Qi Hao

That day, after breakfast as usual, Ye Yun went to the back mountain to gather bamboo seeds. Over the past six months, he had collected several hundred pounds of them. Some he had brewed into bamboo wine, while Ling'er had used others to make porridge for their master and mistress. After half a year of gathering, he had nearly picked all the bamboo seeds nearby, so he would have to venture farther if he wanted more.

Just as Ye Yun was wondering whether to go deeper into the mountains, a clear voice calling, "Little Junior Brother!" interrupted his thoughts. A red figure then came into view. On Great Bamboo Peak, only Tian Ling'er would come looking for him at this time of day.

"Senior Sister, what's wrong?" Ye Yun plucked the last bamboo seed and sprang down from the bamboo with a thump. He never used magic to gather bamboo seeds, relying entirely on his physical strength. Every trip into the bamboo grove was a kind of training for him, and the results were remarkable. He was not yet ten, but already stood about 1.4 meters tall. He was still a little shorter than the early-developing elementary school kids of his old world, but by the standards of this world, he was doing very well. Zhang Xiaofan was only half a head taller than him, and Zhang Xiaofan was already fourteen.

Tian Ling'er brought the Amber Vermilion Ribbon down beside Ye Yun and hopped off. Smiling, she said, "It's nothing much. Senior Brother Qi Hao from Dragon Head Peak has brought Lin Jingyu over. He said there are some changes to this year's Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament, so he came to let us know ahead of time. I thought you and Lin Jingyu hadn't seen each other in years, so I came to get you. Come on—I've never met the other genius from your village."

"Lin Jingyu?" Ye Yun was startled. The plot, which he had long since forgotten, came rushing back to him. In the original story, Tian Ling'er fell in love with Qi Hao after this very meeting. Qi Hao only said two things, neither of which could even be called a love confession—at most, they were compliments. Yet with those and a Cooling Bead, which supposedly only helped beat the heat and cared for the skin, he won Tian Ling'er's heart. And even its supposed beauty benefits were just a rumor.

No. I absolutely can't let Senior Sister get fooled by that guy. I need to think of something. Lost in other thoughts, Ye Yun seemed distracted and barely paid attention to Tian Ling'er.

Looks like Little Junior Brother really misses his family. But Little Junior Brother, I, Tian Ling'er, promise you that I'll never let you suffer again. From now on, all you have to do is be happy. Leave the rest to Senior Sister. Seeing Ye Yun so absent-minded, Tian Ling'er assumed he was remembering his past. She silently vowed to take good care of him.

Having made up her mind, Tian Ling'er gently drew Ye Yun into her arms and said softly, "Little Junior Brother, don't be sad. I'm here, and everything will pass. We're family, and Senior Sister will take good care of you. I'm the only one in this world who gets to bully you. No one else—not even Father and Mother."

Ye Yun had been wondering how to deal with Qi Hao, but when he heard Tian Ling'er say that, his pupils contracted. Feeling the young woman's softness and her distinctive fragrance, his heart beat faster. But a moment later, all he felt was warmth and gratitude. Having a senior sister like this made everything he had gone through worthwhile.

Ye Yun gently slipped out of Tian Ling'er's arms and said with a solemn expression, "Thank you, Senior Sister. But I'm stronger than you, so from now on, let me take care of you and protect you instead." Before Tian Ling'er could react, he turned and ran toward the front mountain.

Tian Ling'er hadn't expected him to say that. She froze for a moment, and by the time she came to her senses, Ye Yun had already run several meters away. She gave a playful huff and called after him with a laugh, "You brat, stop right there! How dare you tease your senior sister? You're asking for a beating!"

Ye Yun smiled, turned around, and made a face at Tian Ling'er. "Senior Sister, if you can catch me, I'll make you a cake—a huge one, as big as a washbasin!"

"Cake?" Tian Ling'er swallowed. The snacks Ye Yun came up with were hugely popular on Great Bamboo Peak. The giant cake he'd made for her birthday was especially delicious: soft and sweet, and after chilling it in that cabinet called a refrigerator, eating it in the height of summer was pure bliss. And then there were the popsicles. By now, everyone on Great Bamboo Peak had to eat at least three a day.

"For the cake—no, to teach you all about respecting your elders, your senior sister is going to catch you today!" She raised her hand and formed a spell seal. The Amber Vermilion Ribbon at her waist shot out at once, flying straight toward Ye Yun. Shouts rang out through the bamboo grove, mixed with bursts of genuine laughter.

Laughing and joking all the way, Ye Yun and Tian Ling'er arrived outside Shou Jing Hall. They happened to run into Lin Jingyu and Zhang Xiaofan as the two walked out side by side.

"Xiao Fan, is this Jingyu?" Ye Yun asked in surprise, looking at the handsome, graceful man beside Zhang Xiaofan.

Zhang Xiaofan nodded. "Mm, Xiao Yun. This is Jingyu. He came with Senior Brother Qi Hao today. Oh, right, Jingyu, this is Xiao Yun."

Lin Jingyu had noticed them as soon as he stepped outside. Ye Yun had looked familiar from the moment he saw him, and now he realized it really was Ye Yun. He walked over and gave Ye Yun's shoulder a firm slap, grinning. "It's been years. I can't believe Little Yun'er has grown so much."

Ye Yun smiled. "You have too. In the blink of an eye, you've all grown into adults. I've heard all about you on Great Bamboo Peak. You haven't brought shame to Cao Miao Village."

Lin Jingyu smiled but said nothing. He neither confirmed nor denied it.

Tian Ling'er watched the three of them chatting with a bright smile. Just then, Tian Buyi's voice suddenly came from inside Shou Jing Hall.

"What are you two muttering about outside? Hurry up and come in! Where are your manners?"

Tian Ling'er furrowed her pretty brows and said with displeasure, "Little Junior Brother, let's go in first. Xiao Fan can show Lin Jingyu around."

Ye Yun nodded. "All right. Jingyu, Xiao Fan, you two go have fun."

Ye Yun wasn't particularly close to Lin Jingyu. They had only spent a single day together, and more than three years had passed since then. Their friendship had faded. Ye Yun guessed Lin Jingyu felt much the same. Although the system had arranged a background for him, his role in it was basically that of an extra. So it wasn't as if they had ever been especially close.

The two walked hand in hand into the main hall of Shou Jing Hall. Everyone from Great Bamboo Peak was there except Du Bishu, who had gone down the mountain, and Zhang Xiaofan, who had just stepped out. At the center of the hall, a young man dressed in white slowly turned around at the sound of their footsteps. When he saw Tian Ling'er beside Ye Yun, his eyes lit up. But when he noticed their joined hands, his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

"Greetings, Master, Mistress, and Senior Brothers!" Ye Yun and Tian Ling'er respectfully bowed to everyone present. There was an outsider among them, after all, so proper etiquette was in order.

Tian Buyi nodded with satisfaction. "This is Qi Hao, a disciple of your Uncle Cang Song from Dragon Head Peak."