"Jiao…?" Xuefeng questioned from afar, easily recognizing the woman that was gone from his life for years. Aside from a quite dirty appearance, she didn't change at all.
He was so surprised to see her in such a place that he completely disregarded how she crushed his Ice Wall so effortlessly.
"Sister!" Lisa exclaimed in similar shock and waved frantically. She didn't think twice before launching towards Jiao before stopping confused.
Jiao completely ignored her and flew towards the main exit without even sparing them a glance. It threw everyone off and especially Xuefeng who immediately thought that something was wrong with her.
"Jiao! Are you okay?!" Xuefeng cried out louder as he teleported in front of her and she finally stopped, looking at him indifferently. She gave him a look over, checking him out for a few seconds before her mouth opened in surprise.
"Oh, It's you— Cough, I mean, hey Xuefeng! What are you doing here?" Jiao asked with a forced smile. Xuefeng only needed one look at her to realize that there was something different about her.
"I was going to ask the same thing…" Xuefeng muttered as he moved closer to her but Jiao immediately backed away, keeping a distance from him. He definitely expected at least a hug the first time they meet again but she acted strangely.
"What is going on?" Xuefeng questioned suspiciously. "Why are you avoiding me?"
"I'm not avoiding you…" Jiao replied awkwardly as she scratched her head. "It just has been so long that I don't know how to react. The last time I let someone close to me, they backstabbed me right after so I instinctively stay away."
"Sister! I was so worried!"
Lisa finally flew over to them and immediately threw herself into Jiao's arms. Too bad, Jiao was faster and swiftly dodged to the side, making Lisa catch nothing but air.
Lisa looked at Jiao confused and tried to hug her again but Jiao repeated her move.
"Jiao…?" Lisa asked dumbfounded. "Are you okay? I'm Lisa, your sister. You don't remember me?"
"Of course I remember you. Long time no see," Jiao confirmed as she forced another smile. "I just prefer not to hug. Don't worry about me, I'm good."
Everyone squinted their eyes at her. Jiao looked the same but she behaved like a completely different person. The Jiao they knew would swiftly dive into Xuefeng's arms the first time she spotted him.
"What happened to you? Did someone hurt you?" Lisa questioned worriedly, not believing Jiao's words. She was her sister, it was natural to worry if she knew something wasn't right.
'Either she suffered from a trauma that completely changed her personality or this is not Jiao. She might have been possessed by some evil Soul,' Ming pointed out. 'If you can touch her, I will check what is going on with her. I just tried to feel anything from outside but she instantly sensed me and blocked my advances. There is no way Jiao would get this strong in such little time.'
Just as Ming reported, Jiao glanced at Xuefeng sharply and her smile disappeared.
"There are many people who hurt me in the past but don't worry, I will soon get my revenge on my own," Jiao replied coldly before cutting it short. "I need to go now. It was nice talking to you after all these years."
She waved at them once again before setting off without waiting for a reply.
"Wait!" Xuefeng called out after her and blocked her way again. "We just met after all those years and you are going to leave just like that?"
"I need to. I really can't stay any longer but once I get my revenge, I will find you again and I will reply to all your questions. For now, please let me go," Jiao suggested before trying to fly past Xuefeng.
Now he was hundred percent sure there was something wrong with her and Xuefeng wouldn't let her go without answers.
"Stop. We are your friend and family. We can't let you go unless you tell us everything," Xuefeng decided as he blocked her way once again. "No matter what happened, you can tell us."
"Jiao! This is not like you! Why are you acting so weird with us?" Lisa cried out after her but Jiao didn't react to her and instead glared at Xuefeng.
"Whatever happened is my personal matter and I will solve it on my own. Even if we are close, I'm not obliged to tell you anything. Respect my privacy and let me go," Jiao denied as a golden light flashed in her eye. "Will you continue to block my way?"
Xuefeng nodded firmly and extended his hand. "If you really want to leave, grab my hand. I want to check if everything is alright with you so I don't worry about you."
There was no doubt that it was Jiao's body as even the moles on her neck matched with her past image. This only further inclined him to believe that the real Jiao might be in danger.
Seeing the hesitation on Jiao's face, Xuefeng blinked to her side and surprised her by catching her wrist. She instinctively jerked away but Xuefeng's physical strength was too strong for her.
'Hold her for a moment! I can sense another being inside her!' Ming called out excitedly when Jiao continued to struggle.
"Don't touch me!" Jiao yelled madly as she punched at Xuefeng's face but he caught her other wrist and spun her around to lock her inside his arms. A lock in the form of a tight hug was much more humane than restricting her with their Soul Power.
Too bad, Xuefeng underestimated her.
"I said, DON'T TOUCH ME!!"
Bang!
All Xuefeng heard was Jiao's scream before her skin shone brightly and a sudden impulse of Qi blasted him away. He wasn't injured at all but the sheer force let her escape from his grasp.
Jiao didn't hesitate and launched towards the main exit but she also underestimated their team.
"Where do you think you are going?"