"Xingyao! It's so good to see you!"
"Minshan!"
Su She excitedly rushed up to Meng Xingyao. "You're a guest disciple now, Xingyao! How fortunate!"
It was obvious to Meng Xingyao how happy Su She was about this new development. It meant that they could spend more time together.
Meng Xingyao and Su She clasped each other's hands in greeting.
"Ever since I no longer saw you walking around the Cloud Recesses, I have been so worried about you, Xingyao."
Meng Xingyao had holed himself up in his room after his encounter with Jin Zixuan, not wanting to run into him again.
Meng Xingyao smiled at Su She. "Well, I'm right here in front of you. Safe and sound." Then he began walking up the path. "We should head to the Library Pavilion together, Minshan."
Su She happily agreed.
The GusuLan librarians were very cordial to Meng Xingyao, especially after he helped Lan Xichen carry some boxes of books a while ago.
A librarian whispered to his coworker, "Meng Xingyao is so well-mannered! Hard to believe he's associated with that book thief, Pan Wukun!"
Meng Xingyao smiled amiably, all while thinking, Oh dear, Wukun-ge…
Meng Xingyao and Su She checked out some books and left the Library Pavilion. They were surprised to see Lan Xichen standing outside.
"Meng Xingyao, how are your studies?" Lan Xichen asked.
"Lan-xiansheng is a teacher worthy of his prestige." In reality, Meng Xingyao actually believed Lan Qiren was well-educated but too rigid and inflexible. But that would've been too rude to say.
"That's good to hear." Lan Xichen was happy for Meng Xingyao. Then he smiled at Su She. "How is training, Su Minshan?"
"It's proceeding quite well, Zewu-jun!" Su She was flustered, not expecting Lan Xichen to even acknowledge him.
Noticing that Su She and Meng Xingyao were heading somewhere together, Lan Xichen stepped aside. "It was good seeing you both. I'll leave you two be."
As Lan Xichen left, Meng Xingyao and Su She sat under the magnolia tree near the Library Pavilion.
While Meng Xingyao studied books, Su She practiced playing his guqin.
Around each other, they were both at ease.
"Meng-xiushi!" Nie Huaisang called out.
Meng Xingyao turned to see Nie Huaisang with Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng. He greeted them politely.
Meng Xingyao knew that Nie Huaisang probably wanted to see him about their upcoming xiangqi match. But why was Wei Wuxian also coming up to him?
Wei Wuxian sidled up to Meng Xingyao. "So Meng-xiushi. You spend a lot of time with Chun-ge. Can you tell us more about him?"
Wei Wuxian, Nie Huaisang, and Jiang Cheng all leaned closer, eager to hear what Meng Xingyao had to say.
Meng Xingyao instantly understood. - Ah. So that's what they approached him for.
After the incident between Jin Zixuan and Wei Wuxian, Pan Wukun became the hottest topic of the Cloud Recesses.
Meng Xingyao couldn't just refuse to contribute to the gossip mill. He had to keep his fellow guest disciples, three members from two of the Great Sects appeased to maintain a good social reputation.
And Wei Wuxian didn't seem to be the type who would leave him alone. Meng Xingyao learned that much from seeing him cling to Pan Wukun.
"Pan Wukun was the one who taught me cultivation."
Wei Wuxian's mouth hung open. "Whoa! He taught you cultivation himself? Who was his teacher then?"
Meng Xingyao knew not to reveal Pan Heng's name or where he was from. Pan Wukun and Pan Heng would not be happy with him.
"All I know is that his master is also a rogue cultivator himself."
Wei Wuxian, Nie Huaisang, and Jiang Cheng murmured thoughtfully amongst themselves. "Wow. Pan Wukun really was never a part of any cultivation sect at all."
"So how exactly did you and Chun-ge meet?" Wei Wuxian asked.
"Pan Wukun and I met several years ago. Seeing that I was in trouble, he took me under his wing and we've traveled together since."
Meng Xingyao made no mention of where he and Pan Wukun met.
Wei Wuxian, Jiang Cheng, and Nie Huaisang got the hint not to pry for more details.
Meng Xingyao ran a hand over the flat hat he wore. "Pan Wukun was there for me during a very dark time. I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for him..."
Wei Wuxian's admiration for Pan Wukun grew tenfold. "Chun-ge…He really is one amazing guy."
At Wei Wuxian's words, Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang looked at each other. Jiang Cheng's expression was exasperated while Nie Huaisang's was amused.
Jiang Cheng placed his hand on Wei Wuxian's shoulder. "There. You've got what you wanted. Now let's go and see A-jie."
"All right! All right, Jiang Cheng!" Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng left Nie Huaisang alone with Meng Xingyao.
"Meng-xiushi. Are you free to come over to my room for a game of xiangqi right now?" Nie Huaisang asked.
Meng Xingyao had time to spare. It didn't hurt for him to make connections other than Su She and Lan Xichen.
"Yes, Nie-gongzi. Lead the way."
Nie Huaisang placed both hands on the sides of his head in surprise. "Ah! I've lost this round!"
He looked at Meng Xingyao in amazement. "You really are quite smart, Meng-xiushi!"
Meng Xingyao was pleased. Managing to best a sect cultivator in a strategy game meant that his background as a brothel dweller did not hold him back.
And he didn't even have to pretend to let Nie Huaisang win either. He could tell that Nie Huaisang would've been observant enough to call him out on it.
"You're the first person who's ever beaten me. I would love to play xiangqi again with you sometime, Meng-xiushi."
Meng Xingyao didn't feel as strong a warmth as he felt with Su She and Lan Xichen. But Nie Huaisang was someone he could match wits with.
"I feel the same. Until our next match, Nie-gongzi."
Meng Xingyao had his reasons for choosing to stay at the Cloud Recesses.
On the day he and Pan Wukun were given the invitations, Meng Xingyao thought long and hard about his circumstances.
If he chose to head out on his own, he would no longer risk encountering Jin Zixuan.
But where could he even go without Pan Wukun? What was there for him to do as a rogue cultivator?
At least Su She and Lan Xichen were here.
Meng Xingyao decided not to be too hasty in his departure. He needed to observe Jin Zixuan. Just what kind of man has Jin Guangshan made his sole legitimate heir?
On the first day of class, Meng Xingyao discreetly cast glances at Jin Zixuan from his desk.
Jin Zixuan sat silently at his desk, back straight and facing ahead to pay attention to Lan Qiren's lecture. He sat with an air of dignity and was well-behaved in the face of authority.
Only in the face of authority…
Meng Xingyao had also been in the Orchid Room with Pan Wukun when Jin Zixuan had his little spat with Jiang Wanyin and Wei Wuxian.
Jin Zixuan did not hesitate to be honest with them about his dissatisfaction with Jiang Yanli.
Meng Xingyao was not surprised that Jin Zixuan acted pompously with his potential allies from the YunmengJiang sect. He never had to learn to hold his tongue, did he?
Meng Xingyao was disappointed that he didn't witness Wei Wuxian punching Jin Zixuan. He was pleased that Wei Wuxian wanted to hit Jin Zixuan just as much as he did. But he understood why Pan Wukun had intervened.
It was no surprise that Jin Zixuan also insulted Pan Wukun. He was lucky that Pan Wukun did not want to punch him.
Jin Zixuan hadn't sent anyone to harass Pan Wukun for attempting to advise him on being a future sect leader. With the way Jin Guangshan treated Meng Xingyao using his guards at Golden Carp Tower, Meng Xingyao expected Jin Zixuan to have done that by now.
Was Jin Zixuan the same as Jin Guangshan? Was he better? Was he worse?
Meng Xingyao would find out what kind of person his half-brother was soon enough.
A/N: Thanks for the advice on natural medicinal remedies to treat coughs, Readers. You're very kind.
My cough is finally gone by now, whew. I am healthy and well again.
I tried some Cuban food for the first time at a restaurant owned by Cuban-American immigrants. I had chicken and pork with mojo sauce. I never knew black bean soup could taste so good. Vietnamese usually eat clams with black bean sauce but this was my first time eating black beans in soup form. It was new yet familiar and comforting. And plantains...wow I never knew fried banana could be so delicious!
Cubans & Vietnamese both eat a lot of rice.