Night of the Broken Gliph

It was a quiet night. 

Chui Yim woke up slowly. 

The dining table next to him was tidied up and Lam Ming was sound asleep, covered in a blanket and curled up like a shrimp. Lam Ming still looked terrified and helpless, even while sleeping. 

Such a timid cat. But the bigger joke is that I needed him to comfort me. Chui Yin sneered. During my past life, forging was the only thing I ever cared about. I didn’t have much experience regarding human relationships; thus, I was reluctant to part with Chui Tin. But that’s it. I’m an adult in reality despite my ten-year-old appearance, after all. 

It’s definitely hard to part, but I won’t dwell on it too much. I will continue on my path no matter what. 

As usual, Chui Yim headed to the school sports hall to conduct his daily strenuous activities and cultivate his Nine Levels Of Heaven’s Flame after he finished replenishing his energy. 

When he returned to the room, Lam Ming was already awake and making breakfast. “When are we leaving?” Chui Yim’s lazy voice rang across the room. Felt adding this would make the transition smoother. 

Hearing him, Lam Ming subconsciously heaved a sigh of relief. He would rather have this Chui Yim than the dead and absentminded version. 

“Leaving?”

“Aren’t we visiting your home today? Since you said that your mum is a fantastic chef, I’m going there to taste-test. Let me tell you in advance; I won’t be courteous.” 

 “I won’t let you off if you dare to be courteous with me!” Lam Ming laughed, making Chui Yim break into a smile as the sunlight shone onto his head, making him too bright to be looked at.

“Mr Chor!” 

Chor Shing Chit opened the door slowly. 

Chui Yim was slightly surprised to see Chor Shing Chit when he opened the door. He might look as peaceful as he always was, but Chui Yim could clearly feel the energy around him. To him, Chor Shing Chit looked like a beast who had just woken up and was ready to bite. 

Feeling Chui Yim’s weird gaze, Chor Shing Chit’s eyes changed, and the energy disappeared in no time as if it was just his fantasy. “I was practising my cultivation technique previously, so my aura was slightly unstable. What’s the matter?” 

“Mr Chor, my father has abandoned me at this academy, so I’ll have to trouble Mr Chor for the next two years.” Chui Yim smiled innocently, making use of his cute ten-year-old face. 

“Your father is such a nice person; why would he do such a thing?” Chor Shing Chit frowned.

“But that is the truth.” Chui Yim shrugged irresponsibly. “In short, if anything happens in the future, remember to protect me, alright, Mr Chor?” With that, Chui Yim waved to Chor Shing Chit and ran off. One who didn’t know Chui Yim might think that he was an innocent child. 

Chor Shing Chit closed the door in confusion and frowned. Why does it feel like I’ve been sold?

Chui Yim and Lam Ming were leaving the academy. “Aren’t you just making a trip home? You look like you’re never coming back to school!” Chui Yim said, his jaw-dropping at the huge bag on Lam Ming’s back.

“This is called being frugal!” Lam Ming huffed. “We have some spare ingredients, so why not bring them home to eat? They will be spoiled by the time we return tomorrow! Oh, could it be that brother Chui misses the pig heart porridge from years ago?” 

Hearing him, Chui Yim shut his mouth immediately. Be it this life of his past life, there had always been a saying that one should never offend their chef, or you wouldn’t even know how you died. 

“Where’s your house?” Chui Yim asked, confused as he and Lam Ming walked towards the city gate.

“It’s West of Southary, thirty minutes from Borneon.” 

Chui Yim couldn’t believe his ears. “It takes three hours by foot from the academy to Borneon, right?” He looked up to the sky. It will be night by the time we reach Lam Ming’s house!

“Yeah, what’s wrong? I planned to rush back before midnight after we have dinner.” 

“That’s very wrong!” Chui Yim grieved. “Lam Ming, I know you are still young, and you have a lot of time to spare, but you must know that time is money! Do you know how many silver taels you are wasting by travelling between the academy and your home?” 

“How am I wasting silver taels?” The word silver taels made Lam Ming open his mouth wide.

“Think about it, how much energliph would you have cultivated if you used this time to cultivate instead? If you used it to research cooking, you even have come up with a new dish! Do you know how many dishes you could create this weekend!” Chui Yim shook his head. “Do you understand?” 

“Then what should I do?” Lam Ming blurted out; he was at a loss after hearing Chui Yim.