Chapter 144: Explorers

"Do… you want to visit them?"

Viel could not even swallow the food that was in his mouth as his hands started to tremble. What… was he even going to say? Look at them straight in the eye and say he accidentally killed Wei Song because he couldn't control his powers?

How… was he even going to do that? To look at the loved ones of the person you killed… How was anyone going to do that?

As he was lost in thought, he felt something warm touch both his hands. He slightly turned his head to the left, to see Xing Cai's holding his left hand firmly.

He then looked towards his right, to see Sofia holding his right hand softly.

"I will go with you if you decide to go", Xing Cai said as her grip tightened. She was the one that broke the news to Wei Song's family 7 years ago. And it was, in a word, devastating. She couldn't let Viel do that alone.

"I-I will also go!", Diao Mei stood up, but was quickly blocked by her mother.

"No, you stay here!", Diao Chan shouted, "Don't think I have forgotten that you snuck out this morning!"

"M-mother!"

The group chuckled as they continued to eat and tell stories. The others wanted to ask why Viel only came back now, but he always glossed it over and asked a question of his own.

It took two hours of chattering away before the group decided to call it a night.

Diao Chan offered for Viel and Sofia to stay the night, but he refused. Saying that he wanted to sleep in his own house. And so, with a sigh, they all bid fare well. With Guang Yan leaving halfway through Viel's house, leaving Viel, Sofia, and Xing Cai alone in Viel's house.

"Viel… are you sure you want to sleep here?"

Seeing the house's dilapidated and dusty state, Xing Cai could not help but comment.

"It should be alright", Viel said as he looked at Sofia, who nodded as soon as she saw Viel looking at her.

She then raised her hand, and suddenly, all the furniture started floating in the air, the dusts that were collecting all over the place all flew like a flock of locusts outside the house. And in just a few seconds, the house felt like it was new again.

"That's quite convenient", Xing Cai hummed as she praised Sofia.

"Thank you", Sofia said, "You do not have this kind of magic in your world?", she then asked.

"Maybe in the west, but not here", Xing Cai commented as she continued to look around the house. It has been years since she last stayed here. She was so obsessed in entering the dungeons that she hasn't really stayed in one place for a long time.

"I'm sorry for… not taking care of the house and leaving it in this state", Xing Cai sighed.

"No", Viel quickly shook his head, "It's my fault for leaving".

Viel then picked up something on the floor and placed it on the table. It was the picture they took way back when they were in Xianying's world.

Sofia was quickly intrigued, "This… is a masterful painting. This was you when you were younger?", she said as she looked at the photo.

"Hmhm", Viel hummed, "That's not a painting, it's a photo"

"Photo?"

"Yes, an item from another world produces them instantly", Viel said as he placed his hand on a chair near a table.

"From the dungeons? So most of the items that we saw on the market were from the dungeons as well?", Sofia could not help but in awe.

"Yes"

This time, it was Xing Cai who answered her, "Come to think of it, the two of you should register as Explorers as soon as possible if you plan to venture inside dungeons"

"Ah!", as soon as Viel heard Xing Cai, he quickly looked at her with excitement, "I have been hearing that word a lot, what is it!?"

"Well… they're basically the people who are allowed to enter dungeons", Xing Cai answered, "I will take you to register tomorrow. Let's rest for now, I am sure the both of you are tired"

"O-okay!", Viel said with excitement. So it's something like Adventurers, then. This should be fun. He thought as he bid good night to Xing Cai.

He then casually went inside his room… followed by Sofia.

"..."

Xing Cai could not help but furrow her eyebrows… She felt...something amiss.

"Wait!"

Xing Cai quickly opened the door to Viel's room, only to see Viel and Sofia already laying themselves on the same bed.

"Eh… what is it, sister Xing Cai?", Viel commented, "Did you want to sleep beside me?"

"What are the two of you doing?", Xing Cai said in a cold tone.

"We're about to sleep", Viel nonchalantly said.

"Together?", Xing Cai twitched her eyes.

"Well, yes", Viel looked at Xing Cai with a dumbfounded expression. Sofia whose eyes were already sleepy, was also looking at her with a dumbfounded expression.

"You are almost of age, Viel!", Xing Cai shouted, "You don't just sleep together with a random woman!"

"Eehh… But she's not a random woman, she's Sofie", Viel said as he yawned, "And we've already done this a couple of times before"

"D-done what before!?", Xing Cai slowly backed away.

"Sleeping beside each other?", Viel furrowed his eyebrows.

Hearing Viel's innocent words, Xing Cai released a relieved sigh, "Even so, Sofia, you are sleeping with me in the other room tonight!"

"Eehh…", Viel hummed. But Sofia, who wanted nothing but to sleep already, just complied without even uttering a single word and walked to the other room. "G-good night then, Sofie, sister Xing Cai", Viel said as he covered himself in a blanket.

Xing Cai could not help but sigh. But she then smiled as a single tear suddenly streamed down her face.

Viel hasn't even been back for a day, and it was already livelier than it was yesterday.

And Xing Cai, for the first time in almost 7 years, could not wait for what tomorrow might bring.