A chill exploded from the scalp. The eyes of the only black-robed soul master standing on the ground were still filled with fear, when the black ground beneath his feet suddenly split open, and he fell into the chasm without being prepared.
"Ah—!"
This time the scream lasted longer than the one from the soul master on the roof.
Tang San, facing the last enemy, clearly saw the black ground crack open, swallow the person, and then the fissure closed completely.
His gaze shifted for a few moments. In the terrifying silence, Tang San's somewhat hoarse voice seeped from his dry lips, stripped of its coldness and killing intent, leaving only a trace of hope.
"...Suisui, is that you?"
"Whoosh—"
A sound of rushing air came from behind.
Tang San's pupils contracted. As if he had eyes in the back of his head, he swiftly dodged the white shadow that shot out from the wall behind him. He vigilantly stared at the wall from which the projectile had come, a strange anger and grievance rising in his heart.
A black figure appeared silently behind Tang San, a small black hammer crackling with electricity held firmly in another small hand. With no emotion, it swung towards Tang San's shoulder.
The previous attack was just a feint, meant to distract. The real attack came the moment his attention was diverted.
"Clang—!"
Two hammers, one large and one small, of equal weight, collided. The dull sound accompanied the force of their impact, rippling outwards.
Tang San, reacting with lightning speed, met another pair of dark blue eyes with his own azure ones.
The instant he recognized the person, Tang San's lips moved slightly. The Clear Sky Hammer in his hand, as he retreated, dissipated the force. Tang Sui's small black hammer, following its downward momentum, swung through empty air. Tang Sui, who hadn't expected Tang San to yield, nearly stumbled from the inertia of the five-hundred-pound hammer.
Tang Sui: o(´ヘ｀)o
Demonic energy gathered in her hands as naturally as breathing, steadying both herself and the mini Clear Sky Hammer.
Gazing at Tang San's somewhat amused expression, Tang Sui opened her small hand, quickly retracted her Clear Sky Hammer, and slowly looked up at him:
"It seems you do recognize me."
Tang San, looking at Tang Sui's pretense of nonchalance, felt his anger and grievance fade, replaced by a sense of helplessness.
He thought back, realizing that the previous strike had held no killing intent towards him; it was merely a probe, likely for Suisui to confirm something.
"Yes. One of the reasons I came to the Slaughter City was because of you."
Tang San also lowered his Clear Sky Hammer, staring intently at Tang Sui.
Because of me?
Tang Sui's gaze shifted. After a moment's thought, she took the initiative in their interaction: "Shall we find a quiet place?"
"If you don't mind, you can come to where I'm currently staying," Tang San said, also voluntarily revealing his temporary residence.
Tang Sui nodded with feigned dignity: "Alright."
After all, the Slaughter City was now their territory, and she didn't believe she would lose to Tang San if they were to fight.
The two turned into Tang San's temporary lodging, one after the other.
Tang San led the way, with Tang Sui silently following behind.
It was a secluded and rudimentary small room, barely half the size of Tang Sui's own bedroom.
Then she watched Tang San fiddle with the doorknob before entering. Besides the click of the lock, she seemed to hear a faint "咔嚓" sound.
After disengaging his trap, Tang San looked up and met Tang Sui's curious gaze.
He smiled and frankly explained, "This is a little mechanism I set up myself. If someone tries to pick the lock and enter my room, it will loosen, and I'll know someone has been here, or that someone is ambushing my room."
Tang Sui looked into Tang San's smiling eyes, fell silent for a moment, and then said crisply, "Why are you telling me this? Aren't you afraid I'll find people to ambush you?"
Tang San shook his head, with a certainty that inexplicably reassured Tang Sui, saying, "You won't."
Even if she didn't recognize him as her brother now, he believed in the bond of blood, in the warmth of family.
Tang Sui made no further comment and followed Tang San into the room.
The furnishings inside were even more meager than she had imagined. There was only a wooden bed that looked very hard, a wooden table that was heavily worn, its edges uneven and even blackened, and a wall lamp. There was nothing else.
By comparison, Tang Sui felt her own room was like a luxurious presidential suite.
"Sit down."
Tang San brought over the only wooden chair in the room. He even took out a silk handkerchief from his soul tool. Noticing Tang Sui's subtle glance, he skillfully wiped the chair, then placed it in position, pushed it aside, and sat on the bed himself.
Tang Sui looked at the clean chair wiped by Tang San. After a moment's hesitation, she finally sat down.
As soon as she sat, Tang San's voice rang out.
"Suisui, is your memory complete?"
He had started with a bombshell.
Tang Sui, who was momentarily stunned, sat down with composure. She simply looked at Tang San with her wide, blue eyes, neither confirming nor denying.
Tang San, who believed he understood Tang Sui reasonably well, fell silent for two seconds. Under Tang Sui's innocent gaze, a layer of silver-blue light suddenly spread outwards from him, enveloping them both.
A close and familiar aura permeated the small barrier. Ripples spread across the depths of Tang Sui's eyes, bringing a sense of dawning realization.
This aura... it felt so familiar...
Even more so than Tang San's aura... it made her want to be close...
"This is my... Blue Silver Domain, obtained from Mother. Within this domain, our conversation will not be overheard by anyone else," Tang San broke the silence, his azure eyes tinged with apology as he looked at Tang Sui. "You should have undergone a second awakening as well, and had the chance to become the Blue Silver Empress. But... even if you were to awaken now, the position of Blue Silver Empress, I'm afraid, can no longer be changed."
Huh?
Why was he speaking so intimately?
Why could she undergo the second awakening of the Blue Silver Empress? Wasn't that protagonist-level treatment?
Tang San's words sparked a strange feeling in Tang Sui's heart. Something flashed through her mind, but she couldn't grasp it.
Looking at Tang San's apologetic expression, her premonition of something amiss grew stronger, and her feigned composure began to waver.
"...Why are you telling me something so important?"
Tang San gazed at Tang Sui, and with another barrage of revelations, he tore down the veil between them:
"Because you are my sister. We are essentially twins, born around the same time. Our mother, is also your mother. Suisui, I am your brother..."
Tang Sui: 0.0
Tang Sui: !!!
—Author's Note—
Tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival and also Teacher's Day~ Mo Li will work hard and update earlier tomorrow, then go enjoy the beautiful festival herself~
See you tomorrow, muah!