Death... and me

Rean and Roan quickly arrived at Juri's house, just in time to see Harmalia rushing over. She didn't mind anyone and immediately embraced the two while tears flowed from her eyes.

"Mom, we are back."

Harmalia nodded as she showed a bright smile.

"It's good that you are back!"

The twins then looked at their father, just in time to see him carrying a baby in his arms.

"This... Who is that one?"

Harmalia laughed. She had received Rean and Roan's letters several times and answered them. However, she had purposely kept a secret from them to make a surprise once they came back. She quickly took the little bum from her husband before introducing the baby.

"Say hi to your little sister, Rana."

Rean was definitely happy to hear that. Well, even Roan showed a small change of expression, seeing the little girl. They knew that Harmalia always wanted a daughter, so it seemed like their father worked hard to make it happen.

The little girl was different from the two of them. She really carried their parent's eyes and hair colors. Obviously, there was no such thing as intelligence at this age as the twins had. She was a normal kid through and through. Nonetheless, Rean already liked her regardless.

"Mom, that's great! By the way, did you really have to name her similarly?"

Turen couldn't help but sigh.

"I tried to change her mind, but she was adamant about it."

Harmalia glared at Turen before saying.

"So what? It's a mother's right to put similar names if she wishes so. Rana Larks is a perfect name, okay?"

Turen shrugged his shoulders before turning his attention to his sons.

"By the way..."

*Bang, Bang!*

Turen then knocked Rean and Roan's heads. Well, at their level, Rean and Roan could have dodged easily, but they didn't do so.

"You brats! Two years! How come you took two entire years to come and visit? Even Malaka had passed by two times before."

Rean rubbed his head as he asked.

"Malaka came here? How come she didn't tell us?"

Roan understood why in an instant, saying.

"It was probably to keep the secret of our new sister."

Harmalia laughed as she nodded.

"Yes. I asked Malaka to not tell you anything so that I could make this surprise. You two are now older brothers, so you better protect her well."

Rean and Roan didn't dare to refuse.

"Certainly!"

Turen then looked at the enormous bird beside Rean and Roan before asking.

"And this demon beast? It seems quite strong."

Kentucky seemed to understand Turen's words as it stuffed his chest with pride.

*Chick!*

Turen was taken aback by the sound, though.

"Ahem... Well, at least its build looks strong... I guess?"

Everyone laughed after hearing that.

Harmalia couldn't help but say.

"I kinda like it."

The other females looking at it around nodded their heads. Sure enough, Kentucky was always a hit with the women, not only Malaka and Calina.

Roan narrowed his eyes since he knew Kentucky only made 'chick' sounds because of the women.

"Pervy chicken."

Kentucky completely ignored him as it dropped its head beside Harmalia, obviously asking for some pets.

Harmalia couldn't resist the temptation and passed Rana back to Turen to hold before giving it a hug.

"So fluffy! Can we keep it?"

*Chick!*

The other females felt quite jealous, though.

Rean laughed helplessly after seeing the shameless Minokawa.

"His name is Kentucky. We found his egg in the hand of some bandits during a mission for the sect. In the end, I decided to raise it. Now, he is already this big. Believe it or not, Kentucky isn't even two years old yet, but is already a Stage Three Demon Beast."

Juri and the others around felt their hearts almost stop. They all took several steps back and looked at Kentucky with some fear in their eyes.

"Stage Three!"

"Holy shit! How did the Larks Brats tame this thing?"

"Harmalia just hugged it. What if it had attacked?"

"Idiot, this is a tamed demon beast. It won't attack without the Larks Brats giving the order."

"Yeah? Then why are you staying even further away?"

"Ahem... the view from here is better."

"Better your head!"

Juri also looked at the Demon Bird for a moment before coming back to himself.

"Alright. How long will you guys keep making this show in the middle of the Tribe? Go back to your work. Turen and the rest can come inside. As for Kentucky..."

Rean shook his head.

"Kentucky is too big to fit inside. Just let him walk around. He won't harm anyone. I can guarantee that."

One of the females in the crowd couldn't help but ask.

"Can we hug it too? Will it attack us?"

*Chick!*

Before Rean could even answer, the shameless bird already dropped its head beside her.

"Well, there is your answer."

All the other females didn't hold back and made a queue to have a chance to pet and hug Kentucky, much to the perverted bird's delight. As for the men around, they were the ones to feel jealous now. Not about the hug, but the success the bird was making with the women.

Leaving the shameless bird aside, Juri quickly brought the Larks' Family inside his house. He also sent an order to prepare a banquet for their return. Rean and Roan wanted to refuse, but their father didn't allow it.

"Brats. The Tribe Leader is inviting you, so just accept it."

Helplessly, they could only agree with that. The twins couldn't go against their father's wishes either.

A few seconds later, Alanda appeared as well.

"Oh, so it's true. You brats are finally back."

Rean and Roan nodded.

"Long time no see, Elder Alanda."

Alanda nodded as he asked.

"Good! By the way, I can't feel your cultivations with my Spiritual Sense. Have you reached the late stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm?"

Roan shook his head.

"We just entered the Core Formation Realm around a month ago."

Juri and the others froze once again.

"Brats, is that for real?"

Rean smiled as he released his Spiritual Energy. That way, even lower realm cultivators would be able to feel it. Naturally, Juri and Alanda immediately noticed their Realms. Seeing that, Juri burst into laugher.

"Hahaha! My Varen Tribe now has two Core Formation Realm cultivators!"

Turen and Harmalia looked at their two kids. Although they didn't say anything, anyone could see the pride in their eyes. Which parent doesn't wish for their kids' success?

Rean then stopped doing that as he looked at Alanda and Juri.

"I can see that elders also advanced in the past two years."

Alanda nodded.

"Well, with those Spirit Stones from the Blacksmith Workshop and steel equipment, it would be weird if we haven't."

Alanda, who was in the Initial Stage of the Foundation Establishment two years ago, entered the middle stage. As for Juri, he went from the Middle Stage to the Late Stage. All of that was thanks to the Spirit Stones available to them.

Roan also looked at his parents in this world.

"Mother and Father seem to have finally entered the Energy Gathering Realm."

Rean made sure that his parents would have no issues with Spirit Stones. Especially after he began his trade with the Jamariz Workshop in Majorias City. That being said, even for a gray aptitude like theirs, the resources were enough to help them achieve the breakthrough. Their father was in the Middle Stage of the Energy Gathering Realm while Harmalia was in the Initial Stage.

"Well, that's because you helped this old man. I just feel somewhat embarrassed that you have to call a weakling like me as a father. Hahaha!"

Rean didn't like that joke, though.

"Don't worry, father. I might not be here all the time, but I can at least provide enough resources for you two to reach the Foundation Establishment Realm. In a place like the Astreg City's region, it should be more than enough to protect yourselves and Rana."

Harmalia and Turen smiled happily, not trying to refuse it. Filial piety was extremely important, and they just felt it to be right and proper. They, too, helped their own parents as much as they could in the past before they passed away.

"Oh, right! How come the Tribe got this big? I also saw a lot of faces I've never seen before."

Juri already expected that question.

"That was the result of having three members of our Tribe Joining the Dalamu Sect at once. If it was just one member, the other Tribes and similar powers around would exercise caution but not care too much. They would simply refrain from touching us. After all, if that member died, the Dalamu Sect's protection would be over as well. But since three joined at once, chances are that you won't die altogether. Because of that, a few Tribes saw a chance of acquiring some protection for a long time."

"They offered us to merge our tribes together. Of course, I didn't simply accept anyone. I have a good grasp of information about all the Tribes around our own. I selected three of them to merge together with us. It goes without saying that I also explained how our system worked. That being said, I took the Tribes that I believe could drop the old ways."

Roan couldn't help but ask.

"Wouldn't that make the new Tribe go through a power struggle in the future?"

Juri shook his head.

"Not while at least one of the three of you are alive. After all, none of them will dare to steal the power of the Tribe protected by Dalamu. During the next years, I'm sure our Tribe's system will convert them into real members. We did it once during a time where danger was much bigger, let alone now."

Rean and Roan decided to not intervene. Juri had brought the Tribe to the level it was before they were born. He definitely knew what he is doing.

Rean then changed his communication method to Spiritual Sense.

'By the way, how is that Purple Color Aptitude Baby?'