Chapter 419: Reunion of Siblings, Call on Me if You Need
"Come back with me to Yuan Gate. I have a task for you…" Tian Yuanzi's words took Lin Langtian by surprise, making him pause, his expression thoughtful. He cupped his hands and respectfully asked, "Master, would it be possible to delay for a few days? I have some matters here I need to attend to."
Tian Yuanzi's dark, yin-yang eyes fixed intently on Lin Langtian, as if he was trying to see right into his thoughts. But Lin Langtian remained calm and composed, showing neither fear nor servility, while maintaining his respectful stance.
After a moment, Tian Yuanzi's eyes narrowed slightly. He glanced over at Jin Wu and Wu Xuan standing nearby before giving a curt nod. "Very well. I'll wait."
With that, Tian Yuanzi turned to the Dao Sect disciples and commanded, "Return to the sect!"
He swept his sleeve, and a rift in space opened up. With a final glance, Tian Yuanzi and his two companions stepped through and vanished. The remaining Yuan Gate disciples breathed a sigh of relief, taking one last wary look at Lin Langtian before beginning their retreat.
As Yuan Gate's forces prepared to withdraw, other sects in the area also began to pack up and head out.
Dao Sect
"I never imagined Lin Dong's sister would enter the Dark Tribunal," Elder Ying Xuanzi said with a hint of regret. "She might one day be the leader of the Dark Hall. Yuan Gate has truly gotten itself into quite a mess."
Though the situation wasn't disastrous, it certainly didn't work in Dao Sect's favor, for Lin Dong had still been forced to leave.
Elder Ying's face fell as he watched his daughter Ying Huanhuan, who had woken at some point. She opened her eyes, and Elder Ying could see the lack of focus in her normally lively gaze. After a long silence, she nodded.
"He's gone, isn't he?"
Ying Xiaoxiao, her sister, could only nod, offering a faint smile. "He'll be alright. He always is."
Huanhuan nodded quietly, glancing at her father with an expression that was almost blank. Turning, she whispered, "If he dies, I'll avenge him."
With a flick of her hair that gleamed icy blue in the sunlight, Ying Huanhuan took off alone, her expression unreadable.
Elder Ying Xuanzi watched her go, his face reflecting a sorrow that seemed to age him. His most valued disciple had been killed by Yuan Gate without retribution, and now, even his own daughter was deeply disappointed in him.
"Was I truly wrong?" he muttered, his once-youthful features now weary with age and regret. He had sacrificed so much for Dao Sect—too much, perhaps.
"Father, Huanhuan is just hurt and upset. She'll forgive you soon enough," Ying Xiaoxiao reassured him gently.
Elder Ying Xuanzi shook his head but quickly steadied himself. "Let's go," he said, moving forward. He gestured for the Dao Sect disciples to follow as they turned to head home.
Nine Heavens Taiping Palace
"So, that's it," a beautiful woman sighed, watching the sky as the different factions began to disperse. "This will be the talk of the Eastern Profound Region soon enough. Lin Langtian and Lin Dong… everyone will know their names."
The woman turned to her companion with a knowing smile. "The Yuan Gate produced a genius, Lin Langtian, while Dao Sect produced the infamous Lin Dong. Both come from a low-ranking kingdom, the Great Yan Empire. Who would have thought such dragons would emerge from the mud? Qingzhu, I remember you once stayed in that kingdom. Are you familiar with either of them?"
"Not very well…" a soft voice replied hesitantly. The woman beside her lowered her veil, revealing a face of breathtaking beauty.
"Hmm. I see." The woman seemed slightly disappointed. Ling Qingzhu considered mentioning her past with Lin Langtian but stopped short, knowing that if she did, it might trigger conflict between the Nine Heavens Taiping Palace and Yuan Gate.
Just as she was debating this, Ling Qingzhu sensed someone approaching. She looked up and said softly, "He's here."
"Who?" her companion asked. Before she could finish her question, three figures appeared in the sky above the pavilion.
"Ah, it's you—Lin Langtian and the Seven Fiend Black Goldcrow warrior," the beautiful woman said, her expression changing. "What brings you here?"
Lin Langtian smiled reassuringly. "Please don't worry, elder. We're not here to cause trouble."
Then, as he glanced at Ling Qingzhu, memories of their time together in the Taiping Immortal Pool filled his mind, making him briefly pause. With a soft smile, he asked, "Where's Shuangwu?"
Ling Qingzhu was about to respond when a delighted voice interrupted. "Brother Langtian!"
Su Rou appeared, her face lighting up with joy at the sight of Lin Langtian. Walking beside her was another young woman in a white gown. As they approached, Jin Wu's gaze fixed on the second figure, his eyes widening in recognition. He felt an intense sense of kinship and shock—a connection that left him stunned.
"You must be… my brother."
Jin Wu's astonished expression did not surprise Lin Langtian. The beautiful young woman before them shared a look of shy hope and relief. Despite their bond as siblings, they had been separated for so long that Shuangwu feared Jin Wu might not recognize her.
But her worry vanished as soon as she saw the shock fade from Jin Wu's face, replaced by pure, uncontainable joy. The delight in his eyes spoke of a bond that went beyond time or distance.
"Sister!" he exclaimed, his voice overflowing with emotion as the siblings finally reunited, recognizing each other not only through memory but through an unbreakable connection of family and blood.
Jin Wu had never shown this side of himself before; even Lin Langtian was seeing it for the first time. Lin Langtian glanced over at Ling Qingzhu, and they exchanged a faint smile. When they'd first left the ancient tomb, one had taken Jin Wu and the other Shuangwu—a decision made out of necessity. But separating these siblings had never sat well with either of them, so seeing them reunited brought an undeniable sense of relief.
After all, Lin Langtian and Ling Qingzhu each considered Jin Wu and Shuangwu part of their own family.
At this moment, as the siblings reunited, all eyes turned to them, with more cautious glances shifting to Wu Xuan standing nearby. Everyone knew that Wu Xuan was a powerhouse on par with the Tianxuan Sect's leader, a mighty expert of the Reincarnation stage.
The elder from the Nine Heavens Palace, watching all this, seemed to grasp the situation. She opened her mouth to speak but then closed it, hesitant to intervene with Wu Xuan present. Although Shuangwu was an exceptional disciple of the Nine Heavens Palace, she was also from the Seven Fiend Black Gold Crow Clan. If they truly intended to take her back, it would require intervention from high-level officials on both sides.
"Shuangwu, I heard from Brother Langtian that you helped him quite a bit in the Otherworldly Demon Domain. I'm grateful," Jin Wu said with a smile, visibly joyful at finally being able to thank his sister personally.
"No need to thank me. Brother Langtian is your sworn brother, so helping him is the least I could do." Shuangwu returned his smile, her typically frosty expression now softened with warmth. Jin Wu swallowed hard, reached out to pat her head, and, his voice slightly hoarse, said, "I can't believe my little sister has grown up."
Separated since birth, the siblings had never once met until now, and their emotions were overwhelming. Shuangwu's cheeks reddened as she lowered her head slightly, savoring this rare, cherished moment with family. It was clear that the bond between them meant everything.
"Brother, did you come here to take me back to the clan?" Shuangwu asked, glancing from Jin Wu to Wu Xuan. She didn't know Wu Xuan's full background but could tell he was a prominent figure within the Black Gold Crow Clan.
Seeing her expression, the Nine Heavens Palace elder looked at Ling Qingzhu and whispered, "Qingzhu, is Shuangwu really leaving us?"
Understanding her concern, Ling Qingzhu replied, "Auntie Qing, Shuangwu has her own mind. We should respect her choice."
Auntie Qing sighed, finally nodding. "Alright, but make sure to speak with the palace master. She cares deeply for Shuangwu." Ling Qingzhu was about to respond when Jin Wu interjected, shaking his head. "We came mainly to meet you, Shuangwu. Bringing you back to the clan isn't the priority. Stay here at the Nine Heavens Palace a little longer. There are matters back at the clan that still need to be resolved."
"Is it about our parents?" Shuangwu's intuition was sharp, and she guessed as much.
Jin Wu didn't deny it and nodded, his eyes briefly darkening. "Yes, they are still alive, but… they've encountered some difficulties, so we can't see them yet."
"Then… are my parents really alive?" Shuangwu's face lit up with joy, unable to believe it. For so long, she had thought Jin Wu was her only family and had no idea that her parents were still out there somewhere.
"Yes, they're alive. But they're facing some troubles," Jin Wu said, quickly masking his bitterness with a smile. Although his expression was calm, Lin Langtian couldn't help noticing the flicker of anger in his eyes. It was clear that Jin Wu's parents were in a precarious situation.
"Brother, can I help?" Shuangwu offered, eager to contribute.
Jin Wu chuckled, patting her on the shoulder and saying, "You just focus on cultivating here at Nine Heavens Palace for now. Even if you want to help, you'll need to become much stronger."
Hearing this, Shuangwu sighed but nodded.
The siblings chatted a while longer before the Nine Heavens Palace disciples gathered, ready to head back.
"Goodbye, Brother. Goodbye, Brother Langtian," Shuangwu and Su Rou called, waving to Jin Wu and Lin Langtian, their eyes filled with reluctance to part.
"Goodbye." Lin Langtian and Jin Wu waved back, watching as the disciples gradually disappeared into the distance. As Lin Langtian gazed at their vanishing figures, a faint memory came to mind of his last conversation with Ling Qingzhu after their adventure in the ancient tomb. He exhaled deeply, wondering at the strange twists of fate that brought people together and tore them apart.
But he soon shook off these thoughts, recalling how far his relationship with Ling Qingzhu had progressed since then. This proud, cold woman was slowly but surely warming up to him.
Turning his focus back, Lin Langtian looked at Jin Wu with a thoughtful expression. "Is there something you're not telling me?" he asked.
Lin Langtian was referring to Jin Wu's parents. Knowing how close they were, he would never stand by if Jin Wu needed his help.
Jin Wu hesitated, scratching his head and smiling wryly. "There is, but don't worry. It's not something I'm hiding from you on purpose. I'd rather handle it on my own."
Understanding, Lin Langtian patted him on the shoulder with a serious expression. "If things ever get difficult, come find me. No matter where, or what it takes, I'll be there—even if we have to walk through fire and over knives together."
Before Jin Wu could respond, Lin Langtian took off, his Crimson Sparrow Wings unfurling as he flew off into the distance.
"You and I may be parting here, brother, but don't forget what I said."
As Lin Langtian's words echoed in his ears, Jin Wu was visibly moved. He called back, "Don't worry, brother! I won't!"
Watching their heartfelt farewell, Wu Xuan, who had maintained a calm demeanor throughout, finally spoke, "Jin Wu, you chose your brother well."
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