In the south, snow became a rare sight even in the winter months. Reling's weather was mild and matched Muguan Province for warmth with only half of its humidity. The climate had always been one of Yuan Xuelan's favorite things.
Reling, a city built upon the very center of a network of roads was rich in too many ways to count. The coastal town was only a day by horse away and Reling was cradled by a mountain ripe with medicinal herbs found exclusively in the area with a fat abundance of spiritual power. With the economy booming and spiritual energy plentiful, there was no doubt why the Ascending Dawn Sect that sat front and center in the city was counted among the top of the cultivation sects. Unlike many other towns and villages that hung close to sect manors but had little connection with the cultivation world, Reling was a city that held a much closer relationship between cultivators and normal citizens.
New Years' celebrations were upon them and the streets were alive with color and music. But Yuan Xuelan was not so easily convinced, especially not when people greeted them with stiff smiles and laughter much too loud to be comfortable.
Even from afar, Yuan Xuelan was able to tell how dense the spiritual energy was gather at the mansion and he could already feel a headache starting to form, as he strolled the lively streets with Chen Anyue and her handmaids. "Aren't they being a little too obvious?"
Chen Anyue looked up and mused, "I'm sure father knows that he's doing."
Yuan Xuelan kept his mouth shut.
The Ascending Dawn's mansion was a gold gilded masterpiece and dripped with exuberant wealth. When he was a child, Yuan Xuelan could only imagine a wondrous palace as such and never dreamed of stepping foot within. Who knew he would eventually call this golden mansion his home?
And yet he couldn't help but feel as though he'd left his heart somewhere along the road, atop snowy mountains and frozen ponds.
They met Chen Gaoyong in the Grand Hall where he descended from a golden throne fit for a king. "My beautiful daughter, welcome home!" His voice boomed, arms outstretched to embrace Chen Anyue.
Anyue giggled and greeted her father, who spun her around as if she was a mere child and not a fully-grown woman. "Have you been well, my darling daughter? Have you been sleeping well? How about food? Fumao always boasts about the food at his manor but I couldn't help but worry…your father worried about you every night!"
"I'm fine father," she peeled herself away from his embrace and gave a respectful bow. "I had A-Zhang and my handmaids with me. I was well taken care of by the Liu Clan, truly there is nothing to worry about."
It was only then that Chen Gaoyong seemed to remember the boy that stood behind Chen Anyue. "Oh. You sure have grown, my boy."
Yuan Xuelan bowed low, "Greetings, Sect Leader Chen."
The Ascending Dawn Sect Leader smiled at him, "Have you been comfortable away from home?" To this boy that he raised, his voice was much more reserved compared to the one he used with his daughter.
"I'm well." He kept his head lowered, "Wangyun Peak wasn't as bad as I expected it to be. The cook they have is very skilled but I definitely missed the taste of home."
Chen Gaoyong made a pleased hum, "I see, I see." He stroked a horsewhip and had the servants bring Chen Anyue a thicker seat before taking his spot back at the head of the hall. "And what of the Liu boy? What do you think of him, my dear daughter?"
Anyue's cheeks colored rose and Yuan Xuelan was trying as hard as he could to banish the evil thoughts about the Ivory Sword Saint from his mind, to no avail. "He is…a fine man." Chen Anyue coughed shyly into her sleeve. "I…quite like him."
It was difficult to tell if Chen Gaoyong's smile was one of approval or sadness. He nodded, "Good, good. I'm glad the match is suitable for my dearest daughter. It's a pity that the timing isn't right. I will not have my one daughter marry at such an unfortunate time. But worry not! Even if the wedding is postponed, your Father will secure the marriage for you! No one else will have the Ivory Sword Saint."
Chen Anyue kept her head in bowed respect, "Thank you, Father. It is truly an unfortunate time. But let's not think about that with New Years upon us."
Chen Gaoyong's gloomy countenance instantly lit up at the sound of his daughter's voice. "Oh. You're right! We mustn't get too caught up in despair. Let's enjoy the festivities! Yes, my lovely daughter is right."
"..." Yuan Xuelan choked down his thoughts. His respect for Chen Gaoyong was holding him back from any rude words. This man had given him everything when he had nothing and raised him like his own, so Yuan Xuelan treated him no differently than he would the father he never knew.
Footsteps approached the hall, loud and thunderous, revealing a tall and charming young man. "My, if it isn't the Princess! So our Princess has returned." And while he wore the same shade of deep blue as the rest of them, instead of crimson accents, his robes were accented with gold. The way he smiled was akin to a weasel and he didn't bother giving Yuan Xuelan a single glance.
Chen Anyue smiled at him and bowed, "Greetings, Dage."
He strolled up to her and nudged her arm, "Why are you being so formal to me, pretty Princess? Surely, you couldn't have been gone for so long that you'd forgotten how to talk to your Dage!"
Chen Anyue was not disturbed by his actions and didn't react even when he draped an arm over her shoulder, "Of course not. I'm happy to see that you are well."
"And yet you're so cold to me!" He sighed and leaned into her shoulder.
She giggled at his antics and shoved him off, "You always think I'm cold to you."
"Yes well, you're nicer to Chen Jiang and to him."
For the first time, Chen Anyue smile stiffened and she gave her older brother a little flick in the cheek, "His name is Yuan Xuelan. And you're the oldest so of course I'm not going to baby you."
"Ow," Chen Leike grumbled as he rubbed his cheek and pulled her closer to him by the arm, "How dare you hurt me? You're such a rude spoiled little sister. It's a wonder how you even got yourself a fiance!"
Yuan Xuelan clicked his teeth and crossed his arm. His impatience was already growing thick. He cared little about Chen Leike's personal coldness towards him, but he could never stand the way the eldest Chen brother acted toward his Shijie.
Watching their interactions always made his stomach sick in the strangest of ways. He couldn't understand how Chen Anyue found such an old brother tolerable. Not to mention, their father, who dotted on Chen Anyue as though she was no more than a delicate flower was not bothered by this behavior at all.
Yuan Xuelan might have owed his life to Chen Anyue and Chen Gaoyong, but it'd be a lied if he said such sentiments extended to the rest of the Chen clan.
"Oh, if it isn't Chen Anyue." The last of the Chen children strolled into the hall. Cheng Jiang was of shorter stature than his older brother, with a height barely taller than Anyue. His eyes were more narrowed and when he smiled it never seemed sincere. Yuan Xuelan didn't like him either.
But Chen Anyue's smile was bright. "Er-ge!" She greeted him with a cheerful voice and beckoned him over. Chen Jiang rolled his eyes but strode to her anyway. "Aren't you looking a little skinny? If I'm not around to feed you, don't tell me you just forget to eat?"
Chen Jiang narrowed his eyes at her, "And you're as ugly as always, aren't you? Hm, so what happened to the wedding? Did your husband-to-be not want you after all? I guess we'll have to beat him up."
"..." If the eldest Chen brother was deplorable in his actions then Chen Jiang was as bad with his words. Still, Yuan Xuelan could at least tolerate the second son.
"Why does Chen Ju get all the pampering and nice words? Aren't you being unfair to me?" Chen Leike grabbed her arm and swung it around as though she were a doll.
Yuan Xuelan couldn't hold himself back anymore, "Stop that already! She's not a damned child, will you not treat her like a woman?"
The three siblings froze and gazed upon him. Even Chen Gaoyong was looking at Yuan Xuelan. It wasn't like he was the type to be easily embarrassed or anything but anyone else would see something wrong with this scene. But Chen Jiang looked upon him coldly and said, "It's just innocent teasing between brother and sister. Why do you have to make it twisted?"
"Tell me that the way he's crawling all over her is a normal thing for a big brother to do."
"...A-Zhang." Chen Anyue's voice was not quite like it was scolding but there was a sharp tinge of sorrow, something akin to disappointment. Yuan Xuelan cursed inwardly and wondered why he had to feel like the villain in this situation.
Chen Gaoyong sighed, "Now, now children. Please, let's not fight. This is supposed to be a wonderful occasion of reunion."
Chen Leike just shrugged, as though he wasn't bothered at all by the criticism, "You shouldn't take things so seriously, Yuan Zhang. At least pretend to be happy, won't you?"
As if he could do such a thing. He glared at the oldest Chen brother and said nothing.
"What did I say about fighting?" The Sect Leader sighed.
Chen Leike bowed to his father, "I was hardly fighting, Father. It was merely jesting between brothers."
Chen Jiang was there to back him up, "Yes, you know how Lei-ge is like."
Chen Anyue looked at him with apologetic eyes but Yuan Xuelan was not interested in her pity.
So he said instead, "Yeah. Well. Whatever. I'm done jesting then. You guys continue with your sibling affairs and leave me out of it." He couldn't contain the sneer that came out of his lips and turned around.
"A-Zhang!" Chen Anyue called after him. He didn't look back, knowing well that there was an apology in her eyes. But he wasn't angry at her, only at the annoying fools that hung around her and called themselves her older brothers.
"I'm just going to put my things away." He sighed, trying as he could to calm his voice, "I'll see you around."
He stormed off before any more words could be hurled at him. In the Ascending Dawn mansion, Chen Leike, who was the heir, and Chen Jiang, the Second Young Master, had more authority over Yuan Xuelan who was no better than a guest.
The mansion suddenly felt inexplicable cold, despite the warm climate of Reling that contrasted the biting winters of the north. Yuan Xuelan returned to the place that he knew would welcome him unconditionally.
On the east side of the mansion, across the Seeking Crane Court, was his little sanctuary. The servants stepped aside upon seeing his arrival, knowing that Young Master Yuan did not enjoy his privacy disturbed, even by people who wished only to clean up after him.
"Home sweet home!" He grinned to himself as he flung the sliding door open and stepped inside. Yuan Xuelan's room that he called home for the majority of his life was hardly the most extravagant place in the Ascending Dawn mansion and wasn't even half the size of Chen Anyue's grandiose bedroom. But Yuan Xuelan liked it all the same. It was in a quieter corner of the mansion which allowed him peace when he was busy tinkering with magical tools. Three of the four walls were packed with manuscripts and books. They were placed almost a little too neatly for his tastes, obviously having been moved around and tidied up by servants in his absence.
Yuan Xuelan clicked his tongue but he decided to save the scolding for later. Instead, he took wide strides to his sweet little bed that welcomed him with its soft embrace. He had missed this very bed way more than he thought! Yuan Xuelan smirked to himself and threw his limbs out like an inelegant starfish. If he fell asleep on his sweet old bed, perhaps those haunting dreams would no longer cloud his mind. Finally, he'd be able to have some good rest.
He was almost about to be lulled to sleep, fatigue from traveling finally catching up to his muscle and bones. But a knock startled him. "Who is it?" He called.
"It's me!" A familiar female voice replied, one he hadn't heard in months! Yuan Xuelan leaped off his bed and rushed to his door.
A young lady greeted him on the other side. She smiled and her eyes twinkled like two mischievous stars. "Xuelan," she said in a singsong voice, "Is it okay if I come inside?"
Yuan Xuelan nodded and stepped aside, "Come in, Nan-jie."