Ch. 25 - My Little Brother Is an Absolute Genius

After a short while of awkward silence, Tian Mei decided to break the silence.

"Sweetie?"

"Hm?"

Tian Xin seemed a little startled.

"You seemed to be worrying about something. What is bothering you, sweetie?"

"N-nothing!"

"It is obviously something. You might feel better after telling us about it."

"I-I…"

Tian Xin looked at Xiao Huoyan.

"If you have questions, then I suggest you ask them directly instead of trying to figure it out by yourself."

Tian Xin seemed a little shocked.

"How did you…?"

"I am sorry. You seemed so troubled and I figured that you would not tell us even if we asked, so I went ahead and read your mind. I am sorry for not asking for permission first, but if I would have asked first, then you most definitely would have said no."

"I… It is fine. Is it okay for me to ask absolutely anything?"

"Yes."

"… And you promise to answer truthfully?"

"... Yes."

"Good. You have dual essence, right?"

"… Hmm…"

"What? You can not go back on your word!"

"Oh, that is not it. I-"

"Then what is it?!"

Xiao Huoyan sighed hopelessly.

"… I do not know what to call it when I have more than two spirit essences."

"You have more than two spirit essences?! Is that even possible?! You must be lying!"

"How can you say that?! He is your little brother now, not some stranger!"

Hearing her own daughter speak like that, Tian Mei felt her blood boil.

"It is fine… Even though I might be a part of your family right now, we have not known each other for long. I am indeed a stranger. I have already made my decision to stay with you as a part of your family unless you decide to chase me out, but even if I see you as family, I can not tolerate it when someone calls me a liar for simply speaking the truth.

I have already decided to trust you, so why would I need to lie?"

"Dear…"

As she heard him speak, she felt as if her heart would break. Even though he was not her biological son… even though they barely knew each other, she still felt a deep sense of affection for him. She already regarded him as her own son. Hearing her own son speak like that made her feel like her heart was on the verge of breaking.

As he spoke she clearly felt the sorrow behind his words.

"Sweetie! Apologize to your little brother right this instant! How could you call your own brother a liar?!"

"M-mother, I-I…"

Tian Xin was at a loss. She did not know what to say.

Xiao Huoyan did not mean to make a fuss over it, but Tian Xin was just too stubborn. She simply refused to believe him, but even so, he did not wish for her to have a hard time.

Even though he had not known this pair of mother and daughter for long, he still cared about them both. If he did not like someone, then he would just keep away from that person or even go as far as to actually kill that person, but if he did like that person, then he would gladly stay attached.

Even though his mindset seemed simple and foolish, he did not wish to change his way of thinking. He trusted his ability to judge people's characters.

He knew that Tian Mei and Tian Xin were good people. They even decided to welcome a stranger covered in blood into their family. That was not something that just anyone would do. Even if others would also feel sorry for him, they would not go as far as to actually invite him to stay as a part of their family.

He had already decided to trust them. He had already recognized them as his family.

He knew that his uncle, Jin Niao, did not have good intentions, so he had already decided that he would get rid of him as soon as he reaches Rosewood City. Someone who knew so many of his secrets could not be left alive.

While Xiao Huoyan was still lost in thoughts, Tian Xin was still unable to calm herself. She did not know what to do. Tian Mei grew inpatient and broke the silence.

"Apologize!", she yelled at her daughter, Tian Xin.

Tian Xin felt her eyes getting teary. She was on the verge of crying.

Seeing this, Xiao Huoyan decided to let the matter go. He could not stand to see his sister like that.

"It is fine. Why not just forget about it already, okay?"

"But she--"

Tian Mei was still unwilling to let this go.

"--It is fine. Really."

"Are you really sure?"

"Yes, I am sure.

I understand that it sounds completely unbelievable and that you will not believe me until I show you some solid proof."

"I--"

"--I will not blame you. Since you want proof, I will show you."

"N-now?"

"Yeah!"

Xiao Huoyan smiled brightly and then he began to freely release his spirit essences all at once. The sight were truly shockingly beautiful.

Seeing all those spirit essences dance in the air like beautiful rays of vivid colours, as well as dazzling snowflakes, a shining golden dragon and a graceful light purple phoenix, both Tian Mei and Tian Xin felt dumbstruck.

None of them had ever seen anything so incredibly beautiful. It was like something straight out of a dream. They could not believe their eyes.

"… Beautiful~!!", Tian Mei and Tian Xin both exclaimed in unison.

After a while, Xiao Huoyan quit the beautiful performance and turned to look at Tian Mei and Tian Xin again.

"Well… H-how was it?"

"… Absolutely beautiful! I have never seen anything so beautiful in my entire life before!"

"Me neither, sweetie… Me neither…"

"So… Do you believe me now, then?"

"Who would dare not to believe after seeing that?!"

Tian Mei was still shocked by what she had just seen.

"I… I believe you…", Tian Xin said, still in a state of shock.

"Well, then that is good, hahaha!"

"Uhm… How long have you been able to do that?", Tian Mei asked while thinking back at the beautiful scene she had just seen.

"Hmm… I do not know. This is the first time I have tried--"

"--WHAT?!?! This is your FIRST time doing that?!"

Hearing Xiao Huoyan say that it was his first time, Tian Xin was shocked beyond belief.

"Uhm, yes."

"Incredible!"

Tian Mei could not believe her ears. Never would she have ever expected that such a powerful child existed in this world.

"The control you have over your spirit essences are really incredible! Amazing!"

The shock that Tian Mei felt could not even compare to that of her dear daughter, Tian Xin's.

"Hahaha! My little brother is an absolute genius!"