49 Path of Enlightenment 7 (1/2)
The mother of the twins gave each of them a slap to the back and held them in her arms as though she didn't want anyone to steal them from her, the boys swallowed the sting of pain that came from the beating, not shedding a single tear. To them they saw it as their due punishment for running away from home. Their father, Mou Yaxin took turns to hold them in his arms, as he too couldn't contain the tears of joy that was streaming from his eyes. Soon after the parents separated from their children and turned to face Yan Xuequi and Lin Cheng, who were still looking at each other.
”Xuequi! Who is the man with you?!”
”Ma! He was the one that found us!”
”Be quiet Yidan! I wasn't talking to you!”
The boy stiffen on hearing the sharp chastisement of his mother, he had to stay still, since he just got out of trouble not too long ago. The voice of Mou Hairong broke the two from the spell they were under, quickly turning to face the mother of the twins.
”Greetings, I am Lin Cheng from the BaoXu sect. I'm sorry for intruding into your home unannounced.”
Mou Hairong stared at the cultivator with a guarded look in her eyes, seeing the archenemy of her people in her home.
”Why did you bring a cultivator with you?! Don't you know who they are?! Why Xuequi?! Why?!”
”Aunt Hairong, he was the one that brought them back! Do you even know where he found them?! At Xuekejiu town! They flew to a town thirty minutes from us! What if he wasn't in that town? It would have taken all night if not days to finally find them and by then who knows what would have happened to them! I know grandfather says that cultivators are bad people, but are they really all bad?! Can't you look away just this once and be thankful towards him for finding your children for you?!”
Mou Hairong had a stubborn look on her face while looking at her niece whose face held frustration and anger. Mou Yaxin held the hands of his children while looking at the man that was the cause of the fight between his wife and in-law. He felt at ease while looking at the man, nothing about him struck him as someone that could be dangerous, he had a solid built and carriage that held self-assurance.
Mou Yaxin left the side of his wife and walked with his children to where Lin Cheng and Yan Xiequi stood, ”Yidan and Zimu, I want you both to show your gratitude to Lin Cheng of the BaoXu sect.”
The twins looked at their father and nodded in unison, right there the three gave a deep bow to Lin Cheng who also gave a salute back in respect.
”Thank you for rescuing my sons and bringing them home. My family and I will always be in your debt.”
After this, the twins and their father raised their head up and walked back to where Mou Hairong stood bristling with anger.
”Mou Yaxin! How dare you shame me in front of my children!”
”Hairong, let's not do this. I don't know the feud that your family has with him, but you cannot because of that not show his any appreciation for bringing us our children. What if we never saw them again?! I'm not trying to disrespect you, but you need to show gratitude where it is due.”
Mou Yaxin tried not to let his voice show the anger that he felt within, but to him, his wife was being unreasonable. He wanted her to set aside whatever past differences that her family may have had with the man and be thankful what what he did for them despite the ongoing feud.
”I'm not going to stay and listen to this!”
Mou Hairong stormed into the house, leaving her husband and children staring after her in aghast.
”I will be taking my leave.”
Lin Cheng bowed once again to the Mou family before taking to the air, the twins and their father were still dumbfounded by what Mou Hairong did. Although, Yan Xuequi was also shocked by her Aunt's behavior, she didn't let it tie her down from running after Lin Cheng.
Taking to the air, Yan Xuequi pursued Lin Cheng, and soon caught up with him.
”I'm sorry for the way my Aunt spoke to you.”
”It's alright, I'm sure she has her reasons.”
The two flew side by side under the starlit skies, which shined brightly through the dark skies.
”Where would you be lodging for the night?”
”I'll return to Xuekejiu town and get a room at an inn.”
”I wish you didn't have to spend money at an inn when we could easily have given you a room at the house.”
”That wouldn't be necessary, I would only inconvenience the Mou family.”
”I'm sorry you had to be treated so poorly by my Aunt.”
”You don't need to apologize, I'm really okay.”
Although she heard him say that he wasn't offended by the way her Aunt behaved towards him, but Yan Xuequi didn't feel at peace at all.
”I'll be returning to the fox clan the next day. To return to my duties.”
Lin Cheng heard the tranquil voice of the fox princess whose face had returned to their usual serenity. They both flew to the entrance of the town, before landing to walk the rest of the way.
”You can head back now, I'll be fine from here.”
”Let me at least see that you are boarded at an inn.”