Being Shi Zhonglei means suffering from being the sane one.
He thought Beiyue on her mischievous mood was bad enough. He was wrong. Lingyang school tests his patience, as in, how much people can push his buttons before he snaps and go on a murder spree!
Case in the point...
ZAAAAAAPPP!
Xue Che and Dongling were in the arena, battling each other, with the rest of the faculties watching the spectacle as if it was a form of entertainment. Cheering and booing, enjoying the show instead of doing the right thing by calling the teacher, or better yet the principal. He was sandwiched between Beiyue and some students he doesn't know whose name.
'How did we get into this?' He lamented.
Sanity Is Overrated
"You know, I don't see the hype of Lingyang School." Commented Dongling during lunch break. "Indeed, we can learn more intricate detail about Four Cultivation Profession and get professional to teach us the correct way to do it... but aside from that, it was more chore than anything."
It was the third week of their School Days, and she utterly FAILED to see what the hype is. In her opinion, the only reason it wasn't wasting time was that she is learning stuff under proper guidance.
Zhonglei sighed. "Well, most students are of the Noble family. They mingle together to create alliances and connections. The Single ones trying to appeal themselves for a potential fiance. It was not just a matter of learning cultivation and stuff, it also a political battleground. To gain the best catch and elevated oneself and one's family while discarding the deadweight." He explained.
Dongling pursed her lips. "Does it includes girls giving me stink eye when they think I'm not looking?"
Beiyue chokes on her drink. "Sorry, what?"
"The girls in my class have been giving me looks that feel like they wishing me to die in a ditch somewhere. The boys more like giving me speculative eyes."
Ah. "Well, your stunt with Xue Che had made up people's opinion about you. You proved that you were strong and skilled, not to mention you were pretty in the eyes, so the girls feel threatened they will be outshone by a maid of all things."
It took Dongling a moment to digest it, and she made a face.
The boys view her as a pretty catch... for a CONCUBINE. Their pride won't allow themselves to make a maid their legal wife, no matter how pretty, strong, or skilled the maid was. They probably planned to have Dongling as a trophy wife (concubine) while has another daughter from a respectable bloodline as their legal wife.
Dongling wants none of it. Nope. Not a chance in hell. She had SEEN what a Harem Household it. A cutthroat world where women putting poison on their lips, smiling sweetly while hiding a dagger behind their back. Pushing their child to appeals to their father while secretly sabotage other concubines and their children. An eternal madness and conspiracy with no time to rest. Nope. Nope nope nope Nope NOPE!
"If you think you had it bad, I have it worse." Grumbled Beiyue.
That made Zhonglei confuse. "How so?" Isn't like, people are avoiding her? Won't she should be glad about it?
"I'm a Royal. I am expected to pick up a husband candidate and married as soon as I am of age. A husband from respectable family or else." She rolled her eyes. "They didn't say it outright but anyone with a lick of political smart could read between the lines. Sometimes being noble is not worth the headache it brings. This was one of those times."
"Don't you have someone in mind?"
"Huh?"
"You were close to Bugiel childe." He pointed out.
"We just happen to share three courses out of four."
"Uh-huh. Could've fooled me."
He had seen their interaction.
Beiyue didn't like Nobility. It was evident by what kind of 'Mask' she put on in public (exactly how many 'Mask' did she have?). She doesn't care about what people think and/or say about her. She didn't mingle with people and prefer to be alone. Not even Princess Yingye or the Princes could make her put the mask off. Well, unless she's being concerned about Prince Jing's wellbeing. That was another matter.
However, to childe Bugiel (Luoluo, was it?), she was warm. Oh no. She didn't quite smile or joking around him like she was to them, but it was a close call. Zhonglei could see Beiyue struggles to not let her mask crack and slip around him.
She still treats him politely and never once smiling, but does she realize her eyes lit up around him? Or that she was chattier when it was Childe Luoluo who ask her question? She was merely tolerating others' presence, but she was fond of the Bugiel Childe. Fond enough to let him staying within close proximity to her without once getting irritated.
People were already commenting on it.
Beiyue rolled her eyes. "What should I do to make them back the fuck off from my business? Dropping their sorry asses in the volcano?" She said. "Luoluo is just a friend of mine. He is decent and nice, unlike the rest I could care less about. Well, that, and someone knows him well."
Zhonglei knew Beiyue moonlit as Mercenary under her alter ego. He had been accompanied her during their times in Beiyao. However, he didn't know Beiyue reaches out to someone in her alter ego.
Maybe she IS interested in Luoluo but in denial or too dense to notice her own feeling? She did admit she like Luoluo to an extent... and haven't indicated that she saw him as a family or the likes.
Something to keep an eye about.
"Let's end the discussion. The break time would end soon."
Well, true. Better not get late. There's so much to learn and he didn't want to miss any class.
Alas, His plan was thrown out of the window the moment they returned to the Yard that separates the Imperial College and Eastern College. Why? Because he saw Xue Che looking at their direction with anger palpable in his eyes.
Zhonglei didn't exactly remember what happens later. All he knew was there's a volley of insult and biting hurtful banter, augmented by ire and condescending from both sides. Somewhere down the line, there's a challenge issued.
...he thinks Xue Che may accidentally insult Beiyue, and Dongling took it poorly thus challenge him, and Xue Che accepts it.
So here he is, watching the battle unfolds with no way escape.
Sigh.
He missed his class, didn't he? How annoying. Can't they wait until the school is over before getting into a fistfight? And he thinks it is supposed to be the boys' job to talk with their fist while girls hiding their intentions behind veiled bards and insult. Why it was reversed in his and Dongling's case? He means... ugh. How should he put it? It was a total mess...
"She's quite something."
"Yeah."
"I thought she's crazy, but she perhaps has some skill."
"Look at how she played Xue Che."
So far Dongling manages to evade the attack or redirected it elsewhere, drawing attention from the onlooker.
Well, she is a student from the WARRIOR course, and Xue Che is a legitimate SUMMONER. Summoner is thought to be cream on the crop. In a fight against Warrior and Summoner, Summoner should be the winner, because one, their cultivation level is boosted by their summon, and two, it was two versus one. Not to mention Summoner know spells that Warrior can't learn simply because they lack the requirement for it. Had it been a normal fight, Dongling would have turned into a charcoal long time ago.
She isn't, because she's not your run-of-the-mill warrior. Hell, she isn't a pure warrior. She is a Summoner first, warrior second. She could have entered the Summoning course but she didn't. And she and Xue Che shared the same element. Lightning.
Of course, it would be a stalemate. Both were summoners and of the Lightning attribute. In the end, it was a battle of wit, strategy, and endurance. Who could last longer than the other?
So far, it seems Dongling would be the winner. Not only she has been encountering a worse opponent, but she also hasn't made her own attack yet, choosing to go defensive and evasive. This not only means Xue Che would waste his own energy trying to hit her in vain while Dongling only spends little of hers, but it would be one long battle. Possibly till the school over.
ZAAAAAAAPPPPPP!
"Ah, shit!"
Zhonglei pulled Beiyue and jumped away to safety. The other students also had to get away from their position, just in time before a bolt of stray lightning hit that area.
"HEY! WATCH WHERE YOU AIMING AT!" He hollered, only to get ignored. If anything, Xue Che get even more frustrated with how long Dongling manages to hold her ground, that he stop holding back and start using spells with Higher Output, which in turn put the audience in danger!
Asshole!
This is another reason why he HATES seeing the fight from this close distance. The combatants held little to ZERO regards to the audience when they're so into the battle! Tunnel vision at its finest!
And to make thing worse, the other students, instead of getting worried or something, was shouting encouragement and booing.
ZAP! ZAP! BLAAAR!
Agh!
Another stray blast directed his way, he blocked it with solid multi-layered water walls. Not ice, Water. Ice is more fragile than water in the case against thunder.
It still damn near crumbled apart and hurt him and Beiyue.
That. Does. It. Those idiots are getting it!
"What is happening here?" Demanded an authority voice.
The Principal is finally here, along with the Princes and teachers.
Oh, finally! Took them long enough! What did they do? Waiting until Beiyue almost in danger before acting?
Their presence halted the fight, with both combatants paused and saluted the principal. Well, Dongling did, recognize authority force when she heard one, while Xue Che almost uses the chance to attack before he realizes who had just asked the question.
The Crown Prince, letting the adults do their job, approaching Beiyue and Zhonglei. "Cousin, what happened?"
Beiyue briefly glanced at Dongling and Xue Che, before answered, "A little dispute get out of hand."
Beiyue, sister, ma'am, that was like saying Cultivation is expensive. An understatement. This so-called dispute damn near got into a blown-out battle, if not on its way there, and endangering people's life, yours included.
We both know you have been going through a worse life-or-death situation. Fighting a Wuling, crossing the Hollow Forest all way to Beiyao Country and dangers posed when you masquerade as a male mercenary, just to name a few, so much that this danger was barely rated as "meh", but please don't be so frank about it. The danger is danger.
"A little dispute." Repeated the Crown Prince. He shook his head, why, Zhonglei don't know. "Did you get hurt?"
"No. Zhonglei protects me."
He doesn't have to, if someone uses their brain and gets a teacher or something, even if only to make this battle legal since at least the teacher can be impartial. Hopefully. But nooo... everyone was too awestruck and ignore their common sense and self-preservation. Choosing to watch the showdown as if it was an attraction.
Idiots!
The reason why Zhonglei hasn't do it if he was so annoyed, was because he was sandwiched between students and Beiyue, and if he left, well, Beiyue was forced to show that she was more than she let it show.
Stupid pride getting in the way.
~X~
Because the battle lasts longer than it was supposed to be, and to the fact it was unsanctioned by a teacher or someone with authority to act as referee and make everyone witness it miss a class, they all get punished by given extra homework.
Beiyue, being a student of Imperial College, has an easier time finished her own homework. All she does was borrowing a large number of books, asking the right people the right question, and making cross-reference, with her own opinion thrown in.
Dongling and Zhonglei, on other hand...
"How far along, you are?"
"Not even a quarter of it..." Moaned Dongling in dismay.
They are still trying to finish theirs. Making cross-reference in Warrior and Summoning course is painfully hard. Even with them sneaking into the Seven Pagodas and borrowing the books.
At least it was neither Enchanting nor Pharmacist. If those courses were like what Beiyue imagine they as the basic theory alone would make her head hurt. You are not allowed to be wrong in fundamental theory, otherwise when it put into practice, KA-BOOOM! In the Pharmacist case, if it doesn't go ka-boom, guarantee to fail if not the outright poison of undecipherable source.
Feeling bored, Beiyue put out her new Guzheng. It was starry night black with white carvings and white strings.
She uses school guzheng in the class, but in private she uses her own. Cost her a pretty penny, but the sounds oh so worth it.
Dongling's eyes lit up. "You're playing?"
"I've taking Guzheng Class and I have oh so much music in my head, might as well put it into use." Replied Beiyue. "Maybe I'll sing."
That was a major reason why she took Guzheng class.
She can't exactly sing when she busy blowing the flute.
"What song, then?"
Beiyue closed her eyes, searching in memory the most appropriate song. Nothing too raunchy, or too loud. They ARE in the library, illegally even. But nothing too sad. Waterworks would ruin the scroll and books. Something good.
A song comes to mind. Ah, yes.
Flexing her finger, she starts plucking the instrument. Playing tone that was foreign to this world. Cheerful, but also melancholy and longing. Then,
"I wonder where the sky spreads
I wonder where my path continues
Compared to yesterday, even if tomorrow seems far away
You are waiting for me at the promised land
When I'm alone, I can't do anything
But because I want to protect you
The thoughts of becoming stronger
give me courage
When I'm alone, I can't do anything
But we, in order to protect everyone
The thoughts of becoming stronger
give us power"
What better song, than this song made from, sing by, and directed to his Famiglia?
"Tears of loneliness, there was a day when they spilled
Tears of regret did not stop
The "Me" from that day reflected in the mirror
At the promised place that gives me warmth
Let's go forward step by step
even every time we go, the time trial awaiting
If we look back,
friends support us and cheer us up
We went forward a little more
No matter how many times, we'll stand up
Whenever love cannot be seen in our eyes
Love protects you
From this heart, I can say "thank you"
I believe that someday, that day will arrive
As long as there are dreams in this heart
Our journey continues
In the blue sky, extend your hands and see
Even if we're separated, our hands can be connected
the smiling face I want to protect
You who stands out is family"
"Interesting song."
Beiyue yelped in surprise when an unfamiliar voice speak. She wasn't the only one. How could they not? A drop-dead gorgeous man with red-streaked white hair and blood-red eyes suddenly was in the room. Damn it! She dropped her guard too low. Why isn't her Intuition warned her? Oh, wait, because it was not life-threatening!
"Are you the librarian?" Ask Dongling.
The man look amused. "Something like that."
Ooookay? Intuition saying he brings no harm to her... for now. In fact, it likens him to... Hibari-san when he was in good (read: intrigued) mood?
"Um." Beiyue coughed. "If you don't mind... can we stay here till the end of the lunch break? We promise to not causing any ruckus... and we will take utmost care to the book." Nothing pissed off a librarian more than treating centuries worth books and scroll roughly. And in this era, digital data is non-existent. The book and scrolls are written by hand.
The Librarian(?) look at them cooly. "Hn."
Yep. Hibari-san flashback. Best not piss him off.
Beiyue made a move to put away her guzheng, when the Librarian(?) spoke up again.
"Is the song over?"
Huh? "Well, no. Not yet."
"Then you may finish it." Huh? Really? "It was... quite interesting for a song. Different to songs and music I knew." Well, duh! It was made in the modern era, not the ancient era, of course, the genre was unknown yet.
"Go on. Finish the song."
Trading another look to Dongling and Zhonglei, both are interested too and want to hear the song till the end (did their eyes just glowed? What the hell?), Beiyue sigh in defeat and continue the song from where she left them. The song of her Famiglia.
"Where does this wind go?
Where does this star want to go?
No matter what kind of tomorrow comes, I'll still want to move on
Even if I'm like this, there's probably a reason for being "Me"
That time, at the unknown place
We arrive and are laughing with you
Even if in the unused thing, even if in the broken dream
The flower in this heart blooms
The mist comes
The clouds appear
The pouring rain
The angry thunder
After the storm
The sun always shines
All of them lead to the blue sky
From this heart, I can say "thank you"
I believe that someday, that day will arrive
As long as there are dreams in this heart
Spread your wings of freedom
Extend your hands to the blue sky, see
Even if we're separated, our hands are still connected
In the shining smiles that I want to protect
We that stand out
Are family...
Family"
TBC