Junior Brother Pays Respect to You: Chapter 6 - Friendly Relations, Part 1

June 10, 2025 Oyen 0 Comments

Happy Reading~

Chapter 6: Friendly Relations, Part 1

 

After fleeing the Sanqing Hall, Qin Zheng returned to his own residence.

 

The main reason he had decided to come back and build a good relationship with the sect leader's junior disciple was that his starting point was higher than most people's.

 

Qin Zheng clearly remembered that when Qin Su had first arrived at the Tianque Sect, he seemed to like him a lot. However, because Qin Zheng disliked children, he had treated Qin Su with unwarranted coldness and hostility, even bullying him repeatedly. This was likely what caused his junior to gradually distance himself.

 

If he could take advantage of Qin Su's initial affection toward him, perhaps asking him for some basic support wouldn’t be too much to hope for.

 

Although he had already decided to get along with his junior, facing something he had always disliked so suddenly still triggered an involuntary sense of resistance.

 

It seemed this kind of thing would have to be approached gradually.

 

Qin Zheng lay on his bed, eyes staring at the ceiling, but his ears were carefully tuned in to the sounds outside.

 

The master had said that Qin Su would be living next door to him, so surely Qin Shuang would bring him over soon.

 

Sure enough, not long after, footsteps were heard outside, followed by the sound of a door opening next door, and then more and more footsteps. The noise from the neighboring room grew louder.

 

At times like this, it was usually the younger disciples who gathered for the excitement.

 

It was always like this.

 

Just the thought of a bunch of children next door, whom he disliked, made Qin Zheng glance toward his own door. Only after confirming it was shut did he relax.

 

It seemed the entire sect already knew the sect leader had taken on a new disciple.

 

Qin Zheng lifted the hand that had slapped away Qin Su’s bun and smacked it with his other hand.

 

“That’s what you get for being too quick!”

 

It wasn’t until nightfall that the noisy commotion next door finally began to settle down, indicating the guests were starting to leave.

 

To be safe, Qin Zheng waited until midnight before quietly climbing out of bed.

 

He crept over to the door of Qin Su’s room and stood there, hesitating for a while before finally raising his hand and gently pushing the door open.

 

The disciples’ rooms in the Tianque Sect all had luminous pearls for lighting, so the room wasn’t pitch black despite the late hour.

 

Qin Zheng tiptoed inside and walked to the edge of the bed.

 

A red mark had already appeared on Qin Su’s forehead — he was now an official disciple of the Tianque Sect.

 

Looking at the small figure curled up on the bed, Qin Zheng slowly extended his hand. Just before his hand touched Qin Su’s face, he instinctively paused.

 

Finally, he gritted his teeth, furrowed his brow, and tentatively rubbed Qin Su’s cheek with a fingertip.

 

It was soft—like the dough he used to play with.

 

Qin Zheng realized it didn’t seem so terrible after all, and poked at the chubby cheek a couple more times before quietly turning and leaving the room.

 

***

The next day, before dawn, Qin Zheng once again tiptoed out of his room.

 

His instinctive reaction yesterday had likely hurt Qin Su’s feelings, so he needed to make it up to him.

 

Outside, the sky was still dark, and the entire Tianque Sect seemed to be slumbering.

 

Compared to the cave he used to live in, this place was much quieter at night.

 

Qin Zheng wound his way through the twisting corridors, heading southeast within the sect grounds.

 

Glowing plants dotted the path occasionally, allowing him to see clearly enough to walk.

 

The plants in the sect looked ordinary but were actually rare and exotic.

 

This place wasn’t just suitable for raising immortals—it was perfect for cultivating spiritual herbs too.

 

Before long, he arrived in front of a large door.

 

Qin Zheng gently pushed it open just a crack, scanned the surroundings, then slipped inside and quietly shut it behind him.

 

The air inside was filled with the mixed aroma of various foods.

 

This was the Tianque Sect’s kitchen.

 

Though it was still dark outside, the luminous pearls inside ensured there was no problem seeing clearly.

 

Against the wall stood a large wooden cabinet divided into multiple shelves, each holding various boxes and burlap sacks.

 

Fortunately, what Qin Zheng needed was stored in sacks, and they were on the bottom row—otherwise, given his current height, he probably wouldn’t have been able to reach them.

 

He went up to the cabinet and opened the sacks one by one from left to right.

 

Finally, in the largest sack on the far right, he found what he was looking for.

 

Qin Zheng reached in, and when he pulled his hand out, his fingertips were coated in a layer of white powder.

 

He brought it to his nose and sniffed—yes, this was the flour he needed.

 

Qin Zheng wanted to make steamed buns. Since he had knocked Qin Su’s bun to the ground, he would make it up to him with more buns.

 

He had slapped away one bun—he would repay him with five. That should be enough to avoid a grudge.

 

He stood up, took a spoon from the table, and scooped out a ladleful of flour.

 

Though he had roamed the mortal world for twenty years, he had never cooked for himself—let alone made buns. In his cave, he only had a kettle for boiling water and a clay pot for porridge.

 

Facing the flour, Qin Zheng tried hard to recall the bun shop owner he’d seen on the roadside and how he’d made buns.

 

After struggling for over an hour, he finally took six steaming hot buns out of the steamer.

 

He couldn’t quite explain it—he clearly remembered the bun vendor casually pinching out perfect-looking buns, but no matter how he tried, his own looked like... this.

 

Qin Zheng picked one up from the plate and tasted it. He nodded in satisfaction.

 

Though the appearance wasn’t exactly professional, the taste was acceptable.

 

Carrying the remaining five buns, Qin Zheng headed toward Qin Su’s room with a sense of fulfillment.

 

Surely the little junior brother would forgive him?

 

After all, children were known for their short memories, weren’t they?

 

Building relationships could be taken slowly—so long as it didn’t get too close, he should be fine.

 

When Qin Zheng, in high spirits, pushed open Qin Su’s room door, he saw that Qin Su was already looking his way the moment the door opened, his eyes curved in a cheerful smile.

 

At the same time, Qin Zheng noticed that there was already someone else in the room.

 

Qin Shuang was happily helping Qin Su into the sect’s robes.

 

When he noticed Qin Su looking joyfully toward the door, he followed his gaze and saw Qin Zheng standing there.

 

Qin Shuang looked between the junior brother in front of him and the senior brother at the door, then said in a hurt tone, “Why is it that Senior Brother bullies Junior Brother so much, yet Junior Brother still gets happier seeing him than seeing me?”

 

Qin Zheng glanced at Qin Shuang but didn’t respond. He hadn’t forgotten that when the elders had gone to Tianque Temple, Qin Shuang had stood right behind the sect leader—clearly a sign that he held the sect leader’s deep trust. That made him a rival for favor, and he needed to be watched carefully.

 

Carrying a plate full of buns, Qin Zheng walked to the bedside and handed the plate to Qin Su with a stiff smile. “Junior Brother, I was in a bad mood yesterday. These buns are my way of making it up to you.”

 

“Hahaha!”

 

“Senior Brother, you actually made such ugly buns!”

 

“Hahaha!”

 

Qin Shuang burst into laughter when he saw the buns on the plate.

 

“And seriously, that smile of yours just now was so fake. I almost couldn’t stand it.”

 

Qin Zheng raised his foot and kicked at Qin Shuang’s backside without mercy.

 

“Get lost!”

 

But Qin Shuang dodged easily and stepped aside with a grin, making space for Senior Brother.

 

“Senior Brother, I thought you hated all children. Turns out even you can fall for Junior Brother Qin Su’s looks.”

 

Qin Zheng gave Qin Shuang a cold look, but inwardly he thought: I’ve fallen for the power of the Sect Leader’s junior brother, not his face!

 

Watching Qin Su happily hug the plate of admittedly ugly buns, Qin Zheng let out a subtle sigh of relief.

 

So kids are this easy to please.

 

Once Qin Su picked out the biggest bun from the plate, Qin Shuang sneakily reached over and grabbed one too, stuffing it in his mouth while saying to Qin Zheng, “Senior Brother, Junior Brother is still young and doesn’t know good from bad when it comes to taste. Let me try it and give you some feedback.”

 

After a few bites, Qin Shuang swallowed the bun and nodded in mock seriousness. “The taste is... passable. Edible, at least.” Then he reached out again, aiming for the buns in the little junior brother’s arms.

 

Unexpectedly, Qin Su shifted his body and completely dodged Qin Shuang’s hand.

 

Qin Shuang stared in shock at his own empty hand.

 

Then he clutched his chest in mock pain and said in an aggrieved tone, “Little Junior Brother! Second Senior Brother treats you so well, and yet this is how you repay me!”

 

“Qin Zheng is Senior Brother to both of us. These buns were obviously made for the two of us!”

 

He then looked at Qin Zheng and blinked, clearly hoping for his agreement.

 

Qin Zheng glanced at Qin Su, then sideways at Qin Shuang, and said coldly, “These were made just for Junior Brother. Not for you!”

 

Seeing both his senior and junior brothers ganging up on him, Qin Shuang shoved the coat he had been helping the little one into right into Qin Zheng’s arms.

 

“You two are so close, you can dress him yourself. I’m going to the dining hall to eat!” Then he huffed off toward the door, but not without turning back to smirk at Qin Zheng.

 

He knew Qin Zheng hated kids. Whatever he was up to with Qin Su, he was sure the core dislike hadn’t changed. Qin Zheng wouldn’t help a child get dressed, and would definitely come crawling back for help.

 

When Qin Zheng didn’t react, Qin Shuang raised his voice deliberately, “I—am—really—leaving—now!”

 

Qin Zheng stared blankly at the clothes in his arms, then impatiently waved his hand at the already-at-the-door Junior Brother.

 

“Scram!”

 

Qin Shuang hadn’t expected the switch-up to come that quickly and was completely silenced by the word. He really did leave—but not without reminding them before exiting, “There’s morning class today. Don’t be late.”

 

Qin Zheng unfolded the little coat in his hands and looked at the happy figure still eating buns on the bed.

 

Luckily, the inner robe was already on. He only needed to help with the two outer layers.

 

Helping with a coat wasn’t that big of a deal.

 

“Junior Brother, can you put the plate down for a moment? I’ll help you with your clothes.”

 

Qin Su looked at him and obediently handed over the plate.

 

Qin Zheng placed it on a nearby table, then opened his arms and said, “Like this, stretch your arms out like me.”

 

Qin Su followed instructions and stretched out his arms.

 

Once the posture was set, Qin Zheng moved closer and began to help him into the coat.

 

Just as he was finishing up, Qin Zheng suddenly stiffened, eyes wide.

 

Qin Su had taken the opportunity to throw his arms around Qin Zheng’s waist while he was fixing the coat.

 

From his arms came a soft, childlike voice: “Hug—”

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