Chapter 65 - 65: You are the reason

Time passed and Xiao Yan, wearing the same clothes he wore in his examination and trip to the forest, could be seen eating a more bountiful, balanced and healthy meal; eggs, waffles and a sausage. Which is strange, considering he always ate only congee meals in the dining hall of Shrek Academy, together with his other classmates, as the academy is having financial problems.

Said classmates, eating the same bountiful, balanced and healthy meals, were staring at him like he was an exotic animal.

Well most of them that is.

Oscar and Ma Hongjun sat together with huge bumps on their heads low staring at their meals in shame and embarrassment.

They were both got caught in the moment of hailing Xiao Yan as an angel sent from the high heavens, a bit too much they admit.

Ma Hongjun had done it because he thought he was still dreaming and an angel from the Chicken God had descended to give him salvation.

While Oscar had done it just for some humourous act to get a few laughs, but instead of laughs, the action was returned with dumbfounded looks and silence.

The two bumps on their heads was given by Xiao Yan, which was a instinctive reaction after not knowing what to do in that situation of being worshipped.

Oh sure, in any other day he would have welcomed it with open arms and be a certain golden king to his worshippers. But the fact that his half n.a.k.e.d and he's being watched by his teachers and classmates while being worship, his face is not that thick yet.

He felt like finding a hole and bury his entire body in it.

As the silence continues, their meals being half finished, Xiao Wu couldn't handle it anymore as she stood up and pointed her finger Xiao Yan, asking, more like demanded, him of a certain question that the others shared in their thoughts.

"Okay, enough stalling! Xiao Yan-gege, just tell us already about those wings you had! We're curious! Were those your third spirit ring ability? But didn't you and Ma Xiaotao killed a Golden Lion King, which does not have any wings on it's back last I checked."

He let out a sigh and explained what those wings on his back were.

Hearing his explanation, safe to say, everyone had their jaws dropped to the ground with expressions of shock and disbelief on their faces.

"Wait, wait, wait, wait! So what your saying, that those wings are basically advance use of spirit power control?!" Ma Xiaotao exclaimed indignantly along with everyone else.

Was it really that simple?

Xiao Yan simply nodded and replied.

"Yup. Controlling the spirit power flow within your body and have it expel outwardly from your back while molding it into a pair of wings, and yes, design is of your own choosing."

Ma Xiaotao and the others just continued staring at him while Tang San was rubbing his chin and looked to be deep in thought.

As if knowing what was in Tang San's mind, and an idea popped in his head, Xiao Yan finished eating and turned towards a future Emperor with an innocent smile.

"Which I know Tang San could easily do so as well, cause I'm pretty sure I thought that technique to him myself once before." Xiao Yan lied with a straight face.

Now everyone's eyes turned towards Tang San with a certain glint flashing through their eyes, while the former's forehead is soaked in cold sweat.

'Xiao Yan, you lying bastard!' He inwardly cursed as he watched the culprit of his current situation silently walking away while the others interrogate him.

Xun Er though, noticed the quickly departing Xiao Yan, and quickly finished eating her meal to chase after him.

"Yan!" Xiao Yan turned his head to the side to star at a smiling Xun Er walking besides him.

Xiao Yan returned the smile with his own, he closed on of his eyes and crossed both his arms behind his neck.

The two didn't say anything towards each other, smiles accompanying their faces as they walked towards the area where it's their supposed classroom.

Just as they were half-way towards their destination, Xiao Yan stopped on his steps and turned towards Xun Er with a serious expression.

Xun Er halted as she stared at him in confusion.

"Yan?"

"...Xun Er, do you ever regret coming with me?" Xiao Yan said hesitatingly.

"Hm?" Xun Er raised an eyebrow and said. "About leaving the Fiery Bright Forest?"

Xiao Yan nodded with a nervous expression.

Xun Er turned silent, her expression completely blank and unreadable.

A few moments passed and Xiao Yan started to become nervous from the silence, before Xun Er said.

"No. Well, probably at first because it was a foreign experience for me, being outside of the forest for the first time and interact with all kinds of unknown people, I thought I would have just gone back to the forest and give up on my dream of interacting with the world beyond the forest as it was too much for me."

"Well what changed?" Xiao Yan asked.

Xun Er's smile broaden into a beautiful smile that made Xiao Yan's heart race.

"You." Xun Er's face flushed. "You intrigued me Yan. Your great personalities of both being fun and adventurous made me changed my mind. Your drive to become stronger to protect the ones that you hold dear in your heart and overcome the challenges that come your way, made me changed my mind once more. The situations and trials you go through, had me decided that I wanted to see where you go further in this path called a Spirit Master."

Not only Xun Er was the only one blushing, but Xiao Yan as well from hearing the former's confession of the reason why she continued tagging along was because of him.

'D-Does this mean...?' Anticipation and excitement swell within Xiao Yan's heart as he stared at Xun Er's eyes. His two arms fell by his sides and his mouth was having trouble speaking.

"I-I... Xun Er, are you–" But before he could finish what he was saying, Xun Er moved passed him and had her back against his.

"Though the others also play a role of being intriguing; Xiao Wu, Tang San, Grandpa Lao, and Grandmaster. The fear of traversing this new world alone, was erased from my mind as I realized the bonds I made. I wasn't alone anymore. That includes the bonds I created as well." As she finishes, Xun Er left Xiao Yan's back.

"Xun Er, I–!"

Xiao Yan immediately turned back, only to meet with a teasing smile and stuck out tongue from Xun Er.

"Bleh!" Then she hurriedly skipped away.

Xiao Yan stood there, rooted to the ground, in a daze.

His head tingled once more as memories of a younger Xun Er, from a different place and time, made present once more in his mind.

His mind replayed the memories of another life, a different beginning, and a different story.

'Xiao Yan-gege!' Xun Er's mischievous smile flashed in his memories as they walked through the halls of the Xiao Family estate.

Memories continued pouring inside his mind...

"Even in a different life, you hadn't changed a bit."

As Xiao Yan walked behind her, unknown to him, Xun Er was sending him flushed glances. Her shaking right hand went to her c.h.e.s.t, a beat and two, as her eyes trailed towards the boy who made her feel this way.

'...There goes my heart beating, my mind racing, my hands shaking and you are the reason. My heart keeps bleeding, I need you now, but I know this feeling can't be allowed...' Her eyes began to water before she blinked it away.

'Until you decide whether to continue being a human or accept the inheritance of the Fire Dragon King, these feelings I have for you will be hidden...' Her mind then replayed a scene of Xiao Yan and Ma Xiaotao talking to each other affectionately.

'...Even if it means having my heart cracked at the thought of you being with someone else than me, I will continue hiding what I feel.' She inwardly said with gritted teeth.

She couldn't show what she truly felt for Xiao Yan openly, she couldn't yet. For the day when their relationship become official, Xun Er knows that 'he' would arrive and stop it, probably even take her back to the forest forever and kill Xiao Yan at the process.

Until Xiao Yan becomes truly strong, she wouldn't act on her feelings.

Lest they invite the wrath of one of the most powerful beings within this world.

The Golden-Eyed Black Dragon, Di Tian, also known to Xun Er as her surrogate uncle.