Ling Da Chuanli. The younger brother of the patriarch of the Azure sect, the one who inherited not only his older brother's good nature but his talent for the blade as well. A young man who at the astonishing age of seventeen managed to surpass all his fellow disciples who were still in their core formation stages to peak martial king. His talents far outshone any disciple brought to the An Xing competition. He's brilliant, noble, modest, good-looking, warm-hearted, and potentially the genius of his generation. He did not live in the shadow of his brother but cast his own while wearing a humble smile. Side-eying the talent of the Golden Sect's continent the teen stood behind his master with an amiable exterior.
Wearing white robes with his blue sash holding his hair up from his face, along with a silver crown and white jade pin. His honey eyes were layered with a warmth that turned the young girls' ears and cheeks red. Such a talented individual, but currently he "-has no engagement. Who would be crazy enough to give an engagement to this boy while that hen of an elder brother is in seclusion?" Minglan yawned after muttering this to Elder Shao Lin incredulously, covering his mouth with his fan while walking toward the location of the An Xing realm's opening portal. Shao Lin gave a wary smile before recalling the things he had heard from his disciples the night before.
"They say that... the young master was seen entering the bamboo forest alone before leaving with a beautiful young girl wearing a doting expression. So rumors have been spreading that the young master was already engaged to a beautiful person. Disheartening and angering many of our disciples who said that their senior brother wasn't stupid enough to fall for someone with only a face and no talent." Minglan choked on his yawn. Da Chuanli blinked twice before covering his mouth to muffle his chuckle, unable to see the expression of his master who was frozen in place as if he had been turned to stone. He knew who they were scolding, he had been the one to send the boy to his daughter in the first place.
So, they were scolding his daughter for being unworthy of a stinky boy??? "Minglan.." Shao Lin, on the other hand, laughed dryly glancing over at the amused Da Chuanli with a look of helplessness. Engagement? With Wang Lan Biyu of all people? Seeing that Shao Lin was looking at him perhaps he wanted Da Chuanli to quickly deny what was being spread around. However, Da Chuanli gave Shao Lin an ignorant but warm smile with light dancing in his eyes. Was he the type of person to let go of an opportunity to tease both his master and Lan Biyu at the same time?
It was a rare thing that occurred so of course, he wouldn't pass it up. Shao Lin seemed to notice the insincere reassurance on Da Chuanli's face so he sighed and gave up continuing to persuade his old friend. Meanwhile, Da Chuanlin poured more fuel on the fire seeming not satisfied "Master, it's understandable that this kind of thing was being spread around. Since master ordered this disciple to protect his junior sister. This disciple has been diligently sticking close to his junior sister whenever there were other people nearby in case they tried to pull any tricks. But master doesn't have to worry about those rumors, isn't it good if my junior sister Wang is rumored to have an engagement with this disciple rather than anyone less savory?"
"Young master Ling." Shao Lin's lip twitched, not knowing if he was allowed to laugh or not at the misunderstanding surrounding them. Calling Wang Lan Biyu 'his junior sister' not once but thrice...He truly followed the tradition of being a 'troublesome disciple' that Minglan once upheld. "Who is yours?!" Glowering at Da Chuanli, Minglan only managed to bark back through gritted teeth at the irritating boy after being provoked. The sect master's face was twisted into an ugly mess. Da Chuanli stepped back as Minglan raised his hand furiously. "You flower hurricane-! Go clear my innocent daughter's name right this second! This king disagrees with the engagement between you two!!"
Da Chuanli laughed and dodged his master's fan wearing a cordial expression while doing so looking unpleasantly unrestraint. This of course infuriates Minglan further who wanted to scold him again only to be stopped by a light and seemingly feeble call that made not only his heart quiver. But Da Chuanli as well whose carefree expression trembled and eyes flickered strangely. "Master." Minglan's hand holding the fan ready to smack Da Chuanli over the head smoothly swung back down and he hurriedly flickered from his previous space. His movements were faster than the blink of an eye startling Shao Lin as the man did this without much warning. Placing a hand on his beloved daughter's cheek Minglan's brows were furrowed as he carefully looked over his darling daughter's appearance.
"Biyu, what's the matter? Why are you suddenly like this?" Da Chuanli felt the desire to take a look as well. Yet, he pushed down this desire and stood with Shao Lin wearing a neutral expression as if it had nothing to do with him. Wang Lan Biyu was dressed in a wavy light blue robe, her inner robe colored white. Holding her long black hair back was a pretty blue sash much like the female style of how Da Chuanli dressed. On her back was a guqin that was wrapped finely in silver cloth but at this moment the lovely instrument seemed like more of a burden to the girl than anything else.
Her earrings were simple pearls to not get in her way when she had to run. But even if her outfit was a simple rarity Minglan's heart only felt distressed unable to focus on anything besides his daughter's sickly appearance. Lan Biyu's face which used to be distant but lively, her eyes which held frost and calmness; were unnaturally pale and her lips were even a tad bit bloodless. Her brows were coated in a light layer of sweat and her gaze seemed...exhausted to death. Minglan's heart felt even more painful, he didn't hesitate to wipe her sweat for her with furrowed brows and a concerned look. Lan Biyu reveled in the warmth and comfort of her master, leaning her head against his chest as he offered it.
Minglan wasn't afraid of her dirtying his clothes, his mouth pulled into a frown as he comforted his darling treasure. "Alright, tell your father what's wrong." Da Chuanli and Shao Lin couldn't see what was the matter as Minglan's back was blocking their view of the young girl. "...Father, have you ever regretted taking in this ugly person as your kin?" The three men who were cultivators easily heard her whisper and were taken aback. Shao Lin hesitated, then wordlessly took the startled Da Chuanli by the shoulder firmly leading the way to give the two a bit more privacy as this wasn't a conversation meant for outsiders.
Da Chuali followed him silently his expression carefully blank as they brushed past the two. He couldn't help glancing at Lan Biyu who had buried her face into their master's robes. "..." In the end, he didn't say a word and with Shao Lin's insistence, the group separated. Shao Lin and Da Chuanli did not speak in the seemingly glum atmosphere that surrounded them which Lan Biyu's influence left behind. Shao Lin took a glance at Da Chuanli who wore a mild smile as if nothing had happened, his aura as amiable as ever. But the look in his eyes was off.
He is like Minglan, even in this type of situation. Saying these words in his heart Shao Lin decided to reassure the young man "Your junior sister is a sensitive girl, she must have heard some of the rumors and felt guilty towards your master is all." He thought for a few seconds before adding softly "-Try not to tease her too much until we return to the sect." Was that really it? Da Chuanli tried to remember if anything happened to his junior sister before he left her the night before but nothing came up. And Lan Biyu also wasn't someone who was easily swayed by mere rumors.
She would be snappier with him than usual but otherwise wouldn't express anything else but discontent towards him alone. Could it be a heart demon? His master always said that Lan Biyu was insecure, but he never understood why. In not only his eyes but everyone else who witnessed her strength Wang Lan Biyu was a blessed child. Martial king late stage was not something someone could achieve with talent alone at her age. You had to work hard and not indulge in the desires of human pleasures.
Spiritual roots aren't exactly everything, it's true that depending on them your potential and growth can far surpass those of your peers if you practice diligently. But his junior sister was also blessed with a pure water spiritual root. The spiritual core was the center of one's cultivation, once a cultivator managed to form their core their roots would take the shape of a spiritual core instead. Refining the potential into a source of power, how one cultivates such a core once entering martial king and further would dictate one's dao. But obtaining a dao was for those at soul formation, so he and his junior sister were still far off from it. So how could her heart demon be so powerful already if this is true?
"Elder Shao Lin, senior brother Ling." A pitiful total of four teens greeted them when they stepped out of the large halls into an enormous stone pavilion where larger sects greeted them. Familiar and unfamiliar faces filled the wide and grand space. Shao Lin didn't feel embarrassed to be part of the small group and gave the nervous disciples encouraging looks. "Congratulations to all of you, when the An Xing realm opens all of you must be careful and hold on tightly to your belongings. An Xing is a realm on the higher plane, so even if it seems like our mountains it's much more dangerous. Stick with your fellow sect members and don't mess around, understood?" "Yes."
Gao Chang stood at the end of the group seeming peering behind him for someone. Chun Hua did the same wondering if Rui Shi would really not come to wish them well before they went their separate ways. Once they entered the An Xing realm the rest of the sect members would immediately start the journey back home without waiting. As time in the An Xing realm passed differently than on the mortal plane by the time those of their sect made it home, they would only just be leaving the realm themselves. So it would be a full month and a half until Rui Shi saw Gao Chang again.
Could she bear it? The An Xing realm was dangerous. Many people were known to never return... Gao Chang's expression became a bit hesitant, but swallowing this feeling in his chest he continued showing a strong outer appearance as if he didn't care Rui Shi wasn't anywhere in sight. Qing Mianyang mutters under her breath noting their unbecoming behavior with a snort "A coward till the end." Gao Chang sent her a chilly glance silencing the pesky girl who quickly clamped her mouth shut under his threatening look. She scoffs under their disdainful glances and decides to mind her own business checking her hand mirror for any blemishes in her appearance. It wasn't like she said anything wrong, just because Rui Shi was closer to them they would overlook her embarrassing actions.
Unlike Qing Mianyang who was true to her thoughts and feelings no matter how wrong they may be at times at least she didn't hide from those who cared about her at the end of the day. She was afraid of bringing trouble to herself and others disliked her methods, but at least she knew what she wanted and went for it without hesitation. In her eyes, Chun Hua and the rest were being ridiculous worrying over someone like Rui Shi. Since they were children had Rui Shi ever swallowed a loss without bouncing back a few days later? Chun Hua glanced behind them where the portal to An Xing had yet to open. She quietly whispered to Gao Chang as Da Chuanli was busy conversing and wasn't watching them at the moment.
"How about, Gu Ping and I go look for sister Rui? The portal hasn't opened yet so we should have time." Gu Ping who was listening to their conversation enthusiastically nodded showing his willingness to help the gloomy-eyed Gao Chang. "That's right! Brother Chang we should still have time, look over there-" He gestures towards the large groups of golden cloud sect members who were laughing and socializing merrily as if they were on their way to a peaceful island instead of a deadly realm. "-they're still relaxed and unorganized as the hosts of the event." Qing Mianyang snorted again but she was ignored this time. Despite their good intentions Gao Chang only took a single glance before shaking his head, rejecting their offer.
"No. We wait here for master's orders." "At least one of you has some sense left." Qing Mianyang murmurs earning her another harsh scolding and glare from Chun Hao "As if you have any right to talk! Who was the one who embarrassed herself by touching a poisonous red toad shamelessly hiding behind Fuqing once asked about it instead of fessing up? But did you see any of us call you out on it?" Though she hissed this under her breath it was enough to silence Qing Mianyang for good who turned a bright red and huffed angrily to herself unable to refute those words.
It was true that everyone knew who was at fault for the incident but kept their mouths shut no matter how unhappy they were about it. So even if the elders or their master had their suspicions since no one openly pointed at her and no one was badly hurt she got off rather lightly. Besides, after Lan Biyu got punished by the elder no one could be bothered to come after her due to worrying over that girl. After successfully shutting her up Chun Hua felt a bit satisfied with the result and stood taller. Chun Hua took another peek at Gao Chang's gloomy appearance and said while making a move to leave the yard unable to bear it anymore. "Brother Chang I'll-"
*Shwing~! Chun Hua held her breath as a jian sword noiselessly appeared in front of her. Robes the color of ocean blue and a light blue sash like her own swayed only a tiny bit when met with the movements of the wielder. An arrogant voice spoke up then, not matching the silent yet deadly blade that threatened Chun Hua's neck. "My master has already said for you to stay still and not cause trouble. Master instructed you so kindly and yet you think you have the authority to disobey because he is not your own?" Da Chuanli sent the girls a minor glance before moving his gaze away, neither stopping nor encouraging the one stopping Chun Hua.
Yu Ya, wearing a phoenix hairpin with her brown hair tied up high like a warrior haughtily looked down upon Chun Hua and the other two boys. Qing Mianyang's unhappy expression quickly became smug seeing Chun Hua put in her place by the girl from another mountain. The girl's chin was tilted high and her almond eyes narrowed stubbornly at them, her facial features had grown a bit heroic like a wuxia princess warrior. Carrying herself in a cocky manner, the handsome girl didn't allow Chun Hua to leave the yard speaking loudly yet quietly. The little princess who would run to their mountain to challenge Lan Biyu by continuously biting at the other girl's ankles had grown up. "Chun Hua, don't tell me that all that time running around the mountain under the sect master and senior brother Ling's wings has made you think you are qualified to look down on the rest of us?"
The look in Yu Ya's eyes grew fiery, the blade in her hands threatening to close in on its target. Gao Chang coldly gazed at the hand holding the blade to Chun Hua's neck, his hand moving to his sword. However, before he could make a move to save Chun Hua whose face had gone red out of humiliation and fury. A fist even quieter than the blade raised appears behind the fierce girl's head smacking her fiercely with a gentle smile. However, the look in his eyes told a different story. For the kinder the master, the colder the punishment and the more unbearable it was when he became angry.
Shao Lin is known as patient and generous, but once you abuse his patience. "Yu'er, what did I say about raising your blade to your fellow sect members?" Yu Ya hurriedly put away her sword and wore her usual spoilt expression. Her fierce disposition melted into nothing in front of Shao Lin whose heart had already felt exhausted just hearing one syllable from his troublesome disciple's mouth. Her red lips pouted, her voice taking a higher pitch into a faint whine. "Master~! She was trying to disobey you~! How come you only punish me?? Don't you treasure me as your inner disciple even a little?"
Shao Lin dragged a long sigh one longer than when dealing with Da Chuanli and Minglan. His eyes moved from her watery eyes to the hand she was still using to rub the back of her head and the harshness within seemingly withered. The hand used to hit the girl quietly went to inspect the damage he had done rubbing her head gently. His harsh tone was soft "Does it hurt?" I'm sure I controlled my strength, was she unprepared for it this time? Yu Ya's tears lightly fall as she admits angrily like a child throwing a tantrum towards her parent. "It hurts!"
Hiding under the distressed and helpless Shao Lin, the girl acted spoiled and abused his biased treatment. In the meantime after being given time to react Chun Hua took a step back behind Da Chuanli with a shaky hand to her throat. She didn't seem afraid, but furious, biting her lip she held in the grievance she felt with gritted teeth. It was only due to the dignity her master taught her that Chun Hua didn't call out Yu Ya's behavior and the fact that she was really in the wrong for trying to disobey the elder's orders. Da Chuanli took a look at the others' reactions, and it was the same with the exception of Qing Mianyang who didn't bother hiding her smile and peeked at them from behind her hand mirror. Gao Chang was stiff-faced wearing an annoyed look in his eyes while Gu Ping openly wore a sour expression.
But Da Chuanli didn't see where Yu Ya went wrong in her words. Elder Shao Ling had just told them to not mess around at this time. Nonetheless, pointing a sword at a fellow sect member was indeed too much. Before he could say something a fan that swung faster than a child's blade was flung straight at Shao Lin who could only turn and block his disciple from the fan carrying internal force with wide eyes and a sharp reprimand towards the one who threw it. "Minglan!" Bouncing off Shao Lin's sleeve the fan messily yet submissively returned to its master's grasp who smoothly opened it to fan himself with a scoff.
"You can bully my disciples yet I cannot bully yours?" Shao Lin opened his mouth to scold him but Yu Ya who went pale at the sight of Minglan pulled at her master's sleeve seemingly unnaturally timidly. She didn't even dare to look at Minglan in the eyes obediently and meekly greeting the sect master completely different from earlier. "S-Sect master Wang." Only when the man snorts at her childishly in greeting does she hide and peer at the sect master cautiously from behind Shao Lin. Chun Hua sneers at the girl who did a complete one-eighty when faced with their master.
Shao Lin seeing his little disciple still had some trauma due to the plank beating she received as a child for being too disruptive in Minglan's courtyard could only bite his tongue. "Although Yu Ya went to far this time she had the best interest of the sect at heart. You can't punish her too roughly." Shao Lin eyes the sect master's seemingly harmless fan that hits harder than one would think and receives a disdainful look in reply. "Holding up your blade to the neck of a fellow sect member is considered a minor matter? If I knew then perhaps I should have done the same years ago towards those stuffy old men at the sect to have my way as well."
Yu Ya and her master were instantly baffled and alarmed by the sect master's words however Chun Hua and the rest only admire their arrogant master. They had no intentions of stopping him and even Da Chuanli stood by merely watching his master's scowling expression for any signs of his inner intentions for saying something like this. Although his master is rash, he would still avoid speaking threats out loud towards sect members. Did something agitate him? A familiar hand like that of snow white reaches over to pull at Minglan's sleeve. Her voice was soft yet potent in the silence "Master, what you said is inappropriate."
She added lightly "After all, we are still in a public area, and Chun Hua was indeed in the wrong this time for failing to listen to Elder Lin's instructions." After hearing this Chun Hua hurriedly came out from Da Chuanlin with brighter eyes to greet the new arrival. "Sister Wang-!!" However, halfway to running over she caught herself and speechlessly stared at the weak-looking Lan Biyu shocked. What... Gao Chang and Gu Ping look on unable to hide their surprise as they had never seen such a...unhealthy Lan Biyu before. Qing Mianyang shut her hand mirror and studied her love rival with subtle scrutiny before much like Da Chuanli turning away as if seeing nothing. Chun Hua went closer hesitatingly "Sister Wang you, are you alright?"
Lan Biyu nodded curtly and stood beside her scowling adopted father whose expression thaws out when she held his sleeve. Lending her his arm to lean on Minglan glared at the concerned Shao Lin and also stupefied Yu Ya who was blatantly staring at Lan Biyu. "Hey-Did someone bully you?" Unable to hold back her curiosity Yu Ya addressed her childhood rival blatantly pointing out her appearance who sent her a cool glance in response. Chun Hua bit her tongue and wisely held back the things she wanted to say, angry in place of the passive Lan Biyu. Meanwhile, Qing Mianyang's brow twitched, growing up under the shadow of Da Chuanlin and Lan Biyu even she knew not to push certain buttons of the scary girl. She had that much sense not to pick on their master's favorite disciple and daughter.
Ignoring her existence like Lan Biyu did hers was the minimum requirement for their relationship. "Yu'er!" Shao Lin sharply called her name making the girl shrink back and pout to herself muttering carelessly. "I was just asking." Who knew the all-mighty Wang Lan Biyu would fall to this state just a few days outside of the sect walls? Da Chuanli could read the girl's unvoiced words at a glance, and also couldn't help giving Lan Biyu a lingering look.