577: The eldest brother is like a father, and he is also a father!

After leaving his master, Mu Li headed back to his residence.

Although he was his master's disciple, he couldn't stay there forever; he had to return to his own place to cultivate.

Moreover, he had received such a wonderful treasure from his master today that he was in an excellent mood, and even the air seemed much sweeter.

His two senior sisters also treated him well; his life could be described as smooth sailing.

Just as he was about to reach his cave dwelling, Mu Li spotted a familiar figure.

His brow furrowed instantly. "Why are you here?"

To be honest, he knew exactly what kind of character his younger brother had.

The boy knew nothing but how to cause trouble all day, so Mu Li wasn't particularly keen on seeing him.

However, he was his only remaining relative, after all. If there were things he could handle, he couldn't truly sit back and do nothing.

"Hi, Big Brother." At that moment, Chen De noticed his return and waved at Mu Li. "You're finally back. I've been waiting for ages."

"Tell me, what trouble have you caused this time?"

"Or is there someone else you want to introduce to me?"

Regarding his younger brother, Mu Li knew well that he never visited without a reason.

Thus, he spoke bluntly, laying out all the possible reasons for this visit.

"No, no!"

Hearing this, Chen De quickly waved his hands. "Big Brother, I've turned over a new leaf. I'm not here to cause trouble this time. It's just that we haven't seen each other in so long, and I really missed you."

"Really?" Mu Li asked in return. To be honest, he didn't believe for a second that his brother had changed his nature.

On the contrary, this kind of emotional opening made it more likely that he was in deep trouble.

Mu Li said mercilessly, "You'd better just say it. There's no need for this. If I can't solve it, no amount of acting will help. You do nothing but cause trouble every single day."

"Big Brother!"

Unexpectedly, upon hearing Mu Li's words, Chen De's face flushed red with indignation. "I've really changed. I'm not here because I need something. It's just that I used to be such a bastard. If it weren't for you, I'm afraid I would have died countless times already."

"I came today just to say one thing to you personally—thank you!"

"An elder brother is like a father!"

With that, Chen De knelt directly before Mu Li and kowtowed three times with loud thuds.

"Big Brother!"

"You aren't just my elder brother; you are my father, my very own father!"

Ordinarily, most people would find such words cheesy or even excessive.

But coming from Chen De's mouth, they didn't feel that way. Instead, they carried a strange persuasive power that allowed one to feel his sincerity firsthand.

Consequently, Mu Li was moved. He felt it truly and deeply.

That's right.

The person before him was his only relative, his own flesh and blood.

Their entire family had been wiped out when they were young, leaving them orphaned, and the two brothers had supported each other all along the way.

Now that he had become successful, what was wrong with helping his brother? Wasn't that only natural?

"Brother, what are you doing? Get up quickly." Thinking of this, Mu Li hurried forward to help Chen De up. "It was my fault. It's only right for an elder brother to stand up for his younger brother."

"Even sworn brothers can do as much, let alone us, who are blood brothers."

Then, gritting his teeth, he took out thirty percent of the resources his master had given him and pressed them into Chen De's hands.

"Brother, take this. Consider it an apology from me."

"Big Brother, I can't accept this." Chen De hurried to push them back, saying seriously, "You are at a critical moment in your cultivation and need resources the most. My talent is only so-so; our family's future depends on you."

"Brother!"

Hearing this, Mu Li was even more moved. The slight pang of regret he had felt earlier vanished completely.

Steeling his heart, he added another twenty percent of the resources. "Brother, take it. This is a token of my affection."

"No, no, I can't take it." Chen De continued to refuse.

"I said take it, so take it!" Mu Li suddenly turned stern. "If you don't accept these resources today, then don't acknowledge me as your brother anymore!"

"Big Brother, don't be angry." Hearing Mu Li say this, Chen De was startled. "I... I'll take them."

Seeing his brother accept the resources, Mu Li's expression softened. "Good. You truly are my good brother."

"If I give them to you, just take them. Why be so polite with family?"

He then took Chen De's hand. "Why are we standing outside? Come! Let's go inside, sit down, and catch up properly."

"Speaking of which, it's been a long time since we've had a good chat."

"I'll prepare some food and wine today, and we brothers shall drink our fill!"

Arriving at the entrance of the cave dwelling, he took out his command token and the opening imprint.

As the door opened and Mu Li was about to lead Chen De inside, he suddenly stopped.

As if thinking of something, he then tapped an imprint onto Chen De and integrated a wisp of his aura into the cave dwelling's formation.

"Brother, from now on, you can come and go from my cave dwelling as you please. There is no distinction between us brothers."

"Thank you, Big Brother!" Chen De was overcome with emotion and was about to kneel and kowtow again on the spot.

This time, Mu Li stopped him just in time. "We are brothers; there's no need for this."

"Furthermore, since we are brothers, from now on, you are not allowed to kneel to me or kowtow at will. Do you hear me?"

"I hear you, Big Brother." Chen De wiped a tear from his face and sobbed, "I'm just... so moved."

Seeing his brother like this, especially that look of pure gratitude, it was a genuine outpouring of emotion.

This caused a hint of guilt to rise in Mu Li's heart; he really hadn't looked after his brother enough.

He had only done what an elder brother should do, yet his brother was moved to this extent.

"Let's go." He could only make up for it slowly in the future.

He then pulled Chen De's hand and walked into the cave dwelling.

However, what Mu Li didn't notice was that in the eyes Chen De used to look at him, besides gratitude, there was also a hint of something inexplicable.

Big Brother, if I get the chance, I will definitely show you my filial piety.

After all, an elder brother is like a father, and still a father!

At the same time, what Mu Li failed to notice even more was an incredibly thin black line at the back of his head that was constantly burrowing inward.

Even the protective jade pendant given to him by his master, Snow Clear, the Master of Tianyou Pavilion, seemed to have lost its effectiveness at this moment.

"Big Brother, you're so good to me!"

"We're blood brothers, don't mention it!"

"Today, we drink until we drop!"

"Alright, until we drop!"

"Let's see who can hold their liquor better."

The sounds of the two talking and laughing drifted out from within, their tones full of joy, ease, and familial harmony.

As the figures of Chen De and Mu Li gradually disappeared behind the entrance and the cave door shut automatically, the voices vanished completely.