Farther from the main city in a remote mountain stood a sect, it was considered one of the most famous and influential places a young man could be part of, of course apart from training in literacy and politics. The sect was called The White Cranes Sect; a school to train young men to become fully trained guards either in positions in noble houses or the Emprial city and depending on merit any trained soldier may even become a military official.
In the backyards of said sect a group of children trained with wooden swords or polearms, though most were given chores to strengthen their small bodies and lengthen their stamina.
One such boy, with tan skin and straight black hair put up in a messy bun, briskly walked through the corridors holding a bucket and a dirty rag as he hummed loudly to himself.
He had cleaned one of the lecture rooms spotless until he could see his reflection on the dark wood floors and desks. He huffed proudly, walking faster to meet up with his brothers on the other side of the sect.
Just when he rounded the corner he startled badly, shouting and things being echoed on the empty hallway.
"YOU INSOLENT! GOOD FOR NOTHING-!"
THUNK!
Meng Kang curiously and carefully tiptoed near the windows of the room that were slightly ajar, peering inside the office.
A man clad in fine robes of dark blue and orange angryly pointed at another man in more simpler darker garbs befitting a common soldier.
"LOUYANG!"
The man gave a faux pitying look, " Ayo, headmaster, don't yell. Y'know, I heard yelling ages you like crazy."
"And who's fault is it, huh?!" Before the other man could open his mouth the sect leader brought a hand up to stop them, " Shut up."
The man pointed at the corner something out of site of Meng Kang's view.
"How many times is this going to happen until I finally throw you out of my sect? This isn't even the second or fifth time you did this!" He yelled.
The soldier scratched his neck, " I swear this time I was caught by surprise. The kid just felled on my lap and tried to kill me-"
"-So you decided to bring him here!?" The headmaster leveled him with a look of pure annoyance and exasperation, the man looked away huffing angryly and sitting down.
Meng Kang tried his best to hold his laugh behind his hand as the headmaster brought his hands to face.
"Give me a good reason, why I shouldn't throw both of you out."
The soldier smirked proudly, " You can't throw me out, you love me too much. Plus the kid has potential I'll give him that. Something very well needed in this school. Honestly, there are more young master in this school who don't even want to get their pretty little hands dirty. While the actual working ones barely even get a seat in classes."
"So your response to that is to bring street urchins from who knows where into my school, to what? Make it a better place? Let me remind you, that it makes no difference to me. And that you are paying this out of your pocket Louyang." The headmaster looked away, picking up the mess on his table and putting on his glasses.
Said man shrugged, " Bah, what's one more?" The man's gaze shifted to the corner, to whoever is standing out of site of Meng Kang's view.
The headmaster audibly made a 'tsk' sound. "Unfortunate for you, but there is no more space to house him in. The dormitories are full and the classes are as well. So either you find that boy place outside of my sect or you put him back where you found him." He responded giving him the fiercest glare that could send even teachers to rethink twice, unfortunately for the headmaster, it doesn't work on this particular soldier no matter how hard he tries.
The soldier didn't look away from the kid completely ignoring the stare. " Don't worry, he's not going to be with the other kids. I'm taking him in myself."
The headmaster raised a thin eyebrow, " You're gonna adopt him?"
"Well, I was thinking more of a ward-"
"You don't do wards, Luoyang. Your bleeding heart wouldn't last day." He opens a shelf, producing a series of papers from his drawer and setting them on the desk.
Luoyang glanced at them in bewilderment, " Huh? You just have those documents on hand?"
" Yes. Sign." He pointed at the paper.
"Hold on, this time could be different, I already have three kids-"
"Luoyang. You're wasting my time. Sign, and get out of my sights."
The soldier sighed, taking a few minutes to sign the documents as he had done before. The headmaster gave it one last look and put them away. " Now, I don't care where you found him or how difficult his life has been as long as he's putting in the work, passes his exams, and doesn't stir trouble he can stay." The headmaster gazed directly towards the boy as he spoke the last part of his sentence.
"Yeah, yeah." The soldier turned around, walking toward the door. Meng Kang gasped silently, and moved to tiptoe quickly before he saw him-
The doors slide open. The soldier looked at the tan boy tiptoeing out of the corridor, Luoyang rolled his eyes and smirked. " Meng Kang!"
The boy stood straight immediately. Sheepishly turning around holding the bucket on his chest. "Uh, yes, fuquin?"
"Come meet your new brother." He pointed behind him where a kid with a mop of wavy hair and raggedy robes and bandaged hands, with no shoes. His feet were dirty and full of cuts and bruises, his left foot bandaged at the ankle. His eyes were completely covered by his bangs but it seemed his cheeks and neck were filled with scratches too.
Meng Kang felt his heart squeeze at the sad sight. It reminded him of the other children in the orphanage where he used to live, fighting for scraps of food or attention. He tried to care for as many as possible but he couldn't save all of them. And much recently his now younger brothers. Who was picked up by his father a year and a half ago, malnourished and caked in old dried blood.
He wants to care for this boy, now that his living in a more stable house. And show him what he probably wasn't able to get in his previous home.
He put his bucket down and walked to the boy. The boy didn't shy away, he just stood and watched Meng Kang behind those bangs.
"Hi, my names Meng Kang! What's yours?"
The boy stood there silently a lot longer than expected. Meng Kang gazes up to his father questionably. The man smiled softly.
"C'mon, kid. All you have to say is your name." He gave the child a few small pats on the head.
Meng Kang caught a glimpse of the boy's eyes, storm grey eyes that were wide open, maybe in shock. Meng Kang internally noted to give his new little brother as many pats on the head as needed. And hugs! Those were very important.
The boy seemed to tense and untense for a few seconds. With a quiet voice, he said his name.
"Yan Qiu."
Both Meng Kang and his father smiled widely. Meng Kang did a formal, though uncoordinated bow at his brother. He has a new brother!
"Hi, Yan Qiu! Nice to meet ya!"