Chapter 185: The Price

Chapter 185: The Price

Adam felt his heart sink. Bran’s promise did not make him happy. This kind of price, and many risks that Bran would not mention, made him feel a little cold. He looked at Bran, feeling somewhat lost. How could this be?

“Does Lily know?”

“How could she not know?” Bran sighed. “You know her personality. It was her choice, and I did not want to stop her. Even if I wanted to, it was already too late.”

“What about those Little Wizards?” Adam felt a heavy blockage in his heart, and anger began to burn slowly. Looking at Bran in front of him, who had returned to his annoying, lazy look, he listened to the voice that seemed to come from the distant sky.

“Did they have a choice? They accepted the gifts from the World and accepted our training. After that, many things could never be changed again.”

“You!” Adam did not quite know what to say. “What about Xirui?”

Bran hugged his sister’s shoulder. “Go find your sister. Tell her I want to fight her.”

Hearing this, Xirui’s eyes lit up, and she ran away.

Watching his sister run off, Bran spoke again. “My sister’s matter was decided by our parents, and she agreed. She wants to become someone like me. This is the price she must pay.

I suggested some ideas, wanting to use other children for testing, but our parents disagreed. They decided to let my sister do it.”

Adam interrupted Bran. “And me!”

“You? You are the eldest son in the family. This kind of thing is not your turn yet.”

“And the second son!”

Bran snorted loudly through his nostrils. “Him? Do you think he is suitable?”

Adam had never felt so annoyed and stifled as he did today. But he could do nothing. The sense of powerlessness grew stronger. He wanted to vent, but the lazy Bran at this moment made him feel danger, so he dared not take any extreme action.

Bran’s annoying voice continued. “There are many things you should know now. Before you noticed, others had already seen the change in my sister. Ever since I became a Great Wizard, our siblings have been watched. Compared to them, you were too slow.

Soon, there will be such a child under every Ancient Tree. Those children are not something I can decide, nor are they children I would have chosen.

What can I decide about everything here? Including those Little Wizards. But once chosen, many things no longer offer a choice.

I can only manage myself. I can only walk my own path. Many things are not for us to speak on yet.”

…

The two brothers, having lost interest in talking, walked side by side toward the Training Ground. Huahua had appeared in Bran’s arms at some point, comfortably holding Bran’s neck and enjoying his petting.

Adam glanced at Bran beside him and suddenly felt this younger brother was somewhat pitiful. He created many strange things all by himself and made a mess of himself too. Adam did not understand. If things went on like this, what would Bran have left? What could he possibly gain?

He tried to find a topic. “Can you beat Lily?”

“Yes!”

This straightforward answer made Adam freeze. Although he truly hoped someone could teach Lily a lesson and vent the frustration he had carried since childhood, this quick answer felt unreliable to him.

He looked Bran up and down with suspicion, trying to find proof that Bran was not showing signs of being ill.

Noticing the doubtful gaze, Bran chuckled. “I doubted it too, but after meeting her, I realized—she is too weak.”

Seeing his brother’s curled lip, Bran continued to explain. “She is indeed powerful, but how much of that can she use against me? All along, her opponents have been too weak. Her power has never been truly tempered.”

“Aren’t you the same?” Adam retorted.

“I am different. I have Huahua. Even just playing around provides rare experience. Also, my home has a very powerful Wood. But her? She has nothing. So she is not my opponent, at least not yet.

Right now, you should be watching your annoying sister and brother fight with silent joy, not full of questions.”

Bran’s casual teasing made Adam a little embarrassed, so he wisely did not ask further. The Training Ground was in sight. He hoped Bran was not boasting.

…

Lily and Xirui were waiting there. After hearing where Bran had been hiding, Lily slapped the air hard and complained to the Little Fairy Lijia. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Lijia was also upset. The Fairies here had kept it a secret from her, so she shrieked. “I didn’t know either!”

Sly! Lily decided to make Bran pay. So when she saw Bran and Adam walking side by side, she eagerly entered the grounds to wait.

The Training Ground in the Northlands was always lively. Training here had become part of life. Lily’s appearance naturally attracted many eyes. When she entered the Training Ground, some guessed what was about to happen.

The Northlanders had a quick way of passing information. After a series of whistles, people began to gather here.

When Bran reached the edge of the field and was about to put Huahua on the ground, Xirui stretched out her hands toward him with an expectant look. After a slight hesitation, Bran placed Huahua into Xirui’s arms.

It seemed as if nothing had changed, as if everything was a replay of the Mountain Villa. But some things had started to become different, like the spirited young girl in the field.

Bran decided to teach her a lesson. He would not hold back or show mercy anymore. He would give her a profound lesson in front of everyone. Lily had become somewhat restless and too full of herself.

Bran walked slowly toward the center of the field. Butterfly shadows fluttered around him. Under everyone’s gaze, the colorful butterfly shadows gradually lost their color, leaving only black and white. And Bran had already stood before Lily, within arm’s reach.

Under the sunlight, the sister and brother stood there, clearly distinct. The sister was like a mountain; the brother was like mist. The sister was like light; the brother was like shadow.

“Let’s begin!” Lily said excitedly.

“Okay!” Before her voice faded, accompanied by a crisp sound, Bran slapped his hand against Lily’s forehead.

Lily blinked, a bit stunned. A line of red rose, gradually dyeing her cheeks like flying rosy clouds. A butterfly shadow flashed before her eyes, and Bran’s seemingly amused expression came into view.

“You sneaked an attack!” Along with the accusation, twin blades appeared in Lily’s hands.

Most people only heard a crisp sound and then saw Lily’s face turn completely red.

Xirui’s mouth hung open, unable to believe this result. After regaining some clarity, she took a bite toward the Huahua in her arms, wanting to confirm this was not a dream. But she bit nothing. With the clack of her teeth, her face buried into Huahua’s fur.

In the field, Bran spread his hands. “Shall we begin?”

“Okay!” Another crisp sound came from her forehead.

Lily felt her face become burning hot. Butterfly shadows danced before her eyes, and behind them was Bran’s annoying smiling face. She shook her head and carefully took a few steps back. Besides anger, she also became cautious. How did he hit me? Lily was full of doubt.

She decided to attack first, not giving Bran another chance to sneak an attack.