"You seven, follow me," Jun Wu Yi's voice was calm but firm as he began moving his wheelchair forward. His sharp gaze swept over the Dugu brothers, each of whom straightened their backs like soldiers responding to a command.
"Let me see what that old fool Dugu Wudi has actually taught you."
The moment those words fell, the seven brothers' eyes lit up like lanterns.
"Is he—?"
"Could it be—?"
"Is Uncle Jun finally going to teach us something?!"
Excitement bubbled up among them like boiling water in a pot. These were battle-hardened warriors, but at this moment, they looked like little children being invited to learn a secret martial art technique.
One of the brothers, moving with lightning speed, rushed behind Jun Wu Yi's wheelchair. With exaggerated care, he gently placed both hands on the handles, treating the wheelchair like the most fragile treasure in the world.
"Easy… easy… slow and steady..." He murmured to himself, pushing the wheelchair with extreme caution.
If there was even a single bump, a tiny jerk, even the slightest bit of discomfort—then he would have failed his mission!
And so, like a holy guardian escorting a celestial emperor, he pushed Jun Wu Yi forward with the smoothness of a flowing river.
The other six Dugu brothers followed behind with serious expressions, as if they were on an important military mission.
Not a single one of them realized something crucial.
They had just left their little sister alone with Jun Mo Xie.
They had forgotten everything.
Forgotten their reason for coming. Forgotten their promise to their father. Forgotten their duty as overprotective older brothers.
Meanwhile, in the now strangely silent courtyard, Jun Mo Xie leaned back lazily, watching the retreating figures with an amused smirk.
Next to him, Dugu Xiao Yi stood frozen, blinking in confusion.
One second ago, she had seven overbearing, annoying, overly protective brothers breathing down her neck.
And now, they were gone.
Just like that, she blinked again.
Jun Mo Xie slowly turned his head toward her, his smirk widening.
"Well, well, well… looks like it's just the two of us now, Little Miss Dugu."
Dugu Xiao Yi suddenly felt a chill crawl up her spine. 'Why… why did she feel like she had just fallen into a trap?'
Jun Mo Xie leaned back slightly, his smirk teasing as he spoke, "Miss Dugu, I still remember that I owe you one from the other day."
At those words, Dugu Xiao Yi's pout deepened, her cheeks puffing out like a little squirrel hoarding food. All the questions and doubts in her mind vanished in an instant.
"Hmph! You're a bad guy!" She stomped her foot slightly, her voice carrying a hint of grievance. "You tricked that lump of metal away from me! So now you owe me a knife!"
She folded her arms across her chest and gave him a firm look, but her big, round eyes sparkled with excitement.
After a brief pause, she added, her tone filled with genuine indignation, "If the knife isn't good enough and I'm not happy with it, then it won't count!"
Even though she tried her best to act angry, her face betrayed her. A faint pink hue spread across her cheeks, and she kept sneaking little glances at Jun Mo Xie.
After all, this would be the first time a boy had ever given her a gift.
But at the same time, she was a little nervous.
'What if he was just teasing her? What if he didn't actually give her one?'
Jun Mo Xie chuckled at her reaction, his eyes flashing with amusement. "Then I must make sure that the knife I give you is good enough to satisfy you, Miss Dugu."
With that, he stood up and walked into his room.
Dugu Xiao Yi immediately straightened up, her eyes glued to the doorway.
'Would he really…? Was he actually going to…?'
Before she could complete her thoughts, Jun Mo Xie returned swiftly, holding something in his hands.
A knife.
But it wasn't just any knife.
The sheath was elegantly curved, smooth like flowing water, and the material was so refined that it seemed weightless in his hands.
The design was simple yet exquisite, understated yet captivating.
Even at a glance, one could tell that this was no ordinary weapon.
Dugu Xiao Yi's eyes widened like full moons.
"W-Wow…"
She instantly fell in love with it.
Her eyes darted from the knife to Jun Mo Xie, then back to the knife again. Her fingers twitched slightly, itching to hold it.
Jun Mo Xie noticed her impatient expression and smirked, taking his time as he slowly pulled the knife from its sheath.
Shing!
The blade slid out like a whisper in the wind.
A pool of light reflected from its razor-sharp surface, giving the illusion of a flowing river of silver, unrestrained and infinite, cutting through the vastness of the universe.
For a moment, it looked as though the blade was alive, breathing, pulsing with power.
The light danced along its edges, creating a mesmerizing glow, as though the weapon had a will of its own.
It was beautiful yet deadly.
Dugu Xiao Yi was completely entranced. She stared at the blade, completely forgetting to breathe.
Jun Mo Xie ran a finger along the blade's edge, his voice calm yet confident. "This is a pocket knife. A hidden weapon, small enough to be concealed within your sleeve."
He twirled the knife effortlessly between his fingers, letting the light reflect in dazzling arcs before flipping it and offering the hilt toward her.
"Since this is the first knife of its kind in Tian Xiang City, I've named it—'The First Knife of Tian Xiang'."
Dugu Xiao Yi gasped softly, her hands flying up to cover her mouth.
"The First Knife of Tian Xiang! That's such a cool name!"
Her gleaming eyes remained locked on the knife, practically begging for him to hand it over. She shuffled forward slightly, her fingers twitching again, her entire body radiating excitement.
'Just give it to me already!'
But Jun Mo Xie simply smirked and twirled the knife once more in his hand.
"Do you like it?" His tone was deliberately slow, teasing.
Dugu Xiao Yi nodded furiously, her ponytail bouncing with the motion.
"Yes! Yes! I love it! Give it to me!"
She reached out, but Jun Mo Xie took a step back.
"Eh?" Dugu Xiao Yi blinked, momentarily confused.
Jun Mo Xie raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in his eyes. "Miss Dugu, I don't recall saying I was giving it to you just yet."
Dugu Xiao Yi's mouth dropped open in shock.
"W-What?! But— but you said—"
Jun Mo Xie chuckled, holding the knife just out of her reach. "I said I owe you a knife. But I never said when I'd give it to you."
Dugu Xiao Yi felt like crying.
"You—! You big bully! Jun Mo Xie, you're horrible!"
She lunged forward to grab the knife, but Jun Mo Xie swiftly dodged, laughing as he kept it away from her grasp.
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
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