It had been two years since they saw each other. Although he had changed slightly with the passage of time, but after living together since their birth, Ling Jihua would never mistake Ling Yun for someone else. Especially since he had been running amok in his mind nowadays.

  Why is he here? Why did he come at this critical moment?

  There was no use of hiding and pretending to be dumb. Ling Yun removed his hat and met his gaze evenly.

  "Yes, it's me, big brother Jihua."

  The words he used to address him were the same but his tone had changed. They seldom interacted but whenever they would happen to encounter each other, Ling Yun would try to make his voice as small as possible as if to get away from him quickly.

  Now his voice was steady, full of confidence and his eyes refused to back down from his glare as if he was looking at an equal. It was the clear that something was different since the last time he saw Ling Yun but this only made Ling Jihua angrier.

  How dare this cripple look me in the eye? Should I remind him of his place?

  Suddenly he remembered the rumours of Ling Yun becoming an alchemist. Ling Jihua felt a bit of fear. If it was true then offending Ling Yun would be the height of stupidity.

  Maybe he had found some good opportunities outside. I should approach this carefully.

  "Look it's Ling Yun. I told you he is alive."

  "I can't believe but it makes sense why he is returning right now. The landscape of Grey Cloud village is about to change."

  The other customers were whispering in the distance, excitedly watching over the tense reunion of the two cousins. One was the former heir and other was the current heir of the Ling clan.

  "Ahahaha! I'm so happy to see cousin after such a long time." Ling Jihua put on an amicable smile and stopped with the intimidation. He placed another chair and joined Ling Yun on the table.

  "So how have you been cousin? I'm dying to learn of your adventures outside."

  Keeping the smile on his face, Ling Jihua decided to probe for information first. After he had gotten more information, then he would decide on his next move.

  ***

  "How amazing! Cousin you have done pretty well for yourself."

  Ling Jihua had a look of astonishment on his face but inwardly he was laughing freely. Laughing at himself for acting so cautious but most of all at Ling Yun for making up such brazen lies.

  Cousin, do you think I'm a breast sucking toddler? How did you even expect me to believe all this nonsense?

  Ling Yun had given him a brief summary but it was filled with such extraordinary things that any sane person would find it hard to believe. He claimed that he had somehow caught the eye of a Senior Master Alchemist and now was living in the Blue Moon city.

  Ling Yun had never shown any talent for alchemy in the clan and somehow someone that important took him as his disciple? And Blue Moon city? It was one of the four Immortal cities where even getting past its gates is beyond an ordinary person. And Ling Yun said he is a permanent resident?

  It was clear to him that Ling Yun was simply posturing. He must be the one behind the rumours. Making such exaggerated claims, Ling Yun must be doing all this to get back in the good graces of the clan.

  To think I would worry so much about the cripple. Looking at his shabby clothing, how a person like this be an alchemist.

  "Cousin, as your elder I have to check that you aren't neglecting your cultivation. Come on, spar with me."

  "Big brother Jihua, we are in the tavern. This is no place for fighting."

  "Dont worry about that cousin." He turned around and glared at the manager who instantly started shivering. "I believe there should be no problem, right?"

  "Of-ofcourse young master Jihua."

  Jihua simply smirked and turned back to Ling Yun. "See. Now get up and show me how much you've grown. To give you a handicap, I will not use my spear and fight barehanded."

  He pointed at Ling Yun and did a 'come on' gesture to taunt him further. Inwardly he was smirking at the prospect of exposing the coward Ling Yun and finally putting all the rumours of him coming back for his position to rest.

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  The whispers around them intensified as onlookers watched with bated breath, waiting for Ling Yun to make his move. Even if it's a simple sparring match, this fight would surely decide on who would be the next head of the clan.

  But Ling Yun remained still and didn't even try to get up from his seat. "Big brother Jihua, I'm studying to become an alchemist, not a marital artist. There is no reason for me to fight you."

  His tone was plain without a hint of emotion in them. "Cousin what is with that cowardly attitude? You are a member of the Ling clan, how can you back down from a challenge?"

  Jihua tried to incite him again but Ling Yun remained silent ignoring him. All of his attention was occupied on finishing his stew. All the customers hoping for a fight were disappointed, with some muttering coward under their breath.

  The only person happy was Jihua. He had confirmed that Ling Yun was the same useless good-for-nothing as before and now the word will spread to the whole village.

  Now, time for the final blow.

  "Cousin I'm really disappointed. Making up such brazen lies, you bring disgrace to the Ling clan. I believed that you had changed yourself for the better but you are still trash. As the young master of Ling clan, let me give you a friendly advice. Leave this village and don't you ever show your face again."

  Jihua had spoken loudly so everyone present could hear clearly. He scoffed at Ling Yun who was still showing no reaction and left the tavern with his friends. Most of the customers who were watching the commotion left after him bringing back the silence.

  ***

  "So um that was your older cousin."

  Chen Yinying finally spoke up after they both had finished their stew. She had silently watched all this without interjecting and was quite confused on why his cousin called Ling Yun a cripple.

  Ling Yun was an alchemist apprentice. That on its own is a huge achievement. And she herself had seen his rapid growth in the art of music mastery. Not much time had passed and Ling Yun had comprehended most of the Seven Harmonics technique. His tune which used to be awkward had gotten much richer and natural.

  So the thing that boggled her the most was why were they treating such a genius so poorly? And why is he allowing it to happen?

  Why are they treating him so animosity? Ling Yun is a true genius of the highest order. What actually happened between him and his family?

  "Chen Yinying, after all this time we spent together I found out that I like it better when you speak your mind. Even if we disagree, I am far happier to know your genuine feelings. So feel free to ask me what's really on your mind."

  Hearing his words, her bubbling thoughts instantly came to a halt. She looked up and saw him gazing at her with blue eyes filled with sincerity. Even when she was hiding so much from him, he was giving her permission to pry further, to dig deeper into his secrets.

  Why is he doing this? What does he want?

  Her eyes widened and she felt a sudden warmth erupting in her heart when she realised what he really meant, to break free from this facade and turn it into something genuine.

  "Um why did he call you a cripple?"

  Ling Yun just wryly smiled. "Because in a sense I am one." He chuckled at her confusion before explaining everything in detail. She listened attentively asking for more explanations when she got stuck and soon Ling Yun spilled out his entire past with the clan, excluding the stuff with Brahma.

  "I hope you reunite with your sister soon. I would like to meet her one day."

  She felt his pain when he spoke of his sister nearly dying and how the only family who loved him had been taken away from him. At least in her times of difficulty, she had others supporting her but Ling Yun had no one. He had, no he was continuing to walk forward all alone by himself.

  "Yaoyao would sulk if I introduced you. She never liked any other girls around me."

  "Worried about her big brother being stolen from her, she must be so adorable."

  "Yeah, Yaoyao was the cutest thing ever."

  They freely chatted about some other things before deciding to exit the tavern. But before they left, she had one more question to left.

  "So why did you let your cousin walk all over you? I have seen you fight and know that he isn't your match. Now that you have become strong, you can easily teach him a lesson."

  "And what will that achieve? Since he isn't on my level, even sparring him wouldn't be beneficial to me. And hurting him just because he said some mean words, ridiculous! I never decided to become strong for reasons like this."

  He scoffed at the notion, treating taking revenge on his former tormentors as something pointless.

  "When the whole clan started neglecting me, at first it hurt deeply but gradually I started getting numb to it. Since they don't care about me, why should I care what they feel about me? They ignore me so I shall do the same. Instantly the pain disappeared.

  "From this ordeal, I realised something important. That you should put your efforts on people who care about you instead of caring about what others say. Words from people like them could never hurt me in the slightest."

  She looked at him in a new light as her understanding of Ling Yun got even deeper. In the Thousand Fragrance Palace, she had met countless rich and powerful men. All of them are drunk on the power and fortune they hold, their arrogance higher than the skies. She was sure that none of them would let any insult to them slide and their retaliation would be bloody and merciless. But Ling Yun, he was different.

  Him, being the disciple of the Senior Master Alchemist, has much more reason to be arrogant but doesn't posses a shred of it instead treating one with dignity and respect. She finally realised what causes the frequent warmth in her chest whenever she was near him, it was his kindness. Despite his status, he treats everyone, even a lowly musician who tried to trick him with consideration and mercy. And his strength, it wasn't cultivated for petty things like revenge, it was to help the helpless.

  Even after suffering the cruelty of the world, how can he still maintain his gentle nature? Even I had decided to ignore the cries, but he still jumps into the cesspool to save those screaming in pain.

  in this world many, even her believed kindness to be a weakness, that idealism will lead one to his end but still she wished his light would remain shining brightly forever. In her heart she knew that someday either he would be betrayed by his kindness or will have to betray his kindness but till then-

  "So what are we going to do next, master?"

  "To do what I originally came for. I'm going to meet Granny Sha. It will be troublesome to sneak inside."

  "Can I come with you, master?"

  He looked at her in inquiry before gesturing her to follow him.

  I don't know what will happen in the future but till then let me stay by your side and bask in your warmth.