A young man was leisurely strolling through the town streets, carrying a black iron sword and holding a wine jug.

His Senior Brother went to Xingyang Mountain to gather herbs, so he took the opportunity to sneak into the town. As he walked, he caught a whiff of fragrance and quickened his pace involuntarily. The roast chicken from Zhao Ji's paired with Old Liu's wine was an unbeatable combination!

He arrived eagerly at Zhao Ji's, where there was still a line of people waiting. After a long wait, he finally reached the front. Zhao, the chicken seller, smiled and said, "A’Yan, have you secretly slipped down the mountain again?"

(NT: A’ is an affectionate and familiar way to talk to children and youth)

The young man raised an eyebrow. "Who said I came down the mountain for personal matters?"

Old Zhao didn't believe him, shook his head, and handed the roast chicken to the young man. Carrying the roast chicken wrapped in oil paper, the young man was about to leave when he also took the wine and headed straight for Xingyang Mountain.

Under the lingering rays of the setting sun, Xingyang Mountain was exceptionally beautiful. A’Yan decided to go up the mountain to find Senior Brother. Otherwise, if he waited too long, the chicken would get cold, and its taste wouldn't be as good.

The mountain road was rugged, with dense vegetation. Halfway up, he spotted a gray wolf, and his eyes lit up suddenly. If he could catch this wolf today and marinate it when he got back, it would be delicious.

Without hesitation, he chased after it. The gray wolf ran fast, darting through the familiar terrain of the mountain.

The young man chased and fought, and finally, the wolf let out a painful cry—it seemed its foot had been hit, causing it to limp. With a fierce look in its eyes, it continued to run deeper into the forest!

The young man raised an eyebrow. Today, this wolf would surely be his. Seeing that the wolf could no longer run, he quickened his pace.

Just as he was about to rush through the bushes ahead, he heard someone calling his name. He turned around and saw a figure of a man in white in the forest, saying, "A’Yan."

He immediately stopped his steps forward, turned around, and ran towards Senior Brother, smiling brightly. "Senior Brother, here you are! I was just looking for you!"

Senior Brother had many medicinal herbs in his bamboo basket. With a gentle and elegant demeanour, he smiled lightly. "Why didn't you wait for me at the foot of the mountain?"

The young man took out the wine and roast chicken, smiling broadly. "I was afraid the roast chicken would get cold and not taste good."

Senior Brother sighed helplessly. "You know, I've been fasting for a long time."

But the young man didn't mind at all. Instead, he grinned. "Fasting is so boring. Let's eat together."

Senior Brother hesitated for a moment but ultimately indulged him with a gentle gaze. "Alright."

The young man pulled Senior Brother to sit on the ground, spread out a cloth, and then placed the wine and roast chicken down. He tore off a chicken leg and handed it to Senior Brother, his eyes bright. "Here you go!"

Senior Brother's slender white jade fingers took the chicken leg from the young man's hand and began to eat it slowly.

The young man, seeing Senior Brother eating, was delighted and began to eat as well.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, the sky was already dark. Senior Brother cast a dust-avoidance spell, cleaned the young man's dirty fingers, and then stood up with a faint smile. "It's time to return to the mountain."

As they returned to the Fufeng Sect, the moon hung high in the sky. A’Yan tiptoed cautiously, trying to slip in quietly... But as soon as he slipped through the courtyard gate, he saw an elderly man with white hair standing in the moonlight, staring at him sternly. "You've sneaked out to play again and only come back so late! I've never seen you so careless during your usual practice!"

A’Yan's face turned pale, standing there awkwardly.

Senior Brother pursed his lips, stepped forward, and said, "Don't blame him. I took him down the mountain to help me gather herbs, which delayed us..."

The master furrowed his brow and said sternly, "Don't make excuses for him. You spoil him too much. Today, you'll both face punishment together!"

Senior Brother lowered his head and said, "Yes."

A’Yan didn't dare to say a word, keeping his head down obediently as he followed Senior Brother to the back of the mountain to face the wall.

The night dew was cold. A’Yan had only just established his foundation, and the chill penetrated his skin, causing him to tremble slightly.

Senior Brother glanced at the young man beside him, sighed imperceptibly, reached out, and held the young man's wrist, transferring warmth to his body. With the warmth spreading, A’Yan no longer felt cold.

Senior Brother whispered helplessly. "The master is strict for your own good. There are no shortcuts on the path of cultivation."

A’Yan squinted and smiled. "I don't like fighting and killing, so why bother with arduous cultivation? Besides, I still have you, Senior Brother."

This child was not ambitious at all. Senior Brother said in a deep voice, "But what if one day I'm no longer around?"

A’Yan said firmly, "That's impossible."

Senior Brother shook his head and remained silent.

The two stood there through the night.

The next morning, A’Yan, feeling drowsy, returned to his room to catch up on sleep. Then he had a dream. In the dream, a group of unrecognizable people attacked the Fufeng Sect. They killed indiscriminately, flames soaring, their homes destroyed. People fled in panic, but the attackers refused to spare them. He watched as his fellow disciples fell one by one... Those familiar faces all stared at him with unblinking eyes...

Everyone died...

Only he fought desperately to escape. He didn't know why he was fleeing, but he only remembered one thing: he had to leave this place. Had to leave.

But that person still caught up with him. Just as he was desperate, Senior Brother's figure suddenly appeared in front of him, blocking the attacker's sword. But before he could feel relieved, Senior Brother's chest was pierced by the sword.

Blood splattered on his face. Scalding hot, burning.

A’Yan abruptly opened his eyes, breathing rapidly, drenched in cold sweat. The sensation of hot blood was so real that he hastily raised his hand to touch his face, but his hand was clean, there was no blood at all...

After a while, he gradually calmed down. It was just a dream, not real at all. But... Even if it was just a dream. The agony of that moment, the despair of helplessness, felt so real. Senior Brother's sword pierced through the dirt. But at the last moment, he told him to leave quickly.

He stumbled off the bed. His expression was panicked as he clumsily searched for Senior Brother.

Senior Brother was drying medicinal herbs in the backyard, his expression calm and gentle, bathed in the morning light, a serene and beautiful scene...

Senior Brother was fine. Senior Brother didn't die.

A’Yan rushed over and hugged Senior Brother's waist, his body trembling.

Senior Brother, surprised, put down the herbs in his hand and looked at the young man's pale face, then asked with concern, "What's wrong?"

A’Yan stared blankly at the person in front of him. After a long time, he said hoarsely, "Nothing, IT’s nothing Senior Brother."

*

In the blink of an eye, several days passed.

On this day, Senior Brother came up from the mountain after gathering herbs, nodding and smiling at the other junior disciples before arriving at the back mountain. There, he saw the young man holding a black iron sword, his expression serious, practicing his moves.

Since that day when A’Yan came to him in a panic, he seemed to have changed completely. He no longer pestered Senior Brother to take him down the mountain to play, no longer slept until late in the morning, and no longer slacked off during practice.

He would come to the back mountain to practice swordsmanship before dawn and return only late at night. Even the master praised him several times, saying that the child had finally grown up...

Although he had always hoped that A’Yan would cultivate diligently, seeing how much the young man had changed, coupled with his panic-stricken appearance that day, he couldn't help but worry.

A’Yan finished practicing the Wind Sword Technique, panting heavily, and turned to see Senior Brother. He immediately showed a cheerful expression and said, "Senior Brother, you're here."

Senior Brother approached, tousled the young man's head, and asked softly, "Why are you suddenly practicing so seriously?"

A’Yan looked at Senior Brother with a worried and puzzled expression, remaining silent for a moment. He couldn't remember the details of the dream clearly, it became blurry after waking up, but the agony, the despair, seemed to be engraved in his bones, lingering...

Even if it was just a dream. He would never let such a thing happen.

A’Yan suddenly lifted his eyes, bright and determined, and said, "I also want to become stronger so I can protect Senior Brother."

Senior Brother chuckled, though he didn't know why the young man suddenly made up his mind, he was willing to work hard, which was a good thing. He didn't intend to discourage the young man's enthusiasm, so he nodded with a smile and said, "Okay, then Senior Brother will wait for you to protect me."

A’Yan, who was originally gifted, only lacked diligence before. Now, within less than half a year, he formed his golden core.

Swiftly, it was New Year again. Everyone was busy preparing, and A’Yan looked around and helped wherever needed.

In the evening, everyone gathered around a long table with bonfires burning around them. The master stood up and raised a toast, his white beard trembling slightly as he said in his aged voice, "Every year has its today, and every moment has its present."

A’Yan glanced quietly at Senior Brother beside him, hoping that in the future, Senior Brother would sit like this every year... That his dream would never come true!

After dinner, everyone dispersed, but A’Yan quietly tugged at Senior Brother's sleeve and gave him a meaningful look.

Senior Brother smiled and followed A’Yan to the back mountain. A’Yan dug under a tree and dug out a jar of wine. He smiled brightly and said, "Last year, I buried this bamboo leaf wine, and it's just right to drink this year."

This was wine he brewed himself! And he was sharing it only with Senior Brother. Senior Brother looked at him tenderly, smiled, and said, "Then I won't be polite, let's try A’Yan's wine."

The two of them drank quietly under the moonlit bamboo forest. A’Yan stared at the person in front of him, feeling a little intoxicated. Perhaps due to slight drunkenness, he shook his head and almost fell, but Senior Brother quickly reached out to support him.

A’Yan grabbed Senior Brother's hand and suddenly said, "It's so good to have you by my side, Senior Brother..."

Senior Brother helplessly indulged in him, looked at him affectionately, and said slowly, "I've always been there." Pausing for a moment, he continued, "I also have a gift for you, A’Yan."

A’Yan became excited and exclaimed, "Ah?"

Senior Brother held out his hand, revealing a pair of bronze bells, finely crafted and engraved with intricate patterns. Senior Brother smiled and said, "This is a transmission bell. With this, even if we're thousands of miles apart, we can still talk to each other."

Wow.

A’Yan excitedly took one of the bells and couldn't wait to play with it. With this, no matter where he was, Senior Brother wouldn't be separated from him! They would never be apart! Treasuring it like a treasure, he hugged Senior Brother's waist and said, "A’Yan likes Senior Brother the most."

Senior Brother hugged him unexpectedly, his ears slightly red, seeming a bit embarrassed, but his eyes were gentle in the night. After a while, he slowly said, "Senior Brother also likes A’Yan."

END

Translator : DarNan