Chasing You (Arc 8+)

Beneath the Heavens (VIII)

The door to Xiong Teyi's room was abruptly opened without much care. A beautiful older woman stood in the doorway with worry on her aging face. She was adorned in a crimson robe rimmed in a faint reddish gold silk like cloth, and at the bottom were slender gold tree branches and crane embroidery that were very life like. On her head was a simple gold crown with a small string of gold leading down her hairline to her forehead. There a small pendant dangled with a clear ruby crystal. On her red and gold sash were little plum blossom flowers and swaying down from it was a red jade with the words 'Longhu An'.

Her eyes darted around the room, searching for someone. Spotting the smaller figure sitting on the wooden bed, her eyes reddened and becomes moist. The person looking back at her was dressed in a dark forest green robe with golden threaded bamboo designs inlaid with silver at the bottom of their robe. Their pale skin was highlighted even more with the dark colored robes.

She runs over and hugs An Zhangyi, "Zhang'er, are you alright? Are you still in pain?"

An Zhangyi observed the woman and found her to be genuinely concerned for the well being of the body. He slowly nods, "Iit doesn't hurt, and I'm alright, mother. Older brother help applied some salve already."

Tears fell down Li Yuemao's delicate face as she patted his hair, "Zhang'er, you must tell mother if you feel uncomfortable, okay?"

He bobbed his head, "En. I will."

Seeing the older man beside An Qingfeng, An Zhangyi attempted to stand and greet their father. The elder man had on a similar colored robes, except the sash around their waist was much wider than the one on Li Yuemao. When An Jianyi saw his actions, he quickly walked forward and placed his hand on their shoulder to stop them, "You don't have to greet father, Zhang'er. You're still injured."

An Zhangyi bowed his head, "Please forgive this son then, father."

An Jianyi nodded his head with a smile plastered on his face. He was grateful that his son came back in one piece. This scene was a heartwarming picture of a family finally being reunited, after suffering a heartbreaking separation. That was if you ignored that their other 'son' was by the door, staring at them in silence.

Li Yuemao glared at An Qingfeng, "Why are you still there? Why haven't you prepared some food for Zhang'er?!"

Her voice became shrill like almost like a banshee as she pointed her finger at him with red eyes. There was no change to his handsome profile as he looked at his parent's scornful look. Yes, he had long gotten used to it and it no longer bothered him that he would never have their love. That was something he understood a very long time ago.

An Zhangyi shook his head and tried to appease her, "Mother, don't blame older brother. I had just woken up not too long ago and older brother has been staying by my side, taking care of me."

Li Yuemao glanced at her son and withdrew her anger. She placed her hand over his, her face filled with a distressed look. "Are you hungry? If you're hungry, mother will go prepare your favorites."

He refused her politely, "I'm not hungry, mother."

Although the body hadn't learn inedia¹, he wasn't hungry at the moment. Turning to his An Jianyi, "Father, I'm alright now. You and mother can go meet with Sect Leader Xiong."

Hesitating for a second, An Jianyi gazed at his son before assenting. There were many important things to discuss and things to plan. He helped his wife up and the two of them departed from the room. But just before they left and reached, An Qingfeng's side, Li Yuemao scowled, "Be sure to take care of Zhang'er, An Qingfeng."

Her tone was filled with venom as she forced herself to say his name. It was as if he was a accursed being and she wanted nothing to do with him, in fear of being contaminated.

An Zhangyi scrutinized their interactions. From the memories he'd attained, their relationship had always been this estranged. Although there were rumors floating around that An Qingfeng was given birth to by a low commoner woman. He was birthed out of wedlock and was a nasty black stain on Li Yuemao's and An Jianyi's marriage.

Whenever she saw him, she would be reminded of how 'devoted' her husband was to bring a child from the outside; especially one that was much older than her own child. This issue had caused their marriage to be unstable at times as An Jianyi refused to throw An Qingfeng out. He (AQF) held potential as a cultivator and as much as he loved his wife, he could not do as she simply wished for he would lose face in front of the whole cultivation world.

So Li Yuemao was reduced to having to bear with his existence in the sect as she could not get rid of him without a plausible reason. Her execration increased everyday knowing that his day of inheriting the sect was coming closer.

An Zhangyi smiled apologetically to An Qingfeng, "Older brother, don't take offense on what mother has said."

An Qingfeng didn't reply and sat beside the bed. There was no change in his mood or behavior even after being spurned, he (AQF) was like a mystifying tranquil lake. It was as if he was not the person they had spited. An Zhangyi just gave a dry smile, he was used to his brother's aloof and detached personality.

Sitting in the silence, the two did not speak a word or make a sound. They simply gazed at each other, both with different thoughts to their mind. An Qingfeng broke the silence first. He perused this younger half-brother of his, "Does your body feel any different?"

An Zhangyi gave him a confused look, his eyebrows scrunched up, "It doesn't feel any different."

Knowing that he (AZY) didn't understand what they meant, he (AQF) knew that he wouldn't be able to get anything out of An Zhangyi. An Qingfeng hummed an 'en', before the quietude suffused the atmosphere once more.

It wasn't until it was very late, that An Jianyi and Li Yuemao returned. An Jianyi gave out a straightforward order and took his two sons back to their own sect. One, because they needed to make preparations, and two, because An Zhangyi needed recuperate.

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¹Inedia: The belief that one can sustain on only the vital life force without the need to consume water or food; breatharianism.