Yang Qing noted the hesitation and awkwardness written all over their faces. He wryly smiled as he expected this sort of reaction more or less.
"You don't have to be so on edge, we can act just like before though if you want to worship my awesomeness I don't mind," Yang Qing teasingly said as he tried to lighten the mood.
"I can keep calling you big brother Yang Qing?!" Zhi Luoran asked as she almost tipped over on the table in all the excitement.
"You better," Yang Qing said as he smiled.
"Who knew big brother Yang Qing is even more shameless than I am," Zhi Da muttered in shock at how thick-skinned one must be to act for praise so openly. He may have pulled a few shameless stunts himself but even he had to admit he fell a little short when he compared himself to Yang Qing.
Yang Qing didn't waste any time as he hurriedly started sampling all the dishes sprawled out on the table. In addition to the scallion pancakes, the tomato egg soup, and the spring rolls that were already on the table there were large bowls of red braised pork, dry fried shredded beef, potato in caramel, and lastly chili pork.
Yang Qing ravaged the meals like someone who hadn't eaten in a year which left the two siblings gawking in wonder at how someone could eat so much and in so little time at that.
They gazed at each other before they burst out laughing. Yang Qing was too engrossed in eating to give any thought to their sudden laughter.
"So did you two give much thought to what I said before? I can help you if you want to train up your skills in blending in or gathering information or if you want to start over someplace else.
Though I know it's not an easy choice to up and leave especially with the connections you have built with the people in the city," Yang Qing said as he paused from eating to look up at the two siblings.
After the little scare with Lei Weiyuan threatening to supervise him and the potential retaliation from a domain-level expert, the quicker he was done with his evaluations the better.
When he was done with his food he would be leaving for the first evaluation point in Green Pine County still within the Red Maple Empire before he made his way to the other points.
"Big brother Yang Qing are you sure you can help us start over?" Zhi Da hesitantly asked.
Even though he had steeled himself to ask for help he was still afraid to. During the past three years, he and Zhi Luoran had gone through so much that they had to extinguish the embers of hope in their lives if they hoped to keep surviving. They got their hopes ruthlessly smashed so much that it was safer for them to be as pragmatic as possible.
"I can," Yang Qing softly answered.
"Big brother helping us may end up potentially inviting a calamity to your doorstep. I know you are powerful but even palace realm strength isn't enough," Zhi Da solemnly said.
Yang Qing dusted off his hands as he interlocked them and rested his chin on them looking interestingly at the two siblings.
"My promise still stands. It's not like it would be the first time I bring trouble back either. As a matter of fact, I invited some trouble a few minutes ago and I'm not the only one who does so. The organization I'm from is skilled at handling problems, especially calamitous ones.
They welcome it even," said Yang Qing as he put on a silly grin thinking of the tired face the branch head of Yellow Plains County was showing right about now. He always felt joyful whenever he saw someone else being run ragged by the Order more than he was. It always came as some sort of therapeutic relief to him.
Zhi Da and Zhi Luoran exchanged glances then they both nodded. A worn-out sigh came from Zhi Da immediately after.
"Big brother Yang Qing we humbly accept your offer to help us start over. My sister and I owe you our lives," Zhi Da said as he and Zhi Luoran woke up and gave deep bows.
"There's no need for that. I just helped you because.... well let's just chalk it up to fate and you two were interesting. You remind me of some of my colleagues and friends," Yang Qing said as he raised them up with a gentle force that sat them back in their seats.
Even though the two siblings already knew Yang Qing was powerful being exposed to it in person still caused shockwaves in their hearts.
However Zhi Da immediately calmed down as he went silent, he seemed to be collecting his thoughts as a look of sorrow flashed in his eyes.
Yang Qing didn't say anything and just gave him the space he needed. Based on their reaction he guessed they wanted to open up on the reason why they were on the run in the first place.
"My name is not Zhi Da. Both my name and Zhi Luoran's are fakes. Our names are Zou Yi and Zou Liqin respectively and we are from the Zou clan," Zhi Da now Zou Yi solemnly said.
Both siblings cautiously gauged Yang Qing's reaction to their reveal however they were shocked to find there was no look of surprise, shock, fear, or any of the normal reactions they expected one would get from getting such a reveal. Instead, Yang Qing was playfully dipping a piece of the stir-fried beef into a small bowl of sesame sauce next to him.
"So you're from the Zou family the rank 2 clan skilled in formation arrays? Is it them you are hiding from?" Yang Qing quizzically asked.
If they were hiding from the Zou clan by all accounts they should have already been found out or dead even incase their relationship was less than cordial which it seemed to be if he took their current circumstances into account. He had no idea how two body-refining children could hide from such a colossal family.
From what Yang Qing knew about the Zou clan they were an old clan even among rank 2 organizations. They had a history spanning atleast 50,000 years. This was a history and foundation most couldn't compare to, especially with how chaotic times were from the past millennia going back much less 50,000 years ago. For the Zou clan to survive that long was a testament to their abilities.
The clan was known for their all-around skills in different types of formation arrays and inscriptions. Their range run from deadly killing arrays down to day-to-day arrays and inscriptions like the ones used on robes.
"No wonder they could identify my robe. If they are from the Zou clan they should have been exposed to these things from birth since the clan is among the top producers of quality robes with utility arrays inscribed on them," thought Yang Qing.
"Yes we are from that Zou clan," Zou Yi confirmed as he painfully sighed.
"The Zou clan has always had a long-standing tradition when choosing its next head and my father was one of the candidates in consideration but he lost…" Zou Yi paused to hold back the trembling that was in his voice along with the tears that were millimeters away from dropping.
The same however couldn't be said of Zou Liqin who was already sniffling with tears streaming down her face.
"You don't have to say anything. I will still help you either way," Yang Qing hurriedly said when he saw their reactions.
"No, it's the least we can do. Since you may potentially be risking your life by helping us, you knowing is as it should be," Zou Yi firmly said which made Yang Qing hold back the words he was about to say once he saw his solemn look.
"Fine," Yang Qing gently said as he motioned for him to continue.
"Our clan's root and foundation lay in formation arrays so the person who gets chosen to be the next family head has to be unequivocally gifted in this regard.
Unlike other organizations, the Zou clan doesn't choose the person with the highest cultivation base as its next leader or any attainments in that regard all that matters in the eyes of the Zou clan is your skills with formation arrays.
It is because of this that over the years since its founding occasionally we would have a clan head who had a palace realm cultivation base despite there being domain-level members who could take up the mantle.
Our heads usually stay in their posts for about 500 years then they retire to focus on their cultivation leaving it to someone else. The next head is chosen via a special artifact that was brought back by the third ancestor and also one of the most powerful ancestors we have had. I heard he was a top-tier soul formation expert," Zou Yi said in reverence.
Zou Yi's current look came as a surprise to Yang Qing since based on their pained reactions he would have expected them to have bitterness and resentment against their clan, not reverence.
"The tradition of choosing the next head via their skills in formation arrays was started by him and has become a clan decree since.
The selection process is done by the special artifact he came with from an ancient ruin. I don't know much about the artifact other than it's the cornerstone of our clan. It has raised countless geniuses but it has also killed countless of them, two of them being my father and mother."
