That night, Chen Ping experienced the most tumultuous struggle of his life.
From being imrsed in love, to the shocking revelation of the truth.
He witnessed with his own eyes his beloved transforming into a mythical creature and saw an epic demon battle unfold.
After the battle, he even heard mice talking and hedgehogs mimicking humans.
Chen Ping pressed his hands against the ground, his head half-tilted upwards, feeling an odd sensation as if falling into a dream.
This night, this mont, this moonlit scene, made him confused about what day it was, whether it was illusion or reality.
It wasn’t until he saw his god-like second brother bow his head and respond to a talking hedgehog, "Brother Wei, it’s been days since we last t, I’ve relied much on you lately."
Chen Ping didn’t quite understand what Chen Xu ant by that.
What did "relied much on you lately" even an?
Was his second brother actually thanking a little demon?
The hedgehog shifted aside and said, "Ah Shi and I didn’t do much, it was mainly due to your tily return."
After saying this, the spiky hair on Wei Yuan’s hedgehog head slightly softened, finally releasing so of the tension it held before.
Chen Xu was very perceptive; he could feel that Wei Yuan had been holding his breath all this ti.
It was angry.
There were many facets to its anger.
But the most significant one likely stemd from the incident of Chen Xu’s previous "disappearance."
Although Chen Xu was now back, and the little mouse greeted him warmly, it seed the issue had been resolved, Chen Xu knew he still needed to provide a proper explanation.
At least, Wei Yuan’s anger clearly wasn’t dissipating easily.
However, there were more pressing matters, and Wei Yuan was not soone who would act irrationally in a fit of anger.
So earlier it didn’t show any outburst and instead urged Chen Xu to first resolve the matter with Lady ng.
Now that Lady ng was taken care of and everything seed settled, the little mouse once again eagerly approached Chen Xu.
Wei Yuan, however, stood politely aside.
Chen Ping found the little demon to be very courteous, but Chen Xu knew Wei Yuan was still upset.
This wasn’t sothing that could be resolved in a short ti.
Fortunately, Wei Yuan’s attitude finally showed so softening as Chen Xu earnestly said:
"No, you and Ah Shi staying by the house ans you were guarding my family.
Though you didn’t intervene directly, besides my elder brother, the reason my parents weren’t swayed by the demon’s charm was certainly due to your and Ah Shi’s help.
Even if you are family, there should still be mutual gratitude among family mbers.
I cannot just take you for granted and not express my thanks simply because we’re close."
He spoke at a calm and steady pace, conveying his thoughts sincerely.
As he said "You are also my family," the spikes on Wei Yuan’s head softened a bit more.
The little hedgehog’s tense deanor relaxed slightly, showing a hint of bashfulness and shyness in its eyes.
Ahem, Wei Yuan was actually quite pleased.
But it was reluctant to admit it, so it maintained a stern face and said, "Brother Chen, if you want to thank us, then go ahead."
Chen Xu smiled slightly and said, "I cannot just express gratitude verbally; I hope you and Ah Shi will wait, for I shall have a proper gift later."
Oh, he even referred to himself as "I".
Such deanor, such poise, anyone facing him would be dazzled.
Wei Yuan also knew this wasn’t the ti for reminiscing, so it simply added, "Ah Shi and I did not do it for your thanks."
After speaking, it leapt and landed on Chen Xu’s other shoulder.
The heavy hedgehog sat on Chen Xu’s shoulder, seemingly precarious, as if it might fall off at any mont.
Yet it stood firmly until the little mouse jumped over from the other side and nestled next to Wei Yuan.
Ah Shi muttered softly, "Hedgehog, aren’t you looking forward to the Scholar’s gift? I am very much looking forward to it..."
Wei Yuan remained silent, unwilling to respond to Ah Shi.
Chen Xu then walked over to Chen Ping, bending down to help him up:
"Brother, are you feeling unwell anywhere? Please get up quickly, the ground is cold, you don’t want to catch a chill."
Chen Ping blushed, he was on the ground not because he wanted to stay down?
But Chen Ping felt embarrassed to say his chest hurt.
He feared Chen Xu might think he was still heartbroken over the demon, though Chen Ping himself was a bit unsure.
Was this pain in his chest due to injury, or did he still harbor feelings for that demoness, making it unbearable?
Chen Ping now regarded his past affection for Lady ng as a disgrace, especially when he faced Chen Xu, a victim himself—
Although Chen Xu had already slain Lady ng, how could Chen Ping deny her malicious intent and sches against Chen Xu?
Even though Chen Ping had limited understanding, he could see it now.
The main reason Lady ng sought him out, ensnaring him, was likely to use him as a stepping stone to harm Chen Xu!
Out of nowhere, Chen Ping was overwheld with sha.
Until that hand reached out, and Chen Xu said once more, "Brother, let help you up."
Chen Xu’s deanor was as familiar and affectionate as ever, as if nothing had changed since before he left ho to study.
Back then, the Chen family was so poor that they struggled to gather enough for pen and paper.
Chen Xu took on various errands from his classmates at the town’s school to earn so silver coins to buy books and ink.
He would walk to town every morning to study, return ho at night to chop wood and feed chickens, and join the family in the fields during harvest tis.
Sotis Chen Ping felt sorry for his hard work, so he would climb the mountain to raid bird nests.
He would boil the eggs he found and secretly slip them into Chen Xu’s school bag for a midday treat.
As an elder brother, he wasn’t skilled at much, just digging food from the soil.
Only those few bird eggs slightly expressed his care.
Back then, Chen Xu’s face would light up with joy upon returning, then he would catch Chen Ping and Chen An, urging them to learn writing and reading.
Chen Ping was genuinely afraid of this, though he knew it was for their benefit.
However, he wished his brother wouldn’t be so "good."
He felt both ashad and evasive.
One mont he would be fetching water, the next chopping wood.
He would even rather go back to the field and loosen the soil under the stars and moon.
Back then, could Chen Ping have foreseen that Chen Xu would reach this day?
It was as if he was a fledgling bird spreading its phoenix wings, or a mighty Kunpeng soaring through the skies.
How did that saying go?
Ah yes, his brother once recited, "The giant peng bird rises with the wind, soaring to ninety thousand miles!"
He flew so fast, so high, that those on the ground could barely comprehend the view from his azure sky no matter how they craned their necks.
Praising as head of examinations, praised in the imperial exams, gaining recognition...
As the good news kept arriving, Chen Ping was actually sowhat dazed.
While delighted, it hardly felt real.
Sotis he even wondered if the person ntioned in the announcents was truly his brother.
The sa brother who once sat on the doorstep with them, enjoying roasted bird eggs and casual chatter?
Chen Ping indeed felt confused.
Until this mont!
Chen Ping realized, Chen Xu had never changed!
He seed far from family now, but actually, he was always here.
Suddenly, warmth surged through Chen Ping’s heart, and he tightly grasped Chen Xu’s hand.
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