The Card Cultivation System
CCS-201

Xingli was the first to attack.

He swung his sword which was held back by Heiliao's hand. It was visible that the thin qi shield was protecting his arm. Heiliao threw down Xingli's sword and gave off a claw that he somehow did in a human form.

Xingli shifted his body dodging Heiliao's attack and gave a kick. Heiliao lowered his head, but unfortunately the kick was just a distraction. While kicking, Xingli popped out a white hole and took out a sword from there.

He swung his sword and was about to chop off Heiliao's head, as Huo Bing shouted.

"Stop! What are you guys doing? Why attack each other?"

Actually they killed each other, but Xika would not correct Huo Bing at a time like this. It was as confused as the bird. Why did Heiliao and Xingli attack each other? Both of them were both quiet and there was never a conversation between them, so there was no grudge because of mispronunciation.

Then what's the problem? Suddenly Xika recalled when she was with Xingli on the dry land back then. A black wolf appeared and ended up eating it and moved it elsewhere. Before the wolf had time to eat it, he gave a resentful growl to Xingli.

Xingli also reacted not much differently from the wolf, both annoyed and showing signs of dislike. Have they met before? Come to think of it, it seemed like the wolf was quite similar to Heiliao.

"Xika! Help me! Why just shut up?"

Huo Bing's words awakened Xika from her daydream. Now Xingli and Heiliao had returned to attack, whereas before Huo Bing had managed to stop them.

"What should we do?"

"What do you think I'm asking you for help? I don't know either!"

"We have to stop them. But...how?"

Huo Bing did not reply, but Xika also knew the bird was thinking hard. Heiliao's ability was more or less on par with Huo Bing, while Xingli was on par with Xika. It was only natural that Xingli lost that fight.

But since both of them were equal or stronger than him, it was difficult to enter in the middle of their battle unharmed. Huo Bing was the same. Even if he could avoid Xingli's attack, he could not have avoided Heiliao's attack.

What's he supposed to do? Xika's confused. Should he side with one? Which was? Nope, no. He can't choose. Both are too valuable. He must stop both. Even if he has to get hurt.

"XINGLI! HEILIAO! STOP THAT!"

And.it didn't work. The two did not even look at all. Xika expected it. It seemed that he really had to get into the middle of their fight.

WHUK!

Xika opened her wings. This time he did not cover it with qi. The blue color is clearly visible. He took a deep breath and then flapped his wings.

Just as Xingli's sword and Heiliao's claw were about to meet, Xika arrived between the two, until the target of the two was Xika.

SLASHY!

CRAT!

Blood gushed from the front and back of Xika's body to wet Heilao and Xingli's clothes. The two were stunned to see the bleeding Xika. Looks like it worked.

"Stupid! What are you doing?" Heiliao said furiously. Beside her Xingli also looked at Xika with the same fury. Just this time Xika saw them agree on one thing.

"I should have said that. What are you guys doing? Suddenly fight? Even to kill each other? Are you guys crazy? Why are you doing that?"

"........"

"........"

Both did not answer. Waw. Xingli and Heiliao were both compact on this affair.

Heiliao growled at Xingli. It sounds like he just made a tough decision.

"Go away. I let you go this time for Xika."

Heiliao spoke to Xingli? Is Xika dreaming? Heiliao almost never spoke other than Xika and Huo Bing.

"I'm not leaving him." The girl also sounded like she had just made a tough decision.

Did the girl just say she wouldn't leave him? Is that an expression of love? Wait, that's not the problem. Xingli also spoke? Xika had only heard him speak once. Okay, three times.

Heiliao again growled. He seemed to be preparing to fight again. Xingli had also put up the horses ready to fight.

The set!

Xika threw her card wrapped both of Xingli's arms and legs until the girl could not move. Then he glanced at Huo Bing and found the bird also doing a similar thing.

Both Heiliao's legs and hands were wrapped in ice until they froze and prevented him from moving. For some reason, Heiliao looked calmer than Xingli. The wolf looked annoyed, but he did not rebel and tried to destroy Huo Bing's ice, even though Xika knew the wolf could actually do it.

Seeing that Heiliao had calmed down, Xika decided to approach Xingli first who was still trying to escape from the Xika card.

Xika saw the girl. Even though her face was upset and was struggling with difficulty, she still looked beautiful. The first word he said was,

"Miss, did you just express your feelings?"

What did he put out? Damnit.

A white hole appeared in front of Xingli's mouth and pulled out a needle that almost hit Xika's neck if she didn't dodge.

Then Xingli opened his eyes and showed an angry and annoyed expression that left Xika dumbstruck. Once that Xingli displayed an expression for quite a long time.

"You have an expression too. I thought you were handicapped to the point of being unable to express."

A SHOCK!

And another needle floated up to his neck.

"Xika, it's been a joke. Can't you see this wolf is about to break away?"

"W-uh! Yeah, yeah." yeah."

Xika put aside Xingli's angry expression which she thought was very funny and asked her the reason she attacked Heiliao.

"So.....why did you attack Heiliao? Do you have a grudge against him?"

Xingli did not reply, but the determination to kill Heiliao in his eyes did not diminish in the slightest. Hmm, he should make Xingli talk. Doesn't he want to talk 'cause there's a Heiliao?

"Huo Bing, here for a moment."

The bird approached and Xika whispered something to him. Huo Bing nodded in agreement. He walked away and waved his hand. The airtight barrier he made shrank until it only covered Heiliao and Huo Bing.

Xingli frowned looking at that but said nothing.

Xika recalled what Huo Bing had done before and tried to do the same. His pupils lit up and the five elemental symbols floated above them. Either Xingli was aware of the fifth symbol or not.

The symbol grew bigger and bigger until it finally covered Xika and Xingli both. Xika tapped on the symbol that enveloped her somewhat unconvinced. He tested the wall of the element by yelling at Huo Bing 'Narcissistic Bird' but the bird didn't care. It seemed like he had managed to create a soundproof barrier.

"Alright Xingli, right now no one can hear our conversation. Can you tell me why you attacked Heiliao?"

Xingli did not speak. But his gaze asked if Heiliao was really the same wolf as back then.

"Yes, he's the same wolf. But I can't let anyone kill him, not even you. He's my brother, you know."

Xingli widened his eyes.

"Well, not a sibling. We tied the oath and he saved me. We had a life and death fight together. He's precious to me. Can you not kill him? Would help?"

Xika spoke solemnly and Xingli could see that. His harsh and cold gaze began to soften. Then there was something else in his eyes. The girl stared at the Xika card holding her back from earlier.

"What's? You want me to let you go?" Xika glanced at the cards that wrapped Xingli in doubt. "But promise me, don't attack me or anyone?"

Xingli rolled his eyes.

"All right, all right."

The cards took off from Xingli's body and the girl moved her hands in great delight.

"He's my natural enemy."

"Eh?" Xingli just talked to him? Unasked? Waw.

"We were destined to fight each other."

"Well, then don't kill each other?"

"............"

"Help?"

Xingli sighed. Then nodded reluctantly.

Xika felt like there seemed to be a long story as to why Heiliao and Xingli were destined to fight, but it seemed that Xingli would not tell Xika for now.

"Well, since there seems to be still time," Xika glanced at Huo Bing who was still talking to Heiliao, "how about we talk about something else?"

"I'll talk."

Xika expected Xingli to roll her eyes, snort in annoyance, or not answer her. But he never expected Xingli to talk.

"Eh?"

"If you promise not to leave me." he said with a serious face.

"DOLL?!"