Days living like a dog

Xu Hexian had returned to Wangyun Peak, bringing Liu Suye back with him. There was supposed to be one Guanghai Elder with them as well but apparently that Elder had wandered off with the wind, or something something. A detail that Xiao Hei hadn't cared about at the time.

Instead, she was keenly interested in this new arrival, this one Liu Suye. Though he was Liu Sumeng's older brother, the only thing those two had in common was their appearance and nothing else.

Liu Suye had a sunny personality and often laughed and smiled. But aside from looks and personality, it could be said that everything else about him was simply average. From his swordsmanship to his cultivation and even his luck- there wasn't a single aspect that was particularly outstanding. With that kind of affliction, Liu Sumeng was naturally expected to become Sect Leader over his older brother.

But that wasn't why Xiao Hei cared!

She sneakily peered from behind a pillar, watching Xu Hexian helping Liu Suye bend into a stretch in the courtyard.

"How are you this out of practice after traveling so long with Shizun?" Xu Hexian sighed, "if even I can beat you at swordplay doesn't that mean you've become completely hopeless?"

Liu Suye laughed nervously, "What? No, it doesn't work like that! It just means there's hope yet for you, A-Cai."

Xu Hexian sighed again, pushing Liu Suye into his stretch a little too far, causing the Young Master Liu to grimace, "Speaking of Shizun, why did he run off so quickly? Couldn't even drop by Wangyun Peak to say hi?"

Xiao Hei watched the two interact with glee. In her mind, they made a perfect pair. Xu Hexian was cute and feisty, scolding and teasing but ultimately helpful towards this Young Master Liu. And this Young Master Liu who always smiled and was tolerant even when he was teased was pretty cute as well. Not to mention, when he teased Xu Hexian back and got a delicious flustered reaction in return!

Liu Suye shoved Xu Hexian off of him and gave a light-hearted scoff, "Well Shizun is free-spirited like that." He slowly got to his feet and dusted off his robes.

"Why do I have a feeling he's running off because he doesn't want to see Meng-xiong?" He took a step back and scratched at his jaw in thought.

Liu Suye frowned at his sword before drawing it, "So how is Xiao Chaochao?" he asked, changing the topic.

In front of him, Xu Hexian mirrored his movements and readied his stance, "Argh thinking about him makes me kind of angry, you know? Have you seen his fiance? She's drop-dead gorgeous and has an adorable personality and Meng-xiong just stares at her like a monk!"

Xu Hexian! Please stop thinking about the Young Miss, your lover is just in front of you! Xiao Hei's eyes were dazzling with wild fantasies.

Liu Suye tilted his head and smiled, eyes measuring his opponent's stance while he casually responded, "That certainly sounds like him! I even feel a little bad about that maiden promised to him. You know I did everything I could to help his personality and emotionless face and yet he's still like this. It's hard to believe we were born from the same parents."

Swords clashed, the two cultivators sparred in the court but Xiao Hei's mind was already too delusional to see reality. Instead, she was imagining a rosy tinged scene. Because what was more wonderful than two handsome men sword-fighting!?

(Someone help this poor delusional person, please take her away.)

Meanwhile, the reality was a lot less interesting aside from the fact that the two martial brothers were having such a lively conversation despite being in the middle of a spar, "Of course you were, you two have the exact same face. But it seems that appearance is the only thing you and Meng-xiong have in common…you know? Last time I fought him, he obliterated me before I could even utter a single word."

Liu Suye parried an attack to the face, then twisted around to slash at Xu Hexian's waist, "Let me guess what he said afterward, 'Don't talk'." A playful smile graced his lips, laughter in his eyes.

Xu Hexian stepped back. "That's exactly what he said!" he cried with an exasperated tone, "But I hadn't even had the chance to say anything at all!" Another blow was blocked and parried, Xu Hexian stepped in close. Both their swords were locked together. "By the way, speaking of Meng-xiong, I actually have something to tell you…"

"Hm?" Liu Suye pushed Xu Hexian away before counterattacking. "What is it?"

"You know that uh…book, you lent me…?"

"Yes! Did you enjoy it? Wait but what does that have to do with A-Chao?" Liu Suye's voice was a little nervous while he tried to maintain his smile.

"He might have torn it to shreds," Xu Hexian said sheepishly.

"W-what!?"

And it was at that moment when Xu Hexian's sword swung at Liu Suye at an angle. While he was able to block it in time, the torrent plaguing his mind made his grip falter, and his sword went flying out of his hand!

Xiao Hei whose mind was still up in the clouds did not notice the sword flying her way. Luckily for her, it was the hilt that smashed into her forehead and not the blade.

"W-wah…" The world spun as she fell over. Two handsome men rushed to her with horror-stricken faces asking if she was ok.

Ah, no no Xiao Hei was just fine, you two please carry on… And then her vision turned dark.

When she woke up, she was in her room. A fat raven pecked at her face incessantly to get her attention, "Ack! Get off!" She slapped it away, a throb plagued her head. "Ow, ow, ow…" she groaned, slowly pushing herself up to a seated position. Somehow she felt like she was having a very good dream, why did she have to wake up?

Her room was rather small but Xiao Hei really didn't mind, because it wasn't as if she kept many belongings anyways. A steaming bowl of congee and some vegetables were left next to her bed, the light filtering in from her window was now quite low, about to fall into dusk at any moment. She reached for the food but the raven cawed at her for attention instead.

Xiao Hei narrowed her eyes at the ugly raven, causing it to flinch. The pathetic creature bowed its head and pecked at a letter that it held beneath its claws. She rolled her eyes and sighed but took the letter, already knowing the gist of its contents.

It read:

"Greetings from your Older Brother,

Are you still going by that wretched name, Xiao Hei? I want to know if you've really decided to live like a dog. Anyways, your Older Brother wants to know why you didn't respond to my letter last time? Don't keep me waiting.

"Do you have any news? I can't help but wonder if it's time for you to return home. I have this nagging feeling that instead of doing work, you're spending your time messing around and playing like a child. Do you know how much of a headache you've caused me?

"More importantly, you told me months prior that you had managed to obtain a batch of medicinal herbs from the last place you visited. How come it still hasn't arrived? If you're going to pretend like you forgot, I'll kill you."

The letter ended there.

Xiao Hei felt a nerve twitch, only barely holding back the urge to take the letter along with the bird and throw them out her window with all her might. She was so, so, so very close.

But she inhaled, slowly, and then exhaled, just as slowly. She then begrudgingly fetched a small roll of paper along with ink and brush and scribbled a sparse reply. There. That was already more than what the bastard deserved.

When she was done, she tossed the rolled up piece of paper at the raven, purposely aiming at its head.

"Take this," she huffed before getting up and rummaging through her stuff. Seriously, that annoying big brother of hers really wanted to work her dry, didn't he? Beneath cheap fabrics and an assortment of hairpins, she found a small satchel, stuffed with priceless herbs found only in Haishang province.

She sighed and handed that to the ugly raven as well. "Big Brother better thank me or else I'll crush his balls and break your neck too."

The raven squawked and flapped its wings in skittish alarm. It made short of its presence and was quick to take the letter and satchel and fly out of Xiao Hei's window.

Xiao Hei groaned and plopped back down on her bed. The food set for her was now lukewarm and she had no one but her annoying big brother to curse and blame.

In a far off place, Xiao Hei's big brother peeled open the letter and glared at its contents and then at his pitiful raven messenger.

"Is this some sort of joke?" His voice was cold.

On the paper was nothing more and crudely drawn face with a tongue sticking out.

The raven sweated profusely. Even if she could avoid death from the younger, the older would probably kill her instead. She really should have reconsidered her career options before deciding to work under these tyrannical siblings!