“So late, little brother Hui?” Mei trilled playfully, backing out the door with a large plate in her hands. “Today, I managed to sneak some extra chicke—Little brother Hui!” Startled, she dropped the plate.

Hui lunged and caught the plate. He smiled up at her. “Elder sister Mei, I got a little beat up today.”

“A little? I thought you were a ghoul at first glance! Look at you, all coated in blood.” She tutted and shook her head. “Here, sit down, sit down. Eat. Let me fix you up, and tell big sis all about it.”

“Thank you, big sis Mei,” Hui said, letting out a tired sigh. He sank down on the stairs and leaned over his plate, scarfing up the generous portion of chicken atop today’s congee.

Mei leaned over him. Delicate fingers felt along his scalp. Hui winced. “Sis Mei…”

“Right there?” She hovered a hand over his head. Warm energy flowed into his skin, knitting his scalp shut. His skin prickled. Sharp needle-like pangs and a low ache sank in alongside the energy.

Hui flinched away, frowning. “It hurts.”

“Oh, don’t be a baby. It doesn’t hurt that much,” she said, shaking her head.

“I don’t like pain,” he whined, scooping up more congee.

“Mmm-hmm. Now, now.” She grabbed his chin and turned his face toward her. Before he could escape her grasp, she gripped his nose and snapped it back into place.

“Ow!” Hui yelped.

“If you don’t like pain, you shouldn’t get beaten up in the first place,” Mei advised. She pressed her hand over his nose. The warm energy flowed again, joined by the prickling ache.

Hui scowled, then held his face still when the expression made his nose hurt worse. “Owowow—”

“There, good as new. How come you weren’t whining until you came to me, huh?” Mei asked, lifting her hand.

He caught her hand and smiled. “Because there wasn’t a pretty girl to hear my sorrows.”

She swatted his head. “You scoundrel!”

“Owww, big sis Mei…” Wounded, Hui held his head, then smiled.

“Are you sure you’ll be fine going back up the mountain tonight? I have an extra bed in my room,” Mei offered.

Hui stood. He stumbled a little, but caught himself on the door post. Smiling, he thumped his chest. “Now that I’ve had elder sister Mei’s congee, I’m good to go! I’ll be fine.”

“Alright. Don’t make me worry about you, okay?”

“Mm!” Hui nodded and jogged away.

Out of sight of the kitchen, he slowed to a walk and leaned against a tree to catch his breath. Maybe I pushed myself a little too hard setting up that trap. I need to rest.

He walked on. Night passed, the moon lighting his way in pale silver. Something howled in the forest, the same something he’d heard all those years ago. He lifted his head to stare after it, tired, then let his head droop and slogged on. Ah, if you kill me now, I think I’ll just laugh.

One foot in front of the other. With every step, his feet grew heavier. Hui pressed on. Sweat broke out on his forehead. He wiped it away. Heat pressed against the back of his hand. A fever? Damn. Figures.

The hut rose before him at last. He pushed on. One step. Another. He lifted his leg again. His toe caught against a root, and he toppled to the ground. He reached for the hut. His arm trembled. I should’ve stayed with Mei.

Don’t tell me, is this where I die? What a stupid way to go.

Darkness. A sickly heat that burrowed into his head and stomach. Hui shifted, restless. Something damp slid off his forehead. He shook his head, then grimaced. Hurts, hurts!

Water at his lips. He opened his mouth, then coughed, choking on it. Hui forced his eyes open, but couldn’t make anything more than a vague figure out. Too blurry. Can’t focus. “M…Mei?”

Hot porridge at his lips. He sipped at it, then choked. Ugh! Tastes burnt and bitter. “Sis Mei, ‘s… bad.”

Silence. The figure stood. Alone in the room once more, Hui fell back into a fitful sleep. In his dreams, qi rushed into him. Pouring into his dantian, too much for him to hold. His dantian strained, nearly breaking. He desperately circulated the energy, but no matter how fast he circulated it, it wasn’t enough. Qi rushed through his body recklessly, worsening the injuries he already bore. Ah… No qi, then too much qi. If it isn’t one thing, it’s another!

A cool hand on his forehead. External energy guided the qi through his body. The flow quieted, restricted back to a flow he could handle. Hui leaned into it. “Sis Mei, feels good.”

No answer.

Savory steam met his nose. Hui twitched. Elder sister Mei’s congee! I’d know that scent anywhere! He struggled to sit upright, reaching out.

His hand found a spoon. Pulling it closer, he sipped it, then laid back, satisfied. Much better than whatever that other stuff was. Eagerly, he awaited another bite.

The next spoonful was cold and bitter. Hui bucked up, but before he could spit it out, a hand clamped over his mouth, forcing him to swallow. He shook his head, displeased. “S-sis, w…what?”

“Medicine,” a low voice replied.

Furrowing his brows, Hui shifted. That’s not Sis Mei. He struggled to open his eyes.

A hand over his eyes. “Sleep.”

Helpless to resist, Hui drifted back asleep. As he fell asleep, a satisfied smile stretched over his face. Old memories replayed in his head, of lying on a bare apartment floor. Of dragging himself to the sink for water, so weak he could barely lap it up, eating moldy bread because it was all that laid in reach, then vomiting it all up again. I’ve never had someone take care of me while I was sick before. I’m so glad I was reborn.