Loyal, Brave & True

Chapter 40

Jia walked slowly, looking around as the junior disciples knocked on any door they could find. A few of those doors opened on their own, the houses being vacant and absent of life. However, this was not what our heroes needed at that moment so the search continued.

Most attempts were futile, with almost no response by anyone. Either people were inside and did not dare to open them or the house was empty and the doors simply did not budge in.

"This one is empty!" Jin Ling pointed out, having actually kicked the door open.

"We do not need an empty one. Find one with someone inside" Wuxian informed him, making him groan.

"You could have said that from the very beginning," he complained but started to knock at the other doors.

Jia watched for a moment, amused by how Ling was quickly ordered around; much to his dismay. However, the fact that her uncle was looking for an inhabited house; made her wonder. She glanced at him, rather intensely and he seemed to sense it.

"What is it?" he asked her, his eyes glancing around at the other disciples.

"Why do you want an inhabited house?" she asked, glancing at him but her eyes subconsciously went around, keeping an eye on all the disciples.

Wuxian had noticed that and observed with silent pride. Just like Zhouan, she had this innate worry and concern for the others around her; especially those younger ones. Despite not truly talking, she was always checking up on them and ensuring no one was truly left behind.

It made him nostalgic for a moment, missing the good old times and the unique stubborn woman he had become fond of during the time under the Wens and even after the war.

Focusing back on her question, he smirked like the little boy he often was. "Why do you think?" he asked her, deciding to test her. "I agreed to teach you but I cannot give you all the answers like that" he reminded her.

Her own smirk formed on her lips, looking more and more like her witty mother. Taking upon the challenge, she started to think for a moment; going as far as to place her thumb and index finger beneath her chin.

"The only difference between empty houses from inhabited ones is...except for people...stock. A full or a properly stacked kitchen" she said and glanced at him. The little glow of pride in his eyes motivated her to continue, her mind racing faster than she flew her sword. "You want to make some sort of antidote for the poisoned disciples and you need culinary ingredients" she concluded, a small of pride growing on her face.

Pride but it was not for her...no, it was pride for him. Once again he proved just how street smart he was, how clever he could be and sadly no one truly paid attention to that particular skill.

Wuxian grinned like a true madman, his chest puffing faintly with pride. "I knew you would make a good student. See, this is why I chose you" he joked, placing his hand around her shoulder and pulling her a tad closer; just enough to mess with her but not too much to make the other disciples suspicious.

She chuckled faintly and rolled her eyes at him, pushing her body gently away from him. "Last time I checked, I chose you to become my teacher; not the opposite"

"Technically, you blackmailed me into accepting you as my student"

She winked at him, amused and having forgotten the direness of the situation for a moment. "Details, uncle...details," she told him.

Just then, her eyes and attention went to her cousin Shizui, who seemed to have some luck. The door he chose to knock, opened faintly as someone was inside; for a change.