Su Baiyi groggily opened his eyes, first noticing the crimson canopy above. Lowering his gaze, he saw a thick pink quilt covering him, its warmth carrying a faint, soothing fragrance. He paused for a moment in thought before suddenly sitting up in bed.
By a small chair near the bed, Feng Wan’er was dressing her hair in front of a bronze mirror, wearing only a light inner robe.
Su Baiyi stared in confusion, his mind utterly blank.
Hearing the movement behind her, Feng Wan’er turned and smiled gently at the pale-faced Su Baiyi. “You’re awake?”
“Aunt…” Su Baiyi’s voice was still somewhat dazed.
“Auntie is a person, not a beast.” Feng Wan’er initially wanted to tease him, but seeing his current expression, she softened. She walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, ruffling his hair. “I slept on that bed last night.”
Only then did Su Baiyi notice another identical bed standing against the wall near the headboard. His nerves finally began to settle. “Why does Aunt have two beds in her room?”
A faint blush crept onto Feng Wan’er’s cheeks. She flicked his forehead lightly with a finger. “Sometimes, one bed just isn’t enough. Now, wash up and come eat breakfast.”
Feng Wan’er stood and walked back to the table, where two bowls of lotus seed porridge and various small dishes awaited. As she picked up one bowl and began to eat, Su Baiyi climbed out of bed to find a basin of warm water and towels already prepared. A sudden wave of emotion washed over him. Only in his childhood, living with Uncle Chen and Aunt Qian, had he experienced such thoughtful care—having warm water ready for washing and breakfast prepared. Later, while living with Xie Kanhua, he’d often felt like he was the caretaker rather than the other way around.
“What’s on your mind?” Feng Wan’er asked, noticing his distracted expression.
“Nothing,” Su Baiyi quickly replied. He washed his face, discreetly wiping away the slight wetness in his eyes, then placed the towel down and sat opposite Feng Wan’er at the table.
Pushing a bowl of porridge toward him, Feng Wan’er asked softly, “What were you thinking about?”
This time, Su Baiyi answered honestly. “I was thinking of my aunt.”
“Stop eating!” Hearing the word “aunt,” Feng Wan’er felt suddenly old, and in her anger, she snatched away the lotus seed porridge.
Su Baiyi hastily tried to remedy the situation, “No, Aunt! Having hot water when I wake up and porridge at the table just reminded me of living with Aunt Qian and Uncle Chen. I didn’t mean to offend you. Auntie, you’re as beautiful as a flower and look like you’re in your twenties. If you hadn’t insisted on being called Auntie, I would have preferred to call you sister!”
Feng Wan’er’s eyes curved slightly as she returned the porridge to him. “What are you afraid of? I was just teasing you. But why think of your aunt and uncle? Did you live with them growing up?”
“Yes. I’ve never met my birth parents. They were my adoptive father and mother,” Su Baiyi took a sip of porridge. Its sweetness and warmth spread through his body, leaving him feeling completely at ease.
“If they were your adoptive parents, even without blood ties, they raised you. Why didn’t you call them Father and Mother?” Feng Wan’er gave Su Baiyi a curious glance, finding it odd that he’d seem so distant.
Su Baiyi shook his head. “I don’t know. When I was little, I tried to call them Father and Mother once, but Aunt Qian started crying. Afterward, she told me never to call them that again—said they’d be upset if I did.”
“It seems there’s a story here. What was their relationship with your parents?” Feng Wan’er nodded gently, her gaze softening as she studied Su Baiyi. Initially, she had assumed that, with his handsome features and a master like Xie Kanhua, Su Baiyi must have grown up as a carefree disciple of a prestigious family. But now, hearing of his orphaned past, she felt a pang of pity for his difficult upbringing. It made his already delicate appearance even more endearing.
“They only mentioned following my parents in the past. Nothing more.” Su Baiyi’s eyes flickered with a hint of sadness before he shook his head.
“How pitiful,” Feng Wan’er reached out to lift his chin with a finger, her bright eyes shimmering with unspoken emotion.
“Auntie,” Su Baiyi quickly turned his head away, tipping his bowl of porridge to his lips.
Feng Wan’er’s hand paused midair, and she gave an awkward laugh. “My apologies, my apologies. It’s just a habit of mine. My brother did warn me not to treat you this way.”
Su Baiyi continued drinking his porridge to hide his embarrassment. “Senior Brother Feng told me you don’t have the best relationship with the other brothers, Auntie. But it seems you stand with the Sect Master now.”
“My relationship with my elder brother has always been good. But in families like ours, not everything goes the way we’d like. Sometimes, it’s better to hide certain things.” Feng Waner put down her bowl and picked up a piece of osmanthus cake to eat.
Su Baiyi nodded, realizing that whether it was Feng Zuojun’s arrogance or Xie Yuling’s coldness, these personas might not reflect their true selves. Living in these great families, they all chose some form of disguise. Suddenly, he thought of something. “Where are my senior sister and the others?”
“They’re still staying next door, quite peacefully. But knowing that child’s personality, they’re bound to stir up some trouble. I wanted to send them away, but my brother seems to have changed his mind,” Feng Wan’er looked at Su Baiyi, “He thinks there’s hope of reclaiming the position of Sect Master this time.”
Su Baiyi smiled. “I healed the Sect Master’s injuries.”
Feng Wan’er spread her hands. “But he’s also lost all his powers for the time being.”
“If the Sect Master appears directly at the grand ceremony, wouldn’t that dispel the rumors of his disappearance?” Su Baiyi asked, puzzled.
“You’re thinking too simply. They could fabricate a crime, claim he’s an imposter, and kill him on the spot. If the Sect Master of Heavenly Down Cloud Realm was struck down by a single strike, wouldn’t that ‘prove’ he was a fake? In the end, when the body is destroyed, everything makes sense.” Feng Wan’er’s voice was calm, as though she’d seen such schemes countless times.
“The martial world really is complicated,” Su Baiyi sighed
“He’s waiting for you in the stone chamber. Finish your meal and head down,” Feng Wan’er said.
After finishing his porridge, Su Baiyi set down his bowl and chopsticks, bowed to Feng Wan’er, and entered the hidden passage again. Now well-fed and carrying the internal energy of a master from the Realm of No Return within him, his steps were strong and steady. In no time, he crossed the narrow passage and entered the stone chamber.
There, Feng Yuhang sat by the medicinal pool, looking down at a blade in his hands. It was an extremely thin blade—so thin that the books described it as “ as delicate as a cicada’s wing.” For Su Baiyi, it was the first time seeing such a weapon in person.
Hearing footsteps, Feng Yuhang looked up at Su Baiyi and smiled. “Su Baiyi, would you be interested in learning the way of the saber?”