Abandoning his disciples, RuRong ran over to XiaoHe and pulled him away from PingZe's side. This seemed to startle XiaoHe as he tried to remove RuRong's hold on his wrist, furiously shaking his arm to no avail. RuRong's iron hold didn't budge.
"What are you doing?" PingZe said, his stands growing stiff as he stepped closer and placed himself between XiaoHe and RuRong. RuRong shot a bewildered look at PingZe.
"He's my baby brother, Yunjie!"
The resemblance was uncanny as they now stood together. XiaoHe still had the plumpness of youth, yet the strikingly similar features were there, waiting to flourish and take over as he matured into a man. MingYu finally realized why RuRong had seemed so familiar. He was XiaoHe's brother. PingZe faltered, stepping back he inspected the monk.
After a chaotic moment of people congratulating their sect leader for finding his long-lost brother and XiaoHe screaming to go with PingZe and the others, they finally concluded that XiaoHe would stay behind. The boy was pouting, clinging to PingZe for his dear life.
"XiaoHe, now that you found your family, why not take the time to settle down? The old monk must have known, that is why he sent you with us." MingYu was glad that the monk's safety and life wasn't his responsibility anymore. He could barely take care of himself. Besides, there was no reason for XiaoHe to accompany him on his mission. XiaoHe was free to live his own life, unbothered by MingYu and the others.
XiaoHe's pout grew larger as he refused to let go of PingZe's robe. MingYu frowned at the scene. He had expected XiaoHe to rejoice for finally reuniting with his brother. His reluctance seemed to come out of the left-field. There was no reason to for him to continue on with them.
PingZe was studying XiaoHe with curious eyes as he removed the monk from climbing over him like a tree.
"Now that it is settled, he will become part of our sect. I will teach him everything." RuRong said excitedly.
XiaoFu and XiaoFen had been silently observing the situation, when suddenly XiaoFu said, "Can I stay too?"
MingYu raised his brow at her sudden request. ZhiYi didn't look fazed as he smiled at his daughter. XiaoFu was throwing yearning looks at RuRong and tried to step closer to the sect leader, but XiaoFen held her firmly in place, a look of annoyance present on her delicate features.
"We rarely take in new recruits." RuRong said, flushing under XiaoFu's intense gaze.
"That you shouldn't worry about. XiaoFu is not staying." XiaoFen said as she pushed and shoved her sister out of the yard.
A smile quivered on MingYu's lips. XiaoFu had apparently noticed RuRong's rugged beauty, too.
"What do you plan to do from now on? There are restless souls in my spirit trap. I can't take them with me." ZhiYi said, changing the subject. He whipped the spirit rope and little balls of light dispersed into the air. The spirits, that a moment ago still seemed hostile and threatening, now floated in the air like little fireflies.
"We shall turn this building into a temple ground to lay these spirits to rest. After years of incense burning and praying, they should be able to find peace." RuRong said. MingYu gave him an approving nod. It was an excellent idea. These spirits could not find peace since they had no proper burial grounds, and even if they now created one for them, there were no names to assign them to their rightful resting places. Sacred grounds would lay them to rest in a long run.
As the remaining crew departed from Gui, RuRong had come to see them off by himself. The man rubbed his head awkwardly before he said. "Thank you. You saved my life thirteen years ago, and now you brought my brother home."
"It's our pleasure." ZhiYi said modestly.
"You're that kid?" PingZe said in surprise.
"What kid?" MingYu was lost in not knowing how these men came to know each other. How come he got to hear about this now?
"He and XiaoHe are the last sect leader's kids. He was attempting to sacrifice RuRong and XiaoHe when we came by this village back then." ZhiYi said solemnly. "But before he could finish the sacrifice, a ghoul had formed, and it killed most of the people involved. RuRong was badly hurt and was taken care of by the villagers. Since their parents died and RuRong was still young, we took XiaoHe and put him in a monastery to be raised."
RuRong smiled ruefully. "Yes. It has been thirteen years, but I will never forget it."
"We are flattered that you still keep us in mind." ZhiYi said as he ran his eyes over the sect leader briefly. RuRong placed his hand over his sword as his face grew stern and he stood straighter.
"I would never forget the things you did for me and my people. I'm sorry that I had to treat you and your friends as strangers. Even though we are cultivators, none of my disciples have ever encountered beings like you. I didn't want to scare or startle them."
PingZe had a troubled frown over his usually jovial face, so MingYu said, "What is it, PingZe?"
A grin replaced the frown as PingZe said, "Nothing, I was just thinking how coincidental it was that XiaoHe was RuRong's brother after all."
"Truly, I can't thank you enough!" RuRong said.
PingZe waved dismissively at him. "What is his real name? How old is he truly?"
"Soon turning eighteen, July 29, midnight, I still remember it clearly. Mother said he was more difficult to bear than me. Chen Yunjie is his real name, although I might call him XiaoHe if he so prefers. It is a rather nice name too." RuRong pondered, smiling. "But I should return home. He must feel weird surrounded by unfamiliar faces. Until we meet again, young masters, young ladies."
MingYu watched as RuRong bowed deeply like a well-trained soldier before he turned around and disappeared within the city. XiaoFu was looking dejected as she huddled closer to ZhiYi and fiddled with her fan while pulling her horse behind her. MingYu was walking ahead. LongHai had suddenly tapped into some hidden energy source within him and was trotting on like a charging military horse. ZhouYan was snoring on top of LongHai, his head hidden under his wing.
MingYu was enjoying the scene as the Sun crept up from behind the far horizon. Then, he suddenly noticed someone walking beside him in the silence. MingYu side-eyed XiaoFen but said nothing.
This kid… MingYu feared what she wanted from him now. He still felt the unfriendly atmosphere knocking him over his head. XiaoFen didn't say a word. She was looking everywhere except MingYu and she was fanning herself a tad too forcefully, even though the air was cool and almost cold, as the Sun was still far away. The awkward silence persisted until MingYu couldn't take it any longer and finally caved in and said, "XiaoFen, is everything alright?"
XiaoFen nodded but still evaded his gaze. MingYu found himself smiling. This girl, he hadn't realised how much she resembled Wang ZhiYi in his childhood. Truly, like father, like daughter. MingYu was used to dealing with little ZhiYi, so he pushed on gently, "Is there something you want to talk about?"
Even the way she blinked quickly in nervousness was the same, MingYu noted. He waited patiently as XiaoFen seemed to think thoroughly before opening her mouth.
"Thank you."
That was definitely not something MingYu had expected to hear, especially from XiaoFen. His brows shot up his forehead as he blinked, his eyes staring at XiaoFen.
"Thank you for saving them back there." XiaoFen said slowly, as she looked at him from under her lashes.
"That's what people are supposed to do, help others in need." MingYu shrugged, although he felt glad XiaoFen didn't seem to dislike him so much.
XiaoFen was rummaging around her robes and pulled a small black pouch out. She handed it to MingYu.
"I- Uncle MingYu, your palms are wounded again. Pa gave me these herbs. They help to keep the wound clean and heal faster."
MingYu took the pouch, his mind flooded empty. XiaoFen called him uncle, not baldy but uncle! Suddenly the pouch felt heavy as her acceptance of him flood over his senses. He gave her a broad smile as he tugged the pouch safely in his pocket.
"Thank you, XiaoFen."
She offered him a small smile before she turned her gaze away and they walked in less awkward silence. MingYu was drifting to a sleep-like state as his feet walked wherever LongHai guided him, while his mind tried to check out for the time being.
"What is it like? To be separated from your brothers for such a long time?" XiaoFen's words brought him back to reality and MingYu blinked slowly, processing her words. Thinking over the situation, MingYu felt a sudden tinge at his heart. XiaoFen was a demon, XiaoFu was not. That must have been terribly difficult information to digest for the sisters.
The day MingYu died and learned that only the three of them, LongHai, ZhouYan, and himself would ascend Heaven, there was no pain or sorrow. Only the terrible emptiness that persisted for years, before he lost himself in the office, stamping away and filling the void with paperwork until he forgot what time was.
"Empty. But I rather feel empty then pain or sorrow." MingYu said truthfully, and XiaoFen raised her eyes to look at him, a fear present in those perfectly round orbs.
"I died before ZhiYi and PingZe, and I would never change it for anything." MingYu continued firmly. "I rather die a thousand times then watch either of them die before my eyes. That is a pain that I can't live with."
XiaoFen was silent, but MingYu knew what she must have been thinking. When the time came, XiaoFu would be one with the earth again, while XiaoFen would stay young for years to come. He gently patted over XiaoFen's head. "Don't think too much about it. You two are still young. Still, a lot of memories to be made together. This is too early to think about such morbid things."
"But I will have to watch as she- I already lost…" XiaoFen didn't dare to continue her sentence. MingYu watched XiaoFen struggle to find words to express her greatest fear.
"Everyone's pain is different. I can't handle the two's death because I only had them left. If they died, I would be alone. You still have a family. Your father and uncle will never leave you, XiaoFen. With time, you will learn to remember the good times you had together and she would live on in your memories. Instead of closing yourself out of life, be thankful for what you still have, and live and love as long as you can, while still remembering the ones who aren't here with you anymore."
XiaoFen turned her face up. Giant droplets of tears were making their way down her cheeks, and MingYu suddenly felt helpless before the child. When XiaoFen hugged him tightly and wailed into his robes, drenching them in tears, he couldn't help but stand still and wait for her to calm down. Kids - so easy to cry.