"Talulah really went to Lungmen with her little brother?"
Staring at the massive mobile city looming like a mountain in the distance, FrostNova folded her arms and glanced around. "Is she planning to abandon us?"
"Do not… speak nonsense."
Patriot, the most imposing figure among them, did not stare at Lungmen the way his daughter did. After directing the Shieldguards to set a perimeter around the camp, he continued in his measured tone.
"Talulah… and her… brother, long parted. She needs time… to be with him."
"And she also needs… to rest, for a while."
Recalling Talulah's recent actions, FrostNova nodded and pulled a piece of candy from her pocket, popping it into her mouth.
Spicy—nothing like the bitterness she was used to.
"Fine, she can rest. But are we going to camp here for the next while, Dad?"
As tents rose one by one and Infected hurried back and forth with smiles on their faces, FrostNova felt as if she were dreaming.
Just days ago, they had been fighting for their lives to assault Lungmen. Now they were stationed outside it, enjoying—at long last—a stretch of peace.
No Ursus patrols harassing them. No desperate scramble for scarce supplies.
Instead, convoys of material shipped in from Lungmen and Rhodes Island arrived in an endless stream, so abundant it made FrostNova's eyes spin.
Weren't they on terrible terms with those two factions? So why now…
"These… are all at the request… of Talulah's blood kin," Patriot said.
"These supplies… can sustain us… for a long time."
For the first time in ages, Patriot—who had spent his life campaigning across battlefields—could finally sit and breathe. The halberd he never let leave his side rested nearby.
"In this time, we can regroup, handle Reunion's internal matters, and when Talulah returns… we will depart again."
"Therefore, my daughter… you may rest now."
Rest now…
FrostNova pressed her lips together and looked back toward Lungmen. "That man even said he'd treat us to something called hotpot…"
She complained, but the curve of her smile never faded.
Especially after Talulah ordered Mephisto imprisoned—watching his resentful, indignant expression made FrostNova downright cheerful.
"Honestly, I'm starting to hope Talulah doesn't come back too soon."
Inside Lungmen—
Noisy streets. A glittering, prosperous city.
The curious stares of onlookers. The endless flow of pedestrians and vehicles.
It all left Talulah almost overwhelmed. She didn't even have the bandwidth to care about the way strangers kept staring at her and her brother's faces.
Twenty-odd years… Lungmen had truly changed.
"Sis, where do you want to go next?"
Chen Mo edged closer, pulling her back from her trance. "Want to eat first? Or should we go to my place and rest?"
Talulah lifted a hand and ruffled his hair, speaking softly.
"…There's somewhere I want to go. Xiao Mo—will you come with me?"
Somewhere she wanted to go? In Lungmen?
Chen Mo was puzzled, but he didn't think too hard about it. He nodded. "Of course. Want me to lead the way?"
"No. I remember the route."
With that, Talulah walked ahead with a faint smile—and casually extended her right arm outward.
"Come. I'll take you there."
What was this—she wanted him to hook arms with her?
Chen Mo wanted to refuse, but the smile on Talulah's face made it clear she wouldn't accept "no." In the end, he gave in and looped his arm through hers.
Still, he had to mouth off.
"You're the first woman who's ever made me link arms like some… lady-man. Feel honored, big sister."
Talulah chuckled. "Then it truly is my honor."
Her long, black, scaled tail flicked behind her, tapping Chen Mo's thick tail in a praise-like pat. Chen Mo immediately returned the gesture, smacking back with his own tail.
"Alright, let's go. Don't waste time."
After entering Lungmen, Wei Yenwu had messaged him: try not to cause a stir.
But judging by the way people were gathering around them like they were watching monkeys at a zoo, they were already dangerously close to "a stir."
Talulah, unaware that Wei Yenwu and her brother had any contact, simply assumed Chen Mo was embarrassed. Smiling, she didn't slow down—she tugged him along toward her destination.
Behind them, a handful of gawkers lingered, whispering in awe.
"That brother and sister are ridiculously good-looking… Are they celebrities or something?"
"I don't think so. But that guy… I feel like I've seen him before. Like… isn't he with the Guard Department?"
"The Guard Department? Then wouldn't that be—"
The atmosphere abruptly went still.
A familiar, icy face had appeared—so familiar it made everyone's blood run cold.
The nearby pedestrians hurried away at once.
Ch'en Hui-chieh, who had been tailing Chen Mo and Talulah all this time, didn't stop them. Someone else would handle the videos and photos anyway. Nothing would leak.
Only after everyone had fled did she shift her gaze toward the direction the siblings had gone.
"That direction is…"
In the villa district of the Upper City—
After leading Chen Mo here at an unhurried pace, Talulah gradually fell into silence. Chen Mo could tell her mood had turned heavy, and he stopped his usual stream of chatter as well.
Only when they halted in front of a spotless, well-kept villa did Chen Mo finally ask, curiosity winning out.
"Was this where you used to live?"
"…Yes," Talulah replied softly. "This was also our father's residence."
She released Chen Mo's arm, then drew the sword at her waist and, in one clean motion, severed the chain on the front gate.
Bang—
In the stillness of the upscale neighborhood, the sound was painfully loud.
Yet strangely, no one came out to challenge the pair for behavior that looked downright like burglary.
Chen Mo stroked his chin, tail swaying, and quietly scanned the surroundings.
Looks like Wei Yenwu's protective measures were thorough.
Talulah sheathed her black sword, took Chen Mo's hand, and led him inside.
"Come in, Xiao Mo. We're home."
"…Just so we're clear, Sis—I don't remember anything about our dad."
Talulah smiled and shook her head. "That's fine. I only want to show you our father. Nothing more."
She stopped, lifted her head, and stared at the most prominent portrait in the living room, letting out a long sigh.
"Wei Yenwu never brought you here, did he?"
Chen Mo looked up at the portrait of the Draco man and nodded.
He really was handsome. No wonder their mother could never forget him.
After a long silence, Talulah finally spoke again in the hush.
"I don't know why Father would have an affair after he already had Mother… Perhaps he had his reasons. Perhaps it was to preserve the pure bloodline of the Draco…"
"But I don't blame him. On the contrary—I'm grateful to him."
Rustle—
To Chen Mo's surprise, Talulah turned and pulled him into a tight embrace. Their hair tangled together as she held him close.
"H-Hey, sis, what are you…"
So strong. So tight—like she was afraid he'd slip away.
And because they were both Draco, they could feel each other's searing body heat with brutal clarity. Chen Mo tried to push her off, but she clung to him like iron—leaving him no opening at all.
Feeling the slight tremor in Talulah's body, Chen Mo's struggling gradually stopped.
Fine.
Seeing her like this—overwhelmed by memory, caught by the scene—she looked pitiful enough. He could indulge her for a moment.
He began patting her back gently. Gradually, Talulah's turbulent emotions eased under his quiet reassurance, and she whispered against his ear.
"If not for him, you wouldn't have been born."
"He gave me a little brother who saved me… a family member I've come to cherish."
"…Even if Mother would absolutely hate hearing me say that."
As she spoke, Talulah laughed through the emotion, wiping at the corners of her eyes. She loosened her hold on him at last.
"Come on, Xiao Mo. Let's go eat that thing you mentioned—"
A voice cut through the air.
"It seems you've completely forgotten me, Talulah."
....
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