Chapter 16

The footsteps stopped in front of Tang Yan, knowing he was cultivating. Tang Yan soon opened his eyes, feeling very relaxed as the air blew towards him, carrying a seductive but dangerous scent. "Aunt, you've come," he said, cupping his fist along with a bow and a smile hanging on his face. At this moment, Tang Yan also gave out a superior and murderous vibe, not wanting to lose momentum against his aunt.

Du Bao'er, who stood behind her aunt, felt very uncomfortable and a little fearful of the brother she hadn't seen in a few years. "Enough with that, I see that you've become a lot naughtier than when you were a little boy," Xuan Tong said.

"Hehehehe, I've missed you, Aunt Tong," Tang Yan said, falling into her embrace like a little kid, rubbing his face against her chest. Du Bao'er, who was behind them, felt it unreal since the two people in front of her were like predators a while ago, and now they were all lovey-dovey all of a sudden.

"It seems like you've gotten back almost completely, and you've also regained your cultivation," Xuan Tong observed.

"Of course, but it's nothing to be impressed about. It feels boring and nostalgic," Tang Yan paused, looking towards the door. "Sisi, Chen, Aunt Tong is around. Also, Miss Shu, come out," he called out, not sparing a glance at Du Bao'er, making the latter feel unhappy.

"Aunt Tong," "Aunt Tong," "Martial Aunt," the three siblings came out to greet, well-dressed as if it was an important occasion, leaving only Tang Yan dressed in a long, slim-fit brown trouser and an unbuttoned shirt with a rough, unkempt face. The group of three also faced Du Bao'er and greeted her with bright smiles, making her previous unhappy mood vanish away.

"Won't you greet your elder sister?" Xuan Tong asked, noticing the friction between the two siblings.

"I don't think we were ever close enough to greet each other. Also, she belongs to the Du family, not a member of the Tang family. If I were to even make an attempt to greet her, it would be out of courtesy," Tang Yan replied blandly.

"Elder brother," his two siblings shouted at him for his harsh words. Although Tang Yan was not close to Du Bao'er, his other two siblings were close with her, even Sisi, who was only a year old, could remember the affection Bao'er gave her, unlike the previous Tang Yan, who was expressionless and cold. Even Xuan Tong was surprised, although she expected an answer like that, she never expected Tang Yan to say it like it was nothing.

"Oh, you think this is too much? Fine, fine, it's my bad. I apologize to you for that," he replied with an innocent smile and a slight bow, and walked away.

The atmosphere became a little stiff and tense after Tang Yan left. It could be said that everyone was waiting for Du Bao'er's response towards Tang Yan's behavior, but to their surprise, she just smiled. "It's alright; at least, he didn't rebuke me, which is enough," she said with a little pain mixed with her voice.

"Don't say it like that, eldest sister. Brother Yan has changed; I'm sure he doesn't hold any grudge against you," Tang Chen comforted her, tugging her right hand.

Xuan Tong felt a little relief since she was told by her sister that Tang Yan's soul had fully merged due to the strange phenomenon that occurred a few days ago.

In the living room, Tang Yan sat at a distant corner while his two siblings and Aunt Xuan Tong, along with Du Bao'er, sat at the center, looking in his direction.

"Let me get this straight: you came here to take me back to the Sky Floating City?" Tang Yan asked.

"What about us, Aunt Tong?" the two little siblings puffed out their cheeks.

"You'll return to a branch in the west side of the city, where your third brother and some of the Du family are, as arranged by your father," Xuan Tong replied calmly, as if waiting for a reaction.

Tang Yan frowned, hearing it was the arrangement of the Du family head, but still, he took a deep breath. "Well, that's strange. Why now, of all times, and not five years ago when I left?"

"First sister and third brother said it's for the best since you cause trouble, and the people of the Lu have got their eyes on you recently," Du Bao'er answered with a straight face, trying to keep her fidgeting low, but still, her reaction betrayed her expression.

"Oh, that's new. Seems like the Du and Lu families are at odds," Tang Yan said, his eyes narrowing slightly. "And also talk of the first sister, whom I've never seen before, and the pathetic third brother. What's with their unusual attitude of care?"

Tang Yan's tone was laced with sarcasm, and Du Bao'er's expression turned slightly uncomfortable.

"Actually, the eldest sister said to calm down and accept the offer," Xuan Tong intervened. "The real reason behind this is due to certain people awakening a spirit-type ability."

Tang Yan's eyes lit up with interest. "Oh... you mean martial spirit awakening. But that's supposed to be done before cultivating or before entering the foundation establishment realm. You don't mean to tell me that it's a first here, knowing this?"

The room fell silent, and Du Bao'er's eyes widened in surprise. "How did you come to know of this? Have you awakened yet?"

Tang Yan chuckled. "Well, back in the sect, we have at least over a hundred and seventy awakened Battle martial spirits, twenty Stealth martial spirits, five Supportive martial spirits, and also three Grand martial spirits. I thought the Sword Float Sect or the Du family would have a lot of awakeners."

Du Bao'er's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Also, you have a martial spirit, Bao'er. It's just that your mother sealed it away since she didn't intend to allow the Du family to make use of it."

Xuan Tong nodded in agreement. "Well, just to be clear, I haven't awakened one yet, but I sense that Lu Ding has awakened a Battle martial spirit, along with a special trait. Chen and Sisi also should be able to awaken theirs once they step into the Qi refinement realm."

Tang Yan leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face. "You... you still haven't explained how you knew about all this, and how were you able to start cultivating."

Du Bao'er took a deep breath, her eyes locked on Tang Yan's. "If you want to know, then you have to pay."

Tang Yan raised an eyebrow, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Oh? And what do you want me to pay with?,I'm not going to give you any spiritual stones or treasures."

Tang Yan chuckled, "Oh, I don't want any of those things. What I want is...information."

Du Bao'er raised an eyebrow, "What kind of information?"

Tang Yan leaned forward, a sly grin spreading across his face, "I want to know more about the Du family's plans and the current situation in the Sky Floating City. You see, I've been away for a while, and I need to catch up."

Du Bao'er hesitated, unsure if she should reveal such sensitive information. But her curiosity about Tang Yan's past and his sudden interest in martial spirits got the better of her.

"Fine, I'll tell you what I know. But you have to promise me that you'll tell me the truth about your past and how you know about martial spirits."

Tang Yan nodded, "I promise. Now, let's make a deal. You tell me what I want to know, and I'll tell you what you want to know."

The two of them locked eyes, and for a moment, it seemed like they were the only ones in the room.

Xuan Tong cleared her throat, breaking the silence, "I think that's enough for now. We can discuss the details later."

Tang Yan and Du Bao'er nodded, still eyeing each other with a mix of curiosity and wariness.