Free Web NovelChapter 143: Chapter 143
The meal was over in about forty minutes. Since there was still time left on the Invitation Card, Ethan Yardley decided to take a good look at his sister’s raft.
When he got to the thatched hut, he found a frozen person lying there. He couldn’t help but crouch down out of curiosity for a closer look.
’How strange. How does my sister always run into such weird people?’
"Hey, who are you? Are you alive?"
The ice man opened his eyes, only to see another stranger.
"Looks like you’re alive. Can you move?" Ethan Yardley said, then immediately added, "Sorry, looks like you can’t."
"Bro, what are you doing?"
"Where did this guy come from?"
Faye Yardley gave a short "oh." "Fished him up."
Ethan Yardley was speechless.
After a long silence, he finally said, "It’d be dangerous to leave him here, right? How about I take him with me?"
"And how do you plan on taking him?" Faye Yardley was genuinely curious.
Ethan Yardley then tried to put the ice man into his backpack. Obviously, it didn’t work.
"What if I carry him on my back? If we’re tied together, do you think we’ll both get sent back together?"
"If you want to know, why not try?"
Neither of the siblings paid any mind to the ice man, who was rolling his eyes.
After all, you never know until you try.
Besides, it wasn’t much trouble, and it wasn’t dangerous.
With the two of them tied together back-to-back—a knot Faye Yardley had tied herself—she dusted off her hands. "There. Tied up nice and secure."
But before the time was up, Faye Yardley noticed water starting to drip from where their backs were pressed together.
The ice man’s eyes shot wide open.
Ethan Yardley struggled to turn his head and look behind him. "Why does my back feel so hot? It’s scalding one second and freezing the next."
"Bro, the ice on him is melting fast! Hold on, I’ll untie you. I still don’t know if this guy is friendly or not."
’Faye Yardley had figured that since the man was locked in ice that couldn’t be melted even by high heat, he posed no threat. Plus, she was mostly sure her brother’s ridiculous plan wouldn’t work anyway.’
’When the time was up, the system would send her brother back, and the ice man would surely be left behind. It was all just a bit of fun.’
’But something was clearly wrong with the current situation.’
But before she could even untie the knot, the ice on the man had melted completely.
"Haha... I’m free!"
Faye Yardley yanked the rope. "Who are you?!"
Just then, the Invitation Card’s time ran out. But contrary to Faye Yardley’s expectations, not only was her brother sent back, but the ice man vanished as well, leaving her holding a slack rope.
"Sister, maybe you should call Brother?"
"Right, I’ll call him now."
But there was no answer. Faye Yardley’s heart leaped into her throat. She hung up and immediately called Gavin Donovan.
He picked up almost immediately.
"Boss, what are your orders?"
"Donovan, is my brother back yet? Can you go check on him? I need to know if he’s okay."
"Understood. One moment."
Gavin Donovan left his raft, so the call naturally disconnected. Faye Yardley couldn’t help but feel a surge of anxiety. ’Why did I have to be such an idiot and play along with my brother’s game?’
’And aren’t these Invitation Cards a little *too* powerful?’
’They can actually take people with them when they go home?’
’Does that mean you can bring people when you leave, too?’
Her mind raced with wild thoughts.
Fortunately, the ring of an incoming call rescued her. Seeing it was her brother calling, she felt a great sense of relief.
"Bro, are you okay?"
"I’m fine."
Tiberius peeked out from behind Ethan Yardley and waved. "Hey there, little sister! I’m Tiberius. Your brother and I are basically brothers from another mother now, which makes you my dear sister, too."
Faye Yardley’s composure slipped, and she stared, dumbfounded. Her gaze shifted to her brother. "What is going on?"
Ethan Yardley looked like he didn’t know where to begin, so Tiberius launched into a motormouthed explanation.
To summarize, according to Tiberius, her brother was a Fire Body, his "fated companion." Apparently, Tiberius’s Cultivation had hit a snag, but with her brother present, it was no longer an issue.
Furthermore, the system had apparently determined they had entered into a "partner contract," so Tiberius would now protect her brother.
And as it turned out, he was even younger than her brother—only twenty-four.
*Cough, cough, cough!*
Faye Yardley nearly choked on her own spit.
’If she didn’t know for a fact that her brother was as straight as an arrow, seeing the two handsome men standing shoulder-to-shoulder, she might have suspected Tiberius was his "demure little wife."’
Tiberius pointed at Faye Yardley. "What are you thinking? I feel like you’re looking at me funny. Don’t go falling in love with me, you know. It’s a dead end."
Ethan Yardley threw a punch at his shoulder. "Get lost. My sister would never fall for you."
"Hey, hey! I was just worried my devastating good looks would captivate your sister!"
Watching them interact only heightened Faye Yardley’s sense of absurdity. She blurted out, "Bro, you really need to find me a sister-in-law, and fast. Actually, Bella Dillon wouldn’t be a bad choice."
’Even if she’s an Otherkin, at least she’s female!’
Ethan Yardley’s head felt like it was about to explode. "Stop meddling! I’m not interested in Bella Dillon that way."
"You’d better get interested."
Ethan Yardley saw his sister’s dead-serious expression, then followed her gaze to Tiberius’s hand draped over his shoulder. His mind exploded with a BOOM.
"Faye Yardley, get your mind out of the gutter!" frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
"Is there something wrong with her? I don’t see it."
"None of your damn business! Scram!"
Relieved to know Tiberius wouldn’t harm her brother, Faye Yardley decisively ended the call.
"Fire Body? Does that mean my brother has a Fire Spirit Root? Is this some kind of World of Immortals?"
Willow Yardley looked confused. "Sister, what are you talking about?"
Faye Yardley shook her head. "I just don’t understand what Tiberius meant by ’Fire Body’."
"I don’t understand either. Perhaps it’s a specific term used by his people."
"Forget it. As long as my brother is safe, that’s all that matters. He can handle the rest," Faye Yardley said. ’A guy like her brother couldn’t possibly be turned, right?’
’Before, I thought Bella Dillon wasn’t a good match, but if the choice is between two Otherkin, you’d obviously pick the one who’s a different gender!’
’There was no helping it; she was unshakeably straight and just couldn’t wrap her head around same-sex couples.’
’She didn’t mind it with other people—she could treat it as just a story—but for her own brother? Absolutely not!’
"Sister, are you worried about Brother’s so-called Fire Body?" freёwebnoѵel.com
Faye Yardley glanced at Willow Yardley. "I’m worried about what Tiberius might do to him."
"The power of a contract is absolute; no living being can defy it. You don’t need to worry, Sister."
It was already past 6:00 PM, but the sky remained as bright as high noon.
Faye Yardley had planned to take a walk on the raft to aid her digestion, but seeing the perpetual daylight, she decided a stroll through the planting room would be better.
When she reached the planting room, she saw that it had changed dramatically. The intermingling aromas of flowers and fruit weren’t overwhelming; on the contrary, the air felt fresh and fragrant.
Just stepping inside was enough to make one’s Spirit feel at ease.
"Are the jujube trees starting to bear fruit?"
Seeing them enter, Eamon came pattering over. "Yes! Sister, look, the apple tree next to it is already this tall! Once it grows a little more, it’ll start to blossom and bear fruit."
