"Wang Lan Biyu??" Lan Biyu frowns at the shocked Qing Mianyang who stands staring at her with her mouth agape. With a smooth flick of her wrist, the girl clad in similar hues of blue lowers the shaky blade easily along with the outstretched arm of the owner. "If not me who else?" Snapping out of her daze Qing Mianyang simultaneously let out a breath of relief while also sending her love rival a look of wariness. Lan Biyu didn't seem the least bit afraid or out of it unlike herself. Much to her annoyance, not even a single hair was out of place despite the subtle exhaustion in her eyes.
"Did master not instruct us to stay in place?" Lan Biyu around them sends out her spiritual sense, only when she was sure no one was listening in did she answer her question. "I was sent to a location in the middle of a large number of disciples so I had to relocate and happened upon your signal." Qing Mianyang thought about it for a bit then glanced over Lan Biyu's weary beautiful face bitterly. "...Right." Some people's worries are different from others. Keeping this sarcastic thought to herself she then sat down on a protruding root from a nearby tree feeling a bit less afraid now.
It wasn't that she was feeling reassured because Lan Biyu was stronger, but because if at one point they did get intercepted by another sect Lan Biyu being more beautiful would take the focal point over herself. Not seeing anything wrong with this way of thinking she looks over Lan Biyu's seemingly calm appearance. "Did go see brother Fuqing yesterday?" The indifferent girl merely glances at her before looking away impatiently showing her attitude on the matter. See? Qing Mianyang sighed to herself frustratedly. Everyone wants to protect Wang Lan Biyu's "prospective partner" however the girl herself was entirely uninterested in brother Fuqing. After observing long enough Lan Biyu wasn't like those other white lotus who fake indifference while reeling in men left and right.
She was truly an unapproachable person who didn't take interest in other people unless they were Master himself. Qing Mianyang would be jealous of Lan Biyu if she thought there was even the slightest chance that brother Fuqing could win her over in the future. But Lan Biyu herself seems to dislike the idea the older they got so Qing Mianyang was confident that a woman of her stature would never look at her simple brother Fuqing. What is a coldly beautiful woman when you have a girl who has expressed love for you since childhood? "Your behavior has been rather unsightly these past few days." Qing Mianyang stiffens before sneering "Those little girls who know nothing about my difficulties don't deserve my explanation." "As master's disciple have some shame."
The girl quiets for a few moments before admitting bitterly "It is them who cannot hold their tongues well. Although they do not say it I can see it in their eyes, the way they look down on me, and my cultivation level. What is so wrong about securing my own future?" Lan Biyu acknowledges that when said in this manner Qing Mianyang isn't exactly too terrible of a person. At least she did not put the blame on Lan Biyu's head for the things others say and only despises the ones who speak and openly disdain her. So, when Qing Mianyang admits her thoughts on the matter Lan Biyu quiets down and no longer reprimands her. It is true that blessed people cannot understand the difficulties of the talentless. Sensing someone unfamiliar entering her spiritual sense Lan Biyu's seemingly lazy gaze focuses which catches Qing Mianyang's attention.
"What is it?" She follows Lan Biyu's example and peers out beyond the large pine trees placing her hand on her blade which Lan Biyu sends her a sharp look for. She warily removed the hand as Lan Biyu frowned at whatever she sensed and started seriously drawing on the floor with her toe. Realizing the girl was drawing a concealing spell she quickly hid her spiritual essence to the best of her ability which wasn't much in the first place compared to the girl next to her. She wouldn't question why Lan Biyu thought it best to hide as she was Master's inner disciple so she didn't have the right the question her decision in the first place. Even if the spell was rough it did the job and Lan Biyu signals Qing Mianyang to keep quiet before stepping into the spell herself. Appearing calm but alert making it known that whoever she saw wasn't too much of a threat.
Almost seconds after Lan Biyu stepped up beside her Qing Mianyang flinched when a group of Golden Cloud sect disciples appeared sending alarm bells ringing throughout her entire body. An older disciple cursed out loud looking around them, passing over Lan Biyu and Qing Mianyang many times. He scowls at one of his companions "Are you sure you saw the Azure sect signal come from here?" What? Why would Golden Sect disciples be openly looking for our Azure sect? What's going on? Qing Mianyang's eyes widened, invisible hands as cold as ice seemed to encase her all at once.
Even if she had the slightest trace of doubt in her heart about Lan Biyu's actions of hiding. Now, she didn't dare give away her presence even if she were threatened by another. Purposely seeking the disciple of another sect in this dangerous place, what good thing are you planning to do? Even a child would doubt you had good intentions! Trembling, she felt Lan Biyu place a steady hand on her shoulder when peering up at the other girl to see her reaction. Lan Biyu wore a solemn appearance, her eyes full of acerbity.
Much to Qing Mianyang's suspicion, there was not much surprise. As if she knew something like this would happen. "Why do we have to be the ones to find her? Everyone else is able to enjoy hunting demons and beast cores however only we-" being sent a threatening look by his senior brother the young man chokes on his next words. "Shut your mouth. You dare question the sect master's orders? Spread out, they couldn't have gone far." Qing Mianyang shivers. Unconsciously moving closer to Lan Biyu knowing the girl must have a higher cultivation than those people, and hid it for this exact possible situation.
With pursed lips, the cold-faced girl watched as they spread into four directions to search for the person who sent out the Azure sigil not expecting that she was still in the same place. They waited for a long time before Lan Biyu relaxed her grip on Qing Mianyang's shoulder and pulled the other girl's numb legs up from her seat. "Come." Not questioning her the dazed and frightened girl quickly took her place by Lan Biyu's side. Her trembling hands kept a tight hold of the other girl's back skirt which Lan Biyu didn't seem to mind or care about as they navigated their way out of the area. "What was that about? No, how did you seem to know what they-"
"Master warned me that being beautiful would incur the jealousy of others easily so had me hide my true cultivation level in case anything were to happen the enemy would be taken by surprise." Appearing stiff Qing Mianyang asks "Then, were they after you?" Was that why you moved from your previous spot? Because you knew something like this would happen? She was given neither acknowledgment nor denial so taking her silence as agreement Qing Mianyang didn't ask any more questions and only nervously looked around them. She wasn't dumb enough to question if it would be safer to travel alone rather than with the girl they wanted. Didn't Lan Biyu's calm in the face of danger already prove she had no intentions of abandoning herself and would even protect her?
Other than their senior brother she trusted Lan Biyu the most to do her best in keeping their fellow disciples safe. Since it was what their master would want and it wasn't the first time Lan Biyu showed her attitude toward maintaining the safety of their sect members. "Then if that is the case, what is your real rank?" Lan Biyu's actions of pushing aside a bush stutter for a moment, glancing at Qing Mianyang who was more talkative than usual towards her. She pondered something while taking in the sight of the other girl's stark white grip upon her skirts. "...Martial king." Martial King?! Qing Mianyang went speechless.
"Martial-Martial King..." Lan Biyu observes her for any sign of jealousy, but then to her surprise Qing Mianyang's eyes glittered after a few seconds of silence. "Then, it's truly safer for me to stay near you until we find an elder." "..." Her lip quirked into a smile so Lan Biyu turned before Qing Mianyang could see her amusement. Qing Mianyang eyed her suspiciously Was there something wrong with what I said? "If you are Martial King rank, then how come you hid just now? Wouldn't disposing of them be easier?" Not surprised to hear the vicious girl speak like this casually Lan Biyu just gave a short explanation. "Too much effort."
After this, as expected Qing Mianyang's grip on her skirt loosened slightly however she kept an unwavering hold on it. Lan Biyu turns a blind eye to her cowardice and expects this to be the end of the girl's words. Much to her surprise though, Mianyang continued to speak this time a hint softer as if lacking confidence she had before. "This reminds me of that time those people from the other peaks tricked me into the mountains alone when we were children." She peeks at Lan Biyu who continues leading them out of the pine forest without stopping as if there weren't someone following closely behind her. Yet, whenever a bush or branch blocks their path she never forgets to hold on until Mianyang passes the obstacle too.
Showing that her presence was acknowledged silently, and by default her words too. Mianyang pursed her lips, in this aspect, Lan Biyu was much better than their senior brother. "When I was lost trying to find my way back I only knew how to sit in the dirt and cry pathetically unlike the rest of you who already knew how to use qinggong or fly on your swords." Remembering that cold night Mianyang scowls at herself hating the people who tricked her back then even more as they had given her this black history. Luckily... "Luckily Fuqing found me that night before any spiritual beast could and took me back safely while taking care not to ruin my reputation as he did so secretly. Not letting others see my embarrassing state. Master also caught and punished those jealous people relatively quickly too."
Lan Biyu had a feeling she knew what Mianyang was trying to say while telling this tale. But she wasn't able to recall the exact date and time like her, as she had more memories to go through than the younger girl. She was just another passerby in her long life. Just like Da Chuanli. "I know I am bullheaded and stupid, I do things viciously and hide when things get bad for myself. I didn't even know that master acknowledged my presence and thought he would be happy if I disappeared that night not caring how I was." The stupid girl pauses before saying quietly knowing Lan Biyu would know what she meant even if the two of them would never say it out loud.
"But after thinking about it for awhile it didn't take me long to guess why and how Master knew I had gone missing that night when the other girls would otherwise not care to report it." She still held a grudge against Rui Shi and the rest for that night too. It was mutual hatred. But she could never truly hate Wang Lan Biyu. "You are worried I will abandon you because of the Red Toad incident so want to say you won't betray me to lower my guard?" "I was just saying that this situation reminds me of back then too. You dig too deep into my casual words to reminisce about our childhood." Mianyang looked away casually when Lan Biyu said this and glanced over her shoulder with a knowing glint in her eyes. She worries for nothing.
Lan Biyu had already long forgotten about that incident as more important matters had her attention now. Although it was disgusting of her to shrug off the responsibility of that time and hide until everyone pushed the matter to the backs of their minds due to the An Xing realm competition. When Lan Biyu didn't say anything else Miangyang courageously peers at Lan Biyu's side profile to see if she was upset. Seeing that she wasn't Mianyang took it as all was forgiven and felt better holding her back straighter and internally mocks Rui Shi and the rest for being black lotuses who took things too personally. Yet, she wasn't prepared when the indifferent girl said bluntly making her trip over herself out of astonishment. "If there comes a time when you have the option to choose again, I hope you don't change and stay the way you are now."