Pillar of Yita

Sicape stopped halfway through speaking, suddenly pausing, with an even more peculiar expression on her face, as she gestured lightly behind Fang Hong.

At first, Fang Hong did not understand the meaning of this gesture and looked astonished, but suddenly a wave of dread struck him, causing his teeth to chatter, and he looked behind him, shivering a bit.

The square was a sea of flags and bright drapery. Citizens gathered around the square, everyone dressed in their finest, with feathered decorations in their hats. As they walked, the colorful feathers gathered together, creating an enchanting scene.

Amidst the crowd, Fang Hong first saw Diket, who was politely explaining his background to the guards. His tone was amiable, his demeanor charming, and although the guards were skeptical, they dared not act recklessly.

Behind him were two young girls, both taller than Fang Hong remembered. One had a naïve and inexperienced look, while the other was squinting her eyes, staring directly at him with a dangerous gaze.

This gaze made Fang Hong feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave, and a bout of vertigo hit him. He should have expected this day when he secretly contacted ’Snakehead’ alone, but he didn’t think it would come so quickly. He originally thought he could drag it out for another year or so.

”But how did she find this place?” Fang Hong thought, ”With her clever mind, she must have discovered some clues.” But he couldn’t figure out that it was all because of Ai Xiaoxiao.

He couldn’t help feeling a bit guilty. Although they had been rivals since childhood, he always took care not to let her catch any handle against him—yet this time he had played it a bit too big, and with her demon-like nature, she certainly wouldn’t let him off easily.

Tang Xin was looking at him with a mischievous smile on her face.

This frightened Fang Hong to the point of breaking out in a cold sweat—

Hilveld noticed his unusual behavior and glanced at him curiously, then followed his gaze in confusion, coincidentally locking eyes with Tang Xin. That was the first time their eyes met, and only then did Hilveld recognize the girl from the photo, Fang Hong’s cousin. She couldn’t help but smile, which caught Tang Xin off guard, causing her to pause slightly.

But she immediately furrowed her eyebrows, and the smile vanished from her lips, as she pressed them together stubbornly.

Hilveld’s eyes gently shifted, deep in thought.

Fang Hong suppressed the urge to turn around and leave, and forced himself to walk over. ”Mr. Diket,” he called out, pretending not to look around. The guards, seeing his participation badge, realized and apologized to Diket, then let him through.

Diket approached with a smile, looking at him and saying, ”Since I became a Lion Knight in Colin Ishurian, I’ve never been considered suspicious before. This time, it seems, I’ve made an exception because of you, Ade.”

Fang Hong knew he was joking, but still felt embarrassed. The Lion Knight is a special honorary title within the Morning Guard, awarded only by the King himself. Before this senior knight went to investigate the Dragon Worship Sect conspiracy under a hidden identity, he likely was a close minister to the former king, an outstanding court knight.

His prestigious status was no different from that of Sir Roban today.

But Diket only laughed, ”But those are all matters of the past, come, let me introduce these two young ladies to you.”

Ai Xiaoxiao looked at him with curiosity.

However, Tang Xin greeted him with a smirk that didn’t reach her eyes, ”Hello, Alchemist.”

Alchemist.

Fang Hong felt his scalp tingle.

That title alone indicated her dissatisfaction. No matter how much they bickered in the past, she always obediently called him cousin in front of others, with an incredibly sweet voice, leading outsiders to believe they had a wonderful sibling relationship.

Fang Hong didn’t know whether to respond with a wry smile or say back, ”Hello.” But he also had an instinctive tendency to avoid harm, feeling that if he really responded like that, he would be doomed.

So, for a moment, he could only laugh awkwardly.

Tang Xin’s gaze fell on the two of them holding hands, and if looks could turn into knives, Fang Hong would probably lose a hand. But even if not, he felt as if he had been stabbed through and couldn’t help trembling, yet he still held Hilveld’s hand firmly.

Hilveld remained composed, lowering her head and couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

Only then did Diket notice something was off about the atmosphere.

And it was then that Fang Hong awkwardly said, ”Tang, Tang Xin.”

”Oh, why don’t you call me Tangtang anymore?” Tang Xin gave a cold laugh, showing her little demon-like pointed canines, ”Dear cousin?”

”Ah!” Behind Tang Xin, Ai Xiaoxiao finally exclaimed in surprise, ”Tangtang, you know him? Is this the big dumb cousin you were talking about?”

With a snort, Tianlan, who was at a distance and ready to come watch the fun, heard this sentence and couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Fang Hong turned around abruptly, scaring the little girl into running away, looking as if her nickname was about to spread among the team.

Nearby, Mulan and others laughed so hard they were nearly doubling over, while only Cui Yu shook his head, looking unconcerned, turning away to report to Soul Fingerprint.

Then Fang Hong turned back, incredulously pointing at himself, asking Tang Xin, ”Tangtang?”

He never dreamed that his cousin would secretly give him such a title.

But this little episode finally eased the awkwardness between them.

Tang Xin also felt a bit embarrassed because in others’ eyes, she was a model sister, though she had a little demon personality, which only showed in front of her muddleheaded cousin.