Bai Ru narrowed his eyes in suspicion as the Obsidian Forest came into sight, "The Black Lotus has chosen quite an interesting place to wait for us in."
'He's going to meet her anyways, so it should be fine to say this much.' Ji Yun quietly explained, "Granny is unable to leave this forest."
"I see," contrary to his calm voice, Bai Ru's eyes widened as numerous questions began to litter his mind. However, he did not voice any more inquiries. After all, such questions would be answered when he meets the Black Lotus.
Bai Ru stopped when he noticed the two black-cloaked children had come to a halt in front of a lake filled with flowers.
Ji Yun sheepishly laughed, "Uhh… Granny, you're there right?"
Lin Tao and Ji Yun were confused, for the guardian spirit would usually greet them before the Floral Lake even came into sight. However, they were right in front of the lake and not a single sound intruded into their minds.
Bai Ru was just as confused as the two children. He focused on sensing the surroundings, 'I can't sense the presence of a single living being around. Not even the faint aura of a spirit is present in this area.'
A humming resounded within Lin Tao and Ji Yun's mind. The humming did not sound as soothing as usual, for it was quicker paced than the usual tranquil humming.
Ji Yun let out a sigh of relief, "Oh, so you are there, granny."
"You know, you'll make us nervous if you stay silent."
Bai Ru raised a brow at the two children, for in his eyes, they were talking to themselves, 'There's really no one here.'
Bai Ru rescanned the surrounding area, trying to find even the faintest trace of a spirit. However, his efforts were in vain, 'Are they really communicating with this granny person?'
A gentle voice made its way into the two children's minds, "Sorry, I'm just a bit nervous. I'm shy when meeting new people."
Lin Tao raised a brow, 'You were definitely not nervous in the slightest when you first met us and proudly proclaimed your identity as the Guardian Spirit of the Obsidian Forest. It was the same for when we encountered those Sacred Flame Sect disciples.'
Despite the two children's hooded cloaks, Bai Lian could clearly see their faces, 'I guess that kind of reaction is normal, based on my previous actions…'
"Can you two please leave so I can speak privately with Bai Ru?"
"Alright, we'll deal with the sea kelp and then leave the forest."
Bai Ru was smiling politely at the two children who were, in his eyes, still talking to themselves.
The two children noticed the expression Bai Ru had was a bit odd, 'Was granny only speaking into our minds? Then... Wouldn't we look like idiots who talk to ourselves?'
Ji Yun sheepishly laughed, "Granny wishes to speak privately with you, so we'll be taking our leave first."
"Wait, is there really som—"
Bai Ru froze mid-sentence, for a familiar, gentle voice eased its way into his mind, "I am the Guardian Spirit of the Obsidian Forest."
Seeing his stunned reaction, the two children wordlessly left and made their way towards the burrow.
Bai Ru's widened eyes slowly locked themselves onto the ground as his head tilted downwards and his body began to tremble. The children were already far away when finally, a shaky chuckle left his mouth, "Y-you… It seems your lies have gotten more outrageous. As your older brother, I should have sorted you out long ago so you wouldn't be such a liar today."
Although he was reprimanding her, his shaky voice was gentle and it was clear he didn't really mind that she was a liar.
The confidence of the gentle voice had all vanished as it inquired, "This body of mine isn't human. Do you really still—"
Bai Ru immediately raised his head, "Don't ask the obvious!"
Bai Lian quietly voiced the worries that were buried deep within her mind ever since her past life memories came back, "But you don't even know for sure if I'm really your little sister."
"As if I wouldn't recognize you! Who else would confidently lie so blatantly in my face with such a gentle voice? Also, how many people out there can even tell you're lying? If I'm not your older brother than who would be?"
"What's with that! So any great liar can be your little sister?"
Bai Ru snorted as he claimed proudly, "As if anyone can lie better than my sister."
A bell-like giggle resounded within Bai Ru's mind. Many worries that had clogged the back of her mind for so long had diminished and a sense of rejuvenation filled Bai Lian.
Hearing the familiar laughter that he had missed so much, a lump seemed to form in Bai Ru's throat as he struggled to not cry.
"There's no need to hold back from crying. The only one here is me. We're family. Naturally, it is my duty to support you."
A soft chuckle escaped Bai Ru's mouth, "As hypocritical as always I see."
Bai Lian voice turned serious as she softly defended herself, "It's only natural that I'm a hypocritical liar. Righteousness is a privilege for the strong. The weak can go ahead and act righteously all the time if they don't mind dying."
The happiness of seeing his sister again had morphed into anger as Bai Ru recalled the reason he had not seen her for so long.
Noticing the startling coldness reflected in her brother's eyes, Bai Lian hesitantly voiced, "B-brother, I'm fine now. There's no need to make that expression."
Bai Ru hurriedly eased his expression and in mere seconds, the coldness within his eyes had morphed into warmth, "Are you really fine now? I don't seem to see a body nor do I feel traces of a spirit's aura."
Bai Lian laughed nervously, "I reincarnated as a white lotus and—"
Her explanation was cut off by Bai Ru's sudden laughter. Through his laughs, two words made it through his mouth, "Too fitting."
When Bai Ru had finally calmed down, Bai Lian continued her explanation with a displeased tone, "Miraculously, I recovered my past life memories and became a cultivating plant."
Bai Ru widened his eyes, "A cultivating plant? I have never heard of any records—"
"It makes sense for there to be no records. Disregarding the once in a million years rarity of a cultivating plant, any smart cultivating plant would conceal itself until it has become strong and evolved into a form that no one would dare call a plant. After all, if the existence of a cultivating plant were to be revealed, the plant would definitely be targeted. Fortunately, it is still a plant, so spirit masters won't detect any particular presence from a cultivating plant."
"And yet, here we have a stupid cultivating plant, revealing its identity in such detail," Bai Ru joked.
"I had a suspicion before, but now I'm certain. You prefer it when I'm lying. Don't worry, I'm a talented person. In mere seconds, I can fabricate a story."
"No need! You can speak honestly with your older brother," Bai Ru chuckled nervously.
Bai Lian's voice became serious, "You don't seem very curious about cultivating plants despite learning about their existence for the first time."
"Regardless of what you become, in my eyes, you'll always be my little sister," Bai Ru's gentle smile darkened, "What I'm really curious about is how exactly did you die?"
"The crown prince confidently accused me of making attempts at harming his beloved Qing'er. As a result, he burned me to death."
Studying her enraged brother, Bai Lian sighed to herself, 'It's a good thing I omitted the fact that the crown prince practically angered me to death.'
She ignored her brother's rage and voiced her own curiosities, "I'm also curious about some things. What exactly happened after I died and how are mother and father?"