Brotherhood

Xiao Li let go of Xiao Tian and looked over the robe he was wearing. "How did you suddenly end up becoming an Alchemist? And a Third Rank one at that. When I first heard your name, I thought it was just someone with the same name."

"My talent was just too good. I kept refining and refining, and somehow I became an Alchemist," Xiao Tian said with a grin.

"Go, go. You've had the thickest skin since we were kids. Go see Big Brother. Big Brother has always missed you all."

Xiao Li pretended to be speechless as he shooed Xiao Tian away, but inside, he was also happy that his younger brother had achieved so much. Without anyone noticing, he wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes.

Xiao Tian walked into the hall and looked at Xiao Ding ahead of him. After Xiao Ding stood up, he, too, kept observing Xiao Tian.

"Little Tianzi, after not seeing you for years, you really have grown up. You're even taller than Big Brother now," Xiao Ding said with a gentle expression and a smile.

"Big Brother is also getting more and more handsome and dashing. You must have charmed plenty of women here."

He looked at the big brother before him, the one who had always doted on him beyond measure, and teased him with a smile.

"You even dare tease Big Brother? You're still the same as before." Xiao Ding laughed and scolded him.

"Big Brother, Second Brother, let me introduce two people to you." Xiao Tian waved toward the door and said to Xiao Ding and Xiao Li.

Xiao Yi Xian and Hai Lao walked into the hall.

"This is Xiao Yi Xian, also my girlfriend, and this is Hai Bo Dong, Hai Lao." After Xiao Tian introduced the two of them, he also introduced Xiao Ding and Xiao Li to them. "This is my big brother Xiao Ding and my second brother Xiao Li."

When Xiao Yi Xian heard the suffix Xiao Tian used in his introduction, a trace of happiness appeared on her face. "Big Brother Xiao Ding, Second Brother Xiao Li, hello."

For Xiao Tian's sake, Hai Lao also gave a faint nod.

"Mm, good."

"Hello."

When Xiao Ding and Xiao Li heard the suffix in Xiao Tian's introduction, a trace of astonishment flashed through both their eyes. However, seeing that others were present, they did not ask about it and instead smiled and nodded in greeting.

"I'll also introduce you to the members of our Mercenary Group. These are all mainstays of our Mercenary Group." Xiao Ding began with a woman at the side and introduced them one by one. "This is Xue Lan, this is..."

Xiao Tian glanced at Xue Lan. This woman might be his future sister-in-law. Xue Lan wore a short top on her upper body that only wrapped around her chest, and a short leather skirt on her lower body, revealing a pair of long, slender legs.

Xue Lan and the others all greeted him with smiles.

Xiao Tian smiled and nodded in acknowledgment to the gathered core members of the Mercenary Group in the hall.

Xiao Ding dismissed everyone and had Xue Lan take Xiao Yi Xian and Hai Lao to arrange rooms for them.

Watching everyone walk far away, Xiao Li could not help asking, "Little Tianzi, what's going on with you? This one is your girlfriend, then what about Xiao Xun'er?"

"Xun'er is naturally mine too," Xiao Tian said with certainty.

"You, ah... you've grown up too, and you have your own ideas, but you must not let Xun'er down." Xiao Ding and Xiao Li were momentarily at a loss for words. "Forget it, forget it. It's rare for us brothers to reunite. Let's not talk about this."

That night, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li set out a grand drinking challenge, determined to drink to their hearts' content with Xiao Tian until they were all dead drunk.

When they were halfway through drinking, Xiao Li put an arm around Xiao Tian's shoulder and sighed. "If only Xiao Yanzi were here too. Then the four of us brothers could all get completely drunk together. As for you two, Big Brother and I have missed you every moment."

"Second Brother, you're drunk. Besides, Xiao Yanzi has also recovered his talent. He's out tempering himself right now. Maybe he'll show up here one day. Haha."

Xiao Tian poured a mouthful of wine into his mouth and said loudly.

"Then I'm looking forward to it. Come on, keep drinking."

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li also picked up their wine. The wine jars in the three men's hands clinked together, and they began drinking in great gulps.

In the middle of the night, Xiao Tian looked at the two brothers who had already collapsed under the table, shook his head, and smiled. He called people over to send Xiao Ding and Xiao Li back to their rooms.

He could drink a thousand cups without falling. They had actually wanted to team up to get him drunk? Dream on.

Xiao Tian picked up a jar of wine and flew up onto the roof. Gazing up at the moonlit sky over Desert City, his slightly drunken mind gradually cleared, and a wave of lucidity passed through his heart.

As he gazed up at the moonlit sky, he thought of the dozen years since he had transmigrated here. Memories surfaced in his heart one after another, and he began to chant:

"When will the bright moon appear? I raise my wine and ask the blue sky.

I do not know, in the palace halls above the heavens, what year it is tonight.

I wish to ride the wind and return, yet I fear those jade towers and jeweled halls, too high and cold to bear.

..."

Just after Xiao Tian finished chanting, a graceful figure came to his side and quietly accompanied him as he looked at the moonlit sky.

"Why did you come? Want some?"

Xiao Tian looked at Xiao Yi Xian beside him, lifted the wine jar, and waved it in front of her.

He thought to himself that he still had never seen what Xiao Yi Xian looked like when she drank.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

Xiao Yi Xian took the wine jar and copied Xiao Tian's manner, drinking a big mouthful of wine. The spiciness of the wine choked her until she coughed nonstop.

Xiao Tian lightly patted Xiao Yi Xian's back to help her catch her breath.

Xiao Yi Xian, who had never drunk wine before, instantly flushed crimson. A wave of drunkenness surged into her heart, leaving her whole body dizzy and muddled, and she shook her little head.

"Why are there two Xiao Tians?" Xiao Yi Xian said unsteadily, then toppled straight onto Xiao Tian.

Seeing how Xiao Yi Xian went down after just one cup, Xiao Tian shook his head helplessly and smiled.

Holding Xiao Yi Xian in his arms, Xiao Tian took out a piece of clothing and draped it over her, then continued slowly drinking the wine in his hand.

"Xiao Tian, I know there will definitely be quite a few women by your side in the future, but I don't mind. As long as you don't abandon me, that's enough."

Xiao Yi Xian, dazed and muddled, finally murmured those drunken words. Hearing them, Xiao Tian's hand holding the wine stiffened slightly. He lowered his head and looked at the sleeping beauty in his arms, remaining silent for a long time.

Coming back to himself, Xiao Tian gently stroked Xiao Yi Xian's flushed face with his hand. "I'll never abandon you in this lifetime. I still want you to stay by my side forever, and I won't allow you to leave me either."

Perhaps she was having some sweet dream, or perhaps she had heard Xiao Tian's words, but a hint of happiness appeared on Xiao Yi Xian's face. She shifted prettily, changing into an even more comfortable position to lean against him.

After finishing the wine, Xiao Tian sensed his surroundings, sent Xiao Yi Xian back to her own room, then walked into the room beside it that Xiao Ding had arranged for him.

The next day.

Xiao Tian woke from deep sleep, sat up, and patted his head. After returning to his room last night, he had not used Dou Qi to force out the alcohol, but had fallen asleep with a faint tipsiness.

"It's been so long since I slept this comfortably." The corners of Xiao Tian's mouth curved up slightly.

"Knock, knock. Young Master Xiao Tian, are you awake?"

A knock sounded at the door, and a timid voice came from outside.

"Mm, come in," Xiao Tian said in a calm tone when he heard it.

"Creak."

The door was pushed open, and a petite young girl in a pale-green dress walked in, holding a copper basin in her hands. She had a cute, delicate oval face, with a somewhat frightened look on it. Though she seemed a little young and inexperienced overall, her figure appeared somewhat mature.