Ch. 08

Huaisang who was dressed in a traditional manner greeted "Yue~! How have you been?" he hugged the girl "Sang-gege, I've been well" letting go of each other, she told her friends that they needed to be excused and walked off to a secluded area.

"You've become so thin"

"I'm alright. Why are you here all of a sudden?"

"I heard from Zixuan-gege and Jieli-xiong that you came back months ago"

"Ah it was a quick trip, sorry I didn't get to meet you"

"At that time...if I would've caught up to you before you left, you would've known that Wei Ying showed up"

"...stop with it already" she glared at him "It's been almost 8 years and even-..." catching herself before letting anything slip, she shakes her head "You know I don't mind you visiting me but with this kind of sick joke? It's not it"

"No, I genuinely want you to come back and see him for yourself... although he is a little different"

"Are you serious?"

"How else do you think I was approved to cross over" Shengsi wanted to believe it so badly but knowing Huaisang and his ways, he might just want her to help with a problem again.

"We leave tomorrow at 5 in the morning. You'll be staying with me at the Wei residence" Huaisang nodded feeling satisfied by the outcome of his unannounced visit.

"You're earlier than a Lan" the two giggled but Shengsi gave him a look.

"Tell me about everything tomorrow. Come on, I'll introduce you to my friends"

When the two got back to the cafe, the three boldly stared at Huaisang. "Sang-gege, these are my friends; He Yu, Zhang Xiaohou, and Mo Fan" They either smiled or waved at him "Guys this is someone very close to me from where I'm from, Nie Huaisang" he waved his hand fan.

"Er...where exactly are you from?" Xiaohou scratched the his nape.

"Since next week's classes are suspended...I was wondering if you guys would like to come with me..back to my homeland" Huaisang was surprised that she was inviting them "Yue" she smiled at him "Don't worry, they're good people"

"I'm up for it"

"So am I"

"I always wanted to travel!"

Shengsi was a little nervous despite being excited "We'll leave at 5 in the morning, just pack what's important, I'll buy the other things there"

"Woah so early" Mo Fan commented

She shrugs "It'll take almost 3 hours to get there, might as well leave early" she grabbed her bag and gestured for them to follow her "I'm buying you guys some palazzo pants for tomorrow since you can't get in looking like that" the three were confused.

"What's wrong with our outfit? It's normal" He Yu questioned then Shengsi pointed at Huaisang who was walking with them "This is the fit we need, you're entry outfits are temporary...I'll just explain when we get there" she sigh.

•~•~•

Huaisang and Shengsi were wearing traditional clothing and the three had shirts and their light gray palazzo pants on "Here, wear these. Properly cover up and hide your inner clothing" she handed He Yu an overcoat and gave the two boys a full-length cloak

"These looks so cool" Xiaohou mumbles since it was too early in the morning and they were still sleepy.

"Hey you okay? You look a little pale" Mo Fan whispered to her "I'm fine, it's just dark that's why my skin tone stood out"

They got in the rented car and Shengsi was the one driving since Huaisang didn't have a licence —despite being 8 years older than her— while the other three were now sound asleep at the backseat.

Half an hour went by and the two made sure the three were truly in slumber before initiating a conversation.

"Why didn't you just send Liu?"

"Can't I come and see you? Plus Liu went to Lanling"

"Then I should be honored that you personally told me about Ying-gege"

"It's better than attending those boring meetings, I could fall asleep"

"...So does Zhan-gege know?"

"About what?"

"Ying-gege"

"I don't know"

"Sang-ge, that doesn't work on me"

"Ugh of course, he's quick when it comes to Wei-xiong" he went silent and it might not seem much but Shengsi notice how he subtly fidgets

"Is there something more? Just spit out what you know"

There was a moment of silence, Shengsi briefly glanced at the older male from her peripheral vision, patiently waiting.

"Zixuan has returned to Lanling along with Yanli" her eyes widened but kept her focus on the road "What do you mean return? Before I left we both know that the Jin- No, more like Gaungyao was indeed the culprit behin Leader Nie's mishap. Why would they suddenly move back without telling me and what about Jinling?" Her voice was laced with worry and Huaisang knows that regardless of her age, she can act mature under those childish charades just like how he can be manipulative under his incompetent behaviour.

With a heavy heart he finally broke out the news to her "...Da-ge's mishap and your parents' unforseen death..were related"

Shengsi's grip on the wheel tighten and suddenly her throat felt dry "My parents?...so Guangyao"

Huaisang nods and started to explain "A few weeks before you left for high school, I found bits of clues pointing to your parents death. Unsure if the information can be trusted, I kept it to myself. Later on as I dug deep on my brother's death, solid evidence about them started to show up. Guangshan and Guangyao plotted everything, even the allegations against Wei-xiong. Guangshan's death -if you remember- was due to Guangyao to claim his position"

'Those bastards..I hope Guangshan gets devoured by the evil entities in the pits of hell! I'll make sure that Guangyao will suffer before me and disintegrate his soul' her anger and hatred was indescribable as tears threatened to fall. Huaisang kept quiet, giving her time to let the information sink in.

"Is this why you wanted me to return?" Huaisang shook his head but the girl's thought was to make Guangyao suffer 'I hardly spend time with my parents and he had the audacity to cut it THAT short'

Huaisang cleared his throat "O-On you're behalf, I've plotted a revenge on him-" he was immediately cut off "Good, let's both make it worth the while"

"He's dead" Shengsi nearly slammed the breaks "What?!"

"I was already eyeing this person practically about to commit suicide so I found a way for him to fulfill his dying wish as he sacrifice his body to retrieve Wei Wuxian's soul" Shengsi kept silent, although she was thankful for him bringing back Wei Ying's soul that didn't justify his action on completely pushing someone into killing themself.

"On his exact village, I dropped in Da-ge's left arm filled with resentment." He started explaining his entire scheme in details "..and that's when Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji were able to completely solve the case...and Lan Xichen..was the one who finished off Guangyao" astounded by how he didn't need to get blood on his hand to avenge his brother and Shengsi's parents —on her behalf— she also felt bad that Xichen was the one to kill their prey knowing full well that Xichen and Guangyao had a great brother like relationship.

"I wasn't even able to bring justice for my own parents death, I also ran away from my responsibilities and let Jieli-gege take it all" Huaisang shook his head "Staying alive and well, and thinking about them would already be enough for them. I wouldn't also have finished the entire plan without you" seeing the confused look on her face, he started to explain "Those materials and "story ideas" that we've been sending back and forth through Liu were all for our revenge, and your connection with the Black Lotus helped a lot" she smirked, feeling that atleast somehow she had contribution to Guangyao's death "I'm sure now that they're in peace"

Silence once again surrounded them and it was comforting that they could finally rest from such chaos, may it be out in the open or in discreet.

>>

Hours passed by and they were only a few minutes away from their destination. The three were fully awake, all of them were chatting idly until...

Parking in a private looking school where all students were dressed traditionally, they got off the car and weren't sticking out like a sore thumb "Now you see why I asked you to wear those?" The three nod "Let's hurry, I don't want to waste more time" they walked to the back of the school passing by a large training ground where students were having a field magic activity.

'They study on a field?! Now that's what you call learning' the three were enjoying every second of being there until they've reached a certain almost empty area where a few guarding mage stood.

"Sector Leader Nie" they bowed to him and looked at the teenagers warily.

"I'm a senior disciple at Yuezhou Sector, I've return with guest disciples. Please hand them a blindfold" Shengsi's face was voided of emotions and handed her friends black cloth serving as their blindfold.

Mo Fan was first to speak "Shengsi, what's going on?" she only grabbed the cloth from him and tied it over his eyes "Trust me, this is the only way you guys will get there"

When the three see nothing but darkness, they stood beside each other —He Yu was in the middle— as either side of them were occupied by Huaisang and Shengsi "Rid yourselves from evil intentions towards where were going to avoid..casualties"

After walking for what seems like 10 minutes, they come to an abrupt halt "Would you guys prefer tea or water"

"Water" were their simultaneous respond and a cup was handed to them. With a bit of a struggle being blindfolded they managed to drink the given water and left the cup to walk for another minute.

"You can take them off now"

The three were baffled by where they are, as if they've traveled back in time. They were in a forest and a view of a village or town wasn't far ahead the clear path "Where are we?" He Yu asked "Welcome to the World of Cultivators, we're currently at Gusu" they smiled at her feeling excited as they walked down the path.

"We're going to eat breakfast at Caiyi Town, that place ahead of us and the place Sang-gege was talking about in the car"

>>

Huaisang parted with them along the way since he had to go back to Qinghe for some paperworks. The teens walked in a tavern and settled the seats near the windows "Since you guys are my guest disciples, I'll pay for everything so you don't have to worry."

"What can I get you?" a worker walks up to them.

Xiaohou was the first to speak "Four steamed pork buns" then Shengsi "Four Ginger Chicken Congee -one is spicy-" next was He Yu "Four Tofu pudding" and lastly it was Mo Fan "Two plates of dumplings and spicy crispy Potato" they all nod, satisfied by the orders they made for each other.

"So what is this whole disciple thing and why is everything so traditional?" Xiaohou had been itching to talk but would get distracted by his old-fashioned surrounding.

"You could say we're in a different yet same world as before. We're currently in Gusu located in Jiangsu area but like what you guys are thinking, it looks to have taken us back in time since were in the World of Cultivators" a staff served them tea as they proceeded with their conversation.

"Cultivators and Mages are different. A cultivator only have one chance of awakening their element, a Mage -even after awakening their first element- can awaken more as they proceed to up their level" completely immered by her explaining, she continues "Sector have a prominent clan that trains people as their disciples, clans can invite disciples from other clan to train. There are 5 well-known sectors and clans that molds great cultivators; the Gusu Lan, Yunmeng Jiang, Qinghe Nie, Lanling Jin, and Yuezhou Zhao Clan. I'm a disciple at Yuezhou Sector hence why I have this uniform" She sips her tea discreetly scanning their surrounding "So we'll be traveling and training at Yuezhou, there used to be the Wen's from Qishan but a war happened" She explained the Sunshot Campaign and the history of what happened.

When the food was served they all happily devoured the warm and savory meal, it was delicious and they were quick to finish.

"Yuezhou takes in disciples but only handpicked ones, either from the gods and clan or sectpr leader. The current sector leader is Zhao Jieli, so you must pay your respect. Your uniforms will be given once we arrive at the Zhao Residence, and training along with night hunts will be done"

"This means it can help us improve our magical abilities! So I can actually move a level up!"

"Yes you can if you work hard enough"

"This'll help Mo Fan with his duel" He Yu pointed out

"You're right, and with Shengsi's guidance along with others, we'll do great!" Shengsi chuckled at their enthusiasm and continued to talk until it was time to leave "Let's get you guys a more proper clothing" Shengsi left the money on the table as they venture out of the tavern.