Seasons Change

Clashing of swords can be heard all through the training grounds as disciples practice sparing "Liu, go with it's flow yet have control" Xue stops the sword from hitting him, made a circle motion and with a forceful flick of his wrist, the opponent was disarmed "Wow, you're so good at this. No wonder Chun-jie speaks highly of you"

Xue chuckles "Does she have nothing else to talk about" Liu grabs his fallen sword "Well she relates or recalls you with everything. I wish I had a sister like her, you're so lucky" Both continued training until a loud thud interrupts them.

Ziyuan abruptly stood after watching from the sidelines and saw Chun and Wei Wuxian almost kneeling on the ground "Wei Wuxian!" she yells but Chun holds up a hand "Madam Yu please calm down" she avoids the sword of Wei Wuxian on time but also missed to elbow him. The disciples gave them enough space to battle in and they were on edge as both were consistently on each other's throat.

"Those two seems to be at the same energy" Fengmian kissed Ziyuan lightly as they turned their head to the two "Atleast they're setting an example to others, and this time it's more appropriate" she mumbles "How was the meeting with the other sector leaders?"

Fengmian's gaze hardened "It seems that Sector Leader Jin is curious about the Shadow Duo of Qinghe, Chun specifically and brought it up. Sect Leader Nie was still sticking to his words that as of the moment they're unclaimed disciples" Ziyuan nods "After staying here for awhile, I see how they act and cover up their capabilities. They're traits fit with any sector that can claim them" she looks at Xue 'He has been spending time with Yanli and they seem to get along, he's got what it takes to care and protect Yanli..'

"Draw?!!" The disciples yell as the earlier sparing duo had each other at a critical spot but in a flash Chun shifts to the side having Wei Wuxian's neck between her and the blade "That was risky" he barely had time to react plus he didn't expect her to pull off something like that.

The crowd was silent for a moment before erupting with cheers. Ziyuan smirks at the girl's bold and fearless move "Do you think they'll agree if we have them associate with us" Fengmian smiles "Well, I've heard that Jiang Cheng and Jie Chun are still writing to each other. What if we aske our on to court Lady Jie? Family background wouldn't be a problem since QingheNie seems to care for them" Ziyuan shook her head "Like you said, we shouldn't force it. It'll happen if it has to"

×××

"Why are we here again?" Bao asked as they followed Xue and Chun "It's already fall, try to have some fun" they were in a forest where they were looking for a decent size clearing "Wouldn't we get scolded for skipping training?" Liu shivers at the thought of punishment

Xue and Chun started raking the fallen leave that ranges from yellow to red "A-Chun will definitely have our back if we ever get caught" Wei Wuxian exclaimed "We should've brought Yanli-jie with us to jump on a leaf pile"

"We went through all this trouble just to jump on a pile of leaves" Liu and Bao was dumbfounded

The Jie's were somewhat flustered "We hadn't done it in awhile" they were too busy surviving to do this. They all enjoyed rolling on the leaves with satisfying crunches and playful wrestling. Chun was the first to head back saying that boys should have their bro times.

"Come, you guys must be famished" Yanli and Chun were presenting a table filled with mid autumn food that on can never afford to pass up "These are amazing!" Wei Wuxian proceeds to stuff his face "I'm glad" Yanli spoke softly "Calm down or you'll choke yourself to death!" Chun scolds them.

"B-but Madam Jiang-"

"Don't worry I asked for a day off in behalf of us alk and she agreed"

"Can we go to the lake and pick lotus" Xue beamed and Chun looks at Yanli who nods "We want to come to!" some disciples raised their hand "It's settled. After the meal, we'll all hop on a boat" Yanli giggles.

The boat wobbles "Wei Ying stop bouncing around" Chun hits him lightly "Where's the fun in that?" he continues to reach out to some pods when a fully bloomed flower caught his attention "Here you go Chun" he put the flower behind her ear

"Chun-jie it suits you" Bao gave a thumbs up "Thank you"

Xue throws a seed at her "Hmp, that flower looks much better on the lake"

"And the seeds look good on you" the two started throwing seeds at each other making the other join in the fun as well.

"Wei Ying! Not too li-" it was too late, the boat already tipped over.

They laugh and tipped the other boats -except for Yanli's- and kept playing in the water.

÷÷÷

The snow on everything was thick and it was obvious that the wind was crisp and cold "Wei Ying! Xue! Get inside! Dinner's ready" Chun calls out to them from the window "Okay!"

They were all seated and enjoying their meal "Ah Xue, I made you something~" Chun went to the kitchen to brought out a small tray "Chocolate Fudge? Carrot Cake?"

"Happy Birthday!"

The people from Yunmeng froze in place as they looked at the two "..Thank you. Happy Birthday too" he hugs her.

"It's your guys' birthday?!" Wei Wuxian exclaimed "...yeah?"

"Why didn't you tell us? We could've prepared a small celebration for you two. Why didn't sect leader Nie not tell me this" Fengmian's voice slowly diminished "Having a roof over our head and food to eat is already enough for us" Chun smiles at them "And the fact that you're also allowing us to learn here is an honor"

Ziyuan, "Silly children, we would still throw a small party for you"

Yanli looks at Chun "Was this why you've been in and out of the kitchen for days?"

"Yes. I wanted to make these for Xue" she slices the cake and placed them on a small plate with a few chocolate fudge "Please have some"

Xue happily ate the food "This goes well with tea" Chun nods "I hope you'll like it"

They all indeed liked it, it wasn't too sweet and was enough to eat after a meal "A lady who excels in all five arts, can fight, cook, and care. You are one of a kind" Chun waves her hand "That's an overstatement, I'm simply someone who strives to survive and providw mine and Xue's needs"

"Humble as well"

They finished their dinner and went to do their seperate routines before heading to bed.

×××

"Jiejie! Gege!" Wei Wuxian and Chun turns to the children "My my, you guys seem to be full of energy" a few girls and boys crowd over them.

"Of course we are! We got stronger so we can protect the girls from any bad things!" One of the boys responded but a few girls huffed "We can protect ourselves like jiejie!" Wei Wuxian laughs and puts an arm over Chun's shoulder "Even your jiejie needs to be protected at times" Chun rolls her eyes

One of the girls raised their hand "Wasn't it jiejie who protected you from the dogs last time?" he shivered at the mention of it "Enough teasing Ying-ge. Oh I have something for the girls" she pulled out three ragdolls "It's not much but I hope you guys will like it" they politely thanked her while the boys looked at Wei Wuxian expectantly "What? I have no time for brats like you. If you want, here's a pheasant"

All of then blankly stared at him "Chun didn't tell me that we should bring something" she sighed "How about I make roast veggies and pheasant" they all nodded "Mommy Chun is the best!" The youngest boy cheered but he instantly realized what he said and started apologizing "No worries sweetie but next time your mommy might take it the wrong way"

"Aiya, Chun I don't mind then calling you mommy. You're a good girl" a lady sitting in a stall smiled "Auntie you're too kind" Wei Wuxian interrupts them "Isn't she just amazing auntie? What about me then?" the elder lady chuckles "You too but it seens like she's goid at handling children because of you" Chun laughs "Enough, I'll take this and cook" as she grabbed the stick where the pheasabt was tied on, they caught sight of a familiar figure.

Wei Wuxian disappeared from her sight but she ran to the pier "Wanyin~! Welcome back!" She calls to him which he smiled "I'm glad you arrived safely" Fengmian's voice surprises him and Jiang Cheng's smile got wider.

They were all gathered to eat lunch and even the Nie's were joining them "How was Gusu?" Ziyuan started "It was a pleasant experience" Fengmian nods "That's good to hear"

"You took so long. I thought you fell in love with a girl in Gusu and stay there all your life" the young ones stiffled their laughter as the elders watched the scene play in front of them "I'm not you" Xue and Chun ended up laughing "How can he when he thinks about-"

Jiang Cheng stuffed Huaisang's mouth "The differnce of our sectors...mutter one more word and I'll tell your brother you almost failed" his latter statement was whispered in warning to the snickering Huaisang.

"How about you two? I haven't seen you in a long tim" Mingjue adressed the two "We've been well, Master Jiang and Madam Jiang have been patiend and kind to us" Xue answered "Plus, Yanli-jie's soup is superb!" Chun added.

Ziyuan, "They have posed exceptional capabilities, I'm surprised you haven't officially claimed them" Huaisang was intigued "Eh? Claim them? Even if we wanted to, they'll decline"

"Why is that?" Fengmian sips his tea "Well we need to fully see the sectors and decide which is best to fit in" Chun responded "And if we were to do, let's say unacceptable. No clan or sector will take responsibility since we don't belong to any. Thus causing minimal to no damage to them" Xue comments.

Jiang Cheng, "Isn't that riskier since others may take you in by force?"

"We've thought about that but even if they declare it against our will, we wouldn't do anything for them even if they force us to" Xue shrugs

'Strubborn' was everyone's thought.

"Another reason why Sector Leader Nie came is because of the Cultivation Conference that'll soon take place" Fengmian announced "All 6 great sectors have come to an agreement that Jie Chun and Jie Xue are to make an appearance and participate"

Chun's eyes widened "How was this agreed upon without notice. We belong to no clan nor sector" Huaisang grabs her wrist "Chun-jie calm down, Da-ge was a man of his words"

"I explained to them the whole situation, and told them I don't claim you and noone else can. Dispite that, they asked you to come to represent yourselves" Xue shook his head "So it's like we're going to show off and be auctioned"

Fengmian sigh "No worries, we've come to an agreement that if you did well. The other sectors will welcome you to train under them"

"Not LanlingJin for sure" Xue impulsively blurted out "Huh? Why not?" Chun was considering Lanling befong Qishan.

Huaisang might've forgot the talk they had and explained, "Well Wei-xiong and Xue got kicked out because of the Young Masters of Lanling. The arrogant Yaliang called you names and Xue knocked him out like a candle light"

"Huaisang" Xue mutters but wasn't heard over Chun's voice "Oh really? Wasn't he just defusing the fight of Wei Ying and Zixuan?" clueless, he still proceeds to answer "Nope! Yaliang said since you hang around with male cultivators too much, yoh must've slept with them and left Gusu due to being caught and embarrassed"

"Huaisang!" Xue was helpless under Chun's gaze "They really said that to A-Chun? How can they just assume things like that?" Yanli had a worries look "You knocked them out like a light huh?" Xue nervously nods "I didn't like him saying those things and people might see you differently so I kicked him...to a wall. I didn't know he'll pass out tho! I promise! I must've gotten a little carried away"

Chun ruffles his hair "You know I don't care about what other people think or say about me. Besides if he's out with one kick, how can he even be on par with both of us" Xue sighed in relief

"So will you guys participate?" Jiang Cheng asked

"Yeah, just for the fun of it" Xue looked at Chun who nods in agreement.