Chapter 9
Derlin Olsen looked at his sister with the anxiety of a hen guarding her chicks and said coldly, "If, as you say, telling her the truth is for her good, or if it harms her, have you thought it through?"
Derlin Sarah was left speechless, "I'm just afraid she'll repeat her mistakes, she's already suffered enough."
"If she repeats her mistakes, it means they were never meant to be, and for her in this lifetime, she's just killed the Derlin family's archenemy, she won't suffer anymore," Derlin Olsen lit another incense, cutting off his sister who still wanted to argue, "Let's not talk about this anymore. She had already decided what she would do when she appeared that year, why should we outsiders bother?"
She held the incense, staring at Derlin Beck's spirit tablet, suddenly feeling the absurdity—the gods they worshipped never existed, what protection could she possibly seek from a piece of wood?
She would always remember the day the Derlin family's guardian deity first appeared. At that time, she was one of the candidates for the female envoy, excited to witness the most revered female envoy with her own eyes, only to find not the holy and noble spirit she imagined, but a sorrowful and confused soul.
She found out that the Beck female envoy had not cultivated into a divine spirit; her attachment to the world was too deep, preventing her from becoming a deity.
She could choose to quietly reincarnate, and no one would notice her absence, but she chose to confess what happened back then, admitting her fragility, her apologies to her clan, and her longing for that person. She was willing to face any criticism for a chance to see that person once again.
The previous female envoy did not make it difficult for her, fulfilling her wish.
And she inherited this secret, raising the reincarnated child. She understood the painful dilemma between family and love, duty and affection, but to have followed merely an illusion for so many years, she felt disillusioned and lost for a while, unable to forgive this fragile soul.
Later, when she became the female envoy, during her first moon ceremony, surrounded by sisters chanting ancient prayers passed down for thousands of years, in that solemn and respectful wave of sound, she suddenly realized—the so-called Derlin clan is made up of many people, closely bound by common beliefs and traditions, living together to this day. This connection, deeper than blood, cannot be upheld by one person alone, nor will it collapse because of one person.
She solemnly stared at the two spirit tablets, bowed three times, and inserted the incense into the copper burner. The spirit tablets never worshipped an individual, but the core beliefs of the Derlin family.
And one of those beliefs is to subdue demons and maintain peace in the human world.
The girl gambled with her own intentions, betting that she wouldn't forget him after reincarnation. She made no comment; she is a Derlin family female envoy and views everything from the perspective of a female envoy.
To choose between the duty of a Derlin family member or the affection of a woman? The decision would be made tonight.
Derlin Sarah stepped out of the temple, gripping the silver sword in her pocket, her mind in turmoil.
She understood Derlin Olsen's intention, for her to pretend to agree to sleep with that man, using the opportunity to stab him with the silver sword. But vampires are extremely sensitive and vigilant; harboring the intent to kill, he would surely notice, and she might have to... actually go through with it to deceive him.
The education of the Derlin family taught her that women should stand tall and men are just accessories; the chastity valued by society is scoffed at in their eyes, but for her to sleep with a man she just met is still beyond what she can accept, and she dislikes this sneaky method.
She clenched the short sword, like the Little Mermaid preparing to kill the prince, exchanging his death for her own freedom. The prince is actually innocent; he doesn't know that the Little Mermaid is his real savior. If the Little Mermaid couldn't bear to do it, he would die unjustly due to this misunderstanding.
What about Emil? She thought of the unclear family history, wondering if there might also be some misunderstanding in the lost chapters.
Lost in thought, she was suddenly bumped into by a petite figure darting out from behind a tree.
She staggered, looking up to see a sweet and delicate face smiling at her, "Xinyi, you're up so early? Don't you love to sleep in during holidays?"
"I changed! I used to love sleeping in, but now I'm a college student, of course, I need to grow up a bit!" Derlin Ivy hugged her neck affectionately, nodding towards the tall boy standing by the tree, "Besides, mom always nags me 'others like Xiuhe are college students too, but you never see him sleeping in like you do', I guess I had to change!"
Derlin Meihe smiled slightly, not responding, but looked at Derlin Sarah with a look of wanting to say something.
"That bag I ruined, mom fixed it for me, I'm really sorry, it was a birthday gift from Auntie to you, and I was so careless with it." Derlin Ivy stuck out her tongue.
Derlin Sarah smiled, "If you learned to be gentle and elegant, you wouldn't be Derlin Ivy. I've seen you rushing around since you were little, except when sleeping, you're hardly ever quiet."
"Ah! You're laughing at me too! You and mom both think so little of me, one day I'll really become a lady to show you!"
Derlin Ivy said with a laugh, noticing her cousin's weary expression, she lowered her voice, "Auntie sent you to deal with that vampire, didn't she? Is it not going well?"
"It's okay." She didn't want to talk much about it.
"It's a pity I'm not skilled enough to help you, but even Auntie, who rarely praises anyone, says you're very capable, I believe you'll be fine!" Derlin Ivy's tone was full of eager admiration.
Perhaps the stronger one's skills, the more they know how to be modest and restrained? Like her cousin and Auntie, cold and reticent, not fond of talking, much less boasting. Although some clan members think her cousin is aloof, she really likes her cousin's reserved temperament.
"Have you had breakfast yet? The weather's nice today, I'll go get the toasted bread, and we can have breakfast in the sun here!" She said excitedly, not waiting for Derlin Sarah's response, turning and running towards the house.
Derlin Sarah watched her run off, a tender smile always on her lips, turning to Derlin Meihe, "Did you need something?"
"I heard the female envoy sent you to deal with him, now that it's winter break, I'll be at Teacher Alexander's, if you need help, I can assist," Derlin Meihe scratched his temple, smiling shyly, "I've been with the teacher for a while, I know him somewhat, although I'm slow, I won't hold you back."
"I can handle it on my own." In the Derlin family, only girls are ranked according to the family tree, like her foster mother and aunt are from the "Water" generation, she and her cousin are from the "Heart" generation, Derlin Meihe, being of the same generation but a boy, his name doesn't follow the family tree.
Also, because he's a boy, even with outstanding talent, he wasn't given the education of a sorcerer, thus he became a disciple of Alexander, practicing to this day, considered one of the best in the clan. She understands her cousin is worried about her, but this is a critical mission to test whether she can become a female envoy, she can't ask for help from others, especially not a man.