Aiko's fierce gaze bore down on Tatsuki, causing beads of sweat to form on his brow. Bao Chi, a stalwart figure, stepped forward and spoke with a resolute tone.
"Dear cold-hearted goddess, why do you stare at my brother so intensely? Are we such easy targets for your amusement?"
Tatsuki whispered to Bao Chi, "That's rather manly of you, brother. But what's with the 'cold-hearted goddess' reference?"
Bao Chi replied in a hushed tone, "Brother, you don't know. She's the granddaughter of the mayor. To every citizen of Aurus, she's known as the 'cold-hearted goddess.'"
Tatsuki regarded Aiko with a touch of disdain, his thoughts racing. "What in the realms has my wife been up to behind my back to earn a title like that? My sweet angel had her quirks, but this...this is another level."
With a gentle tap of his right fist on Bao's head, Tatsuki signaled him to refrain from further involvement. Bao promptly retreated four steps, obediently following Tatsuki's directive.
Aiko spoke, her voice laced with impatience. "Are you two done exchanging hot air?"
Tatsuki drew closer, his gaze fixed on Aiko, his thoughts wandering. "No matter when or where we meet, you always bear the title of a goddess. But this 'cold-hearted' twist, what's that all about?"
Aiko's face twisted into a scowl as she shot Tatsuki an annoyed look. "Would you please stop staring at me? It's rather creepy."
Inwardly, Bao Chi fumed, "She called my brother 'creepy.' That's a bit much for a goddess."
Tatsuki couldn't help but smile as he thought, "Even when you're insulting someone, you're adorably cute."
Aiko found herself at a loss for words as she gazed at Tatsuki with a mixture of pity and exasperation. She couldn't help but speak her mind, "If you were unwell in the head, you should've just said so. Instead, this fool keeps prattling on as if he's got a river for a tongue."
With that, Aiko swiftly turned and made her way deeper into the city.
Tatsuki stood there, utterly flabbergasted. He muttered to himself, "Please don't tell me she heard me again... I reunite with her after thousands of years, and that's my first impression on her? It was a disaster..."
Tatsuki's face grew visibly pale, as if his very soul had abandoned him.
Meanwhile, Bao Chi was awestruck, pondering the power held by goddesses. He mused, "Goddesses possess such formidable influence, capable of turning people into the undead."
Bao Chi marveled, "What a terrifying beauty..."
Tatsuki, still in shock and now with a tinge of annoyance, responded, "Oh, hush, you lord of nonsense. Beauty has nothing to do with it."
Bao Chi was quick to deflect, "No, no, brother, I'm not worthy. You should be the lord."
Tatsuki couldn't resist a taunting reply, "You cheeky little brat, come here. I'll show you who's the lord." Bao Chi sprinted away toward the city gates, with Tatsuki hot on his heels. But before he could enter, halted by the guards, Tatsuki bellowed.
Tatsuki desperately called out, "Hey, Bao, wait!"
But Bao Chi paid no heed, continuing to run and taunting, "Catch me if you can!"
Tatsuki, growing increasingly irritated, grumbled, "Are you some child going to an amusement park? Ah, there's no point in shouting. He's already vanished."
One of the guards spoke up, "We apologize for interrupting your fun time, young one, but we need to see your proof of identification."
Tatsuki seethed, his thoughts running wild. "He calls me a 'young one'? I must be ten times older than his great-grandfather. Show your elder some respect, you brat," he growled.
The guards exchanged confused glances, with one remarking, "Why is he making such a weird face? What's going on in that head of his?"
One of the guards coughed awkwardly.
Tatsuki suddenly snapped out of his internal rant and quickly replied, "So, are you ready to apologize now?"
Both guards stared, dumbfounded. "Why should we...?"
Tatsuki, realizing he might have spoken out of turn, thought wryly, "Did I just say that out loud?"
With a laugh, Tatsuki said, "Oh, nothing, brother. I was just lost in thought and needed a few seconds to collect myself... Haha."
The guard cut in, "Now, please show us your proof of identification."
Tatsuki thought, "Not this again. Why does this feel like déjà vu?" Then he spoke up, "Brother, didn't you hear what my brother said earlier? I'm a member of the Ki clan, so I don't need permission to enter. This is my clan's birthplace, and I have every right to go inside."
The second guard scoffed, "Huh, Ki? Another one of those troublemakers. We can't just let him be; he'll only cause more problems if we allow him to enter."
The first guard inquired, "Just whose betrothed are you, exactly?"
Tatsuki grinned and responded, "Oh, no, not as a betrothed, but as a grandson... *smile*!"
The second guard retorted with a rude tone, "Grandson? Don't lie to us. We've never seen you here before. If not for the city's requirement for every clan member to register their descendants, we wouldn't have known about the brat who went in ahead of you either."
Tatsuki explained, "You see, I was just recently made a member of the clan."
The first guard stated, "We still need to confirm your identity and report it to the Mayor. So, first, tell us whose grandson you are."
Tatsuki replied, "I'm the grandson of my dwarfy granny, of course. *smile*"
The second guard burst into laughter, saying, "Just what kind of name is that? Haha, hahaha."
Tatsuki was about to lose his composure and attack the second guard in anger, but the first guard intervened, cautioning, "Mind your tongue, brother. You must not speak any further."
Both Tatsuki's anger and the second guard's laughter vanished instantly.
The first guard spoke politely, "Young brother, please don't let us stop you. We have confirmed your identity. You are now free to enter the city and leave as you wish."
This made Tatsuki a bit suspicious, but he quickly entered the city in search of Bao Chi.
Meanwhile, the second guard asked the first guard, "Brother, why did you let him go inside? I've never heard that name before. Hey, why are you shaking so much?"
The first guard chastised him, "You moron, do you court death?"
The second guard, confused, questioned, "What are you saying so suddenly?"
The first guard contemplated and said, "Just think about it. Who could be the only one that the child speaks of in the Ki clan?"
The second guard began to respond but started trembling and stuttering. "The one who comes to mind is... They are... They are..."
Before he could finish his sentence, the first guard, who was barely managing to stand, chuckled with a touch of terror. "Hahaha, what's got you shaking now?"
The second guard questioned, "Do you really think he was telling the truth, brother?"
The first guard asserted, "Of course he was. Who else would dare to say something like that besides her grandson?"
In unison, the guard and the second guard concluded, "It has to be. He's the grandson of Gory." The first guard continued, "It's been decades since the Ki clan left Aurus City, yet it's still known as their home. The only reason for that is Vindictive Gory. She comes back here once in a while to meet the Mayor. I've only heard rumors, but I have no wish to become one of her victims, to be torn apart limb from limb, forcefully by her. And that's just the start of it."
As Tatsuki made his way through the gate, he searched high and low but couldn't find a trace of Bao Chi.
Growing increasingly frustrated, Tatsuki muttered angrily, "Why has this turned into a game of hide and seek? Just where has that fool vanished?"
As Tatsuki walked through the city, he came across some young children who were shouting excitedly.
"Hey, let's go to the park! I heard they've caught a traitor relative. It's gonna be so much fun!" one of them yelled, and Tatsuki's ears perked up.
Tatsuki agreed, saying, "Aah, seems interesting..."
The children urged him to hurry, worried they might miss the fun. Tatsuki grinned and responded, "Yeah, let's go. It truly sounds interesting."
One of the children asked, "Hey, why are you following us?"
Tatsuki casually replied, "Oh, don't mind me. It just looks so interesting, so I tagged along."
At the park, many children were gathered, throwing water balloons at Bao Chi, who was tied to a tree and completely drenched.
Bao Chi defiantly proclaimed, "Just you wait. When my brother gets here, he'll save me."
A kid interjected, "Let your brother come; he'll be tied up as well and receive the same divine punishment. Be glad we're not throwing rocks at you like before. Be grateful to Boss; it was her decision to show you mercy."
Suddenly, Bao Chi heard Tatsuki's voice among the crowd.
Tatsuki chimed in, "Hey, child, give me one more balloon. I'm all out."
The child offered a balloon to Tatsuki, impressed by his aim. Tatsuki, hyping up the crowd, declared, "Just you all watch; this one will be a headshot, definitely."
As Tatsuki prepared to throw the balloon, Bao Chi couldn't contain his frustration and cried out, "Brother, what are you doing? Instead of saving me..."
Tatsuki, however, dropped the balloon and assumed an innocent demeanor.
Tatsuki pretended to be surprised and said, "Oh, Bao, I was looking for you all around the city, and here you are. What a coincidence, huh?"
Bao Chi, still tied up, responded with a hint of frustration, "There's nothing coincidental about it... Help me, brother."
Tatsuki nodded, "Oh, yeah, right. Hang on, I'm coming."
Tatsuki reached Bao Chi and started to untie him. Suddenly, everyone in the park resumed throwing water balloons, but Tatsuki stood his ground.
Bao Chi advised, "Brother, protect yourself first. I'll be fine. Rescue me after you teach these little troublemakers a lesson."
Tatsuki shrugged, "Nah, no worries. What lessons am I supposed to give to a bunch of children? And I don't mind; after all, I did hit you too."
Bao Chi maintained a blunt expression, saying, "Maybe you shouldn't have..."
Tatsuki retorted, "Hey, what's with the look? I couldn't recognize you when you were all drenched in water."
Bao Chi, with a happy yet tearful face, inquired, "Really? Is that why you didn't help me sooner?"
Tatsuki chuckled, "Well, no, it just looked like so much fun, I couldn't help myself. It truly reminded me of a festival back home. Hahaha, hahaha."
Bao Chi adopted a sad expression, remarking, "Brother, you're horrible."
Tatsuki laughed and replied, "Tell me something I don't know. Well, now, let's avenge you, my cute little brother."
Bao Chi quipped, "Huh, didn't you just say that? Whatever, I'm all for it."
Tatsuki successfully untied Bao Chi, and together, they playfully confronted the children in the park. Some were half-buried in the ground, while others were overthrown above the wall. Suddenly, one of the children spoke.
The child warned them, "You two will regret this after I call the boss."
With an overexcited and happy demeanor, Tatsuki exclaimed, "Yes, a boss fight! Somebody, play boss music!"
Bao Chi couldn't help but remark, "Brother, I can see you're way too excited about this... It's a bit childish."
Tatsuki defended his enthusiasm, saying, "Oh, shut up. Where's your spirit as a man? It's every man's dream to have an RPG boss fight."
Bao Chi, puzzled, asked, "RPG?"
Suddenly, someone descended from the sky, landing with a loud, resounding smash as their legs hit the ground, sending dust rising into the air. Tatsuki was exhilarated, asking, "It's here! The boss came. What kind of weapons does he have? What about the attack patterns?"
To Tatsuki's surprise, it was Aiko who emerged from the dust clouds, cracking her knuckles and playing the boss role exceptionally well.
Tatsuki turned to the child and asked if she was the boss, to which the boy nodded proudly.
Astounded, Tatsuki couldn't help but think to himself as he looked at Aiko, "What are you, the leader of a mafia or a gang made up of so many children?"