"What do you mean? Mum, wait, talk to me. Why won't you allow me to the surface?" He ran after her.
His mum refused to stop and explain.
"Mum, I am not a baby. I might be your precious son, but I deserve to have my freedom. The surface is not a bad place. I have made great friend. Diago even found his mate there!" he pointed at him.
Everyone peered at Diago with their brows raised.
Diago blushed softly and hid his face with his palm. "I planned don telling you guys later,"
Ren patted his back. "its good news. Why did you have to hide it,"
"because.. because my mate is a child. I have to wait for him to grow up," he mumbled.
Their mum nodded with a wide smirk. "But make sure to check up on him now and then. Got it,"
"Yeah, of course," Diago puffed up his chest. "I will take care of my mate,"
Qu Wren silently glanced at his mother. She seemed to approve of his brother going to the surface, but not him. 'This is clear discrimination,'
"Mum, why can Diago go to the surface but I can't?"
His mum became more anxious. "They can go but not you,"
"Why! Tell me why!"
"Because you just can't!"
Wren sighed loudly, holding his throbbing head. "If you are scared of my security, you don't have to worry. My mate is strong,"
His entire family glanced at the baby bird in his hands.
"Unlike his appearance, he is a phoenix."
Everyone gasped.
Feng Mian stood up with his feather puffed up. He proudly glanced up at his mate. 'Of course I will protect him with all of my life. You don't have to worry.'
Ren leaned closer and glanced at the red bird. "This is a phoenix?"
Feng Mian chirped loudly. 'I am a phoenix ah! Why won't anyone believe me!!'
Qu Wren hugged the bird close. "Mum please, you won't have to be worry for my safety,"
She peered at Feng Mian for a little and then shook her head. "I can't allow you. Even if he was a phoenix, he won't be able to protect you from all the dangers,"
"What! Why not! Mum, what dangers do you speak of, huh?"
She nervously glanced at the ground. "You don't have to know,"
"I want to know mum! Tell me! What dangers!"
She squirmed in her spot. "Dangerous cultivators... Wren, you... you are different. They would come for you if they sense you. I can't let that happen. I promised my husband that I won't let that happen. I cat allow you up," she ran to her room and closed the door firmly.
Qu Wren frowned deeply. 'Why specifically me? What does she mean I am different? How?' he touched his pink hair. 'Is it because of my hair?..'
A small soft sensation on his hand startled him awake.
Little phoenix was rubbing against his open palm as if comforting him.
"I'm not sad, little one. Just confused." His wandering eyes suddenly caught a weird look on his elder brother's face. "Ren, do you know anything about this?"
Ren's eyes went side. "n—no..."
"Really?" Wren narrowed his eyes.
"No!" he tried running away but Wren stopped in font foo him.
Wren bit his lips. 'if being stern won't work, then I might have to use my secret weapon,'
"Brother... how can you hide something from me? Aren't I your favourite.. Aren't I your baby brother...." he slightly ribbed his eyes until they turned red. "i—I just want to have my mating above surface. Is it too much to ask. Why won't mum allow it? If I knew, I might understand..."
He glanced up at him with his tear-filled eyes.
Ren struggled a lot.
'Come on brother, you can't deny my cute face.'
"I see... so none of my family trusts me..."
"No, no Wren, it's not that. It's just it is related to your identity. I'm not sure it's my right to tell you that," he mumbled, half hugging him.
'What identity?'
"Then who can tell me... If it's about me, I need to know. It's my right to know, right brother," he said, shedding a few crocodile tears.
His brother stiffened slightly.
Wren pouted even more. 'Fall for it.. fall for it,'
"Fine... I'll tell,"
'Score!' Wren smiled subtly. He wiped his tears away and pulled him over to the chairs. Diago also joined them. "So tell me, what is it?"
He held his hands tightly.
Wren could feel his hands tremble slightly. 'What is making him so nervous? It must be big,' even he started to get nervous.
"Wren... you.. you know how you look different from us," Ren gently caressed his slightly pale pink hair. "You.. you are special."
"How?"
"You are our half brother. Your father is... he is a very powerful cultivator,"
"WHAT!"