The warmth of the water had lulled Lin Ye into a daze, eyelids heavy, muscles limp, arms floating at his sides. The air was thick with steam, fragrant with the herbal sachets he’d tossed in earlier. Shadows of lanternlight shimmered on the surface of the bath like little koi darting across ripples.

Just as his mind began to slip into a peaceful blankness—

Knock. Knock. Knock.

“Eh—what?” Lin Ye blinked, half sitting up, hair stuck to his face.

Outside the bathhouse door came a sharp voice laced with brotherly irritation.
“You’ve been in there for two hours, Ye! Some of us still need to bathe!”

It was Lin Shen. Of course.

“Okay, okay,” Lin Ye mumbled, too content to move but knowing he couldn’t stall much longer. “I’m getting out now. Wait a moment.”

Reluctantly, he pulled himself from the water, steam trailing behind him like ghostly silk. He dried off with a thick, cotton cloth, rubbed his hair into relative order, and slipped into clean robes—deep navy with silver thread embroidered in the shape of coiling dragons along the sleeves. A matching dark-blue ribbon tied his damp hair neatly behind his shoulders. For once, not a single strand stuck up.

He looked around the small bathhouse—simple and made of pine beams, with pale lanterns hung on the corners and buckets of rinsing water set aside. He actually… cleaned. Folded the towel. Collected the stray sandals. It smelled faintly of soap and peach blossoms now.

Outside, Lin Shen’s pacing was audible, along with dramatic sighs and sharp exhalations of breath. Then Mu Fan stepped through the main gate into the courtyard.

He wore light gray robes, fresh and unwrinkled, with a new ribbon around his wrist—clearly dressed for socializing. He caught sight of Lin Shen and greeted him with a bright grin.

“You look annoyed,” Mu Fan said as he approached.

Lin Shen didn’t hesitate. “Ye’s been in the bathhouse since we came back. I haven’t even had my turn yet.”

Mu Fan’s eyes bulged, nearly dropping his sleeve. “Ye? Our Ye? Since when does he stay more than ten minutes? You sure it's not a spirit borrowing his body?”

Lin Shen crossed his arms. “Yeah, he’s been acting weird since the forest. Quiet. Suspicious.”

Mu Fan tilted his head dramatically. “Mermaid spirit possession. I’m calling it.”

They both chuckled.

Click.

The bathhouse door opened. Lin Ye stepped out slowly, towel still in hand, wearing his polished new robes and with not a leaf in his hair. His silver dragon-embroidered sleeves shimmered under the low sun.

“I heard that,” he said with a half-smirk, half-warning.

Both boys turned to stare.

Lin Shen blinked, speechless.

Mu Fan actually leaned forward, whispering, “Are you really Ye?”

Lin Ye raised an eyebrow.

Even Mu Fan peeked inside the bathhouse and gasped. “You cleaned. You cleaned everything.” His head snapped back. “Are you okay? You’re not burning up, are you?”

He reached out to touch Lin Ye’s forehead, but Lin Ye swatted him away, annoyed. “I’m fine.”

“You smell nice,” Mu Fan noted.

“It’s the herbs,” Lin Ye said flatly. “And soap. A very normal human invention.”

Lin Shen grunted. “Fine. I’m going in. When I’m done, we’re heading to the village trial grounds to check if the duels are still going for the next rounds.”

Lin Ye and Mu Fan both nodded.

As Lin Shen disappeared into the bathhouse, Mu Fan stepped closer to Lin Ye, inspecting him like he was a rare bird. “Your uncle’s wine—you mentioned earlier he brewed a new batch, didn’t you?”

A mischievous smile crept onto Lin Ye’s lips. “I did. You want some?”

Mu Fan’s eyes lit up. “Absolutely. Your uncle makes better wine than the market.”

Together, they strolled to the wooden porch that faced the inner courtyard. The house stood quietly, its tiled roof catching the last golden light. Wind teased the bamboo chime by the door, its soft notes mixing with the chirping of cicadas.

Lin Ye pulled out a small clay jug from a hidden corner, uncorked it, and poured into two carved cups. They sat casually near the low wooden table beneath the porch, where a few scattered petals floated in an old water basin.

The courtyard, walled with stone and shaded by tall trees, had a calming air. Lanterns hung along the posts, their flames just beginning to flicker in the fading light.

Mu Fan took a sip, exhaled, and leaned back.

Then, his eyes narrowed curiously. “So… what really happened in the forest? You saved the Shuilan Master? That can’t be right. Someone like him—needing help?”

Lin Ye leaned back, arms folded behind his head, ankles crossed on the table, looking completely smug.

“But it is what happened,” he said.

Mu Fan stared.

Lin Ye sipped his wine and added, “And I’m not telling it twice. We’ll wait for Shen. I’m telling both of you at the same time.”

Mu Fan groaned, flopping sideways. “You’re the worst.”

“No, I’m the mysterious hero now,” Lin Ye said with a wink.

Mu Fan let out a dramatic breath and squinted at him. “You know I know you’re just pretending to be annoying.”

Lin Ye raised an eyebrow, amused.

“I mean it,” Mu Fan went on. "You’ve been like this since we were kids. Always helping people quietly, then acting like it was nothing—like you didn’t mean to do it at all."

Lin Ye grinned and leaned back farther, stretching his arms behind his head. “I didn’t mean to save him. It just happened by accident. Same thing”.

Mu Fan clicked his tongue and stood up suddenly, calling toward the house, “Shen! Hurry up! Don’t fall asleep in there and grow gills!”

He slumped back down, muttering, “He’s probably braiding his hair.”

Lin Ye burst into a laugh. “You’re just mad I didn’t tell you first.”

“I am mad,” Mu Fan admitted, then laughed with him. “But mostly impressed. You really cleaned the bathhouse. I thought that was a fever dream.”

Before Lin Ye could respond, the door creaked open.

Lin Shen stepped out at last, fully dressed in light blue robes that shimmered faintly under the dusky sky. His hair was neatly tied, his sleeves smooth, and his usual stern expression was softened just slightly, as if the bath had cooled more than just his skin.

Lin Ye blinked and tilted his head. “Why are you dressed like one of them? The Shuilan clan lose a robe?”

Lin Shen shot him a deadpan look but smiled faintly. “It’s not their exclusive color, you know.”

Mu Fan nodded in agreement. “Light blue’s been around longer than any of them. Besides, it looks good on him.”

Lin Ye clicked his tongue. “Yeah, yeah. Sit down before the wine turns bitter.”

As Lin Shen sat, Mu Fan straightened up and leaned forward eagerly. “Alright, now that everyone’s here—you can finally tell us what happened in the forest, Ye.”

But Lin Ye stood and stretched. “First, we check the village boards. If they plan more duels for us tomorrow”.

Mu Fan opened his mouth in protest, but Lin Shen nodded in agreement.

“He’s right. If the duels continue, we’ll need to rest. The Shuilan disciples turn in early. If we want anything from them—like the dueling list—we’ll need to catch them before nightfall.”

Lin Ye picked up the empty wine jug, glanced up at the dimming sky, and smiled.

“Come on then,” he said, already heading toward the gate. “Let’s find out if tomorrow brings swords or sleep.”

The three of them walked off cheerfully into the cooling dusk, robes brushing against the stone path, soft laughter following them down the slope toward the village trial grounds.

Thank you for staying through this calm before the storm!