The Veil of secrecy:Disguised mentor
Zi Qian's footsteps echoed softly in the hallowed corridors of the academy as he traversed the familiar pathways, his gaze darting eagerly from side to side in search of his aunt and sister, ying ying and Xiao Rui. The air buzzed with the fervent energy of students engaged in spirited conversations and hurried footsteps, each one lost in their own world of study and contemplation. Lost in his thoughts, Zi Qian rounded a corner with uncharacteristic haste, his mind preoccupied with the prospect of reuniting with his companions. Yet, before he could react, he collided with two figures who materialized seemingly out of thin air. "I'm so sorry!" Zi Qian exclaimed in a panic, his voice tinged with genuine remorse as he stumbled backward, his arms flailing in a futile attempt to maintain his balance.
In the chaos of the collision, a delicate jar slipped from Xiao Yang's grasp, tumbling to the ground with a deafening crash. The sound reverberated through the corridor, echoing like a mournful dirge as the shards of the once-pristine jar scattered across the floor. Time seemed to stand still as Zi Qian's heart sank like a stone, his eyes widening in horror as he beheld the devastation he had wrought. I-I'm really sorry!" Zi Qian stammered, his voice trembling with genuine regret. "I didn't mean to do that." His heart raced in his chest as he struggled to find the right words to convey the depth of his remorse. Xiao Bai knelt on the floor, his brow furrowed in concentration as he gingerly attempted to gather the broken pieces of the jar, his fingers trembling with a mixture of determination and apprehension. Beside him, Xiao Yang stood tall and stoic, his gaze fixed on Zi Qian with a mixture of concern and understanding.
"Don't do that, Xiao Bai!" Xiao Yang's voice broke through the tense silence, his tone laced with a hint of urgency. "You'll bleed," he cautioned, gently prying the broken pieces from his grasp to prevent any accidental injury. "But brother!" Xiao Bai protested, his voice tinged with distress. "This is our family heirloom. What will we tell Father when we get back?" Hiseyes brimmed with unshed tears as he cast a pleading glance at his older sibling, his heart heavy with the weight of their predicament. "Don't worry," Xiao Yang reassured him, his voice calm yet resolute as he placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "We'll figure something out." With a nod of determination, he signaled to one of the nearby maids, silently instructing her to collect the scattered fragments of the jar.
Turning his attention back to Zi Qian, Xiao Yang offered a reassuring smile, his eyes softening with empathy. "Don't worry," he repeated, his voice gentle yet firm. "It can be fixed." Zi Qian's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as he met Xiao Bai's inquisitive gaze, his mind racing for a suitable explanation. "I-I was just... caught up in my thoughts," he offered lamely, his voice tinged with a hint of sheepishness. "I didn't realize how fast I was walking." Xiao Bai regarded him with a mixture of curiosity and concern, his brow furrowing slightly as he studied Zi Qian's flushed complexion. "But why were you in such a hurry, Qian gege?" he pressed, his voice gentle yet insistent.
Zi Qian shifted uncomfortably under his scrutiny, his gaze flickering towards the ground as he struggled to articulate his thoughts. "I... I was looking for Xiao Rui and Ying Ying," he admitted reluctantly, a note of frustration creeping into his voice. "But I couldn't find them anywhere."
A look of realization dawned on Xiao Bai's features as he recalled the events of the past month. "Oh," he exclaimed softly, his eyes widening with understanding. "But don't you remember, Qian gege? They were sent on a mission by the elders because of their excellent performances." He tilted his head to the side, his expression thoughtful as he continued, "It's been nearly a month since they left. I suppose they might be busy solving whatever issue has taken them so much time." Zi Qian inwardly cursed himself for the slip-up, berating his forgetfulness regarding his clone's presence. "Uhh, right! It must have slipped my mind," he hastily replied, forcing a smile to mask his embarrassment. However, Xiao Yang regarded him with a suspicious glint in his eye. "Ah, Qian Ge! You're acting rather suspiciously," Xiao Bai remarked, his tone laced with skepticism.
"It's nothing, really," Zi Qian replied with a strained smile, eager to escape the probing scrutiny of Xiao Yang's gaze. "Thank you for the reminder, but I have something urgent to attend to." With that, he turned on his heel and hurried away, the sound of his footsteps echoing in the corridor. Despite his hasty departure, Zi Qian couldn't shake the feeling of Xiao Yang's watchful eyes boring into his back.
As Zi Qian dashed through the corridors, his heart pounding with the urgency of his escape, he rounded a corner and collided with an unexpected figure—Yu Xuan. "Yu Xuan? What are you doing wandering around the academy like this? Have you lost your mind?" Zi Qian hissed in a loud whisper, his voice edged with a hint of panic. "Xue Zi Qian! Is that any way to address someone?" A stern voice cut through the air, and Zi Qian froze in place, his heart skipping a beat at the unexpected reprimand. Slowly, he turned to face the source of the voice, only to find himself face-to-face with Elder Xu, his eyes widening in disbelief. "Elder Xu?" Zi Qian stammered, his gaze darting between the elder and the seemingly amused Yu Xuan, who stood beside him with an enigmatic smile playing at his lips.
"I... I'm sorry, I didn't realize," Zi Qian stuttered, his words faltering as he struggled to compose himself in the face of Elder Xu's imposing figure. Are you acquainted with each other?" Elder Xu's voice held a note of curiosity as he regarded Zi Qian and Yu Xuan with a discerning gaze. "Regardless, it's imperative that we refrain from judging based on appearances. This young man," Elder Xu gestured towards Yu Xuan, "is a newly recruited scholar at the Lingtian Academy. Despite his youthful countenance, he commands respect. His experiences far exceed his years."
"I must apologize, Elder Xu," Yu Xuan interjected with a charming smile, his tone polite yet slightly amused. "It appears there has been a misunderstanding. I have not had the pleasure of meeting this young man before." Zi Qian's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as he nodded in agreement. "Indeed, you are correct," he admitted sheepishly, casting a glance at Yu Xuan. "I mistook him for someone else." "I am Yu Han," Yu Xuan continued, his voice carrying a hint of pride as he introduced himself as a scholar and mentor in the esteemed Lingtian Academy. Zi Qian followed suit, bowing respectfully as he introduced himself to Yu Xuan with pretentiousness.
"Devious old man! You planned this, didn't you? Couldn't you have given me a heads-up about your sudden appearance as a mentor this morning?" Zi Qian exclaimed, his frustration bubbling to the surface.
" Why did you came so early. I thought you needed more time,"
"Oh, lighten up, Zi Qian. Where's your sense of adventure?" Yu Xuan retorted, his smirk widening at Zi Qian's annoyance. "Do I need your permission to drop by and offer my sage wisdom?"
"Ugh, just leave me alone. I can manage just fine without your interference," Zi Qian snapped, his irritation mounting with each word. "I don't need want to see you. You ruined my whole day."
"You're perfectly capable of getting into trouble all on your own," Yu Xuan quipped, his tone teasing as he reveled in Zi Qian's frustration. "But fine, if you insist on being a lone wolf, I'll leave you to it." Zi Qian rolled his eyes, exasperated by Yu Xuan's relentless banter. "As if I'd want your company anyway," he muttered under his breath, his pride wounded by Yu Xuan's casual dismissal.
"Ah, but aren't you forgetting something?" Yu Xuan's voice cut through the air, a hint of mischief dancing in his eyes as he reminded Zi Qian of his duty. "You're supposed to show me around the academy, remember?"
"As if you haven't already scoped out every nook and cranny of this place during your little clandestine visits when you were with me this one month," Zi Qian remarked to Yu Xuan, his tone laced with sarcasm.
"Oh, do you truly wish for me to wander aimlessly? Very well then, I'll inform Elder Xu to assign someone else to guide me. As for you, perhaps a few lashings for your disobedience," Yu Xuan declared, striding ahead as he idly twirled a strand of his newly blackened hair. Concealing his true appearance, he now sported a sleek mane with subtle white highlights at the tips, complemented by his customary robes, albeit with a fresh disguise."Lashings?! Absolutely not! Wait up, you old troublemaker!" Zi Qian exclaimed, hurrying to catch up with Yu Xuan.
Zi Qian panted as he walked alongside Yu Xuan, his eyes darting nervously between the ancient spirit and the gleaming amulet dangling from his neck. Yu Xuan's smile softened as he noticed Zi Qian's discomfort, but his gaze remained fixed on the mysterious artifact.
"By the way," Yu Xuan began, his curiosity piqued, "I didn't ask how you came to possess that amulet." His eyes flickered to the amulet, glinting in the sunlight as if imbued with its own otherworldly energy. Zi Qian hesitated for a moment before gingerly removing the amulet from around his neck, cradling it gently in his hands.
"This amulet... It was a gift from a friend," Zi Qian explained, his voice tinged with reverence as he regarded the ancient artifact. "But why do you ask?" he inquired, a furrow knitting his brow in suspicion.
"Nothing, really," Yu Xuan replied casually, though a flicker of intrigue danced in his eyes. "I'm just curious as to who would entrust such a powerful artifact to a young man like yourself."
"It was a gift from Xiao Yang, the young master of the esteemed Shen family," Zi Qian revealed, his tone tinged with reverence. "You see, the Shen family is renowned for crafting powerful artifacts and weapons."
"Ah, the Shen family," Yu Xuan mused, his eyes alight with intrigue. "Xiao Yang, you say? How fascinating! It appears there's much more to them than meets the eye. This adds an intriguing layer to the mystery surrounding them," he remarked, a playful glint dancing in his gaze.Zi Qian opened his mouth to continue, but before he could utter another word, he was abruptly cut off. "Alright, forget about it for now," Yu Xuan said with a nonchalant shrug. "Let's head to the library. There's much to explore and learn." With that, he set off down the corridor, Zi Qian trailing behind him, the enigmatic allure of the amulet still lingering in his mind.