The next evening, Ye Fu was practicing the Wandering Mist Step in the courtyard.
His movements had improved compared to before.
Though he still stumbled occasionally.
"Not bad."
A familiar voice sounded.
Ye Fu turned around.
His elder brother was leaning against a tree while eating roasted meat.
As usual.
"Brother."
Ye Luo walked over and sat beside him.
For once, neither spoke.
The night breeze quietly passed through the courtyard.
After a while, Ye Luo suddenly asked,
"Are you nervous about the examination?"
Ye Fu nodded.
"A little."
"A little?"
Ye Luo laughed.
"You look like someone about to face execution."
Ye Fu smiled helplessly.
"Everyone is stronger than me."
Ye Luo looked toward the stars.
"Do you know what Father once told me?"
Ye Fu shook his head.
"He said that people spend too much time looking at those ahead of them."
Ye Fu remained silent.
Ye Luo continued.
"When I was younger, I always compared myself to the clan geniuses."
"Ye Ming."
"Ye Jun."
"The disciples of the main branch."
"And every time I compared myself to them…"
"I felt miserable."
Ye Fu blinked.
His brother had felt that way too?
Ye Luo smiled bitterly.
"Then one day I realized something."
"What?"
"Those people are walking their own roads."
He pointed toward the distant mountains.
"If a fish compares itself to a bird, it will spend its whole life feeling useless."
"If a bird compares itself to a tiger, it will never appreciate its wings."
Ye Fu frowned slightly.
"What does that mean?"
Ye Luo chuckled.
"It means that not everybody is meant to become the same thing."
"Some people are born to rule."
"Some people are born to fight."
"Some people are born to explore."
"Some people are born to protect."
His voice became quieter.
"And some people don't discover their road until much later."
Ye Fu stared at his brother.
For the first time, he felt that Ye Luo was speaking from experience.
"Brother…"
"What do you want to become?"
Ye Luo laughed.
"Besides eating?"
Ye Fu nodded.
A rare seriousness appeared on Ye Luo's face.
"I want to see the world."
Ye Fu froze.
"The world?"
Ye Luo nodded.
"Elder Han always talks about how vast it is."
"There are stronger clans."
"Stronger sects."
"Places beyond our imagination."
He smiled.
"I want to taste the food from all of them."
Ye Fu immediately rolled his eyes.
The serious atmosphere vanished instantly.
"Of course it comes back to food."
"Naturally."
Both brothers laughed.
After a while, Ye Luo became serious once more.
"What about you?"
Ye Fu looked at his hands.
Then he slowly clenched them.
"I want to become strong."
Ye Luo nodded.
"I know."
"I want Father to be respected."
"I want Mother to smile more."
"I want nobody to look down on our family again."
The courtyard fell silent.
Ye Luo listened carefully.
Then he placed a hand on his younger brother's shoulder.
"Those are good reasons."
"But don't let them become chains."
Ye Fu looked confused.
Ye Luo continued.
"If one day you become strong…"
"Don't do it because you hate the people who mocked us."
"Do it because you've found a road worth walking."
The words lingered in the air.
For a long time, neither brother spoke.
Above them, countless stars filled the night sky.
Each shining in its own place.
Each following its own path.
Eventually, Ye Luo stood up.
As he walked away, he spoke without turning around.
"Little Fu."
"Hmm?"
"No matter what happens during the examination…"
"You'll always be my little brother."
Ye Fu watched his brother disappear into the house.
A strange warmth filled his chest.
For the first time in many days, the pressure weighing on his heart felt lighter.
Perhaps Ye Luo was right.
Not everyone walked the same road.
And perhaps…
His own road had only just begun.