Chapter 13 - You have a very warm smile

When the three finished their meal, they asked one of the workers to bring them to their rooms.

"Will the young sirs be having two rooms?" The man said.

Qin Zuijia's heart felt rather painful. One room cost 5 gold coins, enough for a small household's food for 5 months. Though the room is expensive, they have to agree that it was the best. The employees don't complain, they serve with the biggest smile they could give and their interaction with children was the best. The female employees interact well with the female customers and children. The male one's are both strong and chatty, perfect to rogue cultivators and male customers.

Aside from that, the food is delicious.

Wei Xiao looked at Qin Zuijia whose face was distorted and flush in all shades of color. He turned to the man in front and asked. "How big is the beds in each room?"

The man smiled, knowingly. "Depends on what type of room this young master wants." He took out a book from his side on the table. "The single rooms have a small bed, just enough for one person, the others have two beds, and we also have one with beds just enough for two people." He looked at Wei Xiao and smiled. "But the last two types of rooms cost 5 gold coins and 50 Silver coins."

Qin Zuijia wanted to faint.

Wei Xiao didn't mind the price. He has never spent money when he went out, so losing this amount of money doesn't affect him much. And his uncle has given them a lot of gold coins and treasures, He should at least spend some.

"We'll take the ones with two beds." Wei Xiao said.

The man smiled. He took a key from a drawer and gave them to Wei Xiao. "Here you are young sir!" He turned to the woman who just walked by. "Xiao Mei! Please bring out guests to their room!!"

"Yes older martial brother!" She said enthusiastically. She walked towards Wei Xiao. "Come with me young masters, your room awaits!"

Wei Xiao nodded and dragged the half dead Qin Zuijia to the room. Xiao Ling was hugging Qin Zuijia and was trying to see if the other was really dead.

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When the girl left and closed the door, Wei Xiao placed the stiff body of Qin Zuijia on the bed and sat on the other.

He took out a communication stone from his lapels and tried to connect to his uncle.

The stone glowed bright and the calming voice of a man was heard. "Xiao-er, have you reached Willow city?"

"Yes, Uncle." He paused for a moment and looked at Qin Zuijia. "Spending some coins wont kill a person, will it?"

A serene laugh that was enough to bathe the hearts and soul of a person rang from where Qin Xuan's voice came. "I believe that no one has died in such a manner." He paused and added. "But don't spend too much or Elder Qin would faint."

"Mn." Wei Xiao replied.

"When will you leave Willow city?" Qin Xuan asked.

"In two days. Xiao Ling doesn't like traveling too much, and wanted to stay a bit more in Willow city."

"That's good. But be careful, the walls have ears. Don't state your names in other establishments and wait until everything is in place."

"Yes."

"And Xiao-er. When you find Bai Chanle, please hide in his place. He should be protected by a powerful sect and can help you."

"I understand."

The stone darkens after their conversation. Wei Xiao turned to Qin Zuijia who is now sitting and crying while hugging Xiao Ling.

"Do you want to go out?" Wei Xiao asked.

"No." Qin Zuijia cried.

"We won't spend any more coins, rest assured."

Qin Zuijia looked at Wei Xiao. Their eyes met, making Wei Xiao's breath pause. He stared at the other's Phoenix eyes which were misted and a little red. His cheeks were flushed and his lips were pouted, revealing an angry expression. Xiao Ling was laughing and hugging Qin Zuijia. His cheeks were pinkish and his milky voice rang in the room.

Wei Xiao bit his lower lip. 'Cute!' was what he thought in his head.

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They stroll through the busy street. The three were very eye catching on the street. Wei Xiao wore a black brocade robe with a silver cloud pattern sewn on one side. Qin Zuijia wore a white robe with Blue Cloud pattern on one side, and Xiao Ling has the same color style as Wei Xiao's. With the two of them walking side by side, everyone's eyes were glued on them.

Wei Xiao has his sword hanging on one side and Qin Zuijia was tasked to carry his Guqin. The two of them look like heavenly gods who were tasked to exterminate ghouls rather than rogue cultivators that visited the city.

Feeling the stares of the people, Wei Xiao turned to look at them. The crowd immediately turned their heads away and walked faster.

"The City doesn't seem too welcoming." Wei Xiao said.

Qin Zuijia, who saw everything, laughed. "Maybe."

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The streets were packed with different types of people -some were loud, some were extra loud, some were quiet, and some were so silent that people didn't even notice that they were there. Among those people, they saw the man who somehow managed to look into Qin Zuijia's soul. He was looking at a vendor who was selling beautiful fans with different designs. The man was pinching his chin, trying his best to decide which fan to buy.

"I like this one with the 'Wind' character on it, but the one with embroidered with beautiful mountains are also good!" He scratches his head and sighs. "I wish I could pick both, but my pocket can only buy one!"

The vendor seemed annoyed with the man, blue veins popped out and smoke puffed out of his nose, but as a good businessman, He smiles and waited for him to pick.

The man sighed and looked at his money pouch. "How about you reserve that other fan and I buy this one." He said.

"Sorry lad, can't do that. There are other people who would buy this fan. First come first serve, that's the rule in here." The vendor shrugged.

The man suddenly looked down. His face revealed a sad expression. He pouted his lips as if wanting to cry.

Wei Xiao stares at the man and at Qin Zuijia. He found that the other was eyeing the fan who the man had just picked - the one embroidered with mountains.

He opened his mouth to speak, but was unable to find the right words. He pondered for half a day and thought of a better idea.

He walked towards the vendor and looked at the fan. "How much is this?" He said in a monotonous voice.

"This fan here is made of the finest silk in Willow City, the price isn't that high, Good sir." He smiled at the man and back at Wei Xiao. "This fan here costs Two Gold coins!"

Wei Xiao, who managed to grab the money pouch from Qin Zuijia, gave the man two gold coins. He took the fan and walked over to Qin Zuijia, handing him the fan.

Qin Zuijia was stunned for a moment and took the fan from Wei Xiao. He turned it over and opened it. He stared at the beautiful embroidery and found that they were the famous mountain range from the east. The mountains were called the 'Dragon's Nest' because history said that the legendary golden dragon, who was tamed by the immortal who saved the Wolf Bane continent, was born. However, due to the lack of spiritual energy of the place, the dragon, who one lived there searched for a better place to cultivate or died.

Qin Zuijia held the fan and felt warm in his chest. Though the fan cost a bit too much, He still felt gratified towards Wei Xiao's actions. He looked at him and smiled.

Wei Xiao stared at his warm smile and felt something burn inside him. This was the same smile his Uncle makes whenever he looks at him, the same Phoenix eyes that were warm still. This was the same smile he found in his brother who would melt his frozen heart. Now, he won't be able to see those people, but he still could feel their warmth. The smile of the people he loves warms his soul, and yet the person he had yet known fully could smile like them.

He wanted to embrace the person who made him feel at home...and so he did.

Qin Zuijia saw the change in expression in the other's face. He knew that expression since he'd seen it when they were still in Qin Clan. That was what Wei Xiao looked like when he looked at his smiling brother and uncle. He knew how important family is to a person. He wanted to apologise to him. He wanted to make the other smile again. He didn't know what to do or say...Then his whole body was now in the arm of the person.

"Are you alright?" Qin Zuijia patted his back to comfort him. "Do you want to go somewhere to breathe?"

"Give me a minute." Wei Xiao answered, still not letting go. He was a whole head taller than Qin Zuijia, so he could place his head on the other's shoulder. He found that the other smells a bit like sandalwood. Though it was faint.

Qin Zuijia wanted to laugh. Wei Xiao should already be twenty-two years old, but still acts more of a child than Xiao Ling. Wei Xiao wasn't crying, but he could feel that the other's heart was breaking. He would serve as a shoulder to cry on, and a hand to lift him up. He had thrown all his goals to cultivate immortality to one side and chose to help the other. This could be his chance for redemption. And maybe one day he would be able to see this person ascend to the heavens and became immortal.

Xiao Ling was standing on one side, gripping Qin Zuijia's pants. He saw that the two were hugging and wanted to join as well. He raised both his arm and said. "Hug Xiao Ling too!!"

Qin Zuijia laughed. He stretched out a hand to Xiao Ling. "Come here."

Thus the three people were hugging in public.

After a while, Wei Xiao finally let go. He straightens out his clothes and returns to his aloof expression. "Let's go."

Qin Zuijia nodded. He turned his gaze and found that the man was smiling at them from ear to ear. Qin Zuijia nodded at him and walked with Wei Xiao.

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When they returned to the inn, it was almost twilight. They have purchased some necessities and found jewellery that matches the three of them. It was a blue-stone necklace which helps to warm the body when it's cold. It was perfect for the upcoming winter and thus was bought regardless of how much Qin Zuijia protested.

When they finally returned, Qin Zuijia let himself fall onto the bed. The bed was soft and felt so comfortable that he fell asleep.

When he woke up, he found that the room was already filled with dishes and drinks, but no alcohol. He suddenly felt that his pocket would soon be empty.

"What did you order?" Qin Zuijia looked at the brightly lit table. It was 3/4 spicy and 1/4 mild. They were filled with sweet drinks and some water. Qin Zuijia sat down on the table and looked closer at the dishes.

"They seemed to be dishes made from the east. I heard that the owner of this inn actually lives in the east."

Qin Zuijia nodded. "Wind Masters' Inn..Wind Masters'" He said. "They should be from a sect, right?"

"Most probably." Wei Xiao nodded. "They should be a really rich sect that is involved in a lot of business. Even their disciples would work at an inn."

Qin Zuijia lifted his chopsticks and started to eat. "That man from before seemed to like buying fans."

"He should be cultivating with such weapons." Wei Xiao answered. "He should be building his foundation to cultivate using the fan."

Qin Zuijia nodded. "He seems like a man who'd rather use the fan than a saber."

"He looks too skinny for a saber."

"He looks too short to wield a sword."

Qin Zuijia laughed. He remembers the fan that was gifted to him. "Thanks for the fan."

"You looked like you wanted them."

"I do want them, but you didn't have to buy them."

Wei Xiao looked at him. His gaze was warm even if his face remained expressionless. He lowered his eyelids and looked at the plate in front of him. "I wanted to give you the fan as thanks."

Qin Zuijia's brows raised. He didn't understand why Wei Xiao would want to thank him. He asked the Question and was stunned for the answer.

"You have a very warm smile."

Qin Zuijia looked at him and laughed.

Wei Xiao's smile broke through his lips. "I wanted to see you smile the same smile I see from my Uncle and brother."

"Then I'll smile for you whenever you want me to."

"Thank you." Wei Xiao stare at the food and proceeded to eat.