By the time darkness fell and the Hongchen Siblings left the Ministry of Magic's base to return to Shrek Academy, Meng Hongchen could not help asking Xiao Hongchen, who was lost in his own world and had not said a word, a question.
"Brother, did you already know Lu Yi had so many strange things here?"
"Hm?"
His train of thought abruptly broken, Xiao Hongchen felt annoyed, but did not show it.
"I knew a little earlier than you did. Why ask?"
"I want to know what you thought at the time."
Xiao Hongchen was even more baffled by Meng Hongchen's question, which had come out of nowhere.
"Why don't you spell it out? Stop talking in riddles with your brother!"
"I mean, when you saw Lu Yi had so many novel things, did you ever think of telling Grandpa?"
"No!"
"Why?"
"Grandpa's so old. You don't want to see him become Lu Yi's apprentice to learn that Magic stuff, do you?" Xiao Hongchen looked at his sister as though she were an idiot. "What would happen to my reputation?"
Hearing this, Meng Hongchen could only press a hand to her forehead.
Now she knew why Lu Yi had been so comfortable showing her brother these things. After all, an idiot was an excellent choice for keeping secrets.
"Meng, there's something else I think you need to know. Virtue Hall may well have ties to a vast organization of Evil Soul Masters."
Xiao Hongchen's tone turned grave.
"Whatever the reason, Virtue Hall is far more complicated than we've seen. Spending this past year with Lu Yi taught me something: we have to look after ourselves first. Only family matters most."
"A few years ago, we were full of hot blood. We put the Academy's and the nation's honor above everything