Days and nights melted into one another, moments became memories, and before they knew it, five years had passed. As the autumn breeze swept through the mountains, the trees were ablaze with fiery reds, oranges, and yellows. Leaves rustled and crunched underfoot, the sound echoing through the quiet forest.
It has been exactly five years since Lu Ye arrived at Qing Shan Sect. Five years melted in a blink of an eye ever since Lu Ye became Damu Lan's disciple.
In those five years, Lu Ye had learned much from his master, becoming a skilled and powerful cultivator in his own right. No longer was he described as an amateur to the cultivation world as he was regarded to be Damu Lan's only successor.
Out of all the disciples that used to study under Damu Lan, only Lu Ye was able to endure all the rigorous training that was given to him. Moreover, he was also comparable to most of his seniors in swordsmanship and physical combat. He also excels in managing his aura, making his presence almost impossible to notice, earning him the title "Dead Mist".
In those five years, many changes can be seen in the disciples of the Qing Shan Sect. Gone were the days of their youthful countenances and childlike behavior, now replaced by an air of refinement and maturity.
Among them, Lu Ye stood out in a different way, for he had become even quieter than before. This change didn't come as a surprise to many, given that his master was Damu Lan, after all.
Lu Ye had grown even more strikingly handsome than ever before. The contours of his eyes had grown sharper, surpassing even the piercing gaze of Zhang XiYi's. His face bore an air of regal elegance, as if he was a prince from a distant realm. And though his hair remained as messy as ever, it was now elegantly tied up, cascading down his back until it reached his waist.
Like a reflection, the disciple resembles the master. Lu Ye's dashing looks could easily rival those of Hua Ran and Zhang XiYi, yet he stood equal with Damu Lan—that was the opinion of many among the members of the Qing Shan Sect.
On the bustling training court where some disciples honed their skills under the watchful eyes of their masters, Jin An idled about aimlessly.
Then, he settled himself by Zhang XiYi's side, both of them fixated on the sparring match between Lu Ye and another fellow disciple.
"Xi Yi, seems like Damu Lan's disciple surpassed yours—" Jin An's sentence was abruptly cut short as Zhang XiYi shot him a piercing glare.
"Oops," Jin An muttered, his face hidden behind the layer of his hand fan.
"No matter how hard I try, I'll always be second to him," Zhang XiYi retorted with a hint of frustration. "Now, even our disciples have to be compared?"
"Well, at least you're no longer in third place," Jin An casually retorted.
A swift smack landed on Jin An's head. "Do not speak of that devil here. How shameless," scolded Zhang XiYi.
"How cruel…" Jin An muttered again, gently patting his own throbbing head.
Zhang XiYi's gaze shifted to Hua Ran, who was keenly observing Lu Ye's every move.
Over the past few years, Hua Ran and Lu Ye had sparred merely five times, with Hua Ran managing to win only twice, and even then, by a narrow margin.
Lu Ye's sword movements were predictable to some extent, but his speed was simply astonishingly quick, and his aura was so faint that it made it impossible to see where his next strikes would land.
Zhang XiYi speculated that Hua Ran must have felt frustrated, yet he continued to strive his utmost effort in attempting to surpass Lu Ye.
"Instead of getting on my nerves, why don't you—" Zhang XiYi paused and then cleared his throat.
"Me what?" Jin An asked.
"You're lazy," Zhang XiYi retorted with a smirk.
"What?!" Jin An shouted, bewildered with Zhang XiYi's sudden change of behavior.
.
Under the moonlit night sky, Lu Ye entered Damu Lan's room, carrying a bowl of chicken soup that he had prepared. While it was unusual for a disciple to be in the master's quarters at such a late hour, for these two, it had become a regular routine.
Ever since Lu Ye had come to realize his master's condition, he had grown increasingly attentive and caring towards Damu Lan, though indirectly. Even though he remained unaware of the root cause of the illness, he hoped that his actions would bring some relief, however slight, to ease Damu Lan's pain.
As Lu Ye stepped into the room, he found Damu Lan in his night attire, his hair falls freely as he sat slouched at the edge of the bed, his head hung low.
Lu Ye's gaze shifted to the table, where bottles of spilled wine greeted his eyes, and he instantly grasped what was going on.
Lu Ye had gotten used to his master's nightly routine of drowning himself in alcohol. For five long years, he hadn't mustered the courage to ask about it.
Lu Ye proceeded to tidy up the spilled wine, then carefully placed the bowl of chicken soup on the table.
"Master, you should eat. It might help sober you up a bit," he suggested.
Damu Lan obediently walked towards the table, though his face still bore a flushed complexion and an air of annoyance.
With a spoon in hand, Damu Lan clumsily began to feed himself, causing bits of soup to scatter around. Lu Ye observed the scene and turned to leave the room, but just as he was about to step out, Damu Lan hastily reached out and grasped Lu Ye's sleeves, startling him.
Damu Lan's eyes widened at the sight of Lu Ye attempting to leave, and a heavy silence descended upon them as Damu Lan maintained his grip on Lu Ye's sleeves.
"Master, I'm going to fetch a cloth to wipe the soup that spilled on your mouth. I'll be back," Lu Ye explained, his words breaking the silence.
"..."
Furrowing his brows, Damu Lan eventually released his grip on Lu Ye's sleeves.
"...be quick," he replied tersely.
"Sure," Lu Ye replied, a fleeting smile gracing his lips.
After Lu Ye left, Damu Lan remained in the same position, deep in contemplation of his behavior towards his disciple. Worries crept into his mind, questioning his actions and their impact.
Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his head, causing him to clutch onto the table for support. Ringing noises pierced through his ears, leaving him disoriented and resulting in him to collapse onto the floor. Despite the pain, he attempted to regain his composure, but a sudden voice broke through the chaos, calling out his name.
"Damu Lan?!" It was Lu Ye. In moments of shock or surprise, Lu Ye had a tendency to address his master by his name.
"Master, are you alright?" Lu Ye swiftly rushed to Damu Lan's aid, helping him to stand and guided him back to his bed.
Once Damu Lan had settled down, Lu Ye fetched the soup and found himself feeding his drunken master.
"It's been five years. Why haven't you asked anything?"
Lu Ye was taken aback by the sudden question but managed to grasp its meaning nevertheless.
"If you don't wish for me to know, then I won't pry,"
"..."
After Damu Lan finished his meal, Lu Ye placed a cup of water on the table."Master, I'll leave now."
"Why have you been so attentive to me?" Damu Lan questioned.
"...I'm uncertain how to answer that. But master, you're free to think of it as my way of expressing gratitude for teaching me," Lu Ye replied politely.
"..."
"May I dare to be a little more selfish?" Damu Lan asked once again.
"What is it?" Lu Ye responded, curious about Damu Lan's intentions.
.
In his raven form, Lu Ye nestled beside his master, Damu Lan.
Damu Lan had made an unexpected wish, one that Lu Ye couldn't refuse, so he remained by his side.
Damu Lan had assured him that he could stay even after the sun rose, but Lu Ye couldn't help but worry that his master would become indifferent towards him once he awakened. After all, the wish must have been made in the haze of his drunken state.
The candle had long melted, and the moon's glow cast flickering patterns on the room's floor. Lu Ye's gaze drifted towards the chest of drawers that he stumbled upon five years ago. Even after all this time, he still didn't know who the books belonged to. The swirling unease within him prevented him from mustering the courage to ask about it. His master carried a long, complex history, and he hesitated to pry further, fearing it could worsen Damu Lan's mental condition.
Damu Lan had been fast asleep, so Lu Ye decided it was time to leave. He transformed back into his human form, preparing to leave. Yet, just as he was about to depart, Damu Lan clasped onto his arm.
Though Damu Lan's hold was not particularly strong as usual, Lu Ye made the choice to stay, simply sitting beside his master's bed.
"I'll just stay a bit longer…just a bit before dawn." Lu Ye murmured. A brief smile carved onto his face.
.