I Can Give Talents-Chapter 319 – Old Habit

"So, which direction should we go?" Barbara asked.

"You can ask Senior Lapin for that," Anda replied.

"Kekeke, you human ladies don't have to worry about that and can lie back. I can steer the cloud in human Anda's direction. Very easy!" Lapin chimed in.

"Senior Lapin, where are you controlling your cloud from?" Barbara asked, curious.

"Oh, from my home, of course. The clouds can travel anywhere in the world, so I can just sit around leisurely, eating my carrot tops while exploring the world. Sounds amazing, right?"

"Amazing! Amazing! What a wonderful ability!" Barbara nodded excitedly, her hands clasped, eyes wide with wonder. "Senior Lapin, can I have a Celestial Cloud for myself? I want to conduct experiments on it and research its potential!"

"Kekeke. No problem. You can take the one you're riding now." Lapin said, his voice generous.

"Thank you, Senior Lapin! Can I make another request?"

"Sure, sure. What is it?"

"I need to find my brother as well. Can you help me with that?" Barbara asked, her voice softening, a flicker of worry in her eyes.

"Kekeke, not a big deal at all. Just show me a picture of your brother. Ever since I had a deal with human Anda, I've been looking for people all around the world for a year already and found over a thousand of them. One of them might be your brother," Lapin said.

"Thank you, Senior Lapin!" Barbara thanked happily.

"Human Barbara, don't be happy too early. During my search and surveillance, quite a lot of the humans died from various reasons. Dying in weird, dangerous places, killed by demonic beasts, and humans killing each other for some reason. So you have to keep that in mind."

Barbara's happy feeling immediately vanished, replaced by nervousness. Most people who joined the Mystic Realm exploration should be experienced fighters, so they had a higher chance of survival, but her brother was a scholar type like her. Hearing that many had died already made her very scared.

Ava was somewhat worried about Barbara. She rarely mentioned her brother during their time together, but it was clear she had been worrying about him all this time. Hopefully, her brother was fine.

Barbara nervously brought out a cute framed picture of her and her brother and showed it to the cloud. "This is my brother. Have you seen him?"

"Oh! This human male! He was among the earliest that I found. Human Barbara, today is your lucky day! Your brother is among the humans I found! Rejoice! Kekeke!" Lapin's voice burst with glee.

"Really? My brother is safe! Thank you, Senior Lapin! Thank you!" Barbara exclaimed, her voice trembling with joy, tears glistening in her eyes as she turned and flung her arms around Ava, her relief bursting forth in a tight embrace.

"Ava, my stupid brother Barcas is safe. Boohoo! I was worried!" Barbara cried, her sobs a mix of happiness and relief, her face buried in Ava's shoulder.

"Good for you," Ava said with a warm smile, gently patting Barbara's head, her touch soft and reassuring.

A while later, Barbara's sobs quieted, her breathing steadying, and Lapin seized the moment to speak, his voice bubbling from the cloud. "So, human Barbara, what do you want to do? Do you want to talk with your brother?"

"What is he doing right now? He's a scholar like me, so his fighting ability isn't that strong. I'm worried he might be in a difficult situation," Barbara said, her voice tinged with lingering concern, wiping her eyes as she faced the cloud.

"Kekeke! Human Barbara, you're actually wrong," Lapin replied, his tone mischievous.

"Eh? Wrong?" Barbara blinked.

"Your brother is one lucky guy. Before eight months ago, he was indeed in a difficult situation, trying to survive alone, but he always managed to avoid dangerous places and strong demonic beasts, thanks to the unique detection technique he was using," Lapin explained.

"Ah, right, that's our institute's energy-sensing technique. It's for research, but I realized it's actually quite suitable for survival situations. How amusing," Barbara chimed, a smile breaking through her worry, her scholarly pride sparkling as she relaxed, no longer anxious for her brother.

"I see. So that's how you noticed me just now. Since that's the case, your brother should have sensed me as well. No wonder he was overly cautious and scared when I first found him, even though my cloud was watching from quite a distance. Just like you did just now. Kekeke," Lapin laughed.

"Alright, continuing your brother's story. Eight months ago, he met a very strong, domineering human female cultivator. Well, at your level, she is indeed very strong. She could slay any high-level demonic beast easily. And since then, they have traveled together. I don't really know what happened between them, but later they became very close, and that human female offered her body to your brother and became intimate. Since then, they became a pair, always lovey-dovey while traveling. Your brother is very happy right now. Kekeke!"

Barbara and Ava were speechless. They didn't expect him to find love in this kind of situation, especially Barbara.

Brother, you're an introvert like me. How did you suddenly score a lady? I was worried about you every day, but you're actually busy making a baby. Who is this sister-in-law of mine?

Ironically, Barbara mused, a wry smile tugging at her lips, she was the one always babbling about wanting to marry, while her brother, Barcas, showed no interest, his nose buried in research even deeper than hers. He'd roll his eyes whenever she raised the topic, as if utterly done with it. Yet here he was, sailing into adult life first, leaving her behind. Not fair! she thought.

"Senior Lapin, do you know who that woman is?" Barbara asked.

"I don't know. My clouds watch the humans from afar, so I can only see their general situation. I can't hear their conversations. But from what I can see, she seems very into your brother, always chirping around him, completely different from when she's fighting—fierce and domineering," Lapin replied.

Barbara raised an eyebrow, her mind racing. That woman probably has a thing for intellectual guys, or maybe he saved her life somehow, she thought, the only explanations she could muster for someone falling for her brother so quickly. "Is he safe over there, Senior Lapin?" she asked, a trace of worry lingering in her voice.

"Kekeke. He's more than safe. He found an entire intact fortress, still brimming with riches, to live in with his human woman. He's claimed the fortress completely, and now, even if a Commander-level demonic beast comes to cause trouble, the fortress can repel it," Lapin said.

Barbara stood speechless, her jaw dropping slightly. Why does it feel like my brother's living some novel protagonist's adventure? she thought.

"I see. Then let's leave him alone for now, since he isn't in any danger. Later, I'll contact him with your help after Ava reunites with Alchemist Anda," Barbara stated, her voice firm with resolve, a soft smile curving her lips.

Since her introverted brother had scored a lady and found a safe haven, she didn't want to interrupt their blossoming bond. Let them stay together, grow dependent, and deepen their feelings, Barbara imagining them building a life in that fortress. When the chance to return home came, she'd fetch her brother and her new sister-in-law. Though it stung that Barcas had left single life before her, she wished him happiness with all her heart.

Maybe they got lucky and hit the bullseye. By then, I might already be an aunt. Hehe. Good luck, brother. Enjoy your life! she thought, a warm chuckle escaping her lips, her gaze softening as she glanced at the cloud.

"Hehe. Miss Barbara, if you don't want to feel left out as the only single person, then you can join the Leyan Family. My husband is available," Anda suddenly chimed in, her voice teasing yet inviting. Though she had claimed to have raised her standards, Anda couldn't resist the urge to recruit ladies when opportunity knocked.

"Ehhh?" Barbara gasped, her eyes widening in shock, cheeks flushing as her mind scrambled. Wha-wha-what is happening? Why did she say that? Isn't this going to make Ava's marriage situation even more complicated? she thought, her gaze darting nervously between the cloud and Ava.

Ava sighed. This panda. It didn't take long, and she's back to her usual habit. Can't you spare a single girl?

"Big Madam, please don't scare Barbara like that; she's my good friend," Ava tried to prevent the panda's agenda.

"Hehe. I know," Anda acknowledged, her voice smooth and knowing, the cloud pulsing softly as if amused. For Anda, a master at reading people, the tone and content of their conversation revealed the depth of Ava and Barbara's bond. The two factors were enough to judge their friendship.

"That's why I want her to be part of our family. Sister Ava, just imagine if your best friend also married Leyvi. You could meet more frequently, do stuff together more often, and gossip more often. Doesn't that sound awesome? You wouldn't feel so lonely anymore, right? Even though you've been part of our family for seven years now, there's no one in the household you really clicked with, right? As someone who cares deeply about family, I really feel sad and guilty when I see you like this. That's why I'm inviting Miss Barbara to be part of our family," Anda said, her voice filled with concern and sincerity.

Th𝗲 most uptodate novels are published on free(w)ebnov(e)l.𝒄𝒐𝙢