Cao Yun could tell that Jinyang and Jinyue were exhausted. Not only had their emotions gone crazy, but they had pushed their bodies as much as they could. It was obvious that they were about to pass out. As such, Cao Yun took out some food and water from his spatial ring. He even took out a few cushions for them to rest on. Jinyue was still a bit hesitant. But she quickly realized that Cao Yun didn't need to trick them in any way. If he meant them harm, he could simply do whatever he wanted to them. On the one hand, it was terrifying, as they were quite literally in front of an old monster and powerless. On the other hand, it meant that they could trust the food and water. Thus, Jinyue began eating and drinking while sitting on the cushion.
Jinyue saw her sister Jinyang, who had already done so. Clearly, Jinyang was more comfortable with this Cao Yun. To be fair, Jinyang could actually talk to him. To Jinyue, he was a mysterious man who could talk the language of the gods. Unfortunately, Jinyue was a poor student, unlike her sister. Now, she wanted to kick her younger self in the butt to force her to actually study. Thankfully, Jinyang was there, and Jinyue trusted her to report Cao Yun's actual words. Of course, the name Cao Yun had been translated into Jinyue's language. As a matter of fact, they didn't even have a specific name for their language. Each tribe had a slightly different dialect, but it was one language throughout the entire Broken Fire World.
As she thought about language, Jinyue wondered if Cao Yun was maybe a demon from the remnants of Demon God Da Mo's campaigns. A few demons had established small tribes. Most of them had either disappeared or been assimilated by Flameborn tribes over the centuries. It had been more than five centuries since Demon God Da Mo had last attacked the Broken Fire World. Flameborns still hated and resented demons, though. However, Cao Yun didn't seem to be a demon. Would a demon be able to speak the language of the gods?!
Jinyang was busy eating and drinking when Jinyue gave her a small nudge with her elbow. Her mouth still stuffed with a juicy pear, Jinyang looked at her sister, who was much more dignified. Jinyang was a bit perplexed and looked at her hands. She still had a pear in each hand. So she extended an arm toward her sister and tried to speak with her mouth full of food.
"You want some? They're incredible!"
Jinyue felt as though she was the crazy one. Jin'ao, the son of the Raging Volcano tribe, had just been killed in an instant right in front of them, after they had run for their lives. Their friend had been killed. Most likely, their tribe would go to war with the Raging Volcano tribe and would be vanquished and conquered. Soon, there would be no more Ancient Obsidian tribe. And yet, her sister ate like a glutton as if there was no tomorrow. Well, there might not be a tomorrow. At last, Jinyue let herself go. She grabbed the pears in both of Jinyang's hands and ate them at the same time.
Cao Yun, who had been worried, saw the two sisters eating like ogres and felt better. He had some pills that could potentially help them. Unfortunately, he wasn't sure about their constitution. Pills that could heal humans and demons might have adverse effects on Flameborns. Sadly, Emperor Nuwa had not written about any of that.
While the sisters ate and rested, Cao Yun focused on the memories of Jin'ao. Dian Mo helped him.
"His soul isn't very different in its substance, but the memories are stored in a completely foreign way. In a way, it's a new form of architecture using the same basic materials. It won't take too long to figure things out. But it still will take some time."
"I think that we should focus on the language. I'll try to learn from that child too, it will speed up the process. As long as I have the language, I can actually ask questions to most Flameborns. Of course, I'd like to know the situation of the Raging Volcano tribe from within, but those girls can help me figure some things out in the meantime. Later, we'll study how this soul differs. I'm certain that I felt both Po and Hun, but they were slightly foreign as well. This could be interesting. In a way, the souls of the Flameborns are formed in a very similar way to ours. The differences are probably caused by the fire. Since their essence comes from the fire and not a prenatal Jing, it must influence their Po. Or maybe the fire is their prenatal Jing. Anyway, those are not my immediate concerns."
"Was it a good idea to kill this boy? You don't know how powerful this Raging Volcano tribe is... You don't even know if they're allied to other tribes."
"I realize that. But this boy would have been a thorn in my side anyway. At least, he's dead, so he won't be a problem. I also tried to delay further problems for as long as possible. In the worst-case scenario, I know how to escape this Broken Fire World, and they don't. But, most likely, it will be resolved in other ways. Don't worry about this, I already have several plans. For now, I'll just focus on this Ancient Obsidian tribe. This is the tribe Emperor Nuwa mentioned. If I'm not mistaken, as long as I am within this tribe, I will be invincible among Flameborns."
"I see. I didn't think of that. Did you kill that boy knowing that you could use it?"
"Honestly, I still wasn't sure those girls were from the Ancient Obsidian tribe. But I did have that in mind. Once again, if I were mistaken, I could have escaped anyway. That being said, I don't want to cause these girls and their tribe to suffer because of me. On the other hand, I don't know if their tribe deserves my intervention either. I'll have to visit them in person and judge them. If they don't deserve my help, I'll take what I need. Otherwise, I will help them against this threat."
Finally, Jinyue convinced her sister to go talk to Cao Yun.
It had been a few hours. Jinyang wanted to sleep, but she obeyed her sister. Jinyue had stopped eating, but she was drinking some tea Cao Yun had also produced. Hot water was very pleasant for a Flameborn.
Getting out of his head, Cao Yun saw the two girls. Now that they were rested, their skin was much paler. Most likely, it was due to the permanently dark sky, but their skin was extremely white, even paler than ash. Here and there, Cao Yun could still see faint traces of ash used as paint. Most of it had fallen off during their encounter with the enemy tribe. Their clothes were ruined, and they clearly needed to bathe.
"If you need to change clothes or clean yourselves, I can help with that."
From his spatial ring, Cao Yun took out a wooden bathtub, a large drape to hide it, and clean clothes he had prepared. His spatial ring was vast. A few times already, Cao Yun had found himself isolated for very long periods of time, so now he was always prepared. Besides, with his kids, he had gotten into the habit of having clothes for them. The clothes were very simple, but Cao Yun didn't want to use anything from the Wubei Sect, so he chose plain clothes for the sisters.
Jinyue was the first one to act this time. With no hesitation at all, she went behind the drape, took off her clothes, and bathed. Jinyang wanted to talk to Cao Yun but did exactly as her sister had done. The two sisters spent almost two hours bathing and cleaning each other. It was obvious that our forefathers had been playing around in the hot, steaming water. Taking a bath wasn't very common, it truly was a luxury among the tribes. Thinking about this, Cao Yun realized that there was almost no water in this Broken Fire World. For Flameborns and powerful cultivators, this wasn't much of a problem, thankfully.
From Emperor Nuwa's journals, he learned that water was gathered from clouds and steam. Then, the tribes needed to condense it by reducing the heat in the air. This was a lengthy and costly process, so water wasn't wasted. Fortunately, Cao Yun had a lot of water in his spatial ring. Once again, he was prepared.
Finally, the girls were done and left the bathtub. Cao Yun saw them for the first time without dirt and ash on their faces. The twin sisters were almost identical, he could only tell them apart by looking at their eyes and facial expressions. They had long gray hair that almost touched the ground. To be fair, they weren't very tall at all, even for their young age. Their faces were almost sickly when compared to a human being. In a way, they reminded Cao Yun of porcelain dolls. But they also reminded him of his daughter and granddaughters. They didn't look like them at all, but Cao Yun felt a protective instinct while looking at them, for some reason.
The two girls bowed in front of Cao Yun. Jinyang talked for her sister.
"Senior, those humble ones thank you for your generosity."
"It's nothing at all. I only helped you on a whim, but I won't abandon you. Now that I might have caused trouble for your tribe, I will take responsibility."
"Oh no! Senior did nothing wrong. Those evil ones would have done terrible things to us without you. Trouble was already upon our tribe, one way or another. Senior shouldn't feel compelled to do anything."
"I do not feel compelled at all. However, I decided to help, so I have to see it through. Besides, I already intended to visit your Ancient Obsidian tribe."
"Senior's visit will be an honor for our humble tribe."
"I had some questions I hope you can answer for me. Why does this Raging Volcano tribe want to attack your Ancient Obsidian tribe?"
"Well, Senior. Our tribe is very modest, even frail, to be honest. But in the past, we were a glorious tribe that inspired awe and fear in the hearts of all Flameborns. Some even claim that the Fire Thearch himself had to respect our forefathers. After the Ash Bringer left us, I have to admit that the successors of our forefathers weren't as apt as they were. Several tribes contested our hegemony, and we fell from grace. Today, even the meager Raging Volcano tribe can suppress us. But it's still not enough for them. They also want to rob us blind. They're after a lost treasure that they think we have left over from the Ash Bringer. This is only a legend, but the Raging Volcano tribe is fixated on it."
"I see..."
Cao Yun was certain that he was right now.
"May I be as presumptuous as to ask a question of Senior?"
"Of course."
"Where is Senior from? You don't seem to be a... I mean..."
"A demon? No. I am neither demon nor Flameborn. I come from another realm you've never heard of. I traveled here to deepen my knowledge of the Dao of Fire. As you've seen, my strength is decent, but my Dao of Fire still needs to improve. Such a world is obviously the perfect place for me to study and develop my understanding and comprehension of fire. Hopefully, your Ancient Obsidian tribe will accept me as a guest so that I can learn a few tricks."
"Unfortunately, I cannot speak for my tribe. But I will gladly help Senior get there. I am confident that they will welcome and treat you fairly after saving our lives."
"Thank you. Do you need to go collect the body, or rather the ashes, of your friend?"
Jinyang's face lit up. There was happiness and sorrow at the same time. Her friend's death was still painful, but she was glad that Cao Yun would help them bring his ashes back.
"If it's not too inconvenient for Senior, please."
"Good. Then, show me the way."
Cao Yun also collected the ashes of Jin'ao. His comrades had been so terrified that they had left without them. For Cao Yun, it was good news. Now, he could use them as a show of good faith with the Raging Volcano tribe.
Jinyang spent some time explaining the situation to Jinyue. Then, Jinyue asked her for a few words in Primitive Nuhua. Jinyue bowed before Cao Yun and tried to thank him in his tongue. Of course, her accent was atrocious, and Cao Yun barely understood her, only thanks to the context. That being said, he was glad that she made the effort. He liked those girls a lot, it felt as though he was with his granddaughters again. Thinking about them, Cao Yun realized that months, if not years, had passed on the Piaolu planet. His family was probably missing him much more than he was missing them after only a few days. This discrepancy made him feel bad about this whole adventure.
Anyway, Cao Yun called Hongyu. The two girls were scared at first but quickly began to cuddle Hongyu, who let them do so. They really were kids around Hongyu, and Cao Yun liked it even more. After what they had endured, it was good for them to have some fun and to relax. Besides, the Raging Volcano tribe was still a threat to them and their Ancient Obsidian tribe. Life in the Broken Fire World wasn't easy at all.
With Hongyu carrying the trio, they got to where their friend had been killed. The two sisters spent some time there, saying a few words about their friend as they collected the ashes as best as they could. Cao Yun could have helped to end it faster, but it wasn't about speed at all. He let them mourn their friend for as long as they needed. Then, they finally went toward the Ancient Obsidian tribe.
According to the girls, it would take a few days. In the sky, it was possible to barely perceive a huge shadow from time to time. Apparently, it was the shadow of a moon, and its appearance in the sky indicated how many days had passed on the Broken Fire World. In a way, it was similar to noon. But it was used to indicate a new day. Besides, it was only visible for less than half an hour each day, because of how thick the black clouds were.