Yang Jiao's Younger Brother

Yang Jian walked out of the Linhai City Spirit Hall Branch.

Wang Hegui followed half a step behind him, slightly bowed and respectfully told the two guards at the entrance, "I'm heading out for a while."

Watching this scene, the two guards felt their heads buzz.

Someone worthy of such treatment from the branch hall master either had formidable cultivation or came from Spirit Hall Headquarters.

They did not believe it was the former. After all, Yang Jian was far too young.

If it was the latter, then judging by how cautious the hall master was, this youth's status was likely no ordinary one.

"Take care, Hall Master. Take care, sir."

The two guards bowed in unison.

Yang Jian did not look back and walked straight toward the street.

Wang Hegui quickly caught up, speaking as they walked. "Yang Jiao joined the Deep Sea Spirit Hunting Squad some time ago. He should be at Mercenary Square right now. Yang Chan enrolled in Linhai City Junior Spirit Master Academy three years ago, so she should be in class. Where shall we go first?"

"Let's find my brother first." Yang Jian did not slow down.

Mercenary Square was an open expanse in the eastern district of Linhai City.

As soon as they drew near, a tide of noisy voices washed over them.

The square was packed with people. Spirit hunting squads stood everywhere, waving flags and calling out, while many others lingered before the various stalls, choosing suitable teams.

"Ironblood Spirit Hunting Squad, recruiting Great Spirit Masters above rank twenty! Excellent benefits!"

"Gale Spirit Hunting Squad needs one agility-attack spirit master! Those above rank thirty preferred!"

"Fierce Tiger Spirit Hunting Squad departs this afternoon! Target: hundred-year spirit beasts! Interested employers, come take a look!"

The cries rose and fell one after another, making the place as lively as a marketplace.

Yang Jian swept his gaze around. The spirit masters here varied widely in cultivation. The weakest were only around rank ten, while the strongest were merely Spirit Kings.

In a place like Linhai City, a Spirit King already counted as top-tier combat power.

As the master of the Spirit Hall Branch, Wang Hegui was extremely well known in Linhai City. The moment he entered the square, quite a few people took the initiative to greet him.

"Hall Master Wang, what brings you here today?"

"Hall Master Wang, would you like to come sit with our team?"

"Hall Master Wang..."

Wang Hegui answered each of them with a smile, but he did not stop walking. He led Yang Jian through the crowd toward the depths of the square.

"There." He pointed to a pale blue flag. "The Deep Sea Spirit Hunting Squad, the strongest spirit hunting squad in Linhai City."

Yang Jian followed the direction of his finger.

Several people stood beneath the flag. Most wore leather armor and had weapons hanging at their waists. Each carried a trace of killing intent, and one glance was enough to tell they were people who often lived with their blades at their throats.

Yang Jian's gaze passed over them as he assessed them in silence.

Six Spirit Ancestors and one Spirit King.

The middle-aged man standing at the front had a steady, powerful aura and sharp eyes. He was probably the captain.

Around rank fifty or so.

The members of the Deep Sea Spirit Hunting Squad also noticed Wang Hegui, and their captain took the lead in approaching them.

"Hall Master Wang, what wind has blown you here?" The captain smiled and cupped his hands, but his gaze unconsciously fell on Yang Jian behind him. A flicker of confusion crossed his eyes.

Who was this youth?

He looked unfamiliar.

Just as Wang Hegui was about to speak, Yang Jian's gaze passed over the crowd and settled on a young man.

The young man was fifteen or sixteen, only slightly shorter than Yang Jian. His skin was dark, his features were upright, and he looked full of energy.

He wore a faded leather vest and had a short trident at his waist. Standing quietly at the back of the group, he was not particularly conspicuous.

Yang Jian looked at that dark face, and memories from six years ago surged into his mind.

The older brother who got up early every day to work, who wore his hands raw but could not bear to spend even a single copper spirit coin on medicine for himself, who saved every good thing for his younger brother and sister.

"Brother."

Yang Jian spoke softly, yet his voice clearly reached everyone's ears.

Yang Jiao had been lowering his head to wipe the short trident at his waist. At those two words, his hand froze.

He raised his head and looked at the extraordinary youth before him.

Sword-like brows, starry eyes, a face like polished jade, and an otherworldly bearing.

Yang Jiao's pupils slowly widened.

The face before him gradually overlapped with the wan, skinny little figure deep in his memories.

"You're... Xiao Jian?"

His voice trembled slightly, his eyes full of uncertainty.

Six years.

He had imagined countless times what his younger brother would look like when he grew up.

But when he truly saw him, he still could not believe it.

How had that frail little runt become such an extraordinary young man?

"Six years apart, and you can't recognize me anymore?"

The corners of Yang Jian's lips curved upward slightly, amusement in his eyes.

Yang Jiao froze.

That tone, that expression...

There was no mistake.

"Xiao Jian!" Yang Jiao suddenly rushed forward and pulled Yang Jian into a fierce embrace. His arms locked tightly around him, as though Yang Jian would vanish the instant he let go. "You brat, you've changed so much in these six years at Spirit Hall. I really didn't recognize you just now!"

His voice choked up, and his eyes reddened.

For these six years, he had worried constantly.

He worried whether Yang Jian was living well at Spirit Hall, whether he had enough to eat and warm clothes to wear, whether anyone bullied him.

Now that he saw his younger brother safe and well, grown into this fine young man, the stone that had hung over his heart for six years finally fell away.

"I'm doing well, Brother." Yang Jian patted his back. His voice was calm, but tears glimmered in his eyes as well.

The members of the Deep Sea Spirit Hunting Squad looked at one another.

They only knew that Yang Jiao had a younger sister. They had never heard him mention a younger brother.

And this younger brother seemed to have come from Spirit Hall?

The captain looked from Yang Jian to Wang Hegui, a thoughtful gleam flashing through his eyes.

For Hall Master Wang to personally accompany him, this youth was surely no simple figure.

Yang Jiao released Yang Jian and looked him over several times from head to toe, his eyes filled with relief and pride.

"Xiao Jian, have you been doing well these past six years?"

Yang Jian nodded. "Very well. My teacher takes good care of me. I never lack food or clothing, and my cultivation hasn't fallen behind."

"That's good, that's good..."

Yang Jiao said it twice in a row, smiling until his eyes narrowed into slits.

The two brothers simply stood there, neither knowing what to say for a moment.

After six years apart, they had so much they wanted to say, yet did not know where to begin.

In the end, Yang Jian spoke first. "Brother, let's pick up Xiao Chan first. We'll get together today."

"Alright!" Yang Jiao agreed at once, then turned toward the captain. "Brother Wang, I'd like to take some leave."

The captain glanced at Yang Jian and waved a hand readily. "Go on, go on. Spend the next few days having fun in the city with your brother. There's no rush to return to the team."

"Thank you, Brother Wang." Yang Jiao cupped his hands in thanks, then wrapped an arm around Yang Jian's shoulders. The two left together, talking and laughing.

Wang Hegui did not follow immediately.

He remained where he was, watching Yang Jian and Yang Jiao's backs recede into the distance. Only then did he withdraw his gaze and look at the Deep Sea Spirit Hunting Squad.

"Do you know who that young man was?"

The captain shook his head, and the others did the same.

"Yang Jiao's younger brother, Yang Jian." Wang Hegui's voice was not loud, but it carried solemn weight. "He's from Spirit Hall Headquarters. Even I wouldn't dare offend him."