"Stop messing around!!!" They could hear through the cabin door.
"Whoa! Dad sounds pissed! You think mom will make it?" Ning asked Xing.
"I hope so! Nox seemed to at least know some lost and/or unknown knowledge! I mean! Just look at me! All the experts said I'd never walk again, but here I am, doing just that!"
"You didn't answer my question!"
"I don't know!" Xing said as he sat down and hugged his knees.
"…"
"I'm scared! I was the reason all of this is happening to us in the first place! If I'd just kept to myself! If I just didn't fall in love! *sob* If I was just a little stro-!"
*Bonk*
"Ouch! What was that for?" Xing said, after Ning bonked him on the head.
"It wasn't your fault! This wouldn't have happened if we hadn't thrown all the responsibilities to you!"
"What are you talking about? It was me who-!"
*Bonk*
"I wasn't done speaking you little shit! Growing up, Ping was too immature, and I didn't care about anything I didn't like! We are the older siblings, but because we selfishly pursued our own desires without caring for the rest, you got saddled with all the responsibilities we refused to do! I've lost count of how many times you've gotten me out of a mess I started! You're the youngest! You shouldn't have to be the one taking care of everything on your own!"
"But it was all my fault!"
"You made one mistake! Big deal! I've made hundreds! You remember the time I accidentally killed grandpa's pet koi fish!"
"Hehe! Yeah! He was pissed! Your butt was sore for weeks after the spanking he gave you!"
"It was his favorite pet to, but he still forgave me in the end!"
"You were just a kid back then! You didn't know better! I was a grown adult! I should have noticed something was wrong sooner!"
"I don't think you can call yourself an adult before you've been a child first!"
"Huh?"
"Remember! Grandpa was worried you might turn out like me and Ping, so you were rarely allowed to play around like a normal kid!"
"…"
"You didn't get to run around the forests, climb the trees, play games, or mess around! It was just studying, training, and cultivating nearly every single day! And the little time you got to yourself you spent looking after your older siblings! You know, some people started mistaking you for the eldest brother from time to time!"
"Really? I never heard that!"
"Yeah! Ping hated it! Hehe! His face would always turn red like a tomato every time someone called him the youngest!"
*Chuckle*
"Point is! You were forced to act like a grown-up before you were ready, but an important part of being a kid is learning to deal with mistakes! You never made mistakes because you weren't allowed to, so it's no wonder you crashed after a single setback! So, don't put yourself down and try to move forward! Kay!"
"Thanks! Hehe! I never thought I'd be lectured by you of all people! *giggle*!"
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?" Ning said in an angry tone as she started shaking her brother.
*Chuckle*
"Seems like they finally started whatever they're doin!" Ning said as blue light began to glow through the cracks in the cabin walls.
"You know, she once told me she had no one growing up!"
"Why are you bringin that up all of a sudden?"
"It's just, all the things I've seen her do since she got here! Fixing my legs, sparring with you, outmaneuvering Ping, and now trying to save mother! It makes me wonder what kind of practice she did growing up!"
"I don't know about the other stuff, but her fightin style ain't normal! Sometimes it's like fightin a martial arts master, other times a ghost, and other times, it's like fightin a wild animal! Its almost like I'm fightin somethin new each time we start! What's worse is that I think she might already know what I'll do and how to respond before I even move! Somethin like that can't be taught! Battle instincts like that can only be honed through tons of fights!" Ning said, recounting her assaults on Nox.
"And yet, they always devolve into slugging matches! How she manages to even stand up to you as a mage is already incredible, even if she's barely able to keep up!"
"You got that backwards!"
"Huh?"
"You're battle instincts must be getting rusty! She isn't just barely keeping up, it's the other way around! The reason why they always devolve into slugging matches is because I'm desperately trying to force her into one every time we start, because it's the only way I stand a chance of winning! In any other type of fight she'll target my vitals while almost effortlessly dodging and deflecting all my attacks! She nearly poked both my eyes out last time we fought, and if she had cut a little deeper the first time we fought, my guts would have spilled out!" Ning said, much to her brother's surprise.
"Between the training, the studying, and the cultivation, I was barely hanging on by the end of each day growing up, but what kept me going was the thought of a loving family I could rely on! But I'm not sure she had any of that, and yet she can even give you a run for your money! It's just a bit surreal to see how different people can be!"
"You two are much more alike than you think!"
"Huh?"
"Why do you think she's helping us?"
"Dad said she was getting some benefits from us! So, maybe she needs dad and mom's power for something!"
"You really think she's doing this to get our help! We're a broke clan that's got enemies in high places and barely hanging on by a thread! There's no reason for her to help us, when we can't even help ourselves!"
"Then why do you think she's helping us?"
"The apple doesn't fall far from the tree!"
"Huh?"
"Uh! I mean! You remember that time I asked you to climb a tree to get me an apple?" Ning said, trying not to let the secret of Nox being Xing's long lost daughter slip.
"No?" Xing answered, as he started suspecting Ning was trying to hide something, judging by the panicked look on her face.
"Okay, that was a long time ago, so you probably forgot! Uhm! How about that time Ping stole grandma's treasured hairpin!"
"That I do remember!"
"Then do you remember how Ping begged you to help him after he broke it?"
"Yeah, I ended up taking the blame for that one. Grandpa was pretty cold towards me for quite a while after that."
"You didn't have anything to gain from that did you? But you still did it anyways! Why, was that?"
"I just didn't like seeing Ping crying like that!"
"That's not what you said at the time!"
"Huh? What did I say?"
"You said: 'Okay, but only if you give me your lunch box first! I'm starving cause I forgot mine at home!'"
"Did I really say that?"
"Yeah! And both me and Ping knew it was a load of bull, too! You were never that tardy! If you ask me, I think it's probably the same for her! She doesn't like seeing the pathetic looks on our faces, but she's too afraid to show any weakness to actually admit it! Which is why she's coming up with some bull, as an excuse to help us out!"
"Huh? Were you always this perceptive? I seem to remember you not knowing anything outside of fighting."
"*sigh* I'm not stupid you know. I just didn't like studyin because it was borin, but I've had a lot of time to think and reflect in the last 5 years, and in that time I've started realizing things I've missed, and I hate to say it, but I think the kid might have made the right call to not invite Ping to this thing!"
"What do you mean by that? Ping's been working day and night to help keep mother alive!"
"You sure about that? The kid's got a hell of an intuition, to have picked up on Ping's nature as quickly as she did!"
"Hey, what do you mean by tha-?"
"Someone's comin!" Ning said, as she sensed someone approaching.
The person who came walking up the path towards the cabin was none other than Ping himself, looking like he was about ready to kill someone.
"Hey, Ping! How was the weddin?" Ning taunted.
"SHUT YOUR MOUTH NING!" Ping shouted, his face as red as a tomato.
"Elder brother? You look a bit stressed! Why don't you rest here with us for a bit?" Xing offered.
"SHUT UP XING! THAT BITCH IS IN THAT CABIN, RIGHT?"
"Yeah, but dad said we aren't allowed inside!"
"OUT OF MY WAY!" Ping screamed as he pushed past Xing.
"Hold it! Didn't you hear what Xing said! Dad said nobody's allowed inside!" Ning said as she grabbed the back of his shoulder.
"I AM! NOW LET GO!" Ping shouted, before slapping away Ning's hand.
"WAIT! PING! STOP! THERE IS A REASON WHY WE CAN'T ENTER!" Xing shouted, as he got up to try and stop his older brother from approaching the door.
"DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH ME FILTH!" Ping said as he used his qi pressure came bursting out of him, creating a shockwave that sent Xing flying back.
"Are you okay Xing? PING WHAT THE HELL MAN! YOU CAN'T GO BLASTING YOU QI AT XING LIKE THAT! WHAT IF HE GOT HURT?"
"He's the reason why we are living in this pigsty! Why should I care what happens to him?" Ping said, in an angry tone as he reached out for the doorknob.
"WAIT! THEIR TRE-!"
"HEY! YOUNGEST SIBLING!" Ning shouted over Xing's words.
Upon hearing Ning's words, Ping froze inches from the doorknob.
"What did you say?"
"YOU HEARD ME, little brother Ping!" Ning said.
*BOOM*
"HOW DARE YOU CALL ME THAT YOU GORILLA BITCH!" Ping screamed as his qi blasted out in full force, causing the whole cabin to shake.
"What is going on out there?" Ming screamed through the walls of the cabin
"FATHER?!"
"Ping? Is that you?"
"WAIT, I'M COMING IN!"
"No! Stop! Whatever you do! Do not open that door! Your mother's life depends on it!"
"WHAT?!"
"THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO TELL YOU!"
"NO, XING!"
"THEIR TREATING MOTHER INSIDE! IF YOU OPEN THE DOOR, YOU'LL DISTRUPT THE TREATMENT AND SHE COULD DIE!"
"ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THAT WHORE! HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MINDS? SHE IS GOING TO KILL MOTHER WITH HER QUACK MEDICINE! I'M COMING IN!" Ping shouted as he reached for the handle.
"WHAT THE! IT'S STUCK! WHY WON'T THE DOOR OPE-?"
*BANG*
In the moment Ping was distracted, Ning had created her giant rock arms and swatted her brother away from the door.
"UGH! HAVE YOU ALL LOST YOUR MINDS! WHY WOULD YOU TRUST THAT WITCH'S CHILD TO SAVE OUR MOTHER! NOBODY HAS EVER RECOVERED FROM A FAILED ADVANCEMENT TO THE HEAVONLY REALM! IT IS IMPOSSIBLE! THERE IS NO WAY A MAGE OF ALL THINGS IS CAPABLE OF DOING THIS!"
"They said the same things about my legs but look at me now!" Xing said, gesturing at his now functional legs.
"NING YOU KNOW WHO HER MOTHER IS AND WHAT SHE'S DONE! ARE YOU REALLY SO THICK YOU CAN'T SEE WHAT SHE'S PLANNING?"
"Ping! I'm warning you!"
"SHE IS OBVIOUSLY PRETENDING LIKE SHE CAN HEAL OUR MOTHER, SO SHE CAN KILL HER USING THE DIFFICALTY OF THE TASK AS AN EXCUSE, JUST SO SHE CAN-!"
"SHUT YOUR MOUTH!" Ning screamed.
"-USE HER HEAD AS AN OFFERING TO GET BACK INTO THE LUNARIA!"
An awkward silence fell over them.
"…"
"I MIGHT HAVE PROMISED FATHER NOT TO TELL XING, BUT IF IT WILL SAVE OUR MOTHER THAN SO BE IT! THAT LITTLE BITCH IS-!"
*BOOM*
"You've said more than enough, you selfish prick!" Ning muttered as she hammered her giant rock fists down on Ping.
"What did he mean by that?" Xing asked as he stared wide eyed at his sister, the images of the war that took everything from him flashing before his eyes.
"Nothing you need to worry about! You should go get some help from the guards down the-!"
"HE SAID 'LUNARIA'! WHAT DID HE MEAN BY THAT?!" Xing screamed as he grabbed on to his sister's shoulders with terror in his eyes.
"She is the daughter of that wench Chrystalla!" Ping said as he limped out of the dust cloud with a trickle of blood running down his head.
"HEY! XING KEEP IT TOGETHER! WAIT! PING YOU BASTARD! STOP!"
While Xing was hyperventilating from a panic attack, Ping had ceased this opportunity while his sister was distracted to turn into light particles to instantly reach the door of the cabin, and kick down the door.
*BANG*
"GET OUT HERE YO-!"
*BOOM*