103 Ch. 103 'Go To Shiqu Mountain'

It's been three days; the three of them walked through the narrow lane with Lionel as their guide. Even though they often stopped to rest, Niken still quickly felt tired. Now they enter an area with steep roads.

There was a forbidden place written on the sign in the corner of the road. Kazuto and Lionel stepped into the restricted area without fear. Niken tried to venture to step only shook her head, watching the two men in front of her, did not look tired at all.

"Do you want to rest?" Kazuto asked in a gentle voice.

"No, we can't," interjected Lionel. "If only we can take rest longer, but we can't. The longer we stop in one place, the easier the white knight tracks us."

"It's okay, I understand. Let's keep going." Niken forced herself to move her feet, stepping the steep road.

Ultimately, they continue their journey. Kazuto was always ready to help Niken if the girl was stumbling. Even though Niken had tried her best not to bother Kazuto, Niken still tripped over small stones.

Niken's eyes widened and felt hopeless as the road before them had many large rocks.

"Is there no other way than this?"

"There is, but the white knight will find us in a few seconds," answered Lionel in a matter of fact sound.

"Here, there are no humans at all and far from the countryside," announced Kazuto, who suddenly changed the topic that had nothing to do with their previous conversation.

"That's because we are close to our destination. Ordinary humans will not be able to survive when approaching this area. Either they got sick, or they never came back from here. That's why no one dares come in here."

"In that case..."

"Is there something..." Lionel's words paused when he saw something behind Niken. After glancing at Niken, who was looking at him in confusion, Lionel understood. "Ah, I see. Then let's continue."

Niken sighed. She felt she could not walk anymore. When she was about to speak to ask to rest for five minutes, she heard a voice telling her to get on his back.

"What do you mean..." Niken turned to Kazuto, who turned out to have shifted into a black wolf with its head as high as an elephant. "Kazuto?" guessed Niken doubtfully. Her gaze twinkled in admiration as the wolf nodded his head. "Wow..."

'Come on, ride on my back.'

The same voice was heard in her mind. When she turned her head back to Lionel, the man had walked far ahead of her. Niken promptly climbed up and sat comfortably on top of the black wolf's body.

Niken grasped at the soft fur of the wolf's body, as they moved quickly to catch up with Lionel. After the distance between them and Lionel narrowed, Kazuto slowed down and adjusted to Lionel's steps.

"Kazuto, you really can shape-shifted into a wolf? Can all your clans change like you?"

"Ah, I see. But why do I hear your voice in my mind? Can Sir Lionel listen to you too?"

"Nope," Lionel answered the question. "Whatever Kazuto says during his wolf form, you're the only one in the world who can hear his voice."

"Why?"

"You are his inamorata."

"Ooo..." that answer was very satisfying for Niken, and her face was flushed even though she was sure Kazuto wouldn't be able to see her expression right now.

"Speaking of which I have something to ask you since we can talk freely like this."

Niken felt ashamed because she was physically tired and found it more difficult to talk when walking on her own. "Hm... Please ask."

"When we first met, I was sure Xiao Feng never told me about your brother, Xiao Yang. Is Richard, your brother?"

Luckily Niken didn't feel any tension in Kazuto's body, who was also curious about Lionel's question.

"Yes, he is. He is my big brother Xiao Yang. He looked like my age right now, but he was nine years older than me before the invasion."

Niken answered Lionel's question openly, and as is. She had no reason to hide Richard's true identity to Lionel and Kazuto; thus, she told the men what happened to her and Xiao Yang when they got out of the cave.

Lionel, who had just heard it at first, was somewhat surprised and then smiled with relief and sadness. "I did not expect Xiao Feng to be so thorough in her preparations. I also feel relieved that you two can survive the attack. But, is there no way to get his memory back?"

Niken shook her head sadly. "It doesn't matter anymore. Either he is big brother Xiao Yang or Richard, both of them are still my brothers. A brother who loves me much and like teasing me in every chance he had. So it doesn't matter to me at all."

Lionel smiled to hear it, and they continued their journey while chatting.

"What was my mother look like when she was little?"

Lionel laughed. "Your mother was very naughty. She often skipped lessons and had thousands of reasons for not attending my training. But she was also a brilliant kid. Once taught, she quickly could understand it and do it perfectly. She was a very talented time-controller. It is just..."

"It's just what?"

"After we left Nishian, we heard some rumor that your mother's firstborn child got death verdict from one of Liang clan."

"What? But, my mother's firstborn child is my brother. He's not Time Master. Why the Liang clan cursing a baby boy?"

"I have no idea." Lionel took a deep breath for a moment, then continued. "It's just baseless rumor. Moreover, you are fine and didn't get the curse. So no need to worry about it."

After several hours of walking upon the trodden road, they finally arrived at a place shrouded in a gray fog and a tense atmosphere. But the air was very fresh if they close their eyes as if they were walking above the clouds.

"We have arrived," announced Lionel to Niken and Kazuto.