"Are you talking about some special-grade cursed yōkai? They are cursed, yes, but their curses don't… talk. Or move as you said," Suji asked, his earlier anger cooling a fraction, though his jaw remained tight in the presence of the brother he didn't like too much.
Let's handle you… just for a while, Suji thought.
Wùji sighed and looked at him. His gaze seemed to say, Whatever this is, it's beyond normal yōkai matters now.
"We must check if the curse's presence still lingers," Wùji said, his eyes silently scouring their surroundings for any clue. He added, quieter, "My own abilities feel… lacking. Or perhaps I am simply not believing in them."
Suji let out a faint, dry chuckle. He crossed his arms, lightly dabbing the corners of his eyes to erase the last traces of tears. "See? You have flaws too… big brother." He said it in a way meant solely to make his brother feel small for once—a useless, desperate attempt to claim the higher ground.
"Flaws are natural. They are what make us human," Wùji replied, as if it hadn't touched him at all. His pride was still clear in his eyes, but now it glowed rather than burned.
"I never claimed to be flawless. I only told you to be more conscious. That's what older brothers do, don't they?" He tilted his head slightly as he spoke, the movement a soft drop of mockery.
Suji's eyes widened a little, as if to say, Don't you dare. "We were born at the same time. You are Wùji. I am Suji. A different thing."
Wùji's lips curved into a faint, almost tender smirk that was still laced with pride. "You've never changed at all."
Kirihito peeked again from his fellow dancer's shoulder, his blindfolded gaze searching. Xio.
A cute, childish smile broke across his beet-red lips when he spotted him. He waved, innocent as a toddler.
Xio felt his soul leave his body. If that guy keeps this up, they'll find me out! He raised his hand quickly and lowered it in a sharp, scolding gesture: Stop waving at me, you stupid snake! I know you're not that dumb!
Kirihito pouted and lowered his hand. He fixed his hair like a preening ladybug and mumbled, "Wèi is angry at the butterfly, too."
"Shh, don't talk," the dancer with the black ribbon whispered, gently pulling him back into their small circle.
Xio sighed dramatically and melted deeper into the crowd.
Wùji and Suji froze, their attention snapping to Kirihito. They exchanged a look, and then Wùji stepped back onto the stage. Suji glared at his brother's back and followed. He was, after all, eternally destined to be his rival.
Wùji's eyes roamed over the crowd he had halted. Nothing suspicious. Then his gaze settled on the dancers—specifically on Kirihito, who had been the center of it all.
"Who were you waving at?" both brothers asked in unison. They then looked at each other.
"It's my task," they both said again. They sighed in perfect sync and facepalmed.
Wùji felt a wave of impending embarrassment on behalf of his stubborn sibling.
Kirihito peeked out once more with a mocking, light chuckle. "The white and violet insects are fighting like worms~"
Both brothers' eyes snapped to him. Worms? That was a profound insult.
"Children do not speak out of turn to their elders," Wùji said coolly. The way Kirihito acted genuinely felt like dealing with a child, so he named him one. He felt insulted, yes, but he found it more amusing than infuriating.
"What did you just say?!" Suji hissed, eyes wide. What is this guy's problem?
His reaction made Kirihito grin. He loved creating chaos when they reacted. Since he couldn't kill right now, he would settle for damaging their minds with his sweet, sharp tongue. "Wèi said nothing wrong~" he purred.
Suji glared, then took a deep, dramatically exasperated breath. Wùji placed a hand on Suji's shoulder to gently push him aside and manage the situation himself.
"Don't touch me. I'll move when I need to," Suji said with a huff, stepping away and dusting off his shoulder—a natural gesture, but Wùji knew it was because of his touch.
Wùji let out a light, hopeless sigh and thought, He acts like a total child around me. And treats me like I'm a bug on his shoulder…
He rolled his eyes before turning his attention back to Kirihito, who was still grinning, tilting his head like a bird searching for the perfect branch.
That child is enjoying himself there… while I have to hide, a dark voice thought from somewhere within the crowd.
Suddenly, Wùji asked Kirihito something unexpected. "What do you like to eat?"
The other sect members blinked at the question, but they knew he was maneuvering toward something clever.
Kirihito froze, then grinned mischievously. He leaned closer and began his shameless talk. "What if it's the dragon fruit in your mouth?~"
Wùji blinked, raising one eyebrow. A truly tiny, almost invisible tug touched his lips.
Xio's jaw dropped at Kirihito's boldness again. He shifted his mask slightly, eyes wide. "What vein in his head sometimes disconnects, making him talk like this?" He didn't know, but his own voice sounded strange to him, and his chest burned.
"What did you just say, kid?!" the dark voice whispered through someone's lips, as if he didn't like Kirihito… flirting with the man he wanted to play with.
God that child doesn't even knows what flirting means!
"Jealous?" the black ribbon's inner voice spoke somewhere near the dark one, his own tone thick with envy.
"Of course not. Why would I be jealous? Those are human things," the dark voice retorted, watching the drama unfold.
Suji also tilted his head in surprise, his mind racing: A cursed dancer is flirting with my brother… and he's actually smiling? God knows what he's planning!
Wùji cleared his throat, acutely aware of every eye on him. He decided to start with something simple. "What's your name?"
Kirihito tilted his head to the other side, resting it on his companion's shoulder. "Wèi has two names. Which one is the violet insect asking for?~"
Wùji thought for a moment. "Both."
Kirihito grinned. "It's Kirihito Orohana and Wèi Yīlíng!" he announced excitedly, raising his hands as if revealing a wonderful surprise, before slipping into a sweet yet dark warning. "Do not forget it… or Wèi will forget something much more important~"
Wùji raised an eyebrow again, his expression unreadable, before giving a thoughtful nod. "Alright."
Then, in a slightly twisted, manipulative tone—one he had full confidence would work on someone as playful and childish as Kirihito seemed—he laid out his bait. He thought he might lure him toward the demonic cultivator island he'd mentioned earlier. "If you… tell me who you were waving at… I'll give you whatever you ask for."
Everyone gasped in surprise. They had all heard what Kirihito had asked for earlier.
"Seriously?"
"Is he…into men or something?"
"What is Wùji Kùmsūn even saying??"
Whispers filled the market, spreading even among the sect members.
Is he crazy?? They're both crazy! Don't you dare tell him anything! Xio whispered furiously to himself.
Somewhere, the dark voice couldn't believe what was happening. No… that kid is going to steal my prey! he mumbled anxiously.
On the other hand, Kirihito hissed softly, like an excited snake, slowly licking his lips in a way that was both cute and predatory. "Really?~ Wèi loves honesty."
Wèi's mind raced, thinking of how to twist and turn the truth in a believable way so he could get his dragon fruit from Wùji. Yes, he said the wrong thing again, not what he meant. He meant that this human, Wùji, would feed him the dragon fruit as if he were a king. Poor him, he didn't know what he'd actually said.
Then, someone stepped out of the crowd.
Soft gold robes. A bamboo hat with a white veil. Long brown hair, eyes hidden. A red belt with a hanging lantern charm.
"He was waving at me… wasn't he?" the man said, his voice soft, smiling a smile that was almost dark at the edges.
Everyone looked at him.