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"Where is their dining hall?" one of Ouyang ZiZhen's companions asked as their group made their way across a long corridor.
"I thought the GusuLan Sect's home would be a lot smaller since it is in the mountains." another disciple said. "But this is as large as LanlinJing's."
"Let us walk faster. They said breakfast ends at exactly 7." Ouyang ZiZhen said and led his group.
Their small group of BalingOuyang disciples are at the Cloud Recesses. To commemorate the successful rebuilding of their mountain home, the GusuLan sect issued invitations to young disciples of various sects for a special lecture. However, unlike before, the lecture will only last for a month instead of a whole year.
Ouyang ZiZhen's father was very happy to receive the invitation and has made all preparations for their departure immediately. He also advised his son to try and form bonds with the disciples from the prominent sect. Ouyang ZiZhen doubts that he can form bonds with any of the GusuLan disciples. As far as gossip goes, the Lan disciples are a very serious sort. He does not think it is in their nature to be friendly with other sect, especially sects as small as BalingOuyang.
However, the young disciple is excited to see the Twin Jades of Lan. Growing up, he had heard many stories about their greatness and he would love to get even a small glimpse of them.
"You would probably see Zewu-Jun, but I don't think you will see HanGuang-Jun." One of the older disciple said the night before they left for Gusu. "I heard he doesn't like mingling with other sects. He does not even attend any discussion conferences."
Ouyang ZiZhen thought it was a pity that he would not see the Second Jade of Lan. However, he was happy enough to see Lan XiChen, when the Sect Leader personally welcomed them when they arrived the day before.
"Watch where you're going." an angry voice broke Ouyang ZiZhen's reverie.
"I'm sorry." one of the BalingOuyang disciple said.
Their group reached a turn and one of their disciples accidentally bumped into another group. To Ouyang ZiZhen's horror, his companion bumped into LanLingJin Sect disciples.
"I apologize to Young Master Jin." Ouyang ZiZhen said with a bow. "We did not see your group coming."
"Tsk. So even lesser-sects get to be invited to this lecture." Ouyang ZiZhen turned to see one of the Jin disciples said in disdain. He identified the young man as Jin Chan. The rest of his companion sniggered.
Some BalingOuyang disciple frowned. But as usual, they remained quiet whenever they heard such words. To Ouyang ZiZhen's relief they heard a voice.
"Is there any problem?" The disciples from two sects turned to see a few GusuLan sect disciples.
"Greetings, young masters." The disciple, whom Ouyang ZiZhen identified as Lan SiZhui said with a smile. "Is there something wrong?"
"Err, we were looking for the dining hall and we accidentally bumped into these young masters." Ouyang ZiZhen said.
"The dining hall is through this corridor." Lan SiZhui said, pointing at his left.
"I thought this lecture was for the noble clans. I didn't know you consider small sect as noble." Jin Chan suddenly interjected.
Ouyang ZiZhen took deep breaths to calm himself. It would do no good if they engage in a fight on their first full day in Cloud Recesses. However, he was surprised to hear Lan SiZhui's response.
"Please don't say that, Young Master Jin Chan." the Lan disciple said, still smiling. "This lecture is for any young master who wishes to learn. Also, being a small sect does not make them lesser. After all, we share the same goal of ridding evil beings from the world."
"Whatever." Jin Chan said and started walking away from the group of young disciples. The rest of the Jin disciples followed. However, their conversations were heard as if they wanted the people to hear them.
"Those small sects should know where they stand in the cultivation world"
"His Excellency should impose a law where they will not walk and talk freely to us from the main sect."
"The GusuLan sect sure likes to play the good guys."
"I apologize for dragging you in this mess." Ouyang ZiZhen said with a bow.
"Don't worry." Lan SiZhui said. "And please don't take their words to heart. You are an honored guests here in the Cloud Recesses."
"Thank you." Ouyang ZiZhen said.
"You should hurry if you want to make it before the meal ends." Ouyang ZiZhen turned to see the tall disciple beside Lan SiZhui spoke. "We have a strict rule about our meal schedule."
"JingYi!" Lan SiZhui said before turning to Ouyang ZiZhen's group. "Please go ahead."
The BalingOuuyang and GusuLan disciple exchanged bows before going on their separate ways.
"So that's Lan SiZhui." Ouyang ZiZhen said. He remembered the conversation with his senior.
"The Twin Jades of Lan is not the only one you would want to meet" he said. "There is also the Young Master Lan SiZhui. He is your age but that one is showing great potential. I heard he started leading a group of Lan disciples for night-hunting last year."
"But he is only fourteen?" Ouyang ZiZhen said shocked.
"Yes. He is younger than me but he already leads a group in night-hunting." he added.
"The gossip is right. The Lan sect people are all good-looking and good-mannered people." one of Ouyang ZiZhen's companions said, bringing him back to reality.
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Jin Ling is annoyed. No, he is pissed. Pissed at the Lan Sect for inviting every young disciples for a lecture. But more importantly, he is pissed at both at his uncles for insisting he go.
"All the other sects are going to be there. It's time for you to show them what you're worth." His maternal uncle, Jiang Cheng said.
"The LanlingJin and GusuLan Sect have close ties. It would be disrespectful if the Jin Sect's inner heir missed the lecture. Besides, Grandmaster Lan is a great teacher, and it will be a good opportunity for you to learn." his paternal uncle, Jin Guangyao said.
Jin Ling kicked the stone hard in anger. He seethed at the memory of seeing the proud look of the Grandmaster when Lan SiZhui answered his questions about the difference between yaos, monsters, demons, and ghosts, and the proper way of stopping them.
"Hmmp" Jin Ling said. He would bet his father's sword that the old man knew that Lan SiZhui knew the answer. He bet it was the Grandmaster who taught him that. And he would bet his vermilion mark that the elder only asked Lan SiZhui the question to flaunt his best student to the other disciples.
"So what if he knew the difference? That doesn't mean he would know how to fight them." Jin Ling said angrily. "Those goody-two-shoes, know-it-all Lan disciples". He added, conveniently forgetting that old Lan QiRen had asked three disciples--one of which is from Jin Sect--the question. He only asked Lan SiZhui since the three called failed to give any answer.
Jin Ling stopped himself from thinking dark thoughts after realizing that he had gone too far. The Lan sect did nothing to him. Except feed him bland food. And for him, who grew up in both Lanling and Yunmeng, bland food is similar to punishment. Food is supposed to be filling and delicious. They're supposed to be savory and full of spices. He refused to acknowledge the bowl of sad vegetable dish that the Lan sect offered him as food, no matter how many times the Lan disciple explained the sect's diet to him.
Jin Ling gets pissed again after remembering his lunch. He could not wait for the lecture to finish and for him to actually eat real food. In fact, he is starting to appreciate his Jiuju's cooking.
His mood turned for the worse when he heard the voice of his cousin Jin Chan. And as always he comes with his group of friends.
"Ah is poor Jin Ling alone again?" Jin Chan said while walking towards Jin Ling.
"Go away!" Jin Ling said.
"Manners Jin Ling." Jin Chan said. "We are at a different sect and you should not show that poor attitude of yours." He walked closer towards the younger disciple and with a menacing look he said. "In fact, I should discipline you right now."
With his nod, his friends circle Jin Ling, waiting for his signal to attack.
"You're only brave because you have someone with you." Jin Ling said.
"That's the difference between us." Jin Chan sneered. "See, unlike me, no one likes you." And without preamble he kicked Jin Ling in the chest. The younger Jin managed to block the kick by crossing his arm but the force still knocked him down.
However, before he could get up, two Jin disciples grabbed him by the arms and hauled him up.
"Do it Jin Chan!" One of Jin Ling's captors said, while holding a struggling Jin Ling.
Jin Ling closed his eyes while waiting for his cousin's fist. However it did not come. Instead, he heard Jin Chan's angry voice.
"What--" Jin Chan said.
"Young Master Jin Chan, why are you attacking Young Master Jin Ling?" Jin Ling opened his eyes to see Lan SiZhui holding Jin Chan's hands. With him are a few Lan disciples.
"It's none of your business." Jin Chan said. "Let go of my hands." Jin Ling saw him struggling to loose himself from Lan SiZhui's grasp. However, no matter how much he struggled, he could not remove his hands from the latter's grip.
"Fighting is forbidden in Cloud Recesses." Lan SiZhui said calmly, still holding Jin Chan's arms.
"He's right. Also, aren't you ganging up on one person?" Jin Ling turned to see who spoke. It was the tall Lan disciple he saw walking with Lan SiZhui this morning. Judging from the cloud motif sewn into his headband, he is also a blood relation.
"Let go of my hand." Jin Chan said and pulled his arms with force once again. However, as Lan SiZhui decided to let his hold go, he stumbled forward. He awkwardly righted himself.
"You're lucky these goody-two-shoes like to play the hero." He said, looking at Jin Ling. And without meeting any of the Lan disciple's eyes, he immediately left with his friends hurrying after him.
"Are you alright?" Lan SiZhui asked Jin Ling. For some reason, the latter only feels annoyed by the concern on the Lan disciple's face.
"I didn't ask for your help." Jin Ling said angrily.
"Why are you angry? You should be thanking SiZhui for stopping your cousin from punching you." the tall Lan disciple retorted.
"JingYi." Lan SiZhui chastised.
"What?" the disciple named Lan JingYi said. "He should be thanking us for coming to his aid."
"I could have beaten them without your help." Jin Ling said.
"Yeah right." Lan JingYi sneered. "You can't even free yourself from their grip."
"I didn't ask for your help." Jin Ling said to Lan SiZhui. "I am not indebted to you." He added before leaving the Lan disciples.
"What a temperamental brat." Lan JingYi said while watching Jin Ling's back.
"I guess the rumors are right." One of the Lan disciples said. "That Jin Ling sure has a bad attitude."
"It's like dealing with a young mistress." another one piped in.
"Don't say that." Lan SiZhui said. "Maybe he is just embarrassed."
"SiZhui-xiong that doesn't justify his behavior." another disciple said.
"No wonder he is always alone. With an attitude like that I wouldn't want to be his friend." Lan JingYi said.
Before Lan SiZhui could admonish his best friend they heard voices coming from the entrance of the GusuLan home.
"What's this all about? Don't they know that noise is forbidden?" Lan JingYi said.
"Come on." Lan SiZhui beckoned his companion and walked towards where the noise was.
"Excuse me, Young Master" Lan SiZhui asked a guest disciple. "May I ask what is going on?"
"It's HanGuang-Jun." the young disciple, whom Lan SiZhui identified as Ouyang ZiZhen.
"Oh HanGuang-Jun is back." Lan JingYi commented as soon as he saw Lan WanJi talking with Lan XiChen. The Lan disciples went and greeted the Second Jade of Lan.
"HanGuang-Jun really lived up to his name." one of the disciples say as they go on about their way. Having seen that his arrival attracted a lot of their guests attention, Lan WangJi immediately went to his residence. "I heard from a Lan junior that he travels a lot, night-hunting."
"He has done a lot at a young age, too." His companion agreed. Both of them turned to their right when they heard a loud and angry "hmmp."
"Young Master Jin Ling." they greeted.
But Jin Ling only sneered. So what if HanGuang-Jun has done many things? His uncles has done a lot too. And they're even leaders of their respected sects. In Jin Ling's opinion, his uncles are better than the Second Jade of Lan. The latter is only more popular because he has a pretty face.
"What is wrong with him?" the two disciples said in unison as they watched the young Jin disciple stomped towards the guest houses.