Chapter Ninety-Three: Cousin Sister Xue Xiang

  After chatting with Mei and Medea for a while, Yafeng and Niji finally found an opportunity to remind the two that they should inform their families at home about their situation, or else something might happen later. In the end, Medea decided to return to Odawara's Toda family residence with Yafeng, as the people of the Toda family would know more details than Mei and Yafeng, outsiders.

  The Sanada family and the two sisters of Nifuji Kaori were waiting for Yagyu Jubei's return at the Sanada residence.

  After returning to the Tanda family's mansion, Akakaze felt a sense of relief and rebirth, especially after seeing Shin'ichiro's worried eyes. The anxiety and fear she had accumulated overnight, as well as the huge shock from this morning, all burst out at this moment. As soon as she entered the hall, Akakaze rushed into Shin'ichiro's arms, hugging him tightly and crying out loud.

  A slight lift of the corner of his mouth at the sight of his dejected state, indeed, in Yafeng's heart, Yamada was much more important than himself, and this older brother still wasn't doing a good enough job.

  After feeling Sanada's broad arms and steady heartbeat, Yafeng's previously turbulent heart began to calm down, as if every time was like this, with Sanada by her side, she would feel an unparalleled sense of security.

  "Grandfather, Uncle, Aunt, Soichiro-niisan, Yumiko-neechan, Genichirou-niisan, Yuushi-niisan, and Shizuka, Setsuna-nee, Shiori... I'm sorry, I made you all worry."

  Sanada patted Yasu's head gently and said, "As long as you're back safely." Then he looked at Meido Bernardo standing beside Yasu and asked, "Are you Itō Yūjirō of the Itō family?"

  "Meide·Bernard respectfully bowed to Shinoda and said, 'Junior Ito Yujirō greets Shinoda Banzai.'"

  Sanada nodded and said to him: "I know what you want to know, come with me." Then he walked towards the drawing room.

  After Shinoda and Med Bernano left, Shinoda walked up to Yafeng and hugged him tightly, saying: "Good boy, it's good that you're back. Don't scare Grandma like this again in the future."

  The warmth of Natsumi's embrace once again touched the still somewhat fragile heart of Yafeng, and the tears that had just stopped flowing came out again. She tightened her arms and buried her head in Natsumi's neck, whispering softly: "It won't happen again, not from now on."

  "Good boy."

  Then Sanada Wakako let go of Gafu, gently wiped away Gafu's tears and said: "Yūshi and Shizuka have been waiting for you at home all night, go talk to them."

  After walking away from Makoto Wakano, Masayuki approached Kaori Koyanagi and the others, hugging the three girls tightly. "Shizuka, Setsuko-san, Shiori, I'm sorry to have worried you."

  "It's okay, as long as you're fine," Shu Yu said.

  Yah Feng nodded and let them go, then walked towards Ren Zu and said: "Yu Shi Gege."

  A gentle smile spread across her face as she softly ruffled Yafeng's hair and said, "It's all right then."

  In the gentle voice of Ninsoku, Yafeng's nose turned sour once, and he pounced into Ninsoku's arms, saying: "Onii-chan."

  Yafeng rubbed against Ningzu's chest and then stood up, facing him and saying: "Nishizono brother, was Shota brother scared of me?"

  "Ah, you still remember?" Shinzu said with a faint smile. Seeing Yafeng's furrowed brow, he continued with a hint of amusement, "Shouta needs this kind of training, and he's not that fragile either."

  Yah Feng let out a carefree smile, then turned back to Xue Shan with an inscrutable expression.

  "What's wrong, Yafeng?" Xue Shan asked gently.

  "Xue Sha jie," Yafeng called out with some concern, then asked softly: "If, I mean if, you still have other relatives, what would you do?"

  Xue Xiang looked at Ya Feng with a faintly puzzled expression, unclear about his meaning.

  "What did you think of that person just now?"

  Xue Xiang thought of the middle-aged man who had just entered with Ya Feng, a cold and stern figure. For some reason, although he gave people a very cold feeling, keeping them at arm's length, she herself felt an inexplicable sense of closeness to him.

  "He," Yafeng said, looking at Xue Xian with some unease again before lowering his eyelids, "is surnamed Ito, the eldest son of the Kyoto Ito family, which is also your mother's younger brother."

  Xue Shan's mouth was agape in shock, unable to utter a word. On the other hand, Ye Shu directly questioned, "Isn't Xue Shan's mother the only daughter of the Ito family? When did she have another son?"

  Yahiko said with his eyes still cast down, "That's because after the master of the Ito family divorced his first wife, his twin son and daughter left with her, while Shesha's mother stayed in the Ito family."

  Xue Xiang finally reacted and looked at Ya Feng, asking: "Is what you said true? He... is really my uncle?"

  "Yes."

  Xue Xiang fell silent once again.

  "Are you saying that Xue Xian has an aunt?" Ye Shu's words once again hit the nail on the head.

  "Yes, her aunt is," Yafeng took a deep breath before continuing: "my mother."

  Xue Xiang looked at Ya Feng in disbelief, meaning that Ya Feng was her own sister. Others were also shocked.

  "Xue Sha jie jie, I know you're surprised, I am too, but this is real, and..."

  Xue Xiang looked up at Ya Feng with a meaning of "and what".

  Yah Feng looked at Xue Shan, unsure of how to tell her this cruel fact. Although she had completely lost hope in Sato Genji, if she knew this cruel fact, what would she do?

  "Xue Sha sister."

  Ye Shu roughly understood Ya Feng's unspoken words. She walked closer to Xue Shan, held her shoulder and said to Ya Feng: "Ya Feng, speak."

  Yafeng took a deep breath and said, "According to Uncle's investigation, Hui Zi Auntie didn't die of illness but was slowly poisoned to death." Seeing Xue Xiang's shock, incredulity, and despair, Yafeng found it hard to continue, but Xue Xiang had the right to know. "And Sato Genji and his current wife are the culprits. As a result, the Ito family and Fujiwara have fallen into the hands of the Sato family and the Yamashita organization."

  Xue Xiang looked at Ya Feng worriedly, and Ya Feng shook her head to indicate that everything was fine. Then she said softly to Xue Xiang: "Xue Xiang, you still have me, and Ya Feng, and your uncle."

  As expected, Xue Shan was quick-witted and immediately became angry, rushing to Ya Feng's face and tightly hugging her, silently crying.

  Seeing Xue Xian cry, Hai Ye Jing and Ya Feng both let out a sigh of relief, while Ye Shu Yu looked at Xue Xian with great comfort. Indeed, the current Xue Xian had become much stronger.

  While Shinpachi and Sanada on the other hand used a great deal of effort to digest this shocking news.

  Mayde Burnano saw two girls huddled together and other boys and girls looking at them with concern when he came out of the room where Shinoda was.

  He tidied up his mind which had just been disturbed by the story of Lord Sanada, and walked slowly to the front of Yafeng and Xueyan.

  "Yah Feng, Xue Shan, would you like to go back to Kyoto with me?"

  Yahiko looked at Medea Bernardo, who nodded, while Setsuna lifted her head from Yahiko's neck and gazed at this legendary uncle of hers, then asked softly: "Are you my mother's brother?"

  "Yes."

  Xue Xiang also nodded, but her eyes still had unresolved entanglements and sorrow. It was heartbreaking to see this, the girl needed to face all of this, it was all too cruel.

  "Grandfather, I'm sorry to have worried you. If you're willing, when I return from Kyoto, please tell me stories about Father and Mother. I want to understand too."

  Sanada nodded silently for a moment before saying, "Alright."

  "Thank you, Grandpa."

  Then he looked at Sanada and said: "Sanada-kun, I'm afraid I'll have to miss another training session."

  Sanada rubbed Yafeng's hair and replied: "Ah, don't slack off."

  Noticing Yafeng's gaze on herself, Haiyeshi hastily said: "Miss Yafeng, please be at ease, I will go ask for leave for you and your sister."

  "Thank you."