To Meng Xingyao, the Cloud Recesses could not be any more different from Golden Carp Tower.

Deep in the mountains veiled by mist and dotted with grey and white buildings, the Cloud Recesses was modest and quaint.

Engraved with gold at every corner, Golden Carp Tower showed off its splendor without restraint.

Meng Xingyao much preferred the Cloud Recesses to Golden Carp Tower.

And as for Lotus Pier…it was too close to home for comfort.

"Meng-xiushi!" a voice called out.

Meng Xingyao turned around. "Ah! Su-gongzi, yes?"

Su She's eyes widened in surprise. - Yes, Meng Xingyao did remember him.

Meng Xingyao remarked, "Your sword skills were quite brilliant. I am glad that you fought by my side when we faced the water ghosts and the Waterborne Abyss."

Meng Xingyao didn't even have to give a false compliment to Su She as he did for others. He meant what he said.

Su She's eyes brightened and he smiled. "Of course. I too, am glad to have fought alongside you, Meng-xiushi."

Meng Xingyao smiled back and took some loquats out of his pouch. These were from the basket of loquats Pan Wukun received in the infirmary. "Would you like to eat some loquats with me, Su-gongzi? They're the ones sold in Caiyi Town."

For a moment, Su She appeared shocked. No one had ever invited him to eat before. Then his smile returned. "Yes, of course!"

As Meng Xingyao and Su She walked and ate the loquats, they got to know each other more.

"So how long have you been a rogue cultivator, Meng-xiushi?"

"Two years."

Su She gaped. "Two years of wandering around? Without joining a single cultivation sect?"

"I haven't found any cultivation sects to my liking. But I don't mind. Pan Wukun makes pleasant company. And you, Su-gongzi? How long have you been with the GusuLan sect?"

"I've been a disciple of the GusuLan sect since I was a young child. I arrived here from Moling."

"Ah. I myself am from Yunping."

Su She was surprised again. "Yunping? Isn't that in Yunmeng? Didn't you ever try joining YunmengJiang sect?"

"As I said, Su-gongzi, I prefer traveling with Pan Wukun."

Meng Xingyao saw the infirmary in the distance. "Forgive me, Su-gongzi. I must visit Pan Wukun and see if we're ready to continue traveling."

Su She's face fell. "You are leaving soon?"

"I'm afraid so."

Su She sighed. "If only you were a guest disciple, then you could stay longer. But the GusuLan sect's lectures are only ever attended by the young members of prominent sects." He looked at Meng Xingyao with a hopeful expression. "Perhaps we can stay in touch through letters, if you wish, Meng-xiushi..."

"Xingyao. You may call me Xingyao."

Su She blinked at Meng Xingyao in astonishment. Did he really want to associate with a nobody like him? But looking at Meng Xingyao's expression, Su She realized that he was quite serious.

"And you may call me Minshan!"

Su She and Meng Xingyao clasped hands. "Comrades!"

Some bells rang in the distance.

Su She gasped. "Ah! I must go to my guqin class!"

He saluted Meng Xingyao. "Should you ever find yourself in Moling, you are welcome to visit my household! Until we meet again, Xingyao!"

Meng Xingyao saluted back and waved goodbye with a smile.

Yes. Su She would make a worthy ally, Meng Xingyao thought.

He was quite pleasant to talk to and he actually showed Meng Xingyao common decency and respect.

It didn't hurt to have someone other than Pan Wukun he could trust in the cultivation world.

...What was this warm feeling?

As Meng Xingyao walked towards the infirmary, he spotted Lan Xichen.

Lan Xichen carried four large boxes stacked on top of each other.

"Here! Let me help you!" Meng Xingyao rushed over to him.

"No! No! It's fine!"

Despite Lan Xichen's protests, Meng Xingyao took two of the boxes to carry.

Lan Xichen sighed but sent Meng Xingyao a bright smile. "Many thanks, Meng-xiushi."

Meng Xingyao and Lan Xichen walked up a path, arriving at an impressive and massive building.

Through the open doorway and windows, Meng Xingyao saw shelves upon shelves of books.

Ah. This must be the famed Library Pavilion.

Meng Xingyao and Lan Xichen entered the Library Pavilion and set the boxes on a table.

The library assistants opened the boxes, revealing books inside.

"We are just organizing books in the Library Pavilion," Lan Xichen explained.

Meng Xingyao turned his head, looking around. His eyes landed upon a yulan magnolia tree, which stood outside the Library Pavilion.

He rested a hand on his chest.

Mother…

His mother would have loved the Library Pavilion. He had no doubt she would have devoured every last book in the GusuLan sect's possession. She'd sit under the yulan magnolia tree, eagerly flipping through book pages.

But she never lived long enough to get the chance…

Meng Xingyao's heart ached.

He shouldn't look any longer.

Thinking about lost possibilities was too much to bear.

Meng Xingyao turned his head away.

"Meng-xiushi?" Lan Xichen looked at Meng Xingyao in worry. "Are you all right?"

"...Yes, Zewu-jun."

The concern didn't leave Lan Xichen's face. But he didn't pry any further.

"Come. Let us have tea together." Lan Xichen led Meng Xingyao out to a table in a peaceful garden.

Once seated, Lan Xichen offered a cup of tea to Meng Xingyao. "This tea is rich in nutrients and is quite refreshing."

Meng Xingyao took a sip of the tea, its warmth spreading throughout his body. He gave Lan Xichen a small smile.

Lan Xichen smiled softly. "Don't worry, Meng-xiushi. Pan Wukun's condition is stable. The healers say that he should be fully recovered in a few more days."

"Ah. That's good." Meng Xingyao was filled with a sense of relief. Pan Wukun would be okay.

Leaving the garden, Lan Xichen accompanied Meng Xingyao to the infirmary.

Meng Xingyao and Lan Xichen saluted each other.

"I hope to see you again, Meng-xiushi. I enjoy your company."

"I wish for the same, Zewu-jun."

As Lan Xichen walked off, Meng Xingyao placed a hand on his chest.

There was that same warm feeling he had when he was with Su She.

Was…this what it felt like to make friends?

After checking up on Pan Wukun in the infirmary, Meng Xingyao made his way to the room he was staying at within the Cloud Recesses. Just as he turned the corner, something hard collided with his shoulder.

"Watch where you're going, will you?"

Meng Xingyao met eyes with a teenage boy who looked to be around his age.

The boy had a vermillion mark between his eyes and the yellow robes of the LanlingJin sect.

Two other teenage boys wearing the same yellow robes walked alongside him. "Well, aren't you going to apologize to Jin-gongzi?"

Jin-gongzi? There was only one young master surnamed Jin attending the GusuLan sect's lectures. This boy could only be Jin Zixuan!

Although Meng Xingyao kept a calm demeanor, rage festered within him.

Jin Zixuan had riches while Meng Xingyao had scraps. Jin Zixuan never had to work for anything in his life, pampered within the gilded halls of Golden Carp Tower.

Who does Jin Zixuan think he is? Looking at me so arrogantly like that? He's never had to fight for survival! Never!

No. No. Calm down, Meng Xingyao told himself. He had to hold his anger in. Act cordial as he always did with those of high society.

Meng Xingyao put on a remorseful expression and bowed. "My apologies, Jin-gongzi. I'm afraid I was lost in my thoughts."

Jin Zixuan simply nodded and continued on his way, followed by his fellow sect members.

As Meng Xingyao stared after Jin Zixuan's back, his fists clenched.

How come Jin Zixuan got to have a father's love, just because he was born into privilege and a high-standing position? He never had to worry about starving, about angering the wrong person, about how long his mother had left to live…

Jin Zixuan had a mother and father who loved and cherished him.

Meng Xingyao had a mother who was long gone and a father who didn't even acknowledge his existence.

"Son? What son? The only son he has is Jin Zixuan."

Meng Xingyao's breathing quickened. He gritted his teeth.

Damn it. He was losing his calm. He needed to leave and clear his mind.

A/N: So Meng Yao was at the Cloud Recesses with Nie sect in CQL. Both Meng Yao and Jin Zixuan were at the Cloud Recesses at the same time. And you're telling me there wasn't a single sibling drama moment? Come on, CQL! Missed opportunity right there!