Fu Ran’s gaze lowered to the wooden stairs, and his heart drummed intensely. Why do they mention my name? I did nothing of the sort! There was no shame for mere gossiping disciples, but they wouldn’t have said something so bold if they knew he was there, right?

Fu Ran’s hands clutched into the staircase railing. It almost felt malleable under his harsh, sweaty grip. The cool of the library did nothing to ease the heated flush of negative thoughts.

Is this punishment for listening in on conversations not meant for me?

Chastising these two wasn't even an option. If he were to walk up the stairs right now and say something, it would be clear that he was just eavesdropping in on their conversation. With a sullen expression, he slumped forward. He wanted to turn right around and go back to Xingti Pavilion empty handed.

Fu Ran didn’t pay any mind as a second set of footsteps walked up beside him. The stairs were big enough for two, so he didn’t have to move out of the way. However he did pay mind when a hand placed itself on his hair.

A deeper voice spoke simple words, meant to scare. “If disciples have time to gossip, perhaps their Shizun should hear about it. Idle minds mean they haven't been given enough work to do.”

Fu Ran’s neck could have snapped with how fast he turned his head. His eyes were wide.

“Tian Han?” Fu Ran asked bewildered. Those familiar fine features looked a little tired, even more so under the well lit library candles. Firm hands trailed down Fu Ran’s side, and rested on his hip. Exasperation pulled at lines on Tian Han’s face. Those stray marks of overworking weren’t that visible a week ago, so Fu Ran’s pity built up quickly.

In a shock, similar to Fu Ran, the young boy nearly fell from the railing, just barely hooking his fingers under his “seat.” Their faces looked pale and suddenly very sweaty.

While the boy was busy babbling. Technically the girl hadn’t said anything wrong, so she was quick to lock her hands together in a bow. “S-Sorry Master Tian and…” Her eyes fell upon the man next to Tian Han, as she was trying to confirm what name she should use in her apologies, but her body went rigid. She yanked the boy beside her off of the railing and forced his head down into a bow as she joined him. “I’m terribly sorry Master Fu.”

It was noticeable how quickly the boy stole a glance to confirm what he heard. He didn’t waste time echoing her.

Fu Ran frowned. The heaviness in the room was even more evident now, only now it wasn't just him who felt it. “You may raise your heads. This Peak Master understands that there will always be gossip after a recent event. Perhaps next time, do so in the privacy of your dormitories. You never know who will be around to hear.” His face looked solemn, despite hiding it behind his sleeves, and he felt a numbness from gripping at the railing with great force.

Tian Han smiled, and the hold at Fu Ran’s hips tightened. “See? Master Fu is far too kind to do those things you were talking about. He isn’t even angry that you were badmouthing him. Now run alone.” Amidst a near joking tone, his words held a sense of urgency that did best not to be ignored. The children said their apologies once again before grabbing their things and quickly making themselves scarce.

Only once he watched the disciples vanish down the stairs, did Fu Ran finally manage to pry his sticky hand from the wooden rail. He hoped it wouldn’t discolor, or Shesui Lang would have his head. The figure beside him didn’t move, but more noticeably, his hand didn’t move either.

Fu Ran swallowed nervously. “I’m alright, Tian Han.”

“Are you?”

“I am.” Fu Ran stole a glance from the golden eyes near him. They looked intense, yet there was little real emotion to be had. When they locked eyes, Tian Han forced a smile. It was almost like his eyes reacted late and he had to force them to match his smiling lips, but they eventually arched up into a squint. Just like he had with Wan Yu, it had become easier to see these strange details over time with constant interactions.

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How did Tian Han suddenly look so much older? Was the stress of being a new Peak Master that harsh? Those lines under his eyes weren’t there before, and Wan Yu wasn’t one to talk about his father, so updates were scarce.

Tian Han chuckled, and then he called “Shizun,” softly and gently, but Fu Ran didn’t hear.

“Shizun?” It took the second call before Fu Ran showed any signs of awareness. He blinked, and opened his mouth like he was going to speak, but Tian Han interrupted. “Does Shizun want to stay on the stairs like this? While I don’t mind, it seems like there are a few disciples who are too nervous to come up the stairs with us blocking the way.”

To confirm his words, Fu Ran’s gaze ended up at the foot of the stairs. There were three young teenage girls at the bottom. Their cheeks were pink and their hands were cupped together in an obvious display of whispering.

“Come,” Tian Han whispered and gave a light touch to his shoulder.

Fu Ran had been ushered to sit at one of the study tables, and Tian Han took a seat near him. A few moments passed before the girls walked by, their eyes shone with interest, but it was short lived as they quickly moved their feet to continue down the walkway. Like he was holding his breath, Fu Ran let a sigh escape his lips. “I just wanted some books.” He lowered his head onto the table.

“If Shizun had the intention of picking out books, he should have called Wan Yu. Or at the very least he should have called me.” Tian Han crossed his arms and looked the slightest bit amused.

Fu Ran shook his head. “No way! You are so much busier, now. Though, I guess I could have brought Wan Yu.”

“I am never too busy to provide help. What kind of books did you want?”

“Cultivation Manuals for beginners.”

“Then let me pick out some for Shizun. I bought Wan Yu quite a few already. Some of the more advanced ones were among his belongings when he moved his things into the dormitories, so I wont grab those. You can ask him to share them with the others, though.” Tian Han retrieved one of the smaller ladders while he spoke. With a thud, it was dropped right in front of the bookshelves where they sat. Tian Han repeatedly stepped up on the ladder, each time it creaked slightly under the weight.

It wasn’t a slow day in the library like his first impression said it was. Several people walked around the two masters while they worked. Fu Ran waited patiently below the ladder as Tian Han lowered one or two books at a time.

With such confidence Tian Han chose books after only reading the titles. He must have read all of these himself, if he was already that familiar with their contents. Fu Ran carried the retrieved books to the table they had temporarily claimed as their own, and before long they had an entire stack of old books.

30 or so books stacked in a tall tower looked…unstable. “That is quite the impressive stack—It might fall,” Fu Ran nervously stated the obvious issue with their handiwork.

Tian Han stifled a chuckle with his hand and said “Let’s go through them, then.”

Fu Ran picked up one book from the top of the stack, and then a few more. They seemed surprisingly familiar to him. Some titles were: “Building Up Qi Control,” “Learning to Use Spiritual Weapons,” and “One in Body and Sword.” These were all fantastic reading material for him when he was just getting started.

Shockingly, it wasn’t only a few: The entire stack of chosen manuals were all things he knew. Fu Ran could confirm that they were excellent choices for young disciples. Tian Han really did have teaching experience, whether he brushed it off or not.

There was a time in Fu Ran’s life when he barely even knew how to read, so some of the very first words he had ever learned were taken from these texts. Fondness must have been etched on his face as he began to page through the books. Contentedly, Fu Ran said, “These will be perfect. Thank you Tian Han.”

Tian Han stiffened. “No need for thanks.” He shuffled in his seat, and turned his gaze to watch over the lower library. “It was a simple task. I read every single one of these at my Shizun’s guidance.”

“The more I hear, the more I wish I could have met him. Your teacher, I mean.”

“I’m… sure he would have liked to meet you, too,” Tian Han responded, hiding his attention away behind a book.

After about an hour of reading and debating good learning materials, Fu Ran really couldn’t find anything useless. Tian Han even found some with simpler writings since Su Biyu was still learning her letters, so even the rudimentary texts held purpose. Forced with making a difficult choice, he decided: Fu Ran would simply take them all.

Before Fu Ran knew it, his back ached with a not-at-all-small stack of in his arms. The load of books threatened to pull him straight to the ground. He groaned and was forced to adjust his hold on them several times.

“Shizun!” Tian Han chastised, “You are still recovering.”

“It’s not like I’m overworking! It’s just a few books.” Despite trying to argue with Tian Han, the weight disappeared.

Tian Han plucked them up without even a single noise of pain or strain. As Tian Han stood there, barely visible behind the stack, he fixed a confident gaze on Fu Ran.

“Let’s be going,” Tian Han said. With a smooth and fluid motion, he adjusted his grip on the books and began walking towards their destination. His ease and nonchalance made it look as if the goods in hand were weightless.

Fu Ran looked at him incredulously. “Tian Han, don’t push yourself.”

Tian Han ignored his words of worry. “You have a big enough shelf in your home, correct? I’ll bring you one if you don’t.”

“I do!” Fu Ran couldn’t take it! If Tian Han did even one more thing for him today, he would die of embarrassment!