They five of them had agreed to not stop and go straight to caiye town, they would take a day to rest there before going straight to the Nian sect. They were only half an hour away from caiye town and Wu Mian was looking at the town excitedly. It was quite a big and lively town.
Wu Mian was a rather short girl with plump cheeks and dark eyes. Her hair wasn't that long and was put up in two side buns. She had a hair pin in the small top bun at the top of her head. She had a small forehead chain attached to her hair. She was clad in a light blue dress with a white belt sash. Her face features were rather delicate. Soft eyes and a rather chubby noise that fit her chubby cheeks. She had rather thin lips. Wu Gong was quite the opposite, he was tall and had very thin but muscled body features. Sharp eyes and a sharp nose. He was very stoic looking and as such his personality was nothing alike his looks. He was a very bubbly person along with Wu Mian. Very curious about the world, loves to gossip but all by all total sweethearts.
They were enjoying the soft wind from the river that was currently present. "Do you think we will learn alot we don't already know?" Bai Shi whispered to his sister. She just shrugged. "Just pretend you don't know." Was all she said before curling her fingers through her hair again. Bai Shi also looked out to the town in front of them. It was definitely very lively and it reminded him off home. Soon enough the boat arrived at the pier and they got off. "Thank you so much sir! We truly enjoyed the trip, we will definitely be using your services again~" She smiled and the man nodded with a small smile as well. "I thank your kind words young masters!"
They walked around the town enjoying the people filled streets. It was a very diverse range of people and things. Many shops and taverns, a grand variety of things sold. Their eyes were moving all over at the speed of light. They were truly amazed. It was a pleasant surprise from the places they're used too. "Jiêjiê, doesn't this remind you?"
"It does, it feels nice doesn't it?" He nodded to her sentence as they walked along the path. The business gave them a sense of peace as strange as it may be. However it didn't last long as it was disrupted by an ear piercing scream.
The Bai siblings looked at each other with urgency and nodded. "Let's go." They immediately all agreed and followed the sound of the scream, it was toe curling. The scream reappeared. "Someone, anyone-" another scream. Two men appeared in front of the screaming people. They were surrounded by evil spirits. The men were clearly strong cultivators, they already had their swords at the ready. "These spirits are so vicious, they must've been agitated by something or someone." The other nodded.
The spirits were getting ready to attack and just before they could the sound of a stringed instrument reverberated through the air. Bai Xihe played her Kōnghóu while jumping into the circle. The two men looked at her as she continued to play. The song had a certain urgency to it but was yet very calm. The spirits were being attacked by the strums of music filled with magic. They still tried to attack her but she moved graciously avoiding every strike elegantly.
She spun around and placed her hand on the shoulder of one of the guys before kicking her leg back and strumming her kōnghóu hitting it. While doing so she glanced up at the handsome stranger and their eyes met. They both held a serious look on their face. She released her grip on his shoulder before advancing into the final part of the song which was rather dramatic. It sent out a massive wave of magic hitting all the evil spirits making them disappear in an instant.
The others immediately came out to the now empty open space. Wu Gong and Wu Mian immediately went to take a look at the injured people. "You're such a show off jiê." Bai Shi rolled his eyes as he walked over to her. "Me? A show off? How do you mean?" She asked as she made her kōnghóu disappear again. "You acted like you'd kick it but instead just showed off how capable you are with your kōnghóu, that's showing off." He explained and Bai Xihe chuckled slightly. "If you say so, now let's take a look at the wounded." She stated as she walked over to the wounded people.
A young couple was severely wounded in several places. Stabbed in the gut, one lost an arm or leg. One had half their guts about to spill out. The Bai siblings took a look at them. "I expected it to be worse." He stated and she nodded along. "Ah, tsk don't be so insensitive Bai Shi, they look like they are in pain. Let's try to be sympathetic hm?" She scolded him as she got some weird looks as well. "Let's not stall any longer." "Yes." Both waved their hands and item appeared. They both sat down on the ground with their legs crossed. The object was floating in the air as they sent some magical energy into it. Bai Xihe then made the item sent energy into Bai Shi who used it to heal the wounds on the couple. It took less then a second and they were as good as new.
The couple cried out of gratefulness and immediately bowed to them. "No need to thank us, you should hurry and get out of here." Bai Shi waved them off and they immediately scurried away leaving a few confused cultivators. "What is that? Why do you guys have such a strange reaction to their wounds? They were pretty severe and that thing just healed them instantly?!" Wu Mian exclaimed dramatically. "That thing? Ah you mean Zhìyù yīqiè?" She pointed at the weird item that resembled a bit like an incense burner. The others nodded. "Ah it's a ancient treasure handed down to people from our family. It has the ability to heal almost anything. It's filled with a very powerful healing water and we infuse it with our spiritual energy to then make it heal the wounds."
"Zhìyù yīqiè is indeed a proper name for it." One of the mystery spoke up. They all turned towards them and bowed as did they. "Forgive us for being impolite. May we ask your names?" The same guy asked again. Bai Xihe smiled. "But of course, I'm Bai Xihe from the WuGuan sect and you are?" She asked as she bowed once again as is customary upon introduction.
"Ah I'm Nian Haoyu from the Nian Lan sect." The other also bowed. "My name is Nian Chao also from the Nian Lan sect."
"Bai Shi from WuGuan sect."
"Guan Lan from WuGuan sect."
"Wu Gong and Wu Mian from WuGuan sect."
"I didn't expect to run into the famed twin dragons from the Nian sect. You really are as handsome as rumours said!" Wu Mian added. "Wu Mian, let's not." She chuckled awkwardly before nodding.
Both boys were almost fully identical, they were actual twins after all. One was slightly taller and paler then the other. He had sharper and more defined facial features. This was Nian Haoyu. His eyes had a light golden shine to them and were almost siren like. Sharp jawline and plump lips. He had a little mole under his right eye. Broad shoulders and overall a strong build.
Nian Chao was more on the softer side for facial features, a slightly rounder face with plump lips. Eyes rounder but colder as well. He had a little mole under his bottom lip also on the right side. Equally broad shoulders and strong build as his brother. "You must be here for the indoctrination then." Nian Haoyu deducted as they were all from the same sect. "That's right, we didn't expect to run into evil spirits or the famed Nian twins." Bai Shi spoke as he looked around the place.
Nian Haoyu smiled slightly. "It usually doesn't happen, but recently we've been having more and more cases of evil spirits attacking. Which reminds me, the song you played, I'm ashamed to say I haven't heard it before. Is it home to your sect and what's it called?" He asked fully interested. "Something must be disturbing the balance for them to act like this."
"It's quite normal for you to not know this song, as it's not in any book or music score you'll find. It's not native to my sect neither. It's something I wrote myself it is called wú qióng. And though the name means infinity it's not to be taken into that meaning. It's meaning is much more complex, it's a battle song that will play for all time to guide those who ventured on the wrong path back on the right one. Be it an evil spirit or someone who's lost their way, it shall guide those in need for infinite time."
"The song is indeed worthy of its name. It also guides the evil spirits to their resting place. Does your kōnghóu have a name as I can feel it is a spiritual weapon."
"Nian Haoyu you're very curious about my jiêjiê her skills."
Nian Haoyu bowed towards. "Her skills intrigued me and I'm always curious to know more about strong cultivators such as herself. If I had seen you in action I would have asked you questions alike." He admitted.
"aShi, don't be so mean! Yes it has a name and it's called Xi Yin."
"Hah, very well, fitting name for such a divine instrument. Are you guys headed to our sect now? We'd be happy to accompany you all."
"We thank you for your kind offer young master Nian, but we had already agreed to spend the day in Lan before going to the sect. We still have two days until the lessons start, so we would like to use this time to explore and enjoy ourselves. I hope you understand." Bai Xihe bowed.
"Go ahead then, Ge let's go. Diē is expecting us to report back on the situation." Nian Chao said before turning away after bowing to us. "Right, then we will see you when you arrive in Nian." Nian Haoyu bowed and left as well. "Wah, Nian Haoyu was so kind. I can't believe he complimented your skills senior! But then of course Bai seniors are also very famed in the cultivation world." Wu Mian blabbered as they walked back to the city.
"So Nian Chao huh?" She wiggled her eyebrows with a smug little smile on her face while talking to her little brother. "What? What are you on about jiê." She let a small chuckle escape her lips. "I saw you looking at him, has he caught your eye my dear brother?" His eyes widened. "You! What are you talking about? Jiêjiê I think you might've hit your head or something similar. I'm not a cut-sleeve." He stated annoyed.
She gave him a soft smile. "Interest could have many meanings aShi. Interest in his cultivation, friendship, love, and so on." She explained. They continued their day with exploring the city, enjoying the varsity of food and drinks. They each bought some trinkets.
Before finding an inn to sleep at for the night. "Shidjiê, how do you think it's going to go?"
"I think you worry too much Alan, just go to sleep and don't worry about things. Everything will be okay if you behave." With that said she nodded and ready for bed.
Bai Xihe glanced outside as the sky darkened and night fell. Her mind was in torment, deeply focused on something. Once it was around 3am she finally went to bed and let herself rest. Bai Shi wasn't any different and went to bed at the same time.
The next day they got up early and made their way to Nian. They were up in a mountain, surrounded by plenty of beauty and nature along the way. The trip didn't take but half a day's walk. It was known for their shifu to exaggerate to a certain extent. Some blamed it on his age and others blamed it on his secret mischievous side. Both were rather amusing to Bai Xihe.
They arrived at the entrance into cloud wisdom. They were met with some Nian disciples who stood guard. "Hi, we're here for the indoctrination." Wu Mian spoke excitedly as usual. "Do you have the invitation?" Bai Shi nodded and took out the five invites he had received from his shifu.
The disciple checked it and nodded allowing them inside. "Thank you." They bowed and entered. They walked around until they met with other Nian sect disciples. "Welcome Guan sect, please follow me to your designated rooms." The disciple bowed as a form of respect and so did the others. They were lead to cloud swooning pavilion. It would be their home for the next couple of months. They all settled in rather quickly and just occupied themselves until dinner time.
Bai Xihe went outside to get some fresh air and enjoy the view. It didn't take her long to sense another presence behind her. "Sneaking up on a lady, that's not very polite now is it Nian Haoyu gongzi." He chuckled softly before standing next to her bowing. "I wouldn't dare of it."
She turned to look at him with a smile on her face. "Then?" "Ah I came here to see, if you have settled in nicely and if you need anything else." Now her look turned into a teasing one. "gongzi, I don't think you would concern yourself with such trivial matters, rather I'd hoped to greet you at the entrance instead." He had his hands behind his back. "I wanted too, but I had to take care of something when you had arrived. This is why I came to find you now." He explained and she couldn't help but let out a small giggle.
"Just one day and I'm already on your mind all the time? Gongzi aren't you afraid I cast some kind of spell on you?" She teased and he laughed shaking his head. "You are by far a most interesting woman, strong and mysterious too. I get the feeling you're hiding some big power."
"Big power? Hm the big power I'm hiding? Well you see, I'll only tell you but this isn't how I actually look. In reality I'm much more beautiful, but if I showed people how beautiful I truly am. They would simply die with a glance." She said seriously and both stared at each other before bursting out in a fit of laughter. "I actually believe that." He admitted. She shook her head with a smile.
"So he came out here to have a laugh with her?" A taller then him male asked as he walked to stand beside him. Bai Shi looked at him and he had a scowl on his face. "Don't talk about my jiêjiê like that Nian Chao." He spat as he glared at him. "What are you going to do about it Bai Shi?" He asked.
"I'm going to make you regret it, my jiêjiê deserves respect and I'll make you respect her no matter what." He replied. Nian Chao couldn't help but chuckle before a smirk appeared on his face. "Yeah? Maybe you should start by making me respect you before trying anything else hm?"
Bai Shi had an annoyed look on his face. "You're smug now Nian Chao. But I'll make you hate and respect me. I'm warning you." He spat with venom laced in his voice.