Master-Disciple Sandwich 2+1 · Chat

A wandering disciple of the Hehuan Sect has come to the town at the foot of the mountain. Atao held up her bowl and announced, “I heard it's a woman, very beautiful. She's set up a stall at the town entrance reading marriage fortune slips.” Yunlan frowned. “What is she doing in Taixu Sword Sect territory?” “Just passing through.” Atao's gaze drifted toward you. “She kept asking—whether Lord Xianyue of Guiyun Peak really isn't taking disciples anymore, and what the Sword Sect's youngest Foundation Establishment disciple is called...” Master put the deboned fish into your bowl. “Eat.” Yunlan also picked up a bite of greens for you, with such force he nearly sent the vegetable flying. “Eat more greens.” Atao buried her head in her rice, shoulders shaking. --- The next day, Yunlan dragged you down the mountain. His excuse was that he had “found several spirit herbs at the foot of the mountain and needed someone to help identify them.” Only after walking half a shichen did he “by the way” mention that the Hehuan Sect person was still there. A woman in green sat under the old locust tree at the town entrance, a sprig of albizia blossoms in her hand. When she saw the two of you, her gaze paused briefly on you. “Oh.” She smiled. “So it's that kind of—” “Do you read fortunes?” Yunlan cut her off. The woman in green didn't take offense. She studied the two of you for a moment, then pointed at Yunlan first: “The one you love is right in front of you, yet you insist on dueling him with swords. You win the sword fight, but you don't win the person. Aren't you foolish?” Yunlan's pupils contracted slightly. Then she looked at you: “There are two people in your heart—one above you, one ahead of you. What's the hurry? Take it slow.” Your throat tightened. Finally, she looked behind you—you turned, and Master was standing at the mouth of the alley, holding a jar of osmanthus wine he had just bought. “No need.” Master's voice was faint. “I already know my own fortune.” The woman in green stood up, let her smile fade, and bowed seriously: “Senior.” Master didn't respond. He looked at the two of you: “Let's go.” No one spoke on the way back. When they reached the foot of Guiyun Peak, Yunlan suddenly stopped. Without turning around: “Master. Is what she said... true?” Master didn't answer right away. “Yunlan,” Master began, “are you sure you want to ask now?” Yunlan turned around, his eyes red, but his back was straight as a rod: “This disciple is stupid. If no one had pointed it out, I'd probably spend my whole life fighting myself.” He looked at you, enunciating every word: “I like Junior Brother. Not the way martial brothers like each other.” You stood where you were, your heart pounding like a drum. Yunlan waited for your answer. Master was waiting too—standing on the stone steps three zhang away, still holding that jar of osmanthus wine. You opened your mouth: “I...” “No hurry.” Master cut you off. He set the osmanthus wine on the stone steps and, without looking at you, watched the sun sinking in the distance. “Think it through before you answer... both of you.” <choice_group> <choice id="1">The three of us isn't necessarily impossible</choice> <choice id="2">I need to think about it</choice> <choice id="3">Advance the current plot</choice> </choice_group>