He's My Brother, That's Enough

Beside the spirit fields at dusk, Li Yuechan pouted the moment she heard her brother's words.

"You're not even letting me stay for dinner..."

Li Muyang, who had stood up while clutching the food box, let out a scoff and said bluntly, "You have your own spirit rice issued by the sect, why are you always trying to sponge off my meals?"

"Go on, go on, go back and cook it yourself. You're still a long way off if you want to eat my rice."

Humming a cheerful tune under his breath, Li Muyang carried the food box his dear little sister had brought him into the tile-roofed house.

Li Yuechan watched his retreating back and sighed.

"Sometimes I really can't tell if you're stingy or generous..."

The girl shook her head, turned, and walked away.

If he were stingy, he wouldn't have sold everything he owned and spent every last cent to buy medicinal herbs to save her.

But if he were generous, he wouldn't be so reluctant to share a single bowl of spirit rice with her.

The girl sighed in silence and turned to head down the mountain.

As the sunset's afterglow spilled over her, the voice of a mature woman suddenly echoed in the girl's ears on the empty mountain path.

"...Your brother, there is something rather strange about him."

The voice appeared abruptly, without the slightest warning.

Even though Li Yuechan was the only person on the deserted path, the voice sounded like the whisper of an evil god from beyond the heavens.

Yet, the girl felt no fear upon hearing it; instead, her eyes lit up with joy.

"Senior!" Li Yuechan whispered in pleasant surprise. "You've woken up?"

The woman's voice chuckled. "Indeed, I have finally awakened."

"After absorbing the essence of so many low-level demonic cultivators and resting for so long, I have finally stabilized my soul and regained consciousness."

With that, the woman sighed. "Little girl, you have suffered during this time."

"When I was in deep slumber, I could vaguely sense that your condition was dire, but I was at a critical moment in my recovery and could not divide my focus. I had intended to help you completely purge the demonic energy from your body once I awoke..."

The woman whispered softly.

The young girl on the path shook her head with a smile. "Senior, please don't let it weigh on your mind. My brother has already healed me. Although it cost a lot of money, I will surely be able to earn it back for him in the future."

"As for you, Senior, it is already a great blessing that you could repair your soul; I don't mind at all."

The girl smiled, trying to comfort the woman.

In the void, the woman's voice chuckled. "What a broad-minded little girl. This Seat truly did not misjudge you."

"If it were my unfilial disciple from before, I fear they would have already grown resentful because I ignored them."

There was a hint of bitterness in the woman's voice.

It seemed to have stirred up some unpleasant memories.

As Li Yuechan walked along the path, she glanced back at the distant tile-roofed house and asked curiously, "By the way, Senior, you just said there was something strange about my brother... what kind of strangeness?"

The girl took the initiative to change the subject.

The woman's voice remained silent for several seconds before replying, "Your brother, while keeping a low profile, is more troublesome and dangerous than all the stewards in this outer sect combined."

"I can vaguely sense that he is carrying some kind of powerful talisman, at least of the low-grade spirit talisman level."

"Moreover, the killing intent radiating from that talisman is astonishing. Even though it hasn't been activated, it gives one the feeling of needles pricking at their back. It is certainly not the work of an ordinary talisman master; it is very likely the creation of a grandmaster of the talisman path."

"Furthermore, his aura is stable and long-lasting, unlike that of a typical Qi Refining stage cultivator. In my estimation, he is likely approaching the threshold of Foundation Establishment."

The old woman made her judgment. "With such cultivation and such a talisman, even looking across the entire outer sect of the Demon Refining Sect, there is almost no one who could reliably suppress your brother."

The old woman's insight was incredibly sharp, and as a grandmaster of talismans and incantations, she was exceptionally sensitive to the aura of talismans.

At a single glance, she had discerned the extraordinary nature of the youth before her.

Upon hearing the old woman's words, Li Yuechan blinked in astonishment.

"My brother is already approaching Foundation Establishment?"

The girl looked back at the small tile-roofed house, her face full of disbelief. "Senior, are you mistaken? My brother was still a mortal three months ago, and he only reached the third level of the Qi Refining stage last month."

"Even if he truly has exceptional talent and superior aptitude, he should only be at the fourth level of the Qi Refining stage after a month, right?"

The girl subconsciously refused to believe it.

The old woman's voice replied, "That is precisely why I said your brother is somewhat strange."

"The speed at which his cultivation has increased is too rapid—it is fast to the point of being eerie. Even the disciples of great aristocratic families, when they reach the age of cultivation, use all sorts of spirit herbs and treasures regardless of the cost, and their progress is only on par with his."

"Yet, the cultivation resources in this outer sect of the Demon Refining Sect are barren, with only a bit of inferior spirit rice issued each month."

"Relying on such resources, it is impossible to have such a rapid rate of cultivation."

"That is why I say there is something strange about your brother. Not only is his cultivation progress extremely fast, but he also harbors a top-tier talisman with astonishing killing intent."

"All of these things are not what an ordinary person could possess."

"Your brother is definitely hiding some kind of secret."

The old woman spoke with a tone of certainty.

The young girl on the mountain path silently chewed over the information the old woman had provided.

After a long while, she shook her head with a smile.

"If my brother truly has cultivation approaching the Foundation Establishment stage, then I am happy for him."

"As for secrets... this 'cheap' little sister of his also has secrets she hasn't told him."

"Regardless, I know he is my brother, and it was he who spent all his money and spared no effort to save me."

As she spoke, the girl turned to look at the small tiled house halfway up the mountain and sighed softly, her eyes filled with unwavering determination.

"As long as he is my brother, that is enough."

The girl's soft whisper scattered into the mountain forest.

The old woman let out a cackling laugh and said, "I didn't say you should harm your brother... why are you reacting so intensely, little girl?"

"By the way, if I remember correctly, he isn't your biological brother, right? There is no blood relation?"

"Since your relationship is so good, why don't you just marry him? It would be the perfect chance to share your secrets. Then, as husband and wife, you could unite and progress together; your future prospects would be limitless."

The old woman chuckled.

As soon as her words fell, the girl's face flushed a deep red, and she became flustered.

"Senior!"

The girl stomped her foot in embarrassment and trotted away. "What nonsense are you spouting!"

The girl walked quickly along the mountain path with burning cheeks, while the old woman's laughter rang in her ears, clearly satisfied with teasing the young girl.

However, there was one thing the old woman did not say, as she was not entirely certain.

Yet, she felt as though she had vaguely glimpsed traces of some ancient demonic art on Li Muyang.

A demonic art from Black Cloud Stronghold that, by all accounts, had been lost for many years...

Thinking of this, the old woman sighed gloomily.

If the secret Li Yuechan's brother carried was truly related to Black Cloud Stronghold, then it would be far too dangerous.

But she could not be sure if it was truly the demonic art of Black Cloud Stronghold; perhaps it was just a similar trace. By all logic, the things of Black Cloud Stronghold should never reappear in this world.

For that terrifying and bizarre stronghold, the best outcome was to be buried in the long river of time, never to surface again.