The evening was difficult. There was a banquet as part of the two day feast at the festival. It brought the most lavish food and sensual dancers one could ask for, yet Yi Lian refused to go and just asked Yi Xien to fetch some food from the kitchen so they could eat in peace. Lucily even though the Sect Leaders had met him this morning Yi Lian was long out of their minds as Nie Yang and Zhou Chen (sworn brothers) chatted the whole night about vulgar and ugly things.
Nie Asreal hated it. He had to sit with his father and brothers whom he despised and was forced to watch on as Sect Leader Bai and Sect Leader Yi talked about nice things, including Bai Hua in the conversation and laughing from time to time about innocent and pure things.
The worst thing was he had to watch Yi Jian brag every few minutes when he could slip it in. Nie Asreal thought of asking to switch places because his father wanted Nie Asreal to be like that; jumping into conversation to brag and leave sarcastic comments (not in the good way) here and there but the comments Nie Asreal made made him "a know it all" or "a smart ass" in others eyes.
Eventually his eyes drew to a certain group of disciples. They were the group of Bai Sect disciples Yi Lian was hanging out with earlier. They seemed to be whispering about something.
The Bai Sect had taken in many nameless children like them from the streets. Both the Yi Sect and Bai Sect had the tendency to do such things. The only kindness the Nie Sect had done was bringing in Nie Vian.
It was still sour though because she was only let in because his father thought she had a pretty face. She had become Nie Asreal's attendant at a young age. He was twelve, she was fifteen. The two got along very well. Nie Vian had quite a temper but she was also extremely kind to Nie Asreal and his Da-ge.
She had told Nie Asreal long ago that she was from a cultivator family and knew some things before her village was destroyed in a brutal attack of revenge the Nie Sect had committed. They weren't even a Sect or clan, just a family of traveling cultivators who would retire and let the next generation go out and adventure. One of the young teens had left to join the Nie Sect and ended up in a brawl at an inn with a high up member of the Nie Sect. So in the end after the Sect member was struck across the chest he acted out his revenge by killing him and his village. She had little memory of this of course but it still stained her like blood on white robes.
The moment Nie Asreal knew he was shoving manuals into her hands and brought her training far out in the Evil Peaks. This had to all be kept a secret of course since it was extremely frowned upon to have an attendant or servant cultivate behind the sect's back. He just felt so happy that someone he was so close to could train and talk about cultivation with him and it wasn't as if Nie Vian was far behind either. She had always been so powerful, so innately gifted that sometimes she would figure things out and end up teaching him.
Though she had a temper she would always keep her cool for Nie Asreal. Later she would go on some form of ramage to vent the anger but New Asreal left her to it.
This was very different then the Yi Sect which hoped anyone interested in cultivation to start. Even Yi Xien had low level cultivation, because Yi Lian taught him some stuff to help with his swordsmanship.
Nie Vian stood a few steps behind him with her face half veiled. She had to cover part of her face so that she wouldn't get bothered during the Spirits Festival but just her figure alone turned heads.
Zhou Chen asked drunkenly, "How much for the servant girl? I'll pay you a hefty penny Brother."
Nie Yang laughed and patted Nie Asreal's shoulder. "It's the boy's! I got her because she had such a face, thought it'd be something nice for him to play with!"
Nie Asreal blinked a few times out of sheer disbelief. He shook his father off and beconned Nie Vian over.
He whispered in her ear a few words and as soon as they were said she was off into the night much to Zhou Chen's distaste.
Some of the Bai Sect disciples had snook away from the room. Nie Asreal only saw because he was watching them from the start but he didn't seem to be the only one watching.
Bai Hua, "Father, Sect Leader Yi, I feel a bit light headed… may I rest for the evening?"
The two nodded and saluted him which he returned and left with his fan in hand.
Nie Asreal sighed and started to drink again.
---------
Yi Lian stood against the window, looking out into the Deserted Capital. Some disciples of all Sect's would occasionally wander around for a peaceful nightly stroll or a group of boys would be running around, laughing and drinking. It really was the evening where everything goes.
Yi Lian would occasionally throw little pebbles of ice out of the window because the moment after Yi Xien retired for the night he grew ten times border. He felt restless because of earlier events but he didn't want to go out.
This was until one of his ice pebbles fought back.
It came flying straight for his forehead and hit him so hard he fell back a little before sticking his head out once again.
Bai Cong yelled from below, "Madam Yi weeps frozen tears of loneliness."
Yi Lian formed a slightly bigger crystal and threw it head on causing Bai Cong to fall with a clunk noise to the ground.
Bai Hua came running into view out of breath. "I got Bai Xiang to cover for us."
Bai Cong grabbed the edge of his robe from the ground. "Where's the drinks?"
Bai Hua smiled nervously. "I couldn't get them! Yi Lian's uncle kept talking to me! I hardly got away as it is."
Bai Ho helped Bai Cong up and dusted him off a bit. "Can we come up?"
Yi Lian smiled and nodded. He ran over to the door and unlocked it to find a drunken Bai Xi-Wang in his doorway with a bored expression.
Bai Xi-Wang, "Why wait outside when you will open the door anyway."
Yi Lian shrugged and let him in. He immediately went for the tea on the table. He swore he was some kind of addict to that stuff never mind alcohol.
When the others arrived they sat in a circle and started to play dice and cards intermittently between conversation. Everyone except Yi Lian and Bai Hua were pretty drunk already so most of the time was spent laughing at them.
Bai Cong put his arm over Yi Lian's shoulder and started whispering jokes in his ear about Bai Xi-Wang acting like a talking brick wall when drunk unlike Bai Ho who wanted to cry his eyes out at any moment. He even counted down to when Bai Ho would wail out.
Bai Cong was a close drunk. The flirty one who got closer than they would sober and Yi Lian was aware so he didn't mind the things he did.
They were all interrupted by a knock at the door.
The room fell silent. Bai Hua lunged across the circle to cover Bai Ho's mouth.
Yi Lian cleared his throat. "Yes, Yi Xien?"
"Ha, It's not Yi Xien. Can I come in? I heard some noise and just wanted to make sure you're alright."
It was Nie Asreal.
The group made eccentric gestures. Bai Ho clutching his heart, Bai Hua banging his head, even Yi Lian wanted to smack himself.
"Have you got alcohol?" Bai Cong shouted. Yi Lian jumped at him and put a hand over his mouth.
Bai Cong muffled, "Well it's too late now."
Nie Asreal chuckled, "Yes actually. I was going to bring it back for me and a friend but she's gone to scream in the mountains."
They were slightly alarmed by the comment but collectively, save Yi Lian, yelled, "Come in!"
He opened the door with a smile but it flattered for a moment upon seeing them. He threw the jars over and sat down next to Yi Lian. The group gaped at the dozen or so jars in front of them in awe and love.
(We love him.)