Chapter 112: We Are All Brothers

As I neared the sixth floor, I spotted a figure standing by the stairwell. I looked up to see Li Muyang grinning at me. "See? I beat you there. I told you we should have taken the elevator; think of it as exercise," he said, looking quite pleased with himself.

Watching his expression, I let out a soft sigh. *What a character,* I thought. *Well, I suppose I’d better steer clear of him.*

I didn't say a word and strode right past him. Taken aback, Li Muyang watched me for a moment before following, chattering away behind me.

"Hey, Lin Xuan, why aren't you saying anything?"

"So, where did Master Tan go? What did you two run into inside the Dragon Locking Well? How come it took a whole day to get back out? Was it fun down there?"

"Come on, Lin Xuan, talk to me. Why take the stairs instead of the elevator? Where are you from? Are you and the master here in Beijing for a trip?"

I pushed the door open and walked straight inside. Li Muyang followed, closing the door behind him while continuing to ramble. He ran over to the window, his eyes lighting up. "Wow, you can see half of Beijing from here! Lin Xuan, are you loaded? Are you? Are you?"

I collapsed onto the bed, scratching my head, and snapped, "Were you a chatterbox in your past life? You’re chirping away like a bird. Can you let me rest? My head is about to explode."

I rubbed my forehead, wincing in pain. Li Muyang froze, then sat on the stool opposite me with a sheepish grin. "Oh, sorry, Lin Xuan. I didn't realize you had a headache; you didn't tell me."

I looked up at him and offered a bitter smile, resigned to my fate. "Fine, fine. My fault, okay?"

Li Muyang smiled. I pulled the covers up and said, "Hey, Li Muyang."

"Yeah?" he asked, looking at me curiously.

I adjusted my pillow and said, "Do me a favor."

"Name it. I’ll do my best," he replied with a smile.

I waved a hand dismissively. "No need for 'doing your best'—it’s not like I’m asking you to charge into battle. Could you just go to the pharmacy and buy me a box of headache pills?"

Li Muyang didn't hesitate. He stood up and headed for the door. "Sure thing. Easy. Consider it done."

I nodded and lay back down. As Li Muyang reached for the doorknob, he paused and turned back, looking perplexed. "Wait a minute, why do you need a whole box? Isn't that a bit much? What a waste of money."

I had hoped for a moment of peace, but his comment instantly flared up my irritation. I grabbed my hair and groaned, "Why are you making such a fuss over a simple favor? It’s my money, not yours. Besides, have you ever seen someone buy just one pill at a pharmacy? Everyone gets headaches. Can you guarantee you’ll never have one? Having a box on hand saves another trip. Does that logic work for you?"

Seeing my agitation, Li Muyang offered an awkward smile. "Alright, alright, don't get worked up. Be careful or your head will start throbbing again. I’m going, I’m going!"

I rolled my eyes and pulled the quilt over my head. Exhausted from the day, I drifted off to sleep. When I woke, it was because my master was shaking me. I blinked groggily to find him sitting on the edge of the bed. "How are you feeling, kid? Sit up and take your medicine before you go back to sleep."

I let out a ragged breath; my head was still pounding. I frowned as I sat up. Master handed me a pill and a glass of water. I swallowed the medicine, drank the water, and laid back down. At that moment, I had no interest in anything; I just wanted the headache to vanish—the sensation was truly unbearable.

After Master tucked me in, he stood up and walked aside. I squinted at him and asked weakly, "Master, where’s Cao Wen?"

Master glanced back while pouring some water. "He’s at the hospital. The poor guy was scared out of his wits; his mind is a bit rattled. I’ve wiped his memory, so he should be fine after a few days of rest."

I gave a faint nod, keeping my head perfectly still to avoid the throbbing. I scanned the room and asked, "What about Li Muyang?"

Master took a sip of water and sat down. "He ran into me while he was heading to the pharmacy. He seems like a decent kid—at least he’s loyal. So, I told him to give me the medicine and had him go pick up some food for us instead."

I smiled weakly at this. "So, Master, you’ve turned him into an errand boy."

Master paused, then laughed awkwardly. "It’s not 'errand boy' work. I’m just helping the lad get some practice. If he’s going to be in the supernatural world, he can’t be complaining about a little walking. He might as well just be a normal person."

*A normal person.* When I heard those words, I smiled again and pulled the quilt up. "Being a normal person is even more tiring," I muttered.

Master didn't respond, just offered a faint nod. We both knew the truth: who can truly control their own life?

I fell into a deep sleep again. When I woke up, it was past ten at night. My head felt better—well enough to move around, at least. I got out of bed and stretched. Master emerged from the bathroom, toweling off his hair. "Awake?"

I nodded, sitting on the stool with bleary eyes, and let out a yawn. Master smiled. "There you go—food on the table. You’ve slept all day; you must be starving."

As he spoke, I turned to look at the takeout boxes on the table, my stomach rumbling in response. I opened a box and began to dig in. Just then, the door behind me opened. I didn't turn around, but I heard Li Muyang’s voice. "Hey, Lin Xuan, you're up!"

I mumbled a greeting with my mouth full. Li Muyang sidled up to me and asked, "How is it? Good?"

I nodded again. Li Muyang grinned. "I specifically asked the master what you liked to eat, so I made sure to get this. And there's more."

He reached out and opened another container. "This is herbal jar soup. It’s delicious—it’s my favorite. Drink it while it’s hot; it’ll help you recover."

I paused, touched by his enthusiasm, and smiled. "Thanks."

Li Muyang waved it off and pushed the soup toward me. I took a sip; it was actually quite good. He then stood up and said, "Eat up. I’m going to find some pajamas and take a shower."

"Sure," I said, watching him walk away. "Thanks for the trouble today."

Li Muyang stopped and smiled back. "Don't be so formal. We’re brothers."

I smiled to myself. I knew Li Muyang had lost both his parents young, and he cherished the people around him. Even though he seemed like a clown at times, I truly respected his character. He was a friend worth having.

After finishing my meal in half an hour, I cleared the boxes and tossed them in the trash. I wiped my mouth, stood up, and stretched again. I turned to Master, who was reading nearby. "Master, where are the clothes I took out the other day?"

Master looked up from his book. "How would I know where your clothes are? I told you not to leave them lying around, and now you’re asking me? Check the wardrobe."

I nodded sheepishly, walked to the closet, grabbed some clothes, and rushed into the spare bathroom. As the water cascaded down, I stood under the spray, covering my face with my hands and letting out a long breath. Once I finished showering, I went to the nightstand and pulled a yellow talisman from the drawer. Master watched my movements, puzzled. "What are you doing with that talisman, kid? Did the shower scramble your brains?"

I shook my head, said nothing, walked over to the table, and pressed the talisman down onto the surface.