Memories (10): First Encounter with Light

Just like that, Yi Jiang and Yi Xuan became disciples of Yungui Mountain, following Yun Lan every day to learn swordsmanship and train. Of course, the two little ones didn't neglect their studies either.

Everything was so wonderful until... Yun Lan went down the mountain to travel again.

The two little ones felt all aggrieved and wanted to follow, but they didn't dare say it out loud due to their master's authority. Speaking of which, did this old geezer even have any authority?

The first thing Yun Lan did after descending the mountain was to visit the orphanage under the Yun Family, since it had been a long time since he'd checked on those kids.

They always loved calling him "Big Brother Yun Lan, Big Brother Yun Lan," which made Yun Lan dote on them endlessly.

It was especially because, when he was little, he'd met two pink-haired little girls in this very orphanage.

They always called him "Big Brother Yun Lan, Big Brother Yun Lan," giving him a warm, cozy feeling.

Though the two of them didn't have names back then, Yun Lan still gave each a book as a gift.

Of course, one day later on, the two little girls came running over giggling, telling him they'd decided on names—one said she wanted to be called Elysia, the other Xi Lian.

Yun Lan was slightly taken aback at the time. These two names were too elegant, even a bit exotic, nothing like what orphanage kids would come up with. But then he remembered—couldn't Elysia and Xi Lian be these two little lasses?

But seeing the unquestionable pride and joy in their eyes for naming themselves, he swallowed his doubts, just smiled warmly and ruffled their soft hair: "Great names. Elysia, Xi Lian."

After reminiscing, the car pulled up to the orphanage gate. I walked in and saw a familiar figure sighing at the entrance.

I sidled up to greet her: "Sister Xia Yu, here to help at the orphanage again? Why the long face? What happened?"

The girl named Xia Yu turned around and, seeing Yun Lan, explained: "I come to help at the orphanage just to see the kids' smiles, but there's one Xiren child the other kids don't want to play with." (Xiren is the new term for subhumans; the government thought "subhuman" implied inferiority, so they changed it to Xiren.)

I rubbed my chin and said: "Then, Sister Xia Yu, can you take me to see this Xiren child?"

Aponia took me to find that Xiren child. When I saw her face, I froze.

"Isn't this a mini version of Ye Shunguang?" I walked up and asked: "Little girl, what's your name?"

The little girl answered timidly: "I'm Ye Shunguang."

"The name matches too—where's her brother then?"

I asked: "Sister Xia Yu, do you know if this girl has any other family?"

Aponia replied: "No, the little girl is all alone."

Seeing Ye Shunguang like this, ostracized, my heart inexplicably softened. I asked her: "Xiaoguang—can I call you that? Would you come with me?"

Ye Shunguang looked up at Yun Lan and said timidly: "Big brother doesn't mind that I'm Xiren?"

"Xiren are people too. There's never been any difference between humans and Xiren, silly child."

Just like that, I brought Ye Shunguang home. Since I was out traveling down the mountain, there was no rush to return to Yungui Mountain.

The most pressing issue right now was teaching Xiaoguang some basic knowledge. I had Mao Rabbit find a tutor to teach Ye Shunguang—not just daily life common sense, but her studies too.

Ye Shunguang was very smart and learned quickly—faster than I'd imagined. But this kid Xiaoguang was a bit too obedient, like she bore everything on her own.

She never let any negative emotions show, and she was a little clingy, though I didn't mind. This attachment softened Yun Lan's heart, yet it pricked like a fine thorn. The child saw him as her only lifeline, her only shore. But people must venture into broader waters, encounter more islands.

But with Xiaoguang having only me as a friend, she might turn reclusive over time. After thinking it over, I decided to send her to school.

Not for knowledge—she'd already learned that—but to make more friends, not just live for me.

After dinner, the female servants lit the aromatherapy. They poured two cups of clear tea for Yun Lan and Ye Shunguang, sliding one over to her.

"Xiaoguang," Yun Lan said carefully, "do you want to... go to school?"

Ye Shunguang was cradling her teacup for warmth. At his words, her fingers trembled, splashing a few drops. She hurriedly wiped them with her sleeve, but Yun Lan stopped her.

The girl kept her head down, her lashes casting deep shadows under her eyes. After a long moment, she spoke, her voice a bit hoarse: "Big brother... are you chasing me away?"

"That's not what I mean. I just see you alone and feel you'd be lonely. You should meet more people."

"But I already have big brother? Sister Fu and the others are good to me too."

I shook my head and said: "What I mean is you should make some friends your own age."

The word "friends" made Ye Shunguang's shoulders tremble lightly. She looked up, her eyes full of panic, confusion, and a trace of barely concealed fear. "I... I'm fine here." Her words came fast. "I can learn faster, I can..."

I looked into the girl's red eyes and sighed softly.

As expected, the isolation at the orphanage impacted Xiaoguang too much, I thought.

"If you don't want to go, then forget it." Yun Lan sipped his tea and said to Ye Shunguang.

Just like that, Yun Lan was ostensibly traveling down the mountain, but really just taking care of a little girl. This counted as a different kind of "traveling," I suppose.

A few months passed like that, and Xiaoguang had finished all the elementary school knowledge. Just then, Yi Jiang and Yi Xuan on Yungui Mountain couldn't wait any longer.

They messaged me every day asking when I'd come back.

Yun Lan decisively took Ye Shunguang back to Yungui Mountain.

After returning to Yungui Mountain, he first took Xiaoguang to see the old geezer. He'd planned to have her apprentice under the old man, but she refused outright and pulled out a prepared apprenticeship letter to hand to me.

"You want me as your master? I may have brought you back, but I'm only two years older than you."

I voiced my doubts to Ye Shunguang.

Ye Shunguang bowed her head, not daring to look at me, but in the spot Yun Lan and the old geezer couldn't see, a flash of excited red light gleamed in her eyes.

Looking at this apprenticeship letter, I felt something off about it, but couldn't pinpoint what. There was a special scent on the letter.

But I couldn't recall what it was for the moment, so I said to Ye Shunguang: "This matter? I need to think it over. I'll give you an answer tomorrow, okay?"