What Nangong Wuyue said aroused Hao Ren's curiosity.
"A forbidden territory in the deep sea?" He stared at Nangong Wuyue. "I've heard from Vivian that no one has ever found the location of the City of Sirens. Could this be the forbidden territory?"
"I suppose," said Nangong Wuyue. "Maybe there's some special way to get in there. The deep sea is a mysterious place and very little's been explored by humans. Perhaps, normal sirens could dive in there. But, mom has never mentioned about her hometown. It was like she didn't want me to go there. I don't know why."
"The possibility of mom being there is low." Nangong Sanba shook his head. "If she's there, then why hasn't she come to find us? She's gone to the surface once, she could do it again if she wanted to."
"I'm going to carry on the search even if I fail to find her in the end," Nangong Wuyue said softly. "For years I've been looking for her and it's become a part of my life."
"Now, we more or less know what's going on. You should've made it clear in the first place." Hao Ren exhaled. He felt that the siblings' story could make a drama series, 40 episodes at least. "Sanba, what's your next move?"
"It'd be better if you called me Nangong." A gloom cast over Nangong Sanba's face. "I'm here for my sister. Now, I'm relieved she's found herself a bunch of more-than-capable friends. But, I'm curious: are you lot a family?"
Nangong Sanba took a quick glance at everyone. It struck him as intriguing that Vivian and Lily—a vampire and a werewolf could get along with one another. At the same time, the 2.15-meter giant sitting opposite him had a scary grin, which implied he was anything but a normal human being. He just could not wrap his brain around it.
"Err..." Hao Ren remembered the statement of confidentiality he had signed. Before Nangong became one of them, he could not divulge anything. So, he went with his cover story. "This place is more like a shelter, a neutral and safe territory. We don't care who, as long as one can live in peace and get along with others, one can stay." Pointing at Vivian and Lily, Hao Ren continued, "Notice them? They live in peace with one another. You can stay if you want. Just pay some rental. But, I need to get a nod from from my superior."
"It won't be good for me to stay. I don't want you to get into trouble." Nangong Sanba declined the offer. "As a demon hunter, my job is not to stay in one place. An easy and comfortable life isn't my cup of tea."
Nangong Wuyue gave him a kick. "Brother, keep your head down. I'm serious."
"Okay. I've got a job in Russia, helping a rich businessman drive out evil spirits in return for a handsome pay. No way I'm going to say no to that. I'll go there in two days..."
So much for a demon hunter. Nangong Sanba was basically just a little better than a sorcerer, travelling around and driving out spirits for money. He would occasionally do things for free to collect information he needed, just as he did in England back then. However, he would not aim for the strong ones, like vampires and werewolves which could easily wallop him half dead. Nangong knew his limits. His targets were mostly those who were lower in the food chain like wraiths, or he would sometimes target curses and voodoo rituals. His idea was to be safe.
Nontheless, sometimes he would f*ck up just like he did in England. His venture to the ruins went terribly wrong when he stumbled unexpectedly into a swamp of wraith knights and a demon sealed in the crypts. He barely made it out alive thanks to Hao Ren.
Nangong Sanba recalled the incident. Then, he slapped the back of his head with his hand. "Ah, now I remember it. The crypt incident in England, it was you lot who saved my a**. You're my saviour."
"Hehe...you're welcome." Hao Ren waved his hand and played it down. Then, he yawned inadvertently.
Nangong Sanba read his signal. He tidied his shirt as he stood up. "It's getting late. Before I go, I want to apologise for what I've done, which may have been offensive. If you need me, I promise I'll do whatever I can to help. After all these years travelling around the world, I've got my own sources of intel."
"You're going now?" Hao Ren got to his feet. "If you don't mind, you can stay here tonight."
Then Y'zaks also pulled himself to his feet. His dull voice like thunder and his smile was more like a morbid night crying baby. "Since you're Wuyue's brother, please feel at home. I've a spare bed in my room."
Due to his over-sized body, Y'zaks had been sleeping on the floor all this while. Also he didn't want to inconvenice anyone. So he left the bed redundant.
Nangong Sanba half freaked out staring at the two-metre-fifteen giant whose smile was just slightly better than intimidating. He stepped back inadvertently. "It's so nice of you but I've a rented place nearby. It's late now and I'll come over tomorrow, just checking out my sister. Hope you lot don't mind."
Nangong Sanba walked to the door as he was saying it. Hao Ren had wanted to persuade him to stay for Nangong Wuyue's sake. But he had also noticed the subtle expression on Vivian's face. He realised Vivian still had hard feeling towards demon hunters. He walked Y'zaks to the door while Nangong Wuyue followed and nagged at his brother. "Don't always bother others. You should've been wiser..."
Amid her grumble, Nangong Sanba apologised profusely again. Wearing a black wind coat, he then quickly disappeared into the dark.
"You should have let him stay." Hao Ren looked at Nangong Wuyue with a embarrasing smile. He as a host felt it uncourteous to let her brother leave at this time of night. But Nangong Wuyue was unfazed as she waved her hand saying, "Don't worry, he's kind of stubborn, you wouldn't be able to talk him up. Anyway, he's no kid. He'd survive a night walk out there."
As Nangong Sanba left, everyone went mute. Then Vivian broke silence. "Haha, what a coincidence. The first time I heard the name Nangong Wuyue I'd already felt something...but never had I expected it turned out exactly as what I thought."
"Let's get some shut-eye." Hao Ren started to yawn again. He glanced up the clock on the wall, it was two-thirty. "We'll discuss further tomorrow, I'm too tired now."
After everyone was back to their rooms, the living hall quieted down. Just when Hao Ren about to leave, he discovered Lily was still on the sofa; she had been fighting her own body clock the whole night until she was completely overrun by sleep bugs. Now snoring good-style.
Hao Ren pulled her tail tried to wake her. She would have bounced to her feet under normal circumstances. But this time all Hao Ren heard was mumbles of sleep talking. He sighed. He was thinking of getting help from Vivian or Nangong Wuyue but the timing wasn't the most nicest. Why not carry her to her room himself? He thought. Well, as much as he liked the idea, he was wary of being bitten by her, after all it happened before. So he thought better of it. He took out a quilt and put it on her before yawning all the way back to his room.
It was a peaceful night. Hao Ren only woke up at ten the next morning.
He was awakened by Lil Pea who was slapping him on the face with her tail.
He opened his eyes and saw the little mermaid jumping on him. He most hated it especially when he was sound asleep. He mistook her as Rollie and almost flung her out of the windows. As he grabbed the little mermaid and sat up on the bed, he saw a trail of water from the writing desk to his bed. He instantly recognised it.
Obviously the little mermaid hadn't understood his instruction not to get out on the floor yesterday.
Hao Ren shoved Lil Pea back into the pot and carried it out into the living hall. Vivian was sweeping the floor while Lily gazed blankly on the sofa, her head tilted in such a funny posture. When she saw Hao Ren, she waved at him. "Good morning landlord..."
"What's wrong with you?"
"I've got a stiff neck." Her head tilted at forty-five degree angle. "It's painfully sore..."
Hao Ren: "....."
He regretted for not carrying her back to her bed, even if he would be bitten.
"You hungry?" asked Vivian as she walked past Hao Ren with the sweep in her hand. "You can have some buns if you want. Since everyone's still sleeping in, there'll be no breakfast. I'll prepare for the lunch."
"Okay." As Hao Ren strode into the kitchen, a loud knock was heard on the front door.
He shoved Lil Pea back into the pot and let Nangong Wuyue bring her to the bathroom and lock her in there--just in case it was the utility guy from the power or water company, or the aunty from the resident association pulling up. As he opened the door, two large foreigners stood in front.
One of the men said, "Is Countess here?"