Morals...

They wandered about the Cloud Recesses for the morning meditating, picking flowers and playing with grasses but mostly talking about the topic from earlier.

After everyone finished the lesson, they finally found the two on the roof of a tall wall. The disciples pointed at them, "How admirable! He told you to get out, and both of you really went outside! Hahahaha..."

"After you went out, it took him some time to finally understand what happened. His face was so purple!"

"He asks, and we answer" Wei Wuxian shrugs "If he tells us to get out, we will get out. What else does he want us to do?" Chun added and the three sweat drop at their logic.

Huaisang spoke, "Why does it seem like old man Lan is especially strict towards you two?"

Jiang Cheng humphed, "What sort of answer was that? It's fine if he spouts these nonsense at home, but he dared to say these in front of Lan Qiren and got lady Jie involved. He's seeking his own death!" Xue shook his head "My sister can be random at times so don't blame young master Wei"

Wei Wuxian spoke, "No matter how I answered it, he wouldn't like me, so I might as well just say what I wanted to say. Anyways, I didn't try to offend him. I was just answering properly. I didn't even expect Jie Chun to support me"

An expression of envy and yearning appeared on Huaisang's face, "Your words were quite interesting. Spiritual energy can only be obtained through cultivation and taking great pains to form a golden core. But, resentful energy are from the fierce ghosts. If they can easily be taken and used, it would be beyond wonderful" he spared a glance at the Jie siblings. If disciple from a prominent clan forms the core at a later age, it would be a disgrace to tell other people of it, yet the two manage to obtain theirs in less than a year. He didn't feel ashamed since he knows how much work the two put into their training and studies.

Wei Wuxian laughed, "I know, right? No harm comes from using it"

"And besides, I don't mean to offend the Nie but they wield resentful energy from beasts and other creatures. It's not much of a difference if you use it on a person, morally wrong but still similar. Both are or were living being" Jiang Cheng gave Chun a look, "That's enough. It's fine if talking about it, but don't walk such a crooked path"

Wei Wuxian smiled, "Why would I leave the nice, broad road, and walk on a single-plank bridge on a dark, narrow river instead? If it really is that easy, people would have already walked on it. Don't worry... Since it's not curfew yet, hunt for pheasants with me"

"What do you mean 'hunt for pheasants'?! First, go copy Righteousness. Lan Qiren asked me to tell you both to copy the Virtue section of Righteousness for three times, so that you can learn what natural law and morality is"

"Three times? I'm not from the Lan Sect so why should I copy the sect rules of his sect? I'm not gonna copy" Wei Wuxian looks at Jie Chun who nods "For someone who emphasized or rules so much. He could've apologized, I had to stop the book from hitting my face or else I'd have a bruise and bleeding nose" Huaisang taps his fan "The Lan's are also known for their upper body strength. Tell me Chun-jie how strong this he throw it so we can complain to Da-ge" Xue lowkey took Chun's hand that caught the book to inspect it "He wouldn't actually want to display such violence but I said what I said, a hit on the face can still cause injury" she huffs "Telling Master Mingjue is like whining about something so trivial"

"Lady Jie, you should act more careful and not follow the ways of this idiot" Jiang Cheng said. Then they saw Lan Wangji standing under an ancient, verdant tree and gazed in their direction, carrying the Bichen sword on his back. Everyone knew that their shouts were a bit too loud, and the noise had probably led him over, so they all shut their mouths.

Lan Wangji walks up to them and Wei Wuxian jumped on the chance to talk to him "Wangji-xiong!" He turned to Chun "Lady Jie, my brother requests your presence" she just nods as both of them walks away.

Wei Wuxian turned around and complained, "He ignored me"

"Yeah, but I'm more worried of what Chun-jie might've done" Huaisang fanned himself.

Jiang Cheng sneered at Wei Wuxian, "Like his uncle, he surely thinks that you have badly influenced Lady Jie to be evil and unruly" but the three felt slightly worried for Chun "I think I might have an idea why she got called by leader Lan"

___

Chun bowed to Lan Xichen "Lady Jie, I hope your stay here in Gusu have been well. Come and have a cup of tea" both of them sits across from each other "Gusu is much tamed than Qinghe but it is alright"

"I'm pleased to hear that but I have heard from Wangji that you were out past curfew carrying in something"

"Don't worry about what sneaked in, it was just meal for my brother and young master Nie"

"Does the food here not fit your taste?"

"With all due respect Zewu-jun, the food here is...bland and lacks of meat. Adapting to sudden change can be difficult"

"I see...another matter at hand is what Uncle told me of your behavior in class"

"We only answered what was asked and shared few of our insights with no means to offend"

Lan Xichen chuckles "Da-ge was indeed correct about you, your demeanor depends on what you desire to show. Talented, smart, and cunning, you'll be a great cultivator someday" Chun stand and bow "Young master Lan, flattery will get you nowhere" with that she left. It may have sounded disrespectful but Lan Xichen somewhat caught ghe drift that there's a meaning between the lines.

×××

Days went by, Huaisang worked as hard as the date of the test approached. Xue and Chun even helped him study for it. In the end Wei Wuxian and Huaisang resorted to cheating notes flying everywhere in the air making Chun facepalm as she discreetly helped the two but there was one mistake. Forgetting that Lan Wangji had eyes on them.

Chun would sneak out with Wei Wuxian to either drink or hunt; both would train together and meditate which is rare in Wei Wuxian's case. This was frowned upon in GusuLan Sector, female and male cultivator who are not related or married, do such things and spend so much time together. Lan Qiren exploded with anger, writing letters to the clans to tell on them.

Jiang Fengmian's reply was "Ying has always been like this. Please take care to discipline him" while Nie Mingjue's was "I did not expect Jie Chun to cause such trouble but it is not unlikely to happen. I kindly ask you to guide her"

At first, the two didn't mind copying texts, since they keep each other entertained "Wei-xiong, Chun-jie, even if Xue and I want to help you, we can't any more. You'd have to endure it on your own"

"What happened?"

Huaisang, "Old...Lan said that you have to copy both Virtue and Conduct"

Conduct was the most complicated section of all sections of Lan Sect Rules. "He also said that, during the time of the punishment, nobody is allowed to fool around or copy them for you" he added

Chun wondered, "How would he know if someone copied them for us? So someone was watching" she gave Xue a look who sigh and nodded.

Jiang Cheng spoke, "That's exactly the case. He said that going outside is not allowed and the rules must be copied in the Library Pavilion. Also face the wall and reflect upon yourselves. Of course, there will be someone to watch and I don't need to tell you who he is, do I?"

Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian were surprised how Jie Chun was acting, she was more behaved, well-mannered, and obedient as if she was a different person. She was also silent and quick on writing down the conducts and virtues, her hand writing must not be the most beautiful but it was clean and sleek. Lan Wangji remained indifferent but was on guard of what the girl might have up on her sleeve since she was as troublesome as Wei Wuxian.

On the other hand, Wei Wuxian rarely kept his mouth shut for such a long amount of time. Feeling suffocated, he faces her "Chun~ Why do you suddenly behave like this? It's so boring"

"Continue writing" she mumbles. Wei Wuxian pouts "Now you acting like him" he scoots over to her and leaned himself on the table "Xue told us why young master Lan called you. You were sneaking in food"

"And you were sneaking in liquor. Now write, the faster you finish the quicker we get out of here"

"Are you seriously going to copy everything?" He leans himself on her "Young master Wei, please do not disturb Lady Jie"

"Let's go on a night hunt again after this" Chun whispered and Wei Wuxian smiled.

×××

Today was the final day Wei Wuxian had to copy the rules. He jumped down the Library Pavilion, laughing as he barged into the forest.

"How did it go? Did he read it? What was he like?"

"What was he like? Ha! Didn't you guys hear that loud shout he gave?"

"I heard it—he told you to get lost! Wei-xiong, it was my first time hearing Lan Wangji tell someone to 'get lost'!"

"How did you do it?"

Satisfaction was plastered all over Wei WuXian's face, "You all saw it, didn't you? The self-restraint and etiquette that Second Young Master Lan was praised so strongly for were all weak and useless against me"

"You've seriously offended both Lan Wangji and Lan Qiren. You're going to be dead meat" Xue stated with a worried look.

Wei WuXian waved his hands, "Who cares? I'm just trying to have a little fun" he then notices two people were missing "Where's Jie Chun and Jiang Cheng?"

"They went to out" Xue replied.

"Without me? She promised we'll practice sword and meditate up the mountain. When did they even became close" he huffed

Huaisang fanned himself "While you were still copying the rules, both of them often talk so I'm not surprised"

"Let's go and see what they're up to" Wei Wuxian had a mischievous smile.

The three went down to town and started searching for their beloved friends "There they are" Xue points at a window where Chun was smiling gently.

"Okay lets stay here so we won't get notice" Huaisang suggested but Wei Wuxian shook his head "I want to head what they're talking about"

As they got closer they could also see Jiang Cheng and for a brief millisecond both him and Chun's eyes passed by where the three were hiding "Did they see us?!" Huaisang panicked "Shhh they wouldn't, we're behind this wall and we weren't fully peaking out"

When they turned to peak again, the two were gone "Where are they?" They slowly turned around "Meow~" they sigh in relief "I thought they'd be suddenly behind us"

"There!" Huaisang points his fan at where the two turned at a corner.

Earlier before the three started stalking, "Young man, our hair accessories are one of the best. Unique and newly handcrafted" the merchant exclaimed.

Chun was looking at the laid out hair pieces when suddenly Jiang Cheng picked up a simple wooden hair stick/hairpin that have blue crystal flowers at the end.

"We'll take this" he paid for it and hands Chun the item "I can't just take this"

"What? Then am I gonna wear it?"

"Give it to your shijie"

"No, it's my gift to you. End of discussion"

"I'm grateful but really you don't have to" Jiang Cheng rolls his eyes and turned Chun around "I know how to do this because of my shijie" he fixes her hair "Thank you but how did you know I'd like this one?" they started walking to a teahouse "My dad would buy one for my mom"

"That's so sweet of him, she must've loved it" silence and this indicated that Chun spoke without a thought "..sorry"

"No it's okay..my parents were married just for the convenience of the clan and sector"

"Doesn't mean they can't fall in love"

"...Mom said that Dad doesn't actually love her and was just forced to be with her"

"At their age, it's not uncommon that they had someone they loved or liked. But that doesn't mean they wouldn't be able to move on" she smiles at him "I see that your dad is making an effort to court your mom"

They were seated near the window "..Mom does wear it even if she said they were nothing to be excited about" Jiang Cheng sighed "Then that means they lack understanding and proper communication"

Both were enjoying their tea and food when they caught a brief glimpse of the three, Jiang Cheng was ready to pounce but Chun held him "Let's go" they walk out and turned a few corners. They leaned on the wall and waited for a bit

"I told you! They did turn here" Huaisang said "I don't see them" Wei Wuxian sighed.

"Don't see who?" Chun and Jiang Cheng stares at them making Huaisang yelp "Chun-jie!"

"Haven't we told you not to follow us!!!"