It had already been almost two months since Sui Sui and Yizhou started living together, and everything had been going surprisingly well. Ever since that night, the two had been growing closer by the day.
Lately, the two of them had been doing almost everything together—from buying materials outside the sect, to tending herbs, managing the sect shops, and even attending classes side by side.
Honestly, he was really too clingy.
Although Yizhou still kept his distance from others, wherever Sui Sui went, Yizhou was right there,he clung like a shadow. He'd even become a little more expressive—at least, when it came to Sui Sui.
There was one particular afternoon when Sui Sui was assigned to help settle the newly recruited disciples into the sect. Among them was a small girl, probably around seven or eight.
Actually, Sui Sui had been the one to find her, along with a senior sister, during one of their trips to the city to buy materials. The girl had been wandering the streets barefoot and hungry, looking very pitiful, so they took her in out of sympathy, and upon discovering she had a spiritual root and cultivation potential, the sect allowed her to stay.
Perhaps the little girl recognized Sui Sui as one of the kind strangers who helped her that day, so naturally, she stuck close to him. Whenever she had the chance, she would inch toward his side, her big eyes shining with timid gratitude.
From a short distance away, Yizhou stood with his arms crossed, staring. The moment he noticed the little girl clinging to Sui Sui's side, his brow twitched.
Of course, Yizhou already knew his gege was the best person in the world. But that didn't mean he liked it when others hovered around him—especially not when they got too close.
So, for the rest of the afternoon, Yizhou walked around with a deep pout on his face. His eyes stayed locked on the girl like he was sizing up an enemy. Sui Sui didn't notice a thing, too busy helping the new disciples—but the girl certainly did.
Why is this little brother glaring at me like that? she wondered nervously.
She tried to hide behind Sui Sui's sleeve, thinking that maybe if she stayed out of sight, the boy would stop. But that only made it worse. The more she hid behind Sui Sui, the darker Yizhou's stare became.
Realizing this strategy had completely backfired, she quietly shuffled away on a further corner. The moment she did, Yizhou stopped glaring. It was like a heavy pressure had been lifted. The girl let out a quiet breath of relief.
When the settling-in of the new disciples was almost done, the little girl shyly walked up to Sui Sui. She bowed her head slightly and thanked him for everything he'd done. She even offered to return the favor in the future and promised to help him if he ever needed anything.
Sui Sui chuckled softly and waved her off. "You don't have to do that. It was just a small matter. Just focus on cultivating well, alright?"
The two chatted for a bit more. When the girl found out that Sui Sui was one of the top disciples in instrumental cultivation for their age group, her eyes lit up in admiration, and she immediately asked if he could teach her sometime.
But just as Sui Sui was about to answer, a tug on his sleeve interrupted him.
" Gege, Yizhou wants to practice with his wooden sword now. Let's go home," Yizhou said, looking up at him with wide, expectant eyes. Sui Sui glanced down, lips curving into a soft smile as he reached out to pat the boy's head. "Alright, alright, we'll head back soon."
Turning to the little girl, he gave her an apologetic smile. "Junior Sister, I'll have to decline your request for now. As you can see, I've got this little one to look after. My hands are full. But I'll ask a few of our senior sisters to guide you, alright?"
The girl nodded, a little disappointed but understanding. They both bid their goodbyes and began to walk off.
As Sui Sui and Yizhou walked away, the little boy paused and glanced over his shoulder. He glanced back at the girl with a subtle, triumphant smile. His eyes curved slightly, lips lifting with a smug kind of satisfaction—as if to say: Heh, Gege loves Yizhou the most.
The little girl stared at him blankly.
…This little brother was really strange.
—------
Today, after finishing their task of tending to the herbs, Sui Sui and Yizhou made their way back to their shared room, their clothes damp with sweat and dust clinging to their sleeves. Both looked forward to washing up and changing into something clean. The sun hung lazily in the sky, casting golden streaks along the path as they walked side by side.
Just as they rounded a bend near the disciple quarters, a voice called out behind them.
"Hey, Junior Brother Sui! Just in time—I was looking for you."
The two turned around to see a senior sister approaching with brisk steps and a friendly smile. Sui Sui blinked, slightly caught off guard. "Do you need me for anything, Senior Sister?" he asked, tilting his head curiously.
The senior sister smiled. "Yes, yes. I have something for you. Do you remember Granny Shang from the city?" The senior sister asked.
Of course he remembered. Sui Sui's expression softened at the name. Granny Shang was a mortal woman who lived alone in the city after her children and grandchildren left.
Years ago, she had requested the sect's help to place a defensive array around her home to ward off thieves. The sect leader had personally handled it, and Sui Sui had tagged along back then.
For some reason, Granny Shang reminded him of the old woman who took care of him in his previous life, so she'd always held a special place in his heart. Whenever he went to the city, he'd make time to sometimes drop by and see her.
Sui Sui, who had been silently brushing the dust from his sleeves, perked up the moment he heard the name. "What? Did something happen?" he asked, brows furrowing slightly in concern.
"No, nothing bad," the senior sister said quickly, waving her hand. "The sect received a letter earlier. Granny Shang's looking for you. Said she has something to give you, and asked if you could visit her place."
Sui Sui was then relieved. Granny Shang had mentioned before that she wanted to sew him a few sets of clothes. She loved sewing things for her family, but with no one around to wear them, she often said it felt like a waste. So she wanted to give some of her handiwork to Sui Sui.
Sui Sui's eyes lit up with excitement. He glanced up at the sky—there were still a few hours left before sunset. Perfect. He could make the trip today and bring Yizhou along too. Granny Shang would definitely enjoy the company.
With a cheerful smile, Sui Sui waved goodbye to his senior sister, then turned on his heel and headed back to their room with Yizhou. After a quick change into fresh clothes, the two of them made their way down the mountain toward the city.
The walk took some time, especially since Granny Shang's residence wasn't exactly in the city center. Their mansion stood on the far side of Qi Luo City, nestled in a quieter district. Despite being a mortal family, the Shang family had once been quite prominent. Their estate was spacious, boasting several courtyards and grand old trees that had been planted generations ago.
In the past, the mansion was always filled with people and noise—servants bustling about, family members chatting and laughing in the gardens.
Granny Shang and her late husband had lived a modest mortal life, however their children had been born with spiritual roots, and since the only sect nearby was He Huan Sect—known for its dual cultivation practices—their children had chosen to move to another city and join a different sect.
Over the years, their some of their family members had chosen to drift apart and those who stayed had slowly passed away, so now only Granny Shang was left in the family.
Although her children had invited her to live with them in another city, Granny Shang, unwilling to leave her ancestral home, had stayed behind with only a few loyal servants for company.
By the time Sui Sui and Yizhou arrived at the familiar gates of the Shang mansion, the sky was starting to turn golden.
Sui Sui stepped forward and knocked on the door, his hand making a soft thud against the wooden panel.
Knock, knock.
They waited, but there was no response.
He glanced at Yizhou, who raised an eyebrow.
"…That's strange," Sui Sui murmured, tilting his head slightly. "She should be home at this hour."
He knocked again, a little louder this time. Still, no answer.
A faint breeze stirred the edge of his robes, and for a moment, the quiet felt just a little too heavy.