Chapter Eight

Near the edge of the city borders, Lan Biyu stares off outside the carriage lost in thought, for some reason the tea she had just poured felt cold and lackluster in her mouth. Her taste buds felt them dull and not as refreshing as they should have been. Frustrated, she reaches for the pot to reheat the tea only to hiss and flinch back when her hand is met with burning pain. Her eyes widened and her mouth hung slightly open as if baffled to feel the heat from the pot. Briefly, her expression showed confusion by her own actions, did I truly do something so foolish? She didn't want to believe she could have made such a stupid mistake but the pain in her fingertips said it all. She truly did burn herself like a clueless child.

What's wrong with her? Unconsciously her eyes are drawn to the closed door that leads to Da Chuanli's room. Since that night, he didn't dare show his face in front of her anymore. In the past, he used to hover in her peripheral vision and tease her with his presence. So Lan Biyu hadn't seen that annoying person's face for four straight days now. It was odd, unlike before where she actively looked over him or through him. Now, he willingly got out of her sight without a single word of complaint. It was...truly a strange feeling.

And that had bothered her?... So what? Do I have to care about that person? Silencing her thoughts and relaxing her features till only a tiny frown was on her face Lan Biyu focuses on the large gates of the city showing up. She was trying to distract herself from lingering on the strange feeling that hung over her chest. She did not care about that person. In fact, she was more than happy he knew how to keep his distance now. Her eyes glaze over with frost as the city walls come closer and closer to look over her and the carriage she rode within.

Though the city wasn't surrounded entirely by walls many towers were watching over them as well as a giant array that Lan Biyu couldn't help but feel intimidated by. After all, in the mountains there were no walls to lock them up inside, there was only the wind, the sect buildings, and the sky to accompany her. Once they stepped inside there was only one way out, the way they had come. The sect leaders who ruled over the city were a "harmonious" group which was why they gained the most famed reputation and popularity.

Without a single bad relation with any other sects, the Golden Cloud sect was terrifying, single-handedly keeping the peace they were in a much different league than the puny ones in the countryside. But then again being peaceful didn't mean they were cowards, in fact keeping this much peace without competition meant quite the opposite. They were just that strong, some knew this but others who did not, well, the Golden Cloud sect showed those people who tried to oppose them just how much manpower they had.

Not being in a bad relationship with other sects was good, it meant they were not your enemies but potential allies. And when the Golden Cloud sect required allies, more than one sect would join hands with them in destroying whoever opposed them due to the riches and land the Golden Cloud sect would offer them. Luckily, although the Azure sect wasn't small or big it also didn't have that bad of relations with others. This was mostly because those in the Azure sect tended to be elusive and aloof to the matters of the mortal realm until they descended from the mountains they lived on.

Thus upon seeing the approaching carriage with a white feather marker, the guards merely opened the gates letting them pass the crowd and directly drive-in without inspection. The barrier which kept the citizens safe was powerful, those with bloodthirsty intentions were prevented from entering. And if they do manage to enter, at the most they could only stay for a day or two before being chased down by the Golden Cloud's capable disciples. But then, if you don't get caught, there was another side effect... Lan Biyu sips a bit of tea to quench her thirst while soothing the dryness in her throat.

Upon entering the lively streets the three carriages were bound to catch attention, the cold-faced girl shut the window and stood to enter her room to prepare. But not before the curious citizens caught a glimpse of her face. A cultivator who had sharper eyes than normal people shook his friend's shoulder excitedly. "Look look!! Another beauty has entered the city for the Àn Xīng ceremony! Brother, we really have a chance at finding a beauty to dual cultivate with this year!" His brother also caught a glimpse of the girl, though his heart shook seeing that beauty he only sent the besotted person beside him a disdainful look.

"Don't forget father's words, if you dare lay your hand on a disciple from another sect he will not save you from the wrath of the elders again." Flicking his sleeves the person left his pale-faced brother behind at the mention of their father. Shaking from his fright he panics and rushes after him pleadingly. "Kun-gege! Wait! You aren't going to report to father what I said right?.... Kun-gege don't just look at me with disgust and answer alright!?" Lan Biyu not knowing she shook the hearts of two people sat at her vanity and stared at her bronze mirror.

Light fingertips trail along with her now unblemished skin, her face didn't show a smile but the satisfaction was clear in her eyes. The days she passed in the deafening silence were disturbing without anything to help clear her mind of those humane thoughts. But now, now that she could play again it made her feel much better mentally. Like a blanket of safety enveloped her entire being, she plucks a single note and let it ring within her soul, she shivers with pleasure at the familiar sound she had missed so much.

The serenity that she had lost on the day that the old man punished her had returned with her ability to play that beautiful note without feeling pain. In a better mood after her recovery, she turns around to look away from her guzheng and faces the mirror across her bed. For a second she lightly brushes her hand against her cheeks and stares at herself in the mirror to see if her expression was still neutral so people could not pick any flaws with her appearance. Momentarily distracted by her looks her hands hovered over her face before slowly descending onto a box of rouge by her bedside table. When opening it she couldn't help but crinkle her nose at the smell, her eyes show a hint of unwillingness to put on such smelly products but her master's words drift into her head.

"Biyu, daughter, there are many strong cultivators who will also take part in the Àn Xīng ceremony. Not only disciples but some masters who seek fortune and recognition. Though they cannot lay a single hand on you when I am present, when you are alone those shameless people will not hesitate to try and take advantage of you since you are youthful and lovely looking as soon as you enter Golden Cloud city. You are intelligent and know what I am about to say...this is the time where you are to use your fellow disciple Fuqing to block their advances."

"If not him, then someone who equals or tops Fuqing in power. You are strong, but the physical differences between a girl and a man are too much. If they manage to get a hold of any part of you it will become dangerous. I trust your judgment and I understand you do not like your senior brother too much, but if there comes a time where you and the one beside you cannot save you....call his name. Da Chuanli will not fail you when the time comes."

Lan Biyu looks over her face and didn't understand why human's desire things like her as a lover so much. Her personality was the complete opposite of those girls who flutter their lashes and bit their pink lips while speaking with diffident voices. And she did not hate herself for it, in fact, she was proud to not simper like those other girls. The crude and cold way she spoke, the unfiltered words she always sent their way was something she never felt the need to correct. Though towards her master she had learned to soften her tone, even towards him she was still distant sounding and cold. There were even people like Rui Shi, Gao Chang, Fuqing, they stick with a person like her.

She wonders if what her master says is true and if they only were nice to her because of her beauty, then again, Lan Biyu would never understand humans. She shook her head and wraps her guzheng with white silk embroidered with silver clouds carefully. Lifting the large thing in her arms Lan Biyu, the cute yet cold-faced girl held it vertically against her chest and left her room. As soon as she exits though, the guzheng is removed from her arms almost immediately. "You've finished? Come, it is about time to disembark and greet the Golden Cloud sect disciples." Da Chuanli doesn't give her any more words like he usually would have to tease her for taking so long, merely carrying her guzheng across his back while walking away towards the door.

He didn't even look at her once so she could not see what kind of expression he wore. She pauses when the guzheng was taken from her hands but recovers quickly and follows him not saying anything extra too. Her gaze is brought towards the back of Da Chuanli, and briefly, she thought to herself. Is he still smiling? The tone of voice was warm and the same as before, but they lost their humor. Was she at fault? Lan Biyu didn't feel guilty or proud, she was just wondering why he insisted on putting up a front even after that night. Though she could be feeling glee because of the change she did not, instead she contemplated the reasons as to why he was acting so bad in front of her.

Was he waiting for a chance to do something when we enter Àn Xīng? But recalling his upbringing it was highly unlikely the "noble" Senior Ling would do that. He was mischievous towards her and Master, but he was not evil. So with this in mind, she only follows in silence with a straight and leveled gaze of coolness that was very eye-catching. Seeing a handsome teen exit the front carriage dressed in all white with a guzheng tied to his back, the onlookers stare with agape expressions. His smile was refreshing and infectious to those around him, and on top of that, he had such a gentle god-defying face how could they dare look any further unless they wanted to burn their eyes?!

So most who took a look quickly look away before sneaking more glances his way enamored. He held a hand up to the entrance to the carriage behind him and they all held their breaths in anticipation for who else would come out. After such a feast for the eyes, they wonder who exactly this handsome gentleman was lending a hand to, eagerly hoping it was a plain-looking woman. Because then they could chance an opportunity to go beside him for a conversation and show off. Sadly, they were slapped in the face twice when a soft and smooth as winter silk hand took the gentleman's hand, after the hand of course a beauty came out.

Though she was the complete opposite of the handsome smiling youth, her distant, cold expression made them all choke on their curses. If the young man was a god-like being, this girl was obviously an untouchable immortal goddess!! The real deal! In the crowd, a person stumbles and had to be supported by their junior. The junior panics seeing their senior's not so good looking expression. "Senior brother are you alright?!" The senior brother shook his head and looks up at his junior who supported him with a serious and pale expression. "Junior brother...if I bow down against the ground and kiss their feet, do you think those immortals will bless me too?" The junior who caught him, "....." Is it too late to let him fall?

Lan Biyu took Da Chuanli's hand without much protest although she was reluctant to do so, she knew not to let their Master lose face in such a large place. Da Chuanli still had a smile on his face even if she showed a bit of reluctance towards his help. At least she is taking it. Once her two feet were on the ground she immediately let go like being scalded. He did not mind and turns away to the awaited senior disciples sent to greet them. Gao Chang and Fuqing's group long got off their carriages and waited patiently for Da Chuanli to exit from their carriage. Although they were in charge of their fellow disciples, they knew better than to try and do anything without the approval of their senior brother. Only after Da Chuanli and Lan Biyu stood in line with the rest of the others did Gao Chang with the wave of his hand shrink the carriages again and put them into his spatial ring.

"Owning not just one but three spatial carriages, who are these people?" "You don't know? That is not surprising since these people do not come out of their lands much. The Azure sect keep to themselves and rarely come down from their mountains, only focusing on cultivation and rights and wrongs of the mortal world." "Who is their sect leader?" "If I recall correctly he is called Ling Li Shi and his appearance is rumored to be like a god descending from the heavens. But, the sect leader has never come out from his seclusion in twenty years so only the sect masters come out for these events." "So you say there is someone even more good-looking in that Azure sect besides those two who came out just now?! I don't believe it!!" "Who said he looks better than those two? Your imagination is too wide!!"

Gao Chang steps forward to cup his hands together and lowers himself slightly to show respect towards the Golden Cloud disciples who were staring with surprise. "Greeting, we are Azure sect disciples under Master Wang, we thank senior brothers and sisters for coming all this way to greet us." They couldn't help but send a lingering gaze upon the gentle smiling Da Chuanli with confusion. That good-looking boy is not in charge? A respectable teen in the group of gold robes steps forwards and receives his bow returning it with one of his own. His presence was welcoming and open-hearted, he resembled sunlight. With the Golden Cloud headband tied around his forehead, he was rather noble-looking and seemed to be an upright character.

"Welcome to Golden Cloud city, please do not stand on ceremony, as our respectable guests it is shameful to have you call us so honorably. This disciple's name is Chu BiaoLing, and these two beside me are my junior brother and junior sister." The other two, a young girl about Lan Biyu's age with cute big eyes and a shy smile, her hair tied into twin buns blushes bashfully being introduced first. "Wu MingLan." The boy was handsome and cool with sword-shaped eyebrows and a stern look on his face, his body seemed to be as tense as a bowstring and impatient looking. Though he nods at Gao Chang his gaze shifts around them as if looking out for any danger. "Zhang Hai Bo." Lan Biyu who was watching this scene saw the second boy cast her more than one glance curiously. It was not full of malicious intent but Da Chuanli blocked the boy's view of her either way with an all too gentle smile gracing his features.

Seeing this the boy stiffly stares at Da Chuanli's smile before no longer looking her way as if frightened away. Lan Biyu took shelter behind her senior brother even if she felt a bit miffed at having to be shielded she took her master's words to heart. And now wasn't the time to show the internal strife between them. Although their groups were at odds before, in the city they stood together and eyed the surrounding cultivators with calculating gazes of distrust. Azure sect may have internal issues, but that is no business for the people outside. Lan Biyu would rather have her pride stepped on for a bit before trusting any of these people outside of Azure sect. Gao Chang doesn't smile back at the teen, instead, he waves forward Fuqing and Rui Shi.

"Ping Fuqing, Qing Rui Shi, fellow disciples under our master." Rui Shi wasn't as beautiful as Lan Biyu but she had her own charm. A lively young lady who was willing to be stubborn for the sake of what she thought was right. But she also had a charming and bright grin that make others hold a soft spot for her when they see her purity. Fuqing was kind and looked reliable to others, they could also tell just by the way he carried himself he wasn't to be underestimated in cultivation. "If the leader is Gao Chang, that means those two over there are just pretty vases for their master?" Hearing this whisper that was meant to be quiet, immediately the entire group of Azure sect felt their internal hackles bristled feeling insulted. Their distant and aloof gazes become hostile and disdainful in an instant as soon as the words were uttered out loud.