"They're finally leaving!!!"
"Get out!!"
As they watched Mirajane and the others follow Xi Feng, the villagers kept jeering. All three siblings hung their heads, gritting their teeth as their bodies trembled.
"It's all right." Just then, Xi Feng's voice reached Mirajane's ears. She looked up to see him smiling brightly.
At that moment, Mirajane's heart gave a powerful thump.
Chapter 10: Two Pairs of Rivals
"So this is your guild, Xi Feng?" Looking at Fairy Tail, Lisanna ran excitedly to his side, while Mirajane stood staring blankly at the guild's emblem.
"That's right. It's called Fairy Tail. Let's go in." Xi Feng patted Lisanna's head, then led the three siblings inside.
After several days of traveling, Xi Feng had finally brought the three siblings to the guild. Along the way, he had told them a little about it, leaving all three eager to see it.
"Don't run away, Gray!"
But the moment Xi Feng stepped inside, he saw a fireball flying straight at him.
"!!!!"
Xi Feng reached out and blocked the incoming fireball. But the attacks kept coming. He had barely stopped it when a chair came hurtling toward him.
"I'm not running, flame brat!"
The three siblings were completely dumbfounded by the chaos inside the guild. Xi Feng's face darkened, and he finally lost his patience and shouted,
"Gray!!! What the hell is going on?!"
The familiar voice caught everyone's attention.
"Hey, Xi Feng, you're back!"
"Not bad, Xi Feng! I heard you finished an A-class job all by yourself."
"Xi Feng!!" Hearing his voice, Gray spun around and threw a punch at him.
"I'm definitely beating you today!!!"
Smack!!
But just as Gray reached him, Xi Feng flicked out a hand and smacked him on the head.
"Hahaha! Gray lost again, just like always!"
Macao burst out laughing as he watched Gray crouch on the floor, clutching his head.
"He beat Gray that easily! This guy must be really strong."
A boy with short pink hair watched Xi Feng with sparkling eyes after seeing him defeat Gray so effortlessly.
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!!"
"Hm?" Hearing the youthful voice, Xi Feng turned in confusion, only to see a pink-haired boy swinging a flaming fist at him.
"This kid is..." Xi Feng froze for a moment at the sight of him, but quickly recovered. He reached out, caught the boy's flaming fist with ease, and flung him away.
"Hahaha! Natsu, you're nowhere near ready to challenge Xi Feng!"
Gray burst out laughing as he watched Xi Feng toss Natsu aside.
"Damn it! Shut up, you exhibitionist!!"
"I'll say what I want! What are you going to do about it?"
"Damn you! I'm definitely beating you today!!!"
"What a joke! Like you could ever beat me!"
Watching the two rivals, Xi Feng shook his head helplessly, then turned to the three siblings. "Sorry you had to see that. This is just how the guild is. Don't worry about it. Let's get you signed up."
With that, Xi Feng led the three to the counter and stamped them with the guild emblem.
"Oh, Xi Feng, you're back."
Hearing someone call him, Xi Feng turned and saw Makarov. "Yes," he promptly replied.
Then he introduced the three siblings. "These three would like to join the guild."
"Hm? New members?" Makarov looked the three over, but surprise crossed his face when he noticed Mirajane's right hand. Seeing him staring at it, she instinctively covered it.
Xi Feng crouched down and whispered a few words into Makarov's ear. Understanding dawned on Makarov's face, and he turned to Mirajane. "Mirajane, was it? Come inside with me for a moment."
"Hm?" Mirajane looked hesitantly at Xi Feng.
"Go on." Xi Feng nodded and gave her an encouraging smile.
Seeing him nod, Mirajane followed Makarov.
"Xi Feng, what's my sister going to do?" Lisanna asked in confusion as she watched Mirajane leave.
"It's nothing. You'll have a surprise in a little while." Xi Feng patted the adorable Lisanna's head.
"Big brother!!"
Hearing another familiar voice, Xi Feng turned to see Erza, Wendy, and Kinana.
"Erza, Wendy, Kinana, I'm back." Xi Feng smiled at the three girls.
"Hmph." Erza snorted at the sight of him and turned away.
"Xi Feng, here's what happened..." Wendy ran over and whispered into his ear.
Amusement flickered in Xi Feng's eyes as he listened, glancing repeatedly at Erza. Apparently, she was sulking because he had slipped away on a job without taking her.
Erza stole a glance at him, then quickly looked away when she found him watching her. Xi Feng was even more amused. He walked up behind her, wrapped his arms around her, and said, "Why are you still sulking? It was only a job."
"Sniff..." But Erza began to cry, throwing Xi Feng into a panic. He hurried to comfort her. "Erza, I was wrong. I promise I won't go on jobs alone again."
"I..."
"Hm?"
"I don't want to lose anyone again... sob..."
"!!!!!"
Xi Feng was stunned. He had never imagined he meant so much to Erza. It seemed the incident with Jellal had hurt her far too deeply. Even if Jellal reformed later, Xi Feng would still have to teach him a good lesson at the Tower of Heaven.
Looking at Erza crying in his arms, Xi Feng said gently, "Erza, we'll never be apart."
"Big brother..."
"Your hand's back to normal, Sis!!" Just as Erza was about to speak, Lisanna and Elfman's excited voices rang out nearby.
Hearing them, Xi Feng looked toward Mirajane and saw that her right hand had returned to normal. He walked over with Erza, Wendy, and Kinana. "Congratulations! Your arm's back to normal."
"Yes! It's all thanks to the master. I still can't control it freely, but he said I'll be able to if I keep practicing." Hearing Xi Feng's voice, Mirajane quickly turned around and spoke excitedly.
"That's good. Make good use of that power from now on."
"Yes." Mirajane nodded, but what she did next stunned everyone.
"Smooch..."
Mirajane kissed Xi Feng on the cheek, her face flushing as she said, "I... this... this is just to thank you. Don't get the wrong idea."
"Huh?!"
"Hey! Why did you kiss my big brother?!" Before Xi Feng could say anything, Erza spoke up.
"Hm? Who are you?" Mirajane frowned at Erza beside Xi Feng. For some reason, seeing this girl at his side annoyed her.
"Why should I tell you?! Hmph!" Erza snorted.
"You!!" A vein throbbed on Mirajane's forehead at Erza's words. She snorted back. "So what if I kissed Xi Feng? I'll do it again!!"
"Don't you dare!!"
"Why wouldn't I?! Smooch..." Mirajane defiantly kissed him again, though her cheeks flushed.
"You!!! I challenge you to a duel!!"
"Bring it on, armor girl!!"
"Damn you!!! Delinquent!!"
"Armor girl!"
"Delinquent!!"
"Haah..." Watching the two of them, Xi Feng sighed. These two are another pair of rivals.
Chapter 11: A Little Bout with Laxus
As usual, Xi Feng brought Erza and the other two little girls to the guild, earning envious looks from many of its male members.
"That brat Xi Feng is awful. Starting when they're that young? He's gone too far," Macao said sourly over his drink, envy creeping into his voice.
"Why do you sound a little jealous to me?" remarked Wakaba, Macao's partner and sharp-tongued friend.
"Hmph..." Macao took a swig of his drink, then turned toward a pretty girl who was dancing. Seemingly making up his mind, he declared, "I've decided!!"
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