The days went on, becoming months and years until it had come to pass that Liang Fei had spent 4 years as a cultivator.

And he was tired.

Not from the students themselves, mind you. No, he loved them all. They were obedient and determined, making Liang Fei the envy of many of his fellow masters. His students were very diligent and respectful, greeting him with proper and enthusiastic cries.

Sometimes.

Many times, they would start to speak, go pale and run off for reasons he had yet to figure out. At those times, he felt like someone was watching him but whenever he turned to look, he was alone.

Furthermore, his students rarely came to him for help on anything anymore. Before, he'd assist those falling behind in their studies but after a while, no one came to him. It wasn't an issue, since he preferred his students to do well but it all stemmed from the same person.

The reason he was so damn tired despite not really having anything to do but read.

"Shizun!" A voiced called out from below. Liang Fei had taken up the habit of sitting in trees to read so he wouldn't be bothered when he desired privacy. It generally worked with everyone save for this one. "Shizun, I wish to spar with you today!"

Looking down from the tree, Liang Fei couldn't help but sigh at the sight. Xieren, formerly an adorable chubby thing had lost all his squishiness and matured somewhat. His face was more firm and sharp, with his blue black hair framing his handsome face.

Like he'd expected, the boy had grown up to be good looking. How envious this old man was.

A single gold eye glared up at the older man, waiting for a response. Anyone looking could tell that Liang Fei was the sole focus of this young man but why was anyone's guess. Everyone knew he was very antagonistic toward Liang Fei, spending all his time glaring at the man.

Such an intense gaze, how could anyone miss it?

Liang Fei, even as dense as he was, had noticed too. Seeing such a look, he felt very wronged, thinking he perhaps hadn't tried hard enough if this one child still saw him as a villain.

"Are you not tired from the run?" He sighed, putting away his book. It wasn't a reference guide but was interesting nonetheless.

"No." He proclaimed, standing firm. "I am full of energy!"

"Of course you are." He sighed, a bit bitterly. Xieren was always full of energy. Even when he increased the number of exercises, the child refused to be left behind, always ready for the next one. While it was fine to be so energetic, please think about the old man that has to keep up with you.

With a sigh, Liang Fei jumped down, his robes fluttering as he drifted to the ground. As time went on, Liang Fei began to change his wardrobe. He very much disliked all the colors the original preferred and began dressing more conservatively.

The sect colors were Gray and blue so he tossed aside anything that wasn't those colors. He did briefly wonder why the original had all these colors to begin with but tossed the thought aside later since he figured it didn't matter anyway.

How was he to know that those 'garish' colors were that of his own family's clan?

He'd received letters about the matter after it was reported but Liang Fei being the recluse he was, failed to notice them and went on about his day. After a while, no one bothered to even give him the letters, preferring his current look to his previous one.

Xieren especially liked it, spending the entire day staring at Shizun. When he was finally pushed to speak, the only thing he could get out was:

"Shizun smells really nice."

Liang Fei wasn't sure what to say to that, so he just nodded. He wasn't expecting that and had only been told he smelled clean.

Back to the present, Xieren was having a similar experience, staring as Shizun gracefully landed and brushed his hair aside. While the moment only lasted a few seconds, for him, it went on for a long time.

Leaves from tree fell, giving the scene a ethereal look about it, as if Shizun was a mythical creature that had chosen to grace the world with his presence, bringing with it a good feeling to all who witnessed it. His long hair shimmered in the sunlight, drawing the attention of anyone who witnessed the sight. But the most wondrous part was his eyes, gazing at him with a cool but pleasant sheen.

Those beautiful eyes gazing only on him.

Xieren was in a daze, staring wistfully at the older man who walked closer. The young man couldn't move, his heart racing as the man drew closer, his eyes still only on him.

"Xieren!?" Liang Fei called out, slightly louder than usual as the boy continued to stand there dazed. He wasn't sure what distracted him but it was worrisome how often he seemed to day dream.

"Gyah!" Xieren cried, snapping out his daze and stepping back, only to trip over a rock and roll down the small hill they stood on. As Xieren tried recover some of his dignity by brushing himself off, Liang Fei walked down to meet him.

"Ah! There you go again, tripping on nothing." He said, his arms crossed over his chest. Looking down at the child, Liang Fei couldn't help but feel worried. "How is one of my best disciples so clumsy?"

Xieren wanted to curl up at die, having embarrassed himself in front of Shizun. This was not part of his plan. He'd wanted to show off his skills and prove to Shizun that he was capable. That he was the best.

"I don't mean to-" He started, his face slightly red from embarrassment before Shizun's words hit him. "W-wait, I'm only one of your best?" Liang Fei cocked a brow.

"Are you unsatisfied?" He asked, cocking a brow. Xieren puffed up with indignation, looking very much like a child as opposed to the young man he was.

"I wish to be the best!" He cried, determination burning in his gold eyes. Seeing this, Liang Fei couldn't help but feel some pride for his student.

"That is all well and good but such a dream will be hard to accomplish if you keep tripping like that." He pointed out, holding out a hand to help him up.

Xieren stared at the hand for a second before standing on his own. He didn't want to be looked down on any further. He wanted Shizun's respect.

Liang Fei, feeling a bit wronged, just chalked it up to not being liked by the young man.

"May we spar, Shizun?" He asked, bowing to the man. Liang Fei just sighed, knowing that it was a waste of time to try and talk him out of it.

"That is what you asked for but please do not regret it." He said, really wanting to get back to his book. He loved helping his students but fighting with Xieren was tiring since he didn't know when to quit. "This master will feel like a bully if you keep losing so much."

While Liang Fei was a very hard working man, he was notoriously lazy when it came to physical activities. The most strenuous actions he took was fighting and that was just to ensure his safety when hanging out with his friend. Other than that, Liang Fei was a sloth, sitting around with a book in hand and eating junk food.

Initially, he chose not to improve himself as a cultivator since he thought he was in a good enough place to stop. It was only when someone pointed out out shameless it was for him, someone who pushed other to improve themselves, to laze about rather than get ahead.

Reluctantly, he conceded, going through the effort of cultivating his strength. Over the years, he'd raised himself a few levels though he was still in the some stage. While Liang Fei didn't think much of it, he had improved himself at a much faster rate than anyone else in his age group.

Currently, he was much stronger than the original was supposed to be at this point in the novel.

It was because of this that Xieren, having gotten stronger at a similar pace to Liang Fei, was unable to defeat him even after all this time. But that didn't stop him from trying.

"Don't worry! Xieren has improved a lot since last time, Shizun." He assured, his eyes burning with passion. Liang Fei just nodded, deciding not to question it.

We just fought a yesterday. He thought, taking a few steps back. Just how much could one improve in less than 12 hours?

Xieren, with steady hands, pulled out his sword, a beautiful blade that gleamed in the sunlight. On the blade, it's name shined bright.

Meiyou Weilai. (No Future)

(AN: I really wanted to use the phrase 'never knows best' from Fooly Cooly but it was way too long to use.)

Seeing the words, Liang Fei wanted to cry. Why was this sweet child acting so strange? Was it his age? He had never been like this at his age so why so dark a name?

(AN: Xieren is being super edgy)

Seeing his master face palming and sensing an opening, Xieren dashed forward, ready to take the man off guard. Despite his effective plan, it was easily deflected by Liang Fei, who moved swiftly to block the strike.

Their blades crossed, Xieren's drawn and Liang Fei's still sheathed, they stared into each others eyes.

"Shizun is looking down on me." He complained, scowling. Shizun wasn't even paying attention and yet still dared to lazily block him like he was a gnat.

"Shizun is just wondering where he went wrong." He replied absently. Xieren didn't understand his words but felt it was about him.

"I will get better and prove to you that I am stronger than you think, Shizun." He said, jumping back. "I will defeat Shizun!"

Hearing those words, Liang Fei just thought about how his efforts weren't bearing the fruit he expected. He was happy to see the formerly quiet and withdrawn child have a goal but must it involve defeating him?

Could he not just take up scrap booking?

He didn't want to be the enemy~

The fight dragged on, sweat dripping down Xieren's back as he watched the ever calm Liang Fei block and parry his every strike. Panting, Xieren took a step forward, ready to try again when he saw Liang Fei hold up a hand.

"Would you like to take a break?" He asked, his eyes showing nothing within his heart. While Xieren was good at reading Shizun sometimes, more often than not, he was blank page.

"No thank you, Shizun." He replied, wiping the sweat from his neck. "Please allow me to continue." With a huff, Liang Fei nodded, holding his blade with a steady hand.

The next few strikes got closer, just barely missing Liang Fei as he dodged and countered. Xieren was feeling confident and thought he'd perhaps land a hit on the man before his mind went blank.

Next thing he knew, he was staring up at the sky, his back to the ground and Shizun standing over him.

"And that's game." Shizun said, his wording strange but familiar to Xieren. It was what he always said when he'd lost.

Since Liang Fei wasn't one to do long stretches of physical activities, he made a simple rule to their bouts. The first to land a hit wins and once a hit is confirmed, the match ends. Generally, Liang Fei didn't make an attempt to attack until a few minutes into the bout, choosing instead to just block and dodge.

It gave Xieren a handicap since Liang Fei was much stronger than him. While it annoyed the young man to be pitied in such a way, he valued Shizun's consideration and took every chance to land a hit in the time allotted.

Today, however Liang Fei was tired from the morning exercises and didn't really want to spar for too long so he ended it quickly. He was impatient to get back to his book.

***

Xieren sat beneath the tree, his hands clenched against the trunk as his heart raced.

"Damn it!" He cried, hitting the tree. The leaves above showered over him, shielding him from sight for a moment. He only wished he'd been shielded from his stupidity from before.

How could he let his guard down like that?!

He'd finally gotten Shizun to spar with him, so he could prove himself and then...

He had no clue what had happened.

Thinking back, all he could recall is feeling weird as Shizun fought him. Rather than paying attention to his attacks, his eyes had been drawn to his movements. The way his hands traveled about his body. The free flowing hair that brushed his cheeks. The long column of his neck that glistened with sweat.

They all held his attention until he'd been knocked to the ground. The impact wasn't bad, since Shizun being the way he was, held back a lot but Shizun was a full fledged cultivator, so even when holding back, it hurt.

When he opened his eyes again, the first thing he saw was violet, a pair of violet eyes gazing down at him and his heart tried to beat its way out of his chest.

Jumping away, Xieren clung to the tree, hoping it would help him steady himself. Shaking hands clung to the bark, his usually dull nails digging into the wood like a scared kitten.

Watching this, Liang Fei couldn't help but think the sight was cute, reminded of the time he'd scared his neighbors cat into clinging to the curtain. Even the indignant look he received from Xieren was similar, making him want to hug him.

Aw~ Even grown, he can be adorable~ He thought, his eyes misting over from cuteness overload.

Dazed as he was, he held nothing back as he went over to help to little kitty. With firm and steady hands, he gently pulled Xieren from the trunk of the tree. His hands were on his waist and easily lifted him away.

Xieren was taller than most but still smaller than Liang Fei so picking him up wasn't difficult. However, he was still a teenager so the weight was a bit much for someone who is barely paying attention. As such, Liang Fei lost his balance ended up falling onto the ground.

Still in a bit of a daze, Xieren sat up, rubbing his head as he tried to figure what had happened. Opening his eyes, the sight that greeted him nearly killed him right then and there.

Straddling Liang Fei, Xieren stared down at the older man who laid on the grass beneath him. His eyes were misted over as if his mind was far away and his face as serene as a still pond. His beautiful hair had gotten loose, making it spread across the ground in a way that made Xieren's chest and stomach itch.

He stared for a while, unsure what he was feeling. He wasn't sure what to do. He usually got flustered around Shizun, especially as he got older but now, seeing Shizun like this, almost vulnerable made him want to get closer.

But what would he do once he got closer?

As this was all going on, Liang Fei was still in a daze, his mind not really paying any attention to their current position. Instead, Liang Fei was staring back at Xieren, who was slowly getting closer. His eyes, however, was on his head.

Xieren's hair was a mess.

For whatever reason, Xieren never took care of it, so his generally nice hair always looks dull and lifeless. Liang Fei, who was taking great pains to take care of his now super long hair, couldn't let that stand. Leaning forward a bit, their faces close, Liang Fei spoke.

"Ah, as I thought." He muttered, his hand brushing his cheek to touch his hair. It was dry. "Your hair is-" Whatever was about to said was quickly lost to time as a red faced Xieren jumped to his feet.

"I-I have to go!" He shouted, running away before another word could be said. Liang Fei stood there, finally snapping out of his cuteness overload and staring after him.

"Eh?" He cocked his head to the side, confused. He was left lying there, confused as to what he had missed. "Were we not talking?"

***

Elsewhere, Xieren as once again, clinging to a tree, yet this time it was not from surprise but shame. He had spent the last few minutes banging his head against the trunk, trying to smack the stupid from it.

"Why did you do that!?" He cried, wanting to curl up and die. While he was glad no one else had witnessed his failure, Shizun had so it was worse. He'd tried so hard to prove himself and yet he had been humiliated!

"All because of you!" He growled, glaring down at his pants, where a tent had formed. Said junior twitched, defending itself and shamelessly remaining despite not being wanted.

Over the years, Xieren's body had changed in ways he wasn't sure how to fathom. There was no one he could ask about it and he refused to try and look himself since it'd involve asking the library monitor for guidance. Still, it was mostly manageable save for most mornings.

And whenever Shizun got close.

That was a recent problem as well. Before, his feelings toward the man were vague and ethereal, since his adoration and hatred were at war most times. He'd learned to accept the change and move on with fulfilling his dream of being stronger than anyone.

But Shizun always distracted him!

How? By being around! He was always doing something to bother Xieren. Whether it be sitting up in a tree where he couldn't hear him hum or talking to other disciples with that happy gleam in his stoic eyes.

Xieren couldn't deny, he liked to watch the man. Shizun was a fun person to watch. While most would find it boring to watch the same person, Xieren had come to like it, finding new things to admire about the man.

The way he brushed his hand behind his ear sometimes.

The twinkle in his eyes whenever he was called by another disciple, which he hated in equal parts.

The sternness of his voice when he was giving orders. (AN: Xieren likes being ordered around)

All of it made Xieren feel itchy and hot in his skin, like he wanted to shed it and free whatever it was that was causing his discomfort. Sometimes, he even thought about holding Shizun but he always smashed the thought down, not wanting to entertain the thought of disrespecting him.

Who knew what he'd do afterward.

Just as he was fighting his feelings that warred within him, he felt a presence just behind him. Before he could react, he was embraced from behind, the person's softness pressing into his back.

The scent of herbs hit his nose and Xieren left out a huff.

"A-yi, what did I say about sneaking up on me?" He gently scolded, his tone soft but firm. Gone was the panicking young man, red in the face and nervous. In his place stood a calm and serene young cultivator that was the envy of many of his peers.

Over the years, as he quickly improved, he began to gain more attention from others. Many had written him off as a waste, one who was unable to improve no matter what. Much to everyone's surprise, Xieren had gone from a waste to a near prodigy in just a few years.

No one knew how he did it. He didn't seem to do anything special and while everyone wished to know how he improved, many had only started to do so late, as he was a mere shadow before hand.

It started with him subtly correcting seniors during lessons, his words dismissed at first when brought up. Then he was assisting other disciples in lessons, mostly with Shizun's encouragement. Many were shocked at his knowledge, never even thinking that the ever silent shadow had been doing anything productive.

One such thing was learning to sense others from scent and Xinyi's was very distinct. Many have marveled at how she had blossomed over the years. Xinyi had always been lovely but she grown into an even more beautiful young lady, her form molded by hard work and good genes creating the picture of loveliness.

While her breasts hadn't grown, they were still a major selling point in her appeal. She tried to make them less obvious but even then, they bounced and jiggled, drawing the eyes of many young men and setting their hearts a blaze.

Xieren was in a position many of his fellow disciples would kill to be in. The lovely and sought after Xinyi, with her plentiful breast pressed against his arm as she stared up at him with eyes half hidden by lashes.

Such a sight would have anyone red in the face and struggling to keep their wits about them. Xieren on the other hand, felt quite the opposite. This lovely flower had cooled his ardor, making him feel a lot less itchy.

This was, after all, just Xinyi.

"I would say you complained about it but you don't really." She replied, smiling up at him like a cat that had caught a bird. When they were young, Xinyi was taller than him, making him feel like her younger brother despite being older. Now, he was a full head taller than her, forcing her to have to look up.

Part of him wished she'd complain about it since she always managed to get one out of him.

"Don't make it sound like I whine." He retorted, glaring down at her. As expected, this Xinyi, after having spent 3 years being as close as siblings with Xieren, was immune to even his most baleful glares.

"But you do whine." She retorted, cocking her hip to the side. "It's just it's always about Elder Shao."

Really, Xinyi was amused by Xieren's relationship with Elder Shao. She wasn't sure when things had changed but Xieren was a lot more passionate now than before. He was almost always training, striving to better himself. Seeing this made her very happy since she disliked how dour he was generally.

Now, he was just as cold and distant with others as usual but his eyes would gleam in a way she'd never seen before whenever that man was mentioned.

"It can't be helped." He stated, dropping to the ground to sit underneath the tree he'd been abusing before. In retaliation, the rebellious tree rained leaves down on Xieren, though the young man paid it no mind.

Damn, foiled again. The tree cursed in it's heart. But worry not, dear plant for ye shall be avenged by none other than the dreaded child's 'sister'.

"Really?" Xinyi smiled happily. "I suppose you challenged him to a fight again?" She guessed, watching gold eyes widen with shock and turn to her.

"How did you-"

"You are only ever this grumpy after losing to him." She stated with a catty smile. This was only half a lie. Xieren was just, in general, grumpy. But Xinyi, as a proper and diligent little sister, could tell the difference between general grumpiness and Shizun related grumpiness.

"I didn't lose!" He insisted, his brows furrowed. Thinking of his loss was hard to take. He was trying to push those inappropriate thoughts from his mind and did not want to be reminded.

"Did you win?" She asked, cocking a brow.

"..." His silence was deafening. Xinyi just nodded in understanding.

"So you lost then." She guessed, amused.

"He mentioned my hair and I got distracted." He grumbled, turning away to hide his slight blush. Unconsciously, he started playing with his bangs that covered half his face. It crackled as he did so and Xinyi couldn't help but flinch at the sound.

"I'm not surprised. You don't even try to take care of it." He said, sitting beside him. "I feel bad for it, being stuck on your head like that." She said, reaching over to touch the strands.

Before her hand could get close, it was swatted away, her action met with a hateful glare. Many would wilt under such a look, unused to be being glared at so hatefully as if they had killed an entire family. Xinyi, however, just slightly flinched.

"Sorry, I forgot." She said, holding her hands up. Xieren was very sensitive about being touched on the face, especially around his right eyes. No one, not even Xinyi had ever seen his other eye. Many had tried to peek but none had succeeded yet.

"What did you want from me?" He asked, changing the subject. Gladly taking to offered shift in topic, Xinyi relaxed.

"I needed a favor." She said with a smile. Eyes narrowed on her.

"And you choose to come to ask me?"

"I have"no one else to ask."

"Why not Xuejie?" He suggested. The young man was always eager to do as Xinyi asked, seeking her approval though strangely not her affections.

"He said no." She replied sadly. Moreover, you guys are better at haggling." She stated, her eyes gleaming with admiration.

The few times they'd all gone out together, Xieren had been the one to negotiate prices. His cold look and stern poker face had whittled away at the resolve of even the most seasoned merchant. After that, all haggles were handled by him.

But this did bring up the question of why he'd need his skills to begin with.

"What did you have in mind?" He asked, wary.

Xinyi just smiled.

***

Xieren huffed indignantly. He really shouldn't have let Xinyi talk him into this.

Standing alone, Xieren looked around the crowd, trying to find his way. He had been sent to one of the nearby towns to get some herbs for Xinyi since she had no more leave passes and desperately needed some things.

While Xieren dislike crowds in general, Xinyi had asked him nicely so how could he refuse. That and she said that without those herbs, she'd couldn't make him his special tea so it was in his best interest to help. The tea that Xinyi brewed had helped him greatly so couldn't allow her to run out of the leaves.

That was his only reason.

He buried the guilty feeling in his heart, not wanting to dwell on it.

The town was quite noisy, as expected of one its size. The people bustled about, trying to go about their day. Faces passed him by, their scent mingling amongst the latent smells that were prevalent in towns. It was, as usual, unpleasant.

Covering his nose, Xieren continued forward, effectively ignoring the crowd. It had been years since he last he descended the mountain to walk among mortals. He felt no need to leave his sect.

While he wouldn't admit it out loud, he felt no desire to leave since Shizun was there.

Like the original, Liang Fei felt no need to leave the mountain, so he rarely did so. The few times he did, it was to accompany other masters for short trips. This made Xieren happy, since it took a while to earn leave passes.

Thinking of that man, Xieren's heart felt very light, his usually sharp and cold eyes softening just slightly. He was happy to able to see Shizun everyday without fail, even if the man often beat him in a fight.

He sighed in his heart. If only he didn't have a favor to Xinyi, he could be back home, spending time with him rather than being around all these annoying people.

Recalling his purpose in coming to town, his eyes darted about the street, trying to find the shop he needed. As he searched, he spotted a few fellow cultivators. He had expected to sense a few but he didn't really care about them since they weren't members of his sect.

Locating a herb shop, he walked in, drawing the eye of all within, not that he noticed this himself.

An interesting change in his life was people's response to him. He was used to being ignored and forgotten, since he'd spent much of his childhood seeking to fade into the shadows where those unsavory folks wouldn't find him. Yet, unbeknownst to him, he had quickly become the source of many a maiden's fancy.

Liang Fei's prediction had come true.

His long blue-black hair, though dry and generally messy, gave him a wild and untamed look about him, like a mountain warrior who would sweep a maiden on her feet and claim her for all to see. This combined with his handsome face and dominating aura made his shine amongst the common folk.

He was like a wild but self controlled beast, searching for prey.

All the ladies watched him shop, wanting so badly to be his prey, to have him look at them as if they were his. Perhaps it was instinct or just pure desire but they all could sense something 'more' about him.

Yet none had the courage to walk up to him, knowing within their hearts it would be foolish.

Some distance away, a group watched Xieren as he walked around, their interest varied in nature. One young man, with eyes as cold as tundra, was curious about the strangeness he felt on this young man. The 'more' he sensed concerned him.

This young man, Xing He, remained silent as his companion was much more vocal about his interest. Or more accurately, his disdain.

"Look at this guy, walking around like the world belongs to him. How arrogant!" He Qiang shamelessly proclaimed, just barely under a whisper. His nature was like that, loud and brazen, making him a pain to be around. It was only because of a certain person that he help himself back. Any other time, he'd be yelling his rage to the sky and expecting all to listen.

That certain person, however, paid him no mind. Instead, she was entranced by Xieren, her interest purely female and intense. Perhaps it was love at first sight but whatever it was, she too sense something about him. The way he held himself with a quiet indifference, as if the rest of the world couldn't reach his eyes yet retaining a majesty, like that of a noble.

She had to speak to him.

Xieren, unaware of all the attention he'd received since he was focused on leaving as soon as possible, continued to browse. He wanted to return home so he could seen Shizun again. If he wasn't there, the disciples would grow arrogant and think they could take the chance to speak with Shizun while he was away.

Sneaky bastards.

Spotting a familiar set of characters, he went over, seeking to call over an employee to collect them for him. Herbs were delicate and had to be handled with care. As such, those unfamiliar with them were not allowed to touch them.

Despite being around Xinyi and her rants about medicine, Xieren knew very little about it himself so he kept his hands away. Finding a few more on his list, he was already looking forward to returning home when he sensed someone just behind him.

"Are you looking for something in particular, good sir?" A female voice asked.