Chapter 37 - 37: Ma Xiaotao

A/N: I was supposed to update this much earlier, but my town had a power outage so wasn't able to until now.

================================================================================

"So, you've been here for six years? Along with your little brother?" Xiao Yan asked Ma Xiaotao. The two are walking down the road to the village near the academy. The two's destination, the cafeteria.

Ma Xiaotao was walking in front of Xiao Yan, guiding him, as she was familiar with the area.

Ma Xiaotao nodded and said.

"Yes. My brother and I have been in this academy for six years, ever since the dean took us in from that village of chickens, hehe, yes, I'm not joking. That's the name of the village, since the villagers only produce people with chicken related spirits."

"The dean was scouting for a disciple and coincidentally, he found us and decided to make us his first and last disciples." With her two arms behind her back, she turned around, with a raised eyebrow, Ma Xiaotao asked Xiao Yan.

"What about you? What brings you into this little academy of ours?"

Xiao Yan, with small smile set on his face, replied.

"Well, I was asked to, though ordered, to come here by my teacher."

Ma Xiaotao raised both of her eyebrows.

"Your teacher?"

"Though truth be told, he's like a pseudo teacher of mine. His real disciple is Tang San, my friend."

Ma Xiaotao blinked her eyes.

"Pseudo teacher? How does that work?"

"Well it's like this..." Xiao Yan and Ma Xiaotao continued making small talk. Despite meeting with each other for the first time, the two of them seem comfortable with each other. It was probably because they were students in the same academy or something else.

Ma Xiaotao haven't felt like this before in her life. Ever since she awakened her spirit, her body had developed in ways that can make any girl and women drool out of jealously and envy, and men would continuously l.u.s.t over her body.

The only exception of that last bit were her brother, her teacher, the seniors in the academy, and her two kinda friends Dai Mubai and Oscar, after she beaten the shit out of them, even then, there would be some awkwardness between them.

With Xiao Yan however? There wasn't any awkwardness nor any discomfort in the air when they talked. It was, all natural. Like talking with her brother and teacher but without the familiality with the former and formality from the latter.

'Is this what's like having a real friend?' Unknown to Ma Xiaotao, her lips curved into a small smile, which was unseen by the covered red veil.

Xiao Yan also had a smile on his face. After calming down and talking with Ma Xiaotao, he can firmly say that she's a really nice girl to talk to.

"I can't believe I'm saying this... But I envy you, and despise you." Flame Emperor's emotionless voice sounded inside Xiao Yan's head, causing him to glance at the side to see his past self's blank face.

'Why?' Xiao Yan asked mentally in confusion.

"... Oh yeah, you were a v.i.r.g.i.n in your past life on earth. Wait till you get my memories, you'll understand it then." This caused to further confused, embarrassed and angered Xiao Yan.

Just as he was about to cursed at his past self, he noticed some floating red purple embers surrounding Ma Xiaotao that appeared for a moment then disappeared.

Ma Xiaotao's expression suddenly turned pale and pained for a moment before she turned to looked away from Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan, who has enhanced senses, heard deep breaths in and long breaths out coming out of Ma Xiaotao's lips.

Concerned, Xiao Yan was about to ask what was wrong with her until he remembered her story in the 2nd timeline of the series.

'Just like her ancestor, eh, her brother, she's experiencing the madness of her spirit; the Evil Fire Phoenix.' Xiao Yan's face turned grim and solemn.

'From what I remembered, Ma Hongjun, and his descendants's, spirit of Phoenix comes with a variation of Evil Fire, causing him to have a huge s.e.x drive and gluttonous appetite which had to be satisfied, which otherwise would have caused his body to combust and/or can cause extreme temper, oblivious of one's surroundings, even warping one's personality in the process which can only be dealt with by either cooling the body using Ultimate ice or pure water elemental spirits, although less effective, or forcefully suppressing the evil part of the spirit in Ma Xiaotao's case in the series.' Xiao Yan clenched his fists.

'Ma Xiaotao, is one of my most favorite character in the series. Not because of her beauty, and s.e.xy art design, but her personality. Her determination and loyalty for her friends is what made me loved her character in the second timeline series.'

'I don't know of any spirit masters that has a really powerful ice related spirit in this era. Looking at her condition, I could only hope that she could last to the Dugu Bo Arc, cause if this condition of hers continues...' Xiao Yan bit down his lower lip, almost drawing out blood.

'She would most likely follow her original path in the series.' In any normal situation, Xiao Yan wouldn't have cared if a stranger would have ended in the same fate, but this was Ma Xiaotao.

She was someone important in the story as a future powerhouse Titled Douluo but most importantly, she's just an innocent girl that was being affected by her spirit.

"Then why don't you use your heavenly flame?" Igneel's voice entered his mind and suggested.

'Why and how?' Xiao Yan asked in confusion.

"Did you forget? Heavenly flames are kings of flames. All flames would submit to a heavenly flame and you have one."

Xiao Yan widened his eyes and glance towards Flame Emperor. Hope and desperation in his eyes.

'Will it work?'

Flame Emperor was silent, clearly in deep thought of it, taking a look at Ma Xiaotao, he nodded.

"Yeah, it would work. But even then it would only be a temporary solution."

'As long as she lasts till we get the herbs from Dugu Bo's stash, any means is necessary.' He walked towards her, with a concerned expression, Xiao Yan opened his mouth to asked but then...

"OI! WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH MY SISTER YOU MOTHERF.U.C.KER?!!" A sudden angry voice interrupted him.

Xiao Yan and Ma Xiaotao, having slightly controlled her madness, turned to see a...

"An angry fat chicken boy?" Xiao Yan's said out loud instantly.