Two years passed in the blink of an eye.

     Two years later, on an autumn day, Xu Shuanglin was lying on the roof of Rufeng Sect’s main hall, squinting at the red clouds in the sky and holding a piece of foxtail grass in his mouth.

     Very few people would go up to the top of the main hall. It was originally a place where he would be alone, but at this moment, there were two people sitting on either side of him, one on the left and one on the right.

     One was his older brother, Nangong Liu, and the other was Master Luo, who was about the same age as them.

     Xu Shuanglin felt that he was sometimes very much like some grimacing beast that did not easily allow others to invade its territory. So, he didn’t know why, or when, but he was willing to take these two people up to the roof to accompany him, to watch the clouds, to watch the dragonflies flying low and catkins floating high.

     “Liu-er! Xu-er! Where are you?”

     His father’s anxious and slightly angry voice came from below.

     “Really, every time I ask them to help clean up the courtyard, they run faster than rabbits. Those two little brats.”

     “Aiya.” Nangong Liu quietly poked his head out from the corner of the eaves and saw his father walking away in a hurry. He then pulled his head back and said, “Haha, let’s go.”

     “The old man is stupid too.” Xu Shuanglin lazily crossed his legs and looked down disdainfully, “He never knew to come to the roof to look for us.”

     On the other hand, Luo Fenghua was a bit worried, “Isn’t it bad that we’re doing this… Ah, how about you both go down in a moment? Don’t make Sect Leader anxious.”

     “What does it matter? Anyway, even if the sky falls, we will bear it.” Nangong Liu made a face at him, “What are you worried about A-Xu? Am I right?”

     Xu Shuanglin didn’t say whether he was right or wrong. He spat out the foxtail grass in his mouth, stretched, and sat up straight, “Give me some melon seeds.”

     Nangong Liu poured more than half of the melon seeds he brought into Xu Shuanglin’s hand. Xu Shuanglin slowly ate the melon seeds while squinting his eyes, looking at Luo Fenghua’s unease with amusement.

     He spat out a piece of melon seed peel stuck to his lips and said with a smile, “Shizun, are you afraid?”

     “I just don’t think this is a good idea…”

     “What’s wrong with it?” Xu Shuanglin said. “If the old man blames you, I’ll give him a hard time.”

     Luo Fenghua: “...”

     Xu Shuanglin extended his hand to Luo Fenghua, “Give me an orange.”

     “Didn’t you say you don’t like eating…”

     Xu Shuanglin frowned, “You’re so long-winded. Are you going to give it to me or not? If not, I’ll grab your ankles and throw you down.”

     His brother came to defend his master, “A-Xu, don’t always be so fierce when talking to Shizun.”

     “What Shizun? That’s for outsiders to hear,” Xu Shuanglin said. “What kind of Shizun would sneak up on the roof with his disciple to eat melon seeds?”

     Luo Fenghua was embarrassed by his words and slowly lowered his head.

     Xu Shuanglin loved to see him like this. Every time he saw him like this, he felt a sense of pleasure from bullying the weak. He looked at Luo Fenghua for a while, then suddenly grinned, revealing two rows of strong white teeth.

     “Shizun-gege, am I right?”

     Shizun-gege was a nickname Xu Shuanglin came up with on a whim. It was respectful, but intimate, with a hint of teasing in the intimacy. So, Luo Fenghua appeared very anxious and sad, “No, don’t call me that.”

     “The title is just a formality. Shizun-gege said so himself.”

     Luo Fenghua: “...”

     After teasing him, Xu Shuanglin extended his hand again and pestered him, “Orange.”

     “You don’t like it. I only brought one. It’s for A-Liu.”

     Xu Shuanglin’s eyes widened, but instead of glaring at Luo Fenghua, he turned his head to glare at his brother.

     Nangong Liu was stuffing pastries into his mouth when he suddenly choked. He waved his hand vaguely, “Well, I don’t really want to eat oranges today. Shizun, you can give it to him.”

     Luo Fenghua thought for a moment and said, “You can each have half.”

     As he spoke, he wiped the orange on his sleeve and peeled off the skin. He wanted to break it in half fairly, but one side was bigger and the other was smaller.

    Thus, Luo Fenghua seemed a little distressed.

     Perhaps it was because he came from a poor family, but he was always troubled by such trivial matters.

     “Sigh…”

     “Give me the big one.” Xu Shuanglin was not courteous at all. He took the orange and made the choice for Luo Fenghua, who was trying to be fair, “Give him the small one.”

     Luo Fenghua said, “Don’t always bully your older brother…”

     Before he could finish speaking, a piece of juicy orange was stuffed into his mouth. He opened his round eyes in shock and looked at Xu Shuanglin blankly.

     “What are you talking about?” Xu Shuanglin sneered. His attitude was carefree, but his eyes were very gentle, “I still have to share my half with Shizun-gege.”

     Nangong Liu also came over and took the other half of the orange. He counted the number of segments and separated out a few more pieces, handing them to Xu Shuanglin and Luo Fenghua.

     The later Sect Leader of Rufeng Sect was smiling. Under the sunset, his soft hair fell slightly in front of his forehead. Xu Shuanglin looked at him with amusement, “What are you doing?”

     “Let’s eat the oranges together.”

     He also divided the melon seeds, pastries, and candied fruits into three piles.

     “Let’s eat snacks together.”

     “You… you are really…” Luo Fenghua seemed to be trying to regain his dignity, but neither Xu Shuanglin nor Nangong Liu seemed to be affected by his words. Instead, they looked at him with friendliness and mischief.

     Luo Fenghua felt both happy and ridiculous under this kind of friendly gaze. After a while, he murmured, “You’re messing around…”

     Nangong Liu said, “We’re not messing around, we’re not. Even if we are messing around, we're messing around together.”

     When Xu Shuanglin heard this, he finally burst into laughter. He supported himself with one hand on the roof and used his other hand to hold his forehead. He smiled and said, “Okay, then the three of us will eat oranges and snacks together from now on.”

     He paused for a moment, then looked up at the magnificent scenery of Rufeng Sect. He grinned, “There is a roof. Let’s climb up together.”

     Another scene flashed by.

     It was still that year, the Lantern Festival.

     Xu Shuanglin was walking lazily on Rufeng Sect’s main path with bare feet and a leaf in his mouth. From time to time, he would point and say, “Hang that lantern a bit higher. Why are you hanging it so low? If you have short legs, let someone else go up.”

     Suddenly, an anxious voice came from behind him, “A-Xu, wait a minute.”

     Xu Shuanglin turned around and saw Luo Fenghua bringing a pair of shoes over. He frowned and said, “Why are you running around without shoes again?”

     “This path is full of spiritual stones. If you don’t wear shoes, you can absorb spiritual energy.”

     “The weather is so cold, what does this little spiritual power count for? Hurry up and put them on. Look at you, your toes are red from the cold.”

     “Tsk, you’re so troublesome.”

     But even though he said that, Xu Shuanglin still slowly put on his shoes. He didn't have any regard for manners, and pulled them on casually. Then, he narrowed his eyes and asked Luo Fenghua, “What’s wrong? Are you free? Do you want to come with me to shop around the lantern market?”

     “A-Liu hasn’t finished his work yet. I have to finish his lesson before I…”

     Before he could finish speaking, Xu Shuanglin interrupted him.

     He raised his chin and said with an arrogant look in his eyes, “My brother is an idiot. If you want to watch him do his work, then you’ll just waste the entire Lantern Festival night. Don’t waste it.”

     Luo Fenghua smiled good-naturedly and said, “But it’s fine. I don’t really like the liveliness either.”

     Xu Shuanglin stared at him for a while, then suddenly kicked off his shoes angrily, sending them flying far away. Luo Fenghua was stunned, “What’s wrong with you?”

     “I won’t wear them! I won’t wear them! Get lost, get lost!”

     “Wear shoes, it’s cold.”

     “I won’t wear them. Get lost!”

     “...Are you angry?”

     Xu Shuanglin’s face was filled with disgust, “I’m angry? What’s there to be angry about? You and my brother are both an idiot and a pauper. There’s nothing better than celebrating a festival together. Go away. Don’t pay attention to me.”

     With that, he waved his hand and walked forward carelessly.

     In fact, at that time, he actually hoped that Luo Fenghua would chase after him.

     Even if his feet were red from the cold, he didn’t care.

     He just wanted to kick off both his shoes and wait for someone to call him from behind in a fuss, to get anxious that he was going to catch a cold.

     Xu Shuanglin walked forward expectantly.

     But after waiting for a while, Luo Fenghua didn’t chase after him or call out to him.

     He paused and couldn’t help but slow down.

     He walked until he was about a hundred meters away from the city gate. Still, no one called out to him. He tightened his knuckles and thought to himself, Forget it. I’ve never had any playmates since I was a child. I spent many years walking around during the Lantern Festival alone, so what’s the big deal?

     He walked down the steps.

     One level.

     Two levels.

     Finally, he suddenly turned around. His nose wrinkled and his face changed. He couldn’t help but shout, “Luo Fenghua!”

     Actually, Luo Fenghua hadn’t left yet. He stood at his original spot and had already retrieved his shoes. He was in a dilemma, and didn’t know what to do. When he heard Xu Shuanglin’s loud shout, he suddenly came back to his senses. His eyes widened and he said blankly, “Ah—”

     “...”

     Forget it.

     He really had to hand it to him.

     So, that year during the Lantern Festival, he and Xu Shuanglin accompanied Nangong Liu.

     Nangong Liu was extremely distressed as he tried to memorize the spell scroll. He rolled his eyes and recited, “An inch and a half below the heart is the Juque acupoint and the curtain of the heart. When hit, one will lose consciousness. Below the right lung acupoint… below… What was that again?” He scratched his head and said, “I don’t remember.”

     “Stupid! You’re so stupid, forget it!”

     Xu Shuanglin knocked his brother on the forehead with the bamboo scroll, his face full of hostility, “If you hit the lower half with your arm or fist, you’ll wake up. If you don’t heal after waking up, you will die after a hundred days. The water acupoint above the navel belongs to the small intestine and stomach meridian. You’ll die twenty-eight days after a severe injury… This is the ninth time! Why didn’t you die of stupidity?!”

     Nangong Liu looked very depressed. He laid his head on the table and sighed. Then, he looked up and blew a strand of stray hair falling on his forehead.

     “I also feel that I am very stupid… If only I were as smart as you.”

     “Impossible.” Xu Shuanglin said resolutely, “Dream on.”

     With the rise and fall of the warm curtain, Luo Fenghua, who had just gone out to cook Yuanxiao, came back.

     He was wearing a thick cloak, and a fine layer of snow covered his dark hair and curled eyelashes. Under the light of the fire, his ordinary-looking face was somewhat pleasing to the eye.

     It was just as the light of spring and falling snow was beautiful.

     “You’ve been working on it for a long time. Let’s eat some Yuanxiao and rest for a while.”

     Luo Fenghua brought a wooden tray over with three bowls of Yuanxiao, one for each of them.

     Nangong Liu cheered, and immediately rushed to the table. He was about to reach out his hand when he was stopped by the person behind him.

     Xu Shuanglin’s face was gloomy, “Why are you in such a hurry? You have no manners. Where’s your thanks?”

     Nangong Liu was speechless. He seemed to be surprised that his most unruly younger brother would actually fight with him about this.

     “What?”

     Seeing his younger brother narrowing his eyes dangerously, Nangong Liu quickly waved his hands. He brushed his sleeves and saluted deeply, then raised his head and said jokingly, “This little slave thanks Shizun for the gift~”

     Luo Fenghua: “...”

     When Xu Shuanglin saw how mischievous this guy was, he felt both angry and amused. He thought about it and guessed that he had probably learned this from some sort of book, so he said, “Alright, let’s eat some snacks.”

     Luo Fenghua rubbed his hands, which were still a little numb and red from the cold, and put them up to his mouth. When Xu Shuanglin helped him remove his cloak, he felt somewhat flattered, “Ah, no need to trouble yourself.”

     Xu Shuanglin was too lazy to pay him any attention, and asked indifferently, “Is it snowing outside?”

     “Yes, it just snowed. I don’t know if it will pile up tonight, so we can have a snowball fight tomorrow.”

     “...Shizun.” This sudden address was definitely not out of respect, but mocking, “How old are you?”

     Luo Fenghua smiled, his eyelashes soft. Xu Shuanglin couldn’t help but feel gentleness in his heart when he looked at him. However, when he noticed this gentleness, he felt angry for no reason. He hurriedly looked for any reason to vent, and Luo Fenghua did not disappoint him. He found it quickly, so he pointed at a patch on his cloak and said disdainfully:

     “Are you poor? You’ve been in Rufeng Sect for so long, why don’t you throw this piece of trash away? If you wear it outside, people will think we’re bullying you. Are you stupid?!”

     Luo Fenghua immediately became apprehensive, “This… even if it’s damaged, it can still be worn after mending it with a patch. When I think about how many people in the lower cultivation world are suffering, I can’t eat or drink well. With the money to buy a cloak, you could buy more than ten talismans and give them to those in need. How wonderful.”

     “...” Xu Shuanglin’s finger was still poking at the patch. He glared at him angrily.

     Luo Fenghua cautiously sought the approval of his disciple, “Don’t you think so?”

     “I think you’re sick! Poor!”

     But although he said that, he still hung the cloak back on the rack.

     The three of them sat around the stove and ate glutinous rice balls. They couldn’t see the lanterns from the Lantern Festival, but these three young people who were about the same age chatted together for a while and didn’t feel bored at all.

     It was snowing outside the window, and crystal-clear frost covered the edge of the red window frame.

     The firewood in the room crackled and reflected the room as if it was spring.

     Later, after drinking some wine, the atmosphere became even better. Luo Fenghua couldn’t persuade them, so he accepted the konghou brought by Nangong Liu. His cheeks were red, and he was a little drunk. He strummed the harp a few times and sang a folk song from his hometown.

     “Three or four petals fall in the pond, one or two strings on the shore. It’s best to be in the prime of life. Light hooves and fast horses see all the flowers in the world…”

     “Shizun, Shizun, this is a good song. What is it called?”

     “Young Man’s Journey.” Luo Fenghua said gently, “It’s a short song from Shu. I think it’s very suitable for the occasion.”

     Nangong Liu raised his head and smiled. His smile was always overly warm with a hint of flattery, but after drinking so much wine, he actually became a bit more straightforward and cheerful, “Hahaha, Young Man’s Journey sounds nice. Are we not just young men of luxury, high-spirited and vigorous?”

     Xu Shuanglin crossed his arms and snorted, “You can’t memorize a book even after reciting it nine times. Which young man is as stupid as you?”

     “Aiya, everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses.” Nangong Liu smiled. He actually had the energy to refute his younger brother, “Although you’re a genius, I also have my own talents.”

     “...You drank too much.”

     Luo Fenghua also laughed. He raised his wine cup and said, “I hope you will live well in your prime years, each of you relying on your own talents, and be gentlemen for the rest of your life.”

     Nangong Liu clapped his hands and put his arm around his younger brother’s shoulder. Xu Shuanglin felt uncomfortable and pushed him away. Nangong Liu didn’t mind, and laughed out loud, “When Shizun said this, I suddenly remembered that although we didn’t light the river lanterns, we still have to make wishes. Let’s all make wishes.”

     Xu Shuanglin’s mouth twitched, “I think making wishes is disgusting.”

     Luo Fenghua said, “Write it on paper. After you’re done writing it, throw it into the fire and it will come true.”

     In the end, they each wrote down their wishes. Of course, there was no need to say what Luo Fenghua’s wish was. He had already mentioned it when he made a toast just now.

     Nangong Liu had difficulties with learning, and liked to read while writing, “I hope… to eat and drink well, to have a good future, to be harmonious, and be reunited.”

     Xu Shuanglin was extremely disgusted, but there were also some inexplicable and subtle emotions mixed in with his disgust.

     He was the son of a concubine, and not many people paid attention to him at home. It was only after Luo Fenghua came that he had a companion. He, Nangong Liu, and his Shizun would often play and cultivate together.

     Rather than saying that Luo Fenghua was his Shizun, it would be better to say that he was his first best friend in life.

     Because of Luo Fenghua, he was no longer so jealous of his brother who was so useless but always attracted attention because of his status as the legitimate son of the first wife. As they spent time together, they were able to see some of Nangong Liu’s cuteness.

     “What did A-Xu write?”

     Xu Shuanglin didn’t answer. He casually threw the folded paper into the fire pit.

     His wish was quickly swallowed up by light and heat. The flickering flames reflected in his eyes.

     “I didn’t write anything. It’s just a blank piece of paper.”

     Luo Fenghua and Nangong Liu were greatly disappointed, and both showed discouraged expressions.

     Xu Shuanglin grinned. There was a hint of sweetness in that wicked smile, with a kind of self-satisfaction that came from playing tricks on someone.

     I lied to you.

     The handwriting on the folded paper was neat and tidy, and every stroke was earnest. It said—

     I hope that Luo Fenghua, Nangong Xu, and Nangong Liu can be friends and family for the rest of our lives, eating oranges together, sharing pastries together, and climbing on roofs together.

     From a young age until we have white hair on our temples.