Chapter 268: Gentle Breeze

Chapter 268: Gentle Breeze

Amid reluctance, the Winchehil couple took the children and left. With his family’s departure, Bran returned to the rhythm of his previous life.

Xirui was also unwillingly taken away by Lily, a decision both Bran and Lily agreed on, which she simply could not refuse.

After witnessing the spar between her Sister and Fourth Brother, and seeing how a mere ripple from a Tributary of Mana injured her Sister, Xirui actually wanted even more to walk the path of Fourth Brother. But after discussing it with her Sister and Fourth Brother, everyone agreed this situation was hard to replicate. Fourth Brother turned himself into a Key—he was able to do this because of his own abilities—but she could not.

Bran comforted her, saying this difference was only temporary. Relying on power was not easy either; that ripple was his current limit, and the damage to Sister was quite limited. Facing a solid foundation, facing Sister who had the protection of wings, it was hard for him to gain an absolute upper hand.

Every Key was the strongest fortress. The Torrent of Mana might flow over it, but it was very hard to destroy it. As long as the fortress stood, the person inside would not suffer much harm.

Moreover, her primary goal was to obtain a Key, and in this regard, Sister had the advantage.

After a trip back to the Castle and a tour of eldest brother’s new Manor, Sister took her and flew back first to Twinwing City. Upon seeing Twinwing City, she finally understood how partial Fourth Brother had been. Compared to it, eldest brother’s new Manor was just an ordinary large courtyard on the city’s edge. No wonder when their parents looked at eldest brother’s proud introduction of his Manor, they only nodded perfunctorily.

The prayers outside Twinwing City were the most eye-catching. Every dawn and dusk, a sea of dark figures would begin the ceremony in unison. The first time she saw such a grand scene, she understood what it meant to be awe-inspiring. The chant of the prayers even stirred within her an impulse to worship.

Fortunately, it was dusk, and they were singing the praises of Fourth Brother. The thought of Fourth Brother’s half-dead, lazy appearance made the rising impulse fade away. Huahua was also being worshipped; nearly one-third of the prayers were devoted to singing his praises.

Sister said the original ceremony was not like this. It was only over time that the prayers began to echo with Mana, gradually affecting people’s minds.

Perhaps to announce her return, when the prayers rose again at the next dawn, a halo spread from the High Tower, slowly enveloping the entire city. The prayers became fervent, and the awe-inspiring air around Sister gradually rose. At that moment, Sister truly seemed like a Deity.

I want to be like Sister! So, Xirui built a statue for herself on the round platform where the statues of Fourth Brother and Sister stood—a statue sculpted from ice and snow. An ice dragon coiled around the statue, with the Little Fairy Ruijia seated upon the dragon’s head.

Sister did not stop her mischief, but the appearance of the Little Fairy Ruijia clearly provoked Lijia. After some crying and fussing, a Lijia formed of light appeared on the shoulder of Sister’s Divine Statue.

Soon, Xirui grew bored. Although her Statue stood out there and attracted much attention, no one offered prayers to it. Several members of the Demon Clan who had the right to enter the city looked at her Statue with astonishment at first, which then turned into respect. They bowed and then walked past her.

Soon, rumors began to circulate among the Demon Clan outside the city: the sister of Light and Darkness had come to Twinwing City. But that was the end of it. The prayers remained loud and clear, yet had nothing to do with her.

One evening, Xirui quietly moved her Statue to the other side of the plaza, building an independent snowy pedestal for it. Under the Starry Sky, looking at the towering Statue, she felt a bit lost.

The ice and snow did not linger for Xirui’s confusion; they slowly melted under the increasingly scorching sun. Chasing the traces of the snow, the spring breeze swept across the grassland once more.

For Rio, this was a tough winter. But he felt very lucky because he had survived after all. Whenever he was on the brink of despair, he would desperately recall that Divine Abode City and strive to pray to the Deity there. In his prayers, he saw the Deity smiling at him. At the edge of life and death, he felt he was drawing closer to the Deity.

Without that Deity, without that last shred of hope in his heart, perhaps he would have melted away with the ice and snow.

The army that had been relentlessly harassing them suddenly retreated. When their remnant group of Cannibals was at the end of their rope, he made a vow—if he could survive this time, he would serve You for life.

Filled with Reverence and joy, they stumbled back to Yong’an City. Yong’an City had changed a little; some residents had actually appeared in the city. When they entered the city in tattered clothes, it attracted the attention and stirred up these people.

Nicole came out to greet them. The initial disdain in her eyes was gone, replaced by a hint of recognition and admiration. She sincerely expressed her blessings to Rio, but Rio was momentarily unsure how to respond.

Through all the fighting, their prayers had gradually become singular, pure. His final vow was dedicated to Light alone. Yet, Nicole was offering him blessings of the night. In awkwardness, Rio gave Nicole a stiff nod, which earned him a faint, kind smile.

Nicole could have returned to Twinwing City with the army, but she chose to stay here. Although Twinwing City was the Divine Abode City, the holy land in their hearts, the Deity she worshipped was not there. Since her Deity was not in that city, what was the point of going back?

Mela went back with joy and anticipation. May she be safe and well. And with Mela’s absence here, she could better promote her Deity’s Doctrine.

She was grateful to these Cannibals. It was precisely their self-sacrifice that protected Yong’an City. It allowed her enough energy to take in the scattered residents nearby and let the Doctrine of her Deity take root here.