Facing Xiao Bai's tight-lipped demeanor, the Sky Blue Bull Python chuckled lightly.
He withdrew his gaze from Xiao Bai.
Although he knew Ye Tian was a good person, he had never been fond of soul beasts that got too close to humans.
Since Xiao Bai was unwilling to reveal anything, he did not press further.
Glancing around, his gaze finally settled on a burial mound. He asked calmly,
"We passed by this place half a month ago. Is this a grave for one of your companions?"
"Yes."
The Sea Witch, who stood in front of Xiao Bai, replied.
"She was Ye Tian's sister. Her name was Ye Xinglan."
Hearing his sister's name, Ye Tian stepped forward.
His eyes were red with grief as he raised his head and asked the Sky Azure Bull Python
"Do you know who attacked my sister half a month ago?"
Seeing the fury in Ye Tian's eyes, the Sky Blue Bull Python's expression grew solemn.
He slowly flicked his tongue and said,
"It was most likely the Violent Terror Bear King."
"That guy tried to steal a Mysterious Grass half a month ago."
At that moment, Xiao Wu stepped into the center of the group and waved her hand,
"I think there may be some miscommunication here."
Then, Xiao Wu explained,
"Ye Tian, did you know? Half a month ago, Da Ming, Er Ming, and I rescued Sister Aya right here."
"The one you buried might be Sister Aya's companion."
"Also, Sister Aya has a younger brother with the same name as you. He lives in East Sea City."
"What?!"
Ye Tian's heart suddenly pounded.
His eyes were filled with shock and disbelief.
He had thought his sister, Ye Xinglan, was dead.
But hearing Xiao Wu's words,
his despairing heart began to beat with hope once again.
Perhaps the girl named Daiya was actually his sister, Ye Xinglan.
So, unknowingly, the girl he had saved out of compassion...
was his own sister!
Two days ago, he had already met his sister!
Realizing this, Ye Tian could not stay put any longer.
He took a step forward, grabbed Xiao Wu's arm, and asked,
"Where is Daiya?"
He had to find out the truth.
"She's still on Lake Heart Island. She hasn't left,"
Xiao Wu said seriously.
"You can go ask her yourself."
"Alright!"
Ye Tian nodded firmly and sprinted toward the core area.
The Sea Witch pressed her forehead lightly and sighed,
"At your speed, Ye Tian, when will you ever reach the core area?"
"Let me take you there instead."
Watching Ye Tian's disappearing figure, Xiao Wu looked down helplessly at her right arm.
Ye Tian's grip was really strong—her arm was turning red.
It was clear how much Ye Tian cared for his sister.
But Xiao Wu couldn't quite understand this kind of sibling relationship.
They wanted to meet, yet they didn't recognize each other.
Thinking about it, she felt a tinge of envy.
After all, Ye Tian could still find his family, but her only relative—her mother—had died at the hands of the Spirit Hall sixteen years ago.
"Spirit Hall, I, Xiao Wu, will avenge this blood debt."
Xiao Wu clenched her fists in silent determination.
...
By the time Ye Tian returned to Lake Heart Island, it was already dawn the next day.
Despite not sleeping all night, he felt no exhaustion.
Instead, his face was filled with excitement.
In just a few minutes, he would see Daiya—
or rather, Ye Xinglan.
Though they had met just three days ago,
everything was different now that he knew their bond.
Stepping onto the shore of Lake Heart Island, the Sea Witch, who had escorted him, stopped.
She understood Ye Tian's emotions at this moment.
She also knew that this was a moment best faced alone.
Patting Ye Tian's shoulder, the Sea Witch smiled lightly and said,
"Go on, the scenery here is nice. I'd like to enjoy it for a while."
"Mm."
Ye Tian nodded and didn't think much about it.
Or rather, at this moment, his mind was entirely occupied by the golden-haired figure.
Nothing else mattered.
At that moment, Daiya was sitting cross-legged under the ancient golden tree, meditating.
Though her face still looked a bit frail,
she could already move freely.
This was entirely thanks to the medicine refined by the healer who shared the same name as her younger brother.
Unfortunately, Daiya hadn't had the chance to express her gratitude.
That healer had already left.
Immersed in her training,
she suddenly sensed someone approaching.
This startled her.
After all, she was only a twenty-ninth-rank Soul Master,
and her spiritual perception was weak.
Her detection range barely extended beyond a meter.
For someone to appear within her perception range, they had to be extremely close.
Growing wary, Daiya opened her eyes.
She saw a handsome, gentle-looking young man standing in front of her.
His face was full of joy, though his eyes were slightly swollen—
as if he had cried recently.
Daiya had just woken from her meditation, so her vision was still blurry.
But as her eyes adjusted—
"Ye Tian!"
Daiya exclaimed in surprise.
Her joy wasn't just because this young man shared the same name as her younger brother.
More importantly, he had saved her.
"Why are you back?"
"Did you forget something?"
Daiya's voice was a mix of surprise and happiness.
It meant she could thank Ye Tian in person.
She knew her gratitude might seem insignificant to Ye Tian—perhaps even worthless.
But it was all she could offer.
After all, she was just a twenty-ninth-rank Soul Master.
She didn't have great strength or valuable treasures.
"I did leave something behind."
Ye Tian stared at Daiya for a long time, his voice trembling slightly.
"I can help you find it…"
Daiya started to say, but Ye Tian's next words stunned her.
"That 'something' is you," Ye Tian said, gazing at her.
"My sister."
Daiya, who had been puzzled a moment ago, was instantly frozen in place.
Her mind thundered with shock.
She couldn't even process what was happening.
After a long while—
"Ye Tian… Are you really Ye Tian?"
Daiya suddenly lunged forward and hugged the young man tightly.
Tears streamed down her face.
"I'm sorry, Ye Tian. I'm so sorry."
"For so many years, I never got the chance to return and see you."
"I never imagined you'd grow up this much."
"And even when you stood before me, I didn't recognize you."
…
Daiya spoke a lot.
And Ye Tian listened carefully.
He understood—
His sister had wanted to do many things for him, to spare him from suffering.
However, talent was ultimately limited, and the rewards one could receive were also very little.
"Alright, Sister, aren't I doing just fine?"
Instead, Ye Tian comforted his sister.
"All these years while you were away, I didn't just sit around doing nothing—I made a lot of effort."
"Now, our home is no longer a shabby thatched hut but a grand tile-roofed house."
As he spoke, Ye Tian even reached out and patted his sister's head, as if comforting a little girl.
This made Daiya stop her tears. She wiped her eyes and playfully scolded:
"You've got no manners."
"Also, I've already started a family." Ye Tian's face was filled with joy.
Hearing this, Daiya was clearly taken aback for a moment before sighing with relief and joy:
"It seems that five years is truly a long time."
"You, my little brother, have really grown up."
"By the way, why did you change your name to Daiya?"
Ye Tian asked about something important.
At these words, Daiya's eyes flickered slightly.
Half a month ago, after Xiao Wu saved her, she believed she wouldn't live for much longer.
Not wanting to live in hiding for the rest of her life, she decided, in what she thought were her final moments, to reclaim the true name that had once brought her endless bloodshed.
But she never expected...
That time was truly cyclical.
Years ago, Ye Tian's father, in gratitude for a kindness received, risked his life to save her family.
And now, Ye Tian, a genius physician, had saved her once again.
Daiya knew that no matter how much she tried, she could never fully repay the Ye family's kindness.
Thinking of this, her gaze flickered even more.
With Ye Tian's talent in medicine, his future was undoubtedly bright.
She didn't want to burden him with her heavy grudge.
After all, the Star Luo Empire's royal family was a behemoth that neither she nor Ye Tian could possibly shake.
So, forcing a smile, she said, "Sister is a member of the Spirit Hall."
Hearing this, Ye Tian nodded knowingly and chuckled at his sister:
"Indeed, the Spirit Hall doesn't have the best reputation outside."
Seeing that Ye Tian believed her, Daiya let out a breath of relief.
She now understood—so long as Ye Tian was safe and well, she could live the rest of her life as Ye Xinglan, and it wouldn't matter.
However, Ye Tian had caught all the subtle changes in Daiya's expression.
His mind was not that of a naive sixteen- or seventeen-year-old boy.
How could he not see that Daiya had heavy concerns while speaking just now?
There was definitely something strange about this.
But he understood—if he forced the issue, his sister wouldn't say anything.
So, he needed to investigate in a roundabout way.
This reminded Ye Tian of someone—Xiao Wu.
Xiao Wu seemed to have a good relationship with his sister.
If he started with Xiao Wu, he might be able to get some useful information.
Reuniting with his sister naturally made Ye Tian happy.
Holding Daiya's hand, he said, "I came to the Star Dou Forest this time specifically to find you, Sister."
"Now that I've found you, we can finally return to East Sea City with peace of mind."
Hearing this, Daiya, however, looked worried and sighed lightly:
"I'm afraid it won't be that easy."
"What, Sister? Don't you want to go back?"
Ye Tian's heart suddenly tightened.
Daiya sighed and said, "Brother, you don't understand. I am now a member of the Spirit Hall. If I want to leave, not only do I have to return all the income I've received in recent years, but I also have to pay three times that amount in compensation."
Ye Tian simply smiled and waved his hand. "I thought it was something serious. That's no problem at all."
Daiya smiled bitterly. "I know you have some money, but the Spirit Hall is extremely harsh on those who leave. People like us, without power or influence, would face endless troubles for the rest of our lives unless we live in hiding."
"Is that so?" Ye Tian was slightly surprised. "It seems that the flaws of the Spirit Hall don't just affect the soul master families but also lie deep within its system."
"You're absolutely right," Daiya agreed with deep frustration.
"Unfortunately, we can't change any of it."
Hearing this, Ye Tian simply chuckled.
"Who knows? Maybe we can change it."
Hearing this, Daiya also laughed and patted Ye Tian's shoulder.
"Brother, don't aim too high. Your medical skills are indeed talented..."
"But in this world, strength reigns supreme."
"Sister, do you really think I got to the core area of the Star Dou Forest relying only on my medical skills?" Ye Tian chuckled.
Daiya was stunned.
That's right.
If Ye Tian wasn't at least a soul master, he wouldn't even have made it past the forest's outer edges before getting eaten by soul beasts.
Anyone who could enter the core area had to be at least at the Title Douluo level.
"Brother, are you hiding your strength?" Daiya was momentarily shocked.
Then she shook her head and laughed at herself.
"I must be foolish. You're not even twenty yet. How could you be a Title Douluo?"
"I'm indeed not a Title Douluo, but that doesn't mean I don't have one by my side."
"Huh? You have a Title Douluo protecting you?"
This time, Daiya was truly shocked.
A Title Douluo!
Even in the soul master world, such individuals were revered by tens of thousands.
If someone worked for the Spirit Hall, they would at least be at the Elder level.
This was something Daiya never dared to imagine.
She never expected that in just five short years, her little brother had grown so powerful—
Powerful enough to have a Title Douluo as a subordinate.
Daiya instinctively looked around.
Sure enough, within her line of sight, a brown-haired woman stood quietly by the Lake of Life.
"Is she… your wife?"
Daiya was stunned.
Had her brother found himself a rich woman?
Was that why his life had changed so drastically over the years?
Seeing Daiya's strange expression, Ye Tian immediately realized she was misunderstanding.
He quickly explained, "Her name is the Sea Witch. You can… temporarily consider her as my friend."
"Just a friend?" Daiya pressed.
"Would I lie to you, Sister?"
Ye Tian smiled bitterly.
Seeing Ye Tian's serious expression, Daiya finally let go of her doubts.
At the same time, she sighed, "My little brother really has grown up."
Just then—
Xiao Wu and the others arrived.
With a swift leap from the Sky Azure Bull Python, Xiao Wu landed lightly in front of Daiya.
Her rabbit ears twitched as she giggled, "Aiya, Sister, have you reunited with your brother?"
Daiya smiled warmly and gently touched Xiao Wu's rabbit ears.
From her conversation with Ye Tian earlier, she knew that half the reason they could reunite was thanks to Xiao Wu.
So she smiled and said, "Thank you, adorable little Xiao Wu."
"Hehe, Sister Aiya, you're too polite. We're good friends, after all." Xiao Wu giggled and shook her head, but a tinge of envy surfaced in her heart.
Seeing Daiya and Ye Tian reunited made her happy, but it also reminded her of her own mother, making her feel a bit sorrowful.
Of course, Xiao Wu hid it well, and no one noticed.
(End of Chapter)
Guys, I have been moving from one province to another for the sake of my job that is why I have been very busy and have been unable to post in the time being, I am new in this work place rn and work requires 10+ hours of physical presence so please bear with me. I will adjust my schedule asao.
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