With spells casted on the ferry, the travel was fast, and by the next morning they had already reached the Port of Yangzhou. There were already envoys at the harbour receiving them, stabling many of the horses.
The party ate breakfast at the harbour, but since the feathered tribe didn't require sustenance, they sat by the edge of the harbour with their eyes closed,
resting their spirits. Dawn had only just broken then, and there weren't many merchants around conducting business, but the deck hands had all risen already, gathering together in threes and fives together chowing down porridge and steamed buns, peeking and stealing curious glances at them from time to time.
Bits and pieces of talk from those beefy men in simple labour robes as they chewed their meal fell in Mo Ran's ears.
"Aye aye, I recognize their clothes. They're people of the Lower Cultivation Realm." "The Lower Cultivation Realm is so far away, and our sect rarely interacts with them, so how would you know?" "Just look at the coat of arms on their vambraces. Isn't it exactly the same as those on the Holy Night Guardian?" "You're talking about those wooden devices that expel evil?" Someone took a glance at Xue Meng's sleeve, and exclaimed in awe as he chewed the pickles crunchily, "Aiyoh, it's true. Who was the one that made the Holy Night Guardians again?" "I heard it was Yuheng Elder of Sisheng Peak who made it." "Who's Yuheng Elder? Is he as powerful as our Sect Leader Jiang of Guyue'ye?" "Hehe, who knows. Who's to say anything about the world of cultivators." The deck hands spoke with a heavy Su dialect and Mo Ran couldn't quite comprehend, but Chu Wanning could understand what those people were saying. Learning that the Holy Night Guardians that he had invented was now successfully being distributed throughout the common world, he couldn't help but feel comforted. Thus, he started plotting mentally, thinking that after they return he should invent more lighter-geared wooden oxen or horses, and do more good.
Once breakfast was done, the group took haste, and it didn't take four hours before they had reached the foot of Mount JiuHua. It was still early in the day,
the sun of a winter's day had only just reached its peak, and millions of golden light threads came kissing down like silk, sinking the snowy summit in a crystal luminescence, glittering magnificently. Upon the slopes of the summit were hundreds of luscious ancient pines that remained evergreen, standing resolutely in the frost, much like a hermit cultivator with an immortal air, sleeves lowered eyes half-lidded, deadly silent as they stood on either side of the mountain path.
It wasn't for nothing that the mortals called the summit of Mount JiuFeng the "Unmortal World".
The feathered tribe whistled thrice at the foot of the mountain, and a little golden canary with vibrantly charming feathers came flying out of the white,
snowy piedmont, and landed lightly before them. The group followed the golden canary's lead, heading west the entire way, and came before a curtain of turbulent and tempestuous waterfall.
"Will my lord cultivators please step back." The leader of the feathered tribe stood in front, her hand imitating the hand of Buddha, and she silently recited a spell. Suddenly, she pursed her scarlet lips,
and gently blew into the wind. Shockingly, a beam of flames appeared in midair,
lunging straight for the waterfall, dividing the water curtain into half!
The feathered tribe breezily turned around and smiled, "I sincerely invite my lords to step into the Peach Blossoms Spring." They followed after the feathered tribe and passed through the water curtain.
After crossing the barrier, the scenery suddenly brightened before their eyes.
This place was vast without an end in sight, but bustling and lively like the other world. The Peach Blossom Springs was a sheltered world without many connections to the cultivation world, and while it couldn't be compared to the real Land of the Immortals, nevermind spoken of as equals, nonetheless this land was rich with spiritual chi. Within the Springs, the sceneries were as if they came out of poetry and paintings, the colours elegant and delicate, and after having walked for a while, they discovered the changing of seasons was randomized too.
With the feathered tribe leading the way, they first passed through the wilderness, and the sound of the coursing rivers roared in their ears, the cries of apes and beasts on either shores. Then they came to the outskirts of the city,
and saw vast farmlands of crisscrossing field paths, the wheat swaying along with the breeze. Finally, when they had entered the city fortress, there were immaculate and detailed buildings as far as the eye could see, the eaves tall and grand.
The main capital of this Peach Blossoms land was magnificent and beautiful,
the city itself grand, its provisions complete, not appearing any less than the lively city centres of the mortal realm. Only, falling blossoms and drifting snowflakes danced together in the air, rare birds and immortal herons took flight together in flocks, and all the feathered tribe folks who passed by were neck tall and handsome, their figures picturesque and breezy, each looking like unparalleled fairies who emerged from paintings.
However, while such an ethereal scene appeared rather new and interesting for Xue Meng and company, but since they had already witnessed the bizarre sight of Jincheng Lake, this was no longer anything that'd shock them.
They came to a fork in the road, and saw a feathered tribe folk donned in a grand feathered coat embroidered with a gold phoenix and a pure white under layer standing upright by an ancient tree, so tall it reached the skies. That flame mark on her forehead was much deeper than any of the others, signalling that her powers were far greater than the other feathered tribe.
The envoys leading the way brought the group of them before her, then bent one knee to the ground, bowing their respects, "Great Immortal Lord, the four xianjun of ShiSeng Peak have come." "Thank you for your hard work, you may stand down." "Yes, milord."
The feathered tribe folk who was beautifully dressed smiled softly, her voice clear and affecting like the crowing of a young phoenix.
"I am named Eighteen. By the recognition from the immortal elder of my family, I was given the grand title of Great Immortal Lord in the Peach Blossoms Springs. We are much thankful that my lords are willing to show us the courtesy of coming to train in this humble abode. Should xianjun find any inadequate reception in the duration of your stay here, please do forgive us and do not be afraid to let us know." Such beauty, and such grace when she spoke, she certainly gave a good impression.
Although Xue Meng didn't enjoy men who looked better than him, he was nevertheless at an age where he was beginning to know beauty and affections,
so naturally he didn't dismiss ladies so beautiful it was as if they emerged from paintings. Thus, he smiled in response, "Xianjun is too kind, but this name Eighteen certainly is odd. May I inquire for xianjun's family name?" Eighteen replied gently and courteously, "I have no family name. Eighteen is it." Mo Ran laughed heartily, "If you're called Eighteen, then is there someone here named Seventeen?" That was meant to be a joke, but who knew when Eighteen heard him, she grinned in spite of herself, "Xianjun is wise. Seventeen is my sister." Mo Ran: "..." Eighteen explained, "We feathered tribe are born from the fallen down feathers of the Heavenly God Zhuque. When our cultivation was still shallow, we often appear in the form of a crested ibis. The one to form an appearance first was the elder immortal of my family, and the rest of the feathered tribe are thus named in order of forming appearances, starting with One, Two… I am the eighteenth one, and so I am named Eighteen." "..." After Mo Ran heard he fell speechless. He had originally thought Xue Zhengyong was already horrible at giving names, but he hadn't thought there was one who was even worse here —going by numbers directly.
Then, Eighteen said something that made him even more thunderstruck.
"Come. Let's get down to business. This is the first time you have come to this place, and you're not yet familiar with the training rules of the Peach Blossoms Springs." Eighteen said, "In the mortal realm, for centuries, cultivation has been divided by schools and sects. This place is different. We feathered tribe have always been very clear in dividing work. There are those who specialize in 'Defense', those who specialize in 'Attack', and those who specialize in 'Healing'. There are three divisions in all, and your training will also be conducted thus accordingly." Mo Ran smiled, "That's brilliant." Eighteen nodded towards him, "Thank you for thinking so, little xianjun. The cultivators from Guyue'ye also came by several days ago, and when they heard about this training method, they were all quite displeased." Mo Ran felt incredulous, "Defense is defense, attack is attack, and healing is healing. Isn't such a clean division a good thing? What are they unhappy about?" "You see," Eighteen replied, "There is a young master Duan from Guyue'ye who belonged in 'Defense', and needed to reside with the other xianjun of the same division. But, his ShiJie belonged to 'Attack', and must train and live with the xianjun of the Attack Division. While I don't quite understand the affections and relations of mortalkind, but I could still tell that young master wasn't willing to be separated from his sworn sister." "Haha, what's up with th—wait, what did you say?!" Mo Ran stopped laughing halfway through when it suddenly dawned on him, and his eyes widened, "Not only do those who belonged in different divisions have to train separately, they have to live apart too?" Eighteen didn't know why his face suddenly changed and replied in confusion, "That's right." Mo Ran's entire face turned blue, "..." What kind of joke was this?!
An hour later, Mo Ran, who had failed in his bargaining with Eighteen, stood dumbfoundedly before a bright and spacious little four sided courtyard residence, and sank into a long, deep silence.
Him, Xue Meng, and Xia Sini belonged in the Attack division, and were sent to the east side of the Peach Blossoms Springs. By 'east side', it wasn't just any small allotted land, but the place where all the xianjun who belonged in 'Attack' lived. There were already more than twenty some of those courtyard residences that housed four, and there were also mountains and lakes, streets and markets,
built very much similar to those of the mortal realm. It seemed it was because the feathered tribe knew they were going to live here for a long time, so it was built thus to help them rid of their homesickness.
As for Shi Mei, since he belonged to 'Healing', he was sent to the south side of the Peach Blossoms Springs. It was exceptionally far from where Mo Ran and the others lived, and there was even a barrier set up in between that could only be traversed through with the Authority Staff. This meant, while Mo Ran and Shi Mei were both inside the Peach Blossoms Springs, other than the daily gathering of all three divisions to learn the beginner's cultivation method of the feathered tribe, there was basically no other chances for them to see each other.
This wasn't even the worst of it either.
Mo Ran suddenly looked up, and gazed towards the courtyard through his thick curtains of lashes at the Xue Meng who was circling all over the yard,
obviously planning on picking the most comfortable room for himself. Mo Ran could feel the veins on his forehead pop in spite of himself.
Xue Meng…
That's right. Fucking hell. From today onwards, he would have to live in the same courtyard as Xue Meng everyday! Perhaps for the next long while, he would have to thoroughly experience two of the eight great sufferings of life: the separation from loved ones and the meeting of enemies....
The feathered tribe had been going from the Upper Cultivation Realm to the Lower Cultivation Realm to find their chosen ones, and by the time they reached SiSeng Peak, they were already at the end of their journey. Thus, those sent from all the other sects had already settled in before them, and Xue Meng soon discovered that one of the rooms of their little four sided courtyard was already occupied.
"Weird. I wonder who's settled in here." Xue Meng mumbled as he glanced at the blanket being hung to dry in the yard.
"No matter who it is, it shouldn't be anyone who'd make much fuss." Mo Ran said.
"What do you mean?" "Let me ask you," Mo Ran said, "Which room did you pick?" Xue Meng immediately looked cautious, "What are you planning? I've already made my choice, the one sitting in the north facing south is mine. If you're gonna fight me for it, then I'll…" He hadn't yet figured out what he was going to do before Mo Ran cut him off laughingly, "I don't like rooms that are too big, so I won't fight with you. But let me ask you, if this residence was still empty—" He said, and pointed at the little room that someone had already moved into, and continued his query, "Would you change with him?" Xue Meng looked at that simple little thatched cottage first before glaring at Mo Ran, "Do you think I'm dumb? Of course I won't change." Mo Ran laughed, "That's why I said that person isn't someone who'd make a fuss. See, when he came, all four rooms in this courtyard are empty, but he didn't pick the best one, and only chose that short, little hovel. If this man isn't a fool, then he's a humble gentleman." "..." This analysis certain wasn't wrong, but Xue Meng felt like his face was ripped open by the hidden knife in Mo Ran's smile. The other man was a gentleman, leaving the best room to sleep in a dilapidated hut, then wasn't he a stinking, vulgar, common man, a petty cheapskate?
But Mo Ran didn't call Xue Meng out by name, so Young Master Xue couldn't yell back, nor could he endure it, so in the moment, his entire face flushed red.
"Either way… I'm used to living well." Xue Meng choked in resentment and rebuked with a dark face, "I can't stand rundown places in any case, so whoever wants to be a gentleman can go right ahead. I don't care." Having made his statement, he turned and left.
Thus, the four different styled rooms of the courtyard residence were all taken by different masters.
Xue Meng chose the exquisite residence in the north, the walls pale and the shingles black, the threshold lined with gold; the most luxurious room. Mo Ran picked the stone cottage on the west, a peach tree planted by the entrance, the flowers at the height of their blossoming. As for Chu Wanning, he asked for the bamboo building on the east side, and when the sun sank at dusk on the west,
the tender, gentle bamboos were like illuminated crisp, bright jades.
And on the south side, that humble, simple thatched cottage resided that 'gentleman' they had yet to meet.
Chu Wanning's cold wasn't yet healed, and his head was spinning crazily, so he had gone to rest quite early. Xue Meng stayed with him for a bit, but since this little ShiDi didn't snuggle or whine, nor did he cared to listen to stories, wrapping himself up like a little sticky rice ball and only cared to sleep in muffled peace, Xue Meng sat on the edge of his bed for a little while before he found himself unneeded, and dusted himself off and left.
In the yard, Mo Ran had pulled a chair out and was just putting his legs up,
his arms pillowing behind his head as he watched the golden sun sink in the west and the blazing rays peel away in leisure.
Seeing Xue Meng come out, he asked, "Xia-Shidi is asleep now?" "En." "Has his fever gone down?" "If you care about him, why don't you go inside and see for yourself?" Mo Ran laughed heartily, "The little guy probably isn't deep asleep yet, my clumsiness might rouse him." Xue Meng gave him a look, "Well at least you're aware of yourself. And here I thought you're just like the cats and dogs mom raised, and only knew how to chill out in the yard and be lazy." "Haha, and how do you know I'm being lazy?" Mo Ran twiddled with a peach blossom between his fingers, and looked up with a smile, "The time I spent here sitting in the yard was enough to discover a shocking, major secret." Xue Meng obviously didn't want to ask, but was still curious nonetheless,
and after bearing it in for a good while, with his face still stiff, he worked out an expression of indifference before he muttered, "...What major secret?" Mo Ran waved at him and squinted his eyes, "Bring your ear closer and I'll tell you in secret." "..." Incredibly unwilling, Xue Meng lowered his gracious ear over. Mo Ran pressed close, and chuckled quietly, "Hehe, got you. Dumb Meng Meng." Xue Meng's eyes bulged in round circles and immediately exploded in outrage, yanking over Mo Ran's collar, "YOU LIED TO ME? HOW JUVENILE ARE YOU?!" Mo Ran laughed, "How have I lied? I did discover a secret, but I also didn't want to tell you, that's all." Xue Meng's dark brows hardened, "If I continue to believe you then I'm truly a fool!" The two bickered like a bird pecking a dog and a dog biting a bird, and Mo Ran was just about to teasingly say something else to provoke the other to get even angrier when suddenly, a foreign voice laced with confusion from behind went "En?" before speaking, "Are the two of you new training peers?" This man's voice was clear and crisp, more supple and bright than your average youth.
Mo Ran and Xue Meng both turned their heads back, and saw in the crimson blood red of the remnant sun, a man dressed in a tight suit was standing there against the wind.
This man was born with deep features, his brows inky black, a black jaded hair crown fastened atop his head, and his honey-colored face was both handsome and spirited. While his body wasn't tall or buff, his figure was exceedinging commanding, more esteemed than those distinguished and with class. Especially those pair of long legs: with the bindings of a tight black suit,
they appeared even more shapely and powerful, straight and gallant.
Mo Ran's expression instantly changed, and it felt like the blood and sins of a separate world flashed before his eyes.
It was as if he saw a silhouette kneeling in the tempest of blood, the collarbones shot through with a steel chain[1], flesh on half the face ripped away but would rather die than surrender, refusing to yield.
His heart trembled, like a crystal dew drop that dripped from a leaf, and Mo Ran actually couldn't describe what it was he was feeling.
If there was anyone he had respected and admired in his previous life, then the one before his eyes now was definitely one of them.
So the honorable gentleman who was to live with them… was actually him,
huh…
Author's Notes:
First day of school, Mo Weiyu🐟 came to Mount JiuHua Bird Folk University and is living in a four person dorm room~ Mo Ran: Hi everybody! I'm Mo Weiyu from HuNan XinTang! I'm studying philosophy! Please take care of me!
Chu Wanning: Chu Wanning, I came from Lin'an. That pile of laundry on the balcony is mine, I'll throw them all into the washing machine and wash them later at night. But I don't know how to stuff my duvet covers, if anyone could help me with that, thanks.
Mo Ran: ....
Xue Meng: Xue Ziming, SiChuan, do not provoke me. The entire lower cultivation world's economic backbone is under my dad's hands, if any of you dare to bully me, my dad can ruin the stocks of your parents hold.
Mo Ran: ....
Meanwhile — The dorm room's door opened! The dorm leader came back from washing mosquito nets in the laundry room!!
Then, from the side character roster, is he Mei Hanxue, or is he Ye Wangxi?
This is an easy question~
[1] To shoot through a martial artist with a steel chain through their collarbones was said to be the way to rip them of their abilities and subdue them.