Ch. 09

"This place is wonderful! I've always thought of what it's like to be in a place like this after watching so many wuxia and xianxia films" He Yu beamed and gestured to her newly bought hanfu "Now look at me wearing traditional clothing in this world" Xiaohou nods as he would often point at something and ask questions.

"They're completely engrossed by this, aren't they?" Shengsi mused trying to distract herself from the feeling of lightheadedness "Well it's not everyday that we can travel to another world" Mo Fan sounded like he contradicted himself a bit since he is from another world. They kept on walking to the direction of Lanling as Shengsi let them admire the stalls and what not.

Mo Fan stopped at a stall that had various accessories "These are handmade with fine materials, the process of making them is passed through the generation of my family" the lady infromed "I assure you that the quality is great" Mo Fan shook his head "I was just looking" Shengsi walks up to them "This one looks pretty" she picked up a silver hair stick that had few beads with a silver butterfly dangling from it.

"You're partner have a good eye, this was recently made by my grandmother" Mo Fan looked like he wanted to buy it but didn't know how their currency worked.

Xiaohou walked behind Shengsi and whispered to her ear "I want to buy that hair clip for He Yu, please. I'll pay you when we get back to our world" She smiled under the mask that covered half of her face and nodded passing him a certain amount of money.

"We'll take it, please wrap it nicely" she handed the item and money to the lady

"I'll take this" Xiaohou showed the lady a simple hairpin and paid for it.

The lady then handed the neatly wrapped item to Shengsi "Give this to Xinxia as a present" handing it to Mo Fan as she attempt to walk ahead yet she staggered "I think we should rest somewhere for a bit" Mo Fan suggested as he put his arm around her.

Meanwhile Xiaohou approached He Yu and put the flower clip on her "There, it's as cute as you so I bought it" this made her blush but managed to stutter out a thank you.

"I-I think we should check up on Si-jie" she pointed at the girl who was being supported by Mo Fan and both rushed to her side "Hey, what's wrong?" Xiaohou took the things they were carrying.

"It's nothing, we just need to take a seat" Shengsi forced herself to stand straight then walk but ended up stumbling before her body finally gave up and she fainted.

"Shengsi!" Mo Fan managed to catch her making himself take the impact.

"Fan-ge, what are we going to do?" Xiaohou was obviously panicking "We don't know where Mr. Nie is. How can we ask for help?" He Yu was already in the verge of tears "It's okay, we just need to find an Inn and a doctor" Mo Fan assured them when suddenly a boy who wore white robes and forehead ribbon approached them, he looked just a few years younger than them.

"What happened here? Come let's get out of the walkway so we can tend to her" Mo Fan gently carried her on his back as they follow the boy feeling that they could trust him.

They ended up on a few steps just outside of an alley where two men stood; one was also wearing white robes and had a frozen expression, and the other one was wearing black robes "We apologize for bothering you but we're unfamiliar with this place and our friend lost consciousness" Mo Fan stated as the three of them bowed.

"Eh? Are you guys from Yuezhou?" the man in black asked. Hearing this, the three came to a silent agreement and nod while Mo Fan still took the lead "We're traveling with her since we are not familiar with this place"

"How about you guys get a room and stay there until she wakes up" another young boy who wore white suggested.

"That was our initial plan, we just wanted to ask if you knew any doctor that could check on her condition" not knowing what urge pushed the man in black, he smiled at the three "One room is enough, let us accompany you for the time being" he scanned over the mysterious girl on Mo Fan's back "Have she been practicing Inedia? She seems to also be fatigued" The man in white started walking but before they could reach the Inn, they heard a groan.

"Mo Fan? Xiaohou? He Yu?" She hurried off Mo Fan's back almost losing her balance.

Shengsi looked distressed and have forced herself awake knowing that these three was her responsibilities "Miss calm down, you must rest" she looked wary at the boy who spoke then her gaze fell onto the man in white "Zhan-gege?" the boys with the two men looked surprised at how casual she spoke to the well respected figure but they were on high alert, especially the man in black.

He could only nod, unsure of how to respond "Eh! Who are you to speak so casual with Hanguang-jun" yet Shengsi ignored him and was immediately beside the so called Hanguang-jun

"You know her?" the man beside him stared at the girl having a sense of familiarity

"Zhan-gege, you've become more handsome" she wriggled her brows "I didn't know you were into such young women" the man in black stiffled his laughter "Wei Ying" he muttered in a low tone yet Shengsi manage to hear it.

Shaking her head as her heart beat at an abnormal rhythm, Lan Zhan confirmed the identity of the man that she thought she had lost already.

Clearing her mind and decided to ask some other time, she huffed "It's me..Shengsi" as though realization hits the two adults, they froze in place.

"You should rest" was what came out of Lan Zhan's mouth.

Not wanting to recall her moment of unconsciousness, she changed the subject and started pulling the three "We're looking for some horse or a carriage since we're heading to Lanling" successfully diverting their mind, they followed her "We're also heading to Lanling. We could accompany one another" Shengsi stared at him "I'm Lan Sizhui and this is Lan Jingyi" she nods "You can just call me Shengsi" she then eyed Wei Ying "Mo Xuanyu" feeling disappointed Shengsi nods and turns around 'Gege, why must you lie'

>>

They were already in a carriage and traveling for some time now "Why are you guys going to Lanling?" Jingyi asked.

"My sector sent me to see what the important matter was in Lanling"

"Oh so you've recieved the news too?" Sizhui was surprised since in all the books he have read, Yuezhao sector does not associate that much with other sectors affairs.

"Jin Ling is so young and he's already going to be a leader just like his uncles" Wei Ying almost chocked at Jingyi's choice of words.

'Jin Ling? I thought Zixuan-gege and Yanli-gege were the important news unless...they didn't go to the Koi Tower yet' with Shengsi's speculation, she asked the person at the front to speed up.

"Ms. Shengsi, what's the rush?" Sizhui was slightly concerned "We wouldn't want it to be nighttime when we get there, right?"

"Sleep while we're on our way" Mo Fan told her but she refused "Si-jie, how will we survive if you faint again" cringing at He Yu's claim she finally gave up and leaned on Mo Fan.

Lan Zhan and Wei Ying gave each other questioning looks "Where are your uniforms?" Wei Ying started to investigate as He Yu and Xiaohou thought the it would be best to leave everything to Mo Fan 'Why am I the only one who needs to answer'

"She just brought us with her to sightsee" just then the two adults caught a glimpse of the earring that Mo Fan and Shengsi wore, it was Shengsi's earrings from when she was young.

Jingyi raised his brows, "Isn't it irresponsible to not have your proper attire?"

"We're not disciples..yet! But we will be once we get back to Yuezhou" he wasn't lying perse

"Then you four must be close"

"Yep we've got each other's back for 3 years. Especially Fan-ge and Si-jie" Xiaohou suddenly blurted out "W-What he means to say is that, she...trains me o-on her free time" Mo Fan covered up but it was evidently blushing, Sizhui and Jingyi felt a bit deja vu.

>

Arriving at their destination, an eagle landed on Shengsi' shoulder "Liu~!" she gained their attention yet she waved them off before taking the message attached on the messenger bird.

Mo Fan was keeping a close eye on Shengsi "Careful she might melt" Wei Ying whispered that sent Mo Fan to a stuttering fit. "You seem to really like her" Wei Ying stated "M-Me? Like her? As if..-I mean not in a bad way! She's amazing and whatnot but me liking her is-" Mo Fan was cut off "Shh, hearing this kind of ramble is painful" Wei Ying sighed as he snuck a glance at the masked girl "She must be real busy to faint like that" unable to deny it Mo Fan just nods "She seems to be pretty busy lately" just as he said those words, Shengsi abruptly pulled him and the other two to the side. The people from Gusu along with Wei Ying stopped in their tracks to stare and unintentionally eavesdrop on the four.

"You can roam as much as you can and enjoy the surrounding" Shengsi spoke as she puts on a Navy Blue cloak -the one she lent to Xiaohou- "I have something urgent and important to do" she puts on a Weimao -Hat with a veil that covered the face- making her more mysterious, obviously masking her identity "Look around and buy or eat what you want" she handed Mo Fan a perfume pouch that contained some money "Please don't be hasty and get swindled" her tone was serious yet held concern "When Liu" she points at the eagle on her head "lands near you, just follow him and wait" she walked past Mo Fan but whispered "I'll keep in touch, this'll be quick"

As if Shengsi wasn't wearing anything suspicious, she blend in and vanished into the crowd leaving the three with their new acquaintances "Did she just leave you?! How irresponsible!" Jingyi yelled only to be scolded by Sizhui "You must not talk like that behind their back"

"Come on, Koi Tower isn't that far" Wei Ying invites them.

Mo Fan, "We'll do as she says, besides we barely get out of our..place" Xiaohou hesitantly agreed but He Yu wanted to protest, not interested on losing the only people they could possibly trust in a foreign place.

"She won't mind if you kids come with us, I promise it's a safe place just ahead" Wei Ying pointed at the obviously large structure ahead of them.

Mo Fan thanked them but dragged the two away "Don't worry Mr. Mo, these kids are stronger than you think" he laughs "Well aren't they lively" Mo Fan sighed "Mn...why'd you lie to her?" Lan Zhan asked and the two young disciple perked up "Master Wei, you also know Ms. Shengsi? So that means-" Jingyi didn't get to finish what he was saying as Wei Ying walked ahead "It's better this way, she found people she could trust without putting her in danger or shame" Lan Zhan held his hand as a sign of comfort wanting to speak but held it in "Let's go".

>>

At the private hall of Koi Tower Jin Ling beamed at the two Lan disciples but quickly acted nonchalant "Sizhui, Jingyi, why are you guys here?" Jingyi exaggerated a sigh "Not even a how are you"

Jiang Cheng stared at the cultivation partner present with distaste "I see you've come to know about the issue of Jin Ling's position on being the sector leader" him and Wei Ying have somewhat reconciled but the two know that the damaged can never be fixed.

The adults kept silent, letting the 3 young boys chat. A figure walks in and was instantly recognized by the four but Jiang Cheng and Jinling pulled out their sword and pointed it at the anonymous person "I didn't come to cause harm" taking of the weimao revealed a girl with a black cloth mask coveirng half her face "Who are you? And why are you here?" the two lowered their weapons but is on high alert.

"Sizhui, Jingyi, would you mind accompanying my friends? Their just outside down the stairs" the two boys looked at their elders. Wei Ying looked at Lan Zhan, the man knows that there must be a reason for it and nods at his juniors. Earning his approval, they excused themselves and walked out.

"Did you also bring another addition in your makeshift family" Jiang Cheng scoffs but they were all surprised by the sudden action of the girl.

Shengsi kowtow at four people in front of her