Roommate.

As they journeyed from the Academy through the city, the streets became more dirtied and unkept. Since successful cultivators normally lived in the city centres, the governments naturally began to loose focus on the rest of their citizens that lived on the outskirts. Of course, that also lead to an uprising on gang activity in the poorer parts. Mid-level cultivators who couldn't ascend any higher began charging the outer skirts residents a protection fee. Whilst beast attacks within the city walls were almost nonexistent, Oz knew all to well that it could still happen.

With the fear that non-cultivators had, coupled with the fear of the cultivators threatening them, they could only cough up the credits and pay the gangs.

"This neighbourhood is… nice." Xiao seemed to struggle to find the words and and Oz scoffed at him. The east neighbourhood that Oz lived in would be definitely not described as nice. The apartments that lined the roads were blackened by weather and time, hasty repairs that were made left discoloured patches all over the bricks. Broken windows, broken pavements, rubbish bags that lined the roads… yeah, it definitely wasn't a nice place to live.

They reached a large and particularly shabby apartment block before ascending the countless stairs and reaching Oz's door.

"Just travelling home is a workout," Xiao groaned as Oz unlocked the door and they passed over the threshold. "I'm exhausted." Xiao all but collapsed on the old sofa at the corner of the living area.

"Now that we're finally here," Oz grabbed two bottles of water from the fridge and handed one to Xiao before sitting on the armchair to the side. "Do you want to tell me why you need to live here?"

Xiao took the water and began sipping from it slowly as if he needed time to arrange his thoughts before answering.

"I have three elder sisters and four elder brothers - I'm the youngest of the main Wu family." Xiao began saying. "My father has announced his retirement as the head, so now the fight for succession has begun.

I'm the youngest so I've only recently realised who my family are and what is expected of us. We're to fight to become the head and then have to live with worrying about one of our siblings stabbing us in the back and taking over."

"Wow," Oz eyes widened as he listened to Xiao's story. He had thought that being the son in a rich and well known family would be a dream - but instead it sounded like hell. "That's awful."

"All my life, all I've wanted to do was cultivate and surpasses the ranks that we know of. I don't care about succession or wealth, all I want is to become strong."

"But your siblings won't like you becoming stronger as it means there's a threat to their chance at becoming the head." Oz sighed with realisation. "Which is why you decided to leave your family and live here."

"Yup." Xiao said and then downed the rest of his water.

"Will they let you leave so easily?" Oz asked.

"Probably not." Xiao shrugged.

"How can you be so carefree about it?!" Oz scolded and hit Xiao over the head with his water bottle. "I'll only agree to let you stay here as long as my brother and I won't suffer any bad consequences from your family."

"They won't know where I am, don't worry." Xiao brushed it off but then frowned once he glance around the too-small apartment once again. "I'll even pay rent."

"And you will also give me your body tempering tonic." Oz added with a smirk and Xiao's face fell.

"What?! But you lost the bet!" Xiao argued and Oz folded his arms.

"Do you want to stay here or not?" Oz asked and after a moment, Xiao let out a defeated groan.

"Greedy bastard." Xiao pouted and Oz grinned triumphantly.

He did feel a little guilty for using the situation Xiao was in to gain some medicine, but when he held the glass bottle in his hands, the guilt disappeared.

"Welcome home, brother Xiao." Oz grinned brightly and clutched the tonic close to his chest.

"Brother my ass." Xiao grunted. "I'm gonna cultivate for a bit."

"Then I'm gonna going to use the tonic," Oz declared and Xiao glared at him as he made his way to the bathroom. "My brother won't be back until late so feel comfortable."

"Ok." Xiao answered and then added quietly. "Thank you… for letting me stay here. We haven't known each other long, but I feel like I can rely on you."

"Eh?" Oz was startled at the heartfelt comment, a slight blush spreading across his cheeks. "Don't go around say soppy stuff like that! I'm basically stealing from you!"

"Aw, are you feeling a little shy? Do you want to cuddle as well?" Xiao's mouth curved into a wicked smile and he opened his arms in a beckoning gesture.

"Bastard!" Oz shouted as he stormed into the bathroom, slamming the door behind him.

Xiao's laughter echoed through the apartment and Oz couldn't help but find company in his normally empty home a little comforting.

Even if it was that bastard Xiao.