Brothers in Arms

Farther from the main city in a remote mountain stood a sect,it was considered one of the most famous and influential place a young men can be part of, of course apart from training in literacy and politics. The sect was called The White Cranes Sect; a school to train young men to become fully trained guards either in positions in noble houses or in the Emprial city and depending on merit any trained soldier may even become a military official.

In the backyards of said sect a group of children train with wooden swords or polearms, though most were given chores to strengthen their small bodies and lengthen their stamina.

One such boy, with tan skin and straight black hair put up in messy bun, briskley walked through the corridors holding a bucket and a dirty rag as he hummed loudly to himself.

He had clean one of the lectures room spotless, until he could see his reflection on the dark wood floors and desks. He huffed proudly, walking faster to meet up with his brothers on the other side of the sect.

Just when he rounded the corner he startled badly, shouting and things being echoed on the empty hallway.

"YOU INSOLENT! GOOD FOR NOTHING-!"

THUNK!

Meng Kang curiously and carefully tiptoed near the windows of the room that were slightly ajar, peering inside the office.

A man clad in fine robes of dark blue and orange angryly pointed at another man in more simpler darker garbs befitting a common soldier.

"LOUYANG!"

The man gave a faux pitying look, " Ayo, headmaster, don't yell. Y'know I heard yelling ages you like crazy."

"And who's fault is it, huh?!" Before the other man could open his mouth the sect leader brought a hand up to stop them, " Shut up."

The man pointed at the corner something out of site of Meng Kang's view.

"How many times is this going to happen until I finally throw you out of my sect. This isn't even the the second or fifth time you did this!" He yelled.

The soldier scratched his neck, " I swear this time I was caught by surprise. Kid just felled on my lap and tried to kill me-"

"-So you decided to bring hin here!?" The headmaster leveled him with a look of pure annoyence and exasperation, the man looked away huffing angryly and sitting down.

Meng Kang tried his best to hold his laugh behind his hand as the headmaster brought his hands to face.

"Give me a good a reason, why I shouldn't throw both of you out."

The soldier smirked proudly, " You cant throw me out, you love me too much. Plus the kid has determination I give him that. Something very well needed in this school. Honestly there's more young master in this school that don't even want to get their pretty little hands dirty. While the actual working ones barely even get a seat to classes."

"So your respond to that is to bring street urchins from who knows where into my school, to what? Make it a better a place? Let me remind you, that it makes no difference to me. And that you are paying this out of your own pocket Louyang." The headmaster looked away, picking up the mess on his table and putting on his glasses.

Said man shrugged, " Bah,what's one more?" The man gaze shifted to the corner, to whomever is standing out of site of Meng Kang's view.

The headmaster audibly made a 'tsk' sound. "Unfortunate for you, but there is no more space to house him in. The dormitories are full and the classes as well. So either you find that boy place outside of my sect or you put him back where you found him." He responed giving him the fiercest glared that could send even teachers to rethink twice, unfortunately for the headmaster it doesnt work on this particular soldier no matter how hard he tries.

The soldier didn't look away from the kid completely ignoring the stare. " Don't worry, his not going to be with the other kids. I'm taking him in myself."

The headmaster raised a thin eyebrow, " You're gonna adopt him?"

"Well, I was thinking more of a ward-"

"You don't do wards, Louyang. Your bleeding heart wouldn't last day." He opens a shelf, producing a series of papers on the the desk.

" Huh? You just have those documents on hand?"

" Yes. Sign." He pointed at the paper.

"Hold on, this time could be different, I already have three kids-"

"Louyang. You're wasting my time. Sign, and get out of my sights."

The soldier sighed, taking a few minutes to signed the documents as he doned before. The headmaster gave it one last look and put them away. " Now, I don't care were you found him in or how difficult his life has been as long as he's putting in the work, passes his exams, and doesn't stir trouble he can stay." The headmaster gazed directly towards the boy as he spoke the last part of his sentace.

"Yeah, yeah." The soldier turned around, walking towrds the door. Meng Kang gasped silently, and moved to tiptoed quickly before he sees him-

The doors slide opened. Reaveling the soldier looking at the tan boy tiptoeing out of the corridor, Louyang rolled his eyes and smirked. " Meng Kang!"

The boy stood straight immediately. Sheepishly turning around holding the bucket on his chest. "Uh, yes, fuquin?"

"Come meet your new brother." He pointed behind him where a kid with a mop of wavy hair and raggedy robes and bandaged hands, with no shoes. His feet were dirty and full of cuts and bruises, his left feet bandaged at the ankle. His eyes were completely cover by his bangs but it seemd his cheeks and neck were filled with scratches too.

Meng Kang felt his heart squeeze at the sad sight. It reminded him of the other children in the orphanage were he used live, fighting for scraps of food or attention. He tried to care of as many as possible but he couldn't save all of them. And much recently his now younger brothers. Who were picked up by his father a year and a half ago, caked in old dried blood.

He wants to care for this boy, now that his living in a more stable house. And show him what he proably wasn't able to get in his previous home.

He put his bucket down and walked to the boy. The boy didn't shy away, he just stood and watched Meng Kang behind those bangs.

"Hi, my names Meng Kang! What's yours?"

The boy stood there silently a lot longer than expected. Meng Kang gaze up to his father questionably. The man smiled softly.

"C'mon kid. All you have to say is your name." He gave the child a few small pats in the head.

Meng Kang caught a glimpse of the boys eyes, storm grey esyes that were wide open, maybe in shock. Meng Kang internally noted to give his new little brother as many pats in the head as needed. And hugs! Those were very important.

The boy seemed to tense and untense for a few seconds. With a quiet voice, he said his name.

"I'm Yan Qiu."

Both Meng Kang and his father smiled widely. Meng Kang did a formal, though terribly uncouncoordinated, bow at the his brother. He has a new brother!

"Hi, Yan Qiu! Nice to meet ya!"