Bai Fanlu's hand landed on Xiao Liu's shoulder and he patted him gently.
He planned to move his hand away but failed to do so because Xiao Liu tilted his head to glance at him, then raised his own hand to hold his. Although he was surprised, he did not try to pull away and allowed the youth to hold on while he continued.
"After I choked on the fishbone, my brother was even more afraid of eating fish than I was. We were poor at the time and had very little to eat. Fish was the only meat that we could afford to eat often."
"My brother is too skinny, and I don't want him not to be able to eat fish just because of me. So I tried very hard not to be afraid of it myself. In the end, I overcame it, but I didn't expect..."
At this point, Xiao Liu couldn't go on as he stared at Bai Fanlu. There seemed to be a coating of sparkles in his eyes, trembling violently with the fluctuations of his emotions. But before Bai Fanlu noticed it, the youth quickly lowered his head to conceal this unexpected but aberrant instance.
Bai Fanlu was listening attentively when the youth suddenly halted his sharing. Puzzled, he turned his head to look over and realised that Xiao Liu's head had drooped.
The hand that was grasping his was trembling, causing Bai Fanlu to feel a subtle ache in his heart. He understood at once that it was likely that the youth and his brother were separated shortly after.
This youth named Xiao Liu had a face that looked so oddly familiar that he could no longer forget after a single glance. He had a deep relationship with his brother, relying only on each other in this life. After being choked on a fishbone, he overcame the traumatising fear of eating fish but was unfortunately separated from his brother.
There were just too many inexplicable similarities. If only parts of the youth's life story were alike, Bai Fanlu could accept it as pure coincidences. But this level of likeness when strung together made it impossible for Bai Fanlu to remain unmoved.
Xiao Liu, who in the world are you? Was it really the book spinning up fictitious spiritual support from my memories? Bai Fanlu asked himself secretly, but no one could give him an answer. He could only listen to the young man as he continued to share about his brother.
"I have been to many places over the years to look for him, but I couldn't find him anywhere. But I don't want to give up. I believe that if I persevere and keep on going, I will find him eventually."
Hearing the boy saying ‘couldn't find him anywhere’ in a melancholic tone, Bai Fanlu couldn't fathom what it must have felt like. Despite the similarities, this youth of the book had his brother. This brother was not himself.
And in this troubled world, once loved ones get separated, they might be lost to each other, never to meet again in this lifetime.
Even though he was fully aware of how ridiculous it was to feel for a virtual being, Bai Fanlu was still reluctant to disappoint the youth. He gently tapped his shoulder and softly comforted him, "You will find him."
Xiao Liu was taken aback and raised his head, "Immortal gege..." He stared at Bai Fanlu in a daze with a glimmer returning to his clear eyes once more.
Bai Fanlu noticed his silly expression and felt both a sense of amusement and forbearance at that moment. A mysterious feeling emerged from the bottom of his heart, urging him to open his lips and utter a sentence that even he had not expected to say.
"If you'd like, you can also call me 'Gege '..."
"…"
Xiao Liu's expression, which was initially full of grief with a rare instance of emotional maturity, had now morphed into a strange expression that was a mix of astonishment, overflowing happiness and expectancy.
Bai Fanlu regretted his words, but it was akin to pouring water on the ground—it was far too late.
The duo was initially immersed in a sentimental ambience. But from the moment that sentence was spoken, a turning point was established. Bai Fanlu was taken off-guard and could only watch as Xiao Liu leapt up three feet high into the air and spun around five times on the spot.
Then, he shouted into the distance, "Gege! Gege! I have another gege now!"
He had no regard as to whether this was annoying and said it repeatedly. Even Zhizhi raised his eyelids and rolled his eyes in mockery.
Xiao Liu went on and on crying out, "Gege".
It didn't take long for him to buzz that new term into Bai Fanlu's ear no less than a hundred times. Bai Fanlu got so annoyed that he shooed the youth aside in disdain.
Xiao Liu, on the other hand, was still in high spirits. Whenever he got excited, he would get many ideas. The youth walked barefoot back and forth along the river bank with a good idea in mind.
He remembered that he passed by a discarded, broken fishing net on the journey. He made a trip, went back at once and found it. Except for a single hole, the length of the net could just span the narrowest width of the river.
Xiao Liu tied one end of the net to a boulder, but he had no ideal anchor for the other, for the opposite bank was filled with sand. He boldly pulled Bai Fanlu up to help him out, "Gege, come and catch some fish with me."
Bai Fanlu glanced at the broken net, "Catch fish? What for?"
"Sell them to make money!" Xiao Liu jubilantly replied.
"Okay."
When it came to making money, Bai Fanlu still had a keen interest because it was prohibited for immortal cultivators to conjure up money or use deceptive tricks in its place. As such, money was still a precious commodity and had to be earned legitimately. Even back in his world, Bai Fanlu could also be considered a money-lover.
"You pull the net, and I will catch the fish." Xiao Liu handed one end of the net to Bai Fanlu and ran upstream.
Xiao Liu ran back down from upstream along the riverbank. As he ran, he made sure to use heavy steps in a zigzag direction to scare the fish. The startled fish leapt out of the water, making splashes as they did and giving the scene an appearance of a field of silvery-white flowers.
Bai Fanlu owned a treasure pouch and could store however many fish they wanted. After an hour of hard work by the duo, they caught countless numbers and hurried to the evening market to sell them before it closed. They poured the fish on the ground at a corner of the market and then relied on Xiao Liu's professionalism as a vendor. The youth yelled and beckoned, and very soon, the fish merchants crowded over to make purchases, enabling them to earn a small profit.
After experiencing this means of making money for the first time, Bai Fanlu was a little excited. He was even tempted to do it once more, but it got dark, so he shelved this thought for the time being.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Liu gave all the silver taels they made to Bai Fanlu, "This is what I owed you. It's not enough, but I can make more."
Bai Fanlu had long forgotten about the youth's promise to him back at the inn, but seeing Xiao Liu's determined face, he knew that he couldn't reject him. Bai Fanlu could only reply, "Since I borrowed your horse as well, we are even now."
"But I had intended to hand you all the money I earn in future."
"I am an immortal cultivator and have no need for so much money," Bai Fanlu persuaded him, "You, on the other hand, ought to save some money for your expenses."
Xiao Liu stubbornly refused to take them, so Bai Fanlu had no choice but to place the silver tales into his treasure pouch for the time being. He intended to sneak the money back to the youth the next time they were to part using the same trick that Lord Shen used when slyly gifting him money previously.
Soon, the sky went completely dark. Bai Fanlu was lying on the grass, gazing at the stars in the sky.
The area was not covered by trees, the air was clean and fresh, and the entire starry sky was in sight. The scenery all around was spectacular.
Xiao Liu who lay beside Bai Fanlu, turned to face him, "Can't sleep?"
"En..." Bai Fanlu responded softly, "Am I keeping you up?"
"Nope," Xiao Liu shook his head, "If I can't fall asleep, I like to imagine things. As I think and make up those scenes, I will fall asleep. Would you like to try it?"
"That will keep me up even more," Bai Fanlu smiled, "If I can't sleep, I like to...well...I like to listen to someone tell me a story. That way, I can fall asleep fairly quickly."
"Listen to someone tell you a story? Did your mother do that?"
This time it was Bai Fanlu's turn to shake his head, "No, I am like you. I don't have parents."
"Oh…"
Bai Fanlu feared that Xiao Liu would start to comfort him, so he added in a hurry, "Actually, I don't know who that person is. I simply like his voice. He sounds very reassuring, puts me at ease and gives me a sense of security."
Bai Fanlu spoke, then paused for a moment, wondering why he delved into that topic with Xiao Liu.
Just as he was about to move away from the topic, Xiao Liu suddenly inched closer to him, "Is he your very important person?"
Is he important?
Bai Fanlu pondered this question briefly. That person was merely a virtual being to him, and spiritual support within the two-dimensional world was not nearly important enough to mention. If he had to comment about it, perhaps he was a key essential for falling asleep and getting a good night's rest.
Bai Fanlu thought and smiled, "Not really."
"Oh", Xiao Liu turned his head and looked up at the starry sky, "Gege is very important to me."
Bai Fanlu's heart thumped hard, but he quickly realised that this ‘Gege’ should not be himself. How could he be so shameless even to think that the youth referred to him? That person should be the actual brother of Xiao Liu in the world of this book.
But even with this understanding, his heart still felt as though it had been scratched slightly by a kitten's paw. His heart itched, and the corners of his lips turned up uncontrollably.
Since Bai Fanlu didn't respond to his earlier sentence, Xiao Liu asked again, "What about you, Gege? Do you have anyone who is very important to you?"
Bai Fanlu had to contemplate carefully before answering this question. He had no parents to begin with, and typically, the significant ones in a person's life were limited to one's parents, good friends or lovers.
In the earlier part of his life, there was indeed such a person in his memory. Of course, the person was not exactly his lover but was rather significant.
Otherwise, a phantom could not have been 'created' from his image subconsciously after so long when he should have been forgotten instead.
Bai Fanlu glanced at Xiao Liu and shook his head again, "I don't."
After these two words, Xiao Liu stopped asking anything.
After a long pause, Bai Fanlu eventually turned his head to look at the youth and saw that Xiao Liu turned his back to him, looking as if he was asleep.
For some reason, peering at his back and watching how his shoulders rise and fall in sync with his every breath, the youth appeared lonesome. Bai Fanlu also vaguely sensed that he might have said something wrong.
On the other side, the youth was not asleep. His eyes were wide open, with his black pupils slightly dulled and glazed with a thin layer of blue light cast by the cold moonlight.
If Bai Fanlu could see them this time, he would find that these eyes were not characteristic of ‘Xiao Liu’, but bore more semblance to another person.
When he woke up in the morning, Bai Fanlu found Xiao Liu was not by his side. He waited on the spot for a while and finally saw him returning while panting heavily.
"I just went back to the village for a span. There were fish cakes for sale. They are freshly made in the morning and smell so good. I want to get some."
Just buy it if you want to. Do you have to report?
Xiao Liu scratched his head and explained grievously, "I only ate some fish yesterday, so I got a little hungry early this morning."
"En, go ahead."
I didn't stop him from buying, did I? So what's with this expression? Bai Fanlu was secretly amused.
Xiao Liu noticed he was being stared at, and his face blushed at once, "I only remember when I was there that I gave Gege all the money yesterday."
Bai Fanlu couldn't help it this time and almost laughed out loud, "I told you to keep some on yourself."
He tossed the money pouch to Xiao Liu, and the youth joyfully hurried back to the fishing village. Zhizhi also poked his head out from the cloth bag behind his back. The monkey had regained its spirit and surveyed around curiously.
Bai Fanlu shook his head, "This kid is really..."
Not far from them, Silver Snow proudly tapped his hooves twice, shaking his head and snorting from his nose, seeming to take great objection towards Bai Fanlu's words.
At this moment, a flash of blue light passed through the air. Bai Fanlu looked up and realised that the blue bird finally arrived after much delay. It was flapping its wings as it landed on his shoulder.
To others, the bird made chirping noises as with regular birds. But to Bai Fanlu, he could make out a clear sentence in his spiritual consciousness.
"Yufang's affairs are unresolved. Shixiong may head to Ling City first and doesn't have to wait for me."
Bai Fanlu repeatedly pondered this sentence in his mind, thinking that Yun Zhan meant that he would be occupied for quite a while. Therefore, Bai Fanlu need not rush to reach his next destination.
Then, Bai Fanlu contemplated all possible reasons why Yun Zhan might be caught in Yufang City. A single sentence came to him, All heroes have a weakness for beauties.
That's fine. It would do that man good to be exposed to more worldly affairs. Who knows, he might forget about his grievances with the original owner.
Bai Fanlu got into a brisk mood. At this point, Xiao Liu running back to him was the icing on the cake, and Bai Fanlu took the initiative to greet him.
Seeing Xiao Liu's forehead covered in sweat from running back and forth, he wiped it away with a spell.
Xiao Liu returned the money pouch to Bai Fanlu, but Bai Fanlu refused to accept it this time.
"You can't refuse. You have to keep it."
Xiao Liu got so anxious that he frowned right away.
Bai Fanlu did not fall for this act of behaving like a spoiled brat and had a ready and definitive reason to counter the youth this time, "You can't always ask me for money every time you want to buy something."
"Why not?"
"I won't be here all the time."
"..." Xiao Liu clutched the money pouch, the glimmer in his eyes swayed like a flame in the wind as if any light was about to go out, "Gege, do you want to leave me too?"
Bai Fanlu was silent for a long time, then tugged at the reins of Silver Snow, uttering, "Forget it.”
"I know you are the best to me, Gege!" Xiao Liu's face lit up once more, and he did not forget to add flattery.
Bai Fanlu was annoyed that he was too unprincipled and soft to this young man every single time. He stood on his sword and pulled apart, maintaining a physical distance from the youth to seek a little self-delusive composure.
Xiao Liu hopped onto the horse, holding the reins in one hand and nibbling at his fish cakes leisurely as they trotted on.
"Gege, do you want to eat?
"I don't."
"Oh...then I'll eat this myself."
The plan to tempt Bai Fanlu with food to ride on the horse with him failed.
However, Xiao Liu was not discouraged at all and hummed happily, There will be more opportunities in the future!
Bai Fanlu steadily rode on his sword, drifting behind Silver Snow. Xiao Liu was right in front of him, which gave him a chance to observe the youth in secret.
There wasn't anything out of the ordinary, but that youth's concentration and earnestness when it came to eating made Bai Fanlu suddenly recall the little beggar he had met from before. That boy also yelled and addressed him as ‘Immortal gege’ and said that he was ‘really nice’.
He had no idea what had happened to that child. Had he gone to where Yun Zhan directed him to? Was he still living without shelter and with little food and clothing like before?
And ‘him’...Where is he now?
After all, that man should be twenty-two years old now, at the age where one was about to graduate from college.
"Xiao Liu." Bai Fanlu spoke suddenly.
Xiao Liu turned his head, gulping down the fish cake hurriedly, and looked up at Bai Fanlu.
Bai Fanlu continued casually, "Let's head to Ling City together."
"Ah? Really!? Cough cough cough..." Xiao Liu was so excited that he choked.
Bai Fanlu sternly said, "But let's agree in advance that you must hold on to the money pouch. When we arrive in Ling City, we will part ways."
"Why?" The youth felt aggrieved once more.
As it was a matter of personal safety, Bai Fanlu did not intend to accommodate him this time, "If you are not obedient, then..."
"I'll listen, I'll listen! I will obey Gege, as long as you don't leave me behind."
The boy lowered his head, Bai Fanlu couldn't see his face from his angle, but the sudden collapse of the youth's shoulders made him uncomfortable.
After thinking about it, Bai Fanlu added, "Didn't you want me to be your master? I'll teach you some self-defence spells along the way, okay?"
Oho, he really has a weak spot for XL ^^
Thank You for the new chapter!