The siren was extremely docile as it rubbed its head against Shen Xiaotong's palm. It didn't seem to have any intention of harming them.
Shen Xiaotong himself wasn't quite sure what he did. He just had a gut feeling that these sirens won't harm him. Shen Xiaotong knew that it was risky and stupid of him to get close to the sirens base on nothing but a gut feeling. If he had been wrong, only death awaits. But if he had done nothing, they still would've died anyway.
After getting in contact with the siren, he seemed to have formed a bond with it. Shen Xiaotong realized that this was his ability.
Under normal circumstances, children would be sent to academies when they are of age so senior ability users can help them awaken their potential. This is because it is extremely hard for a person to become aware of their own abilities on their own. Most needed outside stimuli in order to be awakened.
Of course, similar abilities may be awakened within different but in the end, no two abilities are exactly the same no matter how similar they may be. Shen Xiaotong took back what he had said before. What he felt with the sirens was less of a friendly bond and more like a contract where he held ultimate control over the sirens as its master. The siren also knew that its life and death were in his hand hence its attitude of currying favors.
While Shen Xiaotong was thinking this, Mo Yin was also forming her own speculations. According to the background information that she had received from 013, the people in this world do cultivate but in a different form than what she is familiar with. Mo Yin already checked before, there were energies in this world but it wasn't spiritual energy.
Shen Xiaotong looked at the sirens and asked, "Can you take us to shore?"
The sirens bobbed its head and immediately led the way. Having secured a ride, Shen Xiaotong and Mo Yin could both rest a little easier. Sirens were born to be naturally attuned to the ocean's geography and their bodies were designed to be able to move swiftly underwater. After a period of time, the outline of land could be seen in the distance. In another half an hour or so, they safely landed on dry land.
The sirens couldn't leave the sea so it just circled around the surrounding water. Shen Xiao gave them the command to leave first. Since they have been contracted with him, no matter how deep into the ocean they go he will also be able to sense their location and call them towards him at will. Other than when he needed them, they could spend their time as they pleased.
While Shen Xiaotong sent away the sirens, Mo Yin looked around at their surroundings. The sirens had brought them to a harbor. They were currently on a wooden plank and around them were enormous ships that were anchored tightly to the shore.
They were on a secluded corner of the plank but up ahead was a crowd of people. The harbor was a busy place that dealt with large scale trades every day. Well toned and muscular men worked busily loading and unloading cargo from the ships. Everyone was too immersed in their own jobs to pay any attention to the appearance of two random kids.
The workers may not have noticed them but an elderly grandpa who had been leisurely fishing by a patch of opened water did. He saw their soaking wet appearances and frowned, "Why are the two of you swimming in the harbor? There's a lot of big ships here, it's not safe to swim in."
Mo Yin adopted a sheepish and apologetic expression, "We were curious about the ships and came here to take a look. We accidentally fell into the water in a moment of carelessness."
"Don't play around here next time." The elderly grandpa went back to fishing after saying this. He let them off with a warning, after all, they were other family's children, he wouldn't really be appropriate for him to discipline them.
"Let's go." Mo Yin held onto Shen Xiaotong's hand and led him into the city. The streets were so filled with people that everyone's shoulder would touch one another's as they walked. Mo Yin squeezed through the crowded with Shen Xiaotong. Looking around, she found an inn and headed towards it.
A female attendant came up to greet them when they entered the inn.
"Welcome to our establishment, how may I help you?" The attendant didn't treat them impolitely just because they were children. She maintained a professional air and greeted them according to the procedures.
Mo Yin answered, "We'll like to rent a room for the night."
The attendant smiled and replied, "Of course. A twin room would be 2 large coopers a night with breakfast and dinner provided by the inn."
Shen Xiaotong blinked. He didn't have any money on him.
Mo Yin pulled out a purse from her pant pocket and paid the correct amount to the attendant. The attendant gave a professional smile and led them to their room. Before leaving, the attendant gave Mo Yin their room and reminded them to give back the key before they leave the inn. The attendant closed the door behind her as she left.
"Where did you get the money?" Shen Xiaotong was curious. He was sure that she didn't have the purse on her before.
Mo Yin didn't see a reason to lie so she very truthfully said, "Stole it just now."
Mo Yin randomly chose one of the two beds in the room and laid down on it. She didn't even care that her clothes were still wet. She was extremely tired and just wanted to sleep for a couple of hours.
"..."
Truth be told, he was also exhausted. He looked at Mo Yin who had wrapped a quilt around herself and was curled up in a ball on the bed. He went to the remaining bed and also settled down to rest.
As he fell asleep, he thought about what had happened today. What he was most curious about was the girl who had helped him. Shen Xiaotong flipped on to his side so he was facing Mo Yin's back. When she had stolen the purse, she did so naturally that he didn't even what she was doing even though he was right next to her the entire time. It could just be petty street tricks but Shen Xiao felt that it was more than that. His instinct tells him that she should be more skilled than she seems.
When Shen Xiaotong woke up, it was already the next morning. He had slept for almost half a day. Shen Xiaotong turned his head to see that the bed across the room was empty.
"Ahem, awake?"
The room door was pushed open and Mo Yin waked into the room. She was wearing a new set of clothing and she was carrying a breakfast tray. Her complexion wasn't pale like yesterday's but now it was flushed pink. There was a layer of mist over her eyes and her voice also sounded slightly hoarse.
Mo Yin coughed. Yesterday all she cared about was sleeping so she had slept in her wet clothes. She woke up feeling light-headed and warm.
It had been forever since she last had a fever. She almost forgot she could get sick.
Mo Yin placed the breakfast tray on the table. She motioned Shen Xiaotong to come over and eat too before picking up her utensils to eat herself.
Shen Xiaotong walked over silently. He sat down on the opposite seat from Mo Yin and began to eat. When he was done, Mo Yin placed a bowl of murky brown liquid in front of him.
Shen Xiaotong stared at it wordlessly before finally asking, "What is this?"
Mo Yin downed her own bowl of murky brown liquid.
"Medicine."
Shen Xiaotong's frown deepened, "I'm not sick."
Mo Yin looked at Shen Xiaotong. His cheeks were an unnaturally flushed shade of pink. Mo Yin asked, "Tell me. How do you feel right now?"
Shen Xiaotong replied, "I feel fine. Just a little bit warm and dizzy."
Probably from sleeping too much.
"You're sick."
Mo Yin guessed that Shen Xiaotong was probably the type of child that had a good immune system and had never fallen sick before up until to this point.
"Just drink it, you won't die."
Shen Xiaotong reluctantly drank the murky brown liquid.
After he finished drinking, Mo Yin felt that it was a good time to have a little chat with him. She flicked her hand and opened the system screen. Other than her, the screen wasn't visible to anyone else.
[Mission: Assist Shen Xiaotong in fulfilling his wish]
When Mo Yin read this, she felt that rather than the First Class Assist System, the system should be called the Fairygod Mother System.
The mission prompt couldn't be any vaguer. A person was bound to have more than one desire in their lifetime. Was she supposed to grant all of them or one a specific one? When Mo Yin asked 013 about this, she only got a :
[Hehe, good luck!]
Which means she's can only feel it out herself.
Mo Yin asked Shen Xiaotong, "So, what do you plan to do now?"
Shen Xiaotong thought about it for a while before answering.
"I'll want to enter Meilleur Academy."
Before he had been kidnapped by the slave traders, he had originally wanted to wait until the once a year testing day to go to Meilleur Academy and test out his ability. If his ability was good enough then he could enter the academy as a student.
Shen Xiaotong checked the calendar in the room. There were still five more days until the annual testing day. Although he didn't need to test out his ability anymore, he could still go and sign up to be a student.
Meilleur Academy was included in the background information that Mo Yin had received. Meilleur Academy was one of the top institutes in the world and had taught many powerhouse ability users that are now either a renowned teacher that the academy or someone with fame and status.
"Why do you want to enter Meilleur Academy?" Mo Yin continued to ask questions in order to feel him out.
"Like everyone else I suppose. To become stronger." Shen Xiaotong believes that only by becoming stronger than everyone else will he be able to live life the way that he wants to. If he was strong no one would dare bully him anymore. He also wouldn't have been captured by the slave traders. All bad people should just die.
Hm, power is it? She could work with that. If that's what he wants then she'll make him the strongest in the world.
A knock sounded at the door.
"Dear guest, what you had ordered from before have been brought up."
Mo Yin got up to open the door. Standing at on the outside was the attendant lady from yesterday. She was holding something that was covered by a dark cloth.
Mo Yin took the item from the attendant. After thanking her, she closed the door.
"Here, it's for you." Mo Yin placed what she had just received in front of Shen Xiaotong.
"?"
"For me?"
Shen Xiaotong lifted up the cloth to see what it was. Underneath the cloth was a simple brass birdcage. However, the thing inside the birdcage made Shen Xiaotong's eyes glitter in curiosity.
It was a little bird that was light brown with a white belly. Shen Xiaotong poked at it through the cage's bar. The little bird didn't react under his touch and continued to remain still.
It's not alive? It was only after a minute did Shen Xiaotong realize that the bird in the cage wasn't alive at all. It's detailed feathers, tiny claw feet and lifelike eyes were all made of various materials that Shen Xiaotong couldn't name.
"It's a magic artifact that I made myself. Put a drop of your blood on it otherwise, it won't follow your order. Later on, you can use it to contact me."
Shen Xiaotong followed Mo Yin's instruction and dripped a drop of his blood onto the little bird. The drop of blood was absorbed by the surface of the bird.
"Chirp."
The little bird shudders and came to life. Its eyes glowed a dark red as it hopped around lively in its cage.
Shen Xiaotong didn't know that it was possible for something inanimate to be so lifelike.
Mo Yin also handed a pouch to Shen Xiaotong. It weighed heavily in his hands and when he opened it, he saw that it was filled with large gold coins.
"!!"
Shen Xiaotong was almost blinded by the amount of shining gold in his hand. This girl, she didn't rob the bank, did she? He looked at her questionably.
"I made that money in a completely legal way alright?" Although even if she did get the money through some unlawful means, she doubted that he would have cared.
Money is money.
She could imagine him saying that while pocketing the goods away without even batting an eye.
"There's still some distance to travel before you reach Meilleur Academy, so take this. Life is always easier when you have some money on you."
"You're not going with me?"
Mo Yin nodded. "I going to enter a different academy."
She wasn't planning to enroll at the same institute as Shen Xiaotong but that doesn't mean she wasn't already putting her plan into action. If she went to the same academy as Shen Xiaotong, even though it would be more convenient to monitor him, she would be fighting him for resources as students of the same academy.
In order to help Shen Xiaotong realize his dream, she herself needed to become stronger as well. By entering a different academy, her area of profit won't clash with Shen Xiaotong's. Divide and conquer.
She will cultivate her own group of resources and later on, she could even pass it on to Shen Xiaotong. After all, she would be leaving this world after she completed her mission.
Strongest in the world doesn't just mean pure strength. Wealth and status play an important part too.
"Then I'll leave first." After giving Shen Xiaotong her 'little gifts' Mo Yin left the inn room. There was a lot that she had to work on.
Shen Xiaotong watched as Mo Yin left. He looked at the lively little bird in the cage with an inexplicable emotion in his eyes.
She left him with a way to contact her...so it's fine if he finds her in the future right? His eyes shone brightly with anticipation.
Mn. He had a feeling that they will most definitely meet again.
He looked forward to it.