Jiang Ying Yue had no idea that her small appreciative remark had provided someone with much-needed confidence and rekindled the fighting spirit. Ultimately, allowing Jiang Ying Yue to gain a fanatic admirer as well as a formidable general.
Currently, she was on the way to the inn dragging along Jiang Ying Mei, who was leaning against her and drooling as they walked.
Giving a sideway glance at the little girl Jiang Ying Yue found herself torn between heartache and amusement. Helpless and amused she placed her hand around the girl's little shoulder and supported her small frame, half-hauling, half-dragging to the inn.
" Xiao Mei, wake up." Jiang Ying Yue whispered to the girl while shaking her gently as they stood before the entrance of the inn, " We're here, wake up!"
Jiang Ying Yue was trying to wake her up but the latter was not budging and continued to sleep soundly like a log despite the burning sun and hot weather.
In the end, with no other option, Jiang Ying Yue brought out a piece of candy and placed it before the little girl's nose to let her catch a whiff of it.
One...two...counted Jiang Ying Yue in her mind and before she could reach the third beat, Jiang Ying Mei had already snapped her eyes wide open.
With her large, tear-stained eyes Jiang Ying Mei stared at the piece of candy unblinkingly, visible longing written all over her face.
The former who was paying attention to all her movements couldn't help quirking her lips in extreme amusement.
Not only her, the maids, and the rest who were following behind them had all witnessed the scene clearly and broke out in boisterous laughter instantly.
Jiang Ying Mei, who had yet to wake up from her daze and shift her gaze from her dear candy was startled by their sudden laughter.
Realizing hit Jiang Ying Mei, her round, chubby cheeks that were tinted with red due to summer heat turned a few shades darker. Ah...so embarrassing!
Too embarrassed to face the crowd, Jiang Ying Mei instantly put on a pout and dug into her elder sister's arms, Hmph...she would ignore them from now on!
Never in her wildest dreams had Jiang Ying Mei imagined that her precious little candy would one day cause her such an embarrassing situation.
" It's too hot outside, we should get in," said Jiang Ying Yue intending to head inside immediately while pulling in the shy girl.
However, she had just taken a few steps when she halted, glancing back at the people who remained unmoving.
" What happened? Aren't you coming in?" Her inquisitive gaze strayed on them for a moment before asking.
For some reason, Jiang Ying Yue could feel that something was off, they seemed to be down, especially Tian Lan, who hadn't spoken a word since this morning.
Now that she thought about it, something was definitely weird!
Tian Shan gave his usual pure and sunny smile and shook his head gently, " No," then after a brief pause and with a regretful sigh, " It's time for us to head home."
The 'home' here was obviously not the capital.
" Are you not going back to the capital?" Jiang Ying Yue immediately caught the underlying meaning behind his word and asked back.
Once again surprised by her sharpness the people opposite couldn't help exchanging glances before replying with a faint smile, " No, we are going back to our hometown, it's pretty far from the capital. Originally we planned to return after two more years after we are done with our graduation, however, something urgent came up, and things are pressing. So, we decided to rush home."
Tian Shan didn't go much into detail but from his tone alone Jiang Ying Yue could sense the seriousness of the matter.
Jiang Ying Yue nodded and didn't say anything else, not even asking them when they were coming back.
Her expression was of utter indifference but only she knew in her heart the unfamiliar reluctance she was feeling currently.
Tian Shan and others saw her like this they couldn't help feeling a bit disappointed, however, on second thought they realized how childish and unreasonable their expectation was when they had only known Xiao You and others for a few days.
There was an awkward silence in the air, as they all stood there not knowing how to express their farewell, until...
" Brother Tian Shan, Sister Tian Lan, are you guys really leaving?" A small head poked out of Jiang Ying Yue's arms, her large eyes staring at them innocently. From her voice, one could hear her sadness and reluctance at the mention of parting.
The Awkward atmosphere immediately melted because of her presence, and a small smile bloomed on everyone's faces.
Tian Shan stepped forward and kneeled before the little boy to reach his eye level, ruffling the boy's hair fondly, " Yes, we are leaving, however, your Big sister Lanlan will stay back. Xiao Min, listen to your brother and grow up quickly into a big boy, alright? When the time comes, Brother Tian Shan will take you to see his hometown."
Jiang Ying Yue was a bit surprised after knowing that Tian Lan wasn't going back.
" Really? You won't go back on your word?!" Jiang Ying Mei asked carefully, still looking rather reluctant and pitiful.
After spending so more than half a month together the little girl had gotten quite close to them. Especially, after loads of sweets Tian's siblings had smuggled for the little girl under Jiang Ying Yue's nose, Jiang Ying Mei felt that they were very good people.
Tian Shan's firm heart couldn't but melt into a puddle seeing her soft and pitiful appearance, with his low voice he coaxed gently, " I won't. If you don't believe me, how about taking your sister Lanlan as a hostage?" said Tian Shan half-jokingly and half-seriously.
" If I don't keep my word then you can not return her to me in this lifetime."
" Fourth brother, how can you sell me just like that?!" Tian Lan finally complained unable to bear it anymore, her voice was filled with inexplicable grievance and sadness.
" Silly~, how am I selling you?! Didn't I say that I'll fulfill my promise to Xiao Min and bring you home? What's with that pout, hmm?" The former said with a chuckle helplessly then turned to the little boy, " Xiao Min, you believe your brother Tian Shan, right?"
He looked at her with anticipation.
Jiang Ying Mei immediately wanted to nod, but right at this moment someone had spoken up abruptly causing her to fall into a dilemma.
" Xiao Min, don't believe him he's a bad guy, he's a liar!" Tian Lan gave a huff and moved her face away, ignoring Tian Shan after saying this.
While the siblings fought Jiang Ying Mei fell into an utter dilemma not knowing whom to support. Both of the parties were her kindest benefactors who had donated countless sweets, whom to support? whom to support?
Her small head moved back and forth between the two while her small face scrunched into a ball as worked hard to come up with a decision.
In the end, with a deep 'hmph' she struggled out of her sister's arm and ran up to Tian Lan and help her hand.
The sudden soft touch around her wrist startled Tian Lan before a look of surprise and bewilderment appeared on her face.
Under everyone's curious gazes, Jiang Ying Mei tightly held onto Tian Lan's hand gritted teeth finally looked at Tian Shan and said decisively, " Brother Tian Shan, I believe You!" Then she even added, " Don't worry, you finish your business. My brother and I will take care of Sister Lanlan here."
Tian Shan's eyes lit up and he was delighted to the extreme, and eyes subconsciously shifted to Jiang Ying Yue for her affirmation only to see her nodding.
He was instantly comforted.
Before he was still worried about leaving Tian Lan alone here now that these two brothers looking out for her, he wouldn't have to worry too much. When he returned he could face his uncle and aunt without any guilty conscience.
Furthermore, he also felt that it would be good for Tian Lan to follow Jiang Ying Yue to temper her soft nature. If she carried on in this manner it would be almost impossible for her to return home.
With gave a low chuckle his mood was lifted and stood up to face Jiang Ying Yue.
" Xiao You, this for you." Tian Shan handed her a cloud-shaped token, made of unique material.
" This?..." Jiang Ying Yue eyed the token in his with her doubtful yet curious gaze.
" This is the token of Cloud Treading Hall. Aren't you looking for people to work for you?... I assumed that you might need this." Tian Shan explained further, " With this token, you can go to Cloud Treading Hall and borrow their manpower and resources for free, whether you are looking for top mercenaries or hiring a skilled batch of the assassin or looking for someone in this continent, you can do anything with this."
He passed the token to her swiftly fearing that she'd refuse.
" This is a token of our gratitude, Xiao You, please accept it!" Tian Shan stressed.
For the first time, they were really at a loss facing such a situation.
It would have been fine if they had owed a favor to someone who was extremely greedy and borderless, however, they had to meet someone like Xiao You, who moved around carrying her weird temper.
It wasn't that they were completely oblivious to Xiao You's selfish nature, but rather it was this very awareness that made them realize the value of her occasional seemingly unintentional kindness.
A warm current surged upon her heart and the trace of the reluctance within her grew.
Jiang Ying Yue held the token and nodded, not rejecting him.
" Alright, it's time to hit the road." Tian Shan turned to others.
Finally, the moment came, and with reluctance and sadness, the two parties parted ways.
" Sister, when are we going home? Xiao Mei misses mother." Jiang Ying Mei asked pitifully as Jiang Ying Yue laid her down on the bed to put her to sleep.
" Tomorrow." answered the latter immediately giving the former a gentle pat on her back.
" Really?!"
" Hmm, now sleep."
Getting the desired response with a 'hmm' the little girl closed her eyes and drifted into sleep.
Whereas, Jiang Ying Yue felt wide awake, contemplating her current mood and emotions.
She couldn't help feeling that she was growing softer.
This was weird, she wasn't like this in her past life. Other than her parents she was completely void of emotions toward others.
It wasn't that the past her didn't value emotions instead it was complete opposites. Somehow in her mind, she had the deep-rooted notion that things like emotions and feelings were very precious and meant to be cherished. Thus she shouldn't be wasting them on insignificant people.
And perhaps this was the reason she had always kept people at arm's length. Or maybe part of its reason was also that she was a heartless person deep down her core or maybe she was just merely imitating the people's selfish nature.
In all honesty, Jiang Ying Yue had never been a good person in her past life, measuring relations and people only in terms of interests, fully understanding and displaying the vileness of human nature.
And yet.....that strange notion existed within her ever since she could remember bringing out all contradictions.
Jiang Ying Yue always felt that she was weird, she valued emotions yet she took everyone around her weighed to light in front of her. She had never understood this conception and yet she wholeheartedly believed it.
However, now she seemed to understand it. According to the information the system had revealed previously, the current her and the previous Jiang Ying Yue were most probably the same people.
Did that mean that they shared the same soul?
However, how could two bodies simply share a single soul? Wouldn't it need a soul to be severed to achieve this?
If that were the case, then all of the strangeness of both of these characters could easily be explained.
One was heartless and lacking emotions while the other was volatile and extreme. Both of their characters were entirely pole opposites, they both were lacking.
They were incomplete souls in two separate bodies.