Qin Siyi glanced from her shizun to the sect master. Gui Linghuo stood silently off to the side as well, waiting for the two adults to come to their decision.

“We could do this,” Gui Yin broke the silence.

The three people turned to look at Gui Yin.

“We’ll drop Shan Yu off at her home since Elder Shan has been saying he misses his granddaughter, and then I will take Huo’er and Siyi on an investigation. How is that?” Gui Yin asked.

Qin Siyi’s eyes widened. She nodded. “I think that could work!”

“And then on the way back, we’ll pick up Shan-shimei,” Gui Linghuo said.

Lin Cangyuan let out a sigh of relief. He nodded. “Yes, then, let’s go with that. That way, our little miss won’t be upset that she was left out.”

Gui Yin looked a bit helpless. “Even if she feels left out, it’s not as if we could bring her with us.”

Shan Yu might have the makings of a protagonist with her extreme talent, but she was still only six. A six-year-old had no business being out on an investigation, even if it was a very simple and introductory one.

Gui Yin glanced at Qin Siyi. In fact, he was rather reluctant to bring Siyi with them, but there were no rules against her going, as she was already in the early stages of Foundation Building. The only reason Shan Yu wasn’t allowed to go was because she was still in the Qi Refining State.

“Good, since it’s all settled, I’ll send a letter back to Old Man Shan,” Lin Cangyuan nodded. “It’ll reach him by tonight, and you can all set off tomorrow to Zheng Yu Lake (正玉湖).”

“Yes, Sect Master,” Gui Yin nodded. He placed a hand on Gui Linghuo’s and Qin Siyi’s backs to guide them away from Lin Cangyuan’s study.

Qin Siyi seemed hesitant as she stepped away from the door. She glanced back at the study with a small frown and jolted when she found Gui Yin watching her.

“What’s wrong?”

“Mm…this disciple was wondering when Deng-shixiong is going to come back,” Qin Siyi whispered.

Gui Yin glanced back at the door. Lin Cangyuan had been a cultivator for a long time. Even with the door closed, and their distance, that man was sure to have been able to hear Qin Siyi’s whisper.

The thought amused Gui Yin and the itch to tease arose.

“Do you miss Deng-shixiong?” Gui Yin asked at a normal volume.

Qin Siyi appeared alarmed, but she still nodded honestly.

“Well, he’ll come back when the business he has to take care of is done. It could be next week or next month, but it could also be a few years,” Gui Yin let out a long sigh as he took his disciples from his courtyard. “To be honest, I miss him too. When Yenuo was around, Sect Master-shixiong didn’t seek me out every day to play chess with me. Who knows what he’ll do now that I’m leaving for a few weeks as well?”

Gui Yin’s smirk grew slightly when he heard a thump from the room behind him.

Of course, Qin Siyi and Gui Linghuo were unable to hear this noise.

Gui Linghuo let out a soft sigh. “I hope Deng-shixiong is safe.”

“He’ll be fine,” Gui Yin rubbed Gui Linghuo’s head. “He’s in the last stages of Golden Core. Your Deng-shixiong is a very powerful person.”

Gui Linghuo nodded, but the two children still didn’t look too reassured.

Gui Yin, himself, was obviously unsure of what fate was left for Deng Yenuo.

If this world was indeed a book, according to Miss Shen’s writing style, anyone who was close to the protagonist would meet an unfortunate fate. The prime example was Lord Immortal Ninglan’s fate in the first draft. But if this really were the case, instead of hugging golden thighs and brushing up favors in front of the protagonists, Gui Yin should actually be running far, far away.

But if he thought about this too seriously, he would burst out laughing.

It was similar to your grandmother or an elder of yours telling you a superstition. Although it sounded reasonable to an extent, to actually act on it would be preposterous.

That was how Gui Yin felt the past few days.

“Shizun?”

Gui Yin looked at Gui Linghuo. “What’s wrong, Huo’er?”

“Shizun was lost in thought. This disciple was only worried,” Gui Linghuo said honestly.

Gui Yin smiled. He rubbed Gui Linghuo’s head again. “What are you worried about?”

Qin Siyi had left to inform Shan Yu of their trip for tomorrow, leaving Gui Yin and Gui Linghuo alone at the entrance of the peak. Gui Linghuo’s ears reddened slightly at the familiar action. He lowered his gaze and let his shizun rub his head to his heart’s content.

“Shizun has a lot to think about every day,” Gui Linghuo said. “The affairs of the upper realm, the problems of the lower realms, and the evil forces lurking at our borders. If Shizun isn’t fiddling with a new talisman, then he’s messing with some mechanical parts for a new project. This disciple is just worried about what Shizun is worrying about today.”

Gui Yin chuckled. “Now, why would you do that?”

Gui Linghuo looked up at Gui Yin.

“My worries are my worries to worry about,” Gui Yin said with a light smile. “You shouldn’t worry about me worrying.”

“Shizun is still recovering…”

“I can’t just sit around and do nothing just because I have a case of light amnesia,” Gui Yin said. He looked down at his hands and flexed his fingers. “Besides, I remember enough. My body remembers enough. Business should continue as usual.”

That was exactly what Gui Linghuo’s shizun would say. Since Gui Linghuo met him, he never knew this man to have even the slightest ounce of self-concern. The words “rest” and the name “Gui Qinle” were utterly incompatible.

Seeing that Gui Linghuo fell silent, Gui Yin cleared his throat awkwardly. “Huo’er, you’re still a child. I don’t want my own worries to weigh on your shoulders. Otherwise, you won’t be able to grow tall.”

Gui Linghuo stared at Gui Yin in disbelief. “I won’t be able to grow tall?”

“That’s right,” Gui Yin said. “I want you to grow into a dashing young man who can stand with his back straight. If I pile on all my worries now, your back is going to turn crooked! And if I were to tell you my woes, where will you find time to learn to be a master swordsman, or when will you have time to pick apart my words and say that I’m wrong?”

“Shizun is never wrong.”

“You see? You’re so worried about me, you don’t even have time to question my actions. You should be asking yourself ‘what is worrying about his actions?’ instead of, ‘how can I help Shizun with his worries?’,” Gui Yin said. He rubbed Gui Linghuo’s head again. “Do you understand what I mean?”

Gui Linghuo frowned. He understood, yet he didn’t quite understand.

“It’s okay if you don’t quite understand. Just keep this in mind: I know ‘worry-free’ is too tall of an order, so I just want you to grow up worrying about your own worries,” Gui Yin said.

Gui Linghuo slowly nodded, but he was still uncomfortable with this idea. He was the head disciple—the one who will inherit Shuangye Peak in the future. How could he let his own shizun worry about everything himself? Gui Linghuo heard stories about how Gui Yin had already began to help handle sect duties when he was twelve. Gui Linghuo himself was already thirteen, yet he hadn’t seen a shred of official documents.

Gui Linghuo glanced at Gui Yin. “Then, when I’m a little older, I can help Shizun carry some of the peak’s burdens, right?”

Gui Yin chuckled. “Of course. But not now. You’re still young.”

“Boys my age in the lower realm would have already started getting married,” Gui Linghuo murmured.

“Are you from the lower realm? Were your parents normal mortals?” Gui Yin lightly knocked his knuckle against Gui Linghuo’s forehead. “You get to be young for longer—you should be grateful for that.”

Gui Linghuo was grateful, but whenever he looked at Gui Yin, he almost felt a sense of urgency. It was unexplainable. Even if someone asked, Gui Linghuo would only be able to stare at them. He wanted to help Gui Yin share his burdens because, ever since he arrived, Gui Yin always looked as if he would be crushed under their weight.

But now was fine. Now, after his amnesia, Gui Yin was fine.

Gui Linghuo no longer felt that sense of urgency, but what about when Gui Yin’s memories return?

“…I hope it never does.”

“What?”

Gui Linghuo started.

“What never does?” Gui Yin ask curiously.

Gui Linghuo pursed his lips. “I hope our time like this never ends. That’s what I was thinking.”

Gui Yin’s eyes widened a fraction. He laughed and threw his arm around Gui Linghuo’s shoulders. “How is my little Huo’er so cute?”

“Shizun,” Gui Linghuo’s face flushed. He struggled slightly against Gui Yin’s embrace, but his struggle was rather weak. There was no real resistance.

“Aw, you silly child,” Gui Yin hugged him tighter. “My adorable, sweet, silly child.”

Gui Linghuo shrank his neck. “Shizun!”

“What are you embarrassed about? I’m your father too, aren’t I?” Gui Yin laughed, but still released Gui Linghuo after another second.

Gui Linghuo stumbled back a step, his face completely red. “I-I’m going to help Qin-shimei and Shan-shimei pack!”

“Silly boy,” Gui Yin laughed, “why would your martial sisters need your help packing?”

Gui Linghuo tripped slightly over his two feet, but continued his way down the cobbled path.

Gui Yin lightly shook his head. He looked down at his hand and tightened his fingers towards his palm unconsciously. He let out a soft sigh and went to pack his own things as well. This was their first trip away from home since Gui Yin had lost his memories. It was probably better to be over prepared for this trip, since they wouldn’t even have a guide with them.

As Lin Cangyuan said, the letter was delivered and a reply was received early that morning.

Shan Yu was more than excited to be able to go back to her own clan. She had only been gone for less than a year, but she had missed her grandfather dearly. Her mother often sent her letters, telling her how much everyone missed her, but that was nothing compared to seeing them in person.

“Shizun, I’ll show you around Zhengzhou (整州)!” Shan Yu said excitedly as they walked towards the teleportation array. “There’s a lot of good things to eat in Zhengzhou! There’s Wulian (五怜) Flower cakes and there’s also Nianyu (念欲) tongsui and our signature Baihua (白花) cakes. I’ll take Shizun around to taste all of them!"

"Silly,” Qin Siyi scoffed. “Wulian flowers are native to Shizun’s hometown! If Shizun wants to eat Wulian Flower cakes, he can just make them himself. They’ll probably taste much better anyway.”