Junior Brother Has No Idea - Chapter 4

The scenery was magnificent; the covered bridges wound through a thousand turns over shimmering waters and beneath a gentle breeze.

Xie Yong, dragging a crippled leg and a body that wheezed every three steps, rounded turn after turn. He still hadn’t reached the end of the veranda.

The light sphere, initially bursting with excitement, had become utterly numb.

“Hubby,” it whimpered, its two meaty hands clutching Xie Yong’s collar as it peeked out. “Is this road a bit too long? I feel like we’ve been walking for a lifetime.”

Xie Yong raised his sleeve and wiped away non-existent sweat from his brow. “We’re almost there.”

“I’m not trying to nag, Hubby,” the sphere said, “but you’re so young. Having the stamina of a weak little chicken really isn’t okay. Do you just hate exercising?”

Xie Yong didn’t reply. He simply pressed his hand on top of its head, pushing it back into his robes.

Up ahead was the exit of the bridge, where a group of people were approaching, chatting and laughing. The man in the lead was Xie Yong’s eldest brother, Xie Wuyin.

Among the three children of the Xie Clan Head, Xie Wuyin resembled their father the most. He was tall and imposing, dressed in a white-and-gold martial outfit with a gold-threaded jade belt and a golden crown. He possessed sharp, sword-like eyebrows and eyes as bright as stars.

The people following him were junior disciples of the Xie side branches. They had spent the morning at the training grounds and were now heading back to their rooms to rest.

As they met on the narrow path, Xie Wuyin was the first to stop. Those behind him were forced to halt as well, stealing curious glances at Xie Yong.

Xie Yong ignored their stares and took the initiative to greet his brother. “Eldest Brother.”

Xie Wuyin gave a slight nod.

In Xie Yong’s arms, the light sphere shifted restlessly. Xie Yong couldn’t see the notifications on the Task Book, but the sphere could. The moment Xie Yong had made eye contact with the group, Xie Wuyin’s favorability had jumped by +3. After Xie Yong took the initiative to greet him, the Task Book flashed +5.

Is grinding favorability really this easy?! The sphere excitedly refreshed the task bar.

[Current Progress]

• Xie Wuyin: 40/50
• Xie Jiusi: -99/50

“Eldest Brother,” Xie Yong called out again, stepping forward. “I want to go to the infirmary to see Uncle Jing and have my medicine changed. Could you accompany me?”

Xie Wuyin favorability +3… Xie Wuyin favorability +5.

Despite the constant notifications, Xie Wuyin maintained his stoic posture. He even frowned slightly as he reached out to support Xie Yong’s arm. “You could have just sent a servant to fetch Uncle Jing.”

Xie Yong lowered his gaze, intentionally tilting the side of his face where the slap mark from yesterday hadn’t fully faded toward Xie Wuyin. He whispered, “It was too stifling in my room. I wanted to come out for a walk.”

Xie Wuyin favorability +10.

[Task Update]

• Xie Wuyin: 50/50 (Task Requirement Met)
• Xie Jiusi: -99/50

They had barely spent a few minutes together, and Xie Wuyin’s favorability had already reached the mission goal. What was even more incredible was that the number kept climbing!

From shock to excitement to doubt and finally to calm acceptance, the sphere had fully embraced the fact that Xie Wuyin was the ultimate “closet bro-con.”

The distance to the infirmary was significant. Because of Xie Yong’s leg, they moved slowly, and Xie Wuyin deliberately slowed his pace to match. Xie Yong made sure to keep the side of his face with the bruise turned toward him the entire way.

They walked in silence until they reached the infirmary. As Xie Yong stepped onto the stairs, he suddenly felt light. Xie Wuyin had placed a hand around his waist, lifting him off the ground and carrying him up the steps in two or three strides, setting him down directly in front of Jing Fusuo.

Jing Fusuo had been busy copying famous calligraphy. The sudden appearance of the duo made his hand jerk, leaving a large ink blot on the paper. He put down his brush in annoyance and looked up to see Xie Yong tucked under Xie Wuyin’s arm, looking delicate and pretty as he nodded a greeting.

“Uncle Jing, practicing your writing again?”

As the head physician of the Xie Estate, Jing Fusuo practiced both alchemy and talismans. Perhaps because he drew too many talismans, his handwriting looked like “ghost-script.” The juniors often gossiped behind his back that they couldn’t read his prescriptions.

While he didn’t say it, Jing Fusuo cared deeply about his image. He practiced calligraphy whenever he had a spare moment, and Xie Yong had caught him several times. His old face flushed red as he swept the ink and paper into his storage ring. He stroked his beard and cleared his throat. “Something the matter?”

Xie Wuyin set Xie Yong down. Once the younger boy was stable, Wuyin cupped his hands in a respectful bow and explained why they were there.

Jing Fusuo straightened his back, resuming his sage-like aura. He pointed to a small cot nearby. “Go lie down. I’ll prepare the medicine.”

As Xie Yong limped over to the cot, Xie Wuyin asked, “Uncle Jing, let me help you.”

Jing Fusuo nodded and led him into the inner room to boil water and prepare the herbs.

Once they were gone, the light sphere popped its head out of Xie Yong’s collar. “Hubby, Xie Wuyin’s favorability is more than enough! It’s already at 68.”

Xie Yong seemed unsurprised. He leaned against the cot, twining a strand of black hair around his finger. “Winning over Eldest Brother was always going to be simple. The real difficulty lies with Xie Jiusi.”

“Yeah…” Thinking of the -99 rating, the sphere drooped. “How many years is it going to take to fix that?”

Xie Yong reminded it: “In a few days, I’ll be following Daoist Master Fuying to Mount Qingyun to join the sect.”

The sphere: “…”

It was already considering the feasibility of staging an assassination attempt so Xie Yong could “save” Xie Jiusi and boost his favorability. But considering Xie Yong’s fragile constitution and natural negative buffs, he’d probably faint before the “rescue” even started.

Speak of the devil. While Xie Yong and the sphere were worrying about Xie Jiusi, a tall figure appeared outside the infirmary.

Xie Jiusi, sword at his waist and holding something in his hand, marched up the steps. “Is Uncle Jing here? I’ve obtained a Meat Lingzhi; I want him to refine it into pills.”

The moment he entered, he saw Xie Yong leaning on the cot, watching him with a complex expression.

Xie Jiusi was still holding the Meat Lingzhi he had just acquired from outside. Seeing Xie Yong made his blood boil, especially since Xie Yong dared to look at him with such an “unreadable” gaze.

If Xie Yong hadn’t insisted on taking the previous Meat Lingzhi, Jiusi wouldn’t have had to run around all night right before his secluded meditation.

He strode over, looming over Xie Yong. “What’s with that look?”

What look? It was the look of someone caught talking behind another person’s back.

Fortunately, since they usually couldn’t go five minutes without fighting, Xie Yong didn’t even have to pretend. He simply closed his eyes, ignoring Jiusi’s question.

Already fuming over the Lingzhi, Jiusi was pushed over the edge by the silent treatment. He reached out and grabbed Xie Yong’s collar, hoisting his upper body off the cot. “Xie Yong, are you—”

Before he could finish his threat, the curtain to the inner room was thrown open. Xie Wuyin, holding a clay jar, rushed out. “Xie Jiusi, stop!”

In that moment, Xie Yong didn’t forget to milk his brother’s favorability. He put on a pitiable, tearful expression and turned his face toward Xie Wuyin. “Eldest Brother…”

Xie Wuyin stepped forward, keeping the jar steady in one hand while using the other to deliver a sharp blow to the back of Jiusi’s head.

“Eldest Brother!” Jiusi gasped, eyes widening in disbelief.

“Eldest Brother,” Xie Yong added, reaching out a soft hand to gently tug at Wuyin’s sleeve. “It’s a good thing you arrived in time. The moment Third Brother came in; he started interrogating me. Is it… cough cough… is it a crime for me to eat a Meat Lingzhi when my health is this poor?”

As he finished, his face turned pale, and he began to cough uncontrollably in Jiusi’s grip.

Xie Wuyin slapped the back of Jiusi’s head again. “Let go.”

Xie Jiusi was so shocked he couldn’t speak; his pupils were trembling. Whenever he met Xie Yong, it was always a battle to the death. When had he ever seen his brother act so “delicate and affected”?

He let go. Xie Yong nearly fell back onto the cot, but Wuyin caught him.

“Thank you, Eldest Brother,” Xie Yong said gratefully.

Xie Jiusi stumbled back a few steps as if he’d seen something filthy.

At that moment, the sphere hidden in Xie Yong’s clothes received a bizarre notification.

Xie Jiusi favorability +5.

[Current Progress]

• Xie Wuyin: 99/50 (Maxed for this version)
• Xie Jiusi: -94/50

Yes! The sphere pumped a tiny arm in excitement.

That movement caused Xie Yong’s collar to shift, and Xie Jiusi’s sharp eyes caught something. He sniffed the air. He could smell the distinct, bitter-sweet fragrance of a Meat Lingzhi.

His face contorted with suspicion as he looked at Xie Yong, who was currently gazing up at Xie Wuyin.

“Xie Yong,” he stepped forward, his voice low. “That Meat Lingzhi from earlier, did you eat it?”

Xie Yong answered smoothly, “Of course.”

The closer Jiusi got, the stronger the scent became. Xie Wuyin might not have noticed, but Jiusi had spent the night hunting for one; he wouldn’t mistake that smell.

He let out a cold sneer. “Liar!”

He was now certain that Xie Yong had only taken the Lingzhi to spite him!

Xie Jiusi favorability -10… -10… -10… [Alert: Character favorability has reached the minimum threshold.]

Luckily, the negative score had a cap, or Jiusi’s rating would have plunged toward negative infinity. The sphere watched the screen, its vision going dark with despair.

Xie Yong, oblivious to the Task Book, was unbothered by Jiusi’s accusation. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Oh?” Jiusi laughed, driven mad by the indifference.

He had planned everything for his meditation, only to have Xie Yong snatch the Lingzhi away the moment he “borrowed” it. Now, Xie Yong clearly had the item on his person, yet he wouldn’t eat it and wouldn’t let Jiusi use it. It was the height of selfishness!

Blinded by rage, Jiusi didn’t say another word. He reached straight for Xie Yong’s collar to search him!

Xie Yong wasn’t about to let him succeed.

During the struggle, Xie Yong’s clothes were pulled into disarray. The sphere was spun around, nearly being snatched out by Jiusi.

In desperation, Xie Yong protected his chest and slapped Xie Jiusi hard across the face.

“Xie Jiusi!” he hissed.

Xie Wuyin finally reacted, pulling the lunging Jiusi away.

Jiusi clutched his cheek, glaring at Xie Yong with pure, murderous intent.

The sphere shivered in Xie Yong’s robes. It had been a split second away from being squashed by Jiusi. If it weren’t for that slap, it would be dead meat.

Then, something utterly jaw-dropping happened.

The Task Book slowly refreshed.

Xie Wuyin favorability -1. Xie Jiusi favorability +50.

[Current Progress]

• Xie Wuyin: 98/50
• Xie Jiusi: -49/50