Seven

By a waterfall, Shui was practising his martial arts as he usually did, but to an outsider, the series of fluid movements seemed more like a dance. In his view, the best martial technique should be without obvious movements. Prior to striking, none should be able to tell what would be coming next. Every move, no matter how minor, should lead up to the next. That's why when he did his practice it seemed like a dance as every motion was beautifully connected.

After constant training, Shui was confident that he had nearly mastered everything there was to mortal martial arts, but there still seemed to be something major lacking. This self-evaluation might be seen as arrogance by others, but Shui believed that with his current skill he would be able to defeat, or at least tie with the instructor of the other children, not that that chance would come.

At the age of seven, there were already a few girls in the clan who blushed when he walked by. Even the bandages on his face were admired and seen as a fashion statement. The clan was big enough for there to be couples formed within it, but most of the young generation hoped to find 'fish' outside of their local sea, still, some of the girls wouldn't mind taking care of an adorable boy like him. However, the competition was tough.

"Shui!"

"Ugh!"

Just as he was returning to his house, Shui heard a familiar voice calling from behind. There were times when he tried to ignore her and run away, but it always ended in his loss.

"Did you just finish your training?"

"Uh, yeah. What about you?"

"Oh, we're done for the day but we're supposed to practise at home, bleh."

Now that she was seven, Kate started learning the clan's main cultivation method, 'Azure Cloud' and with it she already took the first step into cultivation, reaching the first level in the Mortal Realm. The following realm, the Soul Realm, was what elite cultivators considered to be the first step, but the Patriarch was merely in the Earth Realm so their standards were different.

Nonetheless, Kate was considered an important talent and so she was encouraged to spend more time cultivating. However, Kate would always make Shui her priority .

"I see, but you should still do it. You have to make Aunt Lilia proud."

"Yeah, yeah, I know."

On one side, Shui was being honest but he was also hoping Kate would leave him alone. Just less than a year ago, he still loved this big sis of his, but now he was hoping they would spend more time apart.

He remembered what happened on his seventh birthday.

...

Suiri's body was getting weaker and weaker so Lilia helped Shui with the housework whenever possible. Lilia had asked Suiri to stay at her house with Shui, but she refused with the reason that she didn't want to be a burden.

On this birthday, Shui, Suiri, Kate and Lilia were gathered in the shack around a table of food. Suiri was sick but her store was still doing well and would send whatever she needed as long as she sent a request. Once they were finished eating, it was time for presents.

From Lilia's husband, Uncle Bartos, Shui got a knife. Suiri didn't really like the fact that her little boy was getting a knife as present, but his intrigued expression won her over.

Lilia gave him a new pair of shoes, which he was grateful for since his pair were getting worn out.

Kate kissed him on the cheek as the two adults watched them with smirks on their faces. Of course, Shui wasn't satisfied with that as an present, but Kate said he was too greedy.

And finally, his mother gave him,

"This is a joke, right?"

"Nope. I made it myself."

"But Mom, isn't it inappropriate?"

"Why do you say that?"

"Well, because,"

He looked at the red apparel that she had.

"It's a dress."

"I know."

From his mother's eyes, he knew she was serious. Naturally, Shui continued to refuse but the moment Suiri played a certain card, he surrendered.

"I've always wanted to dress up my daughter. I know it's your birthday, but could you please grant your mother this wish."

Though Shui looked at Lilia and Kate for backup against this shameless mother of his, they were both interested in seeing him dress up, so he was left with no alternative.

The dress fit him quite well, too well. It was so good, Suiri almost wondered if her child really had a third leg despite having washed it herself.

"This is, good."

Lilia had to give praise to the beauty that was in front of them, even though it brought more shame to Shui. He wanted to take off the dress as soon as possible, but they wouldn't let him. Almost accepting his fate, he bit his lips and turned his head to the right as they watched him.

"Oh, this is..."

"A bit too good."

Even Kate had to admit. This lil' brother of hers might be better as a lil' sis! When he turned his head and made that expression, all three of their hearts beat faster and a dangerous fire was almost lit in them. If the bandages weren't there, it might have been worse.

"Suiri, are you sure this is a boy?"

"What are you talking about Lilia? You were there too."

"I know but, it's just too good."

"Yeah, we definitely can't let a man see him like this."

"Agreed."

His mother and aunt's conversation was reaching weirder places but he could ignore that. However, this incident didn't end there. Soon after, Kate also came to him with a dress in hand.

"Um, what is that for?"

"It's for you to wear, of course."

"Huh? Why?"

"Because it's cute."

"What, no no no! No way!"

"Why not?"

She innocently asked why a boy didn't want to wear a dress and he was about to ignore her and walk away but she took his arm and pushed him to a wall. After she slammed her hand beside his head and stared at him like a predator, he shivered.

"No, please."

"Just wear it. You can show it to Aunt Suiri later. Just for us. You'll do it, won't you."

Unknown to Shui, his crossdressing had awoken something very dangerous inside her.

Recalling that incident, Shui tried to stay as far from her as possible. Luckily, once she quickly reached the first level in the Mortal Realm, the adults started putting more pressure on her so she didn't have as much free time to bother him. Additionally, it wasn't only the adults that stopped her from bothering him.

"Kate, Shui."

"Nathan."

"What were you two talking about?"

"Nothing. What do you want?"

Recently, to Shui, Suiri and her family, she was still a strange but lively girl, but to everyone else, she put on a haughty facade, and at least when it came to Nathan, Shui had to agree with her attitude. Though the boy hadn't shown his claws yet, Shui instinctively knew that he was trouble.

"It's just that the instructor was looking for you."

"Hmm, later Shui."

"Yeah."

Kate walked away, leaving Shui with Nathan. After she left, Nathan sent a sharp glare at Shui, who easily ignored it.