Chapter 42: Returning to Normal // Meanwhile Fengshu city...
An hour and a half passed before Meixiang dropped down beside Zed, completely exhausted.
She felt weak, as if her vitality had been thoroughly sucked away.
But it was all worth it when she saw Zed's peaceful face. His breathing stabilized, as he was no longer sweating as terribly as earlier.
"Good work disciple. Now go rest in your room and have your junior disciple treat your wounds."
Only when her master spoke these words did Meixiang remember that she was actually covered in wounds, but due to how focused she was on Zed, she actually completely forgot about their existence.
"Come on, sister Mei. I'll help you up." Jingfei carried Meixiang and placed the latter's arm over her shoulders.
They quietly left the room, but not before looking at Zed with worried faces.
Thud.
With the door closed behind them, Tang Xiurong returned Lan'er's body to her.
Feeling the air entered through her lungs, Lan'er's first thoughts were about the state of her brother. Although she had seen the entire process of the treatment, she still wanted to see his situation herself.
So she moved beside him and gently released her qi inside his body.
Tang Xiurong said nothing as she let her disciple do what she wanted.
Lan'er examined Zed's entire body and only stopped after being satisfied after she checked every corner of Zed's body.
Letting out a sigh, she laid down next to Zed and used his arms as a pillow. She then snuggled closer to Zed's chest and smelled him for a long time.
Each breath she took made her calmer and calmer.
Today's events were frightening to her. Especially the way her brother looked and spoke to her. She never realized that such a painful experience existed.
Because of what happened today, Lan'er couldn't help but think of what would happen if her brother actually forgot her, or even worse, abandoned her.
Tears fell from her cheeks as her thoughts overwhelmed her mind.
"Heuk.. sniff.."
She tried to stop herself from crying, but she still let out sniffles from time to time.
Lan'er thought it was stupid to cry because of her imaginations, but the thought "What If?" kept resounding in both her heart and mind.
Her thoughts became chaotic as her longing for her brother intensified along with the fear of abandonment.
She inadvertently gripped Zed's robes, and in the end, she couldn't stop herself from hugging him very tightly.
She wished-
She wished that they could forever stay this way. That her brother would never leave her side. She prayed that her brother would never change.
"Brother..."
Lan'er's tight expression softened when she felt a warm palm touching her head. It was Zed's left hand that was gently caressing her head.
"...Brother?"
Lan'er hesitatingly called out to him, thinking that he was already awake.
But to her surprise, Zed was still in deep sleep. It seems that his body subconsciously reacted to her.
Lan'er enjoyed Zed's slow and gentle caresses which made all her chaotic thoughts disappear. She felt an indiscribable warmth and comfort, allowing her to feel truly at peace.
Soon enough, she too, drifted off to sleep.
After five minutes or so, Zed's eyes opened as he looked at his little sister's peacefully sleeping face.
With a gentle gaze and apologetic face, he brushed away his little sister's bangs and planted a gentle kiss on her soft jade forehead.
He whispers, "I'm so sorry Lan'er..."
Before pulling her closer to his chest and wrapping his other arm to cover her.
Placing his cheeks on top of Lan'er's fragrant soft and silky silver hair, Zed released all the guilt and pathetic apologies he felt inside his heart.
Instead, he made a new resolution. A resolve to make it up to them.
At the same time, buried deep in Zed's chest, Lan'er subconsciously let out a small, sweet smile while enjoying a dream about her brother.
-
The next morning, Zed found himself surrounded by three beautiful young girls. Meixiang took the liberty to directly sleep on his chest.
Meanwhile, Lan'er and Jingfei occupied two of his arms.
Zed tried his best not to react to the two soft mounds lying directly on his chest, but as soon as he was aware of it, blood began to flow down to his waist.
He tried to turn so that it wouldn't hit anybody, but it seemed that he was completely stuck.
His attempt to turn made Meixiang slowly wake up. Groaning with fluttering eyes, Meixiang woke up directly looking at Zed's face.
She smiled adorably while squishing her cheeks on his chest.
"Good morning." She greeted.
Zed smiled back while trying to hide his difficulties.
"Morning. Could you please move?"
His suggestion earned a pouty face from Meixiang as she tightened her embrace around his neck, making their faces squish unto one another.
"I'm serious, Meixiang. We've already talked about this.
"Hm." Meixiang vaguely answered.
Zed frowned when Meixiang acted as if she hadn't heard him.
"Meixiang..." This time, he spoke in a serious tone.
"Oh alright fine..." Meixiang sulked as she slowly got up from his chest.
Zed shyly looked away since Meixiang's loose robes and long silky golden hair was too much for him and his hormones.
Seeing the embarrassed look on Zed's face, Meixiang couldn't stop herself from pinching his cheeks.
"You are so adorable."
With blushing cheeks and red ears, Zed frowned. "Stop teasing me."
After enjoying a few more minutes of teasing Zed, Meixiang finally got up and prepared for their breakfast.
Zed also left the bed after gently removing his little sisters from his arms. He was careful to not wake them up.
Just like that, the day went on as usual.
-
Years passed and today was a festive day for Fengshu City as numerous youths gathered on the wide and spacious sea harbor of the city.
The harbor was cleared of boats while countless citizens gathered and watched in anticipation from afar.
Many of them had arrived early and were already waiting in their spot since yesterday, while some were crowding on the streets that led to the harbor. They were all waiting for the arrival of the Cleansing Jade Sect.
That's right. Today was the day when the Cleansing Jade Sect would recruit for disciples.
In front of the aspiring youth commoners, were mostly young masters and mistresses with influential families.
They rested in their carriages while their personal guards accompanied them. Some had the heads of their clan present as well.
In front of the nobles were the three great nobles, with their clan heads present to pay respects. Even the King of the royal family was there to wait to welcome the arrival of the Cleansing Jade Sect.
This just showed how great the prestige the Cleansing Jade Sect had.
It was very early in the morning as the sun had yet to rise. They endured the cold breeze while staring into the far distance of the sea where the sun was expected to rise.
Although noble children were spoiled, none of them complained since they understood how much of a big opportunity it was to join the Cleansing Jade Sect.
What set the Cleansing Jade Sect from other sects was not only because of their long existence, but also their known reputation for raising immortals.
One must know how heavy of an achievement that was.
Compared to them, other sects were only limited to the mortal realm so aspiring cultivators hardly gave them any attention.
The King of the Xia Kingdom sat on a golden palanquin that was placed on a higher stage. This was made so that all the citizens, both nobles and commoners, would all see that the royal family still stood above them all.
The King maintained a blank expression, making it so that no one could tell what he was thinking.
Meanwhile, below him stood the three heads of the noble families.
With a large physique and robust muscles that were covered by a silver chestplate and crimson cape, Marshall Tian stood silently beneath the Royal family's stage.
By his right side was the head of the Wan family who was a man in his thirties with a thick black mustache. He was dressed in purple robes with golden brocades
Similar to the King, an expressionless face could be seen on his face making him seem uninterested in today's events.
To Martial Tian's left was the head of the Shi family which was a slender man with long black hair. He wore a white robe that made him look like a scholar.
He was, however, glaring hatefully towards Marshal Tian. He did not even pay attention to his appearance as his hatred was exposed for everyone to see.
It had been this way for a couple of years ever since the talented young missus of the Shi Family, Shi Jingfei disappeared.
They demanded that the Tian Family to return the young missus, but the latter said they didn't do it.
It was rather hard to believe that they didn't do it since the head of the Shi Family claimed that the kidnapper was wearing an attire exclusively for the Tian Family's private army.
Marshal Tian could not shift the blame directly towards the Royal Family, who he was sure were the culprits behind Shi Jingfei's abduction.
They subtly pointed it out since the princess Meixiang seemed to have disappeared as well.
The Tian family wanted to settle their fight in a cold war so they could have the transition of crowning his grandson as the King of the Xia Family by making him wed Xia Meixiang.
But it seemed that the Royal Family was retaliating by pushing the Shi Family, who was remaining neutral, unto them.
Now the Shi Family bore hatred towards the Tian Family who couldn't prove their innocence.
What supported the Shi Family's suspicions was the clear intention of the rebellion of the Tian Family. It was indeed true that the Tian Family planned on swallowing the entire Xia Kingdom whole, this included the Shi clan and Wan clan.
Initially, the Shi family was going to remain neutral and would not participate in the war, so long as it did not affect them.
However, the Tian family provoked them by taking their most talented offspring. Not only that, but they also crippled them by threatening to kill Shi Jingfei if they did not comply.
Unknown to the two families, this was done according to the plan of Zed and the King.
Zed prepared a whole month of planning and hidden threats to the Shi Family so that their hatred could fully be directed towards the Tian Family.
What sealed the deal was Marshal Tian's arrogant disposition where he did not try to compromise or understand the claim of the Shi Family.
He plainly stated that he was not in possession of the young lass, and as for the Shi family's support?
He made an arrogant remark as he said, "Do I need it?"
So not only was the Shi family's honor dragged into the mud, but their talented child also remained missing.
This issue spread across the Kingdom, and it was rumored that the Shi and Tian families were having a war in the shadows.
Naturally, The King took this opportunity to support the Shi family in the dark as to slowly cripple the indomitable army of Marshal Tian.
On the other hand, he was also remaining quiet. After he received the confirmation of Wan Chao's death, he expected the Wan family to over react and start an uprising, but contrary to his expectations, they simply remained quiet.
It was as if they were the ones who stood in the neutral party.
This deeply puzzled the King as he was more or less sure that they were planning a rebellion, one that would be more chaotic than the Tian Family's.
But as if playing with his anxieties, the Wan Family remained quiet throughout these past years.
Although it was a bad habit, the King could not help but grow more and more restless by each passing year as they were also barely holding out against the Tian Family's forces.
Constant planning and commanding by night time while attending to the kingdom's affairs by day time.
But the King prevailed as he waited for the day of his daughter's return.
Which was exactly today.
His eyes brightened as the dawn came. The distant dark blue skies transitioned into an orange tinge as the sun slowly began to rise.
The sun reflected towards everyone's eyes and most of them trembled in excitement.
-
On the other side of the city, four figures covertly landed on the empty streets of the city.
They did not find this unusual since they knew that today was the day when the Cleansing Jade Sect arrived.
Hearing the distant loud cheers, the three figures looked at each other.
"Let's go." One of the youths spoke as they headed towards the city's sea harbors.
Edited By: WorthyAdversary