FLASHBACK
"Qi Ruhan, I've told you many times how this will go. Now it's time to act," Qi Zifen commanded from beneath his towering throne.
"Don't worry, Clan Leader Qi. I'll do all I can." Qi Ruhan bowed deeply, his voice trembling slightly.
"As soon as you see Xue Wuren launch an attack, give me the signal. If you fail, Qi Lin will suffer the consequences."
Qi Ruhan dropped to his knees, fear in his eyes. "Please… don't let her go through a hard time. I'll do whatever it takes—even if I have to make them trust me more to gather information."
"That's what I like to hear. Now go." Qi Zifen waved him off.
Qi Ruhan rose and hurried down the corridor, where he encountered Qi Huaisang.
"Qi dàgē." He bowed respectfully.
"Qi Ruhan, are you ready?" Huaisang asked with a kind smile.
"Yes, dàgē."
Huaisang nodded, continuing down the hall.
"Dàge Qi..." Ruhan called, pausing. "Please look after sister for me while I'm gone. If I fail, punish me however you wish… but please spare her."
Huaisang slowly glanced over his shoulder, eyes unreadable, then walked away in silence.
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Silent Hill, Present
The morning mist lingered over the quiet hilltop as Guanlin, Jinxiao, Wen Lu, and Yuanli gathered around the breakfast table. Steaming bowls of rice sat untouched.
Guanlin stared into the distance, his fists clenched tight. The minutes ticking by felt like stolen time his mother couldn't afford.
"Bro Lin, we'll make it. Your mother will be saved," Wen Lu said gently. "Stop worrying too much and eat."
Yuanli, noticing his tension, poured him a cup of tea. "I'm really sorry… I didn't know."
Guanlin looked at her, then slowly nodded, accepting the gesture.
"Where is your father?" Jinxiao asked suddenly, his sharp gaze focused on Yuanli.
"He's away for something important. I'm alone here with my two younger siblings," she replied.
"Are they fairies too?" he asked.
"No. They take after my father. Only I inherited my mother's genes… I'm the only one who can shapeshift into a butterfly."
She then added, "The rooms you stayed in earlier will be yours for the next seven days—until the mighty bears emerge from their cave again."
But before anyone could respond, Jinxiao suddenly clutched his chest and staggered. He collapsed to the ground, gasping.
"Childe!" Wen Lu was at his side instantly, catching him.
"What's happening?" Yuanli asked, alarmed.
"His poison worsens when he's cold. We need to warm him up now!" Guanlin ordered.
Yuanli nodded and led them to a nearby tavern. Wen Lu carried Jinxiao inside.
"Lay him on the bed, I'll fetch some charcoal," Yuanli said, hurrying off.
As Wen Lu used a heating technique to surround Jinxiao's body with warmth, Guanlin tucked him in.
"I'll stay with him. Go help Yuanli," he said firmly.
Wen Lu nodded and left. Guanlin gently held Jinxiao's trembling hand. "You're warming up now… just hold on."
Jinxiao's eyes shimmered with tears, his hand pinching onto Guanlin's wrist. "It… it hurts."
Guanlin tightened his grip. "I promise—it'll get better."
Moments later, Jinxiao passed out, his hand falling gently into Guanlin's lap.
Yuanli and Wen Lu burst in with supplies.
"Start the fire!" Guanlin ordered. "Wen Lu, close the windows."
They moved quickly. The tavern darkened as the cold air was shut out.
"It gets colder in the Northern Hill with each hour. This will be hard for your Childe," Yuanli said, igniting the charcoals.
"As long as he stays inside, he'll be fine," Wen Lu responded.
Suddenly, a child's crying echoed from next door.
"What was that?" Wen Lu asked.
"Probably my siblings," Yuanli said. She shifted into butterfly form and disappeared.
Guanlin stoked the fire, but Wen Lu reached over. "Let me do it."
Guanlin nodded, stepping back. A helpless ache filled him. His mother was likely suffering the same pain—and he wasn't there. At least she had a doctor. But Jinxiao only had them.
Next Room
"Ā-Chen, Ā-Ning, sister is here. Stop crying, okay?" Yuanli said, wiping their tears.
"We're sorry we played near the forest again!" Ning sobbed.
"We won't do it again!" Chen sniffled.
"I'm not mad. Just… don't make me worry again," she said, hugging them. "Come eat now."
As they left, they nearly ran into Guanlin.
"Yuanli," he began, voice serious. "You knew we were here for the bear's fur because of poison we mentioned earlier. Do you know medicine?"
Her siblings hid behind her skirt.
"I do," she said softly.
"Can you ease Zhong Jinxiao's pain?"
"I can try… but it won't be easy while also caring for them." Yuanli gazed at her sibkings behind her back.
"I'll take care of them," Guanlin offered. "I've got a little sister—I know how to take care of young ones. Please help Jinxiao."
Yuanli looked at her siblings, hesitated, then nodded and bent down. "This is Guanlin. Call him gēge. Sister will be just treating someone, okay?"
They nodded.
Yaunli stood up, sighing in front of Guanlin. "They don't like spicy food. And they play a lot."
"Don't worry. I like playing too." Guanlin smiled.
"I'll head to the tavern then." With that, Yuanli left.
"Sooo… what are your names?" Guanlin asked, crouching down.
"My name is Song Ning. This is my little brother, Song Chen."
"Your sister's busy now, so I'll take care of you two sometimes in the day." Guanlin smiled.
"Yes, gēge Lin," Chen said shyly.
"Gēge, we're hungry," Ning tugged his sleeve.
"Alright, alright. Let's go eat. Your sister's breakfast is still warm." He picked up Chen and held Ning's hand.
From the window, Wen Lu laughed. "Bro Lin really is something. He's already won them over."
"They're super friendly," Yuanli said with a smile, gently wiping Jinxiao's face with a warm towel.
"Okay! Time to eat!" Guanlin set the kids down and filled their bowls.
"How did you sleep?"
"It felt like a long time!" Ning said happily.
"We slept for ages too. I wonder whose fault that was?" Guanlin teased.
The siblings looked guilty.
"We're sorry, gēge. We didn't mean to."
"It's okay." Guanlin pinched Chen's cheeks. "Eat up, or I'll eat everything before you can."
A Few Hours Later, In the Library
The door creaked open. Yuanli stepped in. "Your Childe is awake. You can see him now."
"Gēge, are you leaving already?" Chen asked.
Guanlin chuckled. "No, I'm still here."
He stood and met Yuanli at the doorway. "Xièxiè ni."
She bowed. "I'll take them to rest now."
He smiled warmly and left for the tavern.
Back in the Tavern
"Bro Lin," Wen Lu greeted as he entered.
Jinxiao sat on the bed's edge, his blade in hand. "What are we even doing here for seven days? We're wasting time."
"This is our best option. The other two items are days farther. Skipping the bear's fur will cost us more time," Wen Lu reasoned.
"I worry too," Guanlin said, walking closer. "But this is the only choice, Childe—Zhong Jinxiao."
"What?! How dare you speak to him like that!" Wen Lu snapped.
Guanlin rolled his eyes. "He told me to."
"Childe, you—" Wen Lu gasped, betrayed.
Guanlin stuck out his tongue playfully. "Don't look at me like that."
Jinxiao rose and walked to the window.
"Where are you going?" Wen Lu asked.
"Staying inside feels like prison."
"It's for your own good. You don't even know how hard you pinched me earlier," Guanlin said.
Jinxiao froze, then walked back quickly. "I hurt you? Where?" he asked, taking Guanlin's hand.
"It's fine. Doesn't matter."
But Jinxiao held his hand tighter, two fingers glowing pale blue over the sore spot.
"What are you doing?"
"Shh."
A gentle warmth flowed into Guanlin's hand, easing the pain.
"What was that technique?" Guanlin asked, awed.
"It heals small wounds and bruises," Wen Lu explained.
"How's it different from Healing in Magic Sect?" Guanlin asked.
"This is limited," Jinxiao said. "Healing Magic from the Magic Sect can cure deep poisons… even revive the dead. While this technique only heals small wounds and ease some small pain."
Guanlin stared at his hand, wonder blooming in his eyes.
"Bro Lin, sects have their own boundaries too." Wen Lu smiled.