15 15. Competition Day
When they reached the inn, Bai Gui dropped Bai Cong off at his room before he himself retired to the room to sleep.
"Try to get some sleep," Bai Gui advised Bai Cong before he left.
Bai Cong nodded his head and opened the door, only to be greeted with a peculiar scene.
Bai Chang was sprawled on the ground with his arms and legs outstretched as he frantically tried to get out from under Bai Chen who was relaxing quite contentedly on top of Bai Chang. When Bai Chang noticed Bai Cong walk in, his eyes brightened with happiness. It was as if a star shined upon him in his moment of darkness.
"Xiao Cong, save me!" Bai Chang cried out pleadingly.
Bai Cong turned a blind eyes and acted like he didn't see anything. He took off his outer robe, revealing a white inner robe underneath.
"Xiao Cong~" Bai Chang tearily cried as he reached for Bai Cong with outstretched arms.
"Xiao Cong, don't get too close to him. Unfortunately he has a contagious disease called stupidity, I don't want you to be infected by him," Bai Chen said as he got up and moved Bai Cong away from Bai Chang.
He then picked Bai Cong up and gently placed him on the bed. He walked back to Bai Chang who watched with dread building up in his body as Bai Chen got closer.
"Big br~," Bai Chang started to say but he was cut off as Bai Chen ripped him off the floor and threw him onto the other bed with no mercy. Bai Chang landed on the bed and bounced up a bit because of the force of Bai Chen's throw before settling down on top of the sheets.
"Big brother, how come the way you treat Xiao Cong is so different from the way you treat me?" Bai Chang asked pitifully.
"Because you're easy to bully," Bai Chen said simply as if it were that obvious, "Now take off your outer robe and go to sleep.
Bai Chang sulked but still did as Bai Chen told him.
Bai Cong, who had been ignoring all the antics happening in the room, was already snuggled up under the blankets with his eyes closed.
Bai Chen took off his outer robe and slipped under the sheets next to Bai Cong. He then snapped his finger, making the candles go out. The room plunged into darkness with the only thing illuminating it being the moonlight light shining in through the window.
About an hour into the night, the only thing that could be heard was the slow, even breathing of Bai Chang coming from the other side of the room. Signaling that Bai Chang was in deep sleep.
The same couldn't be said for Bai Cong. He has been thinking of multiple plans and scenarios that went with these said plans to make sure his new personal mission would be completed without any mishaps.
"Xiao Cong, are you still awake?" Bai Chen's voice cut through the calm silence.
"You can detect my breathing so you already know I'm awake," Bai Cong said softly, pointing out how unnecessary his question was.
Bai Chen chuckled, "That is indeed true. Are you not going to ask what happened earlier?"
Bai Cong opened his eyes and turned to look at Bai Chen.
Bai Chen was sitting up on the bed with his head turned to the big window. The moonlight streaming made it so his silver hair seemed like it was sparkling.
"I don't care," Bai Cong said simply. He truly didn't care about the situation he stumbled upon earlier.
"Hmm," Bai Chen hummed, "Where did father take you?" He asked while also changing the topic.
"The woods. He wanted me to fight an illusion cat, "Bai Cong also didn't care for the previous conversation.
"An illusion cat?" Bai Chen turned away from the window and looked at Bai Cong, "Are you feeling okay?" he asked worriedly.
"Yes, it wasn't so bad," how could Bai Cong tell him that he has already experienced killing many people in his previous life.
Bai Chen looked at Bai Cong for a minute more to check if there were any irregularities. Seeing none, he once again turned to the window.
"Xiao Cong, let me tell you something. When you enter that arena tomorrow, don't give anyone any mercy because they won't give you mercy," Bai Chen said softly.
"I know big brother," Bai Cong reassured him. Mercy wasn't even in his dictionary if a person came to blows with him.
"Good," Bai Chen patted Bai Cong on his head, "Now go to sleep."
"Hmm," Bai Cong once again closed his eyes and slowly slipped into slumber.
Bai Chen looked at Bai Cong and Bai Chang lovingly before he too closed his eyes to sleep.
The next morning, Bai Cong woke up with a jolt. He felt something heavy fall on his chest. Opening his eyes, Bai Cong leaned forward and saw that Bai Chen's arm had fallen on his chest.
Bai Cong moved it aside and got up from the bed. He looked out the window and saw that it was still dark out, the sun had only just begun to rise.
Bai Cong draped his robe over himself and tied it together a sash. He ran his hand through his hair and felt that it had tangled quite a bit during the night. Seeing that his brothers were still asleep, Bai Cong decided to go to his mother instead so he wouldn't disturb them.
Opening and closing the door quietly behind him, Bai Cong walked down the hall to his parents room and opened the door without any warning.
"Mother," Bai Cong called out softly.
Bai Ying Yu had just woken up when she heard her youngest son calling for her. She looked at the doorway and chuckled when she saw his hair in disarray.
"Come," she beckoned Bai Cong over as she took a comb out from her spatial ring.
Bai Cong complied and walked over to her. He turned around and jumped on the bed with his back facing her.
Bai Ying Yu slowly went through his hair with the comb until it was all smoothed out.
The unmentioned Bai Gui, who had bed sitting next to Bai Ying Yu had just opened his eyes. He had been cultivating all night instead of sleeping because when you reached higher cultivation levels, sleeping becomes less of a necessity.
"Cong'er," Bai Gui greeted him when he saw that he was in the room.
"Mother, father, is it time to go yet?" Bai Chang asked as he barreled into the room. Bai Chen slowly followed him in front behind.
Bai Gui looked at the window and nodded his head, "Yes, it we should start heading down there."
