Sect Master Wen's Junior Martial Brother Who Shared His Hardships Has Returned - Chapter 13

That day, the uneasiness had stayed lodged in Xu Chaoqi’s heart the whole time, keeping him unable to sleep the entire night, tossing and turning.

The next day, close to noon, Xu Chaoqi’s door still hadn’t opened.

He faced the mirror, struggling to comb his hair, which had already been combed until every strand was distinct. He tried again to gather his hair up on top of his head, but clumsy as he was, the moment his hand went up his hair, he fumbled everything into a mess, and in the end the loose strands were in disarray.

He lowered his brows and pressed his lips together as he picked up the jade crown from the table. Because his hair had been tied too loosely, it took him a good long while before he managed to force the crown on.

Outside the window, it was already bright. Xu Chaoqi’s brows now carried a trace of anxious weariness and worry. After thinking for a moment, his eyelashes lowered and his eyes flickered slightly, and finally he lowered his head and pushed the door open, walking out.

Before dawn, Wen Chaoxi had already set his robes and cap in order.

He first lit incense, then pushed the window open, letting the curling fragrance of tea settle to his right hand side.

He held a scroll, using the faint light from outside the window to read the characters on it one by one.

His expression showed no great fluctuation; he only paused every so often to take a light sip of tea.

As the morning sun gradually rose, his eyelashes lifted slightly, and as his hand raised the teacup, there was a moment when the corner of his eye glanced toward the distance.

He withdrew his gaze. The courtyard was quiet; the maple leaves rustled softly, and the fragrance of grass and trees drifted in, carried along with the cool morning breeze.

It was still early, so he continued turning the pages of his book.

The golden light in the courtyard grew richer, even tinting the little fish’s fishbowl with warm color. The little fish swayed in the water and settled comfortably to lie down.

It also produced, from who knows where, a small handkerchief, gripping it with its two fins to scrub itself clean.

The pages of the book kept turning, seemingly no different than before, but if one looked closely, one would notice that the pages turned faster than they had at dawn.

The sunlight illuminated the corner of the wall, and the courtyard grew warmer and warmer. In the corner of the room, a wooden comb and a brand-new hairpin sat coldly on the table, looking rather lonely.

The sunlight grew bright, and it was nearly time to eat—clearly things could not be delayed any further.

The scroll was set down on the table, and Wen Chaoxi rose and went to the kitchen.

The fragrance of dishes filled the whole courtyard. When Xu Chaoqi came out yawning, he happened to run into his Senior Brother, who had just set a plate down on the table.

Xu Chaoqi saw his Senior Brother and curved his eyes at him in a smile. Wen Chaoxi’s gaze, however, fell on the crooked, askew crown on top of Xu Chaoqi’s head.

Though the hair was disheveled, one could tell it had been put up that very morning.

With just a single glance, Wen Chaoxi withdrew his gaze. He said to Xu Chaoqi with a faint smile, “From now on you should rise early. Skipping breakfast day after day—you’ll end up sick from it.”

Xu Chaoqi nodded and agreed readily, like someone pounding garlic, though whether he would actually take it to heart was another matter.

Xu Chaoqi leaned over the table, chopsticks jabbing hastily, cheeks stuffed full. Wen Chaoxi, as usual, did not eat first, instead peeling shrimp for Xu Chaoqi.

Soon, the shrimp meat had been peeled into a small bowl. He held the bowl out, and Xu Chaoqi arched forward to take it. Only, the bowl was rather small, and their hands inevitably brushed against each other.

The moment Xu Chaoqi’s fingers touched the tip of his Senior Brother’s fingers, he couldn’t help but give a start, his fingers curling slightly.

In the end, he lowered his head, avoiding his Senior Brother’s hand, and took the bowl away.

Only, in that instant, he did not see that his Senior Brother’s smile had faded to something much fainter, veins surfacing on the back of his hand, which he then lowered, hiding it beneath his wide sleeve.

They spoke far less than usual that day. Although Xu Chaoqi tried hard to talk with his Senior Brother, his expression still looked somewhat forced.

After the meal, Senior Brother cleared away the bowls and chopsticks, while Xu Chaoqi ran off into the courtyard to play with the fish.

The little fish often liked to curl up at the bottom of the fishbowl. Seeing the bowl looking so empty, Xu Chaoqi thought it over and said to the little fish, “How about I make you a little den?”

The little fish tilted its head up. It looked at the bottom of the bowl it was already quite satisfied with, then thought over what Xu Chaoqi had said, its tail quivering slightly as it spat out a stream of bubbles.

When Xu Chaoqi took out a refining furnace, it curiously clung to the rim of the bowl, its head swaying back and forth.

It quietly watched the spirit materials Xu Chaoqi was taking out, and in its mind surfaced the place it used to live back among its clan.

For as long as it could remember, it had always curled up in dark corners—wherever none of its clanmates went was where it made its home.

The little fish pressed itself into the bowl, making the faintest sound, one fin covering its head while it couldn’t help but watch Xu Chaoqi’s movements without blinking.

Its fish eyes went from cautious to shining like stars, yet it didn’t dare let its anticipation show too plainly, afraid its master would think it greedy and insatiable.

Xu Chaoqi was going to put the old fishbowl into the furnace to refine a new one. He lifted the fishbowl and said to the little fish, “In a bit I’ll put you in a bowl with water, and once the new fishbowl is refined, I’ll put you back in.”

Upon hearing this, the little fish hesitated for a moment. It braced itself against the rim of the bowl with its fins, then flicked its tail and floated up into the air. It swam about in the air for a while, signaling that it could leave the water—that it could fly too.

Xu Chaoqi: …

He patted the little fish’s head, signaling that it was very impressive, and in return the little fish shyly nuzzled back against his finger.

Xu Chaoqi first lit the fire, then, following the proper timing, placed the old bowl and the spirit materials into the furnace one after another.

The process was by no means short—by the time all the spirit materials alone had been placed inside, evening had already arrived.

Watching the purple light emitted by the furnace, he let out a breath of relief. This way, it would only take another two hours before it was done.

The little fish circled around the furnace in astonishment, tireless the whole while.

Seeing the little fish so full of energy, Xu Chaoqi decided not to call it away. Just then the smell of cooking wafted over, and Xu Chaoqi instantly perked up, heading toward the front courtyard.

The evening meal had more soup and less staple food, and Xu Chaoqi ate his fill comfortably as well.

Having been busy all afternoon, he grew sleepy the moment he finished eating, wanting to take a nap.

“Senior Brother…” he called out with a smile, his eyelids growing heavy.

Wen Chaoxi’s expression had been calm all along, neither sorrowful nor joyful. Hearing this, he lifted his eyes and looked toward Xu Chaoqi with a faint smile, his fingers still and making no movement.

Xu Chaoqi’s sleepy mind seemed to stop turning entirely—he had forgotten what he’d resolved the night before, and just as he always had, he leaned over, resting his head against his Senior Brother’s shoulder.

Wen Chaoxi’s eyelashes moved slightly, but he said nothing.

Xu Chaoqi nuzzled his head against him, as if searching for a comfortable position. Having finally found it, he pressed his face against him.

About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea later, though Xu Chaoqi was still leaning against his Senior Brother, he had also curled further into his embrace.

“Senior Brother…” he murmured softly in his sleep.

Wen Chaoxi lowered his eyes, the qi that had faintly gathered about him easing somewhat.

Usually Xu Chaoqi needed to lie down for the better part of an hour, but today, after barely more than fifteen minutes, his consciousness had already cleared.

Had he just done something?

It was only once the scent of sandalwood filled his nose that Xu Chaoqi came fully awake in an instant.

Had he just… lain against his Senior Brother again?!

Xu Chaoqi’s throat bobbed, feeling both helpless and vexed. He had resolved it all the night before—that he must not carelessly take advantage of his Senior Brother anymore.

Thinking of this, Xu Chaoqi grew somewhat flustered. He opened his hazy, sleep-filled eyes and scrambled up awkwardly in a fluster.

The instant Xu Chaoqi sat up, Wen Chaoxi withdrew his arm, his eyes lightly closing, his gaze growing somewhat unclear.

Xu Chaoqi’s lips moved, but he quietly stepped back a few paces. Feeling ill at ease, he looked toward the back courtyard and said in a hoarse voice, “I’ll go see if the little fish’s new bowl is done refining yet…”

As he said this, he didn’t even know what else to say, and could only rub the back of his head as he walked toward the back courtyard.

After he left, a wind rose in the courtyard.

Wen Chaoxi rested his hand on the stone table, veins standing taut, and cracks appeared across the stone table’s surface. As the wind gradually stilled and the withered leaves stopped stirring, Wen Chaoxi withdrew his hand.

He glanced faintly at the stone table, then reached out and swept his hand across it—the cracks vanished, as if nothing had ever happened.

Wen Chaoxi let out a soft laugh, and closed his eyes.