Elder But Younger Sister Chapter 12: Days Before Departure

Surprise!

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Watching her father prepare to depart on his flying sword to the Imperial Capital was hard. Qingyi tried to put on a brave face, she really did, but having father leave… it filled her heart with ill feelings.

She didn’t want him to go. Not now, not for years. She wanted to be by his side, when she finally could be, and make up for all those lost moments. 

But father had to go. So Qingyi forced the feelings away, smiled at her father, and told him to come back soon. She stood with her brother and Aunt Minyan, seeing him off.

“A week at most.” He told them again. He looked deeply into Qingyi’s eyes, and she saw his own pain at having to leave her so soon—but also his resolve. His steel-grey eyes ventured from her to her brother, and then to Aunt Minyan, and the pain softened, happiness creeping in. “I shall return soon.”

And then he was gone, ascending to the heavens.

Qingyi swallowed, watching as he rapidly disappeared, the limitations of the Initiate’s Realm meaning she stopped being able to see him far too swiftly.

“Well. Time for some training, eh?” Her brother’s voice cut through the forlorn silence. “I’m having a little trouble with this one sword stroke, could I have a hand, Qingyi?”

Jin’s words jolted her out of her ill feelings. She knew what he was doing, but was grateful for the distraction. Qingyi straightened up and focused. Her little brother needed assistance! He had asked his big sister to give him pointers! Learning the sword was much more important than staring at an empty sky, especially when he had started so late!

“Yes! Let's begin!” Qingyi declared, and marched over to the wooden swords. They both bowed and took up their positions—and then they began working through the forms together, watched over by Aunt Minyan.

She had a small smile on her face as she sat beside father’s usual place, her cold, ice fractal eyes paradoxically full of warmth—something that had been a constant upon her face over these past three days. It had been really nice, spending that time together, father dedicating the moments completely to them all. They had ridden on Father’s flying sword over the Great Plunge Waterfall, and watched as the ships were lifted on their floating berths up and down the enormous drop. They had climbed up into the Misty Forest just below the Cloudy Sword Sect, and listened to father regale them with tales about how he used to train in there, surrounded by the clouds—stories of his youth that Aunt Minyan occasionally interjected into, wonderful tales that Qingyi cherished. 

Of course, they had also gone to her brother’s clinic, and it never got old seeing people react to her brother’s genius! And more important were the looks on their faces when he just offered to give them his secrets.

Though she did catch Aunt Minyan staring at the massive distilleries and muttering ‘Bailu must never find these’ under her breath.

But the best thing… the best thing was breakfast. It had been waking up to her father and brother singing some tune, the sublime notes of Aunt Minyan’s erhu joining them on the second day.

It was a moment that almost approached the paradise of her youth. Family, together.

Today’s breakfast still had some remnants, though those were fast disappearing.

Aunt Minyan had another perfectly folded sweet pancake in her chopsticks, something that seemed to be a new favourite— an exact amount of whipped cream and berries filling it so that every bite was perfectly harmonious.

Qingyi knew this because Aunt Minyan had, after Jin had finished cooking everything, taken it upon herself to “make sure everyone was eating correctly” and constructed everyone’s crepe for them. And they were perfect. The ratio of berry, or jam to cream and sugar… it was exquisite.

Though it was rather funny to have them just appear on their plates out of nowhere, Qingyi incapable of seeing Aunt Minyan move. The legendary Divine Falcon, folding pancakes for people and looking entirely too pleased whenever anyone thanked her.

Her Aunt was the most stunningly beautiful and thoughtful lady. Even now, there was a cool breeze blowing on them, cooling them down in the hot sun of the Crucible’s summer, and suddenly Aunt Minyan’s eyes sharpened, and she spoke.

“Water, children.” She commanded. “Your bodies are no longer functioning optimally."

They sat and drank some water. And then also had some melon, which just appeared out of nowhere, in bowls beside them, frozen and cut into cubes.

“Thank you Aunt Minyan.” Qingyi said.

“You’re the best, Aunt Minyan.” Jin said with a big smile.

Minyan let out a little satisfied exhale and nodded as if this were the correct path of the world.

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After their morning training they departed into the city, heading for the docks. Her brother had some shipments coming in today, so off they went, along with their Aunt.

“It has been a great many years since I have been to mortal docks in person.” Aunt Minyan mused, putting on her hat and veil, and accompanying them. She and her brother were wearing their matching jackets, and together they walked down to the docks. The crowd parted for them—half because they respected her brother, and half because of the Qi that ghosted around Aunt Minyan, gently making sure nobody got too close to her.

Her brother was as efficient as always, browsing the fantastical goods people brought to him from all corners of the Empire.

It was clearly a good haul, but there seemed to be things missing.

“I’m Sorry, Master Medical Saint, still no luck.” Every captain said, shaking their heads sadly.

“No problem.” He would reply, clearly a little disappointed, but not terribly so.

“What exactly have you been looking for?” Aunt Minyan asked. She had remained silent, content to simply watch as they did their business.

“Well, a few things. One is the sweet syrup of northern maple trees. The others are from further south. Probably Emerald Leaf Jungle. A small black bean pod that has a unique sweet fragrance, and the other, a larger bean pod—here, I have some drawings.” He said, pulling them out.

Aunt Minyan studied them carefully, looking at the drawings her brother had penned. Maple Syrup, Vanilla, and cacao (probably under different names) was written beneath them.

“It's always been a longshot though.” Her brother said, stretching. “No sense being upset when something like that doesn’t turn out. Everyone is trying their best.”

They started moving again, but for a moment, Aunt Minyan stayed behind for a moment.

She waved her hand and a small flock of birds made of ice formed, radiating Aunt Minyan’s Qi.

“New orders for the Storm Wings, Southern Fleet Command and Northern Rainshadow squadron.” She told them. 

Qingyi just watched with great amusement as Aunt Minyan casually diverted enough might to lay low entire provinces because her brother had been mildly disappointed.

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The day had been wonderful. Night fell, and Qingyi let sleep claim her.

She tried focusing on how much fun she had today. She tried focusing on the feeling of Aunt Minyan’s Qi in the next room.

And yet the nightmares, as if sensing her father’s absent Qi, came anyway.

Panic filled her heart, and bile filled her throat as the binders wrapped around her, and as Bu’s hands tore into her chest.

She knew it was a dream. She knew it was a nightmare, and she hated that Bu still held such power over her. She loathed it. Her trembling, locked limbs, frozen with fear.

Then something cold touched her forehead, and she woke up with a gasp, the nightmare dissolving around her.

Aunt Minyan’s hand was on her forehead. Jin was holding her hand. She swallowed, and opened her mouth to apologise.

Aunt Minyan placed a finger over her lips and shook her head. “There is nothing to apologize for, little blade. Rest now.”

It was different than father’s touch. Colder. Father had only compassion for his daughter in his eyes; but Aunt Minyan held something else.

A seething, black, and terrible hatred, all directed at the memory of her brother. 

Father might be hurt, if he had to cut down his son again.

Aunt Minyan would annihilate him without a second thought. Actually no, she would probably freeze all his limbs, shatter his cultivation, then hand him to Qingyi to do with as she wished.

…father may have been gone, but she really was safe.

She thanked them both, and drifted off to sleep again.

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The rest of the week was much better than the first night. Qingyi began her medical studies in earnest, following her brother’s lead. He was good at teaching. Calm, patient, controlled. She was never worried about him hitting her, and cared little if she got something wrong, or even if she deviated from his originally intended lesson. Instead he indulged her curiosity to the fullest, answering as best he could… and when he didn’t know, he would just say he didn’t know.

That said, Qingyi already had a bit of a head start: she had already extensively studied the human body, and how to dismantle it. Every muscle, every organ, every bone.

But taking things apart was much different than putting them back together again.

It really did make her appreciate what Uncle Shou, Aunt Yukong, and father did for her all the more—and just how much her little brother’s idea had helped.

Now that it was fully explained to her, growing an entire meridian system was a truly mad idea.

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On the seventh day, they felt their father’s Qi on the horizon, and Qingyi let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding.

He was back. Back, as promised. She raced into the courtyard with Jin, a bright smile on her face as father descended—but then paused.

Father’s arms were crossed, his frown was heavy…

And he was going to have to leave again, right back after he got back home.

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