Yu Chen was taken aback as Wei Yu suddenly lashed out with a punch. Reflexively, Yu Chen caught his disciple's fist with ease, his palm steady as he deflected the strike. "Woah! Easy there," Yu Chen said, raising an eyebrow.
Wei Yu froze, realization dawning as crimson spread across his cheeks. "Shizun!" he exclaimed, mortified. How could I punch my own Shizun? The shame was overwhelming. This is it. I'll never live this down!
Yu Chen, however, seemed more amused than angry. "What are you doing here?" Wei Yu asked, desperate to shift the focus.
"What am I doing here?" Yu Chen repeated, his tone laced with mock indignation. "Pardon me for being concerned about my only disciple. I came looking for you, worried out of my mind, and what do I find?"
Wei Yu gulped, his anxiety spiking. This is it. My end. It was nice knowing you, world.
"I find my disciple—hiding a talisman, no less!" Yu Chen's voice dropped, his tone now dangerously calm. "A talisman of unknown origin, kept secret from me. And here I thought we had mutual trust."
Yu Chen's pale skin glowed faintly in the dim library light, his sharp features exuding a beauty so striking it left Wei Yu momentarily speechless. He covered his face with his hands, his cheeks flushing an even deeper red. "Shizun, I—" Wei Yu stammered, before letting out a resigned sigh. There was no point in lying now.
"I found it on Yan Bo's uncle," he confessed, peeking between his fingers to gauge Yu Chen's reaction.
Yu Chen's expression remained unreadable as he stepped forward, picking up the book Wei Yu had been studying. Flipping it open, he stopped at the page describing the talisman and silently read the text.
Wei Yu watched nervously as his Shizun's eyes widened slightly, the only betrayal of his surprise. With a sudden, sharp motion, Yu Chen snapped the book shut and bopped Wei Yu on the head.
"How dare you hide something this important from me!" Yu Chen scolded, his voice stern yet exasperated. Wei Yu winced, rubbing the spot where the book had made contact.
"As punishment, you'll copy the 280 rules of the sect," Yu Chen declared with finality.
"That's... doable," Wei Yu mumbled, trying to sound optimistic.
"Five times," Yu Chen added, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.
Wei Yu's shoulders slumped as he deflated like a popped balloon. "Five times?! Shizun, have mercy!" he whined, nearly in tears. If there was one thing Wei Yu detested, it was practicing calligraphy. The thought of writing even a single rule made his hand cramp. And Five times to be exact!
"Consider it a lesson in honesty and responsibility," Yu Chen said, his stern facade softening ever so slightly as a faint smirk played on his lips.
Wei Yu groaned, burying his face in his hands, feeling the weight of his thoughts pressing down on him. This is torture, he thought miserably. He could hear the soft chuckle of Yu Chen beside him, a familiar sound that stirred something warm in his chest.
"Seriously? Even after all these years, you're still the same child I picked up," Yu Chen teased, his voice gentle but with a hint of affection.
Wei Yu lifted his head slowly, the dim light of the candle casting long shadows across the library. The flickering flame danced between them, casting a warm glow over their faces, just enough for their eyes to meet. Wei Yu shifted uncomfortably but couldn't hide the faint blush creeping onto his cheeks.
"Shizun, how about three times?" Wei Yu tried bargaining again, his voice softer now, more hesitant.
Yu Chen gave him a sideways glance, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Nope. Think about what you've done," he said, but his tone was more teasing than stern.
The mood shifted for a moment, and the light seemed to flicker even more, casting the room in an intimate silence. "Actually," Yu Chen continued, his gaze turning more serious, "about the incident earlier... I think Chen Yuxuan won't rest until we're kicked out of the sect."
Wei Yu's expression faltered, his hands trembling slightly. The thought of being rejected by the sect, the only place he had ever known, sent a cold shiver through him.
"I just wanted to tell you to ignore his lies," Yu Chen added quickly, seeing the doubt in Wei Yu's eyes. "You aren't a mixed blood. Even the artifact proved it." He chuckled softly and reached out, ruffling Wei Yu's hair affectionately.
Wei Yu blushed even more, a mix of embarrassment and warmth filling his chest, but he said nothing to stop Yu Chen's touch. He liked it, more than he cared to admit.
"What if it's true?" Wei Yu asked quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. His gaze was fixed on Yu Chen, searching for some sort of reassurance, as though he were afraid of hearing the wrong answer.
Yu Chen's hand stilled in mid-motion, and he looked at Wei Yu seriously, the soft glow of the candlelight highlighting the depth in his eyes. For a moment, the library felt smaller, and the air seemed to thicken with unspoken tension.
"Then, as your shizun, I would have to take responsibility," Yu Chen said, his voice low but unwavering, the warmth in his eyes never leaving. A soft smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he continued, "Actually... we'd run away from the sect together, and I'd be right by your side, helping you grow strong. After all, you're my responsibility."
Wei Yu's heart fluttered at the words, and for the first time that night, his mind seemed to quiet. He looked at Yu Chen, the sincerity in his gaze, and felt a warmth spread through him, as if the very air between them had shifted, blossoming into something new and delicate.
He swallowed, his voice barely a whisper. "Shizun…"
"But that wont happen. So don't sweat it!" Yu Chen cut off Wei Yu. He turned to leave and then turned his head to look a Wei Yu, over the years he had grown taller. Almost equal to Yu Chen, "Are you planning on sleeping here? Come, lets go."
"Yes." Wei Yu responded.