Brother

Huli came toward us, wounded badly.

Blood stained her red dress brighter under the sun.

“Yao…”

Was that a fox cry?

As if suffering a deep grievance, she threw herself into my arms.

Her body trembled.

Then one word slipped out.

“Brother.”

It struck me like thunder.

Qi’an blinked.

“You said I was your only sworn brother! Where did this pretty sister come from?”

“This is my real sister,” I said quietly.

“Yao Zhihe.”

Qi’an’s expression sobered.

“But wasn’t she…”

“A spirit bound before twelve is called child-bound,” I said. “But when Little Sprout drowned five years ago, I was already thirteen.”

My hand tightened.

“Maybe Little Sprout died before the sacrifice.”

“Maybe the elders staged the rain ritual.”

Qi’an’s face went pale.

“Why would they do that?”

Before I could answer, the elders returned.

“Nine-tailed fox,” one shouted. “Prepare to die.”

Red threads appeared from nowhere and stabbed toward them.

A sword clanged against the threads and sent an elder flying.

Then a great pressure descended.

A fox as large as a hill appeared.

White as snow.

Only its eyes glowed wickedly.

“Old men,” a voice echoed directly in my mind, “it has been a few days. Have you forgotten me?”

The elders knelt immediately.

“Master Qingqiu.”

The fox laughed.

“Time is up. When will you return my Black Zhenwu Banner?”

“The banner is in the Yao household,” one elder said. “We will lead you there. As for this Tushan fox…”

“I will handle her later.”

He glanced at me meaningfully as the elders led him away.

I understood.

He was not Qingqiu.

He was Tushan.

Qi’an grabbed my sleeve.

“What happened? What do we do now?”

“We go to Tushan.”

“What did that old fox say to you?”

“He disguised himself because revealing his Tushan identity would cause problems.”

“Don’t you want the truth about your sister?”

“He’ll follow and explain.”

“Why are you so sure?”

“From now on,” I said, “do exactly what I say. Trust no one.”

“If I’m right, he came here because of Little Sprout too.”