Chapter 106
A small young girl hiding behind her mother's robe is curiously craning her neck towards a little child being carried by a tall elegant looking man which she called her father. The child on his hand is not older than 2 years old and is still unable to walk properly. But the face of the child is like an angel that immediately caught the little girl's attention.
A few years later…
When the girl grew up she became really close to the little boy she now called little brother. But it seems that her older brother would always bully the little boy, though she wanted to help but she is powerless as her older brother is stronger than her at that time.
The life of Ya Nian suddenly flashed through her eyes as she recalled a lot of things from her younger years. Then, when she was 15, she heard something that has changed how she views her younger brother Zen Nian.
It was in the middle of the night at that time and she was suddenly woken up from her sleep. She turns her gaze towards the table nearby and found that the maid actually forgot to put some water on the table near the bed. So without a choice, she carefully walks out of her rooms wanting to find some water to drink.
Then all of a sudden she heard some voices. It was her father and First mother arguing on something. She wanted to just move on and continue walking when she heard a name.
"What should we do then? Zen Nian has already grown up and still, no one is taking him away." The voice of her first mother asked with a tinge of annoyance in her voice.
"We are told to just wait. Plus do you think I don't know how you treated the boy? He is supposed to be my son, so you must treat him well to avoid suspicion." The voice of her father Jin Nian said while scolding her first mother.
"Ha! He is the son of a bastard. Why would I treat him like my own? You wouldn't even tell me his origin since he is not of our blood then why would I treat him like one?" the woman sneered.
Ya Nian is aware that her first mother is a vindictive woman. She is also someone who holds grudges, just like her older brother. Even Ya Nian who is the daughter of the second wife of Jin Nian was not accepted by his first wife after Ya Nian's mother died of giving birth which is a little suspicious.
While the two continue talking, Ya Nian's mind turned blank. She could not believe what she has heard. Zen Nian is actually not his little brother, though she felt a little disappointed as she could not be a big sister, yet something deep within her heart started to grow.
From then on, the way she treated Zen Nian changed. She would distance herself from him, when he needs the help of a big sister, but would gladly help Zen Nian as a friend.
This continues until they grew up and discovers that Zen Nian is very slow in his progress when it comes to cultivation. His only strength is his strong concentration and spiritual Qi control. But his cultivation began to stagnate making him the shame of the clan. During this time when Zen Nian is being shunned by the clan, Ya Nian became Zen Nian's only friend in secret. They would always be together and be good to each other while no one is around.
But one fateful day… Everything changed.
That day, same as usual Ya Nian is staying in her room. She is currently writing a letter and it is a letter that she would always write for… him, but would not send it. She would just keep those letters in her spatial pouch. As time went by the letters she wrote became numerous.
After she was done she slowly reviews and read the letter, in doing so a tinge of red slowly appear on her jade-like cheeks. But then all of a sudden an explosion from outside her room interrupted her thoughts. Upon hearing this, her eyes suddenly went wide in the realization of what might be going on and anger filled her mind. It was her big brother again barging into the room of Zen Nian. She immediately rushed in to try and stop him and help Zen Nian. In doing so she unconsciously let go of the letter which fell on her table.
That was the day that she defeated Wei Qi Nian in just a few moves. She also discovers that her big brother is actually not that strong, or maybe she became too strong for him. After defeating Wei Qi Nian who immediately ran out of the courtyard, she immediately helped Zen Nian who was badly beaten into her room. As she treats his wounds, she felt a little shy as this was the first time they stood close to each other. When she saw his face she could not help but stare in admiration as Zen Nian is truly a very handsome youth. Then, when she felt that her heart is racing really fast and her face is turning beat red, she immediately stood up and walks out to clear her mind.
Then when she came back she showed a shocking appearance. On Zen Nian's hand is her letter for him, and a face of disbelief is written all over his face. Zen Nian discovers that he is not the son of Jin Nian. Though he also knows the feeling of his sister for him, his mind can't register anything.
That was the start of the changes in their relationship as siblings. Zen Nian would always try to distance himself away from her and she would also feel awkward towards him. This continues on until 2 years ago, where everything once again returns to the way it used to be and made her feel that her world is already complete.
After being beaten again by Wei Qi Nian, Zen Nian suddenly seeks her out. Zen Nian told her that he wanted to be strong, he wanted her help. This development made her feel elated as the awkwardness between them slowly vanished. The two started to do some secret cultivation and technique training. But even after a long time, Zen Nian was still unable to improve his cultivation and began to despair. Then one day after a session of training, Zen Nian showed a helpless expression, seeing him feel like this as if by an instinct of not wanting the man she likes to be in despair, she slowly walks to him and gave him a gentle hug to console his despairing heart.
Zen Nian was suddenly thunderstruck by what Ya Nian did and his body suddenly stiffen. Though he knows that they are not real siblings, he still sees her as his kind and gentle older sister. But then as if something deep within him was triggered as he slowly lifted her chin.
She didn't know what happened, but Zen Nian suddenly showed her a loving expression and gently placed a sweet kiss on her lips. She was stunned and was unable to react. Their lips stayed like that for a while, but then she didn't know why but she suddenly pushed Zen Nian back and ran away while covering her beat red face.
Then she didn't know for what reason, but she began to distance herself from him. She would always feel shy and her heartbeat racing very fast whenever she sees him for an unknown reason that even she didn't know why. Whenever she sees him she would always walk the other way, but will still offer her help to him in secret. This continues on until the day of the clan trail where she decided to tell him her true feelings and maybe accept his.
But it seems that he was far too busy to even come out in those days, and would always be cultivating. She wanted to ask him but felt worried about his answer, so she didn't. She really wished that she could have talked to him, even for the very last time, but now it was all too late.
…
Meanwhile, Shin Jiao squinted his eyes at the scene as if remembering something. A scene flashed on his mind as he remembers the first time he saw Cherry Lao. As those happy and sad memories came to his mind, he can't help but make his move.
Both Rat Ling and Zen Nian were taken aback when Shin Jiao suddenly dashed out of the bushes. But still, they followed his lead and quickly along with him attacked the mutated Black Wolves.
As Shin Jiao ran towards the demon beasts, he immediately took out his gun and aim for the nearest black wolf. Upon seeing his target he fires two shots aiming at the black wolf's head. The mutated black wolf didn't have time to react at the sudden ambush and its head was blasted open.
Like the grim reaper, Shin Jiao didn't stop his assault as he quickly released more shots towards the rest of the black wolves who were taken by surprise. Then another 2 black wolves have their heads blasted open. Upon discovering the ambush from three figures rushing towards them, the black wolves growled and suddenly rushed in to fight back.
Rat Ling didn't want to just let Shin Jiao have all the fun, so he quickly draws his sword and sent two quick slashes on the air in front of him. After doing so, two rapidly revolving wheel-like Qi blades flew out towards the black wolves. As the two rapidly revolving wheel-like Qi blades hit a black wolf, it was actually cut in half. The Qi blades didn't stop from its path and continue flying and killing more black wolves which are caught on its way.
Zen Nian also did the same as he also sent his own Qi blade towards the wolves also killing some in the process.
In this first exchange, the two quickly discovered the weakness of the flying Qi blade, and that is the number of Qi blade they can use. Although they have just released around three to four Qi blades, they feel that the spiritual Qi in their bodies has been consumed greatly even with the assistance of demon beast core embedded on their swords.
As time went by, after the three of them faced against the two packs of wolves. They have now shown different types of fighting styles and techniques and discovered some while integrating each skill in actual life and death battle.
After they have fought for a while and had killed a number of black wolves, Rat Ling who is already showing a body riddled with wounds and covered in blood suddenly has felt enlightenment. It was when he was trying to defend himself from two black wolves where he clearly saw one of the wolves sending him its large claws desperately wanting to scratch his head.
Seeing the situation his heart suddenly felt fear. In his desperation, he suddenly willed his energy to protect him, and after thinking that, strong rolling energy coming from his dantian began to be pushed out of his body.
Then in that instant, a thin layer of protective Qi envelops his whole being just a few centimeters from his skin, it's like a thin Qi armor.
Though he successfully blocks that attack his figure was still sent tumbling down. But instead of anger, Rat Ling's face showed a happy and excited expression. Right now he was truly elated at his new discovery. He actually thought of this new skill as he is already familiar with the use of the humming blade and how he would coat his sword with his Qi and start to make it revolve around his sword.
This same principle he tried to do to his whole body and it worked. The thin Qi armor in his body is not a Qi field or a Qi shield but a constant revolution of thin Qi which can protect him from any external force.
Since it is revolving, the thin Qi armor would not break unlike Qi field or Qi shield. This is because the Qi armor would immediately repair itself as it revolves inside and outside of his body.
With this discovery, Rat Ling immediately brandish his sword and began attacking. But this time, he was dumbfounded. His blade now doesn't have the usual strong vibration, but instead just a low one.
"It seems that when I use the Qi to cover my body, my sword would only use the demon core on it, which is not enough to cause great harm to these beasts." Rat Ling thought as he finally realized something.
When Shin Jiao saw this he too was astounded, he also thought about using this kind of technique before but he didn't do so as his physique at that time is already as strong as a nascent realm cultivator. In his complacency, he missed out a lot in learning and making his own great techniques and discovering more skills.
"This time, I would develop my skills slowly and surely, so that everything would be permanent and I can, in turn, learn far better skills in using spiritual and natural energies." Shin Jiao promised to himself upon learning from Rat Ling's new discovery.
As the battle continues, the black wolf number began to whittle down and now only 6 black wolves are left. The alpha wolf who is the largest of them all was stunned at the sudden deaths of his proud pack. Its pride as a level 4 demon beast king caused its kin to be killed until 5 are left. Plus the battle is truly fast as it actually didn't take for the three to dispose of most of the black wolves.
Anger now filled the alpha black wolf's demon beast's heart, as it suddenly howled in sadness and anger. This howl of the alpha black wolf reverberated through the air and almost destroyed the array formation. Luckily Shin Jiao didn't use array formation flags but instead, rune infused spirit stones. This made the array formation two times stronger even though it is just a level 1 array formation.
After that howl, the rest of the wolf pack turns their heads towards the three humans who killed many of their kins. Now their eyes are bloodshot and all of them seem to be in berserk mode as the hair on their backs seems to be longer and their claws sharper.
"They are now crazed. We have to be careful." Zen Nian suddenly said as he slowly back away.
"Master Zen, I don't have much Qi left. We have to escape!" Rat Ling suddenly shouted upon discovering that his body suddenly became heavy like metal.
"Sigh… I guess I have to use this then." Shin Jiao thought as he took out from his small bag a ball-like crystal object the size of his fist.
It was like one of his trump cards the freeze bomb, but it has a lower effect. It could not freeze any of its targets immediately but will just slow their steps as the freezing would stop their movements every now and then.
Then Shin Jiao casually tossed the freeze bomb on the ground. This move of his made the black wolves angry as was like a provocation as they immediately rushed in and attack them.
"Brother Shin, why did you do that? We're going to be in deep trouble now!" Rat Ling shouted feeling indignant at Shin Jiao's action.
But then before Rat Ling could say anything else, something unimaginable happened.
A white fluffy snow-like object suddenly came out from the crystal that Shin Jiao tossed after it exploded. The black wolves that came rushing were a little frightened by the explosion but didn't mind it as they continue pouncing toward Shin Jiao' group. But then before the wolves could run further they began to slow their pace as they feel their body freeze up gradually. But with their strength, they can break the frozen outer layer on their body and slowly move forward.
But of course, this situation is favorable for the three as the wolves are like slowly moving statues.
Seeing this Zen Nian immediately grabs the opportunity and sent multiple Qi blades. As the black wolves are agile before, Zen Nian didn't just casually send out Qi blades as they are hard to hit. Unlike Rat Ling who would just send his Qi blade every opportunity he got. Thought his spiritual Qi reserve is vast but it is not endless. Hence now his dantian only have a small amount of Qi.
The move from Zen Nian immediately killed another two and heavily wounded the rest even the alpha black wolf. Shin Jiao upon seeing this heaves a sigh of relief, as he didn't waste the freeze bomb he had used. And right now they can get rid of the last members of the annoying wolf packs.