Pillar of Yita

Fang Hong didn’t resist, allowing the other party to hold him, his aunt’s hand still so slender and warm.

Tang Xin glanced at her parents, then at her cousin. She wasn’t foolish and naturally understood that something unknown to her might have occurred. However, Tang Sheng looked at his daughter and spoke, ”Tangtang, step out for a moment; we need to talk to your brother.”

Tang Xin pursed her lips and said irritably, ”Dad, am I still a member of this family?”

”This is a matter concerning your brother.”

”You’re aware he’s my brother as well!”

”Tang Xin—”

Seeing her father get angry, Tang Xin dared not oppose him. She muttered something, and feeling deeply displeased, slammed the door as she left.

Fang Hong felt a little awkward and couldn’t help but say, ”Uncle, Aunt, there’s no need to send Tangtang away; she’s right that no matter the circumstances, we are all family...”

Tang Sheng exchanged glances with his wife. Zhang Rou’s eyes reddened uncontrollably, gently pressing his hand, she said tearfully, ”Little Hong, dear child, you’re right, no matter the circumstances, we are family. No matter what, your uncle and aunt will stand by your side.”

Seeing his aunt cry, Fang Hong felt moved, realizing that this must be genuine emotion. He felt a rush of emotion himself and somewhat flustered said, ”Aunt, don’t cry. I’m here, perfectly fine.”

”Little Hong,” Tang Sheng began to speak at this moment, his tone slightly muted compared to his wife, ”I sent Tang Xin away not to discuss your parents. I guess you already know about your parents’ experience as Invoker and our family’s relationship with you.”

Fang Hong nodded and turned, wiping his aunt’s tears from the corner of his eye. Zhang Rou, tears blurred, grasped his hand with the tenderness of holding a treasure, as if afraid he’d vanish if she let go.

”They didn’t deceive you; I’m indeed not your biological uncle, just an intimate friend of your father,” Tang Sheng responded, ”However, telling you this was partly hoping you’d more easily accept us as your family, not intentionally misleading you.”

”I understand, Uncle, but I also don’t mind; to me, you are my family, and Tangtang is my sister.”

”Good child,” said Tang Sheng, ”But our declaration to outsiders was also to protect you.”

”Protect?”

Tang Sheng nodded and continued, ”Do you know why we were so opposed to you becoming an Invoker and coming to this world?”

Fang Hong instead asked, ”Uncle, did you really have the experience of being an Invoker?”

Tang Sheng nodded again, not surprised that the military could find this out, although he changed his name, he couldn’t alter the records. ”I indeed had the experience of Invoker and adventures with your father in Eteliria. You might not know, the paths you walk today are those we once walked.”

Mentioning this, a smile appeared on Tang Sheng’s typically stern face, recalling the adventurous days of the past.

Who wouldn’t recall those days? Only a true Invoker understands what it all means. It was another chapter in life, real memories filled with stories of legendary and aspirational adventures.

Fang Hong couldn’t help but feel a deepening meaning in his past desire for this world. Yes, it was once the land where his father, mother, and uncle roamed, and the blurred impressions in his memory had left many unknown stories here.

It was as if he felt the meaning of inheritance invisibly.

”But even so,” he couldn’t help but ask, ”Uncle, Aunt, why do you still oppose my being here?”

Zhang Rou shook her head, ”Little Hong, actually, it’s not our intent, but your parents’ request.”

Fang Hong widened his eyes slightly, ”My parents?”

Zhang Rou nodded, tears glistening in her eyes.

Tang Sheng then spoke, ”Little Hong, I must tell you something next that you cannot disclose to anyone, even Tangtang.”

His uncle’s voice carried a slight seriousness that left Fang Hong a little startled, but after a pause, he nodded. Tang Sheng was silent for a moment before speaking, ”Do you remember the process of us adopting you?”

Fang Hong furrowed his brows in thought. Of course he remembered; it was one of the most significant events of his life. Shortly after his parents’ departure, he hadn’t yet been aware of the air disaster, merely staying with another relative of his father—about whom, due to the passage of time, he couldn’t quite remember.

Not long after, his uncle’s family contacted him, informing him that his parents had gone far away and might not return for quite some time, so he was to live with them for a period. At that time, he was still in the dark, and had once clashed for a long time over not being able to see his parents, often making Tang Xin, who came to play with him, cry, which earned her the nickname ”Crybaby” from him then.

But gradually, the impressions of his parents became more vague, as if they were growing ever distant, and his uncle’s family gave him the affection and warmth his parents couldn’t, and he gradually forgot about his parents, sometimes even resenting them for not returning to see him.