Reon stiffe the ued voice from behind.

  "Big Brother!"

  His brows furrowed as he turned, his gaze nding on a young man—perhaps two years his junior— the standard robes of an outer sect disciple.

  He was of average height, his lean, athletic build a testament to years of discipliraining.

  Short, slightly tousled bck hair framed a ki determined face, and his dark brown eyes held a warmth that trasted sharply with the quiet resolve lurkih.

  A faint scar ran along his left cheek—evidence of past struggles.

  Despite his modest appearahere was something about him—a quiet strength in his posture, a fidehat spoke of unwavering focus.

  But what caught Reon off guard wasn’t his Presence.

  It was the way he called him Big Brother.

  "Does Xue Taiyang... have a junior brother in this sect?"

  Before Reon could react, another voice cut in.

  "Xu Yang, don't interfere in ht."

  It was Wei Xiyan.

  "Xu Yang?" Reon's mind reeled. Isn't that the owner of the residence where I woke up? The one who unknowingly provided me shelter? But why is he calling me Big Brother?"

  Feeling a surge of unease, Reon immediately activated Identify to assess the boy’s status.

  [The "Identify" skill was uo ascertaiarget’s status, resulting in an unfortunate malfun.]

  "What?!"

  Reon’s breath hitched.

  This seemingly ordinary boy—who looked at least two years youood a staggering five cultivation stages above him.

  Xu Yang stepped forward, his expression unwavering.

  "Wei Xiyan, don’t be ridiculous. If something involves Brother Xue, then it involves me too," he decred firmly.

  "It was because of me that Big Brother beat you guys in the past. If you’re looking for revehen e at me instead."

  Reon’s eyes widened.

  "I... fought them for him? I mean... Xue Taiyang?!

  Why in the world would he do that?"

  From everything Reon knew about Xue Taiyang, the man wouldn’t lift a fio help someone uhere was something in it for him.

  Wei Xiyan’s panion sneered. "Tch. Just because you got stronger after eating that Jade Blue Flower, you think you act all high and mighty?"

  Xu Yang’s gaze darkened. "You have two choices—leave now, et beaten into the ground. Choose wisely."

  You—!"

  Wei Xiyan ched his jaw before scoffing. "Let's go. We'll deal with this bastard aime."

  As he turo leave, Lu Nian shot a menag gre at Reon, his eyes promising vengeance.

  Reon, however, only shrugged, feeling more relief than anything.

  Ohe trouble had passed, Reon turo Xu Yang, his curiosity now outweighing his fusion.

  "Alright, who exactly are you? And why did you let me stay in your residence?"

  Xu Yang smiled apologetically before bowing his head respectfully.

  "Ah! Five me for the te introdu.

  Xu Yang greets Big Brother Xue."

  Reon raised an eyebrow. "And how exactly did I bee y Brother?"

  Xu Yang’s smile held a trace of nostalgia as he began expining.

  "Big Brother Xue might not remember, but two months ago, I was lucky enough to find two Unon-Grade Three Leaf Jade Blue Flowers.

  But on my way back, I was ambushed by those three bastards, who tried to steal them."

  His voice softened. "You came to my rescue. Though... it was at the cost of one of my flowers."

  Reon listened carefully, his mind pieg things together.

  "At the time, I never got the ce to properly introduce myself. But from that day on, I swore to sider you my Big Brother."

  An Unon-Grade Three Leaf Jade Blue Flower was aremely rare treasure for Outer Disciples, capable of allowing a Stage-4 Qi Refining cultivator to break through two or three stages at once.

  Reon exhaled.

  "So that's why Xue Taiyang helped him."

  In the novel, he vaguely recalled a mention of Xue Taiyang gifting this very flower, along with other treasures, to his boss as a show of loyalty.

  "So this is where he inally got it from."

  Reon nodded slowly. "Ah, I remember now. But that was merely a mutually beneficial transa. You don’t o call me Big Brother over something like that."

  Even though he had no personal memory of Xue Taiyang’s past, he had to py along.

  Xu Yang, however, shook his head, his eyes unwavering.

  "Even if you took one of the flowers, you still saved my life. Besides, the flower’s effects only work once per person—I had no further use for the sed one."

  His voice grew more serious.

  "Had you not intervehat day, I would’ve lost both flowers.

  Worse, I might not have walked away at all."

  Then, with a siy that caught Reon off guard, he added—

  "After my Big Sister, you were the only person in this entire sect who ever helped me."

  A quiet pause followed his words.

  Reon studied the boy’s expression.

  Pure.

  Ear.

  "He really means it."

  Finally, Reon sighed.

  "Fine. Call me whatever you want."

  Xu Yang grinned. "Thank you, Big Brother Xue!"

  Reon exhaled, a mixture of amusement and disbelief settling in.

  How ironic.

  This boy was genuinely grateful to a sdrel who—if not for Reon's soul inhabiting his body—would have never cared for him at all.

  Still, there was something oddly refreshing about his i admiration.

  A thought crossed Reon's mind. "And who is that Big Sister of yours?"

  Xu Yang’s expressihtened with pride.

  "My Big sister is Xu Liang."

  .

  .

  .

  Reoire body froze.

  His mind bnked for a split sed.

  Then—

  "WHAT?! Xu Liang... That Xu Liang?!" His voice rang with sheer disbelief.