29 Hair Brushing Session!

When Lei opened his eyes, it was already dusk. He stretched while remaining on his bed and looked at the sky through his window.

'Waking up while the sun is setting... Such a nice feeling.'

Lei pushed himself off the bed and stood up. 

'That's one thing we have in common, Zhao Laohu.' He thought while putting on his robe. 

The Young Master paced the room as he yawned and thought about the previous day's events. 

There was a lot to think about, as much had happened. It took about twenty minutes for him to go through the previous day's events mentally and to get rid of the sleep grogginess.

"Older brother!" Sun shouted as Zhao entered his room.

"Morning." 

"I was just preparing to leave for the grand hall. I'm sorry if I-"

"Your hair..." Lei interrupted. "It's different."

"Ah? Oh, yes, older brother. I thought I should... Brush it and stuff."

Lei scratched his head, remembering how he looked upon waking up as he had spent quite a bit of time staring at his mirror.

"I probably need that too. Who will be at the grand hall?"

"I'm not sure... Probably Lord Feng, the Elders, the Senior Disciples...? Maybe some other Disciples?"

'Good. So it's an inside kind of party.' Lei thought to himself.

"Would you like me to call over a Servant to do your hair?"

"Who did yours?"

"I... Did it myself. I didn't want to disturb the Servants when your feast was... But if it's for you, I can call them right away!"

"Mm..." Lei thought for a bit. "Can you do mine?"

"Uh? Ah... Yes! Of course, I would love to." A jittery Sun replied.

Lei placed the chair on which Sun was sitting earlier in front of a window, and the latter grabbed his hair brush.

There was just enough light for the glass window to faintly reflect the inside of the room. Lei stared at the outside, while Sun stood behind him.

'This is... Weird.' Sun thought to himself. 'That's the first time older brother is-'

"Go ahead, it's fine."

"Y-Yes."

The younger brother started straightening the older's hair.

"Argh."

"Sorry. There are a lot of knots..."

"Now that I think about it... I didn't shower yet."

"Well, you were never of fan of showers, older brother." Sun said with a chuckle.

That did surprise Lei, as it could be seen as offensive. He didn't really care though. Lei wasn't a fan of showers either.

'Can't even listen to music while showering now... That's annoying.' 

The two remained mostly silent for a handful of minutes. Knots made Lei wince, and Sun apologized repeatedly.

"Why do you think we keep our hair long?"

"Mm?"

"What do you think?"

"It's a sign of youth and status, I think?"

"Is that it?"

"It is also a sign of talent. The Disciples who show promise have the right to let it grow, older brother."

"Yes..." 

Lei, who had been staring at the outside or at the reflection of his own face, raised his gaze slightly, staring at the reflection of Sun's face.

"Does that mean you have talent?"

The hand that had been brushing Lei's hair froze momentarily.

"Far from as much as you do, older brother." Sun replied, a weak smile on his face.

"Mm..." Lei looked away.

'The Goddess said that strength is most important here... Who will become Master after the father dies isn't necessarily up to who was born first. I suppose I see why Zhao would make sure his younger brother would...'

"But I will strive to be someone worthy of sharing the same name as you and as the Master. Compared to you, I am an average Martial Artist, but we still have the same father. I am confident that-"

Sun's words were interrupted as he pulled back. His face winced, as the older brother had suddenly turned around.

Lei stared for a bit, before bringing his gaze back to the glass window.

"Looks like you still have some bite in you..." He muttered.

"Older brother?"

"It's nothing."

The two were silent once more.

'The same father... Does that mean they... We don't share the same mother? Or is it some kind of -Talent comes from the father- delusional situation? Now that I look more closely, his hair isn't as dark as mine. Not conclusive evidence but...'

Noticing that Sun had grown fidgety,

"What is it?"

"N-Nothing." Sun resumed brushing the hair.

"Mm... Do you want to ask about it?"

"...!" The younger brother's hand froze for a moment.

"The Trial of Solitude?"

"No... I'm sure it isn't something one can easily talk about. Many have died attempting to... Once again, your undeniable and superior talent is proven, older brother."

"Mm." Lei shrugged. "It was as tough as they say it is."

"Older brother, you don't have to-"

"There was only darkness. All around me, darkness. I couldn't see a thing, hear a sound, or taste a thing. At one point, I even doubted if it was really the ground that was below me. It was like I had been thrown into a sphere of darkness. My throat and mouth grew so dry I thought my tongue would fall off. My stomach turned to stone. At one point, I couldn't tell whether my eyes were open or closed. I couldn't tell whether my hand was moving or not. There was only darkness, and I thought I had died."

"I'm sorry you had to-"

"Sorry?" Lei interrupted as he turned around, a smirk on his face. "What is there to be sorry about? It's a great honor, you know?" Sun's eyes widened, and Lei turned back to face in front of him. "Sure, it was tougher than I thought it would be. But... There's this strange feeling that I can't shake..."

"A strange feeling?"

"I kind of want to go back."

"HUH?" Sun shouted with shock. "To go back in there??"

"Mm." Lei nodded as he bent his elbow and curled his hand into a fist. "I don't think it would be as hard now."

Dumbfounded, Sun stared silently for a couple of seconds.

"Haha!" He chuckled. "As expected from my older brother!"

"Mm. Do you think they're waiting for us?"

"Yes, they must be waiting for you by now." Sun stepped back. "All done."

"Good." Lei muttered after standing up and staring at his reflection for a bit. "Let's get going."

"I'll bring you a fresh set of clothes!" Sun shouted before running to exit the room.

"Mm." Lei nodded after he was left alone. "Very helpful."