The two of them shared one wild chicken. Yan Si ate very slowly and very little, but he did so with all his effort just to please the person beside him. With this one meal, his body would probably stay full for several days.
Ever since RongCheng appeared, Yan Si's entire rhythm of life had been upended. This man brought him a strange, fluttering feeling — could this be what happiness felt like? Even the cold, damp cave seemed warmer than before.
Unknowingly, Yan Si had grown increasingly fond of this man. Whatever was good, he wanted to give it all to him, afraid that once the man left, he would no longer have the chance. It was as if he was desperately gathering the last rays of sunlight before the night fell.
That night, heavy rain poured outside. The spot where Yan Si usually slept had already been flooded with water, yet he still lay there, hugging the little rabbit with no intention of moving.
Seeing this, RongCheng couldn't stand it any longer and called out, "Yan Si, come here."
Hearing his name, Yan Si quickly lifted his head and looked toward RongCheng. Thinking the man needed his help, he hurried over and asked, "What's wrong?"
RongCheng patted the space beside him and said, "It's wet out there. Sleep here tonight."
"But… how can I?" Although it was dry here, the space was narrow and only enough for one person.
"Why not?" RongCheng shifted closer to the cave wall, leaving an empty space on the outer side that was just right for Yan Si's body. "Hurry and lie down."
This person was truly strange. Yan Si had never met anyone like him before. In the past, Yichang Hua had always left him to struggle alone against nature. Only when he was truly on the verge of death would Yichang Hua appear to save him.
Yan Si had long grown used to living like this, and because of Qin Sheng, he never minded it. No matter how harsh the environment was, he believed that enduring it for a while would make it pass. But now, why was this man…
They were neither family nor friends. Although RongCheng had saved his life, his own affairs had nothing to do with anyone else… So why did this man feel uncomfortable? Why insist on making him sleep here? Moreover, Rongcheng was still injured; forcing himself to sleep like this would definitely be uncomfortable.
Thinking this, Yan Si suddenly shook his head. "There's no need. I'm used to living like this. It's not the same for you. You probably haven't experienced it before, so you feel uneasy… So… don't worry about me."
With that, he turned to leave, but RongCheng suddenly grabbed his hand.
"You're not wrong…" In his entire life, RongCheng had never fallen into such wretched circumstances. The dark, smelly cave had none of the agarwood scent he loved, without his love by his side to share intimate affections, the longing drove him nearly mad, yet he had to endure it all. Even eating and moving around was extremely difficult and restricted, while his wounds constantly throbbed with pain… However, every time he looked at Yan Si, all his own suffering suddenly felt insignificant. The more he observed him, the less he could understand this person's way of thinking.
"Tell me, why do you insist on giving all the good things to me and shouldering all the hardship yourself? What do you gain in return?"
They were clearly strangers. Why had he gone all out to save him? They shared no blood ties, no friendship, and no romantic feelings — so why would he give up food and shelter for a stranger? Everyone in this world pursued their own happiness. Yet him… what benefit did this action bring?
"I…" What benefit? What did he gain in return?
"I don't know…" Because he simply felt it was something he should do, and he had always lived this way. It was the same with Yichang Hua. He had tried his best to do everything, hoping the other would be happy and would spare him a little affection, but in the end… it was all in vain. Still, he continued doing it… and doing it… treating it as something natural even though he received no benefits in return. His life had only ever been one color — despair.
"I… what good have I done for you? Isn't everything just natural?" He didn't feel he was doing anything good, nor did he think he was suffering. Because he had never lived in comfort his entire life, how could he understand the difference?
Suddenly, a loud crack of thunder exploded outside, causing RongCheng's head to throb with pain.
"You don't understand? You really don't understand?"
RongCheng gripped Yan Si's hand tightly and remained silent for a long time, lost in thought. "Something that should be obvious?"
What this "obvious" thing was, he truly could not comprehend — especially someone like him, who had lived his whole life in the ruthless struggle for royal power, where everyone placed their own interests above all else. How could he possibly understand Yan Si's version of "obvious"?
Who could sacrifice like this? Suddenly, RongCheng burst into loud laughter, as if mocking himself.
"I admit defeat to you…" A person who had struggled through life in the depths of the forest, whose body was weak yet whose heart was kinder and purer than anyone else's…
"You don't know what hardship and discomfort truly feel like? Then I will make you understand."
Outside, the rain was still pouring heavily, but there was no longer any laughter; instead, RongCheng's expression was exceptionally grave as he asked, "How old are you this year?"
Hearing the question, Yan Si pondered for a long long time... It seemed that since he came to live in the cave, two winters had already passed...
Remembering this, he replied haltingly, "I... I am sixteen... What is the matter with you, hurry up and let go of my hand!"
The man clamping down on his hand like that made him feel a great deal of pain.
"Sixteen..." It truly was older than he had imagined... RongCheng still had no intention of letting go, and asked again, "Coincidentally, I am four years older than you... Is it true that you have no relatives?"
Yan Si knitted his brows slightly. "Truly none! Let go of my hand... you are hurting me!"
"Apologies..." Only when it was put that way did RongCheng finally agree to spare Yan Si... And then, he suddenly stood up, stepped over to his side, and offered straightforwardly, "Then from now on you have me; will you accept an eldest brother?"
"Eldest brother!?" This person had made Yan Si truly terrified just a moment ago, but right now left him completely astonished: "Eldest... eldest brother?"
What was that? The two of them inherently did not share the same bloodline, so how could he be his eldest brother?
"Correct." Suddenly, RongCheng knelt down while simultaneously pulling the boy down to kneel with him, forcing a sworn brotherhood upon him... The oath was uttered amidst Yan Si's sheer bewilderment...
Taking heaven and earth as witness, from now on the two of them would share blessings together and endure disasters together, mutually supporting each other throughout their lives; if either broke this word, they prayed to have their bones crushed and flesh shattered, existing in a state worse than death!
From this day forward, Yan Si officially became the sworn younger brother of RongCheng, and together they both bowed to heaven and earth three times.
Having established the oath, RongCheng stood up to fetch a bowl of water, used his dagger to cut a line into his palm to let his blood drip down, and Yan Si also repeated the same action; waiting until the blood of both completely mingled together, the two shared it and drank...
True affection upon a first encounter was the most precious thing in the world. RongCheng had resolved in his heart that he would always protect this foolish little brother Yan Si, never allowing anyone to harm him, keeping the person forever pure and bright, just like today.