The Secret of Spirit Transformation (Continued)

Ying Zhou hurriedly said, "What nonsense are you talking about! It's nothing, just an ordinary female pen pal sending a New Year's card. What's so strange about that?"

"There's nothing strange about it, but don't be nervous."

"I'm not nervous."

No?

"Is there?"

Yao Bilian, Si Ming, Hongdou all said in unison, "Yes."

Ying Zhou said irritably, "Then you must be seeing things!"

After a while, Xia Guanxue said, "From now on, you don't need to come to sweep my sister's grave anymore."

Ying Zhou was taken aback upon hearing this. He hadn't planned to go again anyway. After all, his relationship with Xia Guanxue was only at the level of holding hands; they weren't that close. At the time, they were both junior high school students. What could they possibly have been thinking about? It was only his first love and her unexpected death that left a deep impression on him.

However, if he agrees now, wouldn't that be like having a guilty conscience?

"I can visit whose grave I want, and that's none of anyone else's business."

"I'm her brother, why can't I interfere?"

"You're her brother, not mine. Why should I listen to you? Besides, what right does someone who hasn't come back to offer incense in four or five years have to call himself an older brother, and what right do they have to stop others from offering incense?"

Seeing that the two of them had gripped their chopsticks tightly, about to start a fierce battle at the dining table, Murong Wu quickly said, "Why are you arguing again?"

Ying Zhou picked up his chopsticks and pointed at Xia Guanxue: "A thousand mistakes, ten thousand mistakes, it's all this guy's fault."

"Hmph, how childish."

Who are you calling childish?

"Whoever answers is the one."

"It seems you can't understand human language."

Seeing that the atmosphere was about to explode, Murong Qing tapped the table with the tip of her chopsticks and said in a cold voice, "Quiet down and eat properly."

It was truly freezing cold; the surrounding temperature dropped drastically. Ying Zhou and Xia Guanxue immediately stopped talking and quietly started eating.

As Yao Bilian, the instigator, was chuckling to herself, Murong Qing immediately warned, "The administrator is not allowed to speak. If you utter a single word, I'll knock you down."

"This has nothing to do with me..."

Before she could finish speaking, there was a series of four sharp taps; the chopsticks were hard and painful when they hit her, Yao Bilian immediately became obedient.

After a while, Xia Guanxue put down her chopsticks and said, "I'm done eating." Then she got up, picked up her bowl and chopsticks, and put them in the kitchen sink.

Taking advantage of the absence of others, Murong Wu sighed and said, "Brother Ying Zhou, Brother Xia only said those words for your own good."

"Tch, I didn't see any good intentions in his words."

"He didn't want you to continue being tied down by his sister, that's why he told you not to go to the grave anymore."

"Is this guy really that kind?" Ying Zhou was very skeptical.

"Brother Xia wasn't a bad person to begin with, otherwise he wouldn't have helped us in the first place. He's just not honest enough."

Si Ming also felt that Xia Guanxue meant the same thing. Unfortunately, he was very direct in front of others, but his personality became awkward when facing Ying Zhou. And Ying Zhou was an awkward person to begin with. When the two of them met, the result was predictable.

"I'm full too."

Si Ming took the bowls and chopsticks to the kitchen and saw Xia Guanxue staring at the running faucet, standing there motionless.

He stepped forward and said, "That brat Ying Zhou didn't mean any harm; he's just very competitive and doesn't want to admit defeat in front of you."

"But he seems to believe you completely, and although he may grumble a bit, he'll eventually do it."

"Because I knocked him down with one hand, and you can't."

"... That makes sense. Humans don't develop a antagonistic mentality towards creatures that are too strong or too weak."

Xia Guanxue nodded, then said, "Thank you for inviting me. It's been a long time since I've sat down at the table and eaten with someone... Before, my parents were often away from home, so I would cook for my younger sister, and we would argue about who would wash the dishes afterward."

Si Ming, "That's great. You can wash the dishes today, and it'll give you a chance to reminisce about the past."

Xia Guanxue chuckled and said, "In return for your invitation, I'll tell you something: the Ji Lineage, the Lineage of the Falling Star Diviner, once considered causing trouble for your companion, Liu Qingqing."

Ji Shichen had mentioned this before, Si Ming nodded, asking, "And then?"

"Then, for some reason, their operation failed, and in the end, it didn't cause any disturbance, much to the worry of the Shadow Hero Guard Bai who was secretly protecting them."

"The fact that you brought this up with me proves that they haven't given up."

"Yes, the Ji Lineage believes that the Falling Star Diviner left a protective mechanism on his disciple, so they plan to change their focus and not cause trouble for Liu Qingqing, but for those close to her."

Si Ming chuckled and said, "They won't come looking for me, will they?"

"The Ji Lineage doesn't have that kind of intelligence-gathering ability. They're a bunch of good-for-nothings. Of course, kids are always the most annoying, and they might very well turn their attention to Liu Qingqing's mother."

Si Ming raised an eyebrow and said, "What are they planning to do? Kidnap?"

"They won't do anything that violates the rules, otherwise it would easily provoke the displeasure of the Falling Star Diviner. Therefore, they will only use methods that are within the bounds of the rules."

"For example?"

"Didn't Liu Qingqing's mother own an entertainment company?"