Yu Lin closed her mouth as she tried to recall anything from when she was unconscious but nothing came to mind.

“Unng,” she heard shuffling and she looked down to see Tai Yang looking back up at her, “oh… you’re up,” he commented as he pulled his hand away.

“Y-you… what are you doing here?” Yu Lin stammered out.

“Huh? Younger brother, do you not remember anything?” Tai Yang frowned.

“Remember what?”

“You…” Tai Yang paused before shaking his head, “it’s nothing,” he brought his hand up to her forehead. Yu Lin froze as she watched Tai Yang take his hand away and nod his head. “It’s all good. You’re not running a fever anymore,” Tai Yang yawned as he moved his arms above his head and stretched his body.

“Uh… um…” Yu Lin felt a bit awkward as her eyes darted from Tai Yang and the ground, “thanks again… uh, older brother,” she bowed her head.

“Hmm? Come again?” Tai Yang chuckled. Yu Lin glared at him before throwing her fist out and he quickly dodged to the side. “Woah! Seeing that you have enough strength to hit me you must have recovered quite a bit already.”

“Drop dead,” Yu Lin scowled. As soon as the words left her mouth she felt a tinge of regret. She looked back at his smiling face and let out a small sigh. “I didn’t mean that,” she quickly said.

“Ooohhh… does younger brother finally realize how great older brother is?” Tai Yang teased. Yu Lin felt a bit annoyed at his cheerful tone before an idea came to her mind.

“Ahh… I do realize older brother’s worth now... I may be feeling a bit sick but I think older brother might be able to help me out a lot,” she looked up at him.

“Hmm? Help with what?”

“Come here,” Yu Lin tapped on the bed. She watched the playfulness disappear from his eyes as nervousness replaced it.

“Younger brother, don’t joke around like that!”

“Joke around? It used to be a joke but not anymore, older brother.”

“Younger brother! You said I wasn’t your type?!” Tai Yang cried out.

“Mhmm… but that was before I knew how strong you were… and anyways we already spent a night together. I need to take responsibility for my actions,” Yu Lin only said.

“No! You don’t have to take responsibility for anything!” Tai Yang waved his hands in front of him.

“But… I don’t like not taking responsibility for what I’ve done,” she moved the blanket on her and set her feet on the ground. She took a step toward him and Tai Yang quickly took a step back. “Older brother… how about we take another step forward to deepen our relationship?” Yu Lin reached out and grabbed his wrist before he could react.

“Eeek!” Tai Yang let out a quiet screech.

“I… don’t want to be sworn brothers anymore,” Yu Lin pulled him closer to her.

“Don’t do this Yu Lin! You mustn’t!” Tai Yang shook his head. Yu Lin pulled on his collar to bring his face closer to hers.

“Older brother… how about from this day forward… you call me…” she brought her lips closer to his and Tai Yang tightly shut his eyes as his lips shifted inwards. Yu Lin felt like laughing as she brought her free hand up and flicked his forehead. “Call me master,” she said as she backed away. He let out a small cry as he held his forehead.

“Yu Lin!” he pouted his lips.

“Are you going to pretend you can’t hear me in the future when I say something?” she asked. He looked at her with pitiful eyes before shaking his head.

“I won’t do it anymore!”

“Good. Now then… I need to wash up. You look tire too so go back and rest,” Yu Lin nodded toward the back door. He rubbed his forehead but just continued to stare at her, as if he was a bit hesitant about something. “What’s wrong? Does… older brother want to bathe with me?” Yu Lin asked.

“No! No! No! I-I-I will leave now! I will come see you another time,” Tai Yang darted out of the room. Yu Lin watched him leave in a frenzy and only let out a sigh. She followed him out. Her eyes scanned the backyard and her eyes widened a bit when she saw that the dead plants were no longer dead. Her backyard looked exactly as it did before blood landed on the ground. She felt a warm current run through her before she pursed her lips together.

-

Yu Lin walked into the classroom and the four figures in there turned their heads to look at her.

“Yu Lin!”

“Master!” Yang Yang and Nie Fu ran up to her, “are you feeling better now?” they both asked in unison.

“Yes. Sorry for worrying you two,” Yu Lin replied.

“How are you guys so sure he was sick? He could’ve been skipping class for all we know,” Yamanaru commented from his seat.

“Yamanaru, how could Yu Lin lie about such a thing? Don’t you know that students are only allowed ten sick days of absence or else they are kicked out? Why would Yu Lin waste three days away if she wasn’t really sick?” Yang Yang argued.

“Or… maybe he was visiting one of his… sponsors?” Yamanaru chuckled.

“Yamanaru!” Nie Fu roared. Yamanaru just snickered.

“Ignore him. I don’t even mind so why are you two kicking up a fuss,” Yu Lin said as she went to sit at her desk. She glanced at Leng Zhuang who ignored them the whole time as he continued to read the book he was holding. Yu Lin didn’t pay him much attention either as a book appeared in her hand and she began to flip through it also.

“Yu Lin!” she turned around to see Chen Hua approaching her, “are you feeling well now?”

“Yes. Thank you for your worries, sir Shan,” Yu Lin bowed her head.

“That’s good. Here, take this,” Chen Hua handed her a couple medicine packets, “these are some tonics to help you recover. I saw on your door that you had a cold,” he said. ‘So that’s what Tai Yang put up,’ Yu Lin took the packets. She didn’t look at the note that much as she just took it down and threw it into her trash bin.

“Thank you, sir Shan,” Yu Lin bowed again before stuffing the packets into her endless bracelet.

“Your welcome, Yu Lin. Next time if you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask,” Chen Hua gave her a gentle smile. She nodded her head.

“Then I will trouble sir Shan next time,” she replied. Although she did have her doubts about Chen Hua, after finding out the truth she had a feeling that Chen Hua wasn’t part of Dragon’s Lair and didn’t really know anything going on or else he wouldn’t have ratted Saruto out to her.

“Sir Du!” a coy high pitch voice broke her out of her thoughts and also sent a shiver down her back. She felt someone grab her arm and then felt two lumps press against it. “Sir Du, Qian Su was so worried for you!” Qian Su said as her breath hit Yu Lin’s neck. She pulled her arm away and also pushed Qian Su away while she was at it.

“Qian Su, behave yourself!” Chen Hua scolded but Qian Su didn’t seem to hear him as she continued to give only Yu Lin her attention.

“Sir Du, are you feeling better? If not, then Qian Su can take care of you personally,” she offered.

“No need to. I’m fine. Please stay a couple steps away from me at all times,” Yu Lin said.

“Sir Du,” Qian Su suddenly grabbed her arm again and this time Yu Lin felt she pressed her elbow against the place where she had been stabbed. The place just felt a bit sore now and the press didn’t do much damage so Yu Lin’s expression didn’t change that much.

“Miss Ni, courtesy please,” Yu Lin pushed her away again. Qian Su had a pained expression on her face but didn’t say anything else.

“Sir Du… Qian Su believe that one day you will definitely reciprocate Qian Su’s feelings. Qian Su will work hard for that day to happen,” she declared. Yu Lin ignored her but saw that Saruto was standing by the door behind her and witnessed everything. She acted with nonchalance as she just turned around and started to go through her book again. Everyone went to their respective seats. After that, Zhi Shu came in and started to teach the class.

-

The rest of the day went by smoothly and after dinner, Yu Lin returned to her room to rest. When she opened her door she saw Tai Yang sitting there with a plate of pastry on the table.

“Yo!” Tai Yang flashed her a smile. She closed the door behind her before walking up and taking a seat across from him.

“Do you want to die? How could you enter my room without permission?” Yu Lin asked as she picked up a piece of pastry and popped it into her mouth. Her brows went up slightly as she was surprised at the delicious balance taste.

“How is it? Do you like it?” Tai Yang completely ignored her two questions. She nodded her head honestly.

“Where did you get these? They taste… different… but it’s really good,” she pulled the plate closer to herself as she continued to eat the pastries. Although she had already had dinner, the pastries were too good to resist.

“Hehe… I made these!” Tai Yang declared as he looked at her with a triumphant smiled. Yu Lin paused her actions as she looked at him with doubt in her eyes.

“If you’re going to lie, then you should make it more believable,” Yu Lin commented before stuffing more pastries into her mouth. Tai Yang scrunched up his face and looked as if he had just been wronged.

“I’m not lying! I really made these!” he repeated himself.

“You? The one who couldn’t even cook porridge?”

“T-t-that… I… I really made it,” Tai Yang’s voice was quiet as a blush ran across his face. Yu Lin felt a bit bad seeing him so troubled.

“Alright! I believe you… but you haven’t answered my question yet. Why did you enter my room without permission? Do you want to die?”

“T-that… Yu Lin, we are sworn brothers! You don’t need to worry if I enter your room! You can also enter my room whenever you want to!” Tai Yang grinned.

“Ooohh… so you’re saying that I can enter your room no matter what you are doing?” Yu Lin asked. She glanced down to only see one piece of pastry left and she pushed the plate back to Tai Yang. Tai Yang jaw hung midair before he let out a small cough.

“Alright! I will wait for you to be in your room and knock next time! Sorry!” he apologized. Yu Lin nodded her head in approval.

“Good,” she picked up the pastry and threw it at him. He opened his mouth and the pastry landed inside as he chewed on it.

“Mmmm… I make such good pastry. I will bring you more next time seeing how much you like them.”

“I agree… now then, why are you here?” Yu Lin rested her chin on her hand.

“Oh yea, remember I came by because I wanted to ask you something?” Tai Yang asked. Yu Lin thought for a moment before remembering he did say that and nodded her head.

“Yes. What is it you want to ask?”

“I heard that there is a tournament held every year. Do you want to be on the same team for the tournament?” Tai Yang looked at her.

“Make sure that he is able to join the tournament at all costs. We must not touch him before then.”

Jin Long’s voice echoed in her head. ‘That’s right… the tournament is always a team tournament consisting of each members of each different major…’ she thought to herself.

“That… I’m not sure,” she answered.

“Huh? Why? I’m your older brother!”

“That… you may be stronger than me, but I am aiming to win.”

“Then you don’t have to worry! Let me tell you, although I only joined the martial arts studies recently I’m already ranked the fourth best martial arts student!”

“And? I want to be on the team with the best martial artist,” Yu Lin made up as she didn’t even know who the best martial art student was as she didn’t pay attention much to gossip.

“Ohh… hehe… then you don’t have to worry much,” Tai Yang gave her a smug look, “just to tell you a secret… I’m really close to the best martial arts student.”

“Hmm, oh really? Then who is it?” she probed.

“It’s obviously, Shan Jin Long!” Tai Yang clapped the table. Yu Lin froze for a second. ‘How could I have been so ignorant?’ she asked herself. She started to regret not listening to gossip more often.

“Oh…” she could only let out before she looked up and her gaze sharpened, “older brother… I will join your team but you have to make sure you get on his team then… and also don’t tell him that I will join your team.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Just do as I say or else I’m not joining your team,” Yu Lin said. Tai Yang just shrugged his shoulders and nodded his head lazily.

“Alright… also… want to go to the festival together?”

“Hmm? Why are you asking me to go to the festival with you? Don’t tell me… you are interested in me, older brother?” Yu Lin asked because usually men would ask whoever they were interested in to attend the festival with them.

“No! I-I-I just wanted you to bring that beautiful girl with you so we can get acquainted!” Tai Yang clarified.

“Oh… then just go talk to her. If I ask her out she might get the wrong idea,” Yu Lin wasn’t all that interested in the masquerade festival and didn’t plan to go.

“But… I heard that she’s quite hard to impress… help your older brother out this once?” Tai Yang looked at her with puppy eyes.

“No. Now that you’re done, get out,” she waved her hand.

“Y-you! And who said I was done?”

“You’re not done yet? Then what else do you want to ask?”

“Uhh… umm… how… was class?” Tai Yang struggled to say.

“Boring. You done now?”

“Hmph, since you’re so eager to kick me out then I’ll leave now! I’ll be back tomorrow with more pastries for you so don’t stay out too late or else you won’t get any!” Tai Yang said before leaving. Yu Lin watched his broad back as he slammed the door behind him. She looked at the plate of pastries and nodded her head before pulling out a book to read. ‘It’s not that bad to have an older brother,’ she thought to herself as she continued to read.