"Ouch, ouch! Senior Sister, that was totally uncalled for! I just took one tiny bite! Did you really have to use Sword Intent?!" The sole male voice in the courtyard wailed, pleading for mercy amidst a chorus of female voices.
"If you're not happy, deal with it! If you want some, go learn to make it yourself!"
"If you hit me two more times, I really will learn!"
"Too loud." A voice as cold as ice cut through the noise, devoid of any emotion. "If you don't shut up, I'll throw you both out."
"Master is right," a steady, authoritative female voice followed immediately. "Ma Yanqing, Su Mei. Go to the corner and hold a horse stance to reflect on your actions."
"Yes, Eldest Sister."
"Oh ho? Eldest Sister is certainly throwing her weight around~ If you're lecturing me now, are you going to lecture Master later too?"
"Master is our elder. By logic and propriety, I have neither the right nor the ability to discipline her."
"No ability? More like you couldn't bear to, right?"
"Exploded."
"Second Sister exploded."
"Uh..." Jiang Wanxi glanced awkwardly into the courtyard before offering Mei a sheepish, apologetic smile. "It might be a little messy. Please don't mind them."
Mei smiled and shook her head.
Of course she didn't mind. Honestly, the noise Kiana and Bronya made at home was practically identical, just slightly less... violently aggressive.
Following Jiang Wanxi into the courtyard, the first thing Mei saw was a rather amusing tableau.
A scarred man with a scruffy beard, wearing a martial arts uniform, was squatting in the corner in a horse stance, looking utterly miserable. Next to him, holding the exact same stance, was a stunningly beautiful woman. She was clutching a pair of chopsticks and glaring indignantly at nothing in particular.
At the stone table in the center of the courtyard sat a mature, elegant woman. She held a cup of tea, watching the spectacle with perfect tranquility.
"Senior Lin Zhaoyu." Mei recognized the eldest disciple and greeted her politely.
Hearing her name, Lin Zhaoyu turned. Upon seeing Mei, she immediately set her teacup down and stood up, offering a slight bow. "Please, do not call me Senior, Miss Mei. In the current era, we are the juniors. Please, have a seat."
"No, you're being far too modest," Mei smiled helplessly, taking a seat at the stone table.
Lin Zhaoyu wasn't just being polite. Among the Seven Swords, she was the most traditional and placed the highest importance on etiquette and hierarchy. An elder was an elder, and a junior was a junior. Even if two people were the closest of friends, seniority had to be strictly observed.
In Su Mei's words, the Eldest Sister was a profoundly boring person.
She didn't even derive any tangible benefit from observing these hierarchies. What was the point? Just to enforce a rigid sense of order?
But strangely, Lin Zhaoyu never threw her weight around with those beneath her. She only strictly enforced the rules when she was the junior...
She truly was an antique.
And in the post-Eruption era, where the old social order had been completely rebuilt, Mei—as one of the founding members of the modern Fire Moth, bearing immense prestige and countless merits—was undeniably her senior. How could Lin Zhaoyu possibly allow Mei to call her senior? That would be completely backward!
Furthermore, Mei and their Master were comrades-in-arms, making them peers. That made it even more impossible for Lin Zhaoyu to accept the title of "Senior" from her.
Shortly after sitting down, a steaming cup of tea was placed before Mei.
She thanked the server, lowered her head, and took a sip.
It tasted different from black tea. It was a floral blend, the subtle sweetness blooming on her tongue and completely banishing the last remnants of her morning grogginess.
The atmosphere in the courtyard remained slightly tense.
Ma Yanqing, still holding his horse stance, muttered something under his breath. Su Mei glared fiercely at the chopsticks in her hand, as if they were a sworn enemy.
Cheng Lingshuang, who had delivered the icy threat earlier, sat in the shade a short distance away. Her eyes were closed, completely ignoring the chaotic farce unfolding around her.
"Mei?" After a brief wait, Fu Hua emerged from the main house.
Seeing Mei, Fu Hua looked slightly surprised. She cast a helpless glance at Jiang Wanxi, who had clearly exaggerated her report.
"Wanxi said we had an esteemed guest. I was wondering who could possibly fit that description nowadays."
Mei smiled somewhat awkwardly.
For Fu Hua, there was truly no one in the Fire Moth who qualified as an "esteemed guest." Shu didn't care about titles, and Otto certainly didn't dare pull rank on her.
If there was anyone who fit the bill, it would have to be someone from the distant Future City.
"Sister Mei!" Li Sushang, wearing a slightly-too-small martial arts uniform, followed Fu Hua out. The moment she saw Mei, her eyes lit up. She dropped her wooden practice sword and bounded over, throwing herself affectionately into Mei's arms.
"Huh?" Mei was momentarily startled by Sushang's sudden burst of affection, but she quickly set her teacup down and hugged the girl back.
Fu Hua, who had been about to walk over, stopped dead in her tracks, staring thoughtfully at Sushang's discarded wooden sword.
"Sushang and Miss Mei really do have a wonderful relationship," Qin Suyi, who had followed the others out of the house, said with a gentle smile as she looked at her daughter happily hugging Mei.
"Thank you all so much for taking care of her these past few months. I truly don't have much to offer in return, but if there is ever anything I can do to help you, I will do so with all my heart."
"No need. Honestly, Sushang has helped us out countless times," Mei waved her hand, speaking the absolute truth.
"To be frank, I actually feel quite ashamed. We were supposed to be the ones protecting her, but instead, we ended up putting her on the front lines..."
She was only seven years old. She should be in elementary school. Instead, she had been forced to wield the Key of Xuanyuan, charging into the most dangerous battlefields and serving as one of the Fire Moth's most crucial combat assets.
Honkai Beasts, Herrschers... these terrifying enemies had simply become a normal part of Sushang's life. It genuinely made Mei feel guilty.
If only I had been stronger...
Mei's somber words cast a heavy shadow over the courtyard. Meanwhile, Li Sushang, currently buried in Mei's chest, was suddenly sweating bullets.
Wait, what's going on?! I just wanted an excuse to skip morning practice! How did things get so depressing?!
Qin Suyi sighed. She walked over, picked up the discarded wooden sword, and tucked it away.
As Sushang's mother, how could Qin Suyi not see right through her daughter's little scheme?
In the past, no matter how excited Sushang got, she would never throw her sword on the ground. Even if it was just a wooden practice sword, she would have carefully placed it aside.
The fact that she had tossed it so carelessly made it painfully obvious she was desperately looking for a reason to escape morning practice. Her intentions were practically broadcasted for the entire world to see.
But...
If Mei felt guilty about what Sushang had been forced to endure, how could Qin Suyi not feel guilty about being absent for the past six months?
Her guilt had only deepened after hearing from her Master that, back in Shenzhou, Sushang had lived completely alone in the Taixuan Dojo for nearly a month, waiting for her mother based solely on a single letter.
"Then let's take a break today," Qin Suyi said, her heart softening as she looked at her daughter. "Since you have a day off, you should spend it having fun."