Spoiling you

After soaring to such delirious heights, Fu Shulin's heart dropped all the way to the bottom of his stomach.

Xin Rufei's smirk widened at his disappointment. "What are you frowning for, uh? You look much better than you did, your clothes are of a nicer quality, and much cleaner." He tipped his folding fan under Fu Shulin's chin and raised it, inspecting him like merchandise. "No scars or blemishes, not bad for a little beggar."

Fu Shulin turned his face to the side, looking in the direction of the wandering cultivator and her gaggle of disciples. They were all observing the situation with morbid curiosity, two of the younger children were gazing up at Xin Rufei in slack-jawed awe.

"I apologize, young master, I mistook you for someone else," Fu Shulin said, bowing stiffly to Xin Rufei, his arms circled in front of his chest.

Xin Rufei chuckled. "Don't be like that, I'm just teasing you. Do you think I remember everyone I meet? Much less years ago?" His smile was sweet but his eyes were cold. "The meeting of old friends in the long road of life is a fortuitous occasion worth celebrating."

Every word out of his mouth sounded mocking to Fu Shulin's ears. What friends? They had met for minutes on a winter day. They might as well be strangers. He had made a fool of himself calling Xin Rufei gege like a child.

Tao Yuanming's appearance saved him from having to answer Xin Rufei's provocations. "Rufei, if you don't want to buy anything we should go on our way."

Xin Rufei cast him an annoyed look over the shoulder. "I want to treat my didi to a meal. We haven't seen each other in years."

Tao Yuanming's dispassionate gaze passed over Fu Shulin as if he wasn't there. "Don't be cruel to the less fortunate. It isn't becoming to those of our station." He reached into his inner sleeve pocket and took out a few copper pieces that he dropped in front of Fu Shulin, scattering them across the neat piles of talismans. "Please accept this as apology for Rufei's behaviour, he enjoys being mischievous."

Sour indignation climbed up Fu Shulin's throat, choking the words out of him. If Xin Rufei had offended him, then Tao Yuanming had humiliated him with his 'apology'. He lowered his head to hide the hatred in his eyes, afraid that if the two provoked him he would call upon a surge of spiritual energy so strong the entire street would be obliterated under it.

"Shixiong, what do you mean? I'm being honest! This is my good didi, we met when we were children."

"He's still a child," Tao Yuanming said, "but you should know better. My fault for spoiling you."

Xin Rufei huffed out an annoyed breath, but didn't resist Tao Yuanming's hand on his shoulder, subtly nudging him along. He threw Fu Shulin one last look over his shoulder. "I'll see didi at the trials, if he manages to be accepted into our sect I'll treat him! This dage will personally dote on you."

He chuckled at the notion, the train of his hairpin tinkling in the breeze. Tao Yuanming admonished him, "Stop teasing, A-Fei, you'll be an adult soon, you're too old for these antics."

Despite his words, Tao Yuanming's tone was indulgent and his hands lingered on Xin Rufei. Fu Shulin watched them disappear into the crowd until the wandering cultivator's excited whistle distracted him.

"So you are well-connected," she said, stroking her chin, her dark eyes glinting. "What a fortuitous meeting...Xin Rufei calls you didi, uh? Even if he's making fun of you, that's a honour many would kill for, boy. He's Jade Dragon Manor's precious talent, even that Tao Yuanming dotes on him, and before Xin Rufei came along everyone was saying that he was going to be the most powerful cultivator of this age."

The girl who looked to be around Fu Shulin's age frowned. "Why isn't he jealous? Why would he dote on the one who stands in his way?"

Her master shrugged. "Who knows? These cultivators set on the path of immortality all fancy themselves righteous. You should worry about yourself and your chances in the trials, Qian Ran."

Fu Shulin said nothing, but he agreed with the girl's suspicion. Tao Yuanming's care for Xin Rufei appeared genuine, but in every other way he gave off the impression of a self-serving person. It was something to keep in mind, if he was to join Jade Dragon Manor.

"Well, boy, should we take you with us?" The woman shot him an opportunistic grin. "You know I have trained disciples for other sect's trials with much success in the past! Being with me will give your bid more legitimacy too."

He was saved from answering by Yao Yan's arrival. "Ah, Li Mingou, I should have known I'd see you here," he said, dropping the wrapped parcel of paper on the stall and crossing his arms in front of his chest. "My disciple already has a master."

Li Mingou smirked. "Well, if it isn't Jade Dragon Manor's most famous former disciple. I didn't think you'd ever show your face around Longbei again."

Her words struck Fu Shulin to his core, Yao Yan had never said anything about that. In fact, he was always very cagey about his past.

"Evidently, you thought wrong."

She scoffed, and returned her gaze to Fu Shulin. "Kid, you're lowering your chances of passing the trials if you stick with him. Don't you know who he is? He was expelled from the sect in shame. No matter how talented you are, no one is going to accept a disciple trained by him."

"Shifu, is that true?" Fu Shulin asked, looking up hesitantly at Yao Yan. Could he have placed his trust in the wrong person? But his Shifu had stood by him after the events at the inn. Beyond training, he took care of Fu Shulin. He wouldn't deceive him on purpose.

"Li Mingou, you should leave if you don't want to buy talismans." He shot Fu Shulin a rueful smile. "My disciple and I need to have a conversation."