Abyssal Awakening

"Hua! I mean Ling Er, I don't think you should indulge in drink right now. Especially not the Nine Sun's Liquor." Xiao An's smile twitched while had the same reaction after hearing Alice wanted to drink.

"Al- Ecila, have you forgotten what we're here to do???" Jin asked, dropping the food in his hands.

Hearing both of their companions being concerned about the same thing, Hualing and Alice blinked at one another before letting out hearty laughs.

"Look at these two. They're acting like it's gonna be the end of the world if we drink." Alice smirked, pointing at the two.

"Pft, you're right. But I suppose they're not wrong either since today is pretty important for me." Hualing let out a sigh.

Noticing her new friend's expression, Alice couldn't help but pat her on the shoulder.

"Seems like it's both important and pretty difficult for you. I won't ask about it since we've just met but if you ever want to go for a drink, you can use this to contact me." Alice created a small blood bead.

"Just put some energy into it and crush it." She instructed, handing the bead over to Hualing.

"Eh? Why don't you just use the talismans?" Hualing asked curiously since talismans made communication so much easier.

However, Alice simply scratched her cheek before gesturing for Jin.

"Seriously? This is going to be the eighth one you break. I can't keep buying more you know?" Jin frowned.

"I mean it's easier to show than actually trying to explain it. Aren't I paying for the food? You can just count it as that." Alice waved her hand dismissively.

Rolling his eyes, he tossed over a talisman before holding up a plate to be used as cover.

Just as Alice's hand touched the talisman, the energy within began to destabilise as both Hualing and Xiao An could see an absurd amount of energy on the verge of running rampant.

Flicking it away, she wrapped the talisman in Void energy and watched as it exploded.

"Tada~ Anything I touch that's made by Suyin results in explosions. Flying swords, carriages, anything that she had a hand in I blow up for some reason." Alice chuckled while Hualing couldn't believe that someone like her even existed.

As a member of the Chi family, she was familiar with the inventions of Suyin. In fact, she even had the pleasure of meeting her in the past.

There were doubts regarding the safety which is why even the sect leaders of the three Sovereign sects attempted to destabilise the tools but to no avail. The foundations of her inventions were too difficult to overload!

Yet with a single touch, Alice was able to overload and blow it up! Not by choice either!

"Are you sure you're just a traveller? Even the sect leaders of the Sovereign sects couldn't destroy it." Hualing asked with doubt in her eyes.

Someone like this couldn't be normal.

"Of course. I came from the north wanting to explore the east. Food, clothing, martial arts, I wanted to take a look at it all. Then I got blown up by one of Suyin's inventions so now I'm making my way south to find her." Alice admitted truthfully.

"Hmm… I haven't met her often but I know she's rather eccentric. I can only imagine that she must've tried to contact you personally once she realised that you blew up her invention." Hualing chuckled.

Suyin could be considered arrogant. She didn't bother with people who couldn't keep up with her nor did she care about those that didn't interest her.

But if someone was to catch her attention, she'd go out of her way to satisfy this curiosity of hers. Even if it meant doing illegal activities and so on.

Thankfully, nothing she's done has been… heretical in nature. Yet.

Shaking her head, Hualing wanted to change the subject when she noticed a few figures approaching from down the street.

Elders of the Vermillion family.

"I want to talk more but seems like I've run out of time. If you're still in the city after today or the day after, let's go out for a drink okay?" Hualing grinned as Alice nodded her head.

Standing up, Hualing nodded to Xiao An as the two of them left the store before the Elders could arrive.

'She's a nice girl.' Alice thought to herself while leaning back and enjoying the rest of her meal.

'Seems pretty strong too.' Alyss added.

They noticed her flow of energy while they were talking. Completely stable and ready to pounce at a moment's notice in case anyone was to try and attack her.

A clear sign that she's been trained.

However, it wasn't the kind where she was prepared for Alice to attack. Rather, it was for an unseen assassin or something along those lines. There was no hostility from her towards Alice.

'She must've had quite a tough childhood if she's this on guard. Think she's part of a large family?' Alice asked curiously while Alyss shrugged.

'I don't know about her but the man with her was definitely a trained martial artist. He was keeping guard for her and was even scrutinising our movements to make sure we're not suspicious.' Alyss narrowed her eyes.

If they weren't friendly and weren't simply there for a chat, Alyss was tempted to switch out with Alice and have a go against Xiao An.

'I mean there's always chances in the future. Plus we've agreed to go out for a drink right?' Alice chuckled while making a drinking motion.

Hearing this, Alyss simply gave her twin a side glance before letting out a sigh.

No matter the situation, no matter the scenario, the moment drinks are mentioned, Alice's mind is focused on alcohol.

'What? The Nine Sun's liquor sounds interesting okay? At least it sounds better than the other stuff I've been drinking since I've been here.' Alice pouted but Alyss simply ignored her.

Looking over to Cayla for validation, Alice simply saw a sign left in the place where Cayla should be with her nowhere in sight.

[Cayla is not available, please check back at a later date.]

'. . .'

Pouting in annoyance, Alice returned back to reality and began to devour the food in front of her with Jin being surprised by her sudden gusto.

It's almost as though the food was her enemy.

###

After leaving the restaurant, Hualing walked along the street without saying anything while Xiao An kept her company.

Each step was a reminder that time was ticking by without waiting for anyone.

"Honestly, I don't know why I'm being such a drama queen about it. It's not like I'm being enslaved right? I can still do what I want. I can still train, drink and enjoy my life how I want to. It's just that… I guess I'll be bound to the Vermillion family rather than the Chi family." Hualing let out a hollow chuckle while Xiao An looked at the ground.

"Ah, that's not to say I'm blaming you or I'm saying you're not good enough okay?" She quickly corrected herself, realising what she sounded like.

"I'm aware. I suppose it's like a pair of invisible shackles for you right?" Xiao An smiled as Hualing paused before letting out a soft sigh and nodding her head.

"I suppose so. Weird isn't it? It's just a title, just formality. But deep down… I feel like I'm losing my freedom. Getting my wings clipped and my limbs bound. It's pretty suffocating." Hualing forced a smile before giving her body a stretch.

"Uwahhh I spent too long talking to Ecila that I didn't even get a bite from the place. Do you know a place we can get some food from?" Hualing asked with a grin.

"I know of a place. It's where… Never mind. Just know that it's good." Xiao An paused before smiling.

"Oh? So mysterious. Lead the way then dear future husband." Hualing joked, trying to put on a brave front as Xiao An nodded.

Taking the lead, neither of them said anything and soon, they approached a rather worn down alley. Despite the state of this place, Hualing felt a tinge of nostalgia as she remembered their childhood. In the past, the three of them would sneak out of their houses and meet up nearby, playing with the local kids and buying snacks from the vendors.

"Boss Ming, can you get me two bowls of your chicken noodles and some meat buns please." Xiao An called out as an old gentleman behind the counter nodded with a smile.

"I thought you had forgotten all about me. Didn't even visit for a week hahaha." Boss Ming let out a soft laugh while Xiao An sat down and shook his head.

"Forget about you? Never. The… Three of us practically grew up eating your noodles after all." He grinned. Perhaps Hualing was too young to remember but her sister had brought her here often with him. But after a certain point, it was only him and Ningyue visiting this place.

It was a comfortable place for him and her. A place they often visited together and today was probably the first time he came here without her.

Boss Ming, noticing that Chi Ningyue wasn't with him, decided not to pry.

As for Hualing, she found this place familiar yet at the same time, unfamiliar.

Watching the noodles being prepared, Xiao An let out a soft sigh before closing his eyes.

Since Ningyue didn't leave any messages for him, it wasn't right for him to cling to the memories of her.

Once the noodles were done, Boss Ming folded his arms. He could see that the two had different kinds of sadness and simply allowed them to relax. Sometimes, what one needs isn't words of comfort but rather a place to just sit down and contemplate.

For these two, he'll simply give them the place of silence.

As she took a bite of the noodles, Hualing's memories came flooding back as a single tear rolled down her face.

She realised that she had eaten these noodles before and the taste hadn't changed at all.

She remembered the good times and the bad. The smile on her sister's face.

She wasn't angry that her sister pushed this marriage onto her. But rather, she was angry at the fact that she didn't even leave a single message.

Biting her lip, Hualing didn't say anything and simply ate the noodles in silence with tears in her eyes while remembering the good old times.

Xiao An did the same. But for him, it was him moving on from the past. The final meal in remembrance of his love. He simply wished her a good life.