In a place within a few kilometers outside the sect, Ning Caiyu who was lying against a tree opened his eyes to see a masked man standing in front of him and the next moment he puked blood "W-who are you?"
The masked man laughed and said "You weakling is not fit to know who I am now give me what I want!"
Ning Caiyu tried to stand up only to realize that he couldn't move his body "W-what's going on!? Why can't I move? What have you done to me?"
The masked man came closer and grabbed his chin roughly "You better be thankful I let you speak! Now tell me where it is!"
Ning Caiyu grunted "I don't even know what you're talking about! I don't know you so how can I know what you want from me!!"
The masked man slapped Ning Caiyu and he puked blood again then the masked man turned his head towards him "If you don't tell me, I'll get all your friends here and kill them one by one in front of you till you give me what I want!"
Ning Caiyu was terrified "N-no, please don't touch them. Please leave them out of this, I don't want anything to happen to them"
The masked man scoffed "You should be worried about yourself instead. Now give me what I want!"
Ning Caiyu asked "W-what is it that you want?"
The masked man took out a knife when he saw a mark on Ning Caiyu's neck "It might be hidden in your body"
He then used the knife to slowly cut an opening on the mark which made Ning Caiyu shrill
Ten kilometers away right outside the sect, three silhouettes jumped over the fence and one of them said "The person must be really skilled to have been able to smoothly kidnap this Prince Ning out of the sect"
Tang Xilong grabbed his chest where his birthmark was then looked at the direction the compass was pointing to and his eyes widened in confusion then fear
Tang Xie'er noticed his expression and asked "Xi Gege, what's wrong?"
Tang Xilong said "We should make haste, Caiyu's in danger"
Kun Qiling asked "How do you know?"
Tang Xilong said as he gave the compass to Tang Xie'er "I heard a scream, I have to go now"
Then he bolted forward and Kun Qiling asked in shock "How is he so fast?"
Tang Xie'er said "We devilkins are normally fast and he used a speed scroll to increase his speed"
Kun Qiling shook her head as they both ran after him "Using a speed scroll like that is too hateful and besides, we didn't hear any scream"
Tang Xie'er assured "Me and my siblings have known one thing since we met him. Trust Xi Gege no matter what"
Kun Qiling smiled slightly "You guys must really care a lot about him, don't you?"
Tang Xie'er nodded and they increased their speed when they suddenly lost sight of Tang Xilong
The masked man said as he held Ning Caiyu's neck tightly and raised him up "It's not there damnit! Give me what I want!"
Ning Caiyu couldn't speak or move at that moment and just tried his best to gasp for air but his injury was bleeding and became painful
A loud voice came from behind them "Let. Him. Go!!"
The masked man was shocked but didn't bother to look at who it was before he bolted away in fear
Tang Xilong was about to chase after him when Ning Caiyu's body suddenly moved on its own and stood in front of Tang Xilong "W-what? I don't know what's going on with my body! Xilong Ge, I can't control my own body!!"
Tang Xilong squinted his eyes as he thought 'P-puppetry?'
He didn't have time to waste so he knocked Ning Caiyu out and gave chase after the masked man
When the other got there, they were met with an unconscious Ning Caiyu on the ground
Then Tang Xie'er heard a voice in his head "Take Ning Caiyu back to the residence, if he wakes him on the way or when you get there and acts out of control, knock him out. Don't follow after me and go back now!"
Kun Qiling asked confused "Where's Tang Xilong, did he lose his way or something?"
Tang Xie'er tore a piece of his sleeve then tied it around Ning Caiyu's neck and lifted him onto his back then said "Xi Gege must have gone after the kidnapper. We should quickly go back to see if anything is wrong with Caiyu"
Kun Qiling said "I should go after them too what if he gets into danger, Elder Yin would be after my neck"
Tang Xie'er immediately shouted "No!"
Kun Qiling raised an eyebrow at him "Why?"
Tang Xie'er said "You don't know the direction they went so it's best to just go back and wait for them"
Kun Qiling pursed her lips, took a deep breath and agreed then they both hurried back
Meanwhile, Tang Xilong was chasing after the masked man. When he got a sight of him, he shot a fireball which the man dodged
Tang Xilong shot five fireballs at a time, the man dodged four and got hit in the back by one which made him stumble but he didn't stop
Tang Xilong increased his speed as he prepared a poison needle then the masked man looked back and he shot the needle out which grazed the man's cheek
The masked man grinned thinking he dodged that but the next moment, his legs wobbled and he fell to the ground immediately then Tang Xilong caught and held his neck against the tree behind him "You! Who sent you!"
The masked man didn't answer then Tang Xilong quickly removed the mask and put his hand in his mouth to make sure there was no suicide pill then removed his hand when there was none
The man laughed and said "You haven't seen the last of me"
Then his body blew up and the blast pushed Tang Xilong back a few meters. There was blood all over his clothes and face then he banged the tree beside him in anger and it split in half "Damnit, what is he? Why was he after Caiyu? I haven't gotten the answers to any of my questions yet"
Tang Xilong then searched the remains of the man and saw a jade with the character curse '骂' carved onto it "What is this? It even survived the self detonation of the guy.. I should probably throw it away since it looks like bad luck"
Tang Xilong frowned and threw it aside then left the area.
After running a few meters, he went back and threw the jade into his inventory 'I might need it to find the mastermind. I still have to get revenge for what he did to Caiyu'
When he got into the sect, he stopped running and started walking calmly with his hands behind his back as he lamented 'On my way here, I never expected to encounter any of these troublesome things. I only wanted to come here, get stronger, not befriend anyone so as to not get betrayed and find my parents then ask them why they left me. Instead fate just had to throw new family and friends my way and I cannot refute those dumb souls because of my conscience. I found out why my parents left me though but there are still many things unclear about my past.. Now there is this troublesome curse guy on the loose after Caiyu's life.. well I guess I have to get used to my new life now. I have to protect those around me now since I am not alone anymore. It.. feels kinda good though"
When he got to the entrance of their residence, he smiled as he thought 'Those dumb souls, heh'
He opened the gate to see everyone in the courtyard then Tang Xiaomi noticed him and shouted as she ran towards him "Xi Gege! You're back! You're back!"
She came closer and saw blood all over his body then teared up "Xi Gege, y-you.. t-there's blood everywhere. Are you hurt?"
Tang Xilong rubbed her head and smiled "No, I am alright. It's not my blood"
Xia Qianyu and Lian Jiayi gasped in shock when they heard that
Kun Qiling was also shocked and asked "What happened? You killed him? And you have no injuries?"
Tang Xilong shook his head as he walked over to them with Tang Xiaomi holding his hand "The man exploded when I got close and the chase became a wasted effort cause I got nothing"
Kun Qiling patted his shoulder "As long as you're safe, if you weren't, Your master wouldn't let me off."
Tang Xilong asked Tang Xie'er "Where's Xi'an and Caiyu?"
Tang Xie'er was about to reply when Tang Xi'an came out from Ning Caiyu's room and said "Xi Gege, you're back. That's great, I just finished applying medicine to Yu Gege and he is asleep now"
Kun Qiling sighed with relief then left while saying "I should probably go inform Elder Yin what happened since both of you are safe and sound now"
Tang Xilong then asked Tang Xi'an after Kun Qiling left "Did he tell you what happened?"
Tang Xi'an explained everything that happened then Lian Jiayi banged the table in anger "That bastard! How could he be so cruel to Caiyu?"
Xia Qianyu frowned "He took Caiyu away to collect something from him but didn't even mention what it was"
Tang Xie'er pursed his lips and said "He might have never wanted anything from Caiyu in the first place"
Xia Qianyu asked "Xie, what do you mean?"
Tang Xie'er held his chin "Firstly, he should have mentioned what he wanted so Caiyu would give it to him. Secondly, Caiyu said he was paralyzed so the fact that he took him meant that what he want should be on Caiyu's body but he definitely didn't search him and instead injured the mark that Xi Gege gave Caiyu which Xi Gege felt from faraway and rushed over. Thirdly, the man immediately ran when Xi Gege came without looking behind like he was expecting him to come. Fourthly, the man self detonated when Xi Gege caught up to him. Xi Gege, did he leave anything behind?"
Tang Xilong quickly brought the jade and passed it to Tang Xie'er who examined the jade then gave it back to Tang Xilong before saying "This time, the target isn't only Caiyu but also Xi Gege or it could be just Xi Gege"
Tang Xiaomi pouted angrily "Why would anyone be after Xi Gege?"
Tang Xilong frowned "Forget about this. The important thing is Caiyu is safe. I'll find out who's after me myself"
Xia Qianyu spoke up worriedly "I'm afraid that's what they want you to do"
Tang Xilong shrugged "I guess I have to play their game to get what I want then"
Tang Xie'er said as he glanced at Tang Xilong "Someone has to stay with Caiyu tonight just for security reasons"
Lian Jiayi said "I'll stay with him"
Tang Xilong didn't even speak as he went to Ning Caiyu's room and closed the door
Lian Jiayi hurriedly said "He has self practice tomorrow afternoon!"
. Tang Xi'an curiously asked "When do we start classes?"
Lian Jiayi replied "Next week, until then you can complete missions or cultivate or practice your skills. You have to go to Skill Hall to pick one skill book to practice"
Tang Xiaomi yawned and asked "When is the deadline for our free skill book?"
Lian Jiayi thought about it and answered "They said if you haven't come to collect your free skill book by the end of your second day in the sect. You would have to buy yourself one"
Tang Xi'an held the sleepy Tang Xiaomi and went towards their room "Xiaomi is tired so we will be off to bed now"
Lian Jiayi said as he watched the two go in "That younger girl is always sleepy"
When he heard that no one answered so he turned back only to no one then he turned to face the rooms and saw the other two sneakily entered the room
Lian Jiayi scoffed and went to his room "So am the last to enter now ehh"
The next morning, Ning Caiyu slowly opened his eyes and felt someone touching his neck then he flinched
And a deep raspy voice stated "Relax, it's me."
Ning Caiyu calmed down when he saw Tang Xilong sitting on his bedside "Did you sleep here?"
Tang Xilong looked at his neck and pointed at the chair behind him "I can't inconvenience you like that. I sat there instead"
Ning Caiyu sat up and covered his neck which he was staring at "I-I'm sorry.."
Tang Xilong shook his head "No you shouldn't say that, those bastards who did this to you will pay but I should thank them though"
Ning Caiyu asked puzzled "For what?"
Tang Xilong smirked and pulled down his inner robe to show his birthmark and Ning Caiyu exclaimed "Y-yours has a cut? Is that how your birthmark is?"
Tang Xilong chuckled and removed Ning Caiyu's hand from his neck "So silly, cause I marked you with my Devil spirit fire somehow it connected our marks together so whatever injury you get on the mark, I get it too"
Ning Caiyu was shocked "I-impossible"
Tang Xilong wore his robe and asked "Does it hurt a lot?"
Ning Caiyu pursed his lips and nodded slowly
Tang Xilong thought about something and asked "Can I try something out on you?"
Ning Caiyu turned pink and nodded
Tang Xilong slowly removed the herb paste applied on Ning Caiyu's neck which stung him a little then he condensed his devil energy and slit his palm then he squeezed the hand above the mark and his blood dripped onto it as he said "Don't tell anyone but I have a pretty good healing and regenerative ability. It might probably work for you"
As he removed his hand, the cut rapidly closed up and the mark was back to normal then Tang Xilong checked his and it was gone too
Ning Caiyu said "Seems like..."
Tang Xilong nodded "If you get injured on it, mine won't heal until you're healed regardless of my healing ability"
Ning Caiyu smiled "At least it worked"
*{System: What you just did.. can only happen once}
Tang Xilong replied in his mind 'Yo, system, you finally woke up. You're early this time. But what do you mean?'
*{System: your blood can only work once for a person}
Tang Xilong's face turned dark with worry and Ning Caiyu asked "W-what's wrong?"
Tang Xilong held Ning Caiyu's hand and placed his forehead on it as he weakly said "What I just did for you can only work once, I wasted it"
Ning Caiyu smiled softly "Don't worry, there are healing pills too"
Tang Xilong raised his head up "But they leave scars"
Ning Caiyu chuckled lightly "I'm not a baby, why would I be afraid of scars?"
Tang Xilong asked the system 'Why didn't you tell me earlier?'
*{System: Did I know you would suddenly be willing to cut yourself for someone before I could tell you? With your normal character, I thought it would take ten years before you were willing to let your own blood out to heal someone else. You changed too quickly!}
Tang Xilong scrunched up his face and released Ning Caiyu's hand "Whenever you're in danger, make a cut on your mark so I'll know where you are. It will hurt but I'll bring you back to safety"
Ning Caiyu nodded "I can take the pain if it brings me back to you"
Tang Xilong blinked his eyes severally and shook his head then Ning Caiyu asked "What time is it?"
Tang Xilong replied calmly "It should be an hour before noon"
Ning Caiyu jumped out from bed and quickly packed his stuff into his bag "I have self practice by noon oh no I'll be late"
Then Ning Caiyu folded his arms and frowned slightly at Tang Xilong who questioned "What?"
Ning Caiyu sighed "Why didn't you wake me up earlier?"
Tang Xilong grinned "Why would I? You look so good asleep"
Ning Caiyu pointed towards the door and Tang Xilong was confused "What now?"
Ning Caiyu replied "I need to take off my clothes to go bathe or what"
Tang Xilong wanted to say something but quickly left
When he turned around, he saw someone with light brown hair and yellow green eyes with green tiger ears and a tail behind him standing in front of him who asked "So you must be Tang Xilong?"
Tang Xilong didn't answer him and went to go sit beside the girls who were sitting opposite the boys
Luckily, there were eight chairs around the stone table. Tang Xilong asked Lian Jiayi who was sipping tea "Who is he?"