A New World (7)
Jiu Lan had sensed something was wrong with her brother ever since he returned from the Whispering Woods. Although the sudden unlocking of his cultivation was a miracle, she was not convinced it would be enough to change their family’s bleak fate. For as long as she could remember, she had been forced to act as the older sibling between the two of them. While her talent was only mediocre, it was still far better than her brother’s previous complete lack of ability. She had long accepted that her best path forward was to eventually marry into a stronger family and secure a better life for all of them.
She was not as talented a cultivator as she was beautiful. Her jet black hair fell in smooth, straight strands past her shoulders, and her rare green eyes stood out sharply against the usual dark brown or black eyes common in this region. Those eyes gave her an exotic, striking appearance that turned heads when she walked through the markets. She knew beauty could be a currency in this harsh world. It was enough to help her marry up and secure a better future for herself and perhaps even her mother.
Yet deep down, a quiet hope lingered. She desperately wanted her brother to reverse their fortunes. A small part of her even wished she could set aside thoughts of marriage and pursue cultivation more seriously, at least for a time.
As she sat with her mother, waiting for Qiu Yu to finish setting the table, the warm aroma of steamed rice, stir-fried vegetables with garlic, and salted fish filled their modest home. Lantern light cast soft, flickering shadows across the wooden walls and the simple low table. Jiu Lan watched carefully as Jiu Yin walked into the room.
The moment she saw him, her eyes narrowed. His skin was pale, but not in a sickly sense. It had an almost flawless, alabaster quality that made him look refined rather than unwell. His shoulders were broader, his steps more confident, and a subtle vitality radiated from him. His demeanor had changed as well. There was a quiet, almost predatory grace in the way he moved now. And yet when she extended her spiritual sense, she could tell he had only barely stepped into the first stage of the Iron Warrior realm. She herself was already deep into the fourth stage.
Whatever happened to her brother, she was sure it was not a normal awakening of his meridians.
“Brother, where were you today?” she asked, crossing her arms and fixing him with a searching gaze. Her green eyes narrowed slightly as she studied every detail of his changed appearance.
Jiu Yin met her eyes without flinching. A small smile curved his lips. “I went hunting and stumbled upon a dying dire bear. I managed to finish it off and sell the materials. It was enough to cover our tithe to the main family and more.”
Jiu Lan’s eyes widened. A dire bear was valuable. Its hide, teeth, and core could fetch a significant sum. More than enough to cover their immediate needs and the upcoming tithe for quite some time.
“Oh, that is wonderful!” her mother, Jiu Ping, exclaimed with visible relief, clasping her hands together. “The ancestors must finally be watching over us.”
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It was wonderful. But how had his luck become so absurdly good lately? First he suddenly awakens the ability to cultivate, and now he conveniently finds a dying dire bear? The coincidences were piling up too neatly. Something about her brother felt off. His mannerisms, the way he carried himself, even the faint but unfamiliar presence he gave off. It was as if someone else was wearing his skin.
There was something off about her brother. She could feel it in her bones. But for now, it remained only speculation.
“Indeed, congratulations, brother,” she said sweetly, forcing a warm smile onto her face while her mind continued to turn over the possibilities.
The meal continued with her mother trying to keep the conversation light. Jiu Ping spoke about how they could use the extra money to repair the leaking roof and buy better herbs for winter. Jiu Yin listened calmly and offered occasional comments, but Jiu Lan remained mostly quiet, observing him closely. Every small gesture felt slightly wrong. The way he held his chopsticks. The calm confidence in his voice. The way his eyes seemed to catch the lantern light with a faint, almost violet tint.
Before she could reach for more food, Jiu Yin suddenly spoke, his tone light but pointed. “Sister, you doubt me?”
He sat down casually and flicked a small chicken foot into his mouth with surprising grace.
Jiu Lan set her bowl down. She let her true expression surface, eyes narrowing. “We are twins, brother. Did you really think I wouldn’t notice how much you’ve changed? Your manner of speech, the way you carry yourself, even the air around you feels different. You will not fool your twin sister.”
“Lan’er, how can you say that?” Jiu Ping gasped, looking aghast at her daughter. “Your brother has finally awakened. We should be celebrating, not accusing him of something strange. He has been through enough already.”
“Mother,” Jiu Lan replied firmly, “I know my own brother. His way of speaking is not the same as before. He cannot hide it from me. Something happened in those woods. Something more than a simple fortunate encounter.”
Jiu Yin tapped his chin lightly, a calm smile still playing on his lips. “I understand your concern, Lan’er. I simply feel that I must make changes quickly if I am to help our family. So I haven’t been myself lately. That is all.”
Jiu Lan did not believe a single word of it.
The idea that her brother had simply snuck out to the forest surrounding the city and conveniently stumbled upon a dying dire bear was immensely unlikely. Still, she decided to let the matter drop for tonight. Pressing him now, in front of their hopeful mother, would only create conflict and possibly break their mother’s fragile optimism.
After they finished eating together, Jiu Yin excused himself politely, saying he needed to rest after the day’s events. Once he had left the room, Jiu Ping turned to her daughter with a gentle but concerned expression.
“Lan’er,” she said softly, placing a hand on her arm, “I know you worry for us. I do too. But do not be so hasty to judge your brother. He has suffered so much. If the ancestors have finally granted him a path, we should support him, not question him at every turn. Whatever happened in the woods, it has given us hope. Let us hold onto that for now.”
Jiu Lan nodded slowly, but her green eyes remained troubled. She helped her mother clear the table in silence, her mind still racing with unanswered questions.
She was stronger than him. She was already at the fourth stage while he had barely reached the first. When the time came, she could easily follow him on his next outing without being detected.
Whatever secret you are hiding, brother, she thought as she finished cleaning, I will uncover it. For the sake of our family.