CHAPTER 5 - Blood Oath of Brotherhood
[PART 1]
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In that desolate cave, two wounded souls leaning on each other, sharing every bite they had—what could be more precious? In times of hardship, to find such genuine human kindness was a rarity in this world.
That night, heavy rain poured outside. The place where Yan Si lay was already soaked through, yet he stayed there unmoving, still hugging the little rabbit in his arms without the slightest intention of getting up.
Seeing such a sight, RongCheng could no longer bear it. He called out, "Yan Si, come here."
Hearing his name, Yan Si quickly lifted his head, thinking the man needed help, and hurried over. "Are you alright?" he asked.
RongCheng patted the space beside him and said, "It's wet over there. Sleep here tonight."
"That… that wouldn't be right." It was dry here, yes, but barely enough room for one person.
"Why not?" RongCheng shifted closer to the cave wall, leaving just enough space for Yan Si. "Lie down."
This man was truly strange. Yan Si had never met anyone like him. Back then, Yichang Hua had always let him fend for himself against the elements, only bringing him back when he was on the brink of collapse.
Yan Si had long grown used to such a life, and because of Qin Sheng, he never minded much. No matter how bitter the hardship, if he endured it long enough, it would pass. But now… why?
There were no ties between them. True, Yan Si had saved his life, but that didn't obligate the man to anything. Whether he was freezing, starving, or suffering—that was his own burden to carry. So why did RongCheng care? Why insist on having him sleep here? Especially when the man himself was still injured. Forcing space like this would surely be uncomfortable.
Thinking this, Yan Si shook his head. "No need. I'm used to it. You're different—you've probably never experienced this kind of hardship, that's why it bothers you... So, just don't worry about me."
With that, he turned to leave—only to have RongCheng suddenly grab his wrist.
"You're not wrong..." RongCheng murmured. In his life, he had never been in such miserable circumstances. A dark, foul cave—no scent of sandalwood, no familiar embrace to warm the night—he missed it all to the point of madness, yet he gritted his teeth and endured. Even walking and eating were now burdens, his injuries constantly aching. But somehow, whenever he looked at Yan Si, all of it seemed so insignificant.
He found himself unable to understand the boy at all.
"Tell me—why do you feel the need to give up all the good things to me, just to take on the hardship yourself? What do you gain from doing that?"
The two of them were clearly strangers. Why had he gone to such lengths to save him? They weren't kin, weren't lovers—so why did he give up his food, even his place to sleep, just for someone he didn't even know? People are driven by self-interest, seeking comfort and happiness for themselves. But him… what possible benefit could such actions bring?
"I…"
What did he gain? What benefit did he get in return?
"I don't know…"
Because it simply felt like something he *ought* to do. It had become second nature. Just like with Yi Changhua, he had done everything he could to please him, to win even the faintest affection—but in the end… all his efforts were in vain. Still, he had kept doing it. Over and over again. Until it felt like the most natural thing in the world—giving without receiving, surviving in a life painted only in the color of despair.
"I… what good have I even done for you? Wasn't everything just… obvious?"
He didn't feel like he was doing anything good. He didn't even think of himself as suffering. Because having never experienced abundance, how could he know what hardship truly meant?
Suddenly, a loud thunderclap exploded across the sky, and Dung Cheng felt a sharp ache in his head—*He doesn't understand? Truly doesn't understand? He doesn't know what any of it means?*
At that moment, Dung Cheng gripped Yan Si's hand even tighter, falling into a long, heavy silence, his thoughts running deep.
"Obvious, is it?"
This so-called "obviousness" was what he truly couldn't understand. Especially for someone who'd lived in the shadows of power and royalty—where every action, every choice was a calculated move for gain—what this frail boy did… no one in that world would ever *accept* that kind of sacrifice.
Then suddenly, Dung Cheng burst out laughing—loud and bitter, like he was mocking himself.
He gave up. He admitted defeat. Even against someone so weak and fragile, it was this boy's heart that made him yield.
*He doesn't know what hardship feels like?*
Very well, then. Dung Cheng would make sure he knew.
Outside, the rain was still pouring down, but the laughter had vanished. In its place was Dung Cheng's unusually serious expression.
"How old are you now?" he asked.
Hearing the question, Yan Si paused to think for a moment. It had been two winters already since he began living in this cave…
After a while, he stammered, "I… I'm sixteen… What's wrong with you? Let go, you're hurting me!"
Dung Cheng kept gripping his hand tightly, making him wince.
"Sixteen, huh…" Older than he'd expected. But Dung Cheng didn't let go. Instead, he asked again, "And you truly have no family?"
Yan Si frowned, trying to pull his hand back. "I really don't. Now let go… You're hurting me."
"…Ah, sorry."
Only then did Dung Cheng release him. He suddenly stood up, stepped beside Yan Si, and bluntly declared, "Then from now on, you have me. Will you accept me as your elder brother?"
"E-Elder brother!?"
The man had just frightened Yan Si earlier, and now he left him speechless.
"Elder brother…?"
What was that even supposed to mean? They weren't blood relatives—how could he become his brother?
"That's right."
Suddenly, Dung Cheng dropped to his knees and pulled Yan Si to kneel beside him. He raised three fingers to the sky, signaling Yan Si to do the same, and solemnly declared,
"I, Song Dung Cheng…"
Then nudged Yan Si and whispered, "Your turn."
Yan Si had no idea what kind of ritual this was, but stammered nonetheless, "I… Shi… Shi Yan Si…"
With that, Dung Cheng proclaimed the oath:
"On this day, let heaven and earth be our witness—let us become sworn brothers. From this moment on, we shall share fortune and face hardship together. We vow to support each other for life, with no deceit or selfish gain…"
And then he turned to look at Yan Si, adding cryptically, "And if we break this vow…"
Yan Si was completely flustered by Dung Cheng's strange behavior. He wanted to get up and flee—someone like him, how could he be worthy of such a bond?
Sensing his hesitation, Dung Cheng held him back, smiling gently.
"Well? Will you accept me as your elder brother?"
Was he being forced into this? Swearing brotherhood like this—was it really so hard to understand?
Yan Si fell into deep thought. Maybe… maybe it wasn't a bad thing. Having a family—wasn't that something he'd longed for all his life?
After a long pause, he finally echoed the vow, "...And if I break this vow, may my bones shatter and my life be worse than death."
The two of them bowed to the heavens three times.
Afterward, Dung Cheng retrieved a bamboo tube filled with water. He mixed a drop of his own blood with Yan Si's, and they each drank a portion.
Perhaps fate had brought them together on this rainy day. The bond they formed in this simple moment… was something rare and beautiful.
Two drops of blood merged, two lives intertwined.
Their oath bound them as sworn brothers, to walk together no matter how the stars might shift.
Dung Cheng had made up his mind. His heart had been moved. And from this day forward, he would protect this foolish, innocent little brother of his—never letting anyone hurt him, never letting the light within him be dimmed.