With a relieved cry, Xiao Yu hurled the heavy bricks forward. It crashed into the earth with a thud, sending a cloud of dust into the air. She immediately collapsed backward, sitting heavily on a patch of soft grass, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath.
Yoriichi picked up a clean, white cloth towel from his supplies. He walked over and held it out to her so she could wipe the grime and sweat from her face and arms.
Xiao Yu looked up at him through half-lidded, exhausted eyes. She saw the towel, but she didn't lift a single finger to take it. She just sat there, panting softly, looking at him with a stubborn, expectant pout on her lips.
Yoriichi stood there for a moment, his arm extended, slightly bewildered. He shrugged, thinking she simply lacked the physical strength to lift her arms after the brick press.
He knelt down on one knee in front of her.
Taking the soft cloth, Yoriichi gently began to wipe the dirt and heavy beads of sweat from her forehead. He moved the towel down her cheeks, wiping away the grime with precise, careful strokes. He then moved to her arms, cleaning the mud from her delicate but surprisingly strong forearms.
The physical proximity was intense. The heavy heat of the noon sun mixed with the scent of sulfur from the spring and the sweet, musky scent of her sweat.
Yoriichi then looked down. Xiao Yu was wearing a training skirt with high slits to allow for mobility, leaving her long, beautifully sculpted legs completely bare and covered in dust from her collapse.
Yoriichi hesitated for a fraction of a second. A sudden, highly foreign spike of embarrassment flared in his chest. In his previous life, he had been a solitary ascetic for decades. He was a samurai, bound by strict codes of honor and propriety.
Being this intimately close to a young woman, kneeling before her and cleaning her bare skin, felt intensely awkward to his old soul.
He scratched the back of his head, genuinely confused. 'Why does she always insist on making me do this?' he wondered, completely oblivious to the complex psychology of a sister wanting to be pampered by the brother she admired.
Steeling his stoic resolve, Yoriichi moved the towel down. He gently wiped the mud from her calves, his large, calloused hands accidentally brushing against the incredibly soft, warm skin of her thighs as he cleaned the higher patches of dirt.
Xiao Yu didn't flinch. She didn't pull away. Instead, a deep, rosy blush crept up her neck and settled on her cheeks. She bit her lower lip, keeping her eyes averted, secretly savoring the gentle, undivided care he was showing her. It made the hours of brutal torture entirely worth it.
Finishing the task, Yoriichi quickly cleared his throat and stood up, tossing the soiled towel aside. He extended his hand, grabbing her firmly by the forearm, and pulled her smoothly to her feet.
"Let's go home now," Yoriichi said, his voice returning to its usual, unshakable calm, though he deliberately kept his eyes focused on the path ahead. "We need to wash and change our clothes."
Xiao Yu's blush deepened slightly, but a soft, victorious smile played on her lips. She nodded obediently. "Okay."
They walked side-by-side down the winding mountain path, leaving the hot springs behind.
When they reached Yoriichi's sprawling courtyard, the atmosphere shifted into a comfortable, domestic routine. They took turns using the large wooden washroom. Because Xiao Yu had spent so much time at his courtyard recently for training, she had even moved a few of her own bathing supplies into his cabinets.
Washing away the grime of the morning training, putting on clean clothes, and simply existing in the quiet sanctuary of the courtyard had quickly become Xiao Yu's absolute favorite time of the day. It was a peaceful contrast to the brutal reality of their cultivation world.
An hour later, Yoriichi stepped out of his room. He had discarded his training gear, opting for a set of simple, elegant dark robes that hung perfectly on his tall, lean frame. His long, black hair with its vibrant red tip was tied neatly back.
Xiao Yu stepped out of the washroom a moment later, her damp hair smelling faintly of lotus flowers. She was dressed in a light blue, casual silk dress that accentuated her graceful figure.
Seeing him dressed for the city, she paused, tilting her head. "Eh? You are going out?"
Yoriichi casually adjusted his sleeve. "Hmm... I need to buy a few specific smithing materials from the merchant district. I am also planning to buy ingredients to cook that vegetable and tofu broth tonight."
At the mention of the broth, Xiao Yu's eyes instantly lit up. The meal he had cooked a few nights ago had been a revelation—it was rich, deeply aromatic, and somehow made her meridians feel incredibly warm and nourished without the heavy, sluggish feeling of magical beast meat. She literally gulped, her mouth watering at the memory.
A playful, bright idea sparked in her mind.
"Hmm..." Xiao Yu hummed, stepping closer and looping her arm casually through his. "Then let's go together! We can stroll through the city and relax after such a brutal morning. We can even visit a few scenic spots, and maybe eat some snacks at the outer stalls this afternoon before buying your ingredients."
Yoriichi raised his eyebrows slightly, looking down at his sister clinging to his arm. He had planned for a quick, efficient supply run, not a leisurely afternoon date-like stroll through the city.
However, looking at the hopeful, bright smile on her face, and remembering how hard she had pushed herself with the boulder press earlier, he couldn't find a logical reason to refuse. She had earned a moment of rest.
"Very well," Yoriichi nodded calmly.
Xiao Yu beamed, her grip on his arm tightening happily.
Together, the two siblings stepped out of the Xiao Clan estate and walked down the bustling, sunlit streets of Wu Tan City. The afternoon markets were alive with noise, the cries of merchants and the clatter of horse-drawn carriages filling the air.
As they walked, turning heads with their striking appearances, Yoriichi kept his senses sharp, fully aware that in a city governed by three rival clans, a peaceful stroll could turn into a battlefield in the blink of an eye.