Tang Xiaomi nodded and went with Tang Xi'an, Tang Xie'er wanted to stay but Tang Xi'an pulled him along "They'll be fine, we can watch over them from far. If we are meant to know what they talk about, System will tell Xiaomi and Xiaomi will tell us"
Tang Xilong threw three sets of clothes towards them "Change into that and wait"
Tang Xie'er caught it and looked back one last time before following Tang Xi'an
Tang Xilong scoffed and muttered to himself as Ning Caiyu struggled to sit up "Why did they go? It's not like there's anything important for us to talk about"
Ning Caiyu held Tang Xilong's shoulder who shook it off "I know you're upset with me and am sorry, it's just that-"
Tang Xilong cut him off as he angrily said "Its just that what? You don't wanna burden us and almost died?? Let me tell you, your life belongs to me, I own you and you cannot die unless I let you die whether you like it or not! So you better tell me everything you're afraid of and things that could kill you before you die without me knowing someday!"
Ning Caiyu nodded "It's just that, it's related to a past of mine and I don't deem it to be important but if you wanna know, I'll tell you, alright?"
Tang Xilong faced him "Then start talking and stop dawdling"
Ning Caiyu said "When I was younger, cause I was born with weak meridians, my parents paid little to no attention to me and it was obvious to everyone in the palace so people didn't treat me well including my guards and maidservants so I had to do most things myself since I was able to run which was when I was three. There was a time that some of the servants were bullying me as usual cause no one was around then Si Ge arrived and they immediately started begging for forgiveness cause they know it's death for commoners who mistreat royals no matter how overlooked they are.
I thought that someone in the family finally cared about me so I smiled but then he pushed me into the water and I couldn't swim.. I kept calling for help but Si Ge just stood there looking at me till I had no strength and drowned. Luckily, I was saved by Er Jie, Ning Muyin and since then I have developed fear of water. Si Ge would often try to bully me but Er Jie would protect me every time she found out but soon, Er Jie had to join a sect when she became of age so she left me with an inner armor to protect me while she wasn't there.
Only Er Jie truly cared about me but when she left, Wu Ge suddenly became nice to me for no reason but I was happy to have a new friend so I didn't need to use the inner armor Er Jie gave me and I kept it safe in my room but the day after, I woke up to a scattered room and realized I had been drugged to sleep with some weird smelling incense which was placed by my window. I immediately checked where I kept the armor and it was gone.
I heard voices behind my room and saw Si Ge holding up the armor while smirking at Wu Ge who was injured on the floor. I ran out to block Wu Ge from Si Ge and told him to back off. Then one of Si Ge's guards kicked me hard and I fell unconscious. When I woke up, Wu Ge was crying and apologizing to me and we became closer since that incident.
Er Jie once came to me in the middle of the night a few months before it was time for me to join a sect and told me that she wasn't able to come meet for a long time because of her mother, the empress. And she told me to go for the All The Way Sect specifically cause the Creation Sect she went to was not a place for me"
Tang Xilong asked with gritted teeth "That Si Ge of yours is Ning Tiandu, the one your dad favors, right?"
Ning Caiyu nodded as he shivered cause of his wet clothes "Yea, that's him"
Tang Xilong tightened his fists as he thought 'That Tiandu Bastard! If I get a chance, I'll-... Ehnn wait, what's come over me, why am I getting angry over such a thing. Is it because I pity him? Yea it's probably that'
*{System: You're starting to see and care for him as a friend. Don't deny it, I don't have the strength to bicker with you right now}
Tang Xilong didn't reply to the system as Ning Caiyu held his hardened fists and he raised his head to look at him as Ning Caiyu said "I told you about my past, what about yours?"
Tang Xilong removed his hands from Ning Caiyu's hold "There's nothing to say about my past"
Ning Caiyu blinked his eyes cutely as he pleaded "But I still want to hear it, please?"
Tang Xilong rolled his eyes "Why are you acting like a girl, fine I'll tell you but first, Mimi! come here!!"
Tang Xiaomi suddenly appeared out of nowhere and excitedly said "Are you two finally done with your couple's quarrel?"
Ning Caiyu blushed while Tang Xilong scoffed and wanted to smack Tang Xiaomi's head but she dodged it then Tang Xilong said "Just dry him up before he catches a cold and slows us down again like usual also what do you know about couples, huh. Me and Ning Caiyu are not a couple, get it"
Tang Xiaomi giggled then gathered her wind element then blew it quick against Ning Caiyu's body but both his hair and clothes became messy so Tang Xiaomi hurriedly said "Yu Gege, sorry, It's my first time using my wind element like that so I didn't control it properly"
Ning Caiyu waved his hands "No big deal, it's normal, I'll just use this as a chance to fix myself up. I am originally a bit messy"
Tang Xiaomi then asked Tang Xilong "Xi Gege, do you need to dry up too?"
Tang Xilong shook his head as his Devil Spirit Fire encompassed his body and the water steamed off then he kept his fire and suddenly looked even better than before
Tang Xiaomi held her waist as she said "I see where I get good genes from"
Tang Xilong rolled his eyes while Tang Xiaomi ran off so she won't get smacked
Tang Xilong was about to move when Ning Caiyu held his sleeve and said "I wanna fix myself up a bit, please wait"
Tang Xilong nodded then Ning Caiyu quickly went to the back of a big tree and Tang Xilong sneered 'Why the heck is he going back there? We're both men and we're in the forest. He only has to tidy up not change'
*{System: Let the boy have his privacy, he was born a royal afterall}
Tang Xilong folded his arms as he waited then Ning Caiyu finally came out from behind the tree and called out to Tang Xilong who looked up and was astounded 'W-what the? This boy, why does he look so much better than before? Quite.. pretty even'
Ning Caiyu smiled at Tang Xilong's reaction "Hehe, I look way better now, right?"
Tang Xilong replied absentmindedly "Y-yea.. wait, what? No, maybe. Look, I don't know! Let's just get on our way now"
Ning Caiyu nodded and went ahead skipping happily while Tang Xilong followed from behind 'Something's seriously very wrong with me and I must find the root cause then get rid of it'
*{System: (◕ᴗ◕✿) The root cause is Ning Caiyu, can you still say you want to get rid of him at this stage?}
Tang Xilong replied 'System, I know you're teasing me so just shush!'
*{System: Hah! Rude much!}
Then the two of them joined up with the trio and continued on their journey soon they finally saw the gates of the sect with the words 'All The Way Sect' written boldly above the gate then they saw a few others by the side of the gate resting and chatting
Tang Xie'er said "There are at most a quarter of those who came with us that are here already"
Tang Xilong scoffed "Even with faster tunnels and short breaks, some people still arrived before us"
Tang Xiaomi pointed at a few people who were standing not that far from the gates "Ehnn, Xie Gege, aren't those the people you told me and Xi'an about? Xi Gege's other friends?"
Tang Xilong nodded and asked "How did you recognize them so quickly?"
Tang Xiaomi held Tang Xie'er's arm "Xie Gege was very descriptive with his explanation"
Tang Xie'er smiled softly "But that blue crane girl isn't there though"
Tang Xiaomi said "The one you hit, right?"
Ning Caiyu asked curiously "Hit?"
Tang Xiaomi replied "At their first actual meeting, Xie Gege hit her pretty hard when she was about to touch Xi Gege's sleeves cause Xie Gege misinterpreted her action as an attack cause they were still strangers before"
Ning Caiyu then pointed at himself "But Xie'er didn't hit me when I touched Xilong Ge though"
Tang Xie'er blinked his eyes severally and looked away then Tang Xiaomi giggled "Xie Gege probably treated you as family right from the moment we met you just like me and Xi Jie. You're family now, right Xi Gege?"
Tang Xilong rolled his eyes and was about to answer when someone called out to them "Tang Xilong? Ehhn? Tang Xie? You guys are here already?"
The five of them turned to look at the owner of the voice and saw Zhen Subai, Chen Fuxiu and Xia Qianyu coming towards them
Chen Fuxiu huffed as she said "Great, the rude bastard's back again"
Tang Xiaomi fury lit up "Who are you calling rude bastard!? Kitty ears!"
Chen Fuxiu was surprised by the lolita's outburst and asked "And who might you be, little girl?"
Tang Xiaomi rolled her eyes and said "And who the heck might you be, Kitty Cat!"
Chen Fuxiu and the other two were stunned by her words then Tang Xi'an covered Tang Xiaomi's mouth while pulling her to herself
Tang Xie'er coughed lightly "Ahem, please excuse her, she doesn't know you so she's a bit rude. Let me introduce them to you, The taller one with red hair is Tang Xi'an, my immediate younger sister and the one who just spoke now is our baby sister, Tang Xiaomi"
Chen Fuxiu looked at the guy beside Tang Xilong "And what about him?"
Tang Xilong rolled his eyes "None of your business, Kitty"
Chen Fuxiu said "You! You! Fine, I see where the little girl gets her rudeness from"
Tang Xiaomi removed Tang Xi'an's hand from her mouth "Who are you calling little!"
Ning Caiyu spoke up as he patted Xiaomi's head "Xiaomi, chill"
Tang Xiaomi smiled at Ning Caiyu then glanced over at Tang Xilong who was leaning against a tree with his eyes closed "Okay, Yu Gege, I'll stop now. I'm sleepy, I want Xi Gege to carry me"
Ning Caiyu smiled also "Let Xi'an or Xie'er piggyback you, Xilong Ge must be tired from the journey"
Tang Xilong opened his eyes and came over then bent down "W-who said I am tired, come on, Mimi, I'll carry you"
Ning Caiyu chuckled as Tang Xiaomi excitedly got on Tang Xilong then slept off the moment he stood up then Ning Caiyu asked worriedly "You sure you can handle it, the way here must have been very tiring"
Tang Xilong nodded "No biggie, I have carried her before and she's a lightweight"
Chen Fuxiu said "Huh, hello, we're still here?"
Tang Xilong glared at her while Ning Caiyu turned to face them as he apologetically said "Sorry, I haven't introduced myself to you yet. My apologies, my name is Ning Caiyu"
Zhen Subai asked with surprise "Ning? Of the Mortal Royal Family?"
Ning Caiyu nodded "Yes, you could say that"
The three of them quickly bowed to him and said in unison "Your Highness, forgive our impudence for not greeting you earlier"
Ning Caiyu waved his hands in embarrassment "No no, please get up, no need for formalities. Am also a disciple of All The Way Sect and we all will soon be fellow disciples so please just call me Ning Caiyu"
They obliged and Zhen Subai said "I never thought I'd meet the youngest of the royal family here"
Chen Fuxiu said bluntly "The one with the least talent"
Zhen Subai looked at her in surprise "Fuxiu!"
Chen Fuxiu immediately realized that she spoke out loud "Sorry so sorry, I didn't mean to, it was a slip of tongue"
Tang Xie'er and Tang Xi'an went to sit by the tree then spoke to each other using spiritual sense. Tang Xi'an said 'I don't like that cat girl, she's rude to Xi Gege, Xiaomi and even kind Yu Gege'
Tang Xie'er nodded 'We must make sure to protect them from everyone and her especially, she mustn't go close to them at all'
Tang Xi'an agreed as she replied 'She's toxic, if others were not here, I would have attacked her even if it means getting reprimanded by Xi Gege'
Tang Xie'er said 'Just defend against any attacks and only go on the offensive when Xi Gege says so'
Tang Xilong was about to speak when Tang Xiaomi woke up because of Tang Xi'an and Tang Xie'er's conversation then pointed at Chen Fuxiu and asked furiously "Cat girl, what did you just say to Yu Gege!?"
Ning Caiyu came over to pat her head "Silly girl, I thought you were sleepy, why did you wake up? What she said is true anyways"
Tang Xilong spoke with scorn "So what if it's true, does that mean she can just say it out loud like that without thinking of the person in the subject and if it might affect you"
Ning Caiyu shook his head while smiling "I have heard it times without number so am not affected at all. It's nothing to get upset about"
Tang Xilong gently dropped Tang Xiaomi who went to go meet Tang Xi'an and Tang Xie'er as he scoffed then looked away
Chen Fuxiu angrily stormed off and Zhen Subai called out while going after her "Ah Xiu! Don't go!"
Xia Qianyu said as he watched them go "Xilong, you were kinda harsh, she apologized afterall"
Tang Xilong said "If you're staying here to act like that then I suggest you follow your friends"
Xia Qianyu shook his head instantly "No no no way, am only friends with them cause Miss Ying says so. That cat is feisty and rude, am a bit scared of her sharp tongue"
Tang Xilong scoffed "Don't call me Xilong, call me by my full name, we aren't friends"
Xia Qianyu grinned and said "Xilong, Xilong. We are of the same age so I can call you by your name and just call me Xianyu"
Tang Xilong ignored him and went to sit by another tree then Ning Caiyu followed him while Xia Qianyu went to sit by the trio's side
Xia Qianyu politely asked "I can sit with you guys, right?"
Tang Xie'er nodded then Tang Xiaomi pointed at him and said "You! are very sensible for staying with us and not going with them"
Xia Qianyu smiled slightly "Zhen Subai and Chen Fuxiu have been friends since little so they're inseparable"
Tang Xiaomi nodded and laid her head against Tang Xie'er's shoulder as she got ready to sleep
Xia Qianyu curiously asked "Xiaomi, how old are you? Cause you look and act like a little girl even though you clearly look much older than that"
Tang Xiaomi replied "I am fourteen and I am a big girl"
Tang Xi'an said "She's the youngest of us four and we spoiled her a bit too much"
Xia Qianyu replied with an "oh" then he asked "Am curious though, are you four a real family or just close friends who see each other as family cause you guys are clearly from two different realms. Xie'er and Xilong are devilkins while Xi'an and Xiaomi are beastkins so you can't all be from the same parents besides only Xiaomi looks a bit like Xilong and if I must say, Xi'an looks like Prince Ning's twin or something, just a bit though"
Tang Xie'er shrugged "Does it matter if we're from the same parents or not? As long as we see each other as family, it's enough"
Xia Qianyu sighed and nodded "Yes, that's true. As long as you see each other as family, blood relations are truly not needed"
Tang Xiaomi asked "You have problems with your family?"
Xia Qianyu shook his head "Sorta but I don't wanna talk about them right now."
Tang Xie'er asked "What about Miss Ying? She's not with you guys"
Xia Qianyu replied "Both her older brothers are here so one of them came to bring her in. Even my sister wanted to bring me in but I don't like her cause she's always so fake all the time so I refused her"