The Card Cultivation System
CCS-156

"........."

"........."

Both Heiliao and Huo Bing instantly stopped. No one spoke for a moment after hearing the sentence that came out of Xika's mouth. They looked at Xika and found beautiful eyes that shone brightly with confidence.

"Xika........I don't mean to doubt, but.......are you sure....?"

"of course. I'm so sure."

"Why? Is there anything that suggests that the card is indeed related to your parents?"

"There was. On top of this card," Xika pointed to the image of the angel on the top of the card, "This angel represents my mother. While on the back side, the joker clown holding the scythe symbolizes my father."

"How can you be sure? It could have been the angel and the clown that showed the other couple."

"Cannot be. They must be my mom and dad. I've seen paintings with the exact same picture. They told me themselves. So I can't be wrong."

Huo Bing and Heiliao still looked doubtful but they did not want to discourage Xika so did not ask any further. They try to shift the topic.

"By the way, I'm still wondering why that guy was so scared when he saw this big wolf."

"Heh. Of course because I'm creepy."

"Curbs? More aptly called ridiculous."

"You'd better go through the glass before you talk."

"No need to call I know how my handsome face is."

Xika instantly stopped the two before arguing further. But he was indeed as curious as Huo Bing about the fear shown not only by Zheng Wei, but the entire village.

"I'm curious too. And it wasn't just the man who displayed such an expression."

"You mean the other men who attacked us?"

"No. More than that. The man who was there was named Zheng Wei. He took me around the village knowing that I was my father's son. He hoped that the other citizens would see my father in me just like him. At first it was so. From a distance, many people greeted me and called me by my father's name. But once they know that they're wrong, the same expression re-emerges."

Heiliao's brows furrowed in confusion.

"I don't think it's a made-up expression. Purely because of a problem. Trauma maybe?"

"Yes, I think so too. But I don't know what kind of trauma they're going through. Tomorrow I'll try to ask."

"Enough with that awful expression. Let's discuss something else. Uh! How did you get that card? Did your parents leave it to one of the villagers?"

"No. I found a shining stone monument."

"Did the monument turn into a card as in Simulocus?"

"liken. But as I approached the monument, the citizens looked at me with anger. And their anger is greater than their fear. I was about to retreat because I felt like I had broken the sacred boundaries of their village or something. But it looks like I won't get another chance. So I decided to touch the stone monument right then and there."

"Then? What then? What's going on?"

Xika recounted her experience that had only happened a moment ago. Huo Bing and Heiliao listened carefully. They were quite surprised when the silhouettes of his father and mother appeared. Especially when the sound of laughter is so blaring. But it convinced them that the card was indeed related to Xika's parents.

"A, Xika. Isn't our problem in this place already solved? You've found what calls you. It's time we left. Maybe we'll find clues about your parents somewhere else."

"Yes, you're right. But somehow I feel like I have to stay in this village even longer. Something is waiting for me. Well, even though technically we don't live inside the village."

"Is this feeling the same as the one who called you?"

"liken. It's just that this time."

But Xika refused. He feels bad. The village had a good relationship with his father. Although the residents were being unfriendly towards him, but he could not just barge inside. Zheng Wei said he would take her around tomorrow morning. So it is better that they look for other activities to kill time. They chatted and played cards until night.

Heiliao was about to forage around the village but Xika forbade him because the black wolf could scare the villagers. Huo Bing did not agree but Xika insisted on banning. They finally finished it using Capsah. Huo Bing's face was already tangled not expecting much but he was still willing to try.

Who would have thought, this time Xika really lost. He did not give in intentionally. Huo Bing and Heiliao looked at each other for a while unsure of the outcome of the game. After Xika admitted defeat for the seventh time then they believed.

Huo Bing cheered loudly as they could forage for food. Heiliao also wanted to howl but banned Xika.

"Don't make a sound. Don't show yourself. Caught enough. Better to come back without a quarry than a look."

"Calm down. You're like a mother who's going to let go of her child for the first time. Just trust him. Okay?"

Xika nodded. Then Heiliao ran away fused with the darkness of the night. Huo Bing and Xika waited while chatting.

"Hey Xika's. How you feeling?"

"Hm? I'm kind. Why the hell?"

"That's not what I'm talking about, damn it. I mean your feelings for that expressionless disabled girl. Do you still like him? You've been separated for a long time."

"I told you I don't know. I still can't be sure how I feel about her. I admit I admire his face, even though he has no expression. But for a deeper relationship I'm not sure."

"A deeper relationship? How good was your relationship with him before?"

"That's not what I meant.......Ah, never mind....."

"He? Ahhh....are you ashamed? You like him but you dare not admit? What else are you afraid of? I'm your brother. I will definitely support you even if the creature you love is a ugly toad."

"Damn it! Don't compare Xingli to a frog!"

"Ups! Some are angry...hehehe. You like him, don't you?"

Xika was completely unable to reply to Huo Bing's words. Usually he can reverse the words of the bird, but this time it is not. Whenever he wanted to retaliate, he was reminded of Huo Bing's lover who died tragically. He can't bring it up.

"Be quiet. We'd better talk about this later after meeting him."

"Hm? Ohhh....so you want to express your feelings directly and tell me? Well, okay it's okay. Although a little hurt, but it's okay my brother's love story is successful." said Huo Bing with a contrived face.

"Birds Gosong! That's not what I mean!"

But before Huo Bing could tease Xika even further, there was the sound of wolf howls. Xika and Huo Bing instantly stopped. They exchanged looks. There shouldn't be as many wild animals as wolves around this forest. And that howl sounded so familiar. There was only one wolf that howled like that.

Taps!

Whush!

Xika rushed straight towards Heiliao. The wolf shouldn't have howled for no apparent reason. He knew as much as possible not to attract attention. So why is he howling? Heiliao shouldn't have encountered powerful beings until he needed help. What does that howling mean?

"AUUUUUUUU!!!!!"

The sound of howling was heard again. And that voice signified Heiliao's position. He was still quite far away with the wolf. Xika thought for a moment. If he uses his wings, he can go faster. But there is a risk seen by the villagers. It should be fine because it's quite dark right now.

WUS! WUS!

Xika flapped her wings and her speed increased drastically. Huo Bing also flew next to him. The bird did not speak during the journey. Even the usual witty look on his face was gone replaced by a serious expression.

A while passed and Xika could hear a commotion not far from her. He stopped to shrink his wings and ran over. He could see flames in the distance. He quickened his pace and finally arrived.

There he saw a black wolf with a deer in its mouth surrounded by villagers emitting killing intent.