Chapter 51 - 51: The Cry of a Phoenix

Outer area of the Star Dou Great Forest. Surrounded by only tall and thick trees, vegetation as well. Two figures could be seen in a small clearing.

The said figures were two teens, they were standing in front of each other, one was standing still like a brick while the other was having a mental breakdown.

"*Sniff*I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry..." Ma Xiaotao apologize for like the hundredth time. Her face was buried in her two hands, hiding her very fl.u.s.tered face that rivals her hair.

'I had misunderstood it. I misunderstood it all from the start! Ahhhhh!!' Ma Xiaotao thought as she cried out inwardly. The embarrassment of it all to have her junior, Xiao Yan, find out that she was being a narcissistic girl who thought that he was confessing to her.

Oh how much Ma Xiaotao would give if she can just find a hole to bury herself into.

Meanwhile Xiao Yan was just standing in front of Ma Xiaotao, awfully being quiet. His face was blank and his eyes didn't reveal the emotions Dee inside him.

Though a tic mark would appear on his forehead and his right eyebrow would suddenly start to twitch uncontrollably.

The reason for that? Well...

"Bwawawawawa!!" Igneel's obnoxious laughter echoed within Xiao Yan's mindscape. In his human form, he was laughing on the sandy beach, rolling around.

"Hahahahahaha!!" Followed by his past self Flame Emperor who did the same sa Igneel, rolling around on the sand in laughter.

"S-She rejected him! Hahaha!!" Flame Emperor said as he pounded on the sand, unknowingly creating a crater everytime he did so.

"Oh my father! That wasn't even what he wanted to talk about! Hahahahaha!!" The two looked at each other and laughed out loud once more. While also leaving devastation around them.

Which leaves watching the life of a twelve year old, as he journeys his way from being a young adolescent to a a.d.u.l.t, the only option.

And they didn't regret choosing so.

While the two godly beings was bursting out laughing, Xiao Yan's astral projection stood floating above them with a deadpanned expression.

With a twitching eyebrow, he asked.

"Are you two done?"

"NOPE! HAHAHAHAHA!!"

Xiao Yan let out a long sigh as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

[Dozens of minutes later...]

The two old ghosts within Xiao Yan's mind finally stopped, which at the same time, Ma Xiaotao also finally calmed down.

"You have a way to help subdue my Evil Fire with the help of your heavenly flame...?" Ma Xiaotao slowly said as her widened eyes stared at Xiao Yan in disbelief.

Xiao Yan nodded.

Ma Xiaotao was dumbfounded.

Ignoring the fact that a twelve year old, who not only has a ten thousand year spirit ring, has not one but two heavenly flames. But to use said flames to help subdue and alleviate the pain she had to undergo for the last couple of years, how could she not be shocked?

This Evil Fire of her and her brother, that the only knowledge to help alleviate their pain of being overly bloated by the flame's overbearing spirit power within their body is by eating like a literal pig and have s.e.x.u.a.l i.n.t.e.r.c.o.u.r.s.e with someone of the opposite s.e.x, can have the same or even a better effect by using Xiao Yan's heavenly flame?

A single tear unknowingly fell down Ma Xiaotao's left eye.

'F-For so long... I-!' Ma Xiaotao opened and closed her mouth as she stared at her junior, no, friend Xiao Yan.

For the last couple of years, she had been stricken with the backlash of the Evil Fire of her spirit. She could only subdue it if she had followed her brother's way of subduing his Evil Fire. But as a girl of her early teen, does she want to be a fat and loose girl? The answer is no. She would rather die.

But instead of dying, Ma Xiaotao had gritted her teeth and walked forward. Only with her force of will, she was able to subdue the overbearingness of her Evil Fire.

Ma Xiaotao had been depressed for a while when she realized this fact, in fact, she shouldn't have even gone along with group trip towards the Star Dou Great Forest.

She should have been at the academy, once more subduing the Evil Fire within her and loosen her pain. Once more, delaying the inevitable.

But... She really didn't regret her decision on going here. As she finally found some form of salvation, with the help of a monstrous boy a year younger than her.

"Huh? Tears-! S-Senior Ma Xiaotao?! Are you alri-!?" Xiao Yan was just talking to Flame Emperor about the other steps of helping Ma Xiaotao, when he noticed the said girl in front of him letting out tears.

He had stepped forward and voiced out his concern for her, only to stopped frozen as a red blur speed towards him.

A red veil fell to the ground as Ma Xiaotao clutched the c.h.e.s.t clothes of Xiao Yan, who stood blankly with his arms spread apart in disbelief.

Though Xiao Yan woke up, as he felt his c.h.e.s.t soaked and heard the quiet whimpers of a certain senior.

Without even thinking, Xiao Yan closed his arms around the sobbing redhead and rubbed her hair.

Xiao Yan didn't said anything, Ma Xiaotao as well, they just stayed in that position. With the former giving soft comforting words and action to the latter, while the latter was giving out the couple years of frustration that had build up within her to the former.

Xiao Yan, confused on why she wasn't letting go, looked down with a raised eyebrow.

"Don't tell anyone..." Ma Xiaotao mumbled, her face obscured by planting it deep into Xiao Yan's c.h.e.s.t.

"Uh, sure. Yeah." Xiao Yan nodded, while also sweat dropping as there were two other beings who had witnessed this.

Xiao Yan could have sworn he saw Flame Emperor and Igneel fist bumping with grins on their faces.

Ma Xiaotao stayed silent but her form became more relaxed as she snuggled more into Xiao Yan's embrace.

'Is this what a hug from a male, other than my brother and teacher, feels like?' Ma Xiaotao wondered.

'It feels... warm.' A smile, that can easily charm hundreds of male or female, appeared on Ma Xiaotao's now b.a.r.e face. Her red veil was at the ground. Showcasing a face that no could resist. Her beauty easily stood on equal or surpassing with the other girls of Shrek. Sadly, it was hidden within the embrace of a young lad named Xiao Yan.

Unknown to the both of them, a hooded figure in black, hidden on top of a tree was monitoring them.

Although his face couldn't be seen, obscured by the darkness of his hood or by plot, anyone can tell by his body language that he was feeling awkward.