Having said that, Wun Siu Lan handed Wun Fan a bamboo basket she had by her side. Wun Siu Lan was a very smart girl. She knew how to read people’s faces, when to speak and when to keep quiet. The look of frustration on Wun Fan’s face told her everything that just happened.
“I am positively surprised.”
Wun Fan opened the basket and saw several half-warm dishes in it. He felt his stomach rumble, so he quickly devoured everything. The food was no longer warm, but it made him feel warm in his heart.
“It’s just you and me here. You don’t have to keep the mask on. It looks weird.”
Wun Siu Lan frowned a little, but she did not hesitate. She slowly took off the mask and looked nervously at Wun Fan. If Wun Fan showed the slightest hint of discomfort, she would feel absolutely horrible. Wun Siu Lan had soft and smooth skin, a pair of pure, limpid eyes, along with long lashes; all of which gave a vibrant vitality to her presence. She was practically beauty personified.
However, her face was covered in coloured blotches of blue, purple, red and more. Each blotch was of a different shape and shade. Strangely enough, these blotches were concentrated on the top half of her face, leaving the bottom half completely unblemished.
Wun Fan said nothing as he continued sweeping his bowls clean of food. Wun Siu Lan slowly felt more at ease when she saw this. However, she couldn’t shake the curiosity in her as she watched Wun Fan remain focused on his meal.
“Don’t you think I’m strange?”
Wun Fan’s mouth was full of food, but he murmured something in between the gulps of rice. “One thousand seven hundred and eighty-one times.”
“What?” Siu Lan couldn’t hear clearly, so she leaned forward slightly.861Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfopxlLFDx
Wun Fan wasn’t in a rush to repeat himself. He took out the water prepared in the basket and drank everything in a single gulp. He then cleared his throat and said, “One thousand seven hundred and eighty-one times.”
“You’ve asked me the same thing one thousand seven hundred and eighty-one times already. Give it a rest.” Wun Fan stared at Wun Siu Lan seriously, with a bit of an annoyed expression. “So what if you have blotches on your face? There’s nothing strange about that. I’ve heard of people who intentionally get patterns and pictures etched on their faces to express themselves.”
Wun Fan was thinking about tattoos from his previous life. People used to get interesting words or images inked on their bodies.
That was why he thought nothing of the blotches on Wun Siu Lan’s face. In fact, when he took a closer look, he could see how pretty Siu Lan really was. She was only ten years old and she looked like she had walked right out of an anime. Bright eyes, a soothing voice and shoulder-length hair. She would definitely grow up to be a beauty that could charm anyone and anything. Even Wun Fan started to wonder if he was a bit of a paedophile for thinking all this.
“You’re lying. Why would anyone do that?” Siu Lan pouted and turned away in disbelief. She was certain that Wun Fan was just lying to make her feel better.
Wun Fan shrugged. She was free to believe what she wanted. He was just going to finish what was left in his bowl. He had heard at a young age that a single grain of rice took eighty-eight steps of processing before it was ready to be eaten. He couldn’t let any of that go to waste.
Wun Siu Lan grinned when she saw this, her cute little dimples showing. Being able to stare at her brother like this seemed to be the happiest thing in the world. If they could…
Wun Siu Lan’s face turned bright red at the thought of something. She clasped her blushing hot face and turned her back towards Wun Fan, fanning herself with her hand at the same time to make herself calm down. She thought shyly to herself, What are you thinking of, Wun Siu Lan?!
Wun Fan couldn’t help but let out a sigh when he saw Wun Siu Lan do all that on her own. “Sigh, ain’t nothing wrong with the kids from this town, except their brains don’t seem to work too well. ”
Wun Siu Lan turned around and stared coldly at Wun Fan when she heard this. Wun Fan felt a chill run down his spine and quickly explained, “Except for you, of course.”
And so, the sun quickly went down the sky as the two children stared at and bantered with each other. Dusk arrived and the blanket of night soon engulfed the town.861Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vBI1Kq7sq
A large group of servants and disciples of the branch houses were busy setting up on the sparring grounds of the Wun Mansion. They were preparing for the Wun Clan house banquet tonight. As the largest clan of Green Sea Town, the Wun Clan always went all out on the annual reunion dinner. As many as forty-nine tables would be laid out on the sparring grounds. The town didn’t have that big of a population and yet the Wun Clan had this many members. That itself was a testament to their power.
Every member of the Wun Clan would be gathered here tonight. Not only would they be celebrating the arrival of a new year, they would also be testing the abilities of the young clan members who had yet to come of age. Other members were also allowed to challenge each other. This was an important event that occurred every year that would culminate with a friendly match between the elders and sometimes, even the clan master himself. It was a grand occasion.
Wun Fan and Wun Siu Lan returned to their rooms and changed before stepping onto the sparring grounds. Wun Fan was dressed in a sky-blue robe, his short hair combed back to show his defined facial features, thick brows and big eyes. He wasn’t particularly handsome, but he had a look to him that made you think it would be easy to talk to him. Wun Siu Lan was dressed in a light-blue dress. She was ten years old and not exactly grown up yet, but her air of nobility, along with her intricate facial features that couldn’t be hidden even under the mask, made her seem like a cool, unapproachable beauty.
Their clothes matched together very well, making them seem like a good pair as they walked together. The servants and the non-house disciples bowed when they saw them coming. “Mistress Lan, Master Fan.”
The two of them didn’t put on airs. They would respond to each and every greeting individually, reflecting their proper upbringing. Of course, all the constant nodding made their necks a little sore.
Many people had a weird look in their eyes when they looked at Wun Siu Lan. Their gaze would linger on her mask with a hint of pity or sadness in their eyes. However, Wun Siu Lan showed no discomfort at all. A proud swan cared not for the gaze of the other ugly ducklings. The only thing that mattered to her is that he didn’t think she was strange.
Going back to the sparring arena, a small elevated platform had been constructed on the east side. It was two metres tall, with steps on all four sides. Only the clan master, the elders and the lineage disciples were allowed on here.
Wun Siu Lan and Wun Fan were not good at socialising. They didn’t spend too much time exchanging niceties with branch disciples or other senior relatives before they turned and walked towards the platform.
Unfortunately, as they always say, trouble comes knocking when you’re least looking for it.
“Hey, isn’t that Wun Fan? It’s been a while!”
A lofty, mocking voice rang out not far from behind the two of them. Both Wun Fan and Wun Siu Lan frowned at the same time.
They glanced back and saw a teenager in flashy clothes. The boy had an arrogant look to his face and long, narrow eyes that made you dislike him for no reason. A gold medallion hung from his waist, engraved on it was ‘Ping’, the character for ‘flat’ or ‘ordinary’. However, nothing was remotely ‘flat’ about him, with the arrogant way he carried himself. He even had two lackeys following behind him, just like a spoiled brat would. Even the sword he kept by his waist was glowing exuberantly from all its precious jewels and ornaments. It was obvious that it was a pretty sword with more form than function.
Wun Ping was the second young master of the Wun Clan and the son of the second elder, who was also in charge of the clan’s Enforcer’s Hall. He behaved incredibly arrogantly and inconsiderately, earning him the ire of many branch disciples. However, his father’s status and his own martial capabilities made it such that no one could put him in line. Those that could beat him didn’t dare cross him, and those that couldn’t beat him didn’t even dare to dream of crossing him. He was a menace and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that he was absolute scum
“Second brother, it has been a while indeed. It’s unfortunate that it wasn’t for a longer while.” Wun Fan smiled warmly. If it wasn’t for his words, one might have assumed he was on good terms with Wun Ping.
“Oh, look at you, always with the jokes.” Wun Ping wasn’t bothered by what he said at all. He slowly walked before Wun Fan and tapped him lightly on the shoulder. “The clan banquet’s about to begin. I was wondering if we could finally get rid of your nickname. You know—Mr. Level Six? Hahahaha…”
Wun Ping’s tone was extremely flippant and Wun Siu Lan couldn’t help but frown. Her glare grew ice-cold when she heard the words ‘Mr. Level Six’.
“Tch.” Wun Siu Lan’s face was dark. She could hardly suppress her anger. A ten-year-old couldn’t stand such provocation.
“I appreciate the concern, brother, though I haven’t improved at all. I’m still at sixth level,” Wun Fan replied calmly, not letting his inferior power bother him at all.
This attitude annoyed Wun Ping to no end. After all, he was here to stir some trouble, and he couldn’t even get a good reaction out of Wun Fan.
“Heh, a bastard… ah, no, Wun Fan, your progress is very stable indeed. You were a sixth-level Martial Disciple two years ago and you’re still a sixth-level Martial Disciple now. Hahaha! Seems like you’re really working on that foundation for your future!”
Wun Ping laughed out loud without any restraint. The non-house disciples around them had noticed the tension as well, though owing to their status, it was better for them to just turn around and pretend not to have seen anything.
“That’s a bit much, don’t you think, Wun Ping?”
Wun Siu Lan’s voice was scarily deep. Her gaze was chilling. Just the assault on Wun Fan’s status was enough to set her off. If an adopted son like him was a bastard, what would that make an adopted daughter like herself? The anger simmering in her had caused her to cast off any pretence of etiquette and respect; she had referred to Wun Ping by name.
The aether in Wun Siu Lan’s body was restless. She stared ferociously at Wun Ping, as if ready to strike at any moment. Those who humiliated people close to her would find no forgiveness, and those who humiliated Wun Fan, even more so.
However, Wun Ping didn’t care about Wun Siu Lan at all. He continued to mock Wun Fan. “It seems like you will still be the centre of attention this year as well, Wun Fan!”
“I can’t help it. That’s the problem with being a little too good-looking.”
Even Wun Fan’s eyes were smiling too. He was so friendly and sincere, it made Wun Ping wonder if he had even mocked Wun Fan in the first place.861Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbsYpi5hR6
