefer to solve things in a more civilised way, but I could make an exception. Don''t you ever take me for a fool. That''ll only give you a ticket right to hell."


    Ji Feng was shocked beyond belief! To hear a child threaten him like that with a straight face, was something he''d never experienced before.


    Xiao Huoyan had already told Ji Feng that he wasn''t Jin Long''s biological son, so now the biggest question inside Ji Feng''s head was: ''Who the hell is he?!''

 17 Ch. 17 - Blessing or Curse?

    Ji Feng didn''t dare to imagine how powerful Xiao Huoyan''s parents were. If the little boy in front of him already were more powerful than The Golden Dragon, Jin Long, then how amazing must his parents be. His biological parents must be several times stronger, right?


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    "U-Uhm¡­ Sorry but¡­ uhm, do you mind telling me who your p-parents are?"


    "I¡­ I don''t know much myself. My mother died two years ago and my father¡­"


    Xiao Huoyan paused. He didn''t know where his father was. He didn''t even know if his father was alive or not.


    "It''s fine, you don''t have to--"


    "--He left. My father left and probably erased my memories afterward. I think he left before I was two years old, but I''m not sure. I haven''t seen him since he left. I can''t remember how he looks nor how he sounds. I don''t even know if he''s alive!"


    Tears started to roll down his cheeks. Anyone who saw him would be able to feel his sorrow¡­ to feel his hatred.


    "O-oh¡­ I''m terribly sorry for asking!"


    Xiao Huoyan continued talking as if he hadn''t heard Ji Feng''s apology.


    "He never came back¡­ Where was he when my mother died?! Where was he all those times when strangers tried to take my away?! Where was he when I left?! Did he ever even think of coming back?! Did he just plan on abandoning us?! Did he regard me and my mother as nothing but worthless trash?!"


    Xiao Huoyan''s eyes began to change colour. This scene made Ji Feng completely stupefied. He had never in his entire life, seen something like this.


    A few hours ago, he almost died. Back then he just thought that he was to weak. It was the general of the army that almost killed him. He knew that the general was much stronger than him, therefore he accepted his defeat and blamed it all on himself for being too weak.


    Now it was different. This time he was probably going to die by the hands of a little boy, young enough to be his son. He felt ashamed, yet he still blamed himself for being too weak.


    Xiao Huoyan started to float up in the air. He already stopped speaking when his eyes turned pitch-black. Now he just whispered strange things in a language unknown to Ji Feng.


    Ji Feng began to panic. He could sense the killing intent Xiao Huoyan''s gaze emitted. He could sense it, and it scared him witless.


    He tried to scream at Xiao Huoyan to stop, but as soon as he opened his mouth, Xiao Huoyan lifted his hand. Then he just pointed at Ji Feng with one single finger.


    Ji Feng froze from fear. Then Xiao Huoyan went silent. The same second that Xiao Huoyan went silent, wind as sharp as blades, surged towards him. He felt hopeless.


    This time, unlike the other time, Xiao Huoyan didn''t stop his attack. When he attacked Jin Long before, he stopped just as his attack was about to hit Jin Long. This time he didn''t stop. When the wind as sharp as blades finally arrived at Ji Feng, he died¡­ and Xiao Huoyan fainted on spot¡­ as usual.


    A few hours later, Xiao Huoyan woke up. Just as he woke up and opened his eyes, his expression froze. A single tear rolled down his left cheek while he just sat on the floor¡­ right beside Ji Feng''s head. The sharp wind from his attack had shopped off Ji Feng''s head. His body laid on the floor¡­ on the other side of the room, and there was blood everywhere. Ji Feng''s blood was all over the room.


    He never really wanted to kill anyone. He was just mad at his biological father for being such an asshole to him and his mother. He didn''t mean to kill Ji Feng. He wasn''t going to lie to himself. He never really took a liking for Ji Feng, but he didn''t dislike him either. It didn''t matter what Xiao Huoyan thought about Ji Feng. What mattered to him, was the fact that he didn''t wish to see him dead. He hated killing people. Every time he did, he felt as if something inside of was going to tear apart. He felt as if a part of his heart cracked and flew away with the wind¡­ together with his tears.


    His emotions were always unstable. Something that was really small and insignificant to others, could make him extremely mad, while a simple act of kindness could make him extremely happy. It was indeed strange, but it was the truth. He had heard when Jin Niao had compared him to a ''teenage girl when it comes to emotions'', when he thought that Xiao Huoyan wasn''t listening.


    After Xiao Huoyan came back to his senses, he noticed that even he himself was covered in Ji Feng''s blood. The smell of blood always made Xiao Huoyan sad and disappointed. That was mostly because whenever he smelled blood, it was because he had killed someone.


    He didn''t want to kill others. He did want some people to suffer, but he never wanted any of them to die. Especially not by his own two hands.


    Some people would probably see him as a monster, while other would think that he''s favoured by the heavens. His mother used to say that he was a blessed child. That he was a child favoured by the Gods in heaven. He himself didn''t know what to think. He didn''t know if his strange abilities was a blessing or a curse, but he felt that it was tilting more towards the latter.

 18 Ch. 18 - His Greatest Secre

    He thought about what happened. It was over in just a few moments. He killed someone innocent in just a few moments. If he wasn''t a monster then who was?


    Whenever he killed someone, he''d always faint right afterwards. Then he''d wake up a few hours later, start crying and regret his own existence for a while, reflect on his mistakes and then leave it all behind.


    That''s how it used to be, but now it was different. Ever since that time when he almost killed Jin Long, he changed. He felt as if he''d never to leave that accident behind.


    He had never enjoyed killing people, but before he didn''t care especially much.


    He just ended up thinking that ''What''s done can''t be changed. Better leave it behind.''


    Ever since he met his dear father Long, his way of thinking changed. Ever since his dear father Long sacrificed his own life to keep him safe, he finally understood the value and importance of a human life.


    He always treated animals and beasts with kindness, because they always cared for him. Believe it or not, he hadn''t met a single human being who''d treat him nicely and with respect¡­ not until he met Jin Long. That encounter changed him for the better.


    This was the first life he threw away since he met his father Long¡­ The first time since his way of thinking changed. Now he couldn''t just leave it all behind. He couldn''t just burn the body, scatter the ashes and forget all about it.


    He hated himself more and more for every life he just threw away, but rather than crying about it for the rest of his life, he decided not to think about it. He thought that if he just forgot about it, it''d hurt less.


    Every time he thought about it, his guilt would take over. He''d start crying and tell all of his regrets out loud. Even if nobody was there to listen, he''d just talk to himself.


    He promised himself to always put up a fa?ade in front of others. To never let them understand the sorrow, hate and regret he held locked up inside his heart.


    He didn''t want others sympathy. He just wanted someone to to listen to him and actually care. Someone who''d never judge him. Someone who''d always believe in him.


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    He didn''t wish to be famous or have tons of people around him. All he wanted was ONE person. ONE person who''d try to understand him. The REAL him. Someone who''d never be fooled by the fa?ade he''d always show in front of everyone else.


    He knew that he''d never find someone like that, but he still longed for it. It was his greatest wish as well as his greatest secret.


    To him, wishes were one out of many things that made one weak. That''s why he never told anyone about them. He didn''t want anyone to think that he was weak.


    He remembered how he felt when his uncle Niao told him that he had absolutely nothing¡­ that he was absolutely nothing. He felt hopeless¡­ useless¡­


    He didn''t want to feel like that ever again. His uncle Niao had gotten his hopes up by telling him that his father Long had said that he was a genius. Then he crushed all of those hopes when he helped Xiao Huoyan go through his awakening.


    He decided to bury his greatest wish. He decided to do his best to become stronger than anyone else. If he became the strongest, then no one would dare to do anything to him. Everyone would have to treat him with respect.


    As Xiao Huoyan was in deep thoughts, someone came rushing in through the door. Even though someone came in through the door behind him, Xiao Huoyan didn''t feel like standing up yet, so he just sat on the floor. He didn''t even turn around to see who it was. He just used Heaven''s Eyes to see who it was.


    He didn''t recognize the man standing behind him. He thought about simply just asking about the man''s identity but decided to just find out by himself. He took a little peek inside of the man''s head. He wanted to make it clear that he wasn''t someone whom that man could even dream of messing with, so he decided to show off that domineering aura of his.


    "Do you have something important to say or are you just going to stand there all day, Xiong Hu? I do somewhere I have to be, so make it quick!"


    "Uh¡­ I-I just¡­"


    At first, Xiong Hu looked startled, but he quickly came back to his senses and started speaking.


    "His Lord Niao wanted me to come and g-get you."


    "Get me where?"


    "I-I cannot say¡­"


    "Okay, you don''t really have to. I''ll find out by myself then."


    Xiao Huoyan turned around and stood up. In just a mere second he already faced Xiong Hu directly. He shot him a glance and then turned around again, yet still standing.


    "Hm¡­ Not that far¡­Rosewood City¡­"


    "H-HOW D-DID YOU?!?!"


    "Don''t worry. I just read your mind, no need to react like that."


    "You¡­ You what?!"


    "Are you deaf or something? I. Read. Your. Mind."


    "¡­"


    "So, are you going to help me get there or not?"


    "O-Oh, yes! I came here to help you get there."


    "Hm¡­ Then who am I?"


    "What are you t-talking about? Y-you''re Jin Niao''s son, Jin Xin¡­"


    "No, I''m not."

 19 Ch. 19 - Who Shall I Start With?

    "T-then who the hell are you?!"


    "I''m uncle Niao''s nephew."


    "W-what?! According to my information, Jin Niao has no nephew!"


    "He has no son either. I''m Jin Long''s non-biological son."


    "What are you trying t say here?!"


    "Oh, I''m just trying to make you understand that the moment you walked through that door, you had already arrived at your final resting place."


    "When did you find me out?!"


    "The moment you walked into the room I already searched through your head."


    "You really are something special¡­"


    "Even if I hadn''t been, it wouldn''t have taken me too much time to figure it out. I already knew where my uncle was. First: I mentioned Rosewood City and you got shocked, which meant that you didn''t expect me to know about it. Second: He would never send someone whom he didn''t trust to come and get me--"


    "--How do you know that he didn''t trust me?"


    "Jin Niao never thought of me as his son. He wouldn''t have even looked at me if it weren''t for the fact that I''m his nephew. If he trusted you, then why didn''t he tell you the truth?"


    Xiong Hu started to frown. He looked really angry.


    "So what--?!"


    "--But do you know what was the most obvious lead?"


    "¡­"


    "Ever since you came rushing in through the door, you never even mentioned this mess."


    "What¡­ mess?"


    "Are you blind or just stupid? There''s a dead human being on the floor. He''s even decapitated! Don''t you dare lie and say that you never even saw it since you came in!


    He''s even a guard who''s supposed to know how to fight, yet he was killed by me just like that. Do you expect me to believe that a normal person wouldn''t wonder how a five-year-old boy without a speck of cultivation, could kill a full-grown man?!"


    "What does it matter?! You''ll die soon anyways!"


    "I appreciate the Xiong Clan''s efforts, but you have truly underestimated my abilities. I might be a kid, but a few four ranked assassins and a soon-to-be dead fighter won''t be able to get rid of me."


    "You!"


    "I already told you that I went through your head as soon as you walked in. You can''t possibly believe that I wouldn''t notice something like this.


    This is your first mission, so you are nervous as hell. Therefore it would be strange if I didn''t find out about all of this when it was all you thought about since you came here. Unlike you, I''m not stupid!"


    "You--!"


    "--What? It''s not my fault that I just happen to be way better than you."


    Xiong Hu clenched his fists. He was mad as hell. He just wanted to crush the little boy in front of him along with the whole building.


    "No need to get so worked up. You''ll die soon anyways, haha."


    "¡­ DIE!!!"


    He raised both his hands and a scorching hot flame rushed toward Xiao Huoyan. Xiao Huoyan just pointed at Xiong Hu with one finger and said:


    "That''s my line!"¡§


    Then a dark purple flame rushed towards Xiong Hu''s flame. As soon as their flames came in contact with each other, it seemed as if Xiao Huoyan''s flame ''swallowed'' Xiong Hu''s.


    Just as his flame was about to reach Xiong Hu, the flame disappeared into thin air, leaving nothing but an ice-cold gust of wind behind.


    At first Xiao Huoyan used his Demonic Flame to ''swallow'' Xiong Hu''s flame, then he used Absolute Ice to get rid of the flame.


    "Why did you¡­?"


    "I want you to call your ''friends'' here. I''m short on time, so would you mind calling them here so that I can take care of all of you at the same time? I don''t really have the time to go and drag them out of the shadows--¡­"


    "Haha, like I''d ever help yo--"


    "--Ah, forget it. Seems like they''re already here."


    Even though Xiao Huoyan couldn''t see them, he felt their spirit essences clearly.


    "HA! Good luck trying to take care of all of us at once!"


    "That was my plan you dumbass, haha."


    Before they even had the chance to react, Xiao Huoyan used Vines of Judgement to tie them down. When he saw Xiong Hu and someone else trying to burn off the vines, he just laughed and shook his head lightly.


    "Hahaha. These are Vines of Judgement. You couldn''t possibly hope to burn them off, right? Feel free to try though. You''ll only die faster, but that''s not really my problem, haha."


    "What do you want from us?!"


    A man named Xiong She asked with a voice filled with hatred.


    "Nothing much. I will kill every single one of you¡­ except for one of you."


    "Why?!"


    "I want one of you to deliver a message."


    "And if we refuse?"


    "You can''t. If I manipulate your memories, you won''t remember anything except for the mission which I''ve given you."


    "What if I volunteer and then attack you instead? Hahaha, you really are dumb! As expected of a kid!"


    "You couldn''t win against me a few moments ago, what makes you think that anything has changed since then, huh?"


    "You--!"


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    "--Besides, for those of you who have useful spirit essences¡­ I''ll absorb them and kill you afterwards. Good luck winning against me after becoming a cripple, haha."


    "Absorb our spirit essences? Hahaha, you must be joking kid!"


    "I''ll only absorb the useful ones though, so you don''t have to worry, haha."


    "How dare you?! You arrogant brat!"


    "Unlike you, I have the rights to be arrogant. I have yet to meet anyone who can defeat me, while you just got defeated by a five-year-old boy in a few seconds, even though you had so many people to help you."


    "¡­"


    "It''s not your fault that you''re weak like the rest of the people in your useless group¡­ or maybe it is, haha. Now, let''s see¡­ Who shall I start with?"

 20 Ch. 20 - You’re Wicked!

    "Anyone who wants to volunteer?"


    "HA! In your dreams! We''d rather die together than leave the others behind!"


    "You sure, haha?"


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    Xiong She turned his head around and saw all of his team members nodding silently. He never would''ve thought that all of them would give up so soon. He didn''t know what to say. Their actions made him completely speechless.


    "Looks like there''re some volunteers, haha. Hm¡­ Poisonous Crystal Phoenix?! That''s number seven on the list, right?! It''s better than most of my spirit essences and I already have quite a lot of them, haha."


    The girl with the Poisonous Crystal Phoenix as her spirit essence looked extremely frightened. She knew that Xiao Huoyan would take her spirit essence first.


    "I''ll give you something in return for your spirit essence and your memories, okay?"


    The girl knew that she''d die anyways, so she just nodded obediently.


    "Good girl! Do you want to tell me your real name pretty sister?"


    "¡­"


    "Interesting¡­ They don''t know your real name either, right?"


    "What is he talking about?!"


    Xiong She was confused yet also angry.


    "¡­"


    The girl stayed silent.


    "Haha, now this is really interesting. When did you plan on telling them about your true identity as the--"


    "--Shut it!"


    "Oh my, how fierce, haha! Why can''t I tell them? They''re all going to die soon anyways."


    "You said that one would get out of here alive. If my clan knows that I''m dead, then¡­"


    "I did say that one would get out alive, but I also said that I would erase that person''s memories."


    "If you dare reveal my identity, then I''ll reveal yours too!"


    "They already know who I am, haha. I''m the son of Jin Long, Jin Xin."


    "I didn''t mean that identity Xia--"


    "--You! You better shut your trap if you don''t want me to kill you first!"


    "So even you have a weak spot, huh?"


    "I''m only human you know. Of course I''d have a weak spot. What do you want from me?"


    "My freedom."


    "Give me one reason to not just kill you on spot."


    "I''m useful."


    "Not good enough."


    "I''m powerful."


    "Not more powerful than me."


    "My backround! My clan can help you greatly!"


    She started to panic.


    "I''m pretty sure that my biological father would be more powerful than your entire clan."


    "Who''s your father?"


    "Hahaha! First I thought that you could read my memories, but I guess I was wrong!"


    "I should be able to!"


    "But you''re not, haha!"


    "Is it your father who blocked off all access to your head?"


    "Yeah, I think so! You aren''t as powerful as I thought, haha. If you could read my memories, then you''d actually be of great help, but since you''re not, goodbye!"


    "You--!"


    Xiao Huoyan started to absorb her spirit essence. Then he started to absorb her lifeforce to painfully kill her.


    "You actually dared to threaten me! You sure have guts, Fenghuang Zi!"


    Fenghuang Zi could do nothing but scream out in pain as her lifeforce was getting absorbed by Xiao Huoyan.


    "FENGHUANG ZI?!?!"


    Everyone else in the room was shocked beyond belief. The girl who had been with them for all this time, was actually the young miss of the Fenghuang Clan!


    "She''s dead now, so get over it already!"


    "¡­"


    "Anyone who wants to go next?"


    "How could she know your real name if she couldn''t actually read your name?"


    Xiong She was the only one brave enough to ask questions in this situation.


    "Jin Long imprinted my real name inside of my mind so that when I lost my memory temporary I could at least remember my real name. He imprinted my real name outside of the so-called ''barrier'', so that it''d disappear quickly.


    A few days have already passed, so the imprint he left should be almost gone."


    "Why are you telling us so much?"


    "Because you''ll all die soon, so why not have a nice little chat?"


    "Not everyone."


    "The chosen one will get his memory wiped out. He won''t remember who he is, only that he has a mission that he must carry out, no matter what happens. As soon as the memory''s delivered, his internal organs will turn to ashes and hell instantly die on spot, haha."


    "You''re sick!"


    "I can''t get sick."


    "That''s not what I meant!"


    "I know. I''m just teasing you! It''s so amusing to see how angry you get!"


    "You!"


    "Every time someone gets angry he or she always says ''You!''. It''s so boring! Come up with something new!"


    "And what if I don''t?"


    "Then die, haha."


    Xiao Huoyan killed Xiong She without even blinking. He absorbed his lifeforce and then he turned to Xiong Hu.


    "Since you''re the youngest lord of the Xiong Clan, I''ll let you deliver my message. I can imagine the rage your parents will feel when you deliver my message and the just drop dead right in front of them, haha!"


    "You''re wicked! Crazy bastard!"


    "Hahaha, I guess I am."


    As soon as Xiao Huoyan finished his sentence, he absorbed the lifeforce of everyone else in the room, except for Xiong Hu. Then he wiped out all of Xiong Hu''s memories. The only thing that Xiong Hu could remember now, was that he had to find his parents and tell him Xiao Huoyan''s message.

 21 Ch. 21 - OFF I GO!

    As soon as Xiong Hu had left, Xiao Huoyan once again fell to the floor, but this time he didn''t cry.


    He felt scared. He just killed several people without blinking, and what''s worse, he was completely ''normal'' this time. He was himself, yet he enjoyed their scared expressions, the feeling of being superior to everyone else. He even enjoyed the sound of their screams as he absorbed all of their lifeforce.


    He used to tell himself that it wasn''t his fault when he killed others. He used to tell himself that it was the ''victim''s'' fault for provoking him. Since he lost himself and turned into some kind of insane demon, he didn''t fully blame himself for killing others, but now it was¡­ different.


    This time, not only did he kill several other human beings while being completely so-called ''normal'', he even enjoyed every single moment of it. And that was what scared him so much.


    He didn''t stay on the floor for especially long. After a while, he came back to his senses and remembered that he actually had somewhere to go. He had to go to Rosewood City to look for his uncle.


    He was sure that he''d seen a map in Jin Long''s old room, so he went back to look for it. He quickly found it in the second drawer. He thought it''d be a shame if everything were to be stolen when he was away.


    The Jin Clan seemed to have a lot of enemies, so he sorted everything into different categories and then he used different Space Rings to store everything that seemed to have any kind of value.


    "OFF I GO!"


    He said to himself and quickly set off towards Rosewood City to look for his uncle.


    He started to get thirsty, which was completely normal since he had already walked for a few hours. He knew that he had food in one of his storage rings, but he had forgotten to bring water. Food doesn''t really help when you''re thirsty as hell.


    He decided to walk to the closest village to get some water. He continued to walk for almost two hours, then he reached a small village.


    Everyone was staring at him as he walked around the village. At first he thought it was kind of strange, but then he remembered. He had forgotten to take a shower and was still covered in blood. It wasn''t his blood, but the villagers didn''t know that.


    He continued to walk a little bit more, then he just went to a random house and knocked on the door. A moment later, a teenage girl opened the door.


    As soon as she saw Xiao Huoyan standing in front of her door while covered in blood, she started to cry.


    "Why are you crying, pretty sister?"


    Xiao Huoyan didn''t know anyone in this village. Therefore, he decided to act as a pitiful child until he knew if he could trust them.


    "Oh I-I--"


    "--Who is it sweetie?"


    The girl''s mother asked while on her way to the door.


    The girl didn''t know what to answer, and before she could ask for Xiao Huoyan''s name, her mother had already arrived at the door.


    "Oh my!"


    Her mother yelled in surprise when she saw Xiao Huoyan standing there covered in blood, with only a map in his hands.


    "H-hello, pretty lady!"


    Xiao Huoyan said and bowed respectfully.


    "Oh, dear please come in and tell us what happened to you!"


    "Are you sure it''s f-fine? I''m pretty dirty and I don''t want to dirty anything in your lovely house, pretty lady."


    "Oh, nonsense! Please, come in dear!"


    "F-fine, t-thank you."


    Xiao Huoyan followed the mother and daughter in. He didn''t like to act like a pitiful and lonely child, but he still didn''t know if he could trust them.


    "Uhm, would you like to take a bath first? I''ll warm a bath for you if you''d like."


    "N-no, thank you pretty sister. I-I don''t want to disturb you, I j-just came to ask f-for water."


    "It''s fine dear. Please take a bath and then tell us about what happened to you, okay?"


    "O-okay, thank you pretty lady and pretty sister."


    Xiao Huoyan went to take a bath and then went straight to the kitchen. He could hear the pair of mother and daughter talking about him. They seemed to genuinely care for him. For some reason, it actually felt quite nice to have someone care for him.


    "I-I finished. Thank you."


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    "Great! I''m sorry, but we don''t have any boy''s clothes here but I can go and ask the neighbours for a set off clothes. I''m sure it''s fine."


    "O-oh, it''s fine. I already washed my clothes and dried them. It''s fine now, but that you anyways."


    "How come they''re already dry, dear?"


    Xiao Huoyan couldn''t come up with any decent lie, so he decided to tell them the truth. He wasn''t going to tell them everything about him, nor everything about the incident, but it couldn''t hurt to tell them that he used Demonic Flame to dry his clothes. He could tell them the truth¡­ or at least a bit of it.


    "I j-just¡­"


    Xiao Huoyan said while holding out his hand. Then he used Demonic Flame. A small flame deemed to appear from his hand.


    "Oh, so you''re a Cultivator!"

 22 Ch. 22 - The less you know, the safer you’ll be…

    "But mother¡­ Doesn''t People at the age of six go through the awakening? He can''t be older that four¡­ maybe five years old, right?"


    "I guess your right honey¡­"


    "Uhm, I-I''m actually a special case. I am five years old, but for some reasons which I cannot tell you about, I went through the awakening a few days ago."


    "Oh, so that''s it. Okay dear, do you mind telling us about what happened to you?"


    "Uhm¡­ O-okay. I was at my uncle''s place and while I slept, the Xiong Clan attacked my clan. My uncle fled to Rosewood City while the guards fought back to win time, so that he could get away safely without getting followed. Then after I woke up, the house was empty and the ground outside was covered in corpses.


    After a while, I found someone who was alive. I took him in, treated his injuries and then asked him about what had happened. He told me everything, including where my uncle had fled to. I decided to go after him, but just as I was about to leave, a bunch of assassins appeared from the shadows."


    "Poor child! What happened next, dear?"


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    "The man whom I had saved yelled at me to run. I didn''t want to leave him, but I understood that I''d just be in the way if I stayed. I ran until I heard a loud explosion coming from inside the house. That''s when I finally understood why I had to leave. The man had planned to sacrifice himself to get rid of the assassins."


    "What did he do, dear?"


    "I don''t know¡­ I just know that he died together with the assassins."


    "How horrible! Poor child! Mom, can''t we let him stay? He has been through so much!"


    "But sweetie¡­ Didn''t you hear him? He said that he had to go and find his uncle. Since has a family, they''d probably be very worried if they couldn''t find him, right?"


    "I guess you''re right mom, but--"


    "--He wouldn''t care¡­"


    "What? Who wouldn''t care for their own family? I know for sure that my mother would worry herself to death if I just disappeared."


    "He wouldn''t care since he and I aren''t actually related. His brother adopted me and die two days later."


    "But how can you be so sure that he doesn''t care about you? Maybe he just--"


    "--I just know¡­ The way I am, no one would ever want to be associated with me¡­"


    "What makes you think that, dear?"


    "Even I have secrets. Secrets that I''d prefer to take with me to the grave."


    "Okay, but where are your biological parents?"


    "Sweetie! You can''t just ask that so bluntly! What if--"


    "No, it''s fine. My mother was murdered and as for my father¡­ I don''t know."


    "What d you mean by ''I don''t know''?"


    "Sweetie!"


    "I meant what I said. I don''t know where he is. He left and erased all of my memories of him. I don''t even know if he''s alive."


    "I¡­ I''m sorry¡­"


    "No it''s fine, pretty sister."


    "Haha, don''t you ever get angry, dear? My daughter asked such questions and yet you stayed calm and answered everything. Quite admirable!"


    The lady laughed while staring at her daughter. One could tell that she was upset with her daughter''s behaviour.


    "Because of something which I can''t tell you about, I can''t get angry."


    "You can''t?"


    "Well, I CAN, but if I do then¡­ just say that it won''t end well¡­"


    "Hahaha, will you start killing people or something?"


    "Sweetie! Enough already!"


    "It''s fine, pretty lady. Pretty sister only tried to ease the tension. She meant well."


    "Yeah, but--"


    "--Besides¡­ she''s right."


    "What?"


    "She''s right. I would probably start killing people if I got angry."


    "Haha, enough with the jokes--"


    "I wasn''t joking. I''m serious."


    "If what you''re telling us is the truth, then may I ask why you''re telling us all of this?"


    "I don''t know myself, pretty lady. For some reason I feel like I can trust both of you. You wouldn''t harm me. I can tell that both of you would rather die than reveal any information about me. You don''t know me well, but you''re both good at heart and wouldn''t want me to suffer. I''m just a little boy after all."


    "But dear¡­ how can you be so sure that we won''t betray you? How can you be so sure that we aren''t acting right now?"


    "Hmm¡­ Let''s just call it intuition."


    "Okay¡­ If you really trust me and my daughter then¡­ mind telling us your name? I just realised that you never introduced yourself to us."


    "Hmm¡­"


    "What?"


    "Nothing, I just¡­ I don''t know if I should tell you¡­ My name is Jin Xin, but--"


    "--but that''s not your real name, right?"


    "It is my real name, but it''s the name that I got when Jin Long decided to adopt me. It''s not the name that my biological parents gave me when I was born, so I don''t know if I--"


    "JIN LONG?!?! As in ''The Golden Dragon'', Jin Long?! Your name is Jin Xin and you''re his son?!"


    "Calm down sweetie!"


    "S-sorry mom¡­"


    "You said that your name hasn''t always been Jin Xin, so what''s your¡­ you know¡­ ''real'' name?"


    "I''d prefer not to tell you that."


    "Why? Didn''t you say that you trusted me and my daughter?"


    "I do trust you, but it''s just¡­ You''ve been so nice to me¡­ both of you. Therefore, I don''t want you to get hurt nor killed just because I was stupid enough to tell you things that you didn''t need to know."


    "But--"


    "Trust me, pretty lady. The less you know, the safer you''ll be¡­"

 23 Ch. 23 - Moved to Tears

    "I want to trust you, but I don''t know if I can¡­"


    "But mother, he''s just a little boy--"


    "I understand that you might think that I''m harmless since I''m just a child, but your mother is right, pretty sister. You shouldn''t trust me¡­"


    "That''s not what I meant, dear. It''s just¡­"


    "¡­ It''s fine. I understand. Thank you for everything. I''ll be taking my leave now."


    Xiao Huoyan said it while smiling, but deep in his heart, he didn''t wish to leave yet. He was actually quite fond of them.


    Just as he had began walking towards the door, the girl''s mother spoke.


    "W-wait!"


    Xiao Huoyan didn''t say anything. He just stopped and slowly turned around.


    "I¡­ I''ll trust you¡­ for now. You can stay¡­"


    "Really, mom?!"


    The girl''s mother nodded while smiling.


    "YAY!!"


    "Shh! Sweetie! Don''t act like a child."


    "But mother, I AM a child", the girl said while laughing.


    "T-thank you both! Uhm¡­ for how long am I p-permitted to stay?"


    "For as long as you need, dear--"


    "--FOREVER!!"


    "Sweetie! Stop interrupting me!"


    "Fine, mom. Sorry."


    The girl did apologize, but she didn''t seem especially sorry at all.


    "How can I repay your kindness?", Xiao Huoyan asked.


    "Oh, no need to think about such things. I''ve always wanted a son anyways. You can stay here as a part of the family for as long as you like!"


    The girl''s mother seemed much happier now.


    "A p-part of t-the family¡­ Your f-family¡­"


    Xiao Huoyan felt truly happy. He had been without a father for as long as he could remember, and his mother had been murdered. Jin Long, who was the closest to a father figure that Xiao Huoyan had ever known, died by sacrificing himself. Jin Niao, Jin Long''s brother and Xiao Huoyan''s uncle, had left him alone when they got attacked. He just fled away and didn''t even bother to send someone to look after his so-called ''dear nephew''.


    For the last two years, with the exception of a few days, Xiao Huoyan had been alone. To actually hear someone say that he was ''welcome to stay as a part of the family''¡­


    He was moved to tears by those simple words.


    A single tear made its way down his left cheek as he just stood there with a moved expression on his face. He was truly moved¡­ and truly grateful for their kindness.


    "Why are you crying dear? Did I say something wrong? You don''t have to stay if you don''t want to. It''s fine, I understand."


    "¡­ That''s not it. You said absolutely nothing wrong. It''s just¡­ It has been a while since I last felt like I was part of a family. I did have my father Long, but I only knew him for a few days, and his brother weren''t really like family to me. To think that he''d leave me there alone like that¡­"


    "Oh, dear¡­ You must''ve been through a lot¡­ My husband died a few years ago. We always slept in different rooms, so you can have his room if you''d like."


    "¡­ Thank you."


    The girl''s mother got down on one knee and open up her arms as if saying that it''d be fine with a hug. Xiao Huoyan wasn''t used to hugging people, but in this moment, he didn''t really care. He ran up to the lady and gave her a hug, and she¡­ she just patted his back lightly while hugging him, to console him.


    She gave off a motherly feeling that Xiao Huoyan hadn''t felt in the past two years. That feeling made him cry even more. He hadn''t been this happy since his mother died, except for the time he had been with Jin Long.


    "I don''t really mind being called ''Pretty Sister'', but I figured that it''d be impolite to not tell you my name. I''m Tian Xin."


    Tian Xin''s mother looked at her and said:


    "You must really love to interrupt, huh?"


    Then she turned back to Xiao Huoyan who was still hugging her while crying on her left shoulder.


    She heaved a deep sigh and then told Xiao Huoyan her own name.


    "My name''s Tian Mei but feel free to call me mother. We''ll be taking care of you, so from now on you''re a part of the family!"


    "¡­ It suits you. You''re really pretty¡­ your name suits you¡­", Xiao Huoyan said while still burying his face in Tian Mei''s shoulder.


    "Hahaha, he''s a real sweet-talker mom, so you better watch out!"


    Tian Mei only shook her head while laughing lightly.


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    "Thank you¡­ for everything."


    Xiao Huoyan really meant every word he said. He had already stopped acting a while ago. When he said that he trusted them, he really meant it.


    "It''s fine, dear. It''s fine¡­"


    "Now I feel bad for not telling you my given name¡­"


    "It''s fine little bro! Besides¡­ You should get a new name. Other than Jin Xin I mean. We don''t want others to overreact. You were adopted by Jin Long. ''The Golden Dragon'', Jin Long. If people knew, they''d be hysterical."


    "You''re right big sis¡­ the how about--"


    "--How about¡­ Tian Kou? HAHAHAHA!!"


    Tian Xin began to laugh hysterically.


    *Tian Kou, means Sweet Mouth, so Tian Xin basically meant that he''s a ''sweet-talker''.*

 24 Ch. 24 - I will trust and treat you like family!

    "Stop laughing and let him finish his sentence at least!"


    Tian Mei scolded her daughter for interrupting Xiao Huoyan while he was speaking.


    "It''s fine, mom."


    "No, it''s not!"


    "Please. I don''t mind being interrupted from time to time¡­ It actually reminds me of my time with father Long. We used to interrupt each other a lot, haha¡­"


    Xiao Huoyan laughed lightly while remembering his time with Jin Long.


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    Xiao Huoyan had just spoken the truth, but what he didn''t know was that those few sentences was enough to move both Tian Xin''s and Tian Mei''s hearts. He told them something personal to defend Tian Xin, and he did it out of pure goodwill towards his sister.


    As soon as Tian Mei had invited him into the family, he immediately began to treat them as his own family. He was extremely smart and well-mannered despite his age. He knew how to treat others who were important to him, even though he was so young and had been alone for almost half of his life.


    Everything he did, everything he said¡­ it all played a part in melting Tian Xin''s and Tian Mei''s hearts.


    After Xiao Huoyan had finished speaking, everyone turned silent. After a while, Xiao Huoyan began to speak once again.


    "Xiao¡­ Huoyan¡­"


    "Hm?"


    Neither Tian Mei nor Tian Xin understood what he meant.


    "Little flame? You mean your spirit essence? What About it?", Tian Xin asked in a confused manner.


    "No¡­ M-my name¡­ It''s Xiao Huoyan¡­"


    "You didn''t have to tell us, dear¡­ We trust you."


    "I didn''t tell you, because I thought you didn''t trust me. I told you because I wanted both of you to know that from this day on, I will trust and treat you like family!"


    "You didn''t have to prove anything, dear."


    "I know, but I wanted to."


    "Thank you anyways, bro. It''s nice to know that you actually trust us."


    After a while, they went to eat dinner. Xiao Huoyan stunned them with his magnificent cooking skills, and then they all went to sleep in their respective rooms.


    After they all woke up, Tian Mei cooked breakfast. After the food was finished, they all sat down to eat¡­ like a happy family.


    "Hmm¡­ So, what shall we call you? I believe you wouldn''t want others to know about your given name, and we can''t let them know about your realationship with the Jin Clan either."


    "Uhm¡­ since we''re family¡­ you don''t really have to call me by name¡­ r-right?"


    "Yeah, you''re right bro! And don''t forget that if anyone on the village dares to bully you, your lovely sister will protect you!"


    Tian Xin said with a proud smile on her face while patting her chest.


    "Same to you sis, haha!"


    "Haha, what are you saying? I''m the eldest, so naturally I should be the one protecting you!"


    "But I''m your brother. Besides¡­ I''m a lot stronger than you, haha!"


    "Oh, you wish!"


    They both laughed while happily joking with each other.


    Tian Mei had been silent the entire time. She just observed her happy children.


    "Hmm¡­"


    "What is it sis?"


    "Sorry for asking, but how strong are you really? What cultivation level are you currently at?"


    "I don''t know¡­ I haven''t started cultivating yet."


    "You haven''t?"


    "Nope."


    "Haha, then I am definitely stronger than you!"


    "Hahaha, probably not."


    "What, why?"


    "Are you stronger than ''The Golden Dragon'', Jin Long?"


    "Of course not! He''s one of the peak experts in the world! Of course, I''m not stronger than him, but neither are you!"


    "In fact, I am."


    "Stop joking already!"


    "The first day that he and I met, I saved his life¡­ Then I almost killed him. I probably would have killed him if I hadn''t stopped myself in time."


    "You? Saving ''The Golden Dragon'', Jin Long , and the almost killing him?"


    "Believe it or not, but it''s true."


    "Prove it then!"


    "Your spirit essence is really beautiful. No. 21, Poisonous Cherry Blossoms, am I right?"


    "Y-you¡­ How did you?!"


    "I saw it, felt it, and even smelled it."


    "You what?! Didn''t you say that you hadn''t began cultivating yet?! How come you can still¡­?!"


    "Calm down, sweetie! Don''t scare him like that!"


    "I-I just¡­"


    She felt so confused. Then suddenly, she attacked him with one of her strongest attacks. Xiao Huoyan flew up from his chair and stayed in mid-air. Then he used Demonic Flame to burn the Poisonous Cherry Blossoms that came flying at a rapid speed.


    Since he had burned several Poisonous Cherry Blossoms, the smoke also contained poison. To get rid of the smoke, he then used Icy Hurricane. Then he flew back down. ''Luckily the roof is rather high in this house'', he thought to himself. Then he just sat down on his chair again.


    His acts had shocked both Tian Xin and Tian Mei.


    "You! How dare you attack your little brother?! Geez, he''s just a child! What if he wouldn''t have been able to defend against your attack, huh?! Then he''d be as good as dead by now, you idiot! Apologize! NOW!!"


    "I-I¡­ I didn''t mean to¡­ I just--"


    "You just what?!"


    "I¡­"


    "Please don''t scold her mother! She didn''t mean any harm! She was just joking, right sis?"


    "Y-yeah. I was just joking¡­"


    "Since you choose to defend her this time¡­ I guess I let it go. But only this time!"


    "Thank you mother!"


    Even though it was Tian Xin who had been scolded, it was still Xiao Huoyan who thanked Tian Mei. Tian Xin didn''t dare to say anything, so she just sat there completely silent.

 25 Ch. 25 - My Little Brother’s An Absolute Genius!

    After a while of awkward silence, Tian Mei decided to break the silence.


    "Sweetie?"


    "Hm?"


    Tian Xin seemed a little startled.


    "You seemed to be worrying about something. What''s bothering you, sweetie?"


    "N-nothing!"


    "It''s obviously not ''nothing''. You might feel better after telling us about it."


    "I-I¡­"


    Tian Xin looked at Xiao Huoyan.


    "If you have questions, then I suggest you ask them directly instead of trying to figure it out by yourself."


    Tian Xin seemed a little shocked.


    "How did you¡­?"


    "I''m sorry. You seemed so troubled and I figured that you wouldn''t tell us even if we asked, so I went ahead and read your mind. I''m sorry for not asking for permission first, but if I would''ve asked first, then you most definitely would''ve said no."


    "I¡­ It''s fine. Is it okay for me to ask absolutely anything?"


    "Yes."


    "¡­ And you''ll answer truthfully?"


    "Yes."


    "¡­ Good. You have dual essence, right?"


    "¡­ Hmm¡­"


    "What? You can''t go back on your word!"


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    "Oh, that''s not it. I-"


    "Then what is it?!"


    Xiao Huoyan sighed hopelessly.


    "¡­ I don''t know what to call it when I have more than two spirit essences."


    "You have more than two spirit essences?! Is that even possible?! You must be lying!"


    "How can you say that?! He''s your little brother now, not some stranger!"


    Hearing her own daughter speak like that, Tian Mei felt her blood boil.


    "It''s fine¡­ Even though I might be a part of your family right now, we haven''t known each other for long. I am indeed a stranger. I have already made my decision to stay with you as a part of your family, but even if I see you as my family, I can''t tolerate it when someone calls me a liar.


    I''ve already decided to trust you, so why would I need to lie?"


    "Dear¡­"


    As she heard him speak, she felt as if her heart would break. Even though he wasn''t her biological son¡­ even though they barely knew each other, she still felt a deep sense of affection for him. She already regarded him as her own son. Hearing her own son speak like that made her feel like her heart was on the verge of breaking.


    As he spoke she clearly felt the sorrow behind those words.


    "Sweetie! Apologize to your little brother right this instant! How could you call your own brother a liar?!"


    "M-mother, I-I¡­"


    Tian Xin was at a loss. She didn''t know what to say.


    Xiao Huoyan didn''t mean to make a fuss over it, but Tian Xin was just too stubborn. She simply refused to believe him, but even so, he didn''t wish for her to have a hard time.


    Even though he hadn''t known this pair of mother and daughter for long, he still cared about them both. If he didn''t like someone, then he would just keep away from that person or even go as far as to actually kill that person, but if he did like them, then he would gladly stay attached to that person.


    Even though his mindset seemed simple and foolish, he didn''t wish to change his way of thinking. He trusted his ability to judge people''s characters.


    He knew that Tian Mei and Tian Xin were good people. They even decided to welcome a stranger covered in blood into their family. That''s not something that just anyone would do. Even if others would also feel sorry for him, they wouldn''t go as far as inviting him to stay as a part of their family.


    He had already decided to trust them. He had already recognized them as his family.


    He knew that his uncle, Jin Niao, didn''t have good intentions, so he had already decided that he''d get rid of him as soon as he reaches Rosewood City. Someone who knows so many of his secrets cannot be left alive.


    While Xiao Huoyan was still lost in thoughts, Tian Xin was still unable to calm herself. She didn''t know what to do. Tian Mei grew inpatient and broke the silence.


    "Apologize!", she yelled at her daughter, Tian Xin.


    Tian Xin felt her eyes getting teary. She was on the verge of crying.


    Seeing this, Xiao Huoyan decided to let the matter go. He couldn''t stand to see his sister like that.


    "It''s fine. Let''s just forget it already, okay?"


    "But she--"


    Tian Mei was still unwilling to let this go.


    "¡ªIt''s fine. Really."


    "You sure?"


    "Yes, I''m sure.


    I understand that it sounds completely unbelievable and that you won''t believe me until I show you some solid proof."


    "I--"


    "--I won''t blame you. Since you want proof, I''ll show you."


    "N-now?"


    "Yeah!"


    Xiao Huoyan smiled brightly and then started to freely release his spirit essences all at once. The sight were truly shockingly beautiful.


    Seeing all those spirit essences dance in the air like beautiful rays of vivid colours, as well as dazzling snowflakes, a shining golden dragon and a graceful purple phoenix, both Tian Mei and Tian Xin felt dumbstruck.


    None of them had ever seen anything so incredibly beautiful. It was like something straight out of a dream. They couldn''t believe their eyes.


    "¡­ Beautiful~!!", Tian Mei and Tian Xin both exclaimed in unison.


    After a while, Xiao Huoyan stopped the beautiful performance and turned to look at Tian Mei and Tian Xin again.


    "Well¡­ How was it?"


    "¡­ Absolutely beautiful! I''ve never seen anything so beautiful in my entire life before!"


    "Me neither, sweetie¡­ Me neither¡­"


    "So¡­ Do you believe me now, then?"


    "Who would dare not to believe after seeing that?!"


    Tian Mei was still shocked by what she''d just seen.


    "I¡­ I believe you¡­"


    "Well, then that''s good, hahaha!"


    "Uhm¡­ How long have you been able to do that?", Tian Mei asked while thinking back at the beautiful scene she''d just seen.


    "Hmm¡­ I don''t know. This is the first time I''ve tried--"


    "--WHAT?!?! This is your FIRST time doing that?!"


    Hearing Xiao Huoyan say that it was his first time, Tian Xin was shocked beyond belief.


    "Uhm, yes."


    "Incredible!"


    Tian Mei couldn''t believe her ears. Never would she have expected that such a powerful child existed in this world.


    "The control you have over your spirit essences are really incredible! Amazing!"


    The shock that Tian Mei felt couldn''t even compare to that of her dear daughter, Tian Xin''s.


    "Hahaha! My little brother is an absolute genius!"

 26 Ch. 26 - I Tend To Hold Grudges!

    "Hahaha! Your attitude sure changes fast!"


    "Hmph! So what? You''re a genius! You''re my little brother and you''re a genius! Shouldn''t I be happy about it? Do you want me to scream and shed tears out of jealousy instead?


    Which big sister wouldn''t be happy if she found out her little brother''s an absolute genius? Only bad sisters would feel jealous over something like that!"


    "Hahaha, you''re right! Thank you, but I''m not an actual genius¡­"


    "What the hell are you talking about? I already saw what you could do. If you''re not a genius, then who in this world would dare to call themselves a genius? You''re way too modest little brother!"


    "Thank you for thinking so highly of me, but I''m really not an actual genius. I''m just¡­ gifted."


    "Gifted?", Tian Mei asked curiously.


    She knew that there was more to it than Xiao Huoyan had already told them about. She knew that he had secrets that he had yet to tell them.


    "I posses the ability to absorb other people''s spirit essences. I can absorb all of it or part of it. If I absorb all of it, then the person that I absorbed it from will be left without a spirit essence."


    "¡­ Then does that mean that you can absorb our spirit essences to?"


    Even after hearing about Xiao Huoyan''s strange ability to absorb other people''s spirit essences, Tian Mei didn''t feel frightened. She didn''t seem to care about whether he''d absorb her spirit essence or not. She seemed to trust him completely! ¡­Or at least enough to not feel frightened by him.


    She didn''t ask out of fright, but out of curiosity.


    "I do indeed posses the ability to do so, but I''d never absorb your spirit essences."


    "¡­ Since you can absorb spirit essences, then does that mean that you can transfer your spirit essences to other people too?"


    "I''ve never tried, but I''m pretty sure I can."


    "That''s good but promise me to never tell anyone else about your ability to transfer spirit essences."


    "Why can''t he tell anyone else about it? Isn''t his abilities a positive thing?", Tian Xin suddenly asked. She didn''t understand why her little brother weren''t allowed to brag to others about his amazing abilities.


    "Sweetie¡­ If other people knew about what he could do, then don''t you think that there would be people out there who''d capture him for their own use? People are selfish and greedy. If they knew that there were someone in the world who had the powers to grant them spirit essences, wouldn''t they take him away then?"


    "You''re right, mother. I was too na?ve¡­"


    "Thank you for your concern, but I know better than to walk around the streets, telling random people about my abilities.


    I believe there''s only six people who knows about me being different."


    "Who knows, other than us?", Tian Mei had a worried expression on her beautiful face.


    "Other than you two, only I, my dead mother, my missing father, father Long and his brother, my uncle, Jin Niao knows."


    "Good. Then they''re all people whom you can trust."


    "To be honest, I don''t trust my uncle¡­"


    "Why?"


    "I keep getting the feeling that he has bad intentions. I don''t posses any proof of my speculations, but I just know that he doesn''t have good intentions. He actually left me to die when the enemy attacked, haha!"


    "Where is he now?"


    "Rosewood City."


    "That''s not too far away. Since you don''t trust him, what do you plan on doing with him then?"


    "I''ll find him and then I''ll kill him before he causes harm to me or you."


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    "Why would he cause harm to us?"


    Tian Xin was shaking. She was truly frightened. She knew how powerful the Jin Clan was.


    The fact that they might come after them frightened her beyond imagination.


    "¡­ Because you were kind to me. I know that I''m just a child, but I''m not stupid. I know that I can stay hidden forever if I so wish, but I''m not confident in bringing you with me."


    "But how would he know that you''ve been here?"


    Tian Mei was worried, but she decided not to say too much for the sake of not scaring her daughter.


    "Sooner or later he''ll find out that I didn''t die. When he finds out, he''ll just track me here. When he sees that my traces ends here, he''ll become suspicious. If he suspects that I''m still in this village, then he might burn down the whole village to force me to come out."


    "But why would he be so eager to kill you? Isn''t he still your uncle? He might spare you¡­ I mean, blood IS thicker than water, so--"


    "He and I are not related by blood, and even if we were, I still don''t think he''d spare me.


    Besides, he has already exposed his evil intentions by leaving me to die back at the mansion, so now he''s scared. He knows what I can do, so he''ll hunt me down out of fear for his own life."


    "That makes sense¡­"


    "¡­ Then why don''t you just kill him first?"


    Tian Xin, who had been silent for quite a while, suddenly spoke.


    "That''s what I had planned. I want to get rid of him before he causes trouble. That''s why I need to go to Rosewood City."


    "But do you really have to kill him?"


    Tian Xin was just like an innocent child. Of course, she wouldn''t wish for people to die.


    "Yes."


    "But why? Can''t you just make peace with each other? There isn''t really a need for blood to spill, right?"


    "You don''t understand the determination of someone who knows that he might die at any moment. If I don''t kill him, he''ll never stop chasing me."


    "But--"


    "Either he dies, or I die! He and I can''t live under the same heaven! Besides¡­ I tend to hold grudges!"

 27 Ch. 27 - The Golden Bracelets

    "Hold¡­ grudges?", Tian Xin and Tian Mei asked in unison.


    Neither of them understood what Xiao Huoyan meant.


    "Yes."


    "I know that you think he tried to kill you on purpose, but how can you be so sure? What if it''s all just a misunderstanding? How can you hold a grudge against him without solid evidence?"


    "Tian Mei¡­ That''s not why I hold a grudge against him. My hatred for him goes deeper than just that."


    "Then why do you hate him so much, dear?"


    "Before father Long died, he told me a few things. I don''t know if he also knew that uncle Niao was involved."


    "Involved in what?"


    Tian Xin suddenly got curious.


    "¡­ Involved in the attack that led to our first meeting. After I saved his life, he told me about why he ended up like that. Some people from the Jin Clan wanted to get rid of him, yet they were not his match. They were jealous of his strength. He was obviously many times stronger than them and they knew that very well, so they had to resort to vicious means in order to get rid of him.


    They poisoned him with an incurable poison at a banquet and then prepared a sneak attack.


    He barely managed to escape. He then came to my home by mistake. I found him collapsed at the front door, so I cured him. We got quite attached to each other and he was very fond of both my cunning personality as well as my so-called "talent".


    At first, he had only planed on taking me in as a disciple, but he soon changed his mind and decided to adopt me as his son instead. He blew up the entire forest we were in for two reasons. One; He wanted to make sure that none of his enemies would be able to report to the Jin Clan about my existence. He wanted to make sure that I was safe. And two; He wanted to leave them a message. He wanted them to know that he, unlike them, wasn''t afraid of death¡­ and that he would make them suffer.


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    Everyone who''s not stupid would be able to guess that he''d already found someone to carry out his revenge.


    Everybody knew that the most powerful person in that forest was the hidden expert. What they didn''t know was that the so-called "hidden expert" have always been me."


    "Hmm¡­ I have a few questions.", Tian Mei said slowly.


    "Ask away!"


    Xiao Huoyan answered her with a bright smile on his face.


    "How come you cured an incurable disease? Why did Jin Long try to hide your existence? How did you survive in the forest if he blew it all up? How do you know that Jin Niao was really jealous of Jin Long?"


    "My blood can cure anything from injuries to poisons and diseases. That''s why I don''t get injured nor sick. Any wounds I get heals almost instantly and I''m immune to poisons and viruses. I just gave him a few drops of my blood and then he was practically back to normal already. Although the healing process is a little slower on others, he still recuperated rather fast.


    Jin Long didn''t want someone to come after me, so he decided to hide my existence. At least until I''d be able to protect myself. He knew that I was strong, but he also knew about the schemes of the outside world.


    Which big brother wouldn''t feel jealous if his younger brother''s talent surpassed him by leaps and bounds? Although there were seven years between them, Jin Long surpassed his brother in terms of cultivation prowess at the age of nine.


    I survived in the forest because I''m able to protect myself from my own explosions. I''m the one who made the thing that blew up the forest, so of course I''d be able to protect myself by creating a barrier around myself. A barrier that''d remain intact even after such a major explosion.


    I blame myself for father Long''s death every day. If only I would''ve discovered my ability to change the shape of my barrier back then. I discovered it after the explosion, but then it was already too late. I could''ve saved him¡­"


    "Don''t blame yourself, little brother! It''s not your fault!"


    "Thank you, but--"


    "''But'' what? Stop worrying about that already! Why don''t you worry about something else?"


    "Hahaha, like what?"


    "Like how I''ll beat you up! What did you mean by ''Which big brother wouldn''t feel jealous if his younger brother''s talent surpassed him by leaps and bounds''?!


    I''m your big sister, your talent surpasses mine by leaps and bounds, but I''m only happy that my dear little brother''s a genius among geniuses! I never felt even the tiniest bit jealous of you! I''ll beat you to a pulp for insulting me like that, you little brat!"


    Xiao Huoyan began to laugh.


    "Hahahahaha!! You''re right sis! It''s all my fault for unknowingly insulting you! Please accept my sincerest apologies!", Xiao Huoyan said while bowing with a brilliant smile on his face.


    "You! You dare mock me?! And who''re you calling ''sis'', huh?! I''ll kill you; you damn brat!"


    Tin Xin flew up from her chair as soon as she finished her sentence. She began to chase him around the table.


    "Hahahahaha!!"


    "Tian Xin, sweetie?"


    "Yes, mom?"


    Tian Xin answered but didn''t slow down even a little bit. She continued to chase Xiao Huoyan.


    "Do you mind chasing your brother outside?"


    "Okay, mo--"


    "--No need!", Xiao Huoyan said while taking lightly touching the mark on his hand. The mark looked like a golden dragon. It was truly beautiful.


    As soon as he touched it, two golden bracelets appeared in his hands. They were also very beautiful.


    "How did you¡­ Why did you--?"


    "--For you!", Xiao Huoyan said and gave them one each.


    "What are these?"


    "Bracelets!"


    "I can see that, but I doubt that they''re just simple bracelets."


    "Hahaha, you right mother! They are indeed not normal. I made them. These will allow you to pass."


    "To pass?"


    "Just put I a little bit of your soul power in the bracelet and see what happens!"


    Both Tian Mei and Tian Xin followed his instructions. They trusted him enough to know that he wouldn''t harm them, so they chose to silently obey. When they put in a little bit of soul power in the bracelet, they .saw how everything in front of them began to change.


    A moment later they were no longer in the kitchen. They had somehow passed through to what seemed to be another world.

 28 Ch. 28 - The Story of The Poisonous Cherry Blossoms

    They fell from the sky and landed on a bed of beautiful flowers.


    "Where''s little bro?"


    Xiao Huoyan were nowhere to be seen.


    Tian Mei and Tian Xin began to worry.


    "What are you doing just sitting there?"


    "Little bro!"


    Tian Xin was overjoyed to see that her brother was fine. Tian Mei on the other hand, had been silent since they arrived.


    "Little bro! Y-you''re flying¡­ again¡­"


    "Yes, I''m flying¡­ again. You wanna try?"


    "But I can''t fly! My cultivation''s still too low¡­"


    "In this world anyone can fly!"


    "Wha-! H-how?!"


    "Just imagine yourself lifting from the ground. It''s easier than you think, haha!"


    "O-ok!"


    She closed her eyes while imagining herself jumping high and then not falling back down. Then she jumped! She then stopped in mid-air. As she felt how she stood still instead of falling, she slowly opened her eyes. She looked down, but she couldn''t see her mother nor her brother anymore.


    "Hey? Where are you? Where did you go?", as she felt slightly panicked, she began to look around frantically.


    "Where up here, sweetie!"


    Tian Xin looked up and saw her mother as well as her brother a few meters above her.


    "When did you get there?"


    She was so confused. It didn''t take long for her to get where she was, but they were already up there. She even jumped before them!


    "Stop worrying already. I helped her up.", Xiao Huoyan said with a proud smile.


    "You read my thoughts.. again?!"


    "Hehe, sorry!"


    "You! You! YOU!!"


    "Hahahah! Catch me if you can!"


    Right after saying that he began to fly upwards. Then he began to fly around in circles with his hands on his back. It didn''t seem like someone trying to get away, but more like someone taking a leisurely stroll.


    "Are you mocking me?!"


    "Definitely!"


    "You won''t even deny it?!"


    "Nope!"


    "YOU!!"


    "Me?"


    Tian Xin was so enraged; she began to fly rapidly upwards. Then she began to chase Xiao Huoyan in circles.


    "Stop flying away if you dare!!", Tian Xin shouted at Xiao Huoyan While chasing him.


    "Fine."


    Xiao Huoyan suddenly stopped flying and began to fall towards the ground. Just as he was about to hit the ground, a bed of purple feathers caught him.


    Then he used Vines of Judgement to instantly build up a maze. He was in the centre of the maze waiting on top of his bed of purple phoenix feathers.


    Tian Xin tried to fly directly towards him, but then as soon as she came close, she began to feel a scorching heat emitting from an invisible barrier above the maze.


    "What is this?!", she shouted hysterically.


    "It''s a barrier I made with my demonic flame. I advise you not to get closer. Just use the entrance and work your way through the maze like a normal person."


    "You¡­! Fine."


    As soon as she entered the maze, the entrance disappeared. Now it was just a dead end. She immediately tried to use her Poisonous Cherry Blossoms to force her way out, but as soon as she tried, she felt her spirit essence being sucked away. It transformed into a glowing pink orb as big as her hand, then it flew away.


    "W-wait!"


    She began to run after it, but she soon lost sight of it.


    "If you want it back, you''ll have to work your way through the maze. It''s in the centre of the maze."


    She suddenly heard Xiao Huoyan''s voice, but she couldn''t see him.


    "Where are you?"


    "Oh, I''m still in the centre of the maze."


    Although she couldn''t see him, she felt his smile through his words.


    "Just you wait until I get there!"


    "Hahahah, I''ll be waiting!"


    She began to run around inside the maze, but every few turns she just met a dead end. What seemed so easy before, was in fact much harder than she had thought.


    As she felt anxious, she began to recall how things looked from above. Then she used the picture inside her head to find her way to the centre.


    Two hours later, she finally saw her brother sit on his bed of feathers, while staring at the glowing pink orb that was her spirit essence.


    "Your spirit essence is truly beautiful, sis!"


    "How did you know I was here."


    "I can sense you from miles away, so this shouldn''t be too surprising."


    "Oh¡­ I guess you''re right."


    "What did you think about the maze?"


    "Hehe, nothing''s too hard for your big sister!"


    She smiled proudly.


    "It''s good that you got through, but next time please be a little quicker. It''s quite unpleasant to sit here for so long."


    "You--!"


    "--Do you want your spirit essence back?"


    "¡­ Yes, please."


    "Good! Then close your eyes and stand still."


    "Mhm."


    She nodded and then she closed her eyes. She soon felt how her spirit essence began to flow back into her. It was a very pleasant feeling.


    "It''s done."


    "¡­ Thank you."


    "You noticed?"


    "Mhm."


    She nodded again.


    "Thank you for helping me."


    "It''s nothing!", Xiao Huoyan said while smiling.


    The barrier suddenly disappeared along with the maze.


    As soon as it disappeared, Tian Mei came flying down.


    The first thing she noticed was the changes in her daughter''s spirit essence.


    "What happened to you?!"


    "Little bro helped me."


    Tian Mei fell onto her knees and began to cry.


    Tian Xin''s Poisonous Cherry Blossom held a secret that few people knew. The Poisonous Cherry Blossoms are incredibly strong, but they bear a fatal risk. Her spirit essence have always been a ticking bomb.


    To many people, the Poisonous Cherry Blossoms is a curse.


    It''s a very violent spirit essence with extremely potent poison. The people born with Poisonous Cherry Blossoms as their spirit essence usually die between the age of fifteen to twenty.


    Tian Xin is already seventeen and doesn''t have much time left.


    Neither does the people in her village.


    When her spirit essence one day erupts, every living thing within the range of a few miles, will die from the poison, including her.


    That''s why she''s always been living in fear of her own spirit essence.


    "How? How did you stabilize it?", Tian Mei asked curiously with tears still rolling down her rosy cheeks.


    "I didn''t."


    "What do you mean?", Tian Mei said worriedly.


    ''If he didn''t stabilize it¡­ how did her spirit essence turn so tranquil?'', she thought to herself.


    "I didn''t stabilize it. I absorbed it and forcefully triggered the eruption. Then I put up a barrier made of all of my spirit essences. My spirit essences easily managed to block the eruption. Since my blood is special, I didn''t get poisoned.


    After I finished I left it outside of my body as if I hadn''t touched it. Then when she came, I gave it back to her.


    It won''t ever erupt now, so you can both rest in peace."


    "You did all of that while I was in the maze?"


    "Yes."


    "Wow¡­ You really are an extraordinary child¡­"


    "Hehe, it was nothing."


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    "Don''t be so modest little bro. Without you, many people would''ve died."

 29 Ch. 29 - The calm before the storm!

    "It was nothing. Really."


    He smiled foolishly at both Tian Mei and Tian Xin.


    "Your parents would be proud of you little bro!"


    "¡­ Tian Mei is the only parent I have right now, and I''m perfectly happy with that."


    "I know how you feel about it, but you--"


    "You don''t know anything!"


    "I-I¡­"


    "Sorry, I just¡­"


    "It''s fine dear. Your sister went too far this time."


    "It''s not her fault. I just lost it for a moment."


    "Em¡­ Little brother?"


    "Hm?"


    "C-can I¡­ uhm¡­ Can I ask you something?"


    "Ask away."


    "When you¡­ you know¡­"


    "Yes. Go on."


    "After you realized it, you seemed scared. Every time you get mad, you ''recover'' almost right away, and then you have that scared expression. I just¡­ I''m just wondering what you''re so scared of, but I totally get it if you don''t want to answer¡­ I just wanted to ask¡­"


    "¡­I''m scared of myself¡­ or rather what I can do."


    "Why?"


    "Every time I lose my temper, I¡­ hurt people--"


    "Hurt people?"


    "¡­ more specifically¡­ I kill them on spot and absorb their spirit essence in the process. Then I  pass out."


    "What happens after you wake up?"


    "I usually sit passively on the ground while crying and blaming myself."


    "Why are you blaming yourself?"


    "Because their deaths were all caused by me. Wouldn''t you also blame yourself if you killed people whenever they pissed you of? Wouldn''t you feel that death is too harsh? Wouldn''t you regret it?"


    "I¡­ I don''t know."


    "I hate myself every single time. And also¡­ I''ve been suspecting that I¡­"


    He suddenly fell to the ground and began to cry bitterly.


    "What are you suspecting? Is it something bad?"


    "¡­ Yes, very."


    "What is it?"


    "My mother¡­ she¡­"


    "What about her?"


    "I think I¡­ I think I''m the one who killed her."


    "Why would you think that?!                "


    Tian Mei suddenly joined in the conversation. ''How can he think it''s his fault?'', she thought to herself.


    "The mercenaries never killed her¡­ I went mad before I saw her die. I must''ve killed her along with them!"


    Xiao Huoyan continued to cry.


    Tian Mei just fell to the ground beside him and gave him a warm hug.


    "What''s done, is done. You can''t change the past, but you can decide your future. Just try to control your temper, as to not hurt mo--"


    "--I didn''t hurt them¡­ I killed them! I killed them all! Who cares about whether it was on purpose?! Who cares whether they deserved it or not?! It''s not like I can bring them back! What use are my powers if I can only destroy people, instead of helping?!


    Some people does not deserve help, but in every evil person, lies a good side. Nothing is entirely good nor evil. Besides, I believe that everyone has the ability to change! But I rid them of their chance to change for the better. I killed them mercilessly.


    Even though it wasn''t on purpose, I''m still the one who did it."


    Xiao Huoyan kept crying. He was indeed more mature than most adults, but he was still just a child.


    Neither Tian Mei nor Tian Xin felt it to be laughable watching him cry his eyes out. They only felt sorry for him. He was just a child with a father whom he couldn''t even remember and a mother who died¡­ A mother whom he thought he killed.


    The few people he had ever met all said that he was an extraordinary child, but little did they know the sorrow his powers had brought him.


    He often imagined how it would be if he had been born as a normal child, with normal parents, living a normal and happy life. He often wished for his imaginations to become reality, yet he knew that he couldn''t change anything.


    He knew he couldn''t change his past. He knew he couldn''t bring them back to life.


    The feeling of wanting something yet knowing that you''ll never be able to get it, really makes you understand the true feeling of despair.


    Even though the people he had killed were all bad people, except his mother, he still didn''t want them to die.


    "¡­ Mother is right. You shouldn''t blame yourself. Even though you killed them, you weren''t yourself."


    "You don''t understand the feeling of having your body moving on its own.


    Every time it happens, I can still see everything. What scares me the most is the fact that I don''t really hate it when I kill people. Not until I wake up and realize what I''ve done. Sometimes I even like it. The feeling of being above everyone else. The feeling of being capable of killing anyone who opposes you¡­ it''s more tempting than you''d dare to imagine.


    Sometimes I just feel like killing myself to relieve me of all of this, but then I remind myself of the fact that someone gave his life to protect mine. Maybe it wouldn''t have been necessary for him to sacrifice himself for me, but he still did. He didn''t want to take any risk. He wanted to make sure that I''d be safe.


    I won''t throw away this life of mine. If I did, then his sacrifice would''ve been for nothing."


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    "This person that you''re talking about¡­ Is it¡­ you know--?"


    "Yes¡­ It''s him."


    "I think he knew that you''d be able to protect yourself. He probably also knew about your feelings. Maybe he just wanted to make sure you had a reason to live on. Maybe he knew that you''d¡­ you know¡­", Tian Mei said while consoling him.


    "Maybe you''re right¡­"


    Xiao Huoyan closed his eyes, while thinking about this familiar feeling.


    "It''s been so long¡­", Xiao Huoyan said while smiling bitterly.


    He felt a single tear making its way down his left cheek.


    "Hm?"


    Tian Mei was confused.


    "I haven''t felt this motherly warmth since my mother¡­"


    "¡­"


    Tian Mei didn''t answer. She just hugged him tighter while closing her eyes.


    "Hey! What about me, eh?"


    "Hahah, come here!", Tian Mei said while making room for her daughter. Then they just sat there hugging each other.


    It was such a nice family moment, but sadly; Happiness rarely last. The happiest moments are always short.


    This peacefulness was like the calm before the storm!

 30 Ch. 30 - They’re here…

    After a while Xiao Huoyan suddenly broke free from the family hug.


    "Hm?"


    Tian Xin didn''t understand why Xiao Huoyan reacted the way he did. His complexion turned ashen.


    "They''re here¡­"


    He said it more like a whisper.


    "Who''s here? I can''t see anyone."


    "¡­ The people from The Jin Clan¡­ They''re early¡­"


    "What?! They''re here?! Now?!"


    Tian Mei said


    "How did they find you so fast?!", Tian Xin almost yelled with a shocked expression on her face.


    "I don''t know¡­"


    "What are we going to do now?", Tian Mei asked while trying to keep her calm.


    " ''We'' are not going to do anything¡­ You''ll stay here, while I go out to take care of the people from The Jin Clan."


    "How can you just go out there alone?! Since Jin Niao knows about your powers, I''m sure he wouldn''t show up without a plan. Since he dares to show up, I''m almost certain that he has already come up with a way to counter your powers!"


    "He won''t be able to count er powers he doesn''t'' know anything about¡­"


    "You mean¡­"


    "Mhm. He doesn''t know everything. Not even father Long knew about everything. Besides¡­ There are things that I recently discovered. I have yet to try them out, but I''m positive that he doesn''t have anything to his disposal, that could possibly kill me.


    I''m not Immortal, but I heal very fast. Even if he were to personally come and take my heart out and pulverize it right in front of me, I''d still heal extremely fast. It''s only a matter of seconds."


    "But doesn''t that make you an Immortal?!"


    "No, it doesn''t. OR at least I don''t think it does. I''m pretty sure I''d die if you drain my body of blood."


    "Then isn''t it practically impossible to kill you?"


    "It''s just a theory, so I might actually be an Immortal¡­"


    "How come you never told us this before, little brother?"


    "I don''t know. It didn''t come to mind before¡­"


    "You''re unbelievable¡­", Tian Xin said while sighing.


    "Anyways! If I don''t come back in half an hour, wait here for at least two days, then crack these orbs to get out of here."


    "But I want to come with you!", Tian Xin said while grabbing Xiao Huoyan''s hand.


    "You can''t. I care about both you and mother Mei. Right now, you''re the only family I have left. I won''t let anyone hurt you. As long as I''m alive, no one shall even think about bothering you!"


    "Brother¡­"


    "Sweetie."


    "Yes, mom?"


    "I think you should listen to your brother. Even if both of us were to go out and help him, we''d probably just be a burden. This isn''t some weak though or anything. This is The Jin Clan. We won''t be of any help even if we were to go out."


    "¡­ Fine. I''ll stay."


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    "Thank you for understanding¡­"


    After he said that, he just disappeared in a cloud of white mist.


    -


    Xiao Huoyan didn''t show himself in the beginning. He just hid in the shadows and observed everything.


    "Jin Xin! Jin Xin! We know you''re here! Follow us back to The Jin Clan!


    Jin Niao had shown up with an entire army of people from The Jin Clan. He was now shouting loudly for Jin Xin to come out.


    "You seem to have forgotten something. My name isn''t Jin Xin. When Jin Long died, Jin Xin died with him."


    "You! ¡­ Where are you? Show yourself!"


    "You''re not worthy. Had it not been for the fact that you''re my father Long''s brother, I wouldn''t even bother to speak to you."


    Even though everyone could here Xiao Huoyan''s voice, no one could see him. They couldn''t even figure out in which direction his voice came from.


    "How dare you?! Have I been treating you well for nothing?!"


    "How exactly have you been treating me well? Was that before or after you left me to die and fled when we got attacked? It''s strange¡­ I can''t seem to remember when you''ve ever treated me well."


    "I always cared for you! How could you say such a thing?"


    "Give up the act already. It''s starting to become boring. I know that you''re here to kill me. I also know about your involvement in the accident involving my father Long."


    "H-how¡­ How can you-¡­ What do you mean?!"


    "Since you don''t remember, I''ll give you a hint; There is no poison under the heavens, which I cannot cure!"


    "How did you know?! This is impossible!"


    "I read your mind the first time we met. I know everything about you, including the jealousy you''ve always felt towards your brother."


    "You! Y-you''re spouting nonsense!"


    "We both know whether my words are true or not. No need to get so upset, hahahah."


    Xiao Huoyan''s laughter was filled with mockery. He wanted Jin Niao to know that he really looked down on him.


    "How could a little boy like you possibly read minds? Aren''t you just making this up to slander me?", Jin Niao said mockingly.


    "You truly are a fool, hahah! Hm¡­"


    "What? Can''t come up with any more lies? Hahahah!"


    "Hm¡­ I see your spirit essence is still very unstable¡­"


    "What did you say?! How could you know--?!"


    "I''m the cause, so of course I''d know about it."


    "What do you mean?!"


    "Back at the mansion, I accidently absorbed most of your spirit essence. Though I don''t regret it now, it really was an accident, so don''t blame me too much."


    Even though they couldn''t see him, everyone felt his smile through his words.

 31 Ch. 31 - Tian Yan? Never heard of him!

    While Xiao Huoyan had engaged in a battle of words with Jin Niao, outside the mystical orb, Tian Mei and Tian Xin Were still inside.


    "How could you let him go out there alone?! What if he-¡­"


    "Did you really think that he''d let us go with him simply because we want to?"


    "No, but--"


    "--We''ll wait for him--"


    "-- For how long are we supposed to wait?! What if he dies out there?!"


    "He won''t die! Don''t say such things!"


    "W-we¡­ We''ll wait for him for another ten minutes, then we''ll go out¡­"


    "No! I can go, but you''ll stay here where it''s safe!"


    "But mother!"


    "Enough! It''s decided! You will stay here whether you want to or not!"


    After Tian Mei said that, she threw away her daughter''s orb into the forest. She knew that Tian Xin would be able to find it after some time, but by then, hopefully the fight with The Jin Clan would already be over.


    Tian Mei just stood there silently. She didn''t go after it, nor complain to her mother about what she just had done. She just stood there.


    "I''m sorry, sweetie¡­"


    After Tian Mei said that, she crushed the orb she had gotten from Xiao Huoyan.


    Tian Xin didn''t even look up. She knew that her mother had left.


    -


    "You!"


    Hearing that Xiao Huoyan was the reason his spirit essence''s instability, Jin Niao almost coughed up blood out of anger.


    Suddenly, a bright white light began to shine. Tian Mei had arrived. She suddenly walked out of her house and began to look for Xiao Huoyan.


    She couldn''t shout, since she didn''t want to expose her son''s real name.


    After a while of thinking, she came up with an idea. She decided to shout another name. When Xiao Huoyan heard her, he''d know it was her. Then he''d come and fine her. She was almost certain that it would work, so she began to shout.


    "TIAN YAN!! TIAN YAN!!"


    While she was shouting, Jin Niao had already told someone to go and investigate the strange light.


    Xiao Huoyan already knew that Tian Mei had arrived back home. He also knew that Tian Xin wasn''t with her.


    He had given Tian Mei the orb which would release the white light, while Tian Xin had received the orb which would release the golden light.


    He swore in his heart that if anyone dared to lay a finger on his dear mother Mei, he''d make sure that everyone present would go down with her!


    After a few minutes, the man whom Jin Niao had order to go and investigate the bright white light, came running back.


    "Speak! Who released the white light?!"


    Jin Niao was very eager to know who it was. He was afraid that his enemy had found an expert to help him.


    "It''s a woman. She''s walking around the village while trying to find her son."


    "Did she tell you that?"


    "N-no, but she told me her name was Tian Mei, and she was shouting the name ''Tian Yan'', so I just assumed it was her son."


    "You asked for her name?!"


    "Yes-- I-I mean n-no sir!"


    "TRASH!!"


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    Right after yelling, Jin Niao clenched his fist, and the man before him turned into a mist of crimson blood.


    "So¡­ I suppose she''s your friend?", said while smiling.


    "I don''t know that woman!"


    "Then who''s this so-called Tian Yan?"


    "Tian Yan? Never heard of him!


    "As if I''d believe you!"


    Xiao Huoyan refused to admit it. He knew that if he did, his dear mother Mei would be in danger.


    "Oh, then I assume it''s fine if I kill her?"


    Right after he said that, he snapped his fingers, and someone went in the direction the white light, along with Tian Mei, had appeared from.


    "if you dare to hurt her, I''ll make sure that none of you''ll be leave here."


    "Oh. So, she really is someone important to you, eh?"


    "Since you already know it, I advise you to leave her be and fight me instead."


    "I don''t believe you''ll let us go even if we don''t touch."


    "It''s never to late for revenge. As long as I''m alive, I''ll get my chance again. Leave her be and I''ll let you leave today."


    "Hmph! Do you think I''m stupid?!"


    "In fact, I do."


    "You!"


    "Are you going to leave her be, or do I have to bury all of you with her today?"


    "H-how long do we have to decide?", an unknown person from Jin Niao''s army asked in fear.


    "I''m feel generous today, so I won''t set a time limit. Instead, I''ll just kill you one by one until you decide. One person a minute, so you better decide fast, hehe."


    As soon as Xiao Huoyan had finished his sentence, the man whom had just spoke, exploded and turned into a mist of blood.


    "You dare?!"


    "Yeah, you bet I do."


    "I''ll kill you!"


    Jin Niao was furious.


    "Try."


    Once again, a body exploded. This time it was the person closest to Jin Niao.


    "Stop it, you bastard!"


    "My name is Xiao Huoyan, not ''you bastard''."


    And so, another body exploded¡­ again.


    "Wait!"


    A man came rushing towards Jin Niao. It was the same man that went after Tian Mei earlier.


    The man held Tian Mei in his arms. She was unconscious.


    "WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?!?!?!"


    Xiao Huoyan was on the verge of giving in. If he didn''t calm down, soon he''d go insane and kill everyone on site.


    "I--"


    "No need to explain yourself to him."


    "Let her go NOW!"


    "Hmph! As if!"


    "You! What do you want?!"


    "Your life in exchange for hers. A fair deal no isn''t it?"


    "I¡­"


    Xiao Huoyan suddenly appeared before Jin Niao.


    "H-how did you?!"


    Jin Niao was dumbstruck. He had thought that Xiao Huoyan had been hiding all this time, but in fact he''d been right in front of him.

 32 Ch. 32 – I’LL KILL YOU!!!!

    "I told you to leave her be!"


    As Xiao Huoyan said that, half of the army that Jin Niao had brought with him, turned into a dense mist of blood.


    "You!"


    "NO!!"


    Jin Niao had killed tian Mei in his rage. This caused Xiao Huoyan an unimaginable amount of heartache. He lost his mother¡­ again.


    ''It''s my fault! I killed her!'', he thought to himself.


    "Hahahahahah!!"


    "You¡­ You dare to laugh at mother Mei''s death¡­ You dare to mock her?!?! I''LL KILL YOU!!!!"


    Xiao Huoyan''s eyes turned pitch-black as he began to fly up in the air. The he released all of his spirit essences at once.


    The seemingly enormous army of hundreds of thousand of soldiers from The Jin Clan was inferior to even dust in the eyes of Xiao Huoyan. They didn''t even get a chance to scream before they died. They all turned to ashes and flew away with the wind.


    It took but a brief moment for Xiao Huoyan to get rid of Jin Niao''s entire army.


    Now the only persons left was Xiao Huoyan and Jin Niao.


    "Y-you¡­ W-what are you?!"


    "I''m a person you should''ve thought twice before messing with."


    "I-I¡­ I-I ap-polog-gize!! I was wrong! I-I¡­ P-please spare me!", Jin Niao said while shaking from fear.


    He who was a powerful direct descendant of The Jin Clan, was actually begging for his life. He was begging a child. A child whom he''d looked down on since the first time they met.


    "--It''s too late."


    As soon a she finished his sentence, Jin Niao Turned into a mist of blood.


    Right after, Xiao Huoyan''s eyes turned back to normal as he fell from the sky.


    Right before he hit the ground, someone caught him.


    It was Tian Xin.


    She was crying while whispering that she''s sorry.


    She blamed herself for her mother''s death. She saw her own mother die, yet she couldn''t do anything to help.


    She had found the orb quite quick. As soon as she''d found it, she came out, but to her surprise, the first thing she saw when she arrived at the spot where Xiao Huoyan and Jin Niao was, she saw her mother die right before her eyes.


    She couldn''t help but feel guilty. If only she hadn''t insisted o coming out to help, then maybe her mother would''ve stayed with her¡­ Maybe her dear mother wouldn''t have died.


    She carried Xiao Huoyan back into their house and laid him on the bed. She had made the decision to protect him with her life. He, her dear brother Xiao Huoyan, was the one who had taken revenge for her mother''s death.


    She knew that her dear brother was in an even worse state than her.


    She just lost her mother, but he¡­ He just lost his mother for the second time.


    The feeling of losing your own mother... She understood that, but the feeling of losing your mother twice¡­ She couldn''t even imagine what he was feeling.


    She knew that her strength couldn''t have saved her mother, but Xiao Huoyan''s strength definitely could''ve.


    If he had just killed them at the beginning, then maybe Tian Mei would''ve still been alive, but she knew that he''d never kill all of them if Jin Niao hadn''t killed Tian Mei.


    He didn''t like to kill people, but at the beginning he must''ve done it to provoke Jin Niao. He probably felt that killing Jin Niao off too soon would''ve been too merciful. He probably wanted to see Jin Niao in despair right before his last moments.


    She could understand him.


    Tian Mei had only gone out to save him, but instead she died. Tian Xin swore to forever take care of her dear brother¡­ To protect him with her life.


    Her mother died in a failed attempt to save him, so she''d take on the responsibility of forever keeping him safe.


    She was lost in thoughts for a long time, and before she knew it, she''d fallen asleep.


    Now she was just sitting beside her brother''s bed while sleeping next to him.


    -


    While she was sleeping peacefully, Xiao Huoyan was not.


    He was lost in a dream¡­ a nightmare.


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    He was sitting on his bed in the house which he had lived in together with his mother. He heard a scream. It was his mother.


    He rushed out of the house, but the first thing he saw when he got out was the mercenaries whom he had thought killed his mother in the past, lay on the ground¡­ dead. He saw himself two years younger.


    His younger self held his mother in a tight grip around her neck¡­ then he snapped it!


    In the same second Xiao Huoyan saw his younger self kill his mother; he fell to the ground with a single tear running down his left cheek, and then dripping onto the ground.


    He felt his heart break¡­ again. He knew that feeling all too well.


    He lost a father he couldn''t even remember, a mother whom had cared for him his whole life, a father whom had decided to take him as his son soon after their first meeting and a mother whom had made the decision to take him in as her son and then even protecting him with her own life..


    He didn''t have anyone left¡­ except for his dear older sister Tian Xin.


    Everything before his eyes turned black.


    ''W-what if she can''t forgive me?! Will she blame me like I blame myself?!'', he thought to himself.


    He suddenly felt scared. If she refused to forgive him, then he''d truly be alone¡­


    The fear of losing the last person that meant something to him was something indescribable.

 33 Ch. 33 - Blame

    After a few hours, Xiao Huoyan finally woke up.


    The first thing he saw when he woke up, was his dear sister whom hadn''t left his side for the whole night.


    "Sister¡­"


    Xiao Huoyan felt both moved and happy to see that Tian Xin didn''t blame him to the point of wanting to kill him or anything like that. She still cared for him as her brother and that made Xiao Huoyan unimaginably happy¡­ and thankful.


    Now he didn''t have to worry about her leaving him alone.


    He had a sister. A sister who cared about him¡­ as a part of her family!


    "¡­ Thank you!", he whispered.


    He got out of bed and carried his sister onto the bed. Then he went to prepare breakfast.


    -


    A short while later, Tian Xin woke up.


    She was surprised to see that Xiao Huoyan was gone.


    A wild thought came to her mind. ''What if he left?!'', she thought.


    She rushed out of bed and began to search the house. She didn''t search for long though. When she passed the kitchen, she was surprised to see that Xiao Huoyan was flying a bit above ground. Just barely enough for him to reach everything on the shelf  a little bit above the stove. He was cooking¡­ and it smelled fantastic!


    Only after smelling the scent of her dear brother''s cooking did she notice how hungry she actually was.


    She hadn''t eating anything since breakfast the day before.


    The sun hadn''t even risen, yet she was hungry.


    "Good morning sister! You must be hungry! Go on and sit at the table, I''m almost finished!"


    He didn''t dare to turn around. He was afraid that he''d start crying again if he saw her face.


    He tried to keep his sorrow by thinking about how happy and lucky he was to have a wonderful sister such as Tian Xin, who actually cared about him.


    That thought alone was enough for him to keep on living.


    "¡­ Good morning¡­ brother.", she said with a vague smile on her lips.


    Then she sat down at the table while waiting for Xiao Huoyan to finish in the kitchen.


    After a short while, Xiao Huoyan finished preparing breakfast. He brought two plates to the table.


    "Whoa! Your cooking skills are unparalleled!", Tian Xin exclaimed after tasting Xiao Huoyan''s food.


    "¡­ Thank you, sister."


    "¡­ I don''t blame you. If I hadn''t insisted on helping even after you told us to stay out of it, mother wouldn''t have gone out to save you. You didn''t need our help, but I just¡­"


    "Don''t blame yourself! Had I not led them here, mother wouldn''t have¡­"


    "¡­"


    "¡­"


    They both just sat there motionlessly for a while. Though they didn''t sit like that for long, it felt like an eternity.


    "It''s not your fault, little brother. It wasn''t you who killed her."


    "Neither did you, so why are you blaming yourself?"


    "I¡­ None of us killed her. If we just keep on thinking about things we could''ve done differently¡­ If we keep blaming ourselves, wouldn''t her sacrifice have been for nothing?


    She died as to make sure that we live. If she knew that we''d blame  ourselves like this, wouldn''t she be unhappy?"


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    "¡­ You''re right. I''m sorry."


    "Don''t be. We didn''t kill her, Jin Niao did. You''ve already taken your revenge, but I have yet to."


    "What do you have in mind?"


    "I now hold a grudge against The Jin Clan. I and The Jin Clan can''t live under the same sky. I won''t be at peace until I know that they''re dead!"


    "¡­ That''s a relief."


    "Hm? Why?"


    "Because that means that we share the same enemy.", Xiao Huoyan said while smiling.


    His smiles were usually happy and bright. This smile was different. It gave of the feeling of relief, yet also hate and despair.


    He truly hated The Jin Clan. First they took away his dear father Long, then they took away his dear mother Mei.


    The only two people whom had taken care of him, except for his birthmother and his sister, Tian Xin. The Jin Clan killed them both.


    They didn''t kill Jin Long directly, but they tried to. They were also the reason why Jin Long blew up the whole forest. He did it to kill the people from The Jin Clan. He did it to assure his son''s safety.


    "Having a common enemy is positive, hahah!", Tian Xin said while smiling a heart-warming smile.


    "Now that I think about it, you''re really pretty, sister!"


    "You notice that now? I was born gorgeous you know!", Tian Xin said arrogantly.


    Even though she sounded arrogant, one could also hear the joking tone in her voice.


    "Yes, of course! Sister is the prettiest!"


    "Hmph! Good that you know!"


    Tian Xin and Xiao Huoyan began to laugh in unison.


    Anyone who didn''t know them would''ve definitely thought that they''d know each other for their whole lives. That they were siblings born from the same mother.


    They hadn''t known each other for long, yet they already saw each other as the last part of their family.


    "¡­ Will you ever leave me?", Tian Xin asked out of the blue.


    "Never."

 34 Ch. 34 - I’ll gift you talent.

    After eating, Tian Xin and Xiao Huoyan began to discuss about what they should do now.


    "What are we going to do now?", Tian Xin asked.


    "Hm?"


    "Are we just going to stay here?"


    "¡­ No."


    "Where are we going?"


    "We''re going to The Azure Sea Division in a few days."


    "The Azure Sea Division? I''ve always wanted to go there!", Tian Xin said ecstatically.


    "Why?"


    "It''s bigger than this practically abandonned village, so theres is probably a lot to see!"


    "Is it fun there?"


    "I¡­ don''t know. I''ve never been there. I''ve always wanted to go there, but mother always said that we should stay here."


    "Hm¡­ I''ve never been there."


    "You haven''t?!"


    Xiao Huoyan just shook his head silently.


    "Then why do you want us to go there?"


    "¡­ It''s not too far away and the name doesn''t sound bad. Besides, it''s close to the capital. We''ll have to go there soon enough."


    "Why do you want us to go to the capital? Do you have someone to meet there?"


    "¡­ Yes."


    "Who?"


    "We have some people to take care of in the capital."


    "You mean¡­ The Jin Clan?"


    "Mhm.", Xiao Huoyan said while nodding.


    "¡­When?"


    "When you''re strong enough not to get killed by them simply by entering their territory."


    "Hey! I''m not that weak!"


    "Hahahah, you''re right. It''s not you who''re weak, but they who''re strong."


    "You! I''m a lot stronger now!"


    "Compared to when, hahah?"


    "Compared to before you fixed the problem with my spirit essence!"


    "Oh, so you''ve already noticed the changes?"


    "Of course, I have!"


    "Great!"


    "What do you mean ''great''?"


    "Nothing. I''m just happy that you got stronger, that''s all."


    "Brother¡­"


    Tian Xin felt moved. To think that her dear brother cared for her that much.


    "What if I get stronger than you? Will you still wish for me to get stronger? Will you¡­ be happy for me, then?"


    "Of course, I''d be happy! Unfortunately, you won''t ever get stronger than me, hehe!"


    "You! I sure can! If I train more than you, then sooner or later I''ll surpass you with leaps and bounds!"


    "I''ll look forward to the day you surpass me, hahah!"


    "Hmph! Just you wait and see. I''ve already cultivated for longer than you''ve been alive!"


    "True, but I have yet to start cultivating, yet I''m already stronger than you, hahahah!"


    "Oh¡­ right¡­"


    "Jokes aside. I''m sure you''ll be able to become very strong. I can help you a bit, but you''ll have to do the main work yourself.


    The Azure Sea Division is filled with geniuses. What I can gift you will help you, but you''ll still have to work hard in order to improve."


    "I understand brother!"


    "Good."


    "So¡­ What is this gift you kept on bringing up?"


    "Demonic Flame."


    "What?!"


    "I''ll gift you a second spirit essence."


    "B-but why?!"


    "When we reach The Azure Sea Division, I want us both to be able to enrol in The Azure Dragon School. To be frank, your talent is insufficient. I know that you''ve practised for many years, but in The Azure Sea Division, geniuses are not a rarity.


    Only geniuses can enrol in The Azure Dragon School, therefore I''ll gift you a second spirit essence¡­ I''ll gift you what they''d call ''talent''.


    Though geniuses aren''t rare, people with double essence are not even one in a hundred thousand. If you have it, they''ll surely accept you without questions."


    "Isn''t The Azure Dragon School the best school in the continent?! It''s the school whose headmaster is one of the respected five protectors, right?!"


    "Mhm."


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    Xiao Huoyan hummed while nodding.


    "What about you then? How are you going to enrol? Are you going to show them what you''re capable of by joining the examinations, or are you going to get in by revealing your talent?"


    "Neither. I have a letter of recommendation."


    "What?! Who do you know who''s powerful enough to get you in?!"


    "Father Long left it for me."


    "¡­ Oh. Is that why you wanted to go to The Azure Sea Division? To join The Azure Dragon School, like Jin Long had wanted you to?"


    "¡­"


    Xiao Huoyan just nodded silently.


    "At first I hadn''t planned to go there, but with you having to get stronger so that we can defeat the Jin Clan together, I thought that it''s the ideal place to go to. Besides, I know how to get us both I without even exposing myself, so I just thought that--"


    "--Thank you brother!"


    "Huh? O-oh, y-you''re welcome."


    "I mean it. Really. Thank you!"


    "S-stop being so thankful and all¡­ I''m not used to you being so kind all of a sudden!"


    "What do you mean?! Haven''t I always been nice to you?! Name one thing that I ever did to you!"


    "You threatened me. You attacked me. You interrogated me. You chased after me. You--"


    "--Enough! I-I get it already!"

 35 Ch. 35 - First Time Cultivating

    "What should we do today, brother?"


    "I don''t know what you want to do, but I''m probably just going to go through the rest of father longs stuff. I went through it quickly before I left his mansion, but this time I''m looking for anything that could be useful in The Azure Sea Division."


    "What kind of thing would you consider useful then?"


    "I don''t know. I''ll just go through it and maybe I''ll find something interesting."


    "You are¡­ keeping something from me, right?!"


    "N-no, of course not!"


    "You so are! Tell me! I''m your sister, so you must be honest with me!"


    "I-I¡­ Can you just trust me? It''s definitely something useful. I don''t want to tell you yet, but just trust me."


    "Fine. I''ll trust you."


    "Great!"


    "But will it really take you all day just find an item?"


    "No, but I''ll have to organize all of father Long''s stuff inside the different storage rings, then I''ll have to organize the storage rings and then I''ll have to put them all into the storage bracelet. To ma--"


    "--Make it more convenient. I know."


    "You''re welcome to help if you want to."


    "No, thank you."


    "Good! Then go and cultivate or something!"


    "Okay! Just scream if there''s anything!"


    And so Tian Xin went back into the little world by using the golden bracelet which her dear brother had given her, leaving him alone in the kitchen.


    Since Tian Xin had already left,  Xiao Huoyan decided to begin organizing.


    He sorted all the elixirs and pills together in a storage ring, all the artefacts in another one, all the money in another one, and so on.


    It didn''t take too long since he could work like an octopus, using for example his Vines of Judgement.


    His spirit essences which were all in the top fifty, were used for trivial things like this. If The Jin Clan, or any other powerful clan, would''ve seen this, they''d probably trip backwards from the shock.


    After a few hours he finally finished. Then he decided to prepare lunch and surprise his dear sister, Tian Xin.


    He prepared lunch and packed it all into a basket. He wanted to surprise his sister with a picnic.


    When he finished packing he entered the other world which Tian Xin was training in. It didn''t take him long to find her. She was sitting cross-legged on a purple cloud in the sky, silently cultivating.


    Xiao Huoyan just silently flew over to her while hiding his presence. He didn''t want to disturb her, so he decided to sit and wait on another cloud. He would wait until she decided to take a break.


    He waited for almost three hours, yet she didn''t show any signs of taking a break soon.


    Xiao Huoyan was very patient, so he didn''t really mind waiting for so long, but he felt it to be plain stupid of him to just wait there while doing nothing, so he took out a scroll from his storage bracelet.


    It was a written explanation of how to begin meditating and cultivate. He quickly memorised the contents of the scroll, then he put it down and closed his eyes.


    He sowed down his breathing and cleared his mind completely. At first, he felt as if he''d fall asleep, but after a while he began to feel as if streams of energies was entering his body from all directions.


    According to the scroll left to him, by his father Long, it was called ''The energies between heaven and earth''.


    Depending on the spirit essence of the cultivator, the energies of a certain element would be easier to absorb than others.


    Most people could only absorb the energies related to the element matching their spirit essence, but some other people could absorb two different types of energies. Those were the people with dual essence. Some of the extremely gifted individuals with dual essence  could even absorb three different types of energies, but Xiao Huoyan was different. He could take out a part of every spirit essence he had and place it as a sphere around him. A sphere that could merge the different types of energies into a completely new one which only he could absorb. It would be many ties more efficient than those who could absorb one to three different types.


    Though he didn''t know it, he was more talented when it came to cultivation, than he''d dare to ever imagine. And together with his ability to merge energies of all the elements, his progressing speed was simply unparalleled!


    If anyone ever saw the way he cultivated and how fast he progressed, their jaws would surely drop to the floor. The old experts at The Azure Dragon School would probably spoil him to death if they knew about his talent for cultivation.


    Unfortunately, Xiao Huoyan didn''t want to go there to show off, but to help his dear sister, Tian Xin, on her way of cultivation.


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    He was willing to give up everything he had, including his life, for his dear sister to be able to live a happy life. She was the only family he had left. He was fully aware of the fact that his father might still be alive, but he didn''t see him as his father anymore. His so-called father had left him and his mother alone in the woods. He never came back. Not even once!


    Xiao Huoyan knew that he probably had his reasons as to why he had to leave, but that wasn''t enough for him to forgive him.


    He would just lay low until he became stronger than everyone else. Then he''d make sure that everyone acknowledged his strength. He would spread his name all over the world if he had to, so that one day, this so-called father of his, would come and find him.


    He wasn''t sure about what he should do, if his so-called father ever came to see him, but he had already made the decision of never forgiving him.

 36 Ch. 36 - High Tier Spirit Master

    As they were both busy with cultivating, they both lost track of time. Before they knew it, it was already late at night. The lunch Xiao Huoyan had prepared had turned cold hours ago.


    "Hm?"


    Tian Xin was surprised to see that it was already late at night, but what surprised her even more was her dear brother sitting on a nearby cloud¡­ cultivating!


    She couldn''t understand how he had already reached Middle Tier Practitioner. She knew that this was his first time cultivating!


    She knew that he couldn''t have been here for more than a few hours at most.


    There are nine realms in total; Practitioner, Spirit Master, Grand Spirit Master, Half Martial Emperor, Martial Emperor, Sky Realm, Heaven Realm, God Realm and Immortal.


    Every realm has three tiers; Low, Middle and High.


    The gap between every level is enormous even if they''re in the same realm.


    For most people, it would take at least a few years to advance from the High Tier of a realm to the Low Tier of another, but that''s usually for the higher realms. Most of the commoners won''t even reach Low Tier Grand Master in their whole lives.


    There was once a man who reached the Immortal Realm, but no one knows when it was nor who it was. The strongest people right now are The Five Protectors. They are all Middle Tier Heaven Realm Experts!


    The only person who''d dare to go up against them would be The Golden Dragon, Jin Long!


    Suddenly Xiao Huoyan let out a sigh and slowly opened his eyes.


    The first thing he saw as he opened his eyes were Tian Xin flying towards him.


    "Brother! Congratulations!"


    "Hm? For what? It''s not my birthday now, is it?"


    "You''re already a Middle Tier Practitioner!"


    "Hm? I am?"


    "YES!!"


    "¡­ Is that good?"


    "HUUUH?!?!?"


    "Just kidding. I already know about realms and stuff."


    "You! How dare you trick me?!", Tian Xin yelled at her brother while pointing her finger towards him angrily.


    Xiao Huoyan just smiled foolishly at his sister and quickly changed the topic.


    "Uhm¡­ eh¡­ Congratulations!"


    "Eh, what?"


    "You''re already a High Tier Spirit Master! Congratulations!"


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    "You didn''t notice it before?"


    "I did. I just didn''t know that it was normal for people to congratulate others just because of a breakthrough."


    "What do you mean ''just a breakthrough''?!"


    "Nothing much. It''s just that it''s not really that special now, is it?"


    "Of course, it''s special! Do you know how many people there''s out there who''d wish they could cultivate?!"


    "Father Long said he wouldn''t be surprised even if I reached High Tier Sky Realm before I turned nine, so I just thought that it would be easy to--"


    "Of course, it''s easy for you! You''re a genius!"


    "Oh¡­ am I?"


    "Don''t play stupid with me!"


    "Hahahaha, okay. Sorry sister!", Xiao Huoyan said while smiling foolishly.


    Xiao Huoyan didn''t want his dear sister to feel envious of him advancing so fast, so he had deliberately hidden his cultivation. In fact, he had already become a Low Tier Spirit Master.


    "So¡­ brother?"


    "Yes?"


    "What was that thing around you?"


    "What thing?"


    "The thing you had around you when you were cultivating just a moment ago!"


    "Oh, you mean the sphere made of my spirit essences?"


    "So that''s what it was¡­ Why did you create it?"


    "I don''t know¡­ I just did."


    "Then, what did it do?"


    "It helped me during the process of absorbing the energies."


    " ''Energies''? As in more than one energy? How many elements?!"


    "Uhm¡­ That''s hard to say¡­"


    "Why?"


    "Because I''m not really sure. I think it was all of them, but the sphere made the different energies turn into one single unique energy as soon as the energies passed through the sphere while I was trying to absorb them."


    "A-all of them?!"


    "Yeah, I think so."


    "Destiny''s truly unfair!"


    "Don''t worry sis! I''ve prepared a gift for you!", Xiao Huoyan said while taking out something as big as an eyeball that looked like an orb made of dark purple glass.


    It seemed as if flames was surging inside of it. It was truly beautiful.


    "I-is that what I t-think it is?"


    "No, it''s not edible."


    "Y-you know that''s not what I meant!"


    "Hahahaha, okay I know! You''re right. This is indeed Demonic Flame. Sit down, I''ll help you absorb it."


    "¡­"


    "What is it? You don''t like it?", Xiao Huoyan asked with a worried expression.


    "No, that''s not it! It''s just that¡­"


    "What?"


    "Is it really worth it to give me your Demonic Flame just like that?"


    "Don''t worry. You''re too weak to absorb all of it, so I''ll just give you enough for you to use. As soon as you absorb it, you''ll have it as your second spirit essence, but I can also keep the other part.


    Giving you this much isn''t anything big really. It won''t affect me in any way! But for you it''s different. Just by absorbing this tiny orb, you''ll receive a second spirit essence, so of course it''s worth it.


    Even if I were to give you all I have and become a cripple for the rest of my life, it''d still be wort it since you''d be happy¡­ and strong enough to protect yourself at all times.


    I truly take you as my dear sister, so don''t treat me like a stranger and just accept my gift already!"


    Hearing all of this, Tian Xin was moved to tears. Her dear brother was willing to do anything for her happiness. Could she even wish for a better brother?


    "I¡­ Thank you!", Tian Xin said with a smile on her face.


    Even though she was in tears, anyone could see that she was truly happy. Her smile was more beautiful than anything Xiao Huoyan had ever seen before. He couldn''t have gotten a better sister.


    "It''s nothing! Just sit down so that I can help you absorb it already!"


    "Okay¡­ Thank you."


    "Stop thanking me already. It''s weird seeing you so grateful. I didn''t do anything really. It''s just a small gift."


    "¡­ Still¡­ Thank you¡­ for everything."

 37 Ch. 37 - Different… but beautiful!

    After helping Tian Xin absorb her now second spirit essence, they went back home. As soon as they got home, Xiao Huoyan heated up the food and so they began to eat¡­ in the middle of the night.


    "Brother, why can''t we just wait and eat in the morning instead?"


    "Because I''m hungry."


    "But this way, we won''t want to eat in the morning and then our meal routines will become all messed up!"


    "I don''t mind eating again in a few hours. You can wait if you want to, but I won''t."


    She felt it to be hopeless to keep on arguing with her dear little brother. She knew she wouldn''t win anyways, so she sighed and then continued eating.


    After eating they both went to their beds and fell asleep.


    -


    Tian Xin woke up early to make breakfast while her brother was still in bed sleeping.


    After a while, Xiao Huoyan woke up and went straight to the kitchen. He could smell the food all the way from his room.


    Even though he had eaten a few hours ago, he was still as hungry as ever.


    When he came to the kitchen he saw his dear sister, Tian Xin, sit at her seat at table. She seemed to be half asleep.


    Xiao Huoyan sneaked up behind her and was about to put a blanket around her shoulders when she suddenly turned around.


    Xiao Huoyan unconsciously took half a step back.


    "What?", she asked with a confused expression.


    "Your eyes¡­"


    "What''s with my eyes?"


    "Did you wash your face this morning?"


    "No, I didn''t. Is it really that bad?"


    "T-that''s not it. Uhm¡­ so you haven''t seen your eyes since yesterday, am I right?"


    "Stop being so mysterious and just tell me already!"


    "Your eyes have turned purple!", Xiao Huoyan yelled as ifhe''d die if he didn''t answer fast enough.


    "W-what?"


    "Your. Eyes. Have. Turned. PURPLE!"


    "When? Why?"


    "How am I supposed to know? They weren''t like this last night!"


    "Could it be¡­ the orb from yesterday¡­"


    "What orb? Did you eat something wrong?"


    "No¡­ but I absorbed the spirit essence you gave me."


    "Now that you mention it, your eyes kind of looks the same as the orb I helped you absorb yesterday. Well¡­ except for the flame part."


    "Then what should I do now? Won''t everyone think I''m a demon now?!"


    "You might as well be a demon with that temper of yours¡­"


    "What did you say?!"


    "N-nothing! Just that your eyes are very beautiful like this!"


    He really thought of his sister''s eyes as very beautiful. The beautiful shade of purple really suited her. Her eyes were indeed extremely beautiful. Different¡­ but beautiful!


    "You! I''ll let it slide this time."


    "Thank you dear sister!"


    "So, shall we eat, or do you want to keep thinking about what to do with my eyes for the rest of the day?"


    "Why don''t we eat first and then think about what to do with your eyes? It''s not that I don''t care, but I''m really hungry.", Xiao Huoyan said while smiling foolishly.


    "You''re hungry? Again?! Didn''t we eat a few hours ago?"


    "If you thought I wasn''t hungry, then why did you wake up early to prepare breakfast?"


    ''Fine! You win¡­ again'', she thought to herself, but she couldn''t possibly tell her brother that.


    She didn''t answer and began eating instead.


    "Didn''t you say you weren''t going to be hungry in the morning?", Xiao Huoyan said with a bright smile on his face.


    "Shut up and eat your food!"


    "Hahahahahaha!"


    "Don''t you dare laugh at me!"


    "Hahahaha, okay! Sorry!"


    "You better be!"


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    -


    After Tian Xin and Xiao Huoyan finished eating, they both went into the other world which they had cultivated in yesterday. They stayed there for a few hours before coming back to eat lunch. As they sat at the table in the kitchen after they''d just finished eating, Tian Xin decided to start a conversation.


    "Uhm¡­ When are we going to The Azure Sea Division?"


    "When you''re strong enough."


    "When will that be."


    "I don''t know."


    "Are we not going there so that we can both enrol in The Azure Dragon School? Aren''t we both going there to become stronger?! Why should we just stay here instead of going there where we can actually gain some serious results?!"


    "If you think they have more resources than we do, you''re wrong. If you so wish, I can take you to a place that''d give you thrice of the results you''d get in The Azure Dragon School! Stop complaining about my plans unless you have a better plan yourself!"


    "I¡­ S-sorry. I just wanted to¡­"


    "I know you want to get stronger. I also want to get stronger. I know you want to get revenge on the whole Jin Clan for what they did. I too wish to get my revenge on them. I want us to go there to get our revenge together, but we have to be strong enough. None of us know the true strength of The Jin Clan. Don''t get blinded by your thirst for revenge. It will only do you harm."


    "¡­ You''re right brother. Let''s wait until the both of us are strong enough."


    Xiao Huoyan didn''t want to go to The Azure Dragon School to soon. He knew that there''d be youths from The Jin Clan there. He knew that he''d be able to control his temper, but he didn''t know if his dear sister would be able to. Therefor he wanted her to be strong enough not to get bullied before going there.


    ''If she has to start fights left and right, she should at least be able to win them all, as to not disgrace herself nor lose her confidence'', Xiao Huoyan thought to himself.


    He didn''t think of his sister as weak, but he knew that those monstrous geniuses at The Azure Dragon Academy would be the most arrogant and proud assholes. He didn''t want to see her hurt.


    Even though he knew that he himself could shut them all up if he wanted to, he didn''t want to expose himself too soon. Not until he had reached the peak of cultivation. He had to be sure about being the strongest before he decided to confront his father.


    Until he was strong enough to reveal himself to the world, his sister would have to mostly rely on her own strength. If she really needed him to reveal all of his secrets, he wouldn''t hesitate to do it, but he didn''t want to unless it was absolutely necessary.

 38 Ch. 38 - Tian Yan

    After a short while of thinking, Xiao Huoyan had decided.


    "We''ll leave early tomorrow morning, so put everything that you want to take with you in the storage ring I gave you before."


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    "Really? We''re really leaving tomorrow?!", Tian Xin said with a voice filled with expectation.


    Xiao Huoyan didn''t say anything. He just nodded his head silently.


    "YAAAY!! You''re the best, brother!"


    Tian Xin knew that he was both stronger and more mature than most adults, so she thought he didn''t want to be treated as a helpless little child. She knew that she wouldn''t have wanted to if she were in his shoes, and therefor she decided to treat him as if they were of the same age despite the actual age difference between them.


    In fact, most of the time she would be the one behaving like a child.


    "You''re overreacting. It''s not that great, now is it?"


    "Of course, it''s great!"


    Xiao Huoyan didn''t say anything. He just chuckled lightly.


    "Hm¡­"


    "What is it brother?"


    "Now that were going to The Azure Dragon School, in case something happens, and I have to reveal myself, I can''t afford to let it destroy my plans¡­"


    "Then why don''t you use another name? How about letting the world know about Jin Xin?"


    "Like I said to uncle Niao; When Jin Long died, Jin Xin died with him!"


    "Jin Long wouldn''t have wanted you to let go of the name he gave you just because he died!"


    "¡­ You''re right."


    "Exactly! So why don''t you enrol in The Azure Dragon School as Jin Xin then?"


    "If I do, then we won''t ever have a peaceful day--"


    "Then why don''t you enrol as Jin Xin and tell them all not to expose you? Just tell them not to expose your real identity and to call you something else instead! How about--"


    "Tian Yan¡­"


    "Tian Yan? That''s indeed a great name! How did you come up with it so fast? It has ''Yan'' as in your ''Huoyan'' as well as ''Tian'' which is the same surname as I have! Then everyone will know that were siblings! Amazing!"


    "¡­ I didn''t come up with the name¡­"


    "Huh? Then who did?"


    "¡­ Mother Mei did. That time when she was searching for me in the village, she was shouting the name ''Tian Yan'' as to not expose my real name nor the connections between us. She didn''t give birth to me so I''m not her own blood and flesh, yet she took me in as her own. She died for my sake¡­"


    "¡­ We''ve already talked about this, so stop being so depressed already! It''s not your fault and it''s not mine. The one to blame for mother''s death is neither of us. It''s Jin Niao as well as the entire Jin Clan! We''ll take our revenge on them when the time is right!"


    "You''re right."


    "I know, just get used to it! I''m actually a lot smarter than I look, hehe!"


    "Hahahaha, you sure are!"


    "For now, I''ll pretend I didn''t notice the sarcasm in your tone as to not ruin this happy moment, but I''ll definitely deal with you later, so just you wait!"


    "Sister Tian Xin treats me the best!"


    "Of course!"


    -


    After a while they both went back to train again. A few hours later they came back again. This time to eat dinner.


    When they finished eating, Xiao Huoyan went to bed while Tian Xin began packing. She finished quickly and then she also went to bed.


    This time, Xiao Huoyan were the one to wake up first and prepare breakfast. As soon as Tian Xin woke up, she rushed out of her room and into the kitchen. Then she quickly finished her meal.


    "Why are you rushing? I''ve never seen you eat that fast before!"


    "It''s just that your food''s too delicious!"


    "I know my cooking skills are indeed above average, but this is just fried eggs. Didn''t I prepare the exact same thing two days ago? You barely touched your food then."


    "Your food is indeed the best, but you''re right. It''s not because of your food that I''m rushing but because you said we''d leave early this morning, so I want to finish everything as quick as possible so that we can set off to The Azure Sea Division!"


    "You''re really that excited?!"


    "Well of course! I know that you made this decision because you saw how sad I was yesterday, therefor I''ll have the make sure that we leave here before you change your mind!"


    "I didn''t plan on changing my mind. That would only make you even more sad; Getting your hopes up and then tearing them apart."


    "You''re right! So¡­ How long does it take to get to The Azure Sea Division?"


    "By foot it should take around two weeks, but we''re not going to walk there. I''m in no mood for that."


    "Then are we going to fly there?"


    "You can''t fly yet. Your cultivation is still too low."


    "But I could fly in--"


    "In that world anyone can fly. If someone without cultivation would try they''d also succeed."


    "What?! When will I be able to fly then?"


    "Follow my instructions and you''ll be able to fly in at least three months."


    "Three months?!"


    "It would take most people more than three years to get from where you are now to being able to fly. Don''t be too greedy now."


    "Fine, brother. But how are we going to get to The Azure Sea Division then? It''s not like you could hire horses anywhere close by."


    "Ever heard of Teleportation Talismans? We''re going to use them."


    "Teleportation Talismans that''re able to get us all the way from here to The Azure Sea Division must be really expensive! How are we going to get those?!"


    " Father Long left me instructions on how to produce them. I made some last night."


    "You made them on your own?! And didn''t you go straight to bed yesterday?"


    "I did go to bed. I was laying in bed unable to sleep, so I decided to try making the talismans."


    "Did you say you made a ''some'' of them?! Even for experts it would take at least a few hours to make a single one of them!"


    "Really? Isn''t it just like snapping your fingers?"


    Hearing her brother speaking about it as ifit was nothing made her speechless.


    "At least now we won''t have to ever worry about money."


    "Can these Teleportation Talismans fetch a high price?"


    "They should cost at least two hundred thousand each!"


    "Sounds expensive."


    "It is!"


    "Then I guess they can be used to make money too."


    "Of course they can! If we were to take them to an auction house, we''d become rich overnight!"


    "That''s great!"


    Xiao Huoyan didn''t really care much about the money, but he wanted his dear sister to be able to live her life without worries.


    He had to help her get strong enough to be able to take care of herself in case something happened to him. Money would help a lot on the way. Resources would cost an unimaginable amount of money.


    Though he had received so much from his father Long, he knew that it wouldn''t be enough. He had to earn money by himself, and now he had found a way to do it.


    He had always been gifted in everything, so he decided that when they reached The Azure Sea Division, he''d go to the Alchemists Association and try making pills and elixirs.


    Alchemists were respected everywhere. He had a feeling that he''d be surprisingly good at it. If he were to succeed as an alchemist, he and his sister wouldn''t need to worry about money nor status!

 39 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.

 40 Ch. 40 - Arriving at the Alchemists Association

    \"Brother? When can we go to The Azure Dragon School?\"


    \"Tomorrow. They have examinations for two days every month and we just happened to arrive just in time.\"


    \"So that is why you wanted to use a Teleportation Talisman to get us here... You did not want us to miss the examinations of this month, right?\"


    Xiao Huoyan replied by nodding.


    \"But where are we going to stay for the night then?\"


    \"There is supposed to be an inn quite close by. We can stay there for the night. The examinations will begin early tomorrow morning.\"


    \"What are we supposed to do until then?\"


    \"Train and rest.\"


    \"Is that not the same as what we did at home? No fun at all!\"


    \"Then what do you want to do?\"


    Xiao Huoyan had not thought about what to do while waiting from the examinations to begin. He did not know what to do in places like this. The Azure Sea Division was much bigger than the forest he had spent most of his life in!


    \"How about we spend some money instead? I have heard the food here is really good! They also have good equipment and there is even a treasure pavilion not too far from here!\"


    \"... Where is the Alchemists Association?\"


    \"The Alchemists Association? Why do you want to go there?\"


    \"To become an alchemist, of course.\"


    \"You can?!\"


    \"How am I supposed to know? I have yet to try it out, but I have a feeling that I will be surprisingly good at it.\"


    \"The Alchemists Association is close to the Auction House! I will go with you to the Alchemists Association if you come with me to the Auction House right afterwards! No more training today, okay?\"


    \"Deal! Lead the way.\"


    \"... But...\"


    \"Do not tell me you that you do not know the way--\"


    \"--That is not it! It is just... would you mind making us both... uhm, visible again?\"


    \"O-oh! R-right! Can we wait until after we reach the Alchemists Association?\"


    \"Hm? Why?\"


    \"I am not used to being at crowded places and I guess it would be easier if no one saw us. I have concealed our cultivations well, so no one will be able to tell how strong we are, and I thought that we could wear these--\"


    \"Cloaks?\"


    Xiao Huoyan had taken out two black cloaks.\"


    \"Mhm.\"


    \"But will the experts at the Alchemists Association not be able to see through these plain cloaks?\"


    \"They will not. I used Evil Nightmare Illusions to make sure they will not see through these.\"


    \"You really thought this through, huh?\"


    \"I did. Uhm... Can you just think about where the Alchemists Association is supposed to be? It would be much faster.\"


    \"Hm? Why?\"


    \"I can use your thoughts as a map, and we will get there much faster.\"


    \"Sure! Shall we get going then?\"


    Xiao Huyan answered by taking out another Teleportation Talisman and crushing it.


    Just like before, everything turned pitch black. Then they both arrived at the Alchemists Association.


    \"This sure is effective, but did you really have to use such a precious Teleportation Talisman just to get here? It was not that far anyways. Such a waste!\"


    \"Do not worry sister! I have plenty of them and they are easy to make, so even if we run out of them I will just make some new ones on spot\", Xiao Huoyan said with a bright smile on his face.


    \"Okay. Shall we go inside, brother?\"


    \"Mhm.\"


    They both went inside, and as they entered Tian Xin was surprised to see how simple, yet elegant the furniture were.


    \"HOW BIG!!\", Tian Xin exclaimed with admiration in her eyes. She had never before in her life seen such a big room!


    \"Who is there?!\"


    Suddenly an angry guard seemed to be shouting at them.


    \"Did you not say that others would not be able to see us?!\", Tian Xin whispered to her brother.


    \"Do not panic sister. He can not see us, but you just spoke very loud so of course he heard you.\"


    \"Oh. Sorry, but what are we supposed to do now?! Should we leave?!\"


    \"No.\"


    As Xiao Huoyan said that, he let go of his sister''s hand and made them both visible.


    As they were both wearing black cloaks, Xiao Huoyan being a little child, was of course pretty short compared to his big sister Tian Xin.


    Anyone who didn''t already know he was a child would mistake him as an old man.


    Xiao Huoyan wanted it to remain that way. He would reveal his talent in alchemy to the chief of the Alchemists Association and then speak into his mind, purposely letting him find out that he was just a small child.


    Until then, he''d just use voice transmission to speak with his sister, so that she could inform anyone they needed to speak with of what he wanted said.


    He had indeed come up with quite a plan before entering. He did not want the people in the Alchemists Association to look down on him for being a child, so he had prove himself first and then expose his identity as a child of the Jin Clan.


    He wanted them to know that he was not someone they could mess with as they pleased since there would always be envious people with ill intent.


    He would ask them to keep his identity as Jin Xin strictly confidential and to only call him by the name ''Tian Yan''.


    He would also tell them to send someone to The Azure Dragon School if they ever needed to contact him.


    He knew that if he did that, they would all understand that he was an extraordinary child with an unmeasurably bright future.


    Of course, he would not expose all of his secrets, but he knew that he had to tell them at least this much in order for them to truly respect him.


    He needed a backer in The Azure Sea Division. Even though he could indeed take care of himself on his own, he did not want to expose himself too early.


    It would be much easier to avoid trouble if he had a powerful backer.


    That way, he would not have to worry about his sister as much, knowing that she would be fine even if he were to leave her alone for some time.

 41 Ch. 41 - Shenmi Wu

    \"Who are you two?!\"


    The guard seemed to panic. He just saw two people appear from what seemed to be thin air. Of course, he would be shaken by it!


    ''Pass forward my message to the incompetent guard; Get the chief here!'', Xiao Huoyan said through voice transmission to his sister.


    \"My brother want you to get the chief here! NOW!!\", Tian Xin said with as much of an angry tone that she could bring forth.


    She had understood the situation. Her brother did not want to reveal his age. At least not now.


    He knew that if he altered his voice he might get exposed, but if he did not then anyone would be able to tell that he was but a small child.


    \"Y-yes! R-right aw-way!\", the guard answered right away.


    He quickly ran away to get the chief.


    After a short while, he came back.


    \"The chief told me to lead you to--\"


    \"Just lead the way already! I am starting to lose my patience!\", Tian Xin said angrily.


    ''Do not overdo it sister'', Xiao Huoyan quickly reminded his sister through voice transmission.


    \"Sorry brother!\"


    The guard had not heard Xiao Huoyan utter a single word since he came in. When he heard Tian Xin speak with Xiao Huoyan as if she was answering, he became speechless.


    They were having a conversation which he could not hear!


    \"Stop staring already. Do you want me to dig out your eyes?\"


    Hearing his sister say such a thing, Xiao Huoyan could not help but laugh.


    As he laughed, the guard leading their way go even more surprised as he heard Xiao Huoyan laugh.


    He immediately understood that Xiao Huoyan was indeed a small child.


    \"Y-y-you are a chi--\"


    Xiao Huoyan immediately became aware of his mistake and quickly silenced the guard by turning him into a mist of blood.


    Then he used Icy Hurricane to hinder the blood from staining the walls.


    ''Please apologize for me when we reach the chief. Tell her that I am willing to compensate her for the guard''s life'', Xiao Huoyan told his sister through voice transmission.


    Even though he had personally killed the guard, he did not feel too bad about it. He knew that if he had not killed the guard and he would have spread the fact of him being a child too early, his plans would have been destroyed.


    \"Mhm. I will, brother. So how are we going to find the chief now?\"


    ''No need to worry. The chief will naturally sense the smell of blood and come here to find out who died and why. She will be here very soon.''


    \"The chief of the Alchemists Association is a woman?! Why did you not tell me sooner, brother?\"


    \"So, what if I am a woman? You are a woman too so you should not look down on women, am I right?\"


    A gorgeous lady had just come from the other end of the hall.


    \"Y-you are the chief?! How beautiful!\"


    \"This time, just like before, Xiao Huoyan could not help himself and was just about to begin laughing again when he suddenly remembered that he had to hide his identity as a child.


    As he managed to hinder himself, he began coughing instead.


    \"Brother?! Are you okay?! I told you not to--\"


    ''I am fine, sister'', Xiao Huoyan had to interrupt her. He knew exactly what his sister was about to say next, and he also knew that ''that'' next line of hers would definitely expose him. Therefore, he interrupted her before she could finish her sentence.


    \"Okay but be careful next time.\"


    Xiao Huoyan did not even get the chance to answer. The chief suddenly began laughing.


    \"Hahahaha! You must be siblings right? Or maybe that oldie is your mute grandfather or something? Hahahaha!\"


    Xiao Huoyan could not stand anyone making fun of his sister, so he decided to give up the plan he had and just improvise instead.


    Suddenly he waved his sleeve and both of their cloaks flew away with the wind and landed neatly folded onto the ground right before them.


    \"If you dare to laugh at my sister again, I shall kill you along with your entire Alchemist''s Association\", Xiao Huoyan said with a calm and steady tone.


    \"Do not overestimate your capabilities little one! I know that your spirit essence is Icy Hurricane. I felt it as soon as you used it to take off and fold your cloaks. I am warning you because my spirit essence is the exact opposite to yours! I have Fla--\"


    \"-- Flaming Eagle, I know. I could feel it even before you entered the room. You are the one who should not overestimate yourself.\"


    Right after Xiao Huoyan said that, he released four of his spirit essences; Demonic Flame, The Golden Dragon, Icy Hurricane and The Golden Bird all at once!


    He made the spirit essences dance beautifully in the air. It was truly a beautiful sight!


    \"F-FOUR SPIRIT ESSENCES?!?!? IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE?!?! AND TWO OF THEM ONLY BELONGS TO THE JIN CLAN''S DIRECT DESCENDANTS?!?! WHAT KIND OF MONSTER ARE YOU?!?!?\"


    \"You! You dare call my little brother a monster?! I shall kill yo--!\"


    \"It is fine, sister.\"


    \"But brother--\"


    \"I said that it is fine!\"


    \"I... understand.\"


    \"Good.\"


    The chief was shaking there she stood. She was scared speechless.


    Xiao Huoyan suddenly began to walk closer to her only stopping a few steps away from her.


    \"Your name is Shenmi Wu and you are thirty-two years old. You do not have any children since you despise men. You live alone in a mansion not too far from here. You have a baby tiger and her name is Xiao Hu. You had a turtle before, but someone killed it as revenge because you had refused his marriage proposal twice.


    My condolences. Such an asshole of a man, really.


    However, you did not let him of that easy either. You even went as far as wiping out his entire family. How cruel...\"


    \"H-how do you know so much about me?! Who sold you the information?!\"


    Xiao Huoyan heaved a deep sigh and continued speaking.


    \"Seems like you still have not guessed it... Then I shall just continue until you do.


    You have a younger sister who goes to The Azure Dragon School. She has an illness that is said to be uncurable. She will die before the age of twenty. She is currently seventeen years old and does not have much time left.


    Let us get to the things that you do not even remember yourself.


    You were born with double essence, yet your mother sealed it right before she passed away. Your father did not know, and this secret died together with your mother. She did tell you about it as she apologized to you the moment right before she died, but you do not remember it since you had just been born.


    I can help you unseal your second spirit essence and cure your sister, but you will have to do some things for me in return. How about it?\"

 42 Ch. 42 - Frozen Poisonous Fire Blossoms

    \"Y-you¡­ You must be lying! I would know if I had dual essence! Stop trying to fool me, and if you dare do something to my sister, I-I will--\"


    \"--Enough already. I can prove that what I have said is the truth. Your hand, if you may\", Xiao Huoyan said while holding out his hand.


    Shenmi Wu understood that he wanted her to place her hand in his, but she was too afraid to move.


    Seeing that Shenmi Wu was not moving an inch, Xiao Huoyan began to feel a little impatient.


    \"If I wanted to kill you, not even Lord Yama himself would be unable to save you, so stop being such a nuisance and place your hand in mine before I lose my temper.\"


    Hearing Xiao Huoyan say such things almost made Shenmi Wu faint from embarrassment and fear.


    She was an adult, yet she was being looked down on by a little boy. A boy whom scared her speechless.


    \"I-I--\"


    \"--Just trust me, okay?\", Xiao Huoyan said and smiled.


    Somehow, his bright smile took away the fear in Shenmi Wu''s heart. Without thinking, she slowly placed her hand in his.


    Xiao Huoyan did not bother with words anymore and began unlocking Shenmi Wu''s second spirit essence immediately.


    A few seconds later, he let go of her hand and stepped away.


    \"W-what did y-you d-do to me?!\", Shenmi Wu yelled at Xiao Huoyan with a voice filled with panic and fear.


    \"I helped you.\"


    Xiao Huoyan did not mind her acting like this. He just answered her with calm tone.


    \"... Why did you help me?\"


    \"Because I need you right now.\"


    \"... W-what do you want me t-to do?\"


    \"Shall we talk somewhere else?\"


    \"... S-sure.\"


    After saying that, Shenmi Wu began to lead the way to her private room with Xiao Huoyan and Tian Xin walking closely behind her.


    They all entered the room and sat down.


    \"So... what did you want me to do?\"


    \"I want as our backing here in The Azure Sea Division.


    I have some things to do here and I have secrets that cannot be exposed. Therefore, I will need you as a powerful backing.\"


    \"You are already so powerful. Why would you need my backing?\"


    \"You are the chief of the entire Alchemists Association. Your backing is equal to the entire Alchemists Association''s backing.


    I am stronger than you would ever dare to imagine, but for now, that will have to be kept a secret.\"


    \"... Can you really save my sister?\"


    \"Yes.\"


    \"... How do I know that you are not lying?\"


    \"Had I wanted your life; you would already be dead, and had I wanted your sister''s life; she would also already have been dead.


    I just saved your life, and I know that I can save your sister''s too.\"


    \"When did you ever save my life?\"


    \"Your mother sealed one of your spirit essences because they oppose each other. They cannot coexist in the same body, so she sealed one of them, using her life as the price. She did it to save you, but she failed.


    It was only temporarily sealed. One day the seal would break by itself and you would die.


    I have forced the seal open and fused your spirit essences. I even added a bit of my sister''s Poisonous Cherry Blossoms, which resulted in your new spirit essence having fire, ice and poison properties.


    You no longer have dual essence, but I have created a spirit essence that was much more powerful than the one you had before. No one else in the world has it, except for you and I, so you better be proud of it.


    I took a part of it as a ''Thank-you''-fee, so no need to pay me back.


    I have named it; Frozen Poisonous Fire Blossoms.


    It should be of the same rank as The Jin Clan''s Jin Niao''s spirit essence--\"


    \"--Y-you mean The Golden Bird?!?!\"


    \"Yes, but did you really have to interrupt me?\"


    \"S-sorry! But... uhm, how do you know it''s the same as The Golden Bird?\"


    Xiao Huoyan figured she would not believe him if he first told her that Jin Niao was his uncle, so he decided to show her something first. He did not move an inch, yet a magnificent golden bird as well as a golden dragon flew out from behind him and began flying around in mid-air right above Shenmi Wu''s head.


    This made her absolutely speechless.


    \"Well, I am the only son of The Golden Dragon, Jin Long. Jin Niao is my uncle.\"


    \"Y-you are from The Jin Clan?! And a direct descendant at that?!\"


    \"Stop acting so surprised. You already saw this when we were in the hall.\"


    \"Now that you mention it... I did see it, but I did not think it could actually be The Golden Bird as well as The Golden Dragon!\"


    \"This has to remain a secret. My name is Jin Xin and I am currently almost six years old.


    You are not allowed to use my real name even when we are alone. You have to call me Tian Yan. The lady beside me is my sister, Tian Xin.\"

 43 Ch. 43 - Out of the Ordinary

    \"May I know who else knows about your real identity, other than the pretty lady behind you?\"


    \"I am not sure. It should only be us three, and I want it to remain that way for now, so you better keep quiet about it.\"


    \"S-sure thing! I will not tell a soul about anything related to you two without your instructions Master Tian!\"


    \"Master Tian sounds so old... I am a child after all, so no need for unnecessary formalities.\"


    \"You are completely right!\"


    \"Okay, enough of that now. I told you that I will not kill you, so please behave with some dignity.\"


    \"Y-yes, of course, Young Master!


    \"Good. Now on to something else. May I ask you a question miss Shen--\"


    \"Like you said, no need for unnecessary formalities, so no need to call me miss! Just call me by my name!\"


    \"Fine mi-- Shenmi Wu. May I--\"


    Everyone turned silent. A rumbling noise sounded from Tian Xin''s stomach. As she heard it herself, she covered her stomach in embarrassment as if she thought it would stop rumbling.


    Shenmi Wu did not know how to react, as to not lose her head for offending Tian Xin. She could see how deeply Xiao Huoyan cared for his sister Tian Xin. Since she was also a girl, she knew that she would have been embarrassed if it had been her stomach making those rumbling noises, so she decided to stay silent and wait for Xiao Huoyan to react first.


    \"You should have told me if you were hungry. Why did you not say anything?\", Xiao Huoyan asked his sister, with a slightly sad expression.


    \"You promised me that we would go shopping together after we finished here, so I thought that I should just wait until you had finished your business here... Sorry.\"


    \"Do not apologize. We will go shopping after you eat something, okay?\"


    Tian Xin did not say anything. She just nodded.


    Xiao Huoyan took out a big piece of meat and some vegetables and grilled them on the spot by using his Demonic Flame and Icy Hurricane simultaneously. If he grilled something with his Demonic Flame it would most likely turn into ashes, so he used Icy Hurricane to neutralise the Demonic Flame.


    After a few minutes, it was all finished and so Tian Xin began to eat happily.


    At the same time, Shenmi Wu sat on her chair completely amazed by Xiao Huoyan''s amazing control over his spirit essences. In her eyes, he was a true expert!


    \"Uhm... If I may ask, which realm have you reached and what level has your spirit power reached?\"


    Shenmi Wu was too curious to think about whether Xiao Huoyan would mind her asking or not.


    \"I am but an insignificant High Tier Grand Spirit Master. Nothing worth mentioning really, and as for my spirit power... I am not sure.\"


    \"But brother? How can you say that? You began cultivating two, or maybe three days ago, yet you are already a High Tier Grand Spirit Master! This is unprecedented in history! How can you be as humble as to say that you are but an insignifica--?\"


    \"--Enough!\"


    Xiao Huoyan had deliberately withheld the information of him having just begun cultivating, to appear less impressive. If Shenmi Wu was not sincere, she would attack him, thinking that he was all bark and no bite. Then he could use the fact of her attacking as an excuse to show her what he is capable of. When she then understood that she stood no chance, he would have her take a Puppet Pill to make sure that she would never betray him in the future.


    When Tian Xin basically exposed his impressive training speed, Shenmi Wu must have understood that he was far more exceptional than he seemed. His plan had already failed.


    Shenmi Wu was not stupid. She would not expose her true colours now that she knew that she truly was no match against him.


    \"... Y-you should test your spirit power once you have the time. Everyone knows that the level that one''s spirit power has reached is very important, so it would be wise to test it out. Someone at the same realm and tier who has a higher level of spirit power will naturally be stronger than someone with weaker spirit power. One''s spirit power is basically what allows a person to ''skip tiers'' while fighting, so you should definit--\"


    \"--Enough already! I understand! Just like you said, EVERYONE KNOWS IT!!\"


    Xiao Huoyan''s patience was starting to run out. ''How can someone be so damn annoying'', Xiao Huoyan thought to himself.


    \"R-right! S-sorry!\"


    \"It is fine\", Xiao Huoyan said while sighing.


    \"Uhm... Brother, can we leave now?\", Tian Xin asked cautiously.


    \"Oh, you are already finished! You sure eat fast. Then, we will be taking our leave now\", Xiao Huoyan said as he took out yet another Teleportation Talisman and crushed it as soon as his hand reached his sister''s.


    ''T-teleportation T-talismans?! They sure are out of the ordinary...'', Shenmi Wu though to herself right after they had left.