Chapter 31 - A New Look

The leaves of a lone maple tree rustle lightly beneath the clear night sky, dancing to the tune of the chilly breeze. The rhythm of the rustling changes slightly as a figure descends from the sky into the courtyard. Upon landing, a little girl jumps from the arms of the figure as she runs around the maple tree with her arms extended outwards. After a few loops, the little girl runs into the house, allowing the rhythm of the rustling to normalize.

"How does she always have so much energy?" Lia smiles as the little girl disappears into the house.

"Must be the beef buns." Sun chuckles as he bends his knees to let Lia step down. "You should try it, you look like you could use the energy."

"Dummy!" Lia puts on an angry facade as she repeatedly slaps Sun's shoulder. "I'm plenty energetic! You think it's easy to make that many buns every day?"

"Ow. Ow. Ow." Sun tries his best to put more expression into his acting.

"It's a good thing you're not a drama instructor." Lia breaks into laughter at his monotone delivery. "Go watch her, Instructor Dummy. I'll make some soup. It's getting a little chilly these days."

Lia stretches her toes towards the courtyard before hopping off Sun's back. An image flashes across Sun's mind as he watches Lia make her way into the house. After she disappears behind the entryway, he closes his eyes and shakes off the question in his mind. Sun turns around and makes his way into the house. Just as he passes the door, Yuyu pops her head out from behind the corner.

"Boo!"

"Ahhhhh."

"No, Mister! Like this!" The little girl giggles before putting on an overly exaggerated face. "AHHHHHH!"

"Ahhhhhhhhhh."

"Mister just stretched it longer. Watch Yuyu again." Yuyu resets her face to neutral before raising her eyebrows and widening her eyes. She throws her hands up, shaking them around. "AHHHHHH!"

"Ahhhhhhhhhhh-hahaha." Sun fails again as the little girl's demonstration causes him to laugh mid-attempt.

***

Lia's slender hands carefully scoops up a spoonful of broth, bringing it to her lips. After taking a sip, Lia sets the wooden ladle aside and reaches for the salt container. She lifts the round, bamboo-woven, lid off the container with one hand and picks up a tiny pinch of salt with the other before placing the lid back on. The coarse salt crystals fall into the pot as Lia rubs her fingers together while moving her hand in a circular motion above the edge of the pot. After stirring a few times, she does another taste test. Lia smiles as she closes the lid. Upon confirming that there's enough charcoal in the clay stove, Lia stretches before making her way into the courtyard.

"Dummy! Yuyu!" Lia calls out as she steps into the house. "The soup is rea-"

Upon turning the corner by the door, Lia chokes on her words at the scene before her. Yuyu, standing behind Sun, quickly holds a finger up to her pouting lips. Focusing her eyes at Sun, Lia tries desperately to fight the urge to laugh. Her chest jumps each time she pushes back the urge. Feeling her control slip away, Lia tucks her head down into her hands to hide her expression.

"Are you okay?" Sun asks.

"Absolutely! Perfect." Lia struggles to keep her words from turning into laughter. "What is going on here? Yuyu! I didn't know you were so talented! It looks amazing."

Sun smiles at the compliment, completely oblivious to the fact that his long hair had been transformed into an uneven mess. Yuyu sets the scissors onto the table before mouthing the words "thank you" at Lia.

"See?! Yuyu can use scissors just fine. Instructor Lianyi taught Yuyu how to use them for cutting herbs!"

"Thank you, Yuyu." Sun turns to smile at the little girl. "Why don't Yuyu and aunty Lia go eat first? Mister will clean up first and join you after."

"Mhmm! Great idea!" Yuyu nods as she runs towards Lia. The little girl tugs on Lia's sleeve, trying to pull her out of the house as soon as possible. "Let's go aunty Lia! Come come come! Yuyu is hungry!"

Sun pushes himself off the floor as the girls make their way across the courtyard. As he turns to look for the broom, a familiar voice calls out to him from outside the front yard walls. Sun quickly makes his way into the front yard, pausing to dust the strands of hair off his robe, before opening the gate.

"Grandmaster Yi." Sun greets the Ghost Doctor with a bow before turning to nod at the boy. "Dan."

"Gyohoho! Child, your hair looks… good." The Ghost Doctors chuckles as he observes Sun's haircut. "No need for titles with me. Just call me grandpa Yi."

"Dan greets Instructor Sun!" Dan chokes back his urge to laugh as he bows deeply towards his instructor.

"Uncle Sun." Sun corrects him with a slight smile. "What brings you here grandpa Yi?"

"Nothing much, child. Dan wanted to return Yuyu's books. That and some other minor business."

Sun raises a brow before realizing that he had left the training ground earlier without Yuyu's books. He nods at Dan before welcoming the two inside.

"Yuyu is in the back house. Let's go surprise her."

"Go alone, child." The Ghost Doctor interjects. "Leave us to discuss some minor matters."

Dan bows towards Sun and the Ghost Doctor before carrying the books through the walkway towards the back house. The Ghost Doctor watches intently as his son disappears into the walkway. His smile fades as he turns towards Sun.

"Child, would you mind looking after my boy for a few days?"

"Of course, grandpa Yi." Sun replies without any hesitation. "I'm still indebted to you after all."

"Gyohoho. Child, accepting this old soul's proposal to become an Instructor of the Academy already makes us even. Not to mention, you're helping the boy on the daily with his training. Speak no more of any debts, child. There are no debts between friends and family."

"Thank you, grandpa Yi." Sun smiles at the Ghost Doctor's words.

"Now, child, there's an important matter I wish to discuss." The Ghost Doctor's tone suddenly grows serious. "The Viridian Valley excursion…"