Chapter 11: Aftermath
Zed's drowsiness immediately disappeared when he noticed Lan'er wasn't in the room. The sun had already risen, and he couldn't help but feel worried, so he hurriedly left the room.
'Did she go to buy breakfast? But considering what happened yesterday, she wouldn't be so reckless. Then, could she be in the bathroom?'
He knocked on the bathroom door before calling out to her. "Lan'er? Lan'er are you there?"
But he was met with no reply, so he opened the door and confirmed she wasn't there. Zed began to feel anxious as he sped across the house, checking every room before calling out to the courtyard.
"Lan'er?! Lan'er?! Where are you?!"
Zed's sweat started to appear on his forehead as he began to panic. 'Oh no.. oh no... where is she... damn it! I shouldn't have fainted due to mana exhaustion!'
Zed beat himself up again as he after circled around the entire house and courtyard but still failes to see any trace of her.
He was about to start looking for her outside, but he remembered that there was one room that he hadn't checked yet.
Zed opened the basement door and he immediately felt an ominous feeling that he didn't feel yesterday.
An unpleasant smell came from the basement, but Zed was sure it wasn't from the burned corpses, since they had long turned into ashes and the smoke and smell should've been cleared up with the spell he used last night.
'If so... then what's causing that smell?' Zed wondered, but when he thought that Lan'er might be down there, he put aside his questions and descended downstairs.
The smell grew stronger as he reached the floor. From there, he found the ashes that belonged to their enemies.
He confirmed that the smell didn't come from there, but instead from the door, which should've been sealed with talismans.
Zed was shocked to see the talismans ripped and torn off the door. He had a worried gaze as he looked at the open door where the strong unpleasant smell came from.
He walked closer, and the smell grew and became much worse, to the point that he would gag. The food they ate yesterday felt like climbing back up his mouth. With great effort, Zed prevented himself from puking.
Zed's face crumpled as he muttered. "Haaa... What the hell is down there.."
When he finally reached the entrance, to his surprise, Lan'er's bloody appearance was there. Her robes had been torn with blood oozing out of her wounds. Her hands were ruined again, and she looked very pale.
Zed's heart skipped a beat as he forgot to breathe. The shock of seeing his little sister's appearance was too much.
But he forcibly snapped out of his daze and ran to Lan'er.
"LAN'ER!"
He first made sure to check her pulse. He sighed in relief when he felt her pulses, albeit weak ones.
Zed cast a spell as the two flew upward into the basement. After closing the door, Zed let Lan'er remain floating in mid-air as he took off her tattered clothes.
He sucked in a cold breath as he got a better view of the state of her body.
Zed's eyes squinted as he examined Lan'er's wounds. 'Fortunately, most of her wounds seem superficial. It's as if she suffered wounds from torture.'
His hand clenched tightly as his mind began to be filled with murderous thoughts. 'I'll kill whoever did this to her- no... I won't kill them... I'll make them wish they were dead!'
Anger and hatred flashed in Zed's eyes but soon calmed himself.
'I need to heal Lan'er first.' He sighed and began conjuring up medicine. This treatment would most likely drain his mana again and he would suffer from mana exhaustion once more.
But he didn't care since treating Lan'er was far more important.
Time passed and Zed overworked himself again. He dressed Lan'er's wounds and clothed her with new robes. After slowly laying her on the floor, he collapsed on his back as he was severely exhausted.
After all, conjuring medicine was a taxing process as he was mixing components and reagents. He had to make sure that the mixture was perfect unless he risked damaging her body instead of healing it.
Zed's sweaty and pale body remained on the floor as he fainted. Fortunately, his mana exhaustion wasn't that terrible as he could still breathe properly.
For mages, mana exhaustion was a common condition that could lead a mage to his or her death depending on the severity of the condition. Zed's current symptoms were a mild level of mana exhaustion.
But if he constantly exhausts his mana, there's a chance for it to worsen. Zed knew the very well but still pushed through just to make sure Lan'er was perfectly treated.
-
Lander woke up in the afternoon. She tried to get up, only to end up clenching her head in pain.
She grunted in pain. "Urk!..."
Fortunately, the pain had receded to the point where she could tolerate it. She rose and looked around her. The first thing she noticed was that she wasn't in her master's chamber, but was instead on their bedroom floor.
Her wounds had been fixed, including her ruined fingernails. She also found that she was wearing a new set of robes.
She hurriedly looked around and found her brother's collapsed body beside her.
"Brother!" She moved despite the pain she felt in her body.
She checked his state and noticed that he was heating up while sweat drenched his body. Lan'er panicked as she didn't know what to do. She knew her brother was sick but didn't know how to make him feel better.
Suddenly, she heard her master's voice. "You know, you are very fortunate to have a loving and caring brother."
Lan'er turned and saw her master sitting by the window frame.
Her master continued to speak with a nonchalant tone. "I saw everything. I saw how desperate he was in treating you. He kept creating a healing mixture with his unique martial arts but I suppose it was very taxing to his body to the extent where he collapsed after making sure the treatment was perfect."
'So selfless and caring.... this littlw girl is indeed very fortunate.' Tang Xiueong thought wistfully.
There were very few people she could remember who was as loving and self sacrificing as the boy.
Lan'er dropped to her knees and kneeled in front of Tang Xiurong and begged. "Please teach me to treat my brother."
Tang Xiurong looked at her disciple's begging desplay and lamented inwardly.
'If I only had someone like them when I was alive. Perhaps I would have met a different end.'
She witnessed the siblings' dedication and sacrifice for one another. She could tell that the two of them genuinely loved and cared for each other. Seeing the relationship between the two, she couldn't help but feel slightly envious as she never had someone who genuinely cared for her.
Facing her disciple's determined gaze, she dismissed her sentiments.
"Of course, I would help my cute little disciple." She smiled while hovering closer to Lan'er.
"Now here's what we should do-" From then on, she taught Lan'er how to take care of a sick person.
She also began teaching her superficial knowledge about bodies and health, to which her disciple listened attentively.
-
Zed woke up to find himself wrapped in a soft quilt. He was also surprised to find a spacious soft bed.
He sat up and studied the room. At first, he thought he was brought to a nearby clinic, but then he realized the room was familiar.
It didn't take long for him to figure out that it was their bedroom, but his brows creased as he wondered, 'Where did this bed come from?'
He didn't recall buying it. He had yet to buy any furniture, and yet, he was lying on an excellent and comfortable large bed.
His thoughts were cut off by the fragrant smell of soup along with the hums of a child.
The bedroom door slid open and Lan'er entered the room while holding a bowl of hot soup.
"Ah! Brother, you're up!" Her face brightened when she noticed Zed. She stopped herself from jumping toward him for fear that she might spill the soup.
She hastily paced towards him and carefully put the bowl down.
"Brother, you are finally up!"
Lan'er hugged Zed and rubbed her face against his chest. Taking in a couple of deep breaths of the scent of her brother, her mind relaxed as she released herself from the hug.
"How are you feeling, brother?" She asked while checking his temperature with her hand.
Zed felt an inexplicable warmth in his heart as he thought Lan'er took care of him when he sick. He felt proud that she was old enough and capable of nursing someone.
"I'm fine now thanks to you, Little Lan'er." He patted her head as praise for her good work.
Hearing her brother's earnest praise, Lan'er felt giddy inside as she let out a shy laugh. "Hehehe..."
After satisfying herself with minutes of head pats, she picked up the bowl of hot soup and held the spoon to Zed. "Do you want me to feed you?"
Zed's heart throbbed at the sudden attack of cuteness and his thoughts became exaggerated. 'Ah- I never thought such a blissful service would exist! Am I in Heaven?'
But Zed forcibly reined in his emotions since he knew he was mentally an old man who was well over 100 years old. But even so, he found the little girl's actions very endearing and though it may be shameful... wait... shamd? What was that? Can he eat it?
Zed then proceeded to wholeheartedly enjot the next few minutes being spoon-fed and spoiled by his little sister who was like a daughter to him, while Tang Xiurong, who was watching this scene from behind the door, slightly found the pair of siblings' closeness a little bit envious.
-
After Zed finished his meal, he finally asked Lan'er the questions he had been thinking about.
"Lan'er, how long was I asleep?"
Lan'er immediately answered. "A week."
Zed froze when he heard her answer. He thought he heard it incorrectly and asked her again.
"I'm sorry... could you repeat that?"
"Hm?" Lan'er tilted her head to the side, but still answered. "A week. Seven days."
"Oh I see... and you took care of me the entire time?"
Lan'er smiled brightly. "Yep!"
Zed couldn't believe that he fainted for seven days but considering the cause was mana exhaustion, he thought a week's rest should be enough to withdraw the first level of symptoms as well as the stress he accumulated.
"Huu..." Zed sighed and calmed himself before asking. "And who took care of you while I was asleep?"
"Mas- Myself! Lan'er took care of herself!" Lan'er immediately corrected herself.
Lan'er's panicked reply went unnoticed by Zed's mind as he thought she was simply excited and proud of herself for being able to take care of herself. He did however, noticed that she referred to herself in third person.
A rare occurrence to which she speaks like this only when she wants to get spoiled and act like a child
After Zed finally convinced himself that Lan'er was able to take care of herself, he then asked another question.
"...What did you do these past few days and where did you get this bed? It must've been pretty heavy, right?"
It wasn't that heavy since the bed was a normal size for adults. Zed thought it was largely because it was able to fit the two of them and still had plenty of room to spare.
"No wait- even before that, how are you, Lan'er? Are you alright? Are you in any pain? Tell your brother quickly, who was it that harmed you?" Then, a dangerous glint appeared in his soul piercing eyes.
Then, he added with the coldest tone Lan'er had ever heard her brother speak.
"I'll make them regret ever doing such a thing to you."
"B-brother..." Lan'er felt quite startled by her brother's reaction.
She could feel his intense hatred and murderous intent as if he would not live under the same sky at those who had harmed her. Although she already knew her brother loved her to death, she couldn't help but find his current actions endearing, as if affirming her thoughts of how much her brother indeed loved her.
'And here I am.... lying to his face.'
Suddenly, Lan'er felt ashamed.
Then, she heard her master speak.
"Disciple, there's no need to feel that way. Think of it like this, you are lying for both you and your brother's sakes."
"If anyone were to learn about my existence, what do you think would happen to you?"
'B-but my brother would never speak of it to anyone!'
Tang Xiurong nodded. "I know that and I acknowledge it."
'Then-'
"But no."
Then, a cold and dangerous glint appeared in Tang Xiurong eyes as she continued, "Look. You are no longer a simple girl but this master's disciple. You will be the one to inherit my techniques and along with it, the hatred of my will."
"At the same time, my enemies had become your enemies. Their successors and disciples are to be your enemies. YOU will be the one to kill all their families, friends, and sects."
'....' Seeing Lan'er speechless, Tang Xiurong remarked as coldly as she could.
"That is the weight of the power you seek."
'I...'
Of course, It would be too much if Tang Xiurong speaks this way to a little girl who would not know better. But Tang Xiurong also knows that Lan'er wasn't a normal child.
And so, she needs to know how arduous and dangerous the path she would walk on.
Besides, she had already witnessed her resolve last night and concluded that there will be no problem even if she were to make her disciple face this fact early on.
Eventually, Lan'er relented.
'....Very well.'
And so, following their original plan, Lan'er proceeded to talk about her experiences the past week, and Zed listened quietly.
She omitted the part where she met her master and explained a white lie as the reason for her injuries.
Lan'er and her master had already prepared a believable lie to tell Zed. Naturally, Lan'er still felt bothered by lying to her brother, but her Master explained that it would be in their best interest that her Master's existence was only known to herself.
And so, Lan'er's explanation went like this.
The part where she was wounded horribly was caused by an unknown person who may had been a thief and the two fought. Lan'er was wounded heavily but her opponent was the same.
Then, the thief escaped while Lan'er collapsed out of exhaustion.
"Why didn't you wake me?!" Zed asked in an aggrieved tone.
Lan'er looked at him with a solemn face.
"Forgive me brother but... there was simply no time. Lan'er was afraid that if she ran towards brother, who was tired at the time, would only put brother in danger."
"I..."
"Additionally, Lan'er was also afraid that if she turned her back on her opponent, he would be able to take that chance to attack me."
Zed opened his mouth to try and argue with her statement but in the end, he could only say something else.
"I.... then why didn't you just run?"
To this, Lan'er looked at her brother in pure confusion.
"Run? When brother could have been in danger?"
Her face then turned deathly serious.
"Never."
"...."
Zed could only remain quiet because he would be a hypocrite to tell his sister to run away and leave him behind when he on the other hand, would never leave her if she were in trouble.
However, that was his duty as the brother! He was responsible for her life!
And just like now where his sister was harmed, he was barely able to hold unto his rumbling anger.
But then, hearing his sister's statement just now. He came to realize that she too, must have felt the same.
'A pair of stupid siblings....' Zed thought to himself with a wry smile.
In the end, Zed could only release a sigh and pat his sister's head.
"Next time... don't put yourself in danger..."
Lan'er scoffed with a smile.
"Oh dearest brother... Lan'er has been telling you the same for years."
She then added, "Retelling brother's words from before, we only have each other. If we cannot take care of one another, then who would?"
"Therefore, brother... just like how Lan'er will always be careful and safe, please do the same for you as well."
"...." Zed could only look at her with a soft smile and caressed her head.
"Very well, my precious little sister.... this, I will do."
He finally came to understand that just as he didn't want to see her harmed in anyway and that it hurts his heart whenever he sees his sister in pain, the same was the case for his little sister. She too felt pained whenever he brother was wounded, injured, tired, and close to death exhausted.
After that, the atmosphere turned lighter as Lan'er continued her explanation of the events that followed.
Lan'er said that thanks to Zed's treatment, she was able to go outside the next day. She approached the friendly aunty from the eatery, and they ate breakfast there.
She explained to her that her brother was sick, but she didn't know what to do. They didn't even have a bed for him to rest on.
From there, Mu Lin went and helped by referring Lan'er to her acquaintances. Since she knew the circumstances of the two siblings, she didn't hesitate to use her close relationships in asking for a lower price.
She thought that it would be better for the independent siblings if they could save even a little bit of money.
Lan'er was well received by Mu Lin's friends and acquaintances. They even helped carry the bed to their house.
They confirmed that the two siblings were abandoned since they didn't find any adults in their home. Although the house was clean and there was evidence of repairs, they couldn't help but find it desolate as they didn't even have a single piece of furniture.
Some pitied them even more, while others felt bad but considered it as part of life. Living was hard and just because they were less fortunate than others, didn't mean that they would treat them differently.
They could give them some leeway from time to time but they didn't want to take care of them, since they didn't want to bear the responsibility for the two siblings, nor did they want the two to rely on them.
So they left after placing the bed in the siblings' bedroom.
Mu Lin was the only one that remained and helped in taking care of Zed even for just a day.
While changing the child's clothes, she drew a cold gasp when she saw the numerous scars on his body. A terrifyingly large scar could also be seen on his back.
The Aunty didn't know what had happened, but she gritted her teeth in anger as she thought it was too much for a child to suffer this kind of wound.
And despite that, he still had to keep going and look out for his sister and himself.
She looked at Zed's pale immature body and resumed drying his sweat and changing his clothes.
Before leaving, she taught Lan'er how to make a bowl of soup and medicinal tea, as well as how to feed an unconscious person.
It was already night when she left the siblings' house. With a heavy heart, she went back to her store and hoped that luck may dawn on the two siblings.
"And that's what happened." Lan'er said, finishing the recounting of the recent events.
"I see..." Zed slowly nodded as a contemplative look appeared on his face.
Zed believed what happened for the past few days.
However, after listening to his little sister's explanation, he decided to ask the main question.
He looked at Lan'er with a serious gaze and asked in a low voice.
"Lan'er... what were you doing in that basement?"
Her body shuddered after being caught off guard by that question. She and her master thought that their lie would be enough to fool Zed but apparently, that wasn't the case.
Although Zed subtly glanced at Lan'er, his eyes were able to scanned all of her body languages and since he was practically the one who raised her, he could already tell that she was hiding something.
"Lan'er, I took care of you of your entire life..." Zed smiled bitterly. "Did you really think your brother wouldn't notice when you lied?"
And so he asked once more,
"Lan'er.... look at me."
The little girl trembled in front of her brother's serious face but she took a deep breath and looked at him in the eyes.
Her brother's lovely grey eyes reflected her disgusting lying self and as she realizes this, her mouth quivered as her eyes started to water.
"B-brother..."
"Lan'er." Zed's voice was strict. "What are you hiding from me?"