~ Yet time does not stays still ~

The next day Xi Ken behaved as if what he discussed with me the night prior had never happened, generally speaking, if someone else was in my place, they would also feign ignorance and try to go with the flow, or maybe panic a bit out of habit? Yet I on the other hand, felt my heart beating in anxiousness, thinking whether Xi Ken had been playing a prank on me and if his declaration of desire had waned overnight.

However, the life of my transmigrated person started early as soon as the sun came out and by now I had already became accustomed to the bustling of chores which passed in a flurry. And with that we reached the present situation which was a good old breakfast hour, although entirely different based on how tense the atmosphere was.

I did not even fidget my legs as per usual, but kept combing my hair or twiddling with my thumb, eager to let them talk among themselves and sort out whatever the hell was going on, yet I was also contradictory to my feelings, and wanted to listen to them as they… argued.

It wasn't as if they talked in a different language, but the way they were talking, I was assured I wouldn't know what the words meant.

The extra person in our group of four was that rich man I had heard about last night, Wersi Wa. He had a set of enchanting phoenix eyes, lower voice cord and a unique appearance which was tough, tan and burly. But unlike all other burly men I had seen in my life, he did not appear to be stupid, or plain muscles, rather, his face held on to a look of equanimity, a calm disposition hard to come by, it could also be said to rival that of Xi Ken's.

He had only spoken about two lines, but something about his tone ruffled Ser Vor the wrong way and even Xi Ken frowned.

He had said, "Border seals narrow, underlings get punished, the tide rise for the eastern prevailing winds. Strength of the Deity clearly falls."

Now no normal person would understand what he meant if they heard those sentences spoken so abruptly as soon as he entered.

In such cases one would desire to ask, 'Sir, what do you mean, please be more straightforward for the layman.'

But judging by all the reactions, I concurred keeping quiet was something I should be doing. Since even Hummer sat obediently still by his master's side. The tea table decorated with untouched breakfast.

"I have no underlings," Xi Ken muttered, "please refrain from judging me the next time."

I turned towards Xi Ken, understanding somewhat that Wersi Wa had accused the other for something he hadn't done, must be related to those underlings that Ser Vor referred to previously.

"The border seal was bound to get narrower," Ser Vor noted, his hands fisted and gently resting on the table. "And the eastern provinces were blemished from the beginning."

Wersi Wa, shifted to reveal a narrow line of furrow on his forehead, as if furrowing his brows. "Supreme wishes."

"We are already en route to the palace, next time I won't tolerate such unrealistic assumptions made with no justifications, leave with your envoy." Xi Ken finished, immediately getting up from his mat, creasing out his dark robes, and with a pointed glance at me, left the small gathering space inside the mud house… very haughtily directing his ire at the unwelcomed Wersi Wa.

With a glance at the rest, I slightly bowed and left as well, tip toeing out in a hurry to get away.

"Why does that person speak so odd" I mumbled out, but judging from the tense back of Xi Ken, who was marching ahead back to our room, I changed my question, "why would he anger you?"

"He is the direct underling of the Supreme Chanter, so it is given he would point fingers my way."

I blinked, "That supreme Chanter, is he one of the three most powerful people in the world?

Xi Ken did not mind my poking, "That is correct, he is also one of the three, He Ken they call him."

"Ken?" I was startled, were they brothers?

"Ken is a title," he replied, still walking ahead, his words freely flowing like a breeze in the hot sun, "more or less vaguely implies respect for the word, 'Xin Hen Yun' which means 'Deity' in simpler terms. I was named Xi, while he is He, and the third junior is called Yu. The three of us aren't brothers, but we represent the three entity bestowed by the Gods, which the last Deity mentioned as the three races. Ink Master, Chanters and Demons. The fourth race, the humans, they do not hold any significance in the eye of the three races, and they don't have a powerful figure head to represent their kind, but to maintain balance and fate, all four races together contribute to this world."

He peeked at me, his face turning, and despite my mind absorbing the information like sponge, he felt the urge to clarify, "The Southern town Ken Jui, that you have been to in Zor En, that and the eastern town of Xiatchen where you got the certificate, they are the sub domains directly working under the main umbrella of the ruling monarch of Zor En, which is a human sect. So that region is the safest, while the rest… you will know they are easily provoked, have degrees of secrets and a rusty system. Zor En is the most peaceful region that comes second to none, but they are dominated by humans and they do not allow powerful races to enter, and that was the reason why you did not encounter any demon or miasmic evil. The place we are now at is also a part of Zor En, but merges with Lao Ren, thus you were captured by one of the illusion creating spirit. A small demon which is not that powerful. Is just very mischievous and playful, although it targets fragile minds very quickly."

I paled, "Right, just playful…"

"Lao Ren is very dangerous, just like the rest, the places you traveled to in Zor En pale in comparison. You have to know that even if I am one of the three, I am not omnipotent, so if you run around while we enter Lao Ren completely, you might even get killed."

I saw the thin lips of Xi Ken pressing sternly, so hurriedly I nodded at his warning, slightly stunned. Because it was true, we hadn't encountered anything dangerous while we were travelling, only the people had ill intentions. But Last night I had been attacked, when we were just at the border… I worried it would get more difficult for me to survive if my situation got worse.

"Um, I noted that you said powerful entities cannot enter Zor En, how were you able to visit?"

"I am part of the council in Xiatchen, so being affiliated with the place, I naturally can enter Zor En."

"I see," I was thoughtful, as we moved inside our shaded mud house, the slight cold shade cooling our heads. "So leaving that be, can I ask you why this… He Ken would try to point fingers at you?"

"He is a Chanter, asked me on several occasions if I wanted to be his partner, only to be rejected, and now having heard about a companion suddenly appearing by my side, he must be in a pickle. So he is behaving so crudely to show his irritation on my unjust treatment of him."

I felt a sudden urge to chortle, "Why does that sounds as if he is jealous?"

Xi Ken laid down on the mat by the corner, his arm propping him up, "He isn't a jealous person, more like he… considers me family and wanted to approve of you before I took you in."

I choked, talk about having a… brother complex.

"Will he be mad if he knows that companion is a timid and easily frightened Raven?" I asked with a laugh, although my face couldn't put in efforts and I ended up grimacing at my situation. It felt as if I would be played with for a while once that He Ken got the handle of me. He sounded like a petty person.

"You don't need to fear him, he will come to his senses after a while."

I nodded, a little disturbed, "Then… I wanted to ask, after Wersi Wa goes back, what will you tell Ser Vor… about my ink."

Xi Ken lazily fell back on the mat, keeping his head over a cotton stuffed hard pillow, his dark hair flaring all around his head like a halo, "I will tell him my wish, he won't interfere."

I gulped, "And if someone asks me… what do I tell them?"

"If they happen to see the ink, do not get restless, just calmly tell them you are neither my partner nor my slave. They can roughly assume."

"… if you say so…" I mumbled.

"Then don't just stand there, come here, I haven't yet had my daily dose of kisses."

I flushed, marching out of the door instead of following his order, my brain almost stuttering to a halt. I missed that stiff Xi Ken who had been too frightening to talk to, this one was actually very mischievous, making me embarrassed all the time. Sigh…