That night, after becoming sworn brothers, Yan Si finally agreed to sleep in the same spot with RongCheng, his mind drifting and pondering endlessly.
"Eldest brother... eldest brother... Do I truly have an eldest brother?" At this very moment, he really did not know whether he was awake or dreaming; what if everything changed tomorrow morning?
"No... how could this be a dream..." Just now, the wound from cutting into his palm was still hurting very much... To be more certain, Yan Si turned over to face RongCheng and asked, "Brother... are you truly my eldest brother?"
"Foolish little brother..." RongCheng helplessly caressed his head and scolded, "Could it possibly be fake? Hurry up and sleep."
Yan Si was currently thoroughly exhausted, and hearing RongCheng's reassurance, his mind was put at ease; before long, he rolled over and fell into a deep sleep.
Outside, the rain was still pattering continuously. Just now, the clothes on Yan Si's person had been soaked through, compounding the freezing coldness of the space; though he normally said nothing, each time he slept, his body would involuntarily shudder.
Suddenly sensing that the person beside him was showing unusual signs, RongCheng sat up and nudged Yan Si, asking, "Hey, what is the matter with you?"
Hearing the question, Yan Si merely shook his head and replied, "I... it's nothing... just a bit cold, that's all."
The boy truly was always like this... RongCheng pondered in hesitation, and a long while later, decided to fling open his robe to expose his bare chest, saying, "Sit up, take off your clothes, and come over here."
"Take off my clothes... what for?" Though unclear of the reason, Yan Si still complied, and at this moment, RongCheng suddenly pulled him and cradled him into his chest.
"What... what is this?" Yan Si felt his head grow dizzy and faint; he immediately struggled, wanting to break free, but was held firmly by RongCheng, pressed even closer against his chest...
Skin touching skin, hearing the sound of the heart beating, hearing the rhythm of the man's breath, and further experiencing the intense heat transferring over from him—it was warm to the extent of dispelling the coldness from just a moment ago.
It seemed it truly was more comfortable... exactly like the dream of years past, lying within the embrace of the ghostly mother while experiencing an exceptionally pleasant sensation.
Seeing that the boy had calmed down, RongCheng smiled and asked, "How do you feel? Is it warm?"
There was no sound of a reply whatsoever; instead, there was only the steady breathing of Yan Si. His body had returned to normal, and the boy also gradually sank into a dream.
The following day, RongCheng took his sword to secure it across his waist, then led Yan Si into the forest to pluck apples. Knowing that he would absolutely return, he had thoroughly marked the path right from the beginning; however, for some unknown reason, currently the further they walked, the more incorrect it felt.
The two of them, despite bearing injuries on their legs, had actually walked very far away from the cave before long. At the moment when he could no longer endure it, Yan Si sat flat on the ground and asked, "Eldest brother, is it certain that we have gone the right way? Why have we still not arrived after so long?"
At this very moment, RongCheng also felt it was bizarre; clearly he himself had marked it, so why was it like this now?
The weather currently was extremely overcast, and having just undergone a massive downpour the night before, the forest air remained damp and cold. A gust of chilly wind blew past, causing Yan Si to shudder and bolt up; he huddled close to RongCheng's person and said haltingly, "Eldest... eldest brother, how about we go back, let's not pluck apples anymore."
Yan Si's hands were beginning to turn ice-cold, and his person also suddenly shuddered—he was clearly afraid. Seeing this, RongCheng immediately grasped his hand and asked, "What is the matter? What are you afraid of? With me here, there is no need to fear!"
Though he nodded, Yan Si still did not cease worrying; this sensation was very familiar, being exactly like this every time he was about to undergo a dangerous crisis. A person who was immortal logically should have nothing to fear; however, Qin Sheng had imprisoned him within a state of being half-alive and half-dead, multiplying the dread many times over.
Seeing the boy in such a state, RongCheng also did not wish to force him further, so he said, "Very well then, let us go back."
He nodded in agreement and then followed closely behind RongCheng step by step.
After walking for a while, Yan Si suddenly came to a dead halt to observe; sensing the danger closing in, he pulled RongCheng's arm and said, "We should change to another path."
RongCheng felt bewildered and asked, "What is the matter with you? Going this way is correct, isn't it!?"
Yan Si shook his head vigorously, silently asking himself, "Can brother not perceive it?"
Indeed, how could the man's sensitivity to danger be as sharp as his? Only a creature who from childhood to adulthood had wrestled countless times with wild forest beasts would have developed that survival skill, that was all.
Trusting his intuition, Yan Si said, "I sense danger lurking ahead; how about we stop and wait for a moment, is that alright?"
Seeing that Yan Si's expression appeared grave, RongCheng nodded faintly: "That will do then; take advantage of this moment to sit and rest a bit."
Yan Si nodded faintly and sat down, leaning his back against the base of a tree, and RongCheng also sat close beside him. Only at this time did the man have the opportunity to ask, "I see your medical skill is very decent; from whom did you learn it?"
The two of them had now become sworn brothers; naturally, RongCheng wished for Yan Si to be honest, yet the boy still shook his head: "Apologies... I... I cannot say..."
Before departing, Yichang Hua had once strictly enjoined Yan Si that he absolutely must not acknowledge himself as his disciple; therefore, he must resolutely maintain silence.
Hearing an answer that was not entirely satisfactory, RongCheng suddenly let out a sigh: "Forget it then, I will not force you... What about prior to this, where did you live? Or have you been in that cave since childhood?"
Yan Si replied hesitantly, "I... also lived in the forest, but... not here."
"Also lived in the forest?" It truly was not outside RongCheng's expectations. He asked further, "Then did you live alone, or with someone?"
Recalling those past days, Yan Si's gaze suddenly turned profoundly sorrowful: "I... lived together with master."
"Master? Has he currently already passed away?"
"No... he hasn't..." Yan Si instantly shook his head in affirmation: "He is still in this world."
Hearing up to this point, RongCheng suddenly let out a sarcastic laugh and asked, "From what I see, that master of yours seems to not care about you very much, is that correct?"
"He..." Yan Si's fist suddenly clenched tightly: "It is all due to my own ignorance, he cannot be blamed."
Acting as a master yet allowing his own disciple to fall into such a plight was truly far too heartless, yet the boy stubbornly insisted on attributing all the blame to himself... At that thought, RongCheng suddenly caressed Yan Si's head and said, "Being foolish is not a crime; even if you committed some serious blunder, he still should not have abandoned you like this, let alone..."
Through many days of contact, he felt that Yan Si was still very kind; there must absolutely be some deep, underlying reason, but since the boy was resolved to maintain silence, he could only let it be.
The caress on the head caused waves to rise in Yan Si's heart; every small action of RongCheng inadvertently dragged him back toward real life—being cherished, being cared for, and being consoled like a normal person.
Yan Si's chest began to heave; though he did not understand what was happening to him, he liked this feeling, wishing only to remain by his eldest brother's side.
The fear was instantly filled by strange emotions that surpassed the boundaries of his comprehension. Yan Si found it exceptionally perplexing and wished to flee; forcing himself up, he stammered, "Back... let's go back to the cave."
RongCheng smiled and asked, "Are you no longer afraid?"
Yan Si nodded and headed straight forward, and RongCheng also walked leisurely behind him.
A child starved of affection throughout sixteen long, arduous years—RongCheng was like an anchor pulling Yan Si back to a dream-filled reality, a world he had never imagined. His eldest brother was the brightest, most radiant sun, causing this younger brother to yearn to reach out toward him, so as to fill the endless, vacant dark night.
After a while, the two of them suddenly stood dead in their tracks once more; Yan Si's face instantly turned pale as he called out, "Eldest... eldest brother!"
"Uh..." RongCheng had also seen it by now; he immediately stood as a shield in front of Yan Si, his hand firmly gripping the sword at his waist, and commanded, "Fall back quickly."
From deep within the remote and gloomy woods, a large leopard slowly advanced outward, observing the prey before its eyes.
"With a leopard this large, what should be done?" Both of them were currently injured; Yan Si truly did not know how to manage...
RongCheng let out a sigh, gritted his teeth, and said, "Fall back quickly."
Encountering a large leopard during such a time was indeed the ultimate misfortune.
Obeying the words, Yan Si instantly retreated; however, for every step the two of them retreated, the leopard advanced two steps further. At this rate, it was to be feared that they would have a life-and-death struggle with it.
The leopard had already caught the scent of fear and the scent of human beings bearing injuries; in a battle of certain victory like this, it would not hesitate to charge forward—in the end, it merely wished to fill its empty belly.
The moment of life and death drawing near, Yan Si reacted very quickly, pulling at RongCheng's robe, and said, "Eldest brother, run first, I will stay behind to block the leopard's path... Do not worry, I cannot die."
Yan Si believed that the immortality of Qin Sheng was something that could preserve his eldest brother's life, saving his sun, even though he himself might not remain whole.
He knew he would not die, and simultaneously would not be granted salvation, but at least he would no longer feel cold when the night fell. The sun would eventually set, and the person would also soon depart; he feared the feeling of losing the little bit of warmth and the joy he had just acquired, so it would be better if...
As long as he could save his eldest brother, even if he were torn apart by the leopard, the man would forever remain the most radiant sun in his final memory.
"What... what did you just say?" RongCheng knitted his brows slightly, momentarily unable to believe what he had just heard... He truly did not understand what kind of person the boy viewed him as. One who craved life and feared death, abandoning his sworn younger brother in a moment of peril? Furthermore... the one who needed to be protected should be him!
Clenching his fist tightly, he gritted his teeth and replied, "Do not speak nonsense; if we escape, we escape together, both of us will be fine, fall back."
"Eldest brother!" Yan Si gripped his robe tightly and shook his head: "Hurry up and run!"
With a leopard this large, even if the two of them combined their strength, they would still be no match for it...
Yan Si was accustomed to risks of this nature, but RongCheng might die... Thinking that he had poured out all his strength to save his eldest brother, he absolutely could not allow him to sacrifice himself on his account! The man had to live at all costs!
Knowing that the child's heart was overflowing with dread, RongCheng suddenly patted his hand, reassuring him, "Trust in me... I absolutely cannot allow anything to happen to you, fall back quickly."
"Trust in me...?" That was right... currently this was the only way left; he absolutely had to trust in him. At that thought, Yan Si gripped the dagger in his hand tightly, and spoke as if pleading, "Very well, I trust in you... therefore, please do not die!"
RongCheng nodded faintly: "Very well, fall back quickly."