My Big Brother is Seeking Death Again
Chapter 22: Never give up the spirit of learning (2)

The corner of Shi Xia's mouth twitched. It really doesn't like children but what can she do? What's the point of going alone? She let out a deep sigh, and pointed a finger at it and said…

"A dried fish!"

"Meow." Big Meow simply turned its head arrogantly as if saying, ‘Humph! Am I such a divine cat that bends over for a dried fish?'

"Two dried fish!" Shi Xia added another one.

"Meow." Big Meow remained unmoved.

Seeing no choice, Shi Xia offered the last piece she had, "Three, three, please just agree okay? I don't have any more, oh."

"Meow aww~~~" deal. Big Meow immediately laid down on the ground with its butt up, urging them to climb on.

Shi Xia: "……" Big Meow, at least have some modesty.

Niu Niu was still a little scared. Shi Xia assured her again and again, repeatedly saying that Big Meow wouldn't hurt her ever, at least in her presence. Only after being promised by her did she climb up on Big Meow's back, but still shaking.

As soon as Shi Xia sat down, Big Meow waved its wings and flew up. It probably couldn't fly high because of its extra weight, so it was flying just above the forest. The forest from above looked very dense, even flying on top of the tree, she couldn't see the ground.

Roars of different beasts residing in the forest could be heard from time to time. As Shi Xia looked down, she could see a vague outline of hideous- looking demons and monsters walking around.

Perhaps because of Big Meow flying over the forest, no demon beast dared to come forward. As soon as its (Big Meow) figure flashed by, they cowered away in fear and hid in the bushes.

Wait! Suddenly Shi Xia thought of the place where she met Niu Niu and Big Meow. That place could be also considered deep the in the forest. Although Niu Niu's appearance was wretched, she wasn't injured anywhere. Could it be Big Meow wasn't actually scaring her but protecting her all the way?

When she understood this, she felt she was once again enlightened by Big Meow's generosity.

After flying for nearly two hours, Big Meow suddenly stopped in mid air and pointed to one direction with its tail. As it lowered them down, it popped the final piece of dried fish in its mouth before jumping inside the forest.

Shi Xia took Niu Niu and followed the direction the big meow pointed out. After climbing up a small hill, they arrived at a place where Shi Xia could see an ancient city in the distance. If they wanted to reach there before sunset, they had to hurry. But considering Niu Niu with her, who was still a child and won't be able to walk as fast as her, Shi Xia simply carried her in her arms and started walking towards the path of the ancient city.

The city looked close. But after walking nearly an hour, Shi Xia felt her feet becoming numb. After struggling hard for another few hours with Niu Niu in her arms, she finally saw the gate of the Dragon City not far away from them. The gate of the city was bustling with people, and everyone looked very excited.

Shi Xia asked Niu Niu, who was silent all the way in her arms, "Where did you guys agreed to meet?"

Niu Niu didn't answer, she looked very anxious, clutching the corner of her clothes and squeezing hard. She seemed to be even less talkative than six months ago.

Seeing no sign of Niu Niu opening her mouth, Shi Xia decided to enter the city. But the Dragon city looked pretty big, how would she replace a single person there alone?

"Whatever, let's enter the city first." Shi Xia took Niu Niu's hand and entered the city.

After entering the city, Shi Xia saw more and more people wandering. All the streets and alleys were full of people. As she was looking at the crowd of people, she started to think how to replace Xuan Lin as quickly as possible. She knew if she didn't think of something first, all her time and effort would be naught. But as soon as they entered the city, Niu Niu suddenly started to shout in a direction. She let go of Shi Xia's hand and began to chase someone.

"Brother ……"

No way, she found him so quickly? Shi Xia hurriedly followed Niu Niu, who was looking straight ahead at a teenager who seemed to be buying buns from a roadside stall. But for some reason, Niu Niu just stopped a few feet away from the boy and didn't go forward to identify him.

"Xuan Lin!" Shi Xia immediately recognised the teenager and shouted out.

The teenager who just bought buns turned around, sure enough it was really him.

Xuan Lin turned around and saw Niu Niu at first glance. His hands shook and the buns almost fell from his hand.

"Xuan Lin, long time no see." Shi Xia greeted him with a smile.

Xuan Lin then came back to his senses and smiled politely, "So it's the benefactor, I didn't expect to see you here."

"I also did not expect to pick up your sister again." Shi Xia picked up Niu Niu from the ground and shoved her directly into his arms.

"Why are you so careless? You lost your sister twice."

Xuan Lin hurriedly took Niu Niu, his face turning blue and white. He nodded in a panic and said, "What the benefactor said is true. It was this humble one's negligence. I was looking for her everywhere these days and almost died of anxiety. Fortunately, the benefactor found her again. I am really grateful."

He put down Niu Niu and respectfully bowed towards her. He was about to kneel down but Shi Xia hurriedly pulled him up. "It's okay. I just happened to pass by and picked her up. You just pay attention next time."

Xuan Lin nodded. Then squatted down to check Niu Niu and asked in concern, "Niu Niu, are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?"

Niu Niu did not answer, only bowed her head even lower.

"She is probably terrified." Shi Xia explained the reason for her being scared because she was chased by the Big Meow in the forest. "That big cat is actually a spirit beast. It wasn't intentionally trying to scare her. Rather, it has been protecting her all along. Otherwise, she would have been killed long ago by the demonic beasts in the forest. Don't let her go there in the future, she was scared a lot this time.You have to take more care of her. "

"I will listen to what the benefactor said." Xuan Lin hastily replied. And repeatedly assured her that he would keep an eye on Niu Niu. He thanked her again, before picking up Niu Niu, who had been bowing her head and not talking, and left with a goodbye.

But for some reason Shi Xia wasn't relieved. She looked at the direction of the two left and suddenly a strange feeling came to her heart. She couldn't help but feel that the Xuan Lin she saw before and the Xuan Lin right now seemed different. And she was also feeling very strange.

The strangeness she was feeling was because of his attitude. The previous time when he lost Niu Niu, he looked truly anxious as he checked if Niu Niu was okay over and over again before thanking her. But this time when he saw Niu Niu, his face looked panicked. Rather than checking if Niu Niu was alright or not, he apologised to her first.

Not to mention, he also didn't look good compared to six months ago. He seemed to have lost weight and became thin. Even the clothes on his body looked worn out, not much better than Niu Niu. He, who previously had the appearance of a nobleman, looked quite ordinary today. And his face also looked haggard.

Shi Xia looked at the brother and sister duo walking ahead and couldn't help but frown. Although, Xuan Lin was carrying Niu Niu, he was walking very fast. She didn't know if it was an illusion, but the back of him walking forward looked as if he was escaping from her. And the direction he was going was towards the city gate. Didn’t he come to the city for a purpose? Why was he leaving then?

The more she thought about it, the more she felt something was wrong. So, rather than leaving the city, she started following the pair of brother and sister.

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