Watching the Mountain

"Junior Sister, do you think there are really people in this world with absolutely no talent for Magic Techniques or weapons?"

"What?" Ye Qingxue asked, stunned.

Just a moment ago, when she arrived at the back of the mountain, she’d found Ye Shan sitting on a rock instead of practicing his sword—a rare sight. His brow was furrowed and one hand was propping up his chin, lost in thought.

She was a little surprised. It was the first time since she had known him that she’d seen such a lost and helpless expression on his face.

She couldn’t help but wonder what kind of problem could possibly stump this ever-resolute person.

"Senior Brother, what are you thinking about?" she asked, stepping closer.

Ye Shan snapped out of his trance and looked at her. After a moment’s hesitation, his expression turned serious.

This surprised her even more, as she had never seen him look so serious before.

’This problem must be really serious.’

And that’s when he’d asked her that question.

It left her utterly bewildered. ’The problem that had him so deep in thought... was *this*?’

Seeing her expression, Ye Shan explained, "Junior Sister, you know that disciple everyone was talking about? The one who joined the Sect at a hundred years old, recommended by Senior Sister Yue? Well, I met him today."

Ye Qingxue nodded, her eyes fixed on him, waiting for him to continue.

Ye Shan grew animated and continued, "He really has no talent for Magic Techniques, and his Swordsmanship is an absolute mess! The crucial part is, he actually said the sword is the *best* weapon he can use. Don’t you think that’s strange? How can someone be so... uh, stupid? Do you think he was lying to me?"

Ye Qingxue almost laughed at how he was making such a big deal out of it. He could face any other hardship with calm indifference and resolve it with ease.

Yet this particular issue had him stumped for so long.

She smiled. "Senior Brother, you didn’t actually say all that to his face, did you? If Master finds out, he’ll be angry again. Plus, this involves Senior Sister Yue. You..."

She trailed off, but the mischievous, gloating look on her face was completely unconcealed.

Ye Shan’s expression froze at her words. He quickly waved his hands. "Don’t worry, Junior Sister. After Master’s lectures, I’m aware that I can be a bit blunt. I apologized to him on the spot and even gave him something afterward to make amends."

He recalled what Xu Ran was like and added,

"That Junior Brother Xu is a good guy. He has a strong sense of justice. Even though he can’t even handle a sword properly, he was talking about repaying the Sect with his life..."

"He’s good-natured, too. I said some pretty harsh things, but he was still very polite and didn’t get angry. I doubt he’ll go complaining to Senior Sister Yue."

Ye Qingxue covered her mouth to hide a smile at his nervous, guilty expression. Ever since she’d accepted her own feelings and changed, their Master had changed as well, losing his former image as a lofty expert.

Especially when it came to his Senior Brother, the Master couldn’t seem to stand the sight of him. He would often fly into a rage over a single word, action, or expression, which made her Senior Brother become extremely cautious around their Master.

She, however, loved seeing it.

Every time the Master finished scolding him, she could run over and comfort him. And in those moments, her Senior Brother was at his most approachable, always venting all his frustrations to her.

*

*

*

Some time later, Ye Shan suddenly burst in from outside, an incredulous smile on his face as he shouted excitedly to Ye Qingxue,

"Pfft—Junior Sister, Junior Sister, have you heard? That Junior Brother Xu Ran, he actually lost to a twelve-year-old kid! HAHAHA!"

"He’s over a hundred years old! How has he been cultivating all this time...?"

In Ye Qingxue’s eyes, Ye Shan was acting like a little kid who had just discovered a fascinating new toy, completely consumed by his curiosity for the junior brother named Xu Ran.

’He’s being so childish right now.’

She looked at the expression on his face and was about to respond, but to her surprise, he rushed back out, calling over his shoulder,

"I can’t just stand here. I have to go find Junior Brother Xu Ran! I have to see for myself how someone can cultivate for over a hundred years and still lose to a kid who just started. It’s just too incredible!"

Watching him rush off in such a frenzy, she thought to herself again, ’So childish.’

But she immediately added another thought. ’I like this side of him, too.’

A sweet smile touched her lips. Before, a thought like that would have made her so shy she wouldn’t have been able to lift her head.

But now that she had calmly accepted her feelings for him, she no longer felt that way. Instead, she was filled with a quiet sense of bliss.

After all, seeing the person you like reveal a side of themselves they don’t normally show was a joy in itself.

At the same time, she also grew curious about this Junior Brother Xu who had made her Senior Brother act so childishly. ’Could he really be as... incredible as he says?’

She had assumed Ye Shan would only be gone for a little while, but after going to see this Junior Brother Xu, he didn’t return for over a month.

When she saw him again, his animated excitement was gone, replaced by a rare seriousness.

"Junior Sister, Junior Brother Xu is actually... pretty incredible."

That’s what he said.

She was taken aback, not expecting him to say that at all.

’Maybe I should go meet this Junior Brother Xu if I get the chance?’