“I’m not going anywhere! You think I’m just some scared little girl?”
Ji Shiyu sniffed the air and grinned.
As soon as she arrived at Howling Fjord, she felt an inexplicable sense of ease.
It meant her teacher must be very close—probably on an island near the Great Whirlpool, watching the sea and collecting herbs.
She had come to the right place.
“But who is that golden-haired guy? He feels so familiar, just like Mother. It doesn’t seem like a Transformation Pill or a Disguise Skill.”
Looking at him was like looking at another version of herself—same bloodline, a sense of déjà vu.
Ji Shiyu pressed her index fingers to her forehead and rubbed, looking adorably puzzled.
Only Mother could probably explain this.
“Fine, he claims to be your brother, Ji Shiyu. You don’t know him, right?”
Li Su was speechless.
Was there a single normal person in this family of father, daughter, and siblings?
“White Whale Island Master, Mr. Yun Liu.”
At that moment, a low voice suddenly came from behind.
The golden-haired youth had somehow caught up with them and called out with a smile.
“We meet again, Master Ji.”
Li Su froze.
The yellow-haired guy had come alone—the guy named Fang and the blind female cultivator with terrifying spirit breath were nowhere to be seen.
Yun Liu pointed at himself with a displeased expression.
To Fang Ya, it naturally looked like he was picking a fight, and he was happy to see it.
“White Whale Island Master, please forgive me. Master Ji, a word in private—it’s about my little sister’s family matter.”
Li Su shrank his neck, shot Ji Shiyu a ‘you’re on your own’ look, and promptly slipped away.
“You two siblings figure it out yourselves. This has nothing to do with me!”
Ji Shiyu yelled at Li Su’s retreating back, but she was also curious about the other version of herself, so she plucked up her courage and followed the yellow-haired guy to a secluded corner.
“You traitor! What do you want to say… Listen!?”
thump!
Yun Liu turned around and caged Ji Shiyu against the wall in the dark alley, one hand propped against the wall, sneering coldly.
Ji Shiyu’s heart inexplicably raced, and she felt flustered for no reason, swallowing hard.
“I hear you’ve been quite attentive to our Shiyu?”
“None of it is true! Shiyu and I are innocent. Well, for now. It might not be the case later.”
“Ji… No matter what that Fang guy told you, I damn well know!”
Yun Liu picked his ear, his expression softening slightly.
He leaned close to the girl’s ear and sighed.
“Don’t you have anything you want to ask me?”
‘After that much hinting, why hasn’t this silly girl recognized me yet?’
Ji Shiyu nodded.
Of course she did.
Then she spoke.
“May I ask your mother’s maiden name?”
Yun Liu was completely defeated.
He covered his face and wailed.
“Her surname is Ji, given name Xingshu. Your mother also has a mole on her inner thigh. Satisfied?”
“Bingo!”
“No way. Are we really born from the same mother? Uh, I-I mean, Shiyu never mentioned having a brother.”
Ji Shiyu muttered softly, reaching out to feel Yun Liu’s face, tugging at his golden hair.
It felt pretty good.
The familiar feeling appeared again, making her feel close.
Her powerful sixth sense told her that this illegitimate brother would not hurt her.
‘This little dummy is full of holes, but still pretending.’
Yun Liu couldn’t help but laugh.
He wanted to tease her a bit longer.
“The Heavenly Pivot Star Office doesn’t take male disciples, so of course Shiyu doesn’t know I exist. To Ji Xingshu, I’m just a stain.”
“I see. That must have been hard on you.”
The little yellow-hair scratched his head.
She actually believed it, even sympathizing with her elder brother.
It was unbearably cute.
Having lived over ten years and suddenly getting a brother with no emotional foundation, the feeling was extremely strange—especially since it wasn’t convenient to acknowledge each other now.
Finding her teacher was the priority.
At that moment, a bird’s head popped out of the yellow-hair’s head, staring at her with a dull, foolish gaze.
Aotian couldn’t stand it any longer, so he gave his owner a little hint.
She should get it now, right?
Then Ji Shiyu excitedly pointed at Aotian, her doubts gone.
“Ah! You have a silly bird too.”
“Even our companion spirit beasts are identical twins! You really are my long-lost relative!”
‘Hopeless. This child is utterly hopeless.’
‘Is it a mistake that the Crouching Dragon and Young Phoenix are saving the Nine Provinces together?’
‘If Yinglong doesn’t die soon, the Misty Realm will perish. Even the crippled Mystic Maiden is losing intelligence. Or is it just its bad luck to be stuck with this one?’
Aotian rolled his eyes at Ji Shiyu, too exasperated to speak.
The mention of Shiyu in the context of a love-struck girl annoyed him.
“Didi? Then do you know where Aotian went? He…”
“Who are you calling a silly bird? Show some respect. My name is Aodi.”
“Shiyu’s savings were all lost because of him. Shiyu got angry and kicked him out. He hasn’t flown back yet. Fooling around has to have limits!”
When it came to who was really fooling around, Yun Liu’s mouth twisted in a smile.
He composed himself, returned Aotian to his rebellious disciple, placing him back on Ji Shiyu’s head—returning the item to its rightful owner.
“Alright, enough. Let’s get back to business. Stop pretending. You’re not the East Extreme Pavilion Master.”
“W-Why am I not? I dare you to ask me my mother’s maiden name too! Ask me!”
Ji Shiyu looked flustered, not knowing where she had slipped up.
When it came to knowledge about her teacher, she wouldn’t lose.
“If you’re the East Extreme Pavilion Master, then who am I!?”
Yun Liu grabbed Ji Shiyu’s antenna hair, both anxious and amused.
He had clearly snuck out to exchange code words.
Did he have to skin himself and reveal his identity at Howling Fjord?
With so many experts here, what if walls had ears?
“You are… my adopted son?”
Ji Shiyu thought for a moment and came up with a conclusion that would make Ji Xingshu proud—a ridiculous conclusion.
Aotian was too exasperated to laugh.
thump!
Yun Liu flicked the silly girl’s forehead with his finger, gritting his teeth.
“I’ll give you one more chance. Think carefully.”
‘What’s wrong? The little padded jacket’s brother is just a big vest—makes perfect sense!’
Ji Shiyu’s antenna hair shot up.
She finally remembered the main quest and understood Ji Shiyu’s good intentions.
“I get it, dear elder brother. Ahem, let me reintroduce myself.”
“My name is Yun Liu. I am Shiyu’s future husband. Hello, brother-in-law!!”
Translating the confusing behavior of the big yellow-hair, it meant:
“I know everything you did to Shiyu. Since you did it, you have to take responsibility. Treat her well from now on. If you dare bully my sister, I won’t let you off.”
“That’s right. From now on, I’m not the East Extreme Pavilion Master—I’m your brother-in-law!”
“…?”
Borrowing A Lian’s words, Aotian was shocked.
This girl had become smart in the wrong place, turning the tables and reversing the situation.
Yun Liu gasped, turned around and left.
Ji Shiyu hurriedly chased after him.
“You have to believe me!”
“Don’t run, brother-in-law! My feelings for Shiyu are as clear as the heavens and earth!”
Using her teacher’s face to pursue her own happiness, Ji Shiyu was not embarrassed at all.
She shamelessly dug at the relationship.
“Stop yelling. I’m not your brother-in-law. Stay away from me.”
Yun Liu almost tripped.
He was truly scared, fleeing the scene in panic.
The father-daughter reunion failed, and he gained a brother-in-law for no reason.
Was this damn girl really stupid or just pretending?