"I fot," she muttered a him go before reappearing and fag Meng Yiran.

  "You really are siblings. I see your reason, though." Meng Yiran pocketed her knives and haang Yin hers back. "Thank you. I will take your lessons to heart."

  Tang Yin sighed. It was not like she didn't uand Meng Yiran. Having yoal snatched twice before you was frustrating, no doubt, and then losing the test afterward.

  "Keep it," she told Yiran. "As a memory, or maybe as a motivation to keep going with hidden ons. I am sure you'll eventually make it y on."

  Meng Yiran stared at her. "You are surprisingly nice for someone who just decred she would kill me if I were even a step closer to your brother," Tang Yin shrugged.

  "I don't have anything against you. I don't know you, so how I?" She told Meng Yiran quite frankly. "I am only proteg the one family I have and have no doubt. I will kill you if you harm my brother."

  Meng Yiran pocketed the kang Yin had given her, put her hands in front of herself, and bowed very formally towards her, making Tang Yin do a double take. "I uand," she said, her voice dark. "I do hope one day I may be able to beat you."

  Tang Yin took a sed and then followed Meng Yiran's movements. Bowing to her before they both stood straight again.

  "So do I," she said and bowed to her. "But I will not wait for you."

  "I would be insulted if you did," Meng Yiran said and the. Her grandparents her as the three vanished into the forest, and Dai Mubai whistled behind her.

  "I think you just made a friend," he said, and Tang Yin turned around to him.

  "I am not so sure about that."

  "Definitely a friend," Oscar told her. "I don't think Meng Yiran just takes about anyone as a rival."

  "Maybe." Tang Yin looked to where the three had vanished and then turned her focus back to her brother.

  "Saaannnn!" She growled. "What were you thinkiing yourself turned into a pulp by a giant spider? You were supposed to go after Xiao Wu."

  "The spider was between me and Wu," he said and looked at her. "So I had to deal with it."

  "Idiot," Tang Yin told him. "I assure you Wu would have kicked yhost to nirvana in anger if you had gone and got yourself killed. That being said, now absorb that spirit ring, will you?" She eyed him and suddenly had everyone's attention, while Zhao Wuji felt his reality feeling him.

  "What?" He asked her, and she looked at him, blinking. Hadn't the others noted?

  "He broke through level thirty. Although he will have to hurry to catch up to me. I think I am breaking the forties soon." She told him that Zhao Wuji had eyed the two of them.

  "You are monsters," he cluded, and behind him, R snorted. "This is supposed to be a school for monsters," she said and eyed them. "I won't let the two of you best me anytime soon."

  Tang Yin shrugged her shoulders at the arrogant princess of the Seven-Treasured Gss Pagoda. "Try to. Others are doing so already."

  "Just wait," Ning R said, staring at Tang San, who eyed the ten thousand-year spirit ring.

  "Do you pn on abs that?" She asked him, and he pale-faodded at her.

  "Yoing to get yourself killed," Zhao Wuji hissed. "That is far above the limit."

  "It is for Xiao Wu," Tang San growled back. His gaze was straight and unfling at Zhao Wuji as he whispered again. "It's for Wu."

  Tang Yin balled her fists and kneeled beside him, staring at him. "Are you going to survive?" she asked him straight. She could stop him; she knew she could; he would if she asked persistently enough. But it would not be fair; it was nht to stop him from making that choice, his choice. If he wao try, she should let him try.

  "Yes," he told her, unfazed and unshaken, and she sighed before she nodded and theled dowo the spider's corpse, her sword on her p.

  "Then go ahead," she told him and closed her eyes. "But e back," she told him. "Don't dare die."

  "I won't ever dare to die without your permission," he said, and thetled o her.

  "You two..." Zhao Wuji wao object, but a gentle hand from Zhu Zhuqing on his shoulder stopped him. She shook her head, gently telling him not to object. "...argh," he groaned and the silent. "You should respect your teachers more," he added.

  Tang San leaned his head on Tang Yin's shoulder as he started meditating to absorb the spirit ring. Yin stroked the hair from his sweat-streaked, dirty fad felt her heart quiver. She wouldn't lose her brother, she knew, but still, gripping her sword tighter, she knew right that moment.

  The words to Meng Yiran had not just been bravado, as it was the case for her most of the time. If anyone, anyone dared put a hand on her brother, she would kill them, rip them apart into very small pieces, and not feel the slightest bit of remorse for it.

  He was her only aknowledged family in this world. The others were important, friends and family, but they weren't as crucial as Tang San.

  I think this battle-wrought world is c off me. This is nothing like the peaceful life ba Italy, where war or battle was only a thing appearing in TV news reports and aovies.

  She sighed and then sat vigil by his side as he absorbed the spirit ring, occasionally a soft tremor running through his body. She balled her fists, not daring to move, as the others silently joined her in watg out for him. Silence fell upon the forest as Zhao Wuji ordered a few of them to set up camp silently, and she was offered a bowl of food.

  Yin shook her head. She knew she probably should eat, that it was the sensible thing to do, but she was not in the mood to. She was not into it with her brother leaning on her like this. Once again, the thoughts of wanting to be more and more bubbling up inside her. If she wao protect her brother and make it to survive, she looked at her hands.

  She should take some advice from someoral. She closed her eyes and delved into her soul sea. Opening her mental eyes.

  Hello, Tang Yin.