Tang San's Twin Sister-Chapter 219

Xie Yue was consulting the tomes. Next to him was a mob of brown hair drooling on even more tomes, with a staggering mountain next to them about to reach the ceiling and looking like a gust of wind might topple it. The floor was covered in scraps, notes, more papers, and books, and on the wall was a map pinned over another map, which was currently full of small needles embedded in it and connected by threats. Threats that wandered through the entire room to the walls, with more maps and details lined out.

The dim light filtered in through a window as a faint clicking sound became audible, making Xie Yue turn his head and blink, his eyes feeling like someone had put sand in them, and he let out a sigh of relief as he saw Damian walk into the room. His pinstripe three-piece suit was

painted on him, and his coat had a dramatic flair, dripping onto the ground as he hung it on the back of the door, joined by his hat.

"It is raining cats and dogs outside again." He grumbled, "Have you figured out anything closer? " Xie Yue grinned and held up the thick tome with lines of numbers over handwritten numbers in chicken scratch.

"I think so." He was hoarse, his voice rough from lack of use. "The last puzzle piece."

"So your guess was right?" Damian asked, and Xie Yue nodded.

"Yeah, Spirit Hall has been preparing for war. Not just for a year or two, either, but a decade, troops no one knows about, training camps with mysterious goals, people paid for things that make sense, but the quantities are subtly manipulated. I hate to admit it, but whoever did the books on it did a rather fabulous job.”

"I see." He nodded and then looked at Gale.

"He?"

"Fell asleep an hour or so ago...I think I let him sleep."

"I see."

"This is going to be huge. Have you figured out when they want to go to war?" Damian asked, and Xie Yue smiled.

"No." He said and shrugged, "But soon. Damn, Damian, I don't think Spirit Hall can win this, even if all the preparations are considered."

"Truly?" He asked, and Xie Yue shrugged.

"As I was made so painfully aware by you two. Being a spirit master is not everything. Spirit Hall is too focused on that, but they forget who will feed the people, who will make the clothes. Most spirit masters are warriors, fighters, not farmers and tailors, a Kindom based only on the power of spirit mastery and where only that counts and every single member only stifes ot be either that or enter the world of spirit masters, that does not work, it's impossible, nothing works like that."

"Maybe they have a plan for it. After all, Spirit Hall is not stupid." Damian pointed out, and Xie Yue shrugged. "I don't know, and frankly, I don't care. War is never a good thing." He thought about how many orphans had lost their parents, their everything to war, right war was never a good thing, not in the long run.

"Mhh." Damian settled down. His dark eyes stared at him. "Whom will you fight for then? You are standing between things right now. Your association with us makes you an enemy. On the flip side, your sister is the supreme pontiff's student."

"I will stand with Hu Liena." Xie Yue said. "And with the spirit hall, regardless of my personal opinion. She is my sister; Yan is my closest friend; even Lucy, as mad as she is... she means something to me. Spirit Hall took us in when we had no one, ophrans, raised us, invested in us, gave us a home, I won't betray that. My loyalties lie firm, Damian. I will raise my sword for them, if it costs me my life, then so mote it

be."

"I see, and what are you going to do with all this now?" Damian stretched out his hands. "This would make you a traitor."

"I will burn it." Xie Yue said and leaned back in his chair. "The reason I started this was that I refused to stay unaware of not knowing what is going on around me, now I do, it's fine now.”

"You think you'll be able to do that against us?" Damian asked, and Xie Yue shrugged.

"None of you are spirit masters; you cannot stop me, and in fact, I believe you won't stop me either." He rose from his chair and shook Gale awake, who was a bit dazed but got up. Together they made their way outside, the small house in front of them looking rather bleak as it was pouring over them.

"You sure about that?" Gale asked him, his voice tired.

"Yes." Xie Yue took out a small explosive device from his pocket, activated it, and then threw it at the house. "I am."

A loud, thunderous bang echoed through the streets, and people rushed towards it, but the house was already engulfed in flames despite the rain, as the flames flickered towards the sky. "I am as certain as a man can be."

"Aye." Damian agreed before he cursed. "I forgot my hat inside."

Xie Yue huffed and patted his shoulder. "I'll buy you a new one, don't worry."

"Gotcha, but without the damn Spirit Hall emblem."

"Sure." Xie Yue took a deep breath, "Can I just ask you one favour?"

Damian and Gale looked at him as if to say More favours? If my sister, Yan, and I survive this war, could you give us a small hideout or a safe harbour? I really, really don't want to be hunted my entire life by someone.

"We can try," Gale commented, and Xie Yue nodded in gratefulness.

"That is all I could wish for."