Seventeen year old Yi Lian had just come of age to enter the Spirits Festival. After two years with the Bai Sect cultivating in their caves and exploring the region, he had gained insight and reached earthly immortality. He had achieved all these things before reaching adulthood, yet not many knew of his name, even with this amazing fleat. To many he was still just the surprise of Yi Jian having another sibling he had never mentioned and after they would soon forget.
He had also grown extremely close to Bai Hua during the two years he'd stayed with him as they both achieved immortality around the same time through similar methods and had the same friends and status as him.
He truly loved the people of Gardens River Crossing. They were nice and caring. Yi Lian made many friends. Those of which he was traveling with.
Today Yi Lian had to enter the event as a member of the Yi Sect. He was originally going to miss the event entirely and go to the Bai Sect's regions city to pick up Bai Hua's birthday gift but sadly Yi Lian had been bombarded with letter after letter. His brother asking casually, not admitting his previous faults but asking Yi Lian to come and have fun this year, telling him to 'give it a go' and 'it wouldn't hurt to try'. This differed wildly from the letters he had received by his Uncle, Father, even Mother who spoke so little to him, were all now begging him to help them save face.
He cared about them. Of course he did, however he cared for them because how else would he look at them? He did love his Uncle and he cared somewhat for his brother. His time in solitude and around welcoming and loyal people had brung him much insight into the world and the people around him that his views on his own family had shifted.
His parents raised Yi Jian up on a pedestal above all others yet because Yi Lian was different, never properly understood things, he was kept out of conversation. His mother hardly spoke to him. His Father tried to actively avoid conversation with him. The only person that understood him was his Uncle and slightly Yi Jian. He would say Yi Xien but he was so similar to himself he knew he wasn't bothered with the difference between understanding motives or feelings but just what needed to be done. You could say they were off in their own little world most of the time.
Over the past two years he had many visits from his Uncle. He would bring things from the royal vault to read, trinkets and come and talk to him all day long from when he arrived up until he departed.
His friends would comment on his good character. He really loved these new friends. It turned out that Bai Sect disciples were actually some of the strongest in the region. They cultivated in peace then traveled long journeys for night hunts. Yi Lian thought it would be months before they'd invite him or even talk to him for that matter, yet after the first night they had asked him to travel with them for a week to go on a night hunt along the northern border.
This group was the same group that sat in the carriage today. Bai Cong, Bai Ho, Bai Xi-Wang and Bai Hua. The Sect leader, Bai Jin, called them 'The Five Wonders' because they would often leave with a small stash of money and wander off into the night.
Obviously they didn't actually just wander off.
They would plan which city they would go to next and make their way there by boat, foot and if they had enough money; carriage. They would use their swords to fly but Bai Ho's cultivation level was extremely low due to him both being brought into the Sect at an older age and just that he found cultivating hard in general.
They made money as they went. Stayed in inns and shared one room between them to cut costs but they didn't mind. They didn't mind at all because they'd be laughing into the night, sharing drinks, playing cards, gambling on miscellaneous objects like stones for pride.
Yi Lian hoped to do this forever, but alas, here they were.
Bai Cong pulled dice from his sleeve and tossed them at Yi Lian's head.
Yi Lian scowled and threw them back. "What? We can't play dice here. Are you an addict already at such a young age?"
Bai Cong rolled his eyes. "You have that distant look again. You didn't even notice your attendant fall off his horse."
Yi Lian's eyes widened in alarm. He stuck his head out of the window to see Yi Xien pulling a horse's rains from the ground. "Yi Xien! Do you need any help?"
Yi Xien blushed in embarrassment and shook his head. He tapped on his foot and shot up into the air to ride alongside them once again.
Bai Cong, "Lantern is actually getting quite good at some of the tricks you've taught him. Too bad he's so dim."
Yi Lian kicked his leg. "He's not dim. I showed him how to start cultivating. I'm hoping he will improve enough to come with us on trips."
Bai Cong lay back in his seat. "I heard he's been getting cosy with Bai Xiang whilst we're away. It'd be a shame to mess that up."
Bai Hua almost threw his fan at him. "Don't bring my attendant into your perversions. Lantern is so innocent. So cute. Don't even let your mind graze his beautiful existence."
Bai Cong shrugged and closed his eyes for a nap.
Bai Ho leaned forward with a smile. "What were you thinking about Yi Lian?"
Yi Lian looked down and waved him off. "It's nothing. Just thinking."
Bai Hua waved his hands about. "He's thinking about seeing his Sect again. I know it's going to be strange Yi Lian but I think it'll be okay. Plus it's only for this event. It's not like you'll have to put up with them forever. There must be something you're excited for?"
Yi Lian sighed, "I will be meeting Second Young Master Nie again. I got to know him a bit when he went to study at Immortals Valley Peak."
Bai Cong, "If there weren't so many snobs there I would be the first to visit that power house."
Bai Hua nudged him. "I'm sure it's not that bad…"
Yi Lian scratched his head. "They aren't the best of people but there are some good ones."
Bai Ho, "Like you! I mean you were secluded from the others-"
Bai Xi-Wang interrupted, "Therefore not exposed to the competitive and negative environment excelled by it's status and high standards. Yi Lian is really the only thing that would cleanse their name. Though of course we have him so they can back off."
Yi Lian chuckled nervously.
Bai Hua, "You'll be fine. Besides, my dad gave you that fancy cloak and if you get bored enough then you can just come with us."
Yi Lian, "It's not the competition I'm worried about."
Bai Xi-Wang, "It's the fact that you have to spend a day with your brother."
Yi Lian nodded.
Bai Hua looped his arm with his "Don't worry I can just stay with you."
Bai Ho, "Sect Leader Bai wants all of us to stay to ourselves, especially you. He wants you by his side."
Bai Hua bit his lip. "I will stay with you… Until I have to go!"
Yi Lian didn't feel reassured at all. He didn't completely understand why he was so nervous. He was very different now then when he left and feared of it being weird and awkward.
Bai Cong, "I'll sneak out to see you but then you'll have to come with me to buy drinks in the next town over"
Yi Lian rolled his eyes.
It would just be him, Yi Xien and Winters-Gaze then.
When the carriage rolled up behind the Sect leader's, the doors were opened. They shuffled about so that Bai Hua could go stand with his dad as they looked on from the side.
Yi Lian, "Oh my-"
The Bai disciples all pressed their faces to the carriage window to see what he was looking at. The Sect Leader, Nie Yang, stood with his second son, Yi Lian's Uncle stood with his brother, Zhou Chen stood by himself and Bai Hua was with his dad frozen in place as he saw Yi Jian.
Yi Jian had such a scolding face, one could argue it'd been like that his entire life, and it was directed straight towards Bai Hua who had started to sweat profusely.
This however was not what Yi Lian had exclaimed over.
Bai Xi-Wang, "Remind me of how Yi Lian described Second Young Master Nie?"
The corner of Bai Cong's mouth turned upwards. "If I remember correctly it was 'Smart, high status and handsome,' thank the gods we got Lantern drunk."
Yi Lian muttered, "How- how has he grown so much in two years? He's become more…more..." He trailed off.
The other three leaned closer expecting more. "More…?" Bai Ho asked.
Yi Lian stared.
"Ah!"
The boys shot back in alarm. They fell to the other end of the small carriage, all piled atop each other with their chests heaving. A flower had grown in the carriage window in an instant, startling the boys from their intense concentration.
Bai Cong, "That's-"
Bai Xi-Wang, "A white Orchid, like from the story Yi Lian told us…"
There was a pause as they caught their breaths.
Bai Ho, at the bottom of the pile, shouted, "How romantic!"
Bai Cong slapped a hand over his mouth.
Outside went quiet.
Yi Lian closed his eyes and whispered, "This is not happening…"
Bai Cong made a decision. He pulled Bai Ho up by the collar and launched him out of the carriage before opening the door on the other side and yelling, "Every man for himself!"
Bai Xi- Wang rubbed his face. "Lunatics…"
He took Yi Lian's arm and helped him out of the carriage. They saluted everyone before Bai Xi-Wang shooed Bai Ho back into the carriage and returned to Yi Lian's side.
Sect Leader Yi, "Sect Leaders, I would like to introduce you to my prize disciple and nephew, Prince Yi Lian."
Nie Yang immediately started scanning him. Yi Lian didn't know where to look so his eyes darted around until he accidentally made eye contact with Nie Asreal and wanted to leave or stop existing.