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“Wine Master?” When she heard the naot a far-away look in her eyes Her full-on sprint down the warpath eased “You’re also part of the Avenue? What’s your designation?”

“Jewelry Master,” he answered

Luo Xianni turned back to Jue Di “At least you’re the slightest bit conscientious You sent hih “It was e as tiain”

Lan Jue hardly contained his look of surprise But Dad… you didn’t askwas an act, too On more levels than one, he and his dad weren’t anywhere near the sa it up? You’re dreaain, not until you kill me!”

What could have spawned so much hatred? Lan Jue sed hard, then scurried away toward the nearby door It was best to not get involved in old wounds Dodge the bullets when you can

Jue Di separated a few steps and fell in to a nearby chair “Xianni, if you want to hit me, then hit me If you want to curse my name then do it But first sit and have a cup of tea”

Her well-practiced sniff made a return appearance, but she did walk over to him and sat nearby She sat on the same side as the clear indentation of her teeth set in his shoulder

Lan Jue desperately wished to take a picture of the scene and share it with Lan Qing He wanted his brother to see what had become of their harsh taskmaster

“Get the hell out of here!” Jue Di snapped Lan Jue spun around fast enough to give hi was too weird for hiry cloud, he feltuntil he reached the edge of that expansive forest He was convinced that he didn’t want to knoas going on between his father and this woman Whatever it was, it had to mean they used to be very close It was almost unthinkable that his dad – who had never shown interest in women before – had this fiery woman on the side An unhappy couple, but still

Lan Jue heaved great breaths of familiar air as he came to a stop before an enormous tree This particular tree was beautiful, laden with blooms and healthy He lifted his eyes skyward, where he looked through dappled sunlight at the expansive canopy It provided him with cool and shade It would take over a dozen people to surround the base of this old denizen

Lan Jue sat down beneath the shade and pressed his back against the tree He re up to this tree and beat thee They would writhe and wriggle like fish on a line as Jue Di whipped them

That time they were beaten black and blue They were suspended then for ten days, and every sunrise brought a new round of beatings and an herbal soak Beat, soak, beat, soak Only when he and his brother were barely breathing did he let them down

Phantom pains still caused his muscles to spash, for their reaction time improved by at least one hundred and twenty percent

Meone days of hie as ti seemed different

Father did see attitude He could tell it was so with It made Lan Jue’s heart feel heavy

No one knew Jue Di’s true age, but Lan Jue knew that even Paragons passed away eventually Was his father nearing that inevitable end to the road?

He refused to face it! Thosewould not be the men they are today Anyway, love and appreciation for all the work he did to raise the They didn’t have a mother to learn on, just this strict father

Lan Jue lifted his communicator to his face, and quietly dialed in his brother’s number He knew his brother was busy, but the action just ca continued Lan Jue was about to hang up when suddenly there was an answer

“You went back?” Lan Qing asked

“Yeah, I’ his head

“Father, he…” Lan Jue could hear the hesitation on his brother’s voice as he tried to explain But he cut hie in Lan Jue’s mouth, al he’d seen

“Dad’s getting old” Lan Jue finished

“…” Lan Qing was quiet for a long time

After a while, it was Lan Jue who had to break the silence “How are things over there?”

Lan Qing finally answered “For the ations have concluded that these planets are real, they are a threat, and their first target will likely be the North The agreement is that once the alienswe’ve got We’ll provide aid and coh alert and have theo over and help,” Lan Jue said

Lan Qing’s tepid voice replied “Don’t You’re not a soldier”

Lan Jue face set in to a stubborn expression “What, is it too late to join?”

Oncelapsed in to silence “I don’t want you to come”