Chapter 30: Sorcerer / 5.7&8 : One lie twice the destruction
Eden woke between the twins again. He sat up and looked at them. He feels closer to them now that they’ve opened up, it makes him even more determined to change things for the Nexus. He smiled when Shaotian and Shaoren woke up at the same time. It’s still weird to him how in sync they are. They both looked at him, and Eden caressed their head. The twins smiled and their eyes softened.
"Can we film my profile today?"
Shaotian asked:
"Don’t you have to work in the laboratory?"
"No, I’m done. I’m free until the start of the GE Trial."
He smiled when the twins’ eyes lit up. Shaoren said:
"We’ll film it at the end of the day."
The GE Trial happens in the dark forest and because it’s dangerous they are no cameraman on-site and the headquarters of the show are in a studio in town. There are cameras virtually everywhere in that forest to catch every scene and they’re controlled by HQ. Only the participants set foot in that forest and the guardians if something out of control happens. All the participants already filmed their profiles to introduce themselves since they won’t be able to do it once they enter the forest beside Eden. Eden nodded, he stood up and left for the bathroom.
He joined everyone for breakfast when he was done. He took a seat in front of Shaoren and smiled at Nansheng and A-Xuan. They smiled back. He’s glad those two finally woke up and realized they like each other, at least now they’re aware of each other’s feelings. They never got a chance in the original timeline so Eden will make sure they have a happy ending in this one. They all looked at Eden when he incanted:
"My words won’t be heard, my word won’t travel once I seal this room without demurred."
Shaoren asked:
"What is it did you feel something?"
"No, I need to tell you something."
They all relaxed but it didn’t last.
"Huang was my owner, he bought me when I was 6 years old. He corrupted my core with black magic and had complete control over me. You being present at the auction wasn’t a coincidence, he planned to use me to take you down."
They all listened as Eden told them Huang and Yifeng’s plan. He wasn’t surprised to see the anger on the twins and A-Xuan but he was surprised by the level of Nansheng. He is pretty shy and introverted, you never see him be angry or upset.
Shaoren banged his hand on the table in outrage.
"Why didn’t you tell us?"
"Because I want to deal with them and I will. Ok?"
After a few seconds, Shaoren nodded. He looked at Shaotian, he was looking at him furiously. Eden had never seen him this angry before. He sat on his lap and held his face. He insisted:
"You won’t do anything right?"
Shaotian just kept looking at him furiously in silence. It kills him that he’s been helping them when they’ve been after Eden this whole time.
How could he play along like that and be around them? He knows that he must have a bigger plan but still. If he knew he would’ve ripped their hearts out. What bothers him the most is the fact that Eden didn’t trust them enough to tell them. When Eden saw his eyes flash in sadness he immediately knew why. He caressed his cheek.
"Gege it has nothing to do with trust or I wouldn’t have left the auction with you. It was filmed live in the entire realm I could’ve shown everyone that I’m the Prime Nexus but I didn’t. I want to deal with them during the GE Trial to use them as examples. Once the realm sees how I deal with them no one will abuse Nexus or their power as Guardians. Only then will the new laws you plan on enacting be respected."
Shaotian looked down, Eden’s plan is definitely the best. He’ll be able to deal with them, make sure all the new laws are respected and show the realm who he is. He simply said his head still down:
"I’ll do as you wish."
Eden lifted his head.
"Don’t you trust me?"
Shaotian immediately nodded.
"Of course I do."
Eden smiled.
"I trust you too my love."
Shaotian smiled and his eyes softened. It’s hard to be mad at the person you love. Eden captured his lips and he kissed him back. Eden pulled back and smiled. He stood up and sat on Shaoren’s lap. He said wrapping his arm around his neck with a smile:
"I thought you would be the one I had to convince."
They both smiled looking at Shaotian. When he narrowed his eyes at them they chuckled. Eden kissed Shaoren then he left for his seat again. He looked at A-Xuan when he felt his eyes on him.
A-Xuan looked away still as stunned. He had no idea the twins were already with Eden since he would spend all his time in the lab. They’ve known each other forever but he never saw them care for anyone until Eden. Even if everyone thinks they’re in love with Minglan he always knew they weren’t. He could tell that they liked Eden but he was worried he might not feel the same. Being with one twin means being with the other and not anyone would be okay with that. He’s glad that their feelings aren’t one-sided. He doesn’t want them to just focus on the Order, they should fall in love and be happy like everyone else.
Nansheng smiled at A-Xuan who finally realized that the three liked each other. How could he not see that? Eden looked at A-Xuan amused then unsealed the room.
Huang looked at the door when someone knocked.
"Come in."
Tianlin came in and said:
"Mother said you should get ready the guest will be here soon."
Huang nodded. Tianlin was about to leave but he stopped when he asked:
"Why did you want the Jians to come for dinner?"
"I thought that the twins would come too so when they die people will think we had a great relationship."
Huang looked at his son with narrowed eyes. He must’ve known that the twins were never going to show up, the whole realm knows that they’re closed off. They seem to only enjoy spending time with A-Xuan and Nansheng that shy Nexus. He could feel Tianlin’s nervousness when he asked if he could invite the Jians to dinner.
"What are you up to?"
Tianlin looked at his father surprised:
"What?"
"I know that you’re keeping something from me. What is it?"
"Can we talk after dinner?"
After a few seconds, Huang nodded.
Tianlin left, he entered his room, and got changed. He’s not going to tell his father that he and Minglan are together without her. They agreed to break the news together and that’s what he’ll do. He never thought that their short fling would turn into love. It’s only after spending more time with her that he realized that he had feelings for her all along. She’s different with him, he can see that her attitude was just a facade she put on, with him at least.
He doesn’t mind her acting spoiled he finds it endearing now. When he was dressed Tianlin looked at himself in the mirror. No matter what his father thinks he’s not giving up on her. He knows that Minglan loves him too and that she’ll fight for them. Tianlin looked at himself in the mirror determinedly. He left and took a seat around the table. His foot kept tapping the floor nervously.
Ruiqi looked at her son.
"What’s wrong sweety?"
When Tianlin woke up from his thought he asked:
"What?"
"You seem nervous."
Tianlin smiled.
"It’s nothing mother."
Ruiqi reassured:
"You and Minglan will be fighting together during the GE Trial you know your father won’t do anything to offend the Jians during dinner if this is what you’re worried about."
Tianlin nodded. He knows his father won’t do anything that might offend them but he’s still nervous about him accepting their relationship. What if he still wants to kill them once the twins are dead? Of course, he won’t let it happen but he wants his family to agree with their relationship and embrace Minglan. He knows his mother will agree, his father is the problem.
When his father entered the dining room he stopped his foot. When the Jians arrived he looked at Minglan. She looked like an angel in her white dress. He couldn’t stop himself from smiling and his eyes softened when he saw the blush on her cheeks. When he felt his father’s eyes on him he looked away.
Eden burst out laughing and closed Versem. He looked at the man behind the camera and asked:
"Do you have everything you need for the profile?"
The man checked the video and said:
"I do thank you."
Eden stood up and walked to the twins.
"Let’s go home I’m hungry."
The twins smiled and both held his hand. They disappeared and appeared again in the dining room. He took a seat and opened his computer waiting for the food to come.
Shaoren asked curiously:
"What are you doing? I thought you were hungry."
Eden asked:
"What’s better than watching a show as you eat"
Eden smiled maliciously, he can’t wait to see their faces when they find out the truth.
When the food was served Tianlin looked at Minglan. She smiled at him reassuringly. She knows that Tianlin is worried about how his father will react. She knows that her father will support her no matter what but the same can’t be said about Huang. Tianlin told her how authoritarian he is. She looked at their parents and said:
"Tianlin and I have something to tell you."
They all looked at them inquisitively. Tianlin said:
"Minglan and I are together."
"We want to spend the rest of our life together."
Minglan looked at her father, he smiled and said:
"If this is what you want you know I’ll support you."
Minglan and Tianlin smiled at Yifeng. He looked at his father to see his reaction. He could tell that he wasn’t happy but he felt like he could convince him since he hadn’t banged his fist on the table and stormed out.
He looked at his mother, she was looking at him wide-eyed.
"Mother?"
Ruiqi asked in a trembling voice:
"You haven’t been intimate with each other right?"
"Mother!"
What is wrong with his mother? How could she ask something like that in the middle of a dinner table? He looked at Minglan and saw that she was just as uncomfortable and her face was red. Ruiqi saw that her son had no intention of answering so she looked at Minglan.
She stood up and ordered frantically:
"Tell me the truth did something happen?"
Minglan looked at her stunned then at Tianlin to know what she should do. Before Tianlin could say something she was startled by Ruiqi’s scream.
"Tell me now!"
She nodded frightened by her intensity. She said in a small voice:
"We’ve been intimate."
Ruiqi fell back on her chair, she looked drained like that answer had taken all her energy.
Eden smiled and he ordered:
"You’re suspicious."
The twins looked at Eden then at the computer.
Huang narrowed his eyes at his wife and asked:
"What’s going on Ruiqi?"
He feels like she’s keeping something from them. Ruiqi looked at her husband bitting her lips as tears ran down her face. Unable to stand his suspicious eyes she said to Tianlin:
"You can’t be together anymore this relationship has to end. Do you understand?"
Before he could ask why Yifeng said:
"They’ve thought this through if they want to be together they should be."
Ruiqi yelled in rage:
"You shut up!"
"Mother, what is wrong with you? Where’s your manner? This is the father of the woman that I love."
Hearing that Ruiqi felt like she had been slapped. He loves her nothing will deter Tianlin from being with her unless he knows the truth. She burst out in tears covering her face. Why? Why is this happening? He knew that they were planning to have them killed once the twins die why would he fall for her?
Eden ordered:
"Make her admit what she’s hiding."
Despite how terrible of a person Huang is he loves his wife wholeheartedly and he knows that he’s the type who would do everything for her. That can’t happen or she’ll never tell the truth. The twins smiled looking at the screen amused.
Ruiqi put down her hands and looked at her husband. She’ll know he’ll go along with everything she wants. She blinked her teary eyes. Tianlin looked at his father pleadingly but he knew he would go with his mother and tell him to end things with Minglan. He was shocked when Huang asked angrily:
"What are you hiding?"
Ruiqi blinked her eyes stunned.
"Sweety, what are you talking about?"
Eden ordered:
"Threatened to use a truth spell."
Huang narrowed his eyes and threatened:
"Speak the truth or I’ll use a spell on you."
Ruiqi looked at him shocked. When she woke up from her stupor she thought that maybe she should say it. If she explains with the spell it will only be fact but if she tells she can make him see why she did what she did. She licked her lips and explained:
"Minglan is Tianlin’s twin."
She looked at everyone’s expression of shock and immediately added:
"You knew that Minglan’s mother and I were best friends and grew up in the same small village. We gave birth on the same day but her daughter died in childbirth. When I gave birth I was shocked to see that I had fraternal twins when I was only expecting a son. She was heartbroken to lose her daughter so I..."
She took a breath and said:
"I gave her Minglan and made the doctor and nurses keep it a secret."
Everyone’s shock turned into horror. Seeing that she immediately justified:
"I knew she would love her and raise her well. She was in good hands."
Minglan looked at Ruiqi in dismay tears falling on her face. How could her mother not tell her even on her death bed? Her whole life has been a lie. Not only that but she slept and fell in love with her twin. Minglan fell to her knees crying desperately. Yifeng immediately stood up and pull her in his embrace. No matter if this is the truth or not he’ll never let go of his daughter. She’s his no matter what any paternity or maternity test says.
Minglan calmed down and looked at her father. He’s the one who raised her, he’s the one who has been there for her nothing will change that. She begged:
"Father let’s go home, please."
Yifeng felt miserable seeing his daughter like that. He held her tighter and snapped his finger and they disappeared.
Tianlin looked at her leave not knowing what to say. He looked at his mother and howled:
"How could you keep something like that secret!"
Ruiqi bit her lip and said:
"I never thought you would fall in love with her, you were planning to kill them."
Tianlin stood up and screamed:
"This makes it worst! You were planning to let us kill your daughter! My twin!"
Saying that out loud it finally registred with Tianlin. He’s in love with his twin, he was planning to spend the rest of his life with her. His mother has destroyed their life by keeping this a secret. Ruiqi looked into her son’s hateful eyes and felt heartbroken. She stood up and took a step toward him.
"Sweety I’m sorry please don’t hate me. Even if I gave birth to her she wasn’t my daughter, you’re the only one I care about. Only the three of us are family."
She was shocked when Tianlin pushed her to the floor. She looked at him wide-eyed.
Tianlin swore:
"I will never forgive you for this."
Tianlin ran up the stairs, Ruiqi stood up to go after him but Huang held her wrist. She turned around crying, she felt a little relieved when she couldn’t see anger in his eyes. Just like her they both only wanted a son this is why she didn’t feel guilty giving Minglan away and she knew her friend would treat her like her own. Huang pulled her in his arms.
He isn’t angry at her, he believes she did the right thing. He never wanted a daughter, just the thought of raising one gives him nightmares. Maybe it’s a good thing that they know the truth like that Tianlin and her will never be together again. Daughter or not his plan hasn’t changed. He pulled back and said:
"You did the right thing giving her away. Don’t worry I’ll talk to Tianlin."
Ruiqi nodded and hugged her husband. She knew he would understand.
Eden closed the computer and looked at the twins’ expressions. He smiled when he saw the flicker of exaltation in their eyes.
"Isn’t it more fun to play with your food?"
Shaoren said:
"Huang didn’t react the way I thought he would."
"I knew he wouldn’t care. He is a sexist pig and he doesn’t believe that a woman would be able to carry on his legacy."
Shaotian said:
"That’s very clear. He meant he thought that he would at least be angry at his wife for not telling him."
Eden smiled.
"I used a command spell to make sure he would forgive her for now."
Even if Huang wouldn’t care about Ruiqi giving Minglan away he would care about her keeping it a secret. He loves Ruiqi so much that just the thought of her keeping the smallest thing from him kills him. He’s incredibly jealous of any men who lay eyes on her. Ruiqi exploits that to get what she wants but she never goes too far because she knows how temperamental he is when another man is involved. Eden delayed his reaction because he has a plan.
Ruiqi is just as guilty as Huang, Tianlin, Minglan, and Yifeng so she must pay too. Now they all know the truth about the twins’ birth so he can finally have fun with them. The only reason they never found out in the original timeline is that the secret died with her. Tianlin and Minglan never had children since they dedicated their lives to the order so no one knew. He’ll use her to break Huang mentally, that son of bitch killed all the people he cared about including his babies. It’s time to have fun.
