Chapter 157: Having High Seniority Is Just Different

Chapter 157: Chapter 157: Having High Seniority Is Just Different

A "what the hell" almost slipped from Silver Shuttle’s lips, but he forcefully swallowed it back down. He stared at Silver Feather and Liang He’s clasped hands with a look of horror, feeling as if his world were collapsing.

Great, just great. He had only been away for a moment, and Liang He had already been charmed away by the Holy Daughter. Now there was no one to protect him. He whimpered internally.

"You caused such a massive disaster; shouldn’t I be here?" Silver Feather’s face darkened the moment she saw Silver Shuttle. She assumed the full majesty of the Holy Daughter, terrifying him so much that he didn’t dare move a muscle.

"I... I know I was wrong..." Facing Silver Feather, Silver Shuttle knew that any explanation would be futile and would only be labeled as making excuses. He decided to simply admit his fault honestly and hope for leniency.

"Silver Feather, may I say a few words?" Seeing her future free labor frightened to such an extent, Liang He felt a twinge of pity and gently tugged at Silver Feather’s sleeve.

Silver Feather’s attention shifted. The moment her gaze returned to Liang He’s face, her expression softened into a gentle smile, and she spoke in a warm, quiet voice. "Of course. Between you and me, there is no need to be so polite."

Silver Shuttle was completely baffled. He couldn’t comprehend this inexplicable friendship between them, but that didn’t stop his jaw from dropping in sheer shock.

"Alright, close your mouth before you start drooling all over the place." Xu Yi, who had stepped in a moment later, kindly helped Silver Shuttle retrieve his jaw, nudging it up until it snapped shut.

"No... Brother Xu, what exactly did Liang He do? Is this really the Holy Daughter I know?" Silver Shuttle deeply suspected that the Holy Daughter had been swapped out and the person in front of him was a fake! However, for the sake of his own life, he didn’t dare expose her on the spot. If he was wrong, it would only add to his crimes—he would just be asking for a beating!

"Silver Feather, regarding Silver Shuttle’s situation, it is exactly as I explained. He is naive and was deceived by the Rebel Army. It’s excusable, so please don’t blame him." Liang He briefly explained the cause and effect on Silver Shuttle’s behalf. Some things would be seen as mere excuses if Silver Shuttle said them, but coming from her, they were an earnest plea for mercy.

"Besides, Silver Shuttle knows he was wrong and is willing to change. He has already promised to stay in the reserve and help me out to make up for it." She smoothly brought up the arrangement for Silver Shuttle to stay and work, offering everyone a graceful way out. Silver Shuttle had made a mistake and had to be punished—that was the Holy Daughter’s duty. As the aggrieved party, it was perfectly reasonable for Liang He to want him to work off his debt.

"Since you’ve put it that way, I will naturally respect your wishes," Silver Feather said. Just as Liang He had anticipated, she agreed to let Silver Shuttle remain in the reserve until Liang He no longer needed him. "However, this kid is extremely mischievous. If he ever upsets you, just teach him a lesson. If you beat him too hard, I’ll take responsibility."

Hearing Silver Feather’s words, Silver Shuttle’s eyes widened into perfect circles. He had the distinct illusion that Liang He was actually Silver Feather’s real family. "Great-Aunt... you don’t have to be that ruthless, do you?"

Great-Aunt? Liang He tilted her head curiously, not understanding why Silver Shuttle would address Silver Feather this way when she clearly didn’t look much older than him. "Why did he call you Great-Aunt?"

Silver Feather shot Silver Shuttle a cold, ruthless glare. Upon hearing Liang He’s question, however, she immediately switched back to her gentle, pleasant tone. "I have a high seniority in the family."

To be revered as the Holy Daughter, Silver Feather naturally possessed her own extraordinary qualities. Although Silver Shuttle shared the family name Silver, he was not entirely of the Divine Lineage, but rather the child of a union between a member of the Divine Lineage and an ordinary human. He had inherited their silver hair but lacked the true power of the Divine Lineage, though he still possessed unique advantages in physical stamina and martial prowess.

"I see." Liang He nodded in understanding. Such situations were also common on Blue Star. Sometimes, elderly people would address school-aged children as "Great-Aunt" or similar titles based on generational ranking. This was especially true during ancestor worship ceremonies, where children with high seniority were required to stand at the very front to lead the incense offering.

"Liang He, may I ask you for a favor?" Silver Feather had fully respected Liang He’s wishes regarding Silver Shuttle, so that matter was considered closed.

"Of course, just name it." It wasn’t just Silver Feather who felt a strong affinity for Liang He; Liang He also really liked this new friend. As long as it was within her power, she would never refuse a friend’s request for help.

"It’s like this. Our temple has a Divine Beast who has been in poor spirits lately. We’ve tried many methods, but nothing has worked. Could I trouble you to take a look at it?"

A Divine Beast?

Huo An and Xu Yi frowned, realizing that things were not as simple as they seemed. They pulled Silver Shuttle between them and began questioning him in hushed voices. "Your Silver Wing Temple has a Divine Beast?"

To be revered as a Divine Beast among a group of Beastmen was certainly no simple matter.

"I’ve never heard of it." Silver Shuttle was equally in the dark. He had lived in the temple for so many years and had never once heard of any Divine Beast.

However, upon hearing Silver Feather’s description, a flash of inspiration hit him. Just as he was about to speak in sudden realization, Xu Yi clamped a hand over his mouth.

"I’m warning you, keep your voice down, or your Great-Aunt will beat you up," Xu Yi tactfully reminded Silver Shuttle to speak with caution, and Silver Shuttle nodded frantically. Once his mouth was unsealed, Silver Shuttle finally shared his suspicion, whispering softly into their ears, "The Holy Daughter is probably talking about the Divine Son, Yin Qi. He’s still in his Evolutionary Stage. Before I left, he seemed to have run into some problems, and the family has been trying to figure out a solution."

The Silver Wing Temple did not only have a Holy Daughter but also a Divine Son. Due to the unique nature of the Divine Lineage, they were considered siblings. Before Silver Shuttle had "run away from home," the temple had been nursing a massive headache over Yin Qi’s situation. That was the only reason he had managed to slip away; usually, it wouldn’t have been so easy for him to leave.

"Do you know what the problem is?" asked Huo An. As a Beastman who had successfully passed his Evolutionary Stage and as the reserve’s director, he had seen many different cases involving Beastmen. Usually, it boiled down to a Beastman getting injured in the wild but refusing human medical treatment, which led to life-threatening conditions.

But Silver Shuttle had just mentioned that there had already been symptoms before he even left, which meant Yin Qi wasn’t suffering from an acute illness. So, what exactly could it be that would make the dignified Holy Daughter seek outside help?

"Poor spirits? Has it not been eating or resting well?" Liang He didn’t seem overly surprised by Silver Feather’s mention of a Divine Beast. To her, it was likely just an honorary title rooted in the existence of the Silver Wing Temple, much like a totem.

"He isn’t eating at all. We’ve tried every possible method, but nothing works." At the mention of Yin Qi, Silver Feather’s brow remained tightly furrowed.

Compared to other Beastmen, the Divine Lineage actually had an easier time getting through the Evolutionary Stage. Accustomed to naturally extreme conditions, and combined with the fact that the Rebel Army didn’t dare provoke them lightly, the threats they faced were incredibly sparse. Everyone had assumed that since Yin Qi was the Divine Son and possessed immense power, surviving his Evolutionary Stage would be a breeze. No one expected things to go awry in the later stages.

"As if that wasn’t enough, he is sleeping for longer and longer periods. If you don’t lean in close to listen, you’d mistakenly think he had stopped breathing altogether."

"Could it be hibernation?" Liang He had heard that the Silver Wing Temple resided in a world of ice and snow. If it was an animal, hibernation was a very real possibility.

"No. We are absolutely certain that something has gone wrong." In all these years, Yin Qi was the first Beastman to exhibit such symptoms, and being the Divine Son, the temple took it extremely seriously. Silver Feather’s visit this time was ostensibly to deal with Silver Shuttle’s mess, but it was actually a probing mission. They wanted to see if Liang He was truly as miraculous as the rumors claimed.

"So... Liang He, are you willing to help me?"