Chapter Forty Five

In a single night, the number of guests in the Zenith Star sect dropped by seven. Those who knew nothing treated the day that came later on as usual but those who knew a bit more stayed in their bedrooms with no more intentions to seek information on the whereabouts of their location. The generosity towards Ling Da Chuanli did not extend to them, the only reason they were brought here was by blindfold and heavy surveillance to discuss the future. But this was all in the background as information for only the leaders of the sect to acknowledge and deal with stirring bigger waves where others couldn't see. In the morning Ling Da Chuanli greeted the elders of the sect who were forced to wear neutral expressions towards the friend of their young prospective sect patriarch. 

Thus letting them get a good look at the youth who Feng Shuchang claimed would become a beneficial connection to them in the future. Even they couldn't help admiring his temperament and noble visage in comparison to their stern-faced young master earning a subtle sigh from all. Unfortunate as it was they agreed that the flourishing of the friendship between the two youths would do Jiang Tengyi much good. Ling Da Chuanli too noticed the shifts in their attitudes the moment Jiang Tengyi faintly loosened the lines between his brows the second he walked in. 

Once the greetings finished Jiang Tengyi notably relaxed the second he stepped out of their intimidating and expectant gazes upon his person. Knowing the other was facing pressure to be the perfect disciple from multiple elders Da Chuanli did not make fun of him and instead asked to lighten the mood. "In this warm climate, my master once told me of a fruit that could only flourish with the right conditions by the cliffs of the salty sea and is even harder to harvest without the proper steps. Does your sect happen to know which fruit he was talking about?" Indeed, Jiang Tengyi who loved to answer questions others asked of him when they expressed confusion eased even further and even held a faint light within his eyes as he answered. 

"Did your master mention what the color of these fruits he spoke of was?" Da Chuanli generously provided him with more information "He said they were no larger than a grape and an eye-catching orange. The taste was also similar to a more tangy apricot." Jiang Tengyi seemed to know what he meant as he perks up seeming to return to normal while conversing with Da Chuanli. "Sir Wang must be talking about a sea berry, although abundant they are indeed hard to see outside of the coastal region due to their cumbersome harvest method. Our sect only manages to obtain a couple of baskets every summer, but since madam likes them I'm sure we have some in the cold storage still." 

Da Chuanli only asked for the sake of lightening Jiang Tengyi's burdened mind so he didn't hold much interest in the fruit itself and declined politely with the excuse of not wanting to steal from the madam's stash. However, much to his mild amusement Jiang Tengyi didn't let go of the matter thinking that Da Chuanli was just being humble. "Don't decline so quickly, not everyone has the privilege of being an honored guest of our sect. What are a few fruits? We aren't that stingy." He seemed to recall something as his eyes lit up further and he sent the smiling Da Chuanli a fleeting glance before turning around from their original destination.

"If you don't want to bother the madam then I know someone else who has a batch or two as well. She finds them too troublesome to peel herself so she will gift them to me on occasion if she happens to catch me during the harvest season." The two found themselves at a familiar courtyard door, Ling Da Chuanli was mildly surprised that this was the person Jiang Tengyi meant. Even sending a doubting glance at Jiang Tengyi who actually answered with a rare chuckle "I told you my junior sister is more generous than you would first assume." But her generosity wasn't what Da Chuanli was questioning, it was the claim that the noble young lady would be childish enough to refuse to accept a gift because they were too troublesome to peel. 

Before he could stop him Jiang Tengyi already opened the gates and entered walking past the stern people guarding the gates wordlessly. Jiang Tengyi continued to stroll inside without a care ignorant of Da Chuanli's growing doubts. "Young master." Being intercepted by one of his junior sister's main bodyguards Jiang Tengyi was a bit baffled until the man informed them casually. "Lady Chao Bai is sitting by the lotus pavilion for some fresh air." Jiang Tengyi understood, but wondering why his normally ill junior sister who would sit inside all day decided to go outside all of a sudden;

He asked the man sternly "Did you all not remind her to rest well? How long has she been outside?" The man hesitated a little before answering as best as he could "The lady said she knew her body best and after observing her from afar this subordinate also agreed that she does seem better than the day before." This subordinate? Da Chuanli listened in shamelessly finding it odder the more he did. Even his seniors didn't lower themselves when greeting himself or his elder brother. The Zenith Star sect is more strict than I first thought, no wonder Jiang Tengyi is stiff all the time and Feng Shuchang is worried for his disciple's lonesome future. 

Jiang Tengyi never really interacted with others outside in front of him, and this was also the first time one of the people watching over Jiang Tengyi called themselves a subordinate. The Azure sect practiced camaraderie amongst peers as well as honesty which was why even as the sect master his master was able to be opposed by the elders who held a lower stance than himself on some decisions. But Feng Shuchang seemed more like an acting lord of a palace until Jiang Tengyi came of age to take his rightful place as patriarch. In that case, Da Chuanli could understand the pressure on Jiang Tengyi was much more than he thought it was originally. Da Chuanli glanced at this friend from the corner of his eye while the young man pondered the bodyguard's words.

"I'll speak with her myself then." Jiang Tengyi led Da Chuanli through the hall and opened a fenced gate to reveal a small pond with pink lotus blossoming happily on the water's surface. When he first saw the tranquil place with grass and flowers abundant, Da Chuanli expected to smell an even stronger gust of wind from the salty sea. However, much to his confusion and caution instead of a warm breeze, he could only feel and smell a refreshing cool wind. The complete opposite atmosphere of the Zenith star sect, here, it was refined and yet completely free like the windy howls from his mountain. "..." Glancing over at the other, Jiang Tengyi showed no adverse reaction nor surprise. 

Hiding his initial surprise he silently followed after the single-minded Jiang Tengyi who was too accountable for his independent junior sister who he claimed was as delicate as a flower. A stone path towards a marble pavilion, Da Chuanli found it rather lavish for a young woman who only arrived in Jiang Tengyi's sect a few years ago. Sitting quietly at the pond's edge as the bodyguard had claimed was Chao Bai who was strangely facing the crystal clear waters of the pond. In front of the woman swam a noble orange koi the size of her arm. Her hand hovering over the water being close to being nibbled by the fish, Jiang Tengyi was quick to stop her. 

He raced out to pull her hand from the startled koi who quickly retreated farther out after being frightened. "Junior sister do not dirty your fingers with pond water, no matter how clear the water may look it is still unclean and dangerous. What if you fell in and got sick?" Da Chuanli observes the young woman's disinterested expression as she replies to the worried young man. "Is that so?" Subconsciously the corner of his mouth quirks to one side as she seemed much too much like someone else he knew. A little girl's dissatisfied and annoyed gaze reentered his thoughts as she dealt with her admirer with less than half a heart from the past. 

"Tengyi don't scold her too much, I'm sure Lady Chao Bai knew what she was doing. She's not a child after all." As Jiang Tengyi frowned and was about to scold Da Chuanli in return, Chao Bao spoke first with venom on her tongue. "Senior brother Ling seems to find amusement in me being scolded, or was it my misconception?" Da Chuanli's half-smile became a tiny grin, he massaged the corners of his mouth hiding it from her despite her being unable to see it. Her expression of displeasure was amusing. Much too amusing compared to the cold face she wore before. 

"The lady misunderstands, I was merely trying to advocate on your behalf." "..." Predictably her face seemed to sour prompting Da Chuanli to chuckle softly to himself which she clearly heard too since her lips flattened showing her unhappiness. Jiang Tengyi felt it was strange. No, this strangeness was perceived even the day before. Peeking at Chao Bai he questioned her tolerance of Da Chuanli once more never for once attributing it to his relation to his friend in the least. Because he knew what type of person his junior sister was, the first day he was introduced to her she kept all at a distance. 

She never spoke, never asked for help, never asked for advice nor asked for time to play like other children. She was a lonely, and solemn young lady who would rather quietly embroider flowers drinking tea rather than run around laughing with the others. If provoked she would feign deafness before making a casual comment to his master instead of dealing with it herself. Chao Bai was a mysterious individual, but despite this, his master told him to not look at the surface and to look beyond. Telling him that she was just an unfortunate soul who was never taught love or the rules of society. 

Only by insistently standing by her side on occasion when others never did, did he manage to gain a small place of acknowledgment. However, this type of playful conversation. It was like Da Chuanli was familiarly slipping past the cracks of her façade like he had done it hundreds of times before. Affinity? No, it cannot be affinity as they clash like fire and water. So what is it? "Tengyi?" being called out of his thoughts Jiang Tengyi blinked once before looking up to Da Chuanli who had called him. "Is something the matter?" Jiang Tengyi shook off the strangeness from before "No, nothing. Right, junior sister did you receive more baskets of sea berries this summer too?" Changing the subject when one is unsure was the best option.

Chao Bai lightly furrows her brows Sea berries? Out of habit she almost turned to look at Da Chuanli but managed to stop herself and instead held a hand up which Jiang Tengyi stood up to take, helping her to her feet. "Madam delivered them yesterday, I'll show you to the storage and you can take them for yourself." Jiang Tengyi shook his head and softened his tone as he led Chao Bai back. "I know where it is, you just go back and rest well. Master said that he had a new set of memory amber made for you and would send it to you this afternoon." Chao Bai's eyes move under the blindfold and flutter lightly before she too eases her curt tone in response "Did he say from where?"

Jiang Tengyi lowers his head speaking kindly "Mmn, he said that even the nobles from the emperor's palace fought tooth and nail to try and outbid him in the auction but failed. This set of memory jade originates from the south carrying the songs of commoners and nobles alike." Worthy of her title as the most beautiful lady in their sect her lily lips faintly rose into a God-given smile so darling he almost caught his breath. Her slightly smiling expression was so lovely it made the sun afraid of casting a shadow on her jade features. He glanced over their shoulder and gestured for Da Chuanli who was standing by with a mild subdued smile to follow. "Then I will have to thank King Feng for his generosity once more." 

"Will junior sister be treated tonight by madam?" She shook her head still carrying a faint smile, a testament to how much the memory jade of music pleased her. "I told her there was no need as the need to gather chi is much more pressing due to the situation in the West. The civilians are uneasy." Jiang Tengyi seemed to dislike this comment, his expression darkening and an unnatural coldness entered his gaze. "Junior sister need not worry about outside matters, master and madam will handle it all fine." "Are you still angry?" Her question held a hint of baffled inquiry. Displeased by her surprised tone he spoke a bit louder stating frankly "Naturally! As your senior brother, how could I ever forgive ungrateful people who throw soiled sheets on my junior just because she looks a bit different?" 

"Soiled sheets?" Da Chuanli hearing this came up beside them with a light frown, looking between the young woman's calm appearance to the upset Jiang Tengyi. Before ultimately deciding to ask Jiang Tengyi "There are people who are lowly enough to disrespect a lady with such tactics in the sect?" "Not in the sect," The righteously enraged young man set his jaw "-The villagers living in the coastal area. They accidentally caught a glimpse of junior sister's visage when Martial aunt took her into town to buy a new robe and called her a heavenly calamity. A demon origin." Hearing this Da Chuanli candidly took a good long look at the young woman whose skin was as pale as the moon, and hair the color of the silver light emitting from the stars. 

Her lips were soft-looking and pink, unlike delicate ladies with round faces and round eyes, she appeared sharper and more refined. There was not a trace of a child in either her features or body, she was indeed a flawless blindfolded beauty. No doubt if she removed her blindfold a glance from her could make your heart skip a beat. And the label of a heavenly calamity did fit her to some degree. Yet, this young woman who carried no interest in the mortal realm or things beyond was prepared to give her life away for the sake of winning a war for the people of this land. Calling her a calamity and demon was tarnishing her sacrifice. Da Chuanli could understand Jiang Tengyi's anger towards the ignorant asking strangely gently making Chao Bai slightly turn in his direction. 

"What happened to the ones who threw it?" "Naturally they were disposed of." Surprised to hear how heartless his kindhearted friend spoke Da Chuanli briefly blinked at a blank space for a second before his lips lifted to reveal an eye-squinting smile. His tone eased into neutrality after hearing the fate of the offender, seeming to have no intentions of reprimanding the less-than-ideal actions of Feng Shuchang and Jiang Tengyi for killing a weak mortal. "That's good."