Chapter 69: This is differential treatment!
Feng Kuo didn’t sleep all night, spending the time strategizing and battling wits with Feng Xuexiang, leaving him exhausted as if he had been exorcising demons non-stop for seven days.
When Yu Shi got up in the morning and saw his disheveled and weary appearance, he thought Feng Kuo looked like a homeless man on the street.
Seeing Yu Shi, Feng Kuo showed a relieved expression, “Thank goodness, you’re finally awake. Come, take him away. I need to wash my face and catch a quick nap.”
He let go of Feng Xuexiang, his troublesome younger brother, and floated into the bathroom like a wandering soul.
As soon as Feng Kuo released him, Feng Xuexiang, who had been sitting idly at the table, immediately stood up and walked over to Yu Shi, saying, “You’re finally awake. You slept for so long—it felt like days.”
Yu Shi responded, “To be exact, we’ve only been apart for eight hours since last night.”
Feng Xuexiang asked, “Can’t I sleep with you? I can watch you sleep and won’t wake you up. I went to your room last night and didn’t disturb you.”
Yu Shi: “…………”
From the bathroom, Feng Kuo, who had been eavesdropping with his ears perked, loudly coughed twice, “I tried to stop him, but it didn’t work. He slipped past me when I wasn’t looking, but I dragged him back right away.”
So, in the middle of the night, he still had to wrestle with his idiotic brother—what a miserable life.
After taking Feng Xuexiang out for a morning exercise and returning home, Yu Shi prepared breakfast and called Feng Kuo, who had been catching up on sleep, to come and eat.
With two large dark circles under his eyes, Feng Kuo heard Yu Shi telling his brother, “I’m going to pick up today’s groceries, the books I bought, and the toolbox. Wait here for me.”
Feng Kuo immediately interrupted, “No, no, no! You just rest here. I’ll get the things for you!”
Yu Shi asked, “Don’t you want to spend more time with your brother, Seventh Master?”
Feng Kuo replied, “I’m afraid if I spend any more time alone with him, I’ll lose years off my life.”
Yu Shi sincerely said, “Maybe Ninth Master is having some communication issues due to his health, but as family, shouldn’t you be more patient with him?”
Feng Kuo hesitated, gritting his teeth, his expression as if he had stepped in dog poop.
He looked utterly frustrated. “Me? Haven’t I tried to communicate with him? I talked to him about reason and reminisced about the past, and he tried to assassinate me! Do you know how I survived last night?”
Anyone else would have died countless times in those layers upon layers of illusions!
Yu Shi looked over at Feng Xuexiang. He pressed his lips together, lowered his eyes, and his eyelashes trembled nervously, looking somewhat aggrieved. “I don’t recognize him. He wouldn’t let me see you and said strange things to me.”
Seeing his innocent expression, Feng Kuo rolled his eyes dramatically.
As he took his empty bowl to the kitchen, Feng Kuo patted Yu Shi on the shoulder and said gravely, “Today’s me is tomorrow’s you. By next year, he’ll treat you the same way.”
“Take it as a warning and prepare yourself mentally early.”
In the past, Feng Xuexiang used to affectionately call him ‘Seventh Brother’ and would tearfully cling to him, not wanting him to leave. Now, he constantly says he doesn’t remember, doesn’t like him, and finds him annoying.
At Feng Kuo’s strong insistence, Yu Shi stayed with Feng Xuexiang while Feng Kuo went to pick up the items.
Feng Kuo walked lazily and sluggishly, lighting the cigarette hanging from his mouth as soon as he stepped out of the side residence.
Once out of Yu Shi’s morning exercise range, Steward Sui was waiting nearby with a group of people.
“Seventh Master, it must have been tough. How is Ninth Master doing now?”
Feng Kuo exhaled a puff of smoke and sat casually on a stone post by the roadside, legs spread apart. “He’s stable. Most of the time, his magnetic field stays within a two-meter radius around him. Just don’t get too close.”
“Of course, it’s best not to anger him either. If he opens up an illusion, no one within at least a hundred-meter radius will be able to escape.”
“If we can help it, we certainly don’t want to upset Ninth Master,” Steward Sui said, his face full of concern. “But you know, Seventh Master, Ninth Master’s temper has become increasingly unpredictable. No one knows what might set him off.”
Feng Kuo blew out a smoke ring. “Then here’s a piece of advice: don’t provoke that Zhou Shi. As long as he’s happy staying by Old Ninth’s side, things should remain peaceful for now.”
“Alright, I’ve seen everything I needed to. Since there’s nothing else, I’ll be heading back to Yuncheng tonight.”
Steward Sui tried to persuade him to stay. “Why rush, Seventh Master? You rarely come back. Why not stay a few more days? The family head is in seclusion now, but he’s very concerned about you and would like to see you when he comes out…”
“Give it a rest. You know as well as I do that the reason I want to leave early is to avoid seeing that old man,” Feng Kuo interrupted him.
“And haven’t you already prepared the second ‘Lake House’? The surrounding isolation arrays are all set up, right? Just let Old Ninth move in there. It makes no difference whether I’m around or not.”
“If you’re hoping that old man will convince me to stay when he comes out of seclusion, don’t bother. It’s not going to happen, so stop wasting your efforts.”
Unconcerned, he bluntly exposed the truth. Carrying the things Yu Shi had asked for and with a cigarette in his mouth, Feng Kuo headed back.
With both hands in his pockets, he balanced the large bag on his arm, which rustled as he walked.
A warm summer breeze swept through the courtyard.
He had grown up here, but after spending several years in Yuncheng, he no longer liked this sweltering weather.
Over in Yuncheng, it’s icy and snowy for most of the year, and even summer isn’t particularly hot.
He hadn’t been used to it at first, but somehow, he ended up staying for several years and even made many new friends there.
The Feng family residence—after all these years, it was still the same, beautiful yet lifeless.
Feng Kuo couldn’t help but recall the circumstances under which he left the Feng family. It had been years, and he could finally think about it with some semblance of calm.
This time, it took him a long time to decide to come back and take a look.
Because of his exceptional talent, Feng Kuo became a mid-level exorcist in his teens, surpassing his older siblings, which made him highly valued by their father.
Among Feng Houzhan’s many children, he and Feng Xuexiang were close in age and had been good friends since childhood.
But in truth, the closest bond was among three people—him, as the seventh child; the youngest, Feng Xuexiang; and his twin sister, Dehuan, who was the eighth.
Even when their youngest brother became a spirit demon, neither he nor Dehuan distanced themselves from him, nor did they fear him like the others.
Especially Dehuan—she wasn’t talented and, being a girl, couldn’t go out and exorcise demons like he could. So whenever she had time, she would accompany their brother.
Later, as Feng Xuexiang gradually lost control, every year on the summer solstice when he woke, he would forget many things, even losing the ability to recognize them clearly, becoming confused and deranged.
Dehuan was very worried, and Feng Kuo had many arguments with their father because of it.
He wanted to find a way to separate the Illusion Mirror from Feng Xuexiang’s body, but Feng Houzhan scolded him for having unrealistic ideas.
A spirit demon was crucial to the family, and a fully grown, powerful one was an even greater weapon to protect the household.
No one would willingly give that up, especially since there was no way to do it.
Later, Feng Kuo went on a long exorcism mission, and when he returned, he learned that his sister had died.
They said that Feng Xuexiang, unable to distinguish between reality and illusion, had accidentally killed Dehuan while she was with him.
Others claimed that it was because Feng Xuexiang had fully merged with the Illusion Mirror and, driven by the demon’s instincts, had consumed his blood relative to restore his strength.
Feng Kuo didn’t want to believe it, but the truth was that after a long period of confusion, Feng Xuexiang indeed regained his clarity following that incident.
When Feng Kuo asked Feng Xuexiang what had really happened, he only looked at him with those pitch-black eyes and said, “I don’t remember.”
“But she was probably killed by me.”
Feng Kuo still remembered the coldness that washed over him at that moment—it was the first time he felt fear toward the brother who had always followed him around since childhood.
He remembered leaving Feng Xuexiang’s room and then having a huge argument with their father. His father, in a fit of rage, said:
“Exchanging her life for a few more years for Little Ninth is more beneficial to the Feng family. You should understand that contributing to the Feng family was her value!”
It was then that Feng Kuo decided to leave. He couldn’t stay there any longer; he couldn’t face the family members he once respected and loved.
Before leaving the Feng family, he went to see Feng Xuexiang one last time. That was also the last year Feng Xuexiang was able to recognize him clearly.
“I’m leaving the Feng family. I just wanted to let you know.”
“Seventh Brother, are you starting to fear me too? Afraid that I might eat you as well?” Feng Xuexiang didn’t seem sad at all. He even smiled slightly.
“Go on, and don’t come back. Otherwise, I’ll kill you too.”
He said this while sitting on a pure white bed, everything around him pristine and spotless.
As Feng Kuo walked out, he couldn’t help but remember when they used to play by the pond as children, and how his younger brother once accidentally fell into the mud.
His little brother was covered in mud, even his once snow-white face was smeared with it.
Feng Kuo had laughed from the shore, and his little brother, climbing out of the mud, laughed along with him. He even purposely smeared more mud on his face with his dirty hands, trying to make Feng Kuo laugh harder, which he did until he couldn’t stop.
It was Dehuan who rushed over, seeing them laughing at each other, and quickly pulled his brother out of the mud, wiping the dirt off his face.
Dehuan…
Feng Kuo walked to the side house and saw Yu Shi kneading dough. Of course, Feng Xuexiang was sitting right next to him, staring intently.
Yu Shi handed some dough to Feng Xuexiang, asking him to help, and Feng Xuexiang obediently accepted it.
“Pat some flour on your hands; it won’t stick as much.”
Feng Xuexiang reached for the flour, accidentally getting it on his face. Yu Shi pointed out, “You’ve got flour on your eyelashes.”
Feng Xuexiang, looking confused, instinctively touched his face, leaving white streaks across it.
Yu Shi chuckled, and when Feng Xuexiang saw him laughing, he laughed too, then playfully rubbed more flour on his face.
“Stop that!” Yu Shi scolded him. “Don’t play with the flour.”
Feng Xuexiang laughed even harder. “Hahaha!”
Yu Shi pulled out a wet tissue and wiped the flour off Feng Xuexiang’s face.
Feng Kuo stood silently by the door, watching this scene. The moment Feng Xuexiang noticed him, his smile faded. He shifted closer to Yu Shi, subtly shielding him as if to protect him from Feng Kuo’s strange gaze.
“I brought all the stuff you asked for. What is it, anyway? There’s so much of it.” Feng Kuo dropped the items down and sprawled carelessly on the couch. “Ugh, I’m exhausted.”
“Mr. Feng, you’re still young. If you tire easily, you should take better care of your liver and kidneys. Try to cut down on smoking, drinking, and staying up late.”
Yu Shi started organizing the items, asking, “Would you like some yam and goji berry porridge for lunch?”
Feng Kuo hesitated, then replied, “…No, that’s alright, haha.”
As Yu Shi took the items to the kitchen, Feng Xuexiang squinted his eyes with a grin, prompting Feng Kuo to do the same. “What are you laughing at? Laughing at me? You’ve turned into a kept pretty boy yourself!”
Not that the other person would necessarily even let you be kept.
In a flash, Feng Xuexiang hurled the dough in his hands at the couch.
“Ow!” Feng Kuo yelped as the dough hit him right in the eye, leaving a white ring around it.
Feng Kuo ground his teeth and jumped to his feet. “I’m going easy on you, and you really think I’m scared of you?!”
By the time Yu Shi emerged from the kitchen, the living room was a disaster, with flour scattered everywhere.
The smile on Yu Shi’s face vanished completely as he stood there in silence, causing both men in the room to instantly calm down.
“I told you not to play with the flour,” Yu Shi said.
Feng Xuexiang immediately pointed at Feng Kuo. “It was him! I’ll kick him out right now!”
Yu Shi gave Feng Kuo a rather neutral glance before addressing Feng Xuexiang. “You messed up my work. Aren’t you going to apologize?”
Feng Xuexiang nervously rubbed his flour-covered hands together as he walked over, then planted a quick kiss on Yu Shi’s forehead. “Sorry, I won’t do it again.”
Yu Shi: “…………”
Feng Kuo: “…………”
“Oh, do I have to apologize the same way? Should I kiss you too?” Feng Kuo asked, his expression twisted in disbelief.
“Just mop the floor, that’ll be enough,” Yu Shi replied. Then he turned to Feng Xuexiang and gently reminded him, “You shouldn’t kiss someone without their permission.”
After softening his tone, Yu Shi added, “Alright, go wash your hands and face.”
Yu Shi grabbed some cleaning supplies and began wiping down the sofa and table. Feng Xuexiang quickly returned, announcing, “I’m done washing.”
“Good. The sofa’s clean now, so you can sit there,” Yu Shi said.
As Feng Kuo mopped the floor, he couldn’t help but grumble, “Why doesn’t he have to do any work?”
Yu Shi, still wiping the table, responded, “There’s no work for him to do.”
Feng Kuo glanced at the half-finished floor with a sense of resignation and sighed. “Forget it, I can’t deal with you two. I’m leaving tonight.”
