Chapter 140

Chapter 140: Your Senior Brother Is Still Your Senior Brother

When Lin Dao returned to the Alchemist Subguild, he loosened his palm to reveal Little Hamster curled into a ball. Little Hamster clung to Lin Dao’s fingertip and wobbled upright.

Just now, when Lin Dao had noticed Yu Ruan Ruan, he had subconsciously closed his hand; Little Hamster had been caught unprepared and plunged into darkness, then jounced all the way as Lin Dao moved. At the moment, his head was still a little dizzy.

Seeing Little Hamster’s discomfort and recalling it was his own oversight, Lin Dao gathered a thread of spiritual qi at his fingertip and tapped Little Hamster on the head. Very soon, Little Hamster’s dizziness cleared.

Lin Dao offered a brief apology as he said: “My apologies. I did not notice you just now.”

Little Hamster had been ready to flare up, but on hearing this he could not bring himself to complain. He thought to himself with forced magnanimity: [He is Shu Shu’s senior brother. I should be generous and forgive him.]

Even so, his cheeks were still puffed with a little indignation. Watching this, Lin Dao felt a sense of déjà vu as he thought, half-absently: [When Zi An was little and angry, he looked just like this.]

Lin Dao poked Little Hamster lightly as he asked in an even tone while unobtrusively sizing him up: “How old are you?”

Judging by his appearance, he was a newly hatched juvenile. Little Hamster’s eyes went blank for a moment at the question. How old…? He did not know either.

Seeing that silly look, Lin Dao set aside the last trace of his concern. He concluded inwardly: [So stupid. If he tried any scheming, he would not be a match for my little junior sister.] It was normal enough for a young lady to keep a small pet.

Unaccustomed to holding anything that had nothing to do with swords, Lin Dao thought for a moment, then set Little Hamster on his shoulder.

Little Hamster had never stood on anyone’s shoulder except Rong Shu’s and did not feel as safe as when curled in a palm. He briefly forgot how Lin Dao had just “locked him up,” seized Lin Dao’s collar with his tiny paws, and squeaked in a small, timid voice: “Gu gu, senior brother, do not drop me.”

Lin Dao could not understand the words, and yet somehow he understood. He chuckled softly as he promised: “I will not drop you.” His little junior sister seemed quite taken with this Little Hamster; naturally she would not want him to break a leg or his head. He thought mildly: he is already silly enough; best not to make him sillier.

He gave cool, practical instruction as he added: “Get used to perching on a shoulder as soon as possible. Do not always make Rong Shu hold you. A blade cultivator’s hands must not be without blades.”

He explained with crisp clarity: “If she cannot ensure she has a weapon in hand at all times, that is dangerous. Do you understand?”

Little Hamster loosened his grip on Lin Dao’s collar, looking flustered. He did not know. He just liked being held by Shu Shu. He deflated like a punctured ball.

Seeing the lesson had landed, Lin Dao added one more line to soften it: “Occasionally is fine, but do not become her burden.”

At that, Little Hamster’s ears twitched and perked back up. He let go of the collar entirely and sat up straight. After sneaking a glance at Lin Dao and finding no reaction, his tiny posture slumped a little. A while later, he could not keep sitting and flopped down.

Lin Dao gave a light cough. Little Hamster started, then flipped upright to sit properly again. Lin Dao cast a sidelong glance at his little antics, but made no comment.

When Rong Shu finished her assessment and came out, she saw Lin Dao by the doorway, with Little Hamster perched on his shoulder.

She called happily: “Senior brother.”

Lin Dao answered without thinking, his gaze sliding to the little creature as he called the name she had given it: “Yan Yan.”

He asked with his usual calm: “How did the assessment go?”

Rong Shu lifted her chin slightly, brimming with confidence as she answered: “No problem at all. The second-grade Alchemist certification is in hand.”

Lin Dao nodded once as he replied: “Mm.”

Only then did Rong Shu look at Little Hamster bouncing on Lin Dao’s shoulder. Delighted, Little Hamster stretched both paws toward her. She did not immediately scoop him up. Instead she grinned and asked Lin Dao playfully: “Senior brother, how did you and Yan Yan get along?”

Lin Dao cut his gaze toward Little Hamster. The hamster, who had been fidgeting nonstop, went still the instant he sensed that look and curled himself into a tight ball.

Lin Dao passed him back as he said evenly: “Here.” He added with a faint, amused curve to his lips: “He looks pretty silly, but as long as you like him.”

Back in Rong Shu’s palm, Little Hamster dared roll over a few times. Rong Shu scratched his soft belly as she asked with a smile: “He is a bit dopey. He did not bother senior brother, did he?”

Sensing Lin Dao’s gaze once more, Little Hamster, who had just bared his little belly, immediately curled up and burrowed into Rong Shu’s palm.

Lin Dao smiled as he concluded: “Fairly well-behaved.” He asked next with practical briskness: “Have you bought your herbs?”

Rong Shu answered: “Mm.”

Lin Dao said: “Then I will escort you back to Dragon Ridge Palace.”

He took her to the palace gates, then left her with one last instruction: “I will be staying at Fortune’s Blessing Inn near Dragon Ridge Palace these days. If anything comes up, come find me.” He added the fallback: “Or contact me directly through the Nine Palace Mirror.”

He was not a participating disciple, and given the present circumstances he could not enter Dragon Ridge Palace, so he had taken a room outside.

Rong Shu nodded obediently as she answered: “All right, senior brother.”

After parting with Lin Dao, her steps were lighter on the way back to her quarters. As she walked, she whispered to Little Hamster: “Yan Yan, what do you think of senior brother? He is great, isn’t he? But senior brother can be very strict. Do not provoke him, or even I will not be able to help you.”

At the words provoke senior brother, Little Hamster shook his head at once.

Rong Shu laughed in satisfaction as she said: “That is my good boy.” Watching his slightly frightened look, she almost could not stop herself from laughing. At last, she was not the only one to experience senior brother’s awe-inspiring presence. Heh heh heh.

Because she knew her senior brother had returned, Rong Shu let herself relax a fraction. Even so, she still stayed tucked away refining pills and cultivating as before.

Morning and evening each day, she used the Nine Palace Mirror to report in to Lin Dao. At first she felt she was troubling her senior brother, but Lin Dao called it “reporting safety” and told her not to miss a single day. Dragon Ridge Palace might be protected by formations, but it was not absolutely safe.

So she diligently checked in with senior brother every day.

Time passed bit by bit. Soon, the sect grand competition drew to an end, and the rankings for all three brackets were announced in full.

Rong Shu paid them a little attention. In the Golden Core Stage bracket, Feng Lin ranked seventh. Only at mid Golden Core, he had defeated several late Golden Core cultivators in succession; it was truly a dazzling achievement, and he was the only mid-stage cultivator in the top ten.

In the Foundation Establishment bracket, Huo Yi Han, an alchemist, quietly took first place, a result that surprised many.