As they turned onto the village road, a figure rushed forward, blocking Xiao Shan's path.
"You two, you're finally back!"
The person had scorched hair and clothes blackened by fire, though they were not torn.
This was clearly the work of Third Brother. Third Brother's skill in burning people was far superior to Xue Niang's. He could burn precisely where he intended, without affecting other areas.
This looked too tragic.
So ugly.
Xiao Shan burst into laughter.
Amidst the messy hair, Xue Niang finally recognized Feng Shihao's phoenix eyes.
"Big Brother?"
Upon seeing Ling Yao, Feng Shihao ignored Xiao Shan's mockery.
He had rushed here day and night after hearing of Ling Yao's reappearance. Seeing her now, she truly was as she appeared after her Nirvana, identical to the portrait of the goddess.
He had been anxious, fearing she wouldn't recognize him. Fortunately, her memory remained.
He had searched for her for so long. Linglong was not found, but he had finally found his Imperial Sister. This was truly good news.
"Imperial Sister..."
His eyes welled up, and he stepped forward.
"What are you doing!" Xiao Shan dodged him. "Don't get handsy."
"I am her brother!"
Feng Shihao's reaction was strong. He was furious. It was because he claimed to be Ling Yao's elder brother that the madman had burned him like this. And Xiao Shan, couldn't he even support his sister?
Did he cease to be her elder brother just because she had changed bodies!
He was so angry!
"Ling Yao, why aren't you coming down? Are you injured?"
"Mm... I sprained my ankle coming down the mountain."
"Why were you on the mountain in the first place!"
"Meddling," Xiao Shan muttered.
Back at the rustic farmhouse, Third Brother saw Feng Shihao and was about to burn him again.
"Third Brother! Don't! He really is my elder brother," Xue Niang quickly stopped him.
Apusongshi stared coldly at Feng Shihao, then cast an inscrutable glance at Xue Niang before returning to the house without a word.
What did Third Brother's gaze mean just now?
Xue Niang didn't quite understand. She looked at Xiao Shan.
"You two chat, I'll go check on him."
Xiao Shan patted her shoulder, vaguely guessing Third Brother's thoughts.
As he'd said before, Third Brother was different from Xue Niang. Having just appeared, all his memories were of their past home. Xue Niang was his only relative, and he likely assumed her only relative was him.
"Third Brother!"
Xiao Shan knocked on the door and entered without waiting for a response. He saw that although Third Brother was sitting cross-legged on the bed, he was not radiating any light, meaning he wasn't cultivating.
Apusongshi opened his eyes, his gaze towards Xiao Shan also turning cold.
Well, the trust they had just built was gone, so fragile!
"Third Brother, that person just now, he is indeed Xue Niang's elder brother in this life..."
"No, her elder brother died long ago!" Apusongshi interrupted Xiao Shan. Golden light suddenly surged around him, but the light was entwined with black energy, like black worms, appearing abruptly.
Turbid energy.
This was the turbid energy Kong Ji had mentioned.
It was dangerous.
Xiao Shan, being close, could feel the chilling aura hidden within the warm golden light, and his eyes had become sharp and dangerous.
"Third Brother, he's just her mortal brother. It's just one lifetime. How can he compare to you and Big Brother? You are her brother through countless lifetimes."
Apusongshi stared at him. "Different?"
"Naturally different. How is he as important as you? He's just a mortal. In the next life, who will even remember him? You are her dearest, dearest, dearest brother."
Xiao Shan watched as the halo around him receded and let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Ah, he was so childish.
Truly siblings.
"She shouldn't have forgotten Big Brother."
After hearing Xiao Shan's words, Apusongshi became much more docile and began to speak.
This made Xiao Shan feel somewhat flattered.
Was Third Brother going to confide in him?
"Big Brother doted on her the most. Back then, she was small and weak, without any spiritual power. Big Brother feared she would get hurt or bullied, so he used his own blood to create spells. He made so many for her from childhood. Even when she fell, Big Brother took the blow for her."
"When Hai Ling Tian had its accident, if Big Brother hadn't blocked several lightning strikes for her, she wouldn't have waited for Mother to rush back to save her."
"How do you think I managed to preserve one soul? It was Big Brother who used a method of soul dispersion, sending this soul of mine into the Golden Lotus."
"We all owe Big Brother. We cannot forget him."
Forgetting him would be betrayal.
So that was it. Xiao Shan understood. He had thought too simply. This wasn't just childish jealousy; there was a deeper reason.
He patted Apusongshi's shoulder. "Third Brother, Xue Niang's heart is simple. She values her loved ones very much. Her silence doesn't mean she's forgotten; she just suppresses her sadness deep inside. You should be happy too. After all, that's what the deceased would wish for. You must live on happily for them."
"Live on happily," Apusongshi repeated.
"Yes, live on happily," Xiao Shan said firmly.
"Xiao Shan," Apusongshi said solemnly, "I must apologize to you. Before, I was afraid you would bully Ah Yin, and I was thinking of casting a restraint spell on you."
Xiao Shan: "......And how would this spell restrain me?"
"If you were disloyal to her, you would explode, or rather, explode your balls."
Xiao Shan's legs tightened.
Damn it, it was fortunate he had used the gentle approach and won Third Brother over early.
Third Brother wasn't foolish at all; he was overly shrewd.
"You took Ah Yin to cultivate spiritually last night, didn't you?"
"I took her sightseeing!" Xiao Shan retorted impatiently.
This Third Brother knew everything. He had thought he was just a simple child.
"You did go to cultivate spiritually. I saw Ah Yin was exhausted. This way of yours is not effective; it's a waste of effort. Let her cultivate with me. Once her spiritual power grows, you can achieve yin-yang harmony and mutual complementarity, with the five elements in resonance..."
"How long would that take to cultivate?"
If it was good for Xue Niang, cultivating was fine. At least she wouldn't be so exhausted; it was quite heartbreaking.
"Ah Yin used up all her spiritual energy during her Nirvana. There's almost none left in her body. If she were to cultivate spiritual energy, about thirty years should be enough."
"Third Brother," Xiao Shan stood up, his expression very serious. "I think this is fine as it is. I have plenty of energy and am not afraid of wasting it. You should continue refining the turbid energy on your body. I saw there was still quite a bit just now."
It was impossible to communicate. How could such a joyful thing be considered a waste of effort? Even if it killed him, it would be worth it!
"Where is my sword?" Apusongshi asked from behind.
Xiao Shan glanced back at him, his expression faint. "It will be sent over shortly."
So, Third Brother wasn't really drunk yesterday, was he?