Are there any other brothers in your family?

Outside the door came Song Jiao’s voice: "Brother, where are you going? You haven't slept all night, aren't you going to rest?"

"Never mind me. Take good care of her."

Holding a bowl of ginger soup, Song Jiao entered the room with a corner of her lips curved upward, and sat down by the bedside. "Here, drink a bowl of ginger soup to warm yourself up!"

After finishing the ginger soup, Su Yunqing was overwhelmed with drowsiness. Lacking the energy to ask why Song Jiao was in such low spirits, she drifted into a deep, heavy sleep.

Song Jiao carried the soup jar out of the door, and as she looked up, she was startled by an angry face right in front of her.

"Father? What are you doing here?"

Song Lang jerked his chin toward the room. "Who is inside? That Master Cheng from last time?"

Song Jiao rolled her eyes, nodded, and said, "Yes!"

"You let a young man stay in your room! What kind of propriety is that?"

Song Jiao quickly explained, "He fell into the water to save Uncle Kun and caught a chill. He fell sick and is sleeping now. I'm staying in the next room tonight, so you can rest assured!"

Song Lang asked sternly, "Where is Ah Yuan?"

"He went out."

"Where to?"

"Didn't say!"

Song Lang cast a sidelong glance at her. "Don't think I don't know your little schemes. Let me tell you, don't even think about it! You and Ah Yuan grew up together and know each other inside and out. After the New Year, you'll be turning sixteen. I'll have someone pick an auspicious day and arrange for the two of you to get married!"

"What?" Song Jiao cried out in shock. "Father, what kind of joke are you playing? No... who is marrying whom? Make yourself clear."

Song Lang said with unquestionable authority, "You and Ah Yuan will marry. What's wrong with that?"

Song Jiao reached out and touched Song Lang's forehead. Impatiently, Song Lang dodged away. "What are you doing?"

"Father, have you lost your mind? Are you not having a fever? You want me to marry my brother?"

Song Lang replied, "He is not your brother. Marrying him is the most fitting arrangement!"

Unable to whether to laugh or cry, Song Jiao knit her brows and said, "Father, he and I grew up together. Ever since I can remember, he has been my brother, and in my heart, I've always regarded him as my own blood brother. How could I possibly marry him?"

"Then let me tell you right now: he calls me uncle, and I raised him. He is not your biological brother."

"Oh! So that's how it is!" Song Jiao wore a look of sudden realization. "When I was little, I couldn't understand why you wouldn't let him call you father. So you already had this plan in mind back then?"

Song Lang neither confirmed nor denied it.

Yet Song Jiao retorted, "Then your calculations are way off. I will never agree to marry my brother. Regardless of whether he was born to you or not, in my heart, he is my real brother."

"You!" Furious, Song Lang flicked his sleeve, pointed at the room, and demanded, "Have you taken a fancy to that pretty-boy surnamed Cheng?"

"Father, it is really impolite of you to speak like that. No wonder people call you a bandit." Twirling her braid, Song Jiao spoke without a filter.

Furious, Song Lang puffed out his beard and snapped, "If you dare to be disrespectful to your father again, I'll have him thrown down the mountain this very instant! Let me tell you, you and Ah Yuan are definitely going to get married. In what way is Ah Yuan not better than that pretty boy?"

"Father, are you unable to understand my words? Is this a matter of whether someone is better or not? I've already told you I treat him as my own brother. If you want me to marry my brother, why don't you marry my aunt?"

"You, you, you..." Speechless from being so fiercely retorted against, Song Lang raised his hand, clenched it into a fist in mid-air, and finally lowered it again.

Song Jiao raised her chin in unrepentant defiance. Not to mention that her father had never hit her before, he hadn't even had the heart to lay a finger on Linyuan. No matter how fierce he acted, it was just an empty show, and she wasn't scared at all.

Full of fury, Song Lang swept his sleeves and stormed off. Song Jiao carried the jar back to the kitchen.

Song Jiao could no longer remember how Linyuan had come to their household, but she had never forgotten that when they were little, she had always wanted Linyuan to call Song Lang "father" just like she did. Because he was an orphan without parents and was exceptionally sensible, Song Jiao always felt a pang of pity for him, but Song Lang had never agreed.

Yet Song Lang clearly treated Linyuan no differently than he treated her, yet he always insisted that Linyuan call him "uncle."

Today, she finally understood—her father had been harboring this intention all along.

Song Jiao thought to herself that if she were to tell Linyuan about this, it would probably scare him to death.

Meanwhile, Linyuan had already arrived alone at the cave entrance leading to the bottom of the cliff.

Su Yunqing slept very soundly. It wasn't until the sun climbed from the sea to the top of the cliff the next day, bathing the entire Longyin Mountain in morning glow, that she finally opened her eyes under the golden morning light.

It was already the second day? She had slept intermittently for a full day and night!

She raised her arms to loosen her joints, then rotated her neck a few circles forward, backward, left, and right. Her head no longer hurt, and she felt strength returning to her body. Coupled with such fine weather today, her heart felt clear and bright.

Su Yunqing got up and pondered to herself: The Saliva of the Dragon and the Ink-Feather Vajra were both gone; she had to go back there today.

She would absolutely not return empty-handed. She had to bring back at least one of the two items.

Walking toward the door to open it, she raised her hand and caught sight of the goose-yellow spring orchid embroidery circling the cuff of her red garment.

She was still wearing Song Jiao's clothes. If she went out like this and happened to run into an acquaintance, her cover would be blown.

She quietly withdrew her hand, turned around, and paced back and forth in the room twice, when she heard the door creak open.

Song Jiao walked in carrying the men's attire Su Yunqing had worn when she climbed the mountain. Closing the door behind her, Song Jiao said, "Your clothes are washed. Do you want to change back into them?"

Truly a timely help! Su Yunqing hurried forward with a smile to take the garments. "Wonderful! I was just waiting to wear them, and you brought them right over. Thank you, Jiaojiao. May I... may I call you Jiaojiao?"

Song Jiao forced the corners of her mouth upward. "Call me whatever you like."

Su Yunqing drew closer to her. "You seem to be in a bad mood?"

"No, I'm not!"

Looking at her skeptically, Su Yunqing said, "I noticed it yesterday, but I was too weak and exhausted to ask you. Tell me what's making you unhappy. Maybe I can help you?"

Help?

Song Jiao rolled her eyes, arched a brow, and her face suddenly brightened as she asked, "Lady Cheng, does your family... have any brothers?"

Taken aback by the abrupt question, Su Yunqing was momentarily baffled, but she answered truthfully, "I had two brothers, but both of them have already passed away."

The newly lit light in Song Jiao's eyes instantly went out again. "I'm sorry. I made you think of sad things. I didn't mean to."

Su Yunqing smiled candidly. "It doesn't matter. No offense taken by the ignorant."

Dropping her eyelids with a look of utter disappointment, Song Jiao said, "Then you should change your clothes first. I'll go check if my brother is back."

Speak of the devil and he shall appear. Just as Song Jiao reached for the door, a knock sounded from outside.

When the door was pushed open, Linyuan appeared before them—somewhat disheveled, yet wearing a joyful expression.

He asked softly, "May I come in?"

Su Yunqing had not yet changed her clothes. Startled by his appearance, she looked at him with strained tension and said, "Come in quickly."

Song Jiao grabbed his hand, pulled his arm up, and inspected him all over. Spotting traces of blood on his clothes, she asked with deep heartache in her eyes, "Brother, you're hurt?"

Linyuan pushed her gently toward the outside. "Step outside first. I have something to tell her."

And just like that, Song Jiao found herself inexplicably locked out of the room.