Senior Brother

The sky was adorned with countless stars, like pairs of eyes lurking in the darkness, gazing down and seeing all things in the mortal world below with unerring clarity. Qi Wen sat motionless at the edge of the bed, his green eyes—so alike to Bei Gong Juechen’s—gradually losing focus, his pupils shrinking to tiny points, no larger than the stars in the night sky. Suddenly, his pupils dilated sharply and his body went limp.

Qi Wen took two deep breaths; his pupils returned to their normal size, though his face remained a shade pale. He glanced at the potted plant by the window; the dark red blossoms had withered and faded.

Bei Gong Qiyi, do you truly believe that sealing his memories means no one can unlock them? You treated him so cruelly in the past—when he learns the truth, do you think you can stop him from leaving with me? Blood runs thicker than water, and that is more than enough...

A faint curve tugged at his thin lips. Qi Wen rose slowly and walked to the window. With one hand, he opened it; with the other, he absentmindedly brushed the wilted petals. A pale, gentle light slipped from his palm. With a cold blink, Qi Wen leapt out into the night.

The window eased shut behind him, and in the pot, the dark red flowers bloomed, vivid and lush.

The night view at Li Manor was as dignified and beautiful as ever. Pairs of guards were stationed in orderly fashion throughout every courtyard and passageway, scrutinizing their surroundings and missing not even the slightest hint of suspicion. Yet a silver shadow flashed swiftly and lightly overhead, as fleeting and silent as a shooting star across the sky.

Unlike a meteor, however, this silver shadow drew not a single glance from below.

Silver boots came to rest lightly atop the roof, not a tile disturbed nor a sound made. Qi Wen crouched low, sitting atop the eaves, his form crystalline and pure as jade under the moonlight, his pale face betraying no emotion.

He and Fu Zhi were both cold, yet in different ways. The coldness in Fu Zhi seemed to flow from his very birth, etched into his blood: lifeless, innate, a chill that was simply part of him—his heart and soul both frozen, unmixed with anything else. But Qi Wen’s coldness was different. His was the chill that comes from living a hundred lifetimes, from seeing through the workings of fate and the affairs of men, distilled bit by bit into a coldness that seeped to the bone, but never so forbidding as Bei Gong Juechen’s.

He resembled a lonely, unworldly child, wandering year after year through an endless winter, the cold climbing from his toes to the crown of his head, until he became as frigid as ice itself.

Seated atop the roof, his back perfectly straight like a child listening attentively in class, his narrow, phoenix-like eyes looked far into the distance. Then he heard a muffled moan.

Qi Wen’s expression shifted. He gently lifted a roof tile, revealing only emerald-green bed curtains, yet he could clearly hear the lascivious, water-slick sounds of bodies colliding, and the ambiguous murmurs of a young man. Two spots of blush flared across Qi Wen’s pale cheeks. Just as he was about to replace the tile, a hand landed upon his shoulder. Qi Wen started, causing the tile to emit a soft click.

He turned to see the newcomer, and for the first time, the icy lines of his face softened. The newcomer silently met his gaze. Qi Wen pressed his lips together, then took the man’s hand and vanished from the rooftop.

Bei Gong Qiyi drove into Bei Gong Juechen’s body with fierce urgency. Suddenly, his jade-like ear twitched, and his movements slowed. Bei Gong Juechen, catching his breath, seized the youth and pulled him out, tossing him aside. Though he hadn’t used his full strength, even seventy percent was enough; Bei Gong Qiyi, caught off guard, was thrown heavily to the ground, his bare backside striking the hard marble floor with a painful smack.

The man steadied his breathing, reached for his coat, and draped it over his shoulders. Naked, he walked past the youth sprawled on the ground, without so much as a backward glance.

Gasping, Bei Gong Qiyi watched the man’s retreating figure, his fists pounding the floor. He clutched his bruised backside, glanced wryly at his now-flaccid desire, and limped after him with a bitter smile.

***

“Senior brother, what brings you here?”

The man gave a faint laugh, sword in his arms. “Master was worried about you being alone, so he sent me down the mountain to keep an eye on you.” At this, Qi Wen quickly approached, asking in a low voice, “Has Master emerged from seclusion?”

The man tilted his head, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “If Master hadn’t come out, how could I possibly have left the mountain with any peace of mind?” Qi Wen nodded. When he fell silent, the man asked, “Have you found your brother?” Qi Wen’s expression grew complicated. He looked at the man and nodded, “I have, but…”

“But he won’t leave with you,” the man finished for him before Qi Wen could continue. Qi Wen nodded again, his face filled with disappointment. The man couldn’t help but smile ruefully. He gently patted Qi Wen’s head. “I warned you before you left the mountain, yet you insisted on coming.”

“Senior brother, he’s my own brother. Why won’t he come with me? The one he trusts now has deceived him and even hurt him repeatedly. Why would he rather believe that person than me?”

Seeing Qi Wen’s puzzled face, the man shook his head helplessly. He rested a hand on Qi Wen’s shoulder and said softly, “Little Sha, if it were your brother coming for you—asking you to leave Master and me—would you agree?” Qi Wen frowned and was silent for a moment before slowly shaking his head. “When our parents were killed, it was Master who saved me, gave me new life, and named me Zhu Sha—meaning to destroy all demons and wraiths. It was you, senior brother, who cared for me as I grew. How could I possibly leave Master and you?”

The man’s smile deepened. He patted Qi Wen’s shoulder lightly and said, “Your brother has his family, too. They’ve lived together for over twenty years; you can’t just let that go at a whim.” Zhu Sha lifted his head. Though his senior brother was handsome, he could not compare to himself—he possessed perhaps the most exquisite green eyes in the world. Yet every time he met his senior brother’s gaze, he would be momentarily dazed.

For no matter when, his senior brother always looked at him with gentle eyes.

“Senior brother…” Zhu Sha murmured, “I can leave without my brother, but you must stay by my side.” The man laughed aloud, flicking his forehead with just enough force. “I am your senior brother, so of course I’ll be with you always.”

Zhu Sha blinked slowly, and for the first time, a faint smile touched his usually expressionless, cold face. “Senior brother, since you’ve come down the mountain, stay a few more days with me. My brother may refuse to leave, but I must still free him from the poison within.”

“Hmm…” The man stroked his chin as if in thought. Zhu Sha gazed at him, his eyes icy once more, yet a glimmer of light danced within their emerald depths. The man, seeing the brightness in those eyes, relented and nodded. “Of course.”

Zhu Sha exhaled softly, then said, “Since you’ve come all this way tonight, rest here for now.” The man glanced at the bed behind him and shook his head with a smile. “I’ll stay at an inn; you should get some rest.” Zhu Sha pressed his lips together. He had never been talkative or sociable, and since childhood had grown close only to his master and senior brother. He wished his senior brother would stay, but didn’t know how to ask. As the man reached the door, Zhu Sha blurted, his tone awkward, “Didn’t you just promise to stay by my side, senior brother? Why break your word so soon?”

The man paused, turning back with a teasing look. “Since you want me to stay so badly, I won’t stand on ceremony.” With that, he sat at the bed’s edge, took off his shoes, and lay down fully clothed. “But I’ve traveled all day and am too tired to bathe. I hope you won’t mind, little brother.”

He knew his junior brother all too well: Zhu Sha favored plain clothes and had a touch of fastidiousness, so he deliberately lay down without undressing, though in truth he was just as averse to his own sweat as ever. He only said he didn’t want to bathe to see how Zhu Sha would respond.

His little junior had always been cold and withdrawn, awkward around people. Though the man was usually courteous and dignified, now he couldn’t help but feel a bit mischievous.

Zhu Sha stood for a long moment, watching his seemingly weary senior brother. Finally, he spoke softly, “If you’re truly too tired, I could help you bathe.”

The man was startled—he hadn’t expected such a reply. He stared, but Zhu Sha’s face remained impassive, with no hint of jest. “You…”

Zhu Sha, face blank, approached step by step and sat at the bedside. “You’ve often helped me bathe when I was injured. Let me return the favor tonight.”

“No need. I was only joking.” The man sat up, his demeanor restored. “But do you know where the bathhouse is?”

Zhu Sha thought a moment and shook his head. “I only arrived tonight, but we can look for it together.”

The man put on his shoes, picked up his sword, and nodded. “Very well. I’d like to see what the greatest manor in the world truly looks like.”

Author’s note: Hahaha, another adorable character joins the cast! The senior brother is the little brother’s destined pair—so cute. I’ve sent the previous chapter to my inbox~ 166 Reading Network