Chapter Thirty-Eight: Returned

After hastening for several miles, although she wasn’t truly exhausted, Qiu Wan’er’s figure betrayed a hint of weariness. She was clearly reluctant in her heart, and that unwillingness seemed to affect her body, making it feel beyond her own control. What’s more, hunger had reached its peak—so much so that even the scent of flowers from the mountains seemed to carry the aroma of food, and her stomach rumbled incessantly, as if some melody was being played within her mind.

“My little junior sister, where did you wander off to? As soon as I finished cooking, I couldn’t find a trace of you anywhere! Your senior brother searched all over the mountain, worried you’d run into trouble. Now that you’ve returned, it’s a relief. Hungry, I suppose? I kept your meal warm—why not eat something quickly?” After dawdling for quite a while, she finally returned to the summit of Mount Qilian. The sun was shining high, not quite noon, but its warmth was full and generous. At such an hour, the houses were usually deserted; though the Qilian Sect didn’t have many members, when gathered together, they numbered several dozen. Because they lived in seclusion, daily needs required diligent labor—except for someone like Qiu Wan’er, who was exempt from such chores. However, today was unusual. The main hall seemed crowded, heads bobbing as if something was surrounded at the center. Naturally, such a scene aroused curiosity—especially for Qiu Wan’er, whose interest was all the keener in the mountain’s isolation. Her steps quickened toward the main hall, leaving the three trailing behind her at a distance—yet her rush was brought to a halt. Just as she passed the kitchen, a figure emerged and blocked her path, sweeping her with a look and breaking into a smile.

The speaker was her second senior brother, surnamed Lao—a rare name, with barely ten thousand families across the nine provinces. Perhaps because he spent so much time in the fields and kitchens, his face was weathered and dry from wind and smoke, the wrinkles deep and pronounced. His expression was a blend of joy and affection; if he was her senior brother in name, perhaps “father and daughter” would be more apt in spirit.

“Second Senior Brother, I…” At his question, Qiu Wan’er felt a pang of guilt—her behavior was clearly wrong, and she couldn’t maintain her old stubbornness. Yet the words of apology stuck in her throat. Thankfully, her stomach chose that moment to rumble loudly, easing the awkwardness between them. Though Lao Second Brother was a bit thickheaded, his heart was sensitive; he noticed immediately, and his smile grew brighter, as if guessing her state brought him delight. He headed back into the kitchen, leaving his words lingering in the air: “Looks like you really are hungry! Wait here, your brother will serve you a meal right away!”

Qiu Wan’er stood awkwardly, realizing her recent behavior was somewhat laughable. Though she remained curious about the scene in the main hall, it didn’t feel right to leave now—she would be dismissing such kindness. Just then, Xia Third Brother and the other two caught up.

“Little sister, what did Second Brother say to you just now?” Seeing her standing motionless, her companions, used to her temperament, felt puzzled. Before Seventh and Eighth Brothers could speak, Xia Third Brother stepped forward—not because of seniority, but because he was the only one willing to tease the girl. Qiu Wan’er looked at the three, sighed softly, as if disappointed in herself. Almost simultaneously, her gaze drifted toward the crowd in the main hall, and she answered in a low voice, “Nothing much. Second Brother was worried I’d go hungry and is serving me food.”

“Second Brother spoils you too much, always afraid you’ll suffer the slightest grievance—sometimes he doesn’t even give First Brother his due. Every meal, he saves the best for you. Who knows what delicacy he’s hidden this time, keeping it from the rest of us?” The words were tinged with jealousy, though such things were hardly rare atop Mount Qilian. Qiu Wan’er was young and the only girl among a group of men; whether as daughter or sister, affection always placed her in the most favored position. Gradually, it became a habit—if one day it changed, the others would surely feel aggrieved. Still, teasing was a must; otherwise, life in the mountains would be devoid of fun.

“Third Brother, stop teasing her—she hasn’t even had breakfast. And you three, after escorting Master down the mountain, didn’t have time to eat, right? Come on, I’ve prepared plenty today. Let’s all have some together—don’t go hungry!” Lao Second Brother was quick; in the blink of an eye, he emerged with a large tray, having already seen Xia Third Brother and the others approaching. Utensils were ready—a big bowl of rice, a plate of fresh greens, a dish of chicken. To those who hadn’t eaten, the sight was irresistible; the aroma alone was enough to whet the appetite.

The four fell upon the food like starving ghosts reborn—grabbing bowls, serving dishes, and even the plump Eighth Brother couldn’t take his eyes off the spread, smacking his lips with anticipation as the meal was laid out on the stone slab.

They ate quickly, each one attacking their food as if a moment’s delay would mean missing out. All else faded from their minds; for half a quarter hour, they devoured hungrily, at last suppressing their hunger. Perhaps because she ate more slowly, Qiu Wan’er still felt unsatisfied, her hand lingering as she scraped up the last grains, determined to leave nothing behind. Seeing that everyone was nearly finished, Lao Second Brother asked curiously, “Xia Third Brother, weren’t you supposed to go down the mountain with Master? How did you end up returning with Little Sister?”

“Well, you see, Little Sister…” Xia Third Brother started to reply, but felt a chilly gaze. He instinctively glanced sideways, and in his peripheral vision saw Qiu Wan’er glaring at him, a warning in her eyes. Though he was hardly a timid man and had seen much of the world, for some reason, facing this girl always made him nervous, as if she might devour him at any moment. He understood her meaning and quickly changed his answer: “Well, Second Brother, you know Little Sister loves to wander—always running off. The three of us, after seeing Master off, happened to meet her on the way back, so we came together. But what’s going on today? Shouldn’t everyone be out working or hunting in the mountains? Why are they all gathered at the main hall?”

At that, Lao Second Brother’s gaze turned toward the main hall. Qiu Wan’er and the others’ attention followed, her curiosity reawakened now that her hunger was satisfied. Her expression was filled with anticipation and urgency. Lao Second Brother’s face broke into a subtle smile: “Oh, you hadn’t heard? Over half an hour ago, First Brother returned. All the brothers gathered immediately—you know how it is, crowding around when he’s exhausted, not letting him rest!”

At this news, joy appeared on Qiu Wan’er’s face. She sprang to her feet, rushing toward the main hall so quickly that the dishes clattered on the stone as she left. Lao Second Brother could only sigh helplessly—this was nothing new. But the remaining three were left staring in surprise, full of confusion.