Don't Cry, Brother

Listening Yulong and Listening Yuhu had never imagined that one day they would try to kill each other.

The brothers had always been close, but now neither had any way out.

Listening Yulong knew that if his younger brother survived today, the Mind-Listening Clan might never rise again.

He hated the thought of killing him. A voice in his head kept urging him to hold back and let his brother escape.

But reason dragged him back to reality again and again.

I can't hide a single move from that man. He's too clever!

Listening Yulong couldn't take the risk. From the start, he attacked his younger brother with the intent to kill.

Listening Yuhu parried his brother's blows and shouted, "Brother, are you really throwing away everything between us to follow that brat to the bitter end?"

Listening Yulong said nothing. He just attacked, then attacked again.

Five or six clansmen already lay in pools of blood, struck down by the very kin who had supported them throughout their journey.

Listening Yuhu's eyes reddened at the sight. His voice caught as he called out again and again.

"Brother, we can leave together. We don't have to kill each other over an uncertain future."

"Brother, look at them. You watched them grow up. Can you bear to let them die at the hands of their own family?"

Listening Yulong's heart twisted. Should he give up on joining Flower Village?

Once, he might have hesitated. But the more he learned about this place and Lu Zeming, the clearer it became: this wasn't a hard choice at all.

"Your stupidity got them killed!"

Listening Yulong roared and punched Listening Yuhu in the face.

Blood ran from the corner of Listening Yuhu's mouth. He gave a bitter laugh.

"Brother, if we really fight, you can't beat me!"

"I know. Tell everyone else to stop. Today, the two of us will decide the Mind-Listening Clan's future. If I die, take our people and leave. You're no match for the Lord!"

Listening Yulong drew his Kunai and took a stance for a fight to the death.

Listening Yuhu wiped the blood from his mouth and drew his own Kunai.

"Fine. Then today, I'll send you on your way, Brother!"

The brothers clashed again. This time, there was no flashy Ninjutsu, only a bloody fight at close quarters. Every strike aimed for a vital point.

In less than fifteen minutes, both men were drenched in blood and at the limits of their strength.

Their hands trembled around their Kunai. They swayed on their feet, as though either might collapse at any moment.

"It's... it's time... to end this!"

"Yeah. Time... time to... end it. Die!"

With a shout, the brothers spent the last of their strength charging at each other.

The instant they came together, both gripped their Kunai with both hands and thrust toward the other's heart.

For a moment, they stood frozen, leaning against each other as they had when they were children.

Listening Yulong couldn't remember the last time he had seen his younger brother's face from so close.

Not since we grew up.

Looking at Listening Yuhu's blood-smeared face, he felt his brother was still the same mischievous, reckless child.

Before he knew it, tears filled his eyes.

Blood welled from Listening Yuhu's mouth. He forced out the words, "Brother, don't cry. This is my fault. You have to take care of our people and keep living!"

With that, Listening Yuhu could hold himself up no longer. He collapsed to the ground.

As the two fell apart, everyone finally saw that the Kunai in Listening Yuhu's hands had been pointed at himself.

He had never intended to kill his brother.

"Little brother... my foolish little brother!"

Listening Yulong knelt and gathered his brother's body into his arms, unable to let go. It was like those nights when they were children and their parents weren't home, when his timid little brother could only fall asleep curled against him.

Only this time, he would never wake up...

Two days passed before Lu Zeming saw Listening Yulong again.

Listening Yulong was still wrapped in bandages, and he looked haggard.

"Has everything been settled?"

Listening Yulong answered respectfully, "The households that needed separating have been separated. The ancestral property has been divided among them, and the families have been housed apart. I made sure they weren't all placed on the same street."

Lu Zeming nodded. "Good. I'm sorry about your brother. I prefer to speak plainly, so tell me: will you hold this against me?"

Listening Yulong shook his head. "When my brother died, the Mind-Listening Clan hadn't joined the village yet. No one from the village took part. This was an internal matter for our clan. We had to settle it before we could move forward unburdened."

"I'm glad you understand why I did this. Apply yourself. The village has a long road ahead, and the talented people in your clan will have plenty of chances to show what they can do. I've already notified the Mind-Listening Clan's ninja. They'll begin training in the Ninja Advanced Training Class tomorrow!"

Listening Yulong's heart sank. The Mind-Listening Clan's ninja now answered only to the village. He, their clan leader, had no authority over them.

Still, Listening Yulong rallied himself and said, "Thank you, my Lord!"

"Oh, and although your clansmen now live in separate households, they still need to honor their ancestors every year. As clan leader, that's your responsibility. You should put together a genealogy, too. Visit your relatives on holidays. Separating your households doesn't mean casting aside your ancestors and kin!"

Listening Yulong's spirits soared at those words.

"Thank you for your guidance, my Lord!"

This time, his gratitude was far more sincere. Lu Zeming laughed and called him a sly old fox.

Listening Yulong didn't mind. He eagerly sidled closer and asked what a genealogy was, how to make one, and how to arrange ancestral rites that were solemn and grand without being extravagant.

Lu Zeming answered every question as fully as he could.

After Listening Yulong left, Lu Zeming reflected on the unexpected turn of events.

Listening Yuhu's rebellion could have been avoided.

In the end, the village simply hadn't shown enough strength to deter anyone. That made it easy for people to entertain dangerous ideas.

Lu Zeming took out Ghost Lantern Vine's Summoning Scroll.

It was time to bring Ghost Lantern Vine under his control and make him a deterrent for the village!

Carrying the Summoning Scroll, Lu Zeming stepped onto his long blade and flew toward the mountains.

After more than an hour of flight, Lu Zeming reached a remote stretch of dense forest.

He opened the scroll, bit his finger, rapidly formed the seals shown on it, and slapped his palm down.

Bang!

A great cloud of smoke burst from the scroll.

A giant tree more than thirty meters tall appeared before Lu Zeming.

The tree was black as ink, with no branches or leaves. It had only a single trunk spiraling upward into the sky.

Lu Zeming rubbed his chin, puzzled.

"Ghost Lantern Vine? Why is he a tree? He isn't moving. Is he dead?"

The next moment, the spirals around the trunk began to loosen. Vines broke free one by one and reached outward like octopus tentacles.

Once all the vines had dropped away, the true trunk came into view.

It stood only four or five meters tall and resembled an enormous octagonal lantern.

Blue ghostly flames flickered inside its hollow body. Beneath the lantern, where it joined the trunk, were features resembling a human face. He looked rather ugly.