Demon of Dawn and Dusk

As I followed Big Sidra through the hall, I kept glancing at her. Of my older sisters, she was the one I felt the most wary about. According to Astra, Big Sis Sidra considered our mother’s word to be law; and according to mother’s word I was supposed to be back on Mt. Wind Dance. I was afraid that she might send me back to that place even though I had passed the entrance exam and joined the Dawn and Dusk Sect as an inner disciple. It was an irrational fear, I knew that, but that didn’t make it any less real.

As we passed by the other disciples and elders of the Dawn and Dusk Sect, I heard them murmuring and whispering. I didn’t hear what they were saying since I kept most of my focus on Big Sis Sidra, but the words “divine demon” and “Frenzied Fiend” caught my attention. Big Sis Sidra continued on her way and paid them no mind.

Contrary to my expectations, my eldest sister didn’t lead me to one of the large tables near the center of the hall. Instead, she led me to a small hidden alcove situated along the wall. I hadn’t seen it from the halls entrance due to its position. A wooden table laden with food and drink stood within the alcove. Astra and another woman sat at the table waiting for us.

“Darian!” Astra exclaimed.

She stood up from the table and reached me in the blink of an eye. Before I knew it, she had pulled me into a tight hug.

“I’m so proud of you,” she said. “Not only did you pass the entrance exam, but you also became an inner disciple.” She pulled back and frowned at me. “Though, you had me worried there at the end.” Her frown turned into a smile. “Still, since you did it for the sake of your cultivation, I’ll forgive you.”

Her praise filled me with joy and a bit of embarrassment. I turned away from her, feeling bashful.

“Thank you, Big Sis Astra.” I muttered. “I couldn’t have done it without help from you and Cultivator Raphael.”

Astra placed her finger on my chin and made me look at her.

“Does that make me your favorite sister?” she asked with a grin.

“That’s not fair!” the other woman yelled. “You cheated!”

Astra and I both looked at her. Well, I attempted to. She rushed towards us, moving faster than I could see, and shoved Astra aside. Before I could react, she grabbed my face and started inspecting me.

“You’ve grown up so much, Little Demon,” the other woman said in a loud and boisterous voice. “You used to fit in the palm of my hand. Now look at you. You’ve become such a fine young man. Oh, how I’ve missed you.”

The woman pulled me into a bone crushing hug. That wasn’t an exaggeration. I felt my bones creak as the woman crushed my body into hers. She squeezed my lungs as well, making it impossible for me to take a breath.

“Cant…breath…” I managed to squeeze out.

“Estelle, let go of him you stupid brute!” Astra said, smacking the woman’s arm. “He’s only in the Qi Condensation realm. You’re crushing him!”

“Oh,” the other woman, or Big Sis Estelle, said. “Sorry, Little Demon. Sometimes, I get so excited that I forget to control my own strength.”

Big Sis Estelle let go of me and I started coughing as I tried to suck in air. Astra rubbed my back while alternating between giving me concerned looks and glaring at our older sister. Big Sis Estelle gave me a sheepish look while rubbing the back of her head.

“I…see…” I said in between coughs.

When I regained my breath, I took a moment to study my second eldest sister. Big Sis Estelle was shorter than me and Big Sis Sidra but taller than Astra. Like my other sisters, she had black skin, golden eyes, and a pair of horns protruding from her forehead. She also wore an outfit similar to Astra’s: trousers and boots, with bandages wrapped around her chest to preserve her modesty. Unlike me or Big Sis Sidra, my other sisters hadn’t bothered to dress up for the feast.

Once again, I was struck by the feeling that physical refiners were exhibitionists who liked to show off the results of their cultivation.

In terms of cultivation, Big Sis Estelle was in the Golden Core realm, like Astra, though she was slightly more powerful. I guessed she was one small realm higher than Astra, two at the most.

“Are you done?” Big Sis Sidra asked us. “If so, then let us sit down and eat. I’m sure Little Demon is hungry after the day he’s had.”

The moment my eldest sister mentioned food, hunger hit me with a vengeance. So much so that my stomach growled at me, demanding sustenance. My sisters glanced at me, before bursting out into laughter. Well, Astra and Big Sis Estelle laughed. Big Sis Sidra’s expression remained unchanged, though I detected hints of amusement in her eyes.

“You’re right.” Astra said in between snickers. “Come along, Darian.”

“You can sit next to me, Little Demon!” Big Sis Estelle said, still speaking in a loud and boisterous voice. I suspected that was her normal volume.

She patted my shoulder. However, she hit me with enough force that I almost stumbled to the ground. My shoulder ached, and I had a feeling I was going to be covered in bruises tomorrow.

After I regained my balance, I followed my sisters and joined them at the table. The amount of food before us made my mouth water. There were so many dishes, most of which I had never seen before, and I wanted to try them all. It smelled like a gourmand’s paradise. Best of all, each and every single one emitted faint amounts of qi, meaning that eating them would benefit our cultivation as well, albeit by a small amount.

As soon as they sat down, my sisters started piling food onto their plates. Big Sis Estelle soon had a large mound of food in front of her. Astra and Big Sis Sidra were a bit more reserved than her, but even so it was clear to me that all of my sisters had big appetites. However, my plate remained empty. The sheer variety of food filled me with decision paralysis. I didn’t know which to start with.

“What’s wrong, Darian?” Astra asked with a concerned look on her face. “Why aren’t you eating?”

I let out a little chuckle.

“It all looks so good,” I said. “I don’t know where to begin.”

“Here,” Big Sis Estelle said. “Try this.”

She placed pieces of meat covered in sauce and garnished with green onions on my plate. It looked like some kind of fowl, though I didn’t know which kind.

“Ooh, try this as well.” she said.

Before I could say anything, she placed more food on my plate. This went on until I had a mound rivaling hers in front of me. I almost asked her to stop, but she looked so happy that I couldn’t find it in myself to stop her. Astra looked amused by my dilemma while Big Sis Sidra ignored all this and focused on her meal.

“Uh, thank you, Big Sis Estelle,” I said after she finished.

“You’re welcome, Little Demon,” my second eldest sister said while looking pleased with herself.

I picked up my chopsticks and went to eat, but stopped just before I placed the first morsel of food in my mouth. Given how delicious everything looked and smelled, my habit of moaning while I ate good food would rear its ugly head. There was no way it wouldn’t. I didn’t want a repeat of what happened earlier, when I ate some of the Wood Essence Pears that Cultivator Willow traded to me.

I was used to eating delicious food in front of Astra, but not my other two sisters. While they were family, they were still strangers to me and vice versa. This was my first time laying eyes on either of them. I wanted to make a good impression. What if they ended up thinking that I was some kind of perverted degenerate? The safest course of action would be to abstain. However, I didn’t want to miss out on all this delicious food. Otherwise, why did I come to this feast in the first place?

I sat there for several moments, debating with myself. When Astra noticed this, she stopped eating and gave me a questioning look. After a moment a grin stretched across her face. She must have figured out the reason behind my hesitation.

“Well?” Astra asked. “What are you waiting for, Darian? Take a bite.”

I glared at her. Meanwhile, my other two sisters stopped eating as well and looked at me.

“Is something wrong, Little Demon?” Big Sis Estelle asked.

“Are you unwell?” Big Sis Sidra asked.

“No,” I said. “It’s just…” I paused, before letting out a sigh. “I have a strange…habit when I eat delicious food.”

Astra’s grin widened while my other sisters’ confusion deepened. I let out another sigh before I shoved the morsel of food into my mouth and started chewing. An explosion of flavor filled my mouth. It was the most delicious thing I had ever eaten in my entire life. I let out a loud and drawn out moan, despite my attempt to hold back. Wishing to get through the ordeal as soon as possible, I chewed the food as fast as I could and swallowed, before looking at my sisters. I was so embarrassed that even the tips of my ears burned.

Big Sis Sidra and Big Sis Estelle both stared at me with wide eyes, while Astra failed to hold back her giggling. After a moment, Big Sis Estelle threw her head back and started laughing. She laughed so hard that tears started streaming down her face. Astra joined her moments later. Big Sis Sidra just sighed and resumed eating her food.

“By the ancestors, that was amazing, Little Demon,” Big Sis Estelle said while wiping her eyes. “I don’t think I’ve heard anyone sound so…appreciative as you. I’ll have to let the spirit chefs know just how much you enjoy their cooking.”

That was the last thing I wanted.

“Please don’t.” I pleaded.

Big Sis Estelle clapped me on the shoulder. I flinched. However, she must have controlled her strength this time around because it didn’t hurt.

“Aw, don’t worry,” she said with a snicker. “I’m just teasing you, Little Demon. Go ahead and enjoy yourself.”

We finished eating the rest of our meal in silence. Well, other than my moans that was. To my surprise, the four of us cleared the entire table. Not a single morsel remained despite how much food there was. I leaned back in my chair feeling a bit drowsy. It had been a long, tiring day. Now that I was full, I wanted nothing more than to relax before heading off to bed. However, I resisted the urge. This was my first meal with my sisters, and I wanted to enjoy it for as long as possible. I didn’t know when I would get another chance.

Astra was a core disciple of the Dawn and Dusk Sect, while Big Sis Sidra was the vice hall master of Flame Fiend Hall. I was sure that the two of them were quite busy most of the time. As for Big Sis Estelle, I didn’t know what her position within the sect was but I was sure it was high. I imagined that she was busy most of the time as well. I knew just how precious time spent with loved ones was, so I intended to make full use of this opportunity.

A team of mortal servants cleared away the empty dishes, before leaving behind a large bottle of wine and enough cups for all of us. Big Sis Sidra stood up and poured wine into each of our cups. Like the food, the wine contained faint traces of qi.

“Well, this is a rare sight,” Astra said in a dry tone. She glanced at me. “Big Sis Sidra almost never pours wine for us. When we drink as a family, she usually makes me do it.”

“Of course,” Big Sis Sidra said in a matter of fact tone. “You are, or were, the youngest of us. It is your responsibility to serve your elders.” She finished pouring and sat back down. “However, this is a special occasion, so I’ll make an exception this time.”

She held up her cup and the rest of us followed her lead.

“To Little Demon!” she cried out.

“To Little Demon!” my other two sisters said.

I flushed as they toasted me. However, that didn’t stop me from draining my cup dry like everyone else. The wine burned as it went down, before settling in my stomach. My body started to absorb the qi contained within it.

“Drinking with Little Demon,” Big Sis Estelle said after she finished with her wine. “I’ve looked forward to this day ever since you left us.” She gave me a soft smile. “It’s good to have you back with us, baby brother. We’ve missed you.”

My other two sisters murmured words of agreement. I felt something well up inside me. It was a heady mix of joy and relief tinged with sorrow. It overwhelmed me, and I felt tears prick my ears. Despite my best attempts to hold them back, they started streaming down my cheeks.

“Sorry,” I said, my voice thick with emotion. “I’m sorry that you had to witness such an unseemly display. It’s just…” I wiped my eyes. “…this is the happiest I’ve ever been in my entire life.”

This is what I always wanted, back when I was an outcast back on Mt. Wind Dance. Home. Family. A place to belong and people who loved me. It was something I never thought I’d ever have. Now that I did, I felt like the richest man in the entire world.

“Don’t apologize,” Big Sis Sidra said in a somber voice. “Not for this. After what you went through, you have every right.”

Astra started rubbing my shoulder with a sympathetic expression on her face. However, I saw something dark lurking in her eyes. Despite my tears, I saw how angry she was. Big Sis Sidra wore a neutral mask, but I saw the same darkness in her eyes as well. Big Sis Estelle looked between the three of us in confusion.

“Did I miss something?” she asked.

“Those Wind Dance bastards mistreated our Little Demon,” Astra said in a quiet voice.

“What?” Big Sis Estelle yelled. “Why? Isn’t Cultivator Connor the head of their clan? Wouldn’t that make Little Demon their young master? Why would they mistreat him?”

She looked between Astra and Big Sis Sidra as she asked her questions.

“We’ll explain later.” Big Sis Sidra said, shaking her head. “Tonight we celebrate Little Demon’s accomplishment. There’s no need to darken the mood with talks of those ungrateful fools.” She glanced at me. “Besides, I’d rather not make Little Demon recall his time on Mt. Wind Dance.”

I shook my head.

“No,” I said. “We might as well get it all out in the open now. That way, we don’t have to worry about it later.” I gave Big Sis Sidra a questioning look. “Though it sounds like you already know the story. Did Big Sis Astra tell you?”

Big Sis Sidra shook her head.

“No,” she said. “I have my ways.”

“Like breaking into people’s homes and spying on them,” Astra muttered under her breath.

“And let me put one of your worries to rest,” Big Sis Sidra continued, ignoring Astra. “I won’t send you back to Mt. Wind Dance. Not after what they did to you. Neither will I punish you for leaving that place.” She gave Astra a sideways glance. “I know that I come across as harsh and inflexible at times, but I’m not so hidebound that I would send my little brother back into the arms of the people who abused him.”

I felt my shoulders lighten at her words. That had been one of my biggest worries ever since Astra kidnapped, or rescued me, from Mt. Wind Dance. I never wanted to return to that place. Hearing Big Sis Sidra’s promise relieved me of that particular burden.

“If I’m going to punish anyone,” my eldest sister said. “It would be Astra for disobeying Mother.”

“That’s not fair!” Astra protested. “If I hadn’t, Darian would still be suffering at the hands of those bastards.”

Big Sis Sidra nodded.

“True,” she said. “Which is why I won’t punish you severely.” Her expression hardened. “However, you still disobeyed Mother so you must be punished.”

Astra scowled at her, before turning away and crossing her arms.

“You always think you know best just because you’re the oldest,” she muttered.

Big Sis Estelle slapped the table. It let out an ominous creak but didn’t break.

“Will someone explain to me what is going on?” she growled.

I gave my sisters a brief summary of what my life on Mt. Wind Dance was like, including the events leading up to it. My father’s poisoning, my uncle taking over the clan, my mistreatment at the hands of my kin, and so on.

“Apparently, Clan Wind Dance also has ties with a number of Righteous sects in the Myriad Rivers province,” I said with a frown. “Including the Thousand Blade Sect. I hadn’t known that, back when I lived on Mt. Wind Dance.”

“It must be a recent development,” Big Sis Sidra said. “When your father stayed here as our guest, he never mentioned anything of the sort. I doubt that anyone with strong ties to the Righteous sects would ever sleep with a demon, even if it was to pay back a life debt.”

Big Sis Estelle slammed her fist onto the table. This time it did collapse. Big Sis Sidra and Astra rescued the wine bottle and the cups before they crashed onto the ground. I was too shocked by Big Sis Estelle’s actions to react.

“I’m going to kill them all,” she said, her voice low and demonic. I felt a chill run down my spine. “I’m going to burn them out, root and stem, so that everyone will know the price for harming one of ours.” A malicious smile spread across her face. “However, I’ll leave this Dominic Wind Dance alive. He’ll suffer a thousand years of pain before I’ll allow him to die. Or maybe not. He doesn’t sound like he’s worth the effort. Maybe I should just refine him into a pill instead.”

“Estelle!” Big Sis Sidra said in a sharp voice.

Big Sis Estelle looked at her. My eldest sister nodded towards me.

“Oh, sorry, Little Demon,” Big Sis Estelle said, looking abashed. “Big Sis Sidra is right. You’re the one they hurt. You should be the one to take revenge.” She grinned at me. “Don’t worry. However you decide to go about it, your big sisters will be there to help.”

I stared at Big Sis Estelle, horrified by her words. While my sisters treated me with love and affection, they were still demonic cultivators. Just because they treated me well didn’t mean they would do the same for others.

“I won’t commit genocide,” I stated in a flat voice. “Nor will I refine anyone into pills. In fact, I don’t plan on taking revenge on Clan Wind Dance at all.”

Big Sis Estelle stared at me with a confused expression on her face.

“Why not?” she asked, baffled. “Surely you don’t have any attachments to those people.”

There were a lot of things I could have said in response to that. I did have some attachments to Clan Wind Dance, such as my father and Lucius, but that wasn’t why I didn’t want to get revenge on them.

“Because that’s not the kind of person I am,” I said instead.

Big Sis Estelle only looked even more confused by my words.

“Darian is kindhearted,” Astra explained.

Big Sis Estelle blinked at her.

“How?” she asked the other two. “Who did he get that from? Mother is known as the Frenzied Fiend and Cultivator Connor repays even the slightest insult tenfold.” She narrowed her eyes at me. “You’re not some kind of bleeding heart, are you?”

“No,” I said, frowning at her. “However, I’m not going to waste my time on people who don’t deserve it.” I softened my frown. “I’d rather focus on what’s really important, such as spending time with my family.”

Big Sis Estelle looked touched by my words.

“Aw! Come here. Give your sister a hug.”

She reached over and pulled me into a tight hug. I tried to resist, to no avail. In the end I gave up and returned the hug. At least this time it didn’t feel like she was trying to kill me. In the meantime, Big Sis Sidra gestured to someone out of sight. Moments later, a team of servants came by to clean up the remains of the table before replacing it with a new one. From the expressions on their faces, this wasn’t the first time something like this has happened.

“Now then,” Big Sis Sidra said, placing the wine bottle on the new table. “Enough about those fools on Mt. Wind Dance. Let us continue with the celebrations.”