~~~
Living in the branch sect proves to be a curious experience for Liu Jin.
While its size cannot compare to the main branch, Liu Jin has never lived there. Someone like him is not even allowed into the main house. Liu Jin has always lived in the floor above the family clinic. Thus, the guest room Liu Jin is given by the branch sect is far more luxurious than he is used to. It is a large, spacious room with ornate furniture and a comfortable bed with soft bedsheets. For Liu Jin, sleeping in such a large, comfortable bed is a new and pleasing experience.
Every day, upon waking up and leaving his room, Liu Jin is immediately attended by servants. They ask what he would like to eat and bring it to him. Liu Jin soon finds he can go the kitchens, and the cooks there will scramble to follow his orders. When he walks through the halls, the people in his way nod at him with respect. Some even bow. Many do not even dare to meet his eyes.
Then there are those who try too hard.
“Brother Liu, you are looking strong today.”
“Brother Liu, it would be my honor if you were to exchange tips with me.”
“Brother Liu, is there anything this one can do for you? If you need help, do not hesitate to ask.”
One disciple even told him he knew a place where they could go meet girls. Liu Jin just needed to say the word, and he would take him there. Liu Jin still isn’t quite sure why that disciple thought it would be a good idea to offer that sort of thing to a ten-year-old, but the disciple was completely serious about it.
Liu Jin sighs. Things are progressing exactly as Xiao Nan said they would.
After their meeting with Xiao Ding was over, Liu Jin managed to talk with Xiao Nan. Liu Jin asked why Xiao Nan had placed him in such an uncomfortable position, and why he had said the things he did after the fight.
Xiao Nan’s reply had been shockingly simple.
“Had I allowed Little Brother to say what he wanted to say, Little Brother would have tried to make them feel better about themselves. However, there was no need to protect Xiao Ding’s pride. He and his son chose to shame themselves. It is only natural for them to experience the consequences of their actions. I know Little Brother is always trying to be courteous, but there are times when the courteous answer is not the right one. Little Brother is used to being in a position of inferiority. However, right now, we are in a position of superiority. It would be good of you to think just what that entails during the following weeks.”
A position of superiority.
Xiao Nan had not been joking. It is plain to see in how everyone acts around him. In New Moon Town, Liu Jin is not the son of a simple doctor. He is not someone stuck in the Inner Realm. In New Moon Town, Liu Jin is a disciple of the main branch who is at a level of cultivation superior to disciples even four years his senior.
It is a very odd feeling. Liu Jin cannot deny he has sometimes wanted power and respect but having them fall on him so suddenly is definitely awkward. In the end, Liu Jin ends up spending most of his time inside his room under the pretense of meditating. It is better than dealing with all the people outside.
Showing the difference between them, Xiao Nan has no such problems. Authority wraps around the older boy like a cloak. He speaks, and people listen. He walks, and everyone steps out of the way. By the time the first day is over, a procession is already following his every step. They hang on to his every word and cater to his every whim. Among the group of people that have taken to following Xiao Nan around are a few female disciples.
“Ah, those girls?” Xiao Nan had said when Liu Jin asked him about it. “They are hoping I will take them to my bed. The stupid ones hope to be my wife. The ones with a little sense have their sights set on being a mistress. Well, that’s only to be expected, but I have no intention of doing either of those things. By the way, I don’t think anyone will try this with Little Brother but do remember you are still too young for those sorts of things. No inviting girls to your room until you’re old and rich enough to take responsibility.”
Most unfortunately, Xiao Nan said that to Liu Jin while the latter was drinking from a pleasantly hot cup of tea. As it turned out, pleasantly hot tea was not so pleasant when it fell on your clothes.
Just remembering the event is enough to make Liu Jin shake his head. The child carefully looks around after the fact. Once he is sure there are no people nearby, Liu Jin allows himself to relax and continues walking. It is early in the morning. Save for the servants, most people are still not up yet. It is one of the best times of the day to walk around without being disturbed.
Unlike Xiao Nan, Liu Jin has a hard time bearing the spotlight. It is easier for him if he stays meditating in his room most of the day and only goes out when there are not many people around or when it is required of him. Anything more is just suffocating.
Is this what people like Xiao Nan and Xiao Fang have to deal with all the time? Was this what Yun Han was dealing with the day he almost killed him? If so, Liu Jin can almost sympathize. When he thinks about it, this lifestyle is just…
Liu Jin shakes his head, not willing to finish that thought.
Instead, he goes back to the task at hand. The reason he is out so early in the morning is to pass by the kitchens without being bothered. The tea they serve at this house is something Liu Jin quite enjoys. While Liu Jin could just order one of the servants to bring a kettle of tea to his room, doing so would make him feel awkward. Usually, he’s the one following instructions, not the other way around.
The moment he enters the kitchen all eyes predictably turn to him.
“Little Lord, what a surprise!”
“Little Lord should not be lowering himself to coming to the kitchens. Was there not a servant around? I’ll make sure to properly scold them for not looking after Little Lord!”
“Little Lord, I just finished a batch of steamed buns. It would be this one’s honor if you were to take them with you.”
Little Lord.
They are calling him Little Lord. Liu Jin’s eye twitches.
In a way, he guesses they cannot help it. Even some of the branch disciples are doing it. He is too young for more common but still respectful modes of address. Meanwhile, calling him just Brother or Junior Brother does not feel respectful enough for many. Not only is he from the main sect, but the story of his fight against Xiao Dong has unfortunately spread throughout the branch sect. In fact, Liu Jin is certain the story has grown significantly exaggerated with each retelling.
Thus, Liu Jin ended up becoming Little Lord.
It takes Liu Jin a couple of minutes to convince the cooks he is only there for tea, and even then, he ends up walking back to his room with a tray of steamed buns.
The moment he manages to get out of the kitchen, Liu Jin hurries back to his room. In his haste, Liu Jin almost bumps into someone when he rounds a corner. Only his quick reflexes allow him to step back in time. Not a single drop of tea spills from the kettle. Not a single bun falls.
“Forgive me,” the person says. “I was not expecting anyone to be up at this hour… Brother Liu?”
The person is young, older than Liu Jin but younger than Xiao Nan or Xiao Dong. Liu Jin feels like he has seen him before, but it takes him a moment to place him. He was there when Xiao Nan and Liu Jin were welcomed to the branch sect. He was also present at the banquet, sitting at the far end of the table.
Xiao Ding had hurried through his introduction back then, but he did mention his name. What was it?
As if noticing his hesitation, the teen offers him a short bow. “This one’s name is Xiao Heng, Brother Liu.”
Xiao?
Liu Jin blinks as he gives Xiao Heng a second look. Now, that he’s looking for it, he can see the resemblance. Xiao Heng has the brown hair and sky-blue eyes common to the Xiao clan. Even the shape of his jaw is similar to Xiao Nan’s. In fact, compared to Xiao Ding and Xiao Dong, the Xiao features are stronger on Xiao Heng than they are on them. Liu Jin cocks his head to the side.
“You are Xiao Ding’s son,” Liu Jin states just as he comes to the conclusion. Had Xiao Ding mentioned that the other night? Liu Jin is not sure. Still, he does not doubt the words he just spoke. Indeed, Xiao Heng nods.
“It is so, Brother Liu,” he says. “This one is Branch Master Xiao Ding’s second son.”
Yet his father never once tried to show him off. Looking back on it, the banquet was set up to give him as little spotlight as possible. Xiao Ding had lavished one son with praises and arranged for him to show off in front of Xiao Nan. However, this one he shunted to a dark corner. He might as well have banned him from the banquet.
“Your father did not mention he had a second son,” Liu Jin says. “Why?”
Xiao Heng looks away awkwardly. “Ah… that is nothing important, Brother Liu. Xiao Dong has always been father’s favorite. It is not something worth wasting Brother Liu’s time on.”
Liu Jin purses his lips. There is something about this that feels familiar enough to bother him. He is just not sure how to approach the subject with the proper tact. Social skills have never been his forte. Then Liu Jin remembers Xiao Nan’s words and realizes he does not need tact right now. He has something better.
A position of superiority.
“Brother Heng, tell me something. I am an honored guest in this place, right?” Liu Jin asks, pointing to himself.
“That is so, Brother Liu. That is something that does not even need saying. You are an honored guest from the Main Branch. This Xiao Heng affirms that.”
“So, if I told you to carry this tea kettle for me, you would do it, right?”
Xiao Heng looks nervous but nods. “That is so, Brother Liu. If it is your request, this Xiao Heng will move Heaven and Earth to see your needs met.”
“And if I told you to go to the kitchens and fetch some food for me, you would do it, would you not?”
“That is so, Brother Liu,” Xiao Heng answers respectfully. “Your time here is precious. If this Xiao Heng can remove needless distractions for you, then this Xiao Heng will do so.”
“Then why, if I am so important, do you think you can dictate what is and isn't worth wasting my time on?”
Silence.
Liu Jin stares at Xiao Heng, waiting for an answer.
Xiao Heng stares back, open-mouthed. He does not have a clue how to reply. Satisfied with this, Liu Jin nods to himself and holds the plate of steamed buns out for him.
“Please, carry this, Brother Heng,” Liu Jin says.
Xiao Heng immediately obeys.
“I only wanted tea, but the cooks insisted I take the steamed buns with me. There are far too many for me to finish by myself,” Liu Jin explains a little nervously. He clenches a fist under his sleeve and continues. “You will come to my room and help me finish them. You can tell me about you and Branch Master Ding there.”
With that, Liu Jin starts walking.
Xiao Heng follows after him.
~~~