One of his brothers elbowed him which earned a stamp on the foot. "Boys." Nie Yang's voice echoed. They immediately straightened up and Nie Yang stepped out.
His clothes weren't as extravagant as Yi Lian's but they still held an air of significance, almost warrior-like. He was a man in his forties by the looks of it and glaring seemed to be his resting face.
As he approached Yi Lian saluted which he returned. "Sect Leader Yi, it's an honour to meet you. It seems you are rarely available. This must be your first Spirit's Festival as well, don't worry you'll catch up."
Yi Lian offered him a smile, "Your mistaken Sect Leader Nie, I have attended this festival, only it was a long time ago."
Nie Asreal's older brother whispered to Nie Asreal. Nie Yang saw this out of the corner of his eye.
Nie Yang, "Tell me Sect Leader Yi, was this six years ago?"
Six years ago a son of the Yi Sect came of age to participate in the Spirit's Festival. This was the worst Yi Sect had ever done in any Festival ever, bringing great shame on The Sect and Island.
Yi Lian smiled, "Nie Yang, I apologize but you are mistaken again. I participated five years ago."
Nie Yang thought for a moment before inwardly gasping. Five years ago another son of The Yi Sect came of age and joined the event. No one gave much thought to the Sect, thinking it would be like the year before, not hearing much of the new son's appearance.
No one saw much of him. He only came out for the event, hooded too. However, that year was the best for The Yi Sect. The Son took over half of all the winnings by himself whilst the rest of his Sect wiped out another third. They had wanted to congratulate him but he told them he would rather eat with his attendant.
Nie Yang, "I- I never did congratulate you on your victory Sect Leader Yi."
A group of gasps were heard around them as the Sects around them started to remember as well.
Yi Lian shook his head, "I didn't come for prais, only because my late brother asked it of me. It's why I did not come another year."
Nie Yang, "Yet, here you are. How lucky you are to be so young and participate this year with your Sect."
Yi Lian nodded and motioned Lantern to unpack the carriages and bring in the rest of the Sect. "Where should we set up our things?'
Nie Asreal perked up, "Oh! Father, I'll escort them! They're right by our quarters anyway."
Nie Yang had a sudden look of worry. "Don't worry Father, they're quite acquainted, look." Said the younger brother, nursing a foot.
The boy was looking to Yi Vian. Nie Yang's expression grew complicated. "Nie Vian, I see you're well."
Yi Vian stepped out from the shadows and Nei Yang and his eldest and youngest son gasped. The warrior was now as divine as a goddess. "I am, Sect Leader Nie, but my name is Yi now. I hope you are well."
Unable to speak he merely nodded. Whilst they were distracted Nie Asreal leapt forward to Yi Lian, attempting to link his arm but Yi Lian dodged it in a secretive way so as to not embarrass either of them.
Nie Asreal huffed but still led the way into one of the capitals walls. "Hahaha, did you see their faces when they saw Shijie? Who knew Shijie could be so pretty? Nice hair pin by the way, you must care for her to get her such a gift."
Yi Lian, "And why must it be me who got her such a gift?"
Nie Asreal, "Shijie is a soldier. She is beautiful but no man would be brave enough to see her in such a friendly way. Do you think it would suit me?"
Yi Lian almost stopped in his step. "What do you-"
Nie Asreal, "I mean you gave her a gift because she's pretty, would you give me a gift?"
Yi Lian cleared his throat before speaking, "That is not the reason behind the gift. I got it for the occasion."
Nie Asreal hummed, "I see... but, who do you think prettier, Shijie or me?"
Nie Asreal stopped and smiled at him whilst Yi Lian had an internal panic.
He couldn't disrespect a Second Young Master Nie but he could also not disrespect a woman.
Yi Lian, "I- why do you ask such absurd questions? Trying to get me to call a woman ugly? That is not gentlemanly."
Nie Asreal perked up with joy and linked his arm by force. "So you do think I'm prettier?" yI Lian's jaw dropped in his head.
"That is what you got from that sentence?" He thought.
He realised his mind was getting imbalanced and breathed. "Ah yes the teachings of Immortals Valley Top! Calm of mind, clear thoughts, no loud noises." Yi Lian glared at his comments.
"I have my own set of rules its; if you want something go and get it, if something doesn't want you then change."
Yi Lian stood away from him and fell into rage. "How impertinent! If something doesn't want you then you leave it." He cringed at his language choice.
Nie Asreal, "I mean; if something doesn't want you then you find out why and change yourself, therefore you can grow as a person for the next thing you want."
Yi Lian's expression became unreadable so Nie Asreal sighed. "This is where you ask, 'Well what do you want?' and I say 'why what else but the winter day ahead of me.'"
Yi Lian's eyes went wide and he looked to the floor for help.
"Sect Leader Yi! I am so, so sorry on behalf of my brother! He does not know how to behave. We honestly don't know where his behaviour came from.." Said the eldest brother who came to check on them. He looked a bit like Nie Asreal but his stature was very different.
He seemed more peaceful, more calm and formal. His smile was even genuine unlike most he'd seen since arriving.
"It's called being original, unlike everyone else around here who's just a gaggle of personality clones." Nie Asreal bragged.
Yi Lian covered his face with his slave as he steadied himself from laughing. "Asreal! You only needed to bring him to his room! Not annoy him. Look, now he daren't show his face!"
Nie Asreal, "But annoying him is fun! Really brother you should try it-"
"Just because you are of the same age does not mean you can treat him like this! You are twenty-two brother, which means you must act as an adult. Apologize to Sect Leader Yi!" His brother shouted.
Yi Lian had taken an unconscious step back at the loud noise and Nie Asreal had noticed. "Brother, please lower your voice, you will wake the peacocks at this volume."
"Apologize!" He shouted again and Yi Lian flinched.
"Okay, alright brother please just be quiet! Yi Lian- Sect Leader Yi, I apologize if I have offended you in any way." Nie Asreal said with a serious face.
His brother turned red, "Be sincere-"
Yi Lian, "It is alright. I accept your apology but please do not worry Young Master Nie, I own Second Young Master Nie a great debt and I will not get bothered by such ways."
Nie Asreal smiled proudly and laughed at his brother. "See? He likes me. Now hurry off, Shijie might need a hand."
The Young Master Nie soluted to Yi Lian and hurried off.
Nie Asreal led the way again.
They went up a few flights of stairs and corridors, all quite barren of decoration.
"So you do remember me." Nie Asreal asked calmly this time.
Yi Lian, "You mustn't tell anyone."
Nie Asreal smiled softly, "I won't Sect Leader, but tell me; What happened to the people who betrayed you?"
There was a slight pause.
Yi Lian, "They're outside unpacking."
Nie Asreal stopped at the door with Yi Sect's symbol on it. "Wha- how could you not throw them off a cliff-"
Yi Lian shut the door behind him, leaving him to himself again.
-----------------------------
Nie Ezran, the youngest of three. He kept to himself and was much like his father. He disliked his brother Nie Asreal and found Nie Zhen, his eldest brother, bearable.
He stood in the quiet training grounds practicing his swordsmanship with flawless technique.
Nie Asreal popped out of a bush. "Hey! Ge, do you think I can see into Sect Leader Yi's bedroom from here?"
Nie Ezran went red, "haven't you bothered him enough? Da-ge told me you annoyed him so much he turned red! Isn't his Sect meant to be monks or something? and you managed to make even him lose his temper."
"I'm not sure if it was that..." Yi Vian called out. She had come to the training grounds to just look around but as she entered so did Nie Ezran's friends.
Nie Asreal, "Shijie! you should show them your sword play!" He said eagerly.
Nie Ezran rolled his eyes, "Look how she's dressed. You think she could do anything?"
Nie Asreal tutted and sat on a bench.
"I could take you on, still in this dress." Yi Vian said.
Nie Ezran's friends laughed, "What made you come to that conclusion?"
Yi Vian, "Well Nie Ezran could take on all of you and win, so could I. Therefore I could beat him. The worst that could happen is an overestimate."
The group went quiet and Nie Ezran clenched his fists. "You speak like this? Don't you fear it will make Nie Asreal lose face?" He said with an ugly smirk. "Why you-" Nie Asreal started but when he looked over at Yi Vian she had her head down in silence. "My apologies Nie Ezran, Young Master Nie." Then she left back to her new Sect.
Nie Asreal filled with rage and whirled around on him. "Look you made her upset, it was your fault she had to leave, you're so young and rude, not knowing how your words affect others. Don't even go apologize because she won't take it."
Nie Ezran, "Why would I apologize to her? It's not my fault I found a servant studying manuals not meant for her!"
Nie Asreal, "She didn't do it on her own! I gave it to shijie so she could cultivate with me-"
Nie Ezran, "That's what you say to keep her safe!"
Nie Asreal took a breath between clenched teeth. "No one... sees sense." He left soon after.
----------------------
Lantern, "What are you watching Yi Lian?"
Yi Lian was looking out on the training field with a blank face. He rose softly from the window side and to the table for tea. "They act with such anger here."
Lantern was shocked by the statement so sat down opposite. "Most do- remember Yi Vian? She was very angry, very mischievous, you can tell her and Second Young Master Nie grew up together."
Yi Lian nodded and took a sip of tea. "Maybe we should offer schooling to Nie Asreal..." He thought aloud. Lantern almost dropped the teapot. "Have a guest? We haven't had a guest since- well I'd have to make the guest bedroom up, also I think Third Young Master Nie would also benefit."
Yi Lian stayed quiet.
Yi Lian, "Open the door and ask if Second Young Master Nie would like some tea."
Lantern was confused. He walked over and opened the door. Nie Asreal was crouched down with his ear to the door, well it was to the door. As it opened he fell onto Lantern.
Both of them came crashing to the floor but Yi Lian just sipped some tea. "Nice of you- to offer tea- Sect Leader Yi..." Nie Asreal said as he pulled himself off of Lantern. Yi Lian gestured for him to sit opposite him.
Yi Lian, "You can call me Yi Lian."
Nie Asreal smiled, "Oh Yi Lian! We are such friends now! You even offer to host me at Immortals Valley Top, how close we have become."
Yi Lian's calmly poured him tea, "Nie Asreal, we have only met twice."
Nie Asreal sighed, "Fine. I have been to The Island before. We met there again four years ago."
Yi Lian thought for a moment. "I don't think we did."
Nie Asreal sighed again, "What little impression I left on you! Oh well, the competition is this evening, what weapon are you using?"
Yi Lian thought for a moment, "My sword Winters Gaze as always. I brought The Frost Bow but I needn't use it."
Nie Asreal nodded and looked to Lantern who was nursing his legs from the fall. "Why don't you rest, I can take care of Yi Lian..."
Lantern, "Yi Xien."
Nie Asreal, "Yi Xien, I think you better rest for this evening."
Lantern looked to Yi Lian, then to Nie Asreal, then to his legs. "Yi Lian I-"
Yi Lian, "Rest for this evening. I can take care of myself for a few hours."
Lantern nodded, leaving the two alone.
As if waiting, Nie Asreal jumped up and sat closer to Yi Lian at his side. Yi Lian froze momentarily but eased up when Nie Asreal noticed.
Nie Asreal, "Such focus in your Sect, Yi Lian. I bet I could do anything and you'd still have a blank face."
Yi Lian didn't look at him. He just looked ahead and picked up a napkin and passed it to his side. "You have tea around your mouth."
Nie Asreal took it with a soft smile and wiped his face. "I will be taking just my sword, but I won't need it. What else do I need other than myself and a few talismans?"
Yi Lian, "I would like to make an offer for you Nie Asreal."
Nie Asreal, "Oh? What are you offering? An engagem-"
Yi Lian, "For Yi Vian to join you in the event. Her talents lie here and I believe she would enjoy seeing you again."
Nie Asreal sat back and smiled, "Thank you Yi Lian. That means a lot but, who will accompany you? If it's those losers from last time-"
Yi Lian, "I understand your frustration but I will simply evade them as the event starts. Also I am their leader now. They are less likely to start anything."
Nie Asreal's smile dropped. He rose from his seat and walked over to the door. "Good luck, Yi Lian." He said quietly.
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Four Sect's stood in lines awaiting the sounds of the trumpets