"Zhao Yunlan. We still have more urgent matters to discuss! Shen Wei will be fine." Da Quing sternly said in serious voice which his Gege only use rarely with him. It always sends a shiver down his spine.
***
Zhao Yunlan obediently sat back down and Da Quing also sat in front of his didi with a serious face.
"Zhao Yunlan, are you aware that you will be 18 soon in couple of weeks?" Da Quing starts out lightly.
"Yes, Da Ge. In two weeks to be exact." He response back.
"Good that you are aware of it! So, that leads me to ask you .... how is your Tengu's power?" Da Quing grievously asks, knowing full well how it makes his didi feel.
"........." Zhao Yunlan
"...... Still dormant I assume then?" Da Quing answers his behalf instead.
Zhao Yunlan just gives a small nod in reply.
"....... I'm afraid that we must take action now to activate your dormant power, didi. I just got news from our leader that there is suspicious activity in kidnapping teenage boys around both your and Wei-di age at Tengu Village. We believe that they are searching for Wei-di and it will not take long for them to realize that he is not in Tengu Village." Da Quing grimacely expresses.
"Gege... what am I supposed to do to awaken my power? Is there even any since I don't even have wings? I'm worried about Xiao Wei..." Zhao Yunlan expresses his concern.
Zhao Yunlan knew that there would come a day when their peaceful life would change, and calamity would engulf their lives. But he never thought it would be so soon.
"My dear didi... I'm sorry for being useless gege...." Da Quing apologizes, feeling hopeless and useless older brother.
"Da-ge, you have nothing to apologize to me for! If anything, it should be me for dragging you down along with me! You think I'm not aware of how much trouble I have caused you back in Tengu village because I don't have power?" Zhao Yunlan revealed, shocking Da Quing.
"Ho-ww?" Da Quing asks in surprise.
"hahhahaha, our relatives aren't that 'tactful' when they try to 'educate' me. They made sure to 'inform' how my existence harm our family quite generously." Zhao Yunlan said with sarcasm
"Yunlan...... I'm sorry for not being able to protect you..." Da Quing apologizes again.
"Da-ge, you have nothing to apologize for. Besides, I like my current life here, in Haixing! I will do everything in my power to keep it that way!" Zhao Yunlan confidently said to Da Quing.
Da Quing looks fondly at his didi, seeing him so determined to continue living even with many obstacles ahead of him.
****
"Alright, didi. But I must inform you that it will be a long and dangerous journey for you. And being your very last journey is a possibility..." Da Quing said with worried expression.
"It's alright, Da-Ge! I'm not afraid of difficulties, but who will guard xiao Wei in the meantime? His power should be dormant still since he is only 15 years old now until couple months before he turns to 16." Zhao Yunlan question.
"Yunlan, you must know that Shen Wei is different from everyone else. That applies to his awakening power as well. We can't be certain that his dormant Tengu power will be awakened only when he turns 18 years old like regular Tengu. And seeing how other lesser creatures were able to sense his power when he was only 8, it is alarming as well." Da Quing told what he observed.
"Yes, I'm aware of that too. But since he forgot about everything that happened 7 years ago, nobody was able sense his power. Also, during my guarding for the last 7 years, we had faced many creatures with various amounts of power that is living among people, but they never sense Xiao Wei's power." Zhao Yunlan reported his findings to his gege but who is also his commander.
"Hmmm... that is weird, Yunlan. I wouldn't think it is weird if only lesser creatures didn't sense the power, but if you say various amount of power, that is really weird that they wouldn't sense it." Da Quing said contemplating.
"Da-Ge, did Uncle Chu say anything about Xiao Wei's power when I'm not guarding him close by?" Zhao Yunlan asks thinking that Shen Wei power might have activated when he sleeps.
"No, Chu Shuzhi didn't say anything relating to Shen Wei's power in his report." Da Quing truthfully said.
***
"Gege, I don't want to leave Xiao Wei alone without feeling that he is in safe hand while I'm away~~~" Zhao Yunlan finally give up thinking too much and let out his worries to his gege, making Da Quing laugh at his didi.
"Yeahhh~ I'm well aware of that without you having to vocalize it~~" Da Quing whine back making both brothers burst out in laughter.
"HAhahha.. Okay, that is a good one, Gege! Anyway, what now?" Zhao Yunlan asks after having a good laugh.
"Hmmm, I think I know someone who is more adverse in power awakening knowledge." Da Quing said and stood up to stretch his body.
More adverse in knowledge than Da Ge..?? ...It can't be.... him?? Zhao Yunlan thought while sweating from nervousness.
"Er....gege....this person that you have in mind...ah...it couldn't...be ...your..." Zhao Yunlan starts out, making gestures with both his hands while not finishing his sentence but Da Quing still got the message.
"Yup~ It's him, one and only~~~" Da Quing happily singsong making Zhao Yunlan turn pale.
"...Er...when will he be coming over then?" Zhao Yunlan tries, hoping he can make his escape before the person shows up.
"Hey, Yunlan Di. Don't even think about escaping him this time! Besides, he is coming here on formal business about your mission so you must be here!" Da Quing sternly said knowing what his didi is planning
Not if I can help it! Zhao Yunlan internally protests but still didn't show it on his face.
"Right.... sooo, when is he coming over" Zhao Yunlan presses again to get answer
"The meeting is scheduled for tonight after Wei-di falls asleep! Chu Shuzhi will join the meeting as well" Da Quing said and pause for a moment making Zhao Yunlan drop his guard and added
"...but he should be here any minutes now~~" Da Quing slyly said. He was enjoying seeing his usually stoic and obedient didi make many expressions and act childish all at once. It is really a rarity for Da Quing, so he makes sure to enjoy it to the fullest!
"Oh nonoooooo!!!!!! Not brother-in-law!!!!" Zhao Yunlan groan while messing with his long dark brown hair but froze when he heard-
"Did you call me, xiao didi?" The man said with smirk on his face.
"He--llo sir!" Zhao Yunlan salutes like a soldier to his commander.
"Hey now, Yunlan. You don't need to be formal with me now. The scheduled meeting doesn't start until tonight. Right now, I'm just your brother-in-law."
"Hey baby Yezun. Were you able clear up your schedule to be here early?" Da Quing asks after giving a quick kiss on his husband's lips.
"Yes, my dear kitten. And like anyone will dare to oppose me from meeting my family." Yezun said while wrapping his hands around Da Quing's waist.
"Ahmmm....!!in case you have forgotten, minor still in the room!" Zhao Yunlan gruff out with a glare at his brother-in-law.
*Chuckling sounds*
"Ohhh.... is xiao didi feeling left out~~~~ Come here, your Gege will give you a big hug~~~" Yezun teasingly said while chasing Zhao Yunlan around in the house, but Da Quing is having the time of his life when all his family members are together.
"Arrggg. Let go of me.... Yezun Ge!!! You are squeezing me...!!!" Zhao Yunlan whines and struggles to get free.
"Psst... do you think we made your gege less stress out now?" Yezun whispers into Zhao Yunlan ears.
"hhhmmmm, I think so. But we have to keep up the act, so he enjoys himself until I leave for my journey! I will leave my dear gege in your capable hand since I can't look out for him." Yunlan whispers back to Yezun who nods in agreement.
"Right, then here come tickle attack!!!" Yezun said and start tickling battle with Zhao Yunlan while Da Quing is enjoying seeing his husband and his didi having fun.
Actually, Yunlan already knows about his mission, although not in details, from Yezun. So, they plan to be cheery and be jokers, so Da Quing doesn't worry too much about his journey and enjoy family time as much as possible that they rarely get with their prospected duties.
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A/N: Yayyyy ｡:ﾟ(;'∩';)ﾟ:｡.... phew... another chapter for my lovely readers~~~ Please enjoy~~~~
Also, below is something fun I found and want to share. Please note that below skid has NOTHING to do with my story~~~