The days spent in An Xing were tiring, but no doubt beneficial. The naive faces of many disciples had changed from pure curiosity and excitement to the grim faces of survivors. Da Chuanli especially had changed the most holding himself taller and prouder than before exhibiting an aura similar to his eldest brother. Qing Mianyang had become quieter and no longer fought with anyone any time she was offended. Her expression was a bit lost at times like she was thinking of things beyond her usual vain and selfish ideals. Her conduct was more tolerable in other's eyes even if she didn't hide her disdain towards Chun Hui whenever she was being provoked.
Chun Hui who was usually gentle and sensible didn't change however she no longer kept close to Gao Chang and Gu Ping like before. She didn't hold a grudge against them as these past few days had given her time to calm down. However, there was still a hurdle in her own heart she couldn't get past each time she recalled their behavior of seemingly protecting Qing Mianyang the day Wang Lan Biyu passed away. She is also aware that Qing Mianyang wasn't directly to blame as no one can stop someone else from protecting another person with their life. It was hard to blame a single individual in this situation as everyone was responsible for their choices. Gao Chang silently accompanied the seemingly fine senior brother he was shadowing.
Whether it was to support or learn from was still unclear, but Gao Chang considered his actions as a precaution for the unknown future. Like a rope thrown towards a drifting victim under fire from the high sea waves that had to keep Da Chuanli tied to their ship. It took their master a whole day and a half before he made his move. Minglan had requested Gao Chang to give him the silk handkerchief which his disciple hesitated to do before obediently giving the tiny bundle to him. There was a heavy silence when this event occurred. Gu Ping who was more emotionally perceptive than the rest stood to the side observing their master's expression for anything off.
To their relief besides stiffly placing the bundle in his spacial ring their master showed nothing wrong on the surface and even his furrowed brows relaxed. The next few days were rather serene. Despite facing death, in the end, they were cultivators who were fixated on the future of becoming immortals. Subconsciously even if they did not want to acknowledge it, many more people they know would die in the future due to the various paths they would take separated from one another. Wang Lan Biyu's death, it can only be called a sharp wake-up call to the dangers of the cultivator realm mortals admire so much. Leaving their mountain only to immediately meet with disaster after disaster once she took a step outside.
People wouldn't know whether it was just a matter of the mountain moving for the fox or the fox chasing the mountain inevitably getting caught in the landslide. The wise would hold their tongue while the clever would mutter that it was merely heaven finally catching up to the girl who didn't seem to belong to the mortal realm. Only being able to mourn her for a little bit as the realm that desired to take their lives was a more pressing matter it helped the young people bury their emotions. When they entered the ruins, unsurprisingly everyone had gone separate ways and whether intentionally or unintentionally, they were separated from the rest. But also surprisingly though the Zenith Star sect was also wary enough and kept close to the Azure sect as they had promised earlier. The expressions of everyone at that time had become extremely grim. It was only through sheer numbers and vigilance that they managed to come out unscathed.
They had suspicions and the smart people wore dark expressions wondering about the fate of the unsuspecting group who went before them. At that time Minglan and Fu Shusheng merely exchanged glances of experienced masters and didn't explain to their students. Merely keeping a more vigilant watch over them. However, whether it was due to good luck or their careful watch, hardly anyone got hurt and the most serious injuries would be a scrape or two. When entering old boudoirs of cultivators of the past there were hardly any treasures to speak of. At best, they would find some good material and well-nourished spiritual plants. So everyone wore unhappy expressions of being tricked. They were appeased only when they came to an abandoned courtyard and found a spring that was rather good for cultivating and absorbing the raw qi within the earth.
Luckily since they were the first to find the spot and the group was harmonious naturally they came to a fair and satisfying compromise easily. By the second day, the younglings had significant growth, their spiritual roots washed and cleaned by the pure spiritual essence of An Xing. "The master who made this place, he must have been a true genius." Gu Ping laments to himself sighing contently with Gao Chang who silently agrees with him on the sidelines. Don't say the ancients were only old-fashioned and superstitious. Weren't they, the current generation benefiting from their inheritances even now? To be able to harmonize both land and foreign companies so easily, it was envious.
Gu Ping leaned out from the spring and subtly glanced over at their ever-silent senior brother from the other side of the pool who was isolated from the rest intentionally. Gao Chang had just closed his eyes to enter a state of mediation before his friend jabbed him and gave the other boy a lazy glance. Gu Ping didn't speak since he knew that without a doubt Da Chuanli would be able to hear it. He wasn't as silly as the girls who knew nothing, after spending so much time by their master's side what didn't he understand? It was just pretending and playing ignorant. Not to mention, as they refined their spiritual roots his ears were sharper as well as his eyesight.
At this point, he was more embarrassed to admit that he thought their Master and Senior brother were oblivious to their thoughts in the first place. Gao Chang following his friend's eyes too looked at Da Chuanli who was the one who benefitted the most from the spring. Unknowing if it was intentional or not, the air around him was rather chaotic and fierce. You could even see the few leaves that would have fallen beside him being flung away violently before they could enter his general vicinity. Leaving quite a wide berth between him and other disciples who were sharing the spring with the three boys. Even if they messed around at most those sensible Zenith Star sect students would politely nod at them before playing around again.
Someone not afraid of stirring the pot nor feared retribution came along quickly though. Zheng He was rather rambunctious and not afraid of strangers. After interacting for a bit he naturally saw the affinity of brothers and kinsmen between their two sects. Not to mention, the madam never rejected their requests to practice with Gao Chan and Gu Ping every morning. "Brother Chang! Brother Ping! Why are you two wearing such serious faces?" Gao Chang managed to dodge when the golden retriever of a person mischievously tried dragging them into the water however Gu Ping was not so lucky and got a face full of water. Zheng He openly laughed at the red-faced and furious Gu Ping without an ounce of guilt "Zheng He!"
The boy with gritted teeth didn't hold back and soon there was another water fight distracting them from the single teen who sat all alone with no intentions of acknowledging their noise. Gao Chang quietly peeked at Da Chuanli again before also closing his eyes to meditate. He too refused to fall behind again. Another string of days and nights passed by, in the mornings they would practice their skills and share insight making merry. At night enjoy the hot springs and joke together while sharing tales of outside An Xing. Eventually, Gao Chang and Gu Ping fully integrated with the Zenith Star disciples.
Even Chun Hua and Qing Mianyang's attitude shifted from alienation to acknowledgment. On the last night, they would stay before making their way out of the ruins. The disciples were a bit sad as soon the An Xing realm would close to them again and the time they spent together would also come to an end. So sitting in the decrepit yet warm courtyard Zheng He, Gao Chang, Gu Ping, and the other rambunctious boys sat in rare silence staring up at the starless sky. Zheng He who was usually creating mischief broke the silence randomly "When I get back to our sect, our senior brother will have surely already come out of seclusion. If he wasn't in seclusion he would have been here too, you guys would have liked him." A rabbit-like teen with messy short hair by the name of Panxin blinked his big eyes and enthusiastically chirped in.
His sash spilled from his waist towards the floor "Our senior brother is incredible! Even our master has a hard time finding him if he wishes it! Out of everyone, he is the most suited to our sect's five arts!" The disciples all nod their heads like pecking chicks earning Gu Ping's curiosity. "Your sect has specialized arts?" Zheng He coughed a bit embarrassingly explaining to the two boys "Although our sect is not big nor small, because of our strict acceptance policy it's like a tight-knit family and we have even harsher requirements for ourselves." Pulling out his scabbard he used the tip to draw a diagonal line, at the bottom were the characters for Loyalty.
At the top, he wrote Mastery. "Our masters only allow us to move onto the next step in our training after we reach a certain level. Showing loyalty does not mean subordination but having the will to strive and endure for not only ourselves but the people willing to teach us. From Loyalty, we move onto Mastery of not only the things taught to us but also the future hardships we will surely face as cultivators. Knowing who you are is important for a stable base, if we rush to gain short-term benefits we are not fit to follow the path of our Zenith Star sect." From Mastery the boy made another diagonal line to the right and wrote Honor.
Having captured the twos' attention Zheng He glanced over and continued on with pride for his sect. "Developing a steady and upright character no matter the circumstances, but honor comes in many forms as well. It does not necessarily have to mean glory or righteousness. Having a clear conscience and not shaming our masters is enough to keep our heads high." Crossing the first line he wrote Harmony "Having a stable base is grand, but one must also accept their own talents and level. Everyone is different and developed differently, be in harmony with not only your spiritual essence but inferiority. It is more difficult to pass this burden for others than most."
He jokes and is sent knowing and teasing looks from his companions before bashfully tapping his nose. Gao Chang sent the boy a deep glance while Gu Ping nodded slowly without commenting, after all the ones who smiled more may have the most complex of minds. The two exchange looks, simultaneously thinking of the same person after considering it. The last line is connected to Loyalty forming a messy yet fine star. The last point Zheng He wrote the characters for Obscurity which follow the same route of dignity of the first four taking the two disciples aback. "This-" Zheng He visibly hesitates and sneaks a peek at the closed door of their master's room.
Clearing his throat the boy feigns confidence while saying a bit quieter "When one Harmonizes with themselves it is also important to be humble, rather than flaunt one's talents our sect believes in courtesy rather than being pretentious." Panxin sent his friend a disgusted look "You forgot what it meant didn't you?" Zheng He who was called out scratched the back of his neck and avoided their amused looks. He stood up clearing his throat "Ahem! Master said for us to go to bed early and avoid-ow!" Panxin who was surprisingly agile threw his tassel at the other boy earning a laugh from the rest. "Stop lying. It's still early, you just wanna hide away due to shame."
Zheng He was pulled down by his friends with a sullen look, like a puppy who had just been scolded. Panxin shook his head at his stupid friend and good-naturedly apologized to Gu Ping and Gao Chang. "Apologies to brothers Chang and Ping." Gu Ping chuckled as this was similar to how he got along with their friends back home too. "It's alright." As he watched them banter, he felt a bit envious that they could be together and inevitably miss their friends in the sect more. A sense of sadness fills his heart as he recalls more. Now that he thought about it, hasn't it been close to a month since they had last seen their close friends?
Just a few weeks ago, they would spend every day training and playing together. But now, it was just him and Gao Chang. Not to mention, when they go back, sister Wang... Gao Chang nudges the boy jerking him out of his melancholy. He was given a thin-lipped smile "Sorry, Gao Chang. I couldn't help but think of the others back home and just," He shook his head without finishing his words but Gao Chang understood. He too missed the people back at the sect, especially a vibrant little girl who loved wearing twin buns and acting spoiled with him.
Going back with one less person was suffocating just thinking about it. In just a month so much had changed. Who knows how much time has passed outside and what has also changed? "Senior brother." Gao Chang stood at attention and hurriedly saluted the approaching figure returning from who knows where. "Mmn. Don't stay up too late and exhaust yourselves." Da Chuanli with his hair hanging loose to his shoulders and wearing a simple white robe swept past their lowered heads like an immortal. Light and unconcerned. Zheng He and the others watched this interaction a bit awkwardly and quietly.
Also lowering their heads subconsciously out of respect for the noble-faced teen whose cultivation and temperament were far above their own. Only when the screen door closed and they could no longer see his cold face did they frown and speak up. "I've wanted to ask this since we met, but are all of you Azure sect people so aloof? Besides your master, your senior brother hardly shows his face nor says a word." Fool! Panxin agreed but he wasn't foolish enough to say it out loud so when his idiotic sect brother said something he was tempted to give him another smack. Before Gu Ping could make excuses, he was surprised to find that Gao Chang for once was much faster to defend their senior brother.
"Although our senior brother is a little indifferent he is also carrying a lot of weight on his shoulders as our Patriarch's younger brother and Master's only inner disciple." When he got to the last sentence anyone with eyes could see the coolness which developed in his eyes. Look a little past him and they would see a more obvious Gu Ping going rigid and his once pulled-up lips crash into an arch. He didn't refute Gao Chang's words only feeling a bit lopsided internally. Right....Now with sister Wang gone, senior brother was once more Master's only inner disciple. Seeing that the two boys' faces looked wrong even Zheng He knew he had said something quite rude and froze up awkwardly without knowing what to say or do to remedy the situation.
His mouth just opened before he could stop it sometimes. Gu Ping pulls Gao Chang back to sit down even though his friend seems reluctant to concede this time. He draws a tight smile "It's alright. We know that you didn't say it with bad intentions." Panxin kicks the back of Zheng He's knees making the other boy crumple to the ground wearing an expression of mild pain. Before throwing a smile back to Gu Ping "Even then Zheng He was wrong to speak badly behind someone else's back without knowing the full picture. Just because you two have a good temper doesn't mean that everyone does. It's better not to allow him to get away with it so he remembers it."
Panxin sent Zheng Ge who had lowered his head guiltily a scowl of disdain. His attitude satisfied the two slightly so Gu Ping's expression eased while Gao Chang on the other hand coldly replied "Our senior brother doesn't need others to understand him, it is enough if we do." Panxin nodded in agreement also trying to appease their new friends and sending them a reassuring look. "You're right. It was all Zheng Ge who thinks his opinion matters when it doesn't." Facing his friend's look of hurt Panxin could only ignore it for the sake of maintaining a peaceful atmosphere. Their other companions were the ones to pull Zheng Ge to sit down quietly on the side. Gu Ping opens his mouth to explain as it seems Gao Chang is in a strange state, however before he can a snarky girl's voice interrupts their conversation.
Qing Mianyang was sarcastic as she entered from behind the courtyard fences, wearing a white robe similar to their senior brothers. Her face was void of makeup and her hair lacked the usual refinery, making her sharp appearance appear softer. However, the hostility and disdain were familiar in ruining her delicate outer appearance. "What are you two doing peering at a fake moon acting like scholars? If we had it no doubt you would compose poems and drink wine too?" "Qing Mianyang." Gu Ping scolds her sternly, as everyone's expressions quickly soured due to her words. He had thought she had calmed down. Gu Ping felt a hint of disappointment grow inside him when he looked at the girl's vicious expression devoid of maturity.
But much to his surprise Qing Mianyang didn't back down and instead lifted her chin and scoffed at them. "Do you two even know what day it is?" Confused, the group of boys look towards Gu Ping and Gao Chang who also appear perplexed, not understanding what the girl is insinuating at all. Seeing this, she appeared even more annoyed and disgusted with them. She pursed her lips and managed to speak without wavering. "It's the eleventh day of the second month. Wang Lan Biyu's birthday." After saying this the girl flicks her sleeves and leaves them to stare at her back in a daze.
"Hmph." They thought she was just being vicious for no reason again weren't they? Recalling seeing their senior brother burning offerings for Wang Lan Biyu by himself earlier. She felt a bit complex. Even their senior brother who they all felt was cold-hearted and only worried about cultivation made time to burn incense and gifts for Wang Lan Biyu. What excuse did they have? They should be more considerate and at least make an offering this year to satisfy their master and ease his heart demons. But instead, they were making noise and laughing without knowing anything.
Qing Mianyang didn't remember Wang Lan Biyu's birthday on purpose. She only recalls it because the person she likes always seemed distracted and would murmur the date when it came close and go fawn over Wang Lan Biyu when the day came. When she thought of it, she didn't feel any jealousy anymore. She only felt that those days seemed so far away now and remembers them with melancholy. Taking out a silk lotus flower she had folded as carefully as she could the night before. She held it delicately in the palm of her hands and stood in the same place her senior brother had earlier.
Gently sprinkling a few agarwood shavings she had taken from her spacial pouch Qing Mianyang couldn't help the ache inside. Not mourning the money she would be burning, she snorts softly and murmurs to herself while handling the expensive silk lotus. "This miss's heart will ache for you, just for today. So you can't look down on my offerings or haunt me later, deal?" Even if she said so, when Mianyang set fire to the lotus watching it burn in the palm of her hand without scorching herself. Her harsh expression slowly unraveled with each petal set aflame and turned into gold ashes.
Initially, she wanted to close her hand and catch the flying ash but holding the urge in she opened her pursed lips to speak instead. "I never said thank you for what you did for me before. But if I said it now I think people would only scorn me more and say I was seeking forgiveness so as to not reap the karma being delivered to me." She fell silent as the core of the lotus slowly became swallowed in orange and red light. The words she wanted to say stuck in the back of her throat, as she suddenly didn't know what she could say to ease her burden. Only when the last of the silk was going to leave her did her eyes glisten with remorse.
"...Xièxiè, Wang Lan Biyu." The last handful of golden ashes floats to the sky leaving delicate traces of agarwood and warmth in its trail. Floating higher and higher till they became the only stars in the starless sky. Qing Mianyang stayed watching the gold ashe till they faded far in the distance never to be recovered again. For once in her life, the young girl demonstrated patience and solemnity so praised and sought after in their sect. At the cost of the only person who cared for her existence in their Azure sect.