Duan Yu exhaled sharply as he wiped Duan Yanyan's forehead and neck. But the moment his fingers brushed her skin, he froze.
It was burning hot.
His chest tightened.
She still hasn't woken up, not after three days of being bedridden.
Duan Yu stood, clenching the cloth in his hand. "I'll take care of everything," he whispered, more to himself than her.
He picked up the basin filled with water, went outside their shack, and threw it out back. After placing the basin back on the table, he walked to the door, sparing one last glance at his sister before stepping out.
He stepped out into the cool morning air, thin mist surrounding the village.
His destination. The Village Chief's house.
By the time the village stirred awake, Duan Yu was already at the village chief's compound. He knelt beside the sleeping Ironhide Elk, its silver-tinted antlers glinting in the sunlight filtering through the shed. The beast let out a low grunt, its ear twitching.
Duan Yu moved slowly, carefully, just as what he had been taught. It may look docile, but the beast had a temper—and a strength that can crush a bone, but it had taken quiet a liking to him.
"Good morning, Old Horn," he murmured, brushing its thick fur with a care that didn't match his calloused hands.
"He's got a touch for beasts," the village chief commented, watching from a distance. "Most kids wouldn't last a day around that elk."
After Duan Yu finished brushing down Old Horn, he moved on to cleaning the feeding troughs and refilling the water barrels. The work was rough and repetitive, but he didn't slow down—not even when his back ached or when his stomach growled with hunger.
He couldn't afford to.
By the time the sun had risen fully above the trees, his hands were smeared with dirt and beast fur, and sweat clung to his brow despite the chill in the air.
"Oi, boy," the chief's attendant barked, tossing a bundle of dry feed his way. "Don't forget to clean out the nesting pens too. The chief wants 'em spotless."
Duan Yu caught the bundle mid-air with a quiet nod. "Yes, sir."
He worked straight through the morning, then into noon. Although the village chief was kind and allowed him to take a break, he decided not to so he could do more work and go home early. His sister is still at their home, sick.
When the chief finally dismissed him in the late afternoon, Duan Yu's arms felt like lead, but he only took a few seconds to catch his breath before setting off.
There was still a stop he had to make.
At the village edge, a small trading post stood beside a crooked fence. Duan Yu approached the merchant's stall and held out a few copper coins—his day's wages.
"Pickles" he said plainly.
The merchant, a plump man with a lazy eye, squinted at the boy before handing over a modest bag. "Working at the chief's place again, huh? Surprised that monster elk hasn't tossed you into a tree."
Duan Yu said nothing, just took the bag, bowed slightly, and turned away.
He walked toward their shack when he noticed—the door was open.
His heart skipped.
"Is she?"
He burst through the doorway.
The dim interior was just as he left it—except for one thing.
She was gone.
"Where'd she go?" , "Sis?" his heart tightened as he turned to the door to look for her.
"Ahhhhhh" just as he turned around he saw Duan Yanyan standing there, just outside the door holding onto a bundle of what look like her thorn guzhuang—screaming.
"Xiaoyu! Why did you suddenly turn around? You startled me." she grumbled, "Did you sense that I was about to scare you?" she laugh as she grabs Duan Yu and sits both of them in the bed.
"Where did you go?" He ask
"Oh that, I went back to the outer ring in Wuhen forest, I left something there." she said and hands the bundle she was holding to Duan Yu, "Here, open it."
"This?" Duan Yu asked puzzled.
"I harvested it. Last time I went picking herbs, I lost my basket, so I tore my dress (guzhuang) to store the herbs."
Duan Yu stared at the herbs, then at his sister, then back at the herbs.
And then his brows furrowed.
"You—!" he began, then stopped himself. "Sis, didn't I tell you not to faint outside randomly? Do you even remember what happened that day? They found you soaked and covered in bruises!"
Duan Yanyan scratched her cheek sheepishly. "Ah... yeah, about that—"
"What were you even thinking?" His voice wavered, frustration blending with worry. "And now you sneak out again while you're still sick?! What if something happened? What if you collapsed again and no one was there this time?"
"I didn't collapse, Xiaoyu," she said, smiling faintly. "I was careful."
"You always say that." His jaw clenched. "But I came home and you were gone, and for a moment—" His voice caught. "I thought…"
Duan Yanyan's expression softened. She reached out and tugged his sleeve.
"I'm sorry," she said gently. "I didn't mean to scare you."
He didn't respond right away, gripping the herb bundle like it might vanish. After a long silence, he finally asked, "The bruises… how did you really get them?"
She blinked, just a little too long. "Oh, that? I, uh… slipped down a slope. Tripped over a root, rolled a bit, ha ha." she laughed dryly.
He didn't believe her. Not fully. But he let it go—for now.
"…You're not allowed to go out alone again," he muttered. "At least not until you've fully recovered. Promise me."
She held up two fingers. "I promise."
He sighed deeply, then gently set the herbs down beside the bed. She patted the space beside her, and he sank down, exhausted.
A few beats passed before Duan Yanyan nudged his shoulder.
"Hey," she said, a flicker of excitement lighting her eyes, "You know what these herbs mean?"
Duan Yu raised a brow, skeptical.
"It means I finally have enough saved up," she said proudly, "And I can finally send you to the village school."
He blinked, stunned. "What?"
"You've always wanted to learn, haven't you? Numbers, maps, beast lore. I see how you stare at the old books in the merchant's stall like they're treasure chests. "
"And I also want a beast tamer for a younger brother." she looked at Duan Yu, her eyes twinkling.
He opened his mouth, but no words came out.
"I know you've been working so hard," she continued, her voice warm, "I want you to have something better than this shack and chores and aching bones."
"…But what about you?" he asked quietly.
"I'll be fine," she said. "I'm tougher than I look."
He shook his head. "I can't just leave you here alone."
"You're not leaving me." She smiled. "You're making a future for both of us."
Duan Yu looked at her then, really looked—at the bruises just barely fading, the way her eyes still held the shadow of fever, but also at her quiet strength, the fire that hadn't dimmed even after everything.
"Alright," he said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "But only if you promise to stop scaring me."
"No promises," she winked.
He groaned. "You're impossible."
"But... you still love me, right? My dear little brother." Duan Yanyan said.
"Right," he chuckled, and they both laughed.
He looked at Duan Yanyan and hesitated, unsure how to say it. She worked so hard picking this herbs for me and even injured herself...
"What is it?" Duan Yanyan asked, noticing the look on Duan Yu.
"Actually..." he started and hesitated again. Duan Yanyan nodded her head, urging him to continue.
"The village chief said he'll cover the fee for me to enroll in the village school." he said in one breath and stared at his sister, waiting for her reaction.
Silence.
"Whaaaat?!" Duan Yanyan's mouth fell open.
She blinked rapidly as if trying to process the words.
"Are you serios?" she ask, eyes wide.
Duan Yu nodded slowly, rubbing the back of his neck. "He… said he's been watching me work. That I have 'discipline' or something and that I have talent in handling beasts. He's willing to invest in me, as long as I work under him for five years."
Duan Yanyan stared at him.
Then suddenly, she threw her arms around him.
Duan Yu stiffened—mostly because she still looked fragile and thin and shouldn't be hugging anyone this tightly, but then he relaxed and let out a soft chuckle.
"That's amazing, Xiaoyu," she said, pulling back. Her eyes were bright again. "I mean, it's annoying that I nearly got myself killed trying to pay your tuition, but hey, I guess that's just older sister luck!"
He laughed quietly. "You're still going to keep those herbs though, right?"
"Of course, I'll sell them and earn lots of money to feed you so you can grow taller." she grinned.
Duan Yu smiled, but there was a quiet resolve behind it now.
"I'll make it worth it," he said. "For you. For both of us."
"I know you will," she replied, brushing a strand of hair from his face. "You're already more grown-up than half the elders here."
"Don't say that," he groaned.
"Why not? It's true." She nudged him teasingly. "My little beast-tamer in training."
He rolled his eyes but didn't argue. For once, he didn't feel the weight of everything pressing quite so hard on his shoulders.