Terrified.

Oz and Xiao stood outside of the apartment door and stared at it as if it lead into hell rather than their home.

"You go in first." Oz said to Xiao after a moment and Xiao looked at him shocked.

"What do you mean!? You're his brother, you go in first!" Xiao argued and Oz groaned.

He knew his brother would drop the whole body tempering thing for now, but he definitely wouldn't get over him letting Xiao move in.

After their parents died, his brother Quinn had no choice but to become Oz's guardian. Through all these years of Quinn caring for him, he had only ever once gotten really angry. It happened in the darkest time in Oz's life and it hurt him to even relive the memories of that year.

"Stop cowering out there and get your butts inside!" Quinn shouted from inside the apartment and both Oz and Xiao nearly jumped out of their skin. Xiao looked as if he was ready to bolt right down the hallway so Oz knew he needed to do something quickly.

He took a deep breath, bracing himself before unlocking the door and entering the apartment.

What he saw inside almost made him want to turn around and run back out the door.

It was Quinn and the rest of the Jade guild.

"Wh-what's going on?" Oz asked and felt Xiao shuffle in behind him, almost hiding behind his back. Oz seemed to notice that although Xiao had a huge build and had an imitating look, he was scared of the most trivial things.

As the silence in the apartment grew more uncomfortable, Xiao seemed to shrink further in behind Oz, as if it was possible for him to hide his large form.

Finally, the silence broke.

"Well, I let the guild know that my brother decided to bring home a stray yesterday." Quinn said in a low tone and Oz heard Xiao gulp from behind him.

"It's not really right to just let any random stray live with you and your brother, so I came up with a brilliant idea." Jared, the guild leader smirked as he pulled himself up from the kitchen table and began to approach the two guys.

"An idea?" Oz dreaded to ask and felt himself cower further with each step closer Jared took. Jared was the highest rank of the Guild, over halfway through Rank 3, the Body Infusion stage. He even managed to get into the top 100 ranked cultivators in the continent which made him sort of a hero that Oz could look up to alongside his brother.

But looking up to Jared right now, was damn right terrifying.

"Think of it as a sort of initiation." Jared said and even though Oz was scared, a flutter of excitement stirred in his stomach. "You guys want to join the guild right? Well we are also in need of some errand boys at the moment. Do well and you can climb the ranks as you get more powerful.

It also works out as a great test to see if this stray is trustworthy enough."

"Join your guild?" Xiao spoke for the first time since entering the apartment, poking his head out just enough to look at Jared.

"What? The Jade Guild not good enough for you? We're one of the top guilds in this city with hundreds of cultivators trying to join. Consider yourself lucky that we're even giving you a chance!" Jared said incredulously and Xiao frowned.

Oz knew that Xiao probably wasn't trying to offend Jared and the Jade guild, it's just something he hadn't thought about. I guess being the son of the Wu family, he thought he would always work for the Wu Guild.

"He doesn't w-" Oz began to try and explain Xiao's reason for not wanting to join the guild before Xiao cut him off.

"Thank you for this opportunity, sir!" He shouted and bowed respectfully in front of Jared. The rest of the guild members tried to hide their laughter but Jared actually looked pleasantly surprised.

"Now that's the kind of respect I'm talking about!" Jared laughed loudly and got both Oz and Xiao into a headlock. "Now kiddos, it's time to see if you're cut out for the Jade Guild. If not, you'll have to find somewhere else to live," Jared looked pointedly at Xiao before turning to Oz and adding, "and you'll have wait another five years before trying to join."

"Come on Jared, that's a little harsh." Quinn cut in but Jared only rolled his eyes.

"You're little brother is an adult now Quinn. Its time to show him the harshness of the cultivating world." Jared clicked his tongue before squeezing his arms tighter around Xiao and Oz. "So, what do you say boys? You ready?"

"Yes!" Xiao yelled enthusiastically. He really didn't have a choice. If Xiao declined then he wouldn't be allowed to stay with Oz and would most likely have to return home.

But Oz did have a choice.

He glanced at his brother and saw him shake his head. Oz knew his brother was only trying to protect him and his feelings, but Oz couldn't ignore the jolt of disappointment he felt when his brother did that. It's almost like he knew that Oz would fail whatever test Jared had in mind for them.

Even though Oz had only just become a cultivator, he wanted to prove to his brother and the rest of the guild that he was strong enough to be with them. Even if it meant joining as an errand boy, anything was worth it if it meant being apart of the guild.

He already knew his answer since the beginning. He was willing to do whatever it took.

"I'm ready." Oz grinned and Jared and the rest of the guild erupted into cheer whilst Quinn just shook his head exasperatedly.

"Keep that enthusiasm kids," Jared whispered low causing goosebumps to run over Oz's skin. "We'll see how long it will last.