Ling Jiu moved underground for over two hours before he was out of Mount Kosciuszko. He then released his airship and fled as fast as he could.

  He did not want to stay for even a second. If the Three-headed Frostfire Scaled Dragon caught up with him, he would be in trouble.

  It was only after the airship flew for several hours and had traveled over a thousand kilometers before he stopped. The Three-headed Frostfire Scaled Dragon was nowhere to be seen. He figured he had successfully shaken it off.

  After that, he chose a place suitable for direbeast hunting.

  It was Thursday, time for killing some direbeasts. He did not want to be left behind.

  “Here goes!”


  A Frost Mammoth appeared ahead. Ling Jiu teleported himself near to it, then yanked out a purple, almost transparent Flaming Spear. The Frost Mammoth dropped dead to the ground as the Flaming Spear pierced through its temple.

  “A 7,000ºC flame is so handy!”


  “Next!”
……

  On Saturday afternoon, Ling Jiu handed over the harvest to the Logistics and came to the training camp hospital. The two girls had not been discharged yet.

  “You are back, Ling Jiu!”


  “Just arrived.”


  He took out the Ginseng of Life.

  “Take this, Ling’er.”


  “What is this?”


  Yang Ling’er was startled along with Ai Yuhe.

  “This is the Ginseng of Life. It could heal your legs,” said Ling Jiu.

  “The Ginseng of Life? The one that people discussed in the group chat two days ago?”


  The two girls were stunned. “You got it from Mount Kosciuszko?”


  He nodded.

  “Oh, my gosh! Didn’t the group chat say there was a Three-headed Frostfire Scaled Dragon guarding the Spring of Life? How did you get it?” The two girls were in disbelief.

  Ling Jiu held up his hand. “I will talk about that later. Ling’er, take it and heal your legs first.”


  Yang Ling’er shook her head from side to side. “You risked your life to get it, so how could I take it? Besides, we are just friends. I shouldn’t accept it.”


  Yang Ling’er was flattered. In her mind, she was just Ling Jiu’s casual acquaintance, despite him being the savior who had saved her life.

  Since they were merely casual acquaintances, how could she accept such an extraordinary kindness? She was not that thick-skinned.

  “What’s wrong with acquaintances? Don’t worry about it. It’s all right.”


  Ling Jiu tried to shove the Ginseng of Life in Yang Ling’er’s hand, but she was adamant not to accept it. So he looked over at Ai Yuhe for help.

  Ai Yuhe forced a smile. She had mixed emotions about this. She was puzzled and envious.

  Why did Ling Jiu treat Ling’er so well? Was he into Ling’er?

  She did not know why a little demon called ‘jealousy’ suddenly rose within her. Was she not as good as Ling’er? She met Ling Jiu before Ling’er did. Why did Ling Jiu treat Ling’er so well?

  While thinking so, she saw Ling Jiu’s pleading eyes. “I think you should explain yourself, Ling Jiu. Otherwise, Ling’er will not accept your kindness. You are scaring the hell out of her.”


  Yang Ling’er nodded in agreement.

  He sighed, hesitating for a long while before taking out the blood test reports.

  He knew that Ling’er would not take the Ginseng of Life as long as their relationship remained as acquaintances. After all, this was a premium Treasure of Heaven and Earth.

  It was too expensive.

  That being the case, he could only tell the truth.

  Ling’er’s legs were more important than getting to the bottom of their relationship.

  The truth could wait, but Ling’er needed to regain her legs now.

  “What are these?”


  Yang Ling’er looked baffled.

  “Our blood test reports.”


  Ling Jiu explained, “When I rushed you to the hospital, you were losing too much blood and needing an immediate blood transfusion. Luckily, we have the same blood type. So the doctor drew my blood and put it into your body. These are the blood test reports.”


  Yang Ling’er nodded, but she still looked confused. “But why are you showing them to me?”


  “The doctor said our mitochondrion, X chromosomes, and autosomes are identical,” said Ling Jiu.

  Yang Ling’er was stunned, and so was Ai Yuhe.

  They had never gone to the university, but they had studied biology in high school, hence they knew what Ling Jiu meant.

  “That is to say……”


  Yang Ling’er looked at Ling Jiu.

  “We are biological siblings,” said Ling Jiu. “We share the same parents.”


  “Biological siblings?”


  Yang Ling’er was astounded.

  “You and Ling’er are siblings? Are you kidding me?”


  Ai Yuhe was wide-mouthed. She could swallow an entire egg. “What is going on here? How come you two suddenly become siblings?”


  Yang Ling’er looked at Ling Jiu. “Are you sure this is not a misunderstanding? How could we be biological siblings?”


  “I can’t really tell now.”


  Ling Jiu forced a smile. “I knew about it only after I saw the blood test reports. That’s all I know.”


  “Is this for real?”


  Yang Ling’er shivered.

  “The DNA test won’t lie. If you still don’t believe me, we can have another DNA test.”


  “Okay.”
……

  Half an hour later, Yang Ling’er stared at the new DNA test report. Listening to Dr. Zhao’s explanation, she could no longer hold back her surging emotions. She plunged into Ling Jiu’s arms and cried, “Brother……”


  “Don’t cry, Ling’er.”


  “I can’t believe it…… It’s real.”


  Ai Yuhe looked on in puzzlement. “How could it be possible? One is from Lantian while the other from Chang’an. Not to mention they just knew each other not long ago! How is it possible that they are siblings?”


  As bewildered as she was, she suddenly felt a sense of relief and secretly rejoiced.

  Siblings?

  That was just as well.

  After a while, Yang Ling’er came down and asked Ling Jiu about her family.

  Ling Jiu answered every question she asked.

  “We have Dad and a sister; Xiaotong should be your elder sister.”


  “Dad, elder sister?”


  Yang Ling’er mumbled, “Can I see their photo?”


  “Sure.”


  He took out his cell and showed her a photo. Yang Ling’er stared at the photo of her Dad and sister, her eyes welling up.

  “Ling’er, do you know that you and Ling Jiu really look alike, cast from the same mold!”


  “Dad! Elder sister!”


  Yang Ling’er ran her fingers over the photo, feeling emotional as she now had a dad.

  “What about your mom, Ling Jiu?” As Ai Yuhe asked, Yang Ling’er listened with her ears standing erect.

  “I don’t know. Dad says she left us when I was small. I am not sure where she is now.” Ling Jiu sighed.

  “You have your mother but no father, Ling’er,” Ai Yuhe looked at Yang Ling’er, “Could it be……”


  Yang Ling’er nodded in agreement and showed Ling Jiu her mother’s photo. “Take a look; is this your mother, too?”


  Ling Jiu took the cellphone and frowned. “From the photos of my mother that I have seen before, she looks different from your mom.”


  “Different?”


  Yang Ling’er shivered. She and Ling Jiu shared the same parents, but he said his mother looked different from hers?

  Could it be that her mom was not her actual mother and that she was adopted?