14 Reason to live

Just as the boy leapt towards Yi Lan, she dodged instinctively, making the boy fall to the ground.

Yi Lan first glanced at the boy with blood on his body. "Oh my, what a pitiful condition you seem to be in, Your higness." Yi Lan mocks.

The boy-Che Ling glares at her.

"I could say the same about you. Why are you covered in blood?" He said rolling his eyes.

"These were caused by some mere scratches. No need to kick up a fuss." Yi Lan said licking blood off from the corner of her lips.

Yi Lan then turned to look at the boy on the ground. For a second, her heart stopped. The boy on the ground had midnight blue hair. His golden eyes were big and round. His skin glowed lightly. He was beautiful beyond words.

He picked himself up from the ground and once again leapt towards Yi Lan. This time, Yi Lan didn't dodge. His warm hands enveloped her cold body. "Big sister, I'm so glad you're alive." He said, his voice slightly hoarse.

Yi Lan was puzzled. 'Who' s this boy? Why is he calling me big sister?'

She pushed him away from her. His eyes immediately dulled and his face became sad. "Oi, Che Ling. Who's this brat? I thought I didn't have any siblings?!" She asked frowning.

Che Ling only looked warily at the boy. "Big sister, what's wrong? Have you forgotten about me?" The boy asked her in a sad tone, his hand pulling Yi Lan.

Yi Lan instinctively smacked his hands away.

"Look, I don't know who you are and I certainly don't care." Yi Lan said with a cold look. 'If I become too attached, it will only hurt more. Besides, this boy is already causing me problems.' thinks Yi Lan.

"Please don't say that. You-you're.." He panics on hearing this.

"I'm what?" prompts Yi Lan.

"Yi Lan. Stop. Don't say anything else." speaks Che Ling. "You may not know him, but Yi Meng did."

"Why are you calling Big sister by someone else's name? And who even gave you permission to call her without using any title?" The boy asks Che Ling coldly.

'Eh? What's with this change of attitude? And he seems to be defending me?' Yi Lan was confused.

"I-I'm truly sorry Sir. I won't let it happen again. Let me explain to you. Miss Meng had an accident with bandits and she lost her li- *Uffh*" Before Che Ling could continue saying, he was hit on his stomach, by a kick from Yi Lan.

"Hey, hey. Just because I currently don't have powers, doesn't mean you can go spouting anything in front of anyone." said Yi Lan, picking Che Ling up by his collar.

"Big sister, why do you keep labelling me as a stranger?" The boy asks in a hurt tone.

Yi Lan stops for a moment. Her heart clenched slighlty on hearing his tone. "Tell me, who are you?" Yi Lan asks, dropping the already beaten Che Ling.

"Big sister, you don't remember me? I'm your little brother- Yoru. I know I left you alone for a few years, but I didn't have any choice. If you hadn't forced me, I wouldn't have left. Now you don't even remember me." He said bitterly.

Yi Lan felt uncomfortable. She hesitantly patted his shoulder. " If it makes you feel better, I have lost my memories. I don't remember you or anyone else."

"What?" His head jerks up in shock. A dark look appears on his face as he looks at Che Ling on the floor.

"Didn't I tell you to take care of her? How did she get hurt then? How did she lose her memories? Are you even worth of being called her fiance?" He said coldly at Che Ling.

Che Ling trembled slightly. Yi Lan didn't miss this action and smirked. "Tsk, tsk. You really have become weak haven't you. Even a boy younger than you, managed to beat you up." Yi Lan commented, making Che Ling fume in anger.

"You!" He shouted.

"What? You got something to say?" Yi Lan says with a dark look on her face.

"No-nothing." Che Ling felt more frightened of Yi Lan than Yoru.

"Yoru, come with me. We'll have a talk. Leave this loser alone. He's not worth it." Yi Lan said dismissively.

Yoru's eyes immediately brightened and he gave a blinding smile.

'Uwah, it's too bright. He's young, but when he's old enough, he'll look even more handsome than Big Brother.'

Yi Lan could only shake her head amusedly. She starts walking, only to realise, she doesn't know where her room was. "Che Ling, where's my room?"

Che Ling stood up with a sigh and led the way. He took them to a small, dusty room. "Dude, is this even a room? Did I really live here?" Yi Lan asks with a look of disgust.

Yoru's face was dark with anger.

Che Ling gulped. "You wanted to give your cousin your room and started to live in this room."

"Do you really think anyone would willingly want to live in trash like this?" Yi Lan said mockingly.

"It was your choice." He said helplessly.

"I see. I'll pay back everything bit by bit." Yoru muttered.

Yi Lan shrugged. "Alright, you can go. Leave us alone for some time."

Che Ling nodded and left quickly.

"Come in." Yi Lan said to Yoru and walked in the room.

"Sit."

"Big sister, can you tell me who hurt you? I'll take care of that person for you." Yoru said with anger in his eyes.

"No need for you to worry. I already took care of that person." Yi Lan said. "More importantly, I can't believe you could hurt Che Ling to that extent."

"If Big sister doesn't like it, Yoru will apologise immediately." He said with a crestfallen look. "After all, he is your betrothed. Even if he doesn't deserve you." His hands clenched.

"As if. I'm happy that you beat him up. He's too arrogant for my likes." Yi Lan said waving her hand.

'This kid seems more powerful than Che Ling. He' s pretty young too.' muses Yi Lan.

"Say, how old are you?"

"I'm fourteen." He said in a sweet voice.

Yi Lan's leg jerked up in shock. 'He' s even more younger than I thought.'

"Is that so? You aren't my real sibling, right?" Yi Lan asked calmly.

His face turns pale. "Even though we aren't real siblings, our bond is much stronger." He said in a slightly hoarse voice.

Yi Lan only patted his head. "I didn't say that our bond is weak. It's just that I have lost my memories, so I wanted to confirm."

'Wow, his hair is so soft. Wonder which shampoo he uses? It feels like I'm petting a dog. Now that I think about it, he does seem like a dog.' Yi Lan thinks, amused.

"Big sister, I'm sorry for leaving you alone for so many years." He said in a small voice.

"Ah,that's right. Why did you leave?"

"At first, I didn't want to. But you insisted. You even kow towed before me. I couldn't help but leave."

"Wait. How did we meet?" She asks.

A hesitant look appears on his face. "I feel we should not let the past interfere. What's important is that you brought me to the clan, and brought me to teacher. Then, you requested me to leave with teacher to gain power. No, what's even more important is that you gave me a reason to live." He said with a bright smile.

Yi Lan's heart felt warm. 'Even though I don't remember how Yi Meng met him, I'm sure it wasn't some happy incident. He seems hesitant to burden me with the past.'

She once again ruffled his hair. "You're too mature for a child. Act your age once in a while." She said pinching his nose.

He laughed, rubbing his nose. "Big sister, do you want to go somewhere with me?" He asks earnestly.

Yi Lan said in a regretful voice. "I would love to, but currently I haven't healed fully yet."

"Should I call the healer for you?" He asked with troubled eyes.

"There's no need. I'll become better after resting a while. When I wake up, let's talk lots, okay?" Yi Lan said in a comforting voice.

Yoru gave a toothy smile and nodded yes.

Before she went to sleep, Yi Lan fondly kissed Yoru's forehead, who looked shocked. She already felt close to him, even though she had been reluctant at first. She was reminded of the times when her Big brother used to comfort her.

Yoru quickly exited her room, closing the door behind him. He leant on the door, his hand covering his now blushing face. He could still feel Yi Lan's warm lips on his head.

"That was unfair, Big Sister." He whispered.