Few more weeks had passed and the season had changed. Although in Cloud Recesses, summer was not was not much hotter or different than springtime. The weather outside remained as cool to the touch as it always was.
Xiao Zhan was busy doing his trial-and-error projects at the unoccupied training ground when he was startled to see Nie Huaisang running at full speed toward him with panic written all over his face. "Wei-xiong! Wei-xiong!"
"What?" Xiao Zhan asked, a little concerned with Nie Huaisang's urgency.
"Please come! You have to stop Jiang Cheng!" Nie Huaisang said, grabbing his arm and practically hauling Xiao Zhan to the lesson hall.
"What has he done now?" Xiao Zhan groaned as he let himself be dragged by the young man. He furrowed his brows when he saw that the disciples were forming a circle, spectating a fight in the middle. They were whispering excitedly among themselves at the exclusive view of the drama unfolding before their eyes. The whole room seemed like a circus tent with all the spectators, and the participants were clowns. They fell quiet when they noticed Xiao Zhan and immediately gave way to him. The crowd parted like the Red Sea for him as they followed his movements with their eyes.
As soon as the scene became visible, it appeared as if a hurricane had swept through. Jiang Cheng's eyes blazed with uncontrollable anger as he grabbed Jin Zixuan, whose face was battered on one side, by the collar and hurled insults at him. Jin Zixuan threw a punch that landed on Jiang Cheng's lower abdomen, causing him to grunt and stagger back as Jiang Cheng released his grip. Jin Zixuan then seized the opportunity and struck his opponent on the cheek.
Xiao Zhan felt like he was going to get hypertension looking at the center of the mess. "For fuck's sake, both of you stop!" He yelled; his voice echoed throughout the hall as he jumped in between of the two teens with their raging hormones, pushing both to opposite sides and forcing them to separate. "What the hell are you two doing?!"
Jiang Cheng ignored his question and tried to claw his way back to land another punch on the peacock looking boy, his voice held such spite that could turn people's bone into jelly, "I dare you to say it again!" he demanded.
"This brat!" Xiao Zhan shoved him back to the corner and glowered. His eyes were met with Jiang Cheng's furious gaze but he was not even intimidated by that. His only interest at that point was to stop the quarreling before it turned ugly. "Okay! Stop this nonsense at once!" he barked at both of the boys.
Jin Zixuan refused to back down as well. "If you are dissatisfied, then tell your sister to break off this engagement since it only happened because of your mother, and she is no longer a part of your clan!" he retorted defiantly.
Jiang Cheng stiffened and gritted his teeth. His fists were clenched so tightly that his bones would shatter as he stood still, keeping his bloodshot eyes fixed on Jin Zixuan. "I'm going to kill you."
Xiao Zhan's temper flared up as well. "Jin Zixuan, I would watch it if I were you. I won't tolerate any more words from you about Shijie." he warned.
Jin Zixuan was too clouded by his emotions and scoffed at Xiao Zhan, "If you care so much for her, then ask her father for her hand! Doesn't he treat you better than his own child?"
That's when Xiao Zhan saw red. With a slow tilt of his head, he locked his eyes on the insulter. His piercing gaze was dark and terrifying enough to make Jin Zixuan quiet at once. "This is my one and only warning, Jin Zixuan. Shut your stupid mouth if you still want to have one. I will rip your fucking throat out if you say any more bullshit." he snapped.
The last thing he said was loud enough for everyone to hear. Jin Zixuan was speechless; no one had ever cursed and threatened him so maliciously before. It was as if every fiber in his body was telling him to be quiet. Jin Zixuan felt a cold chill run down his spine and backed away, shivering in fear, as if he were seeing his own worst nightmare take shape in the form of a person.
All eyes now shifted their focus to Xiao Zhan, who was motionless in the middle, keeping an unrelenting stare at the trembling Jin Zixuan. A chilling and bloodthirsty cold air emanated from his body, as if he was surrounded by a type of darkness that no light could penetrate. It seemed like he could kill anyone with his deadly gaze. His silvery eyes looked like they were almost glowing dangerously in crimson. The air around him was heavy and thick, suffocatingly so. Every single one of them knew what he was capable of. Although he was always ruthless as a trainer, the person before them right now felt like a completely different person. He looked like a true demon who had just walked out of hell itself. Fear filled every corner of the hall. No one dared to make a move or any sound. No one dared to even breathe, as if there was something bloodcurdling and petrifying about him that froze them in their spots. It was so scary that people couldn't help but feel their souls leaving them.
Thankfully for them, Nie Huaisang was a smart cookie and brought another person to the scene that was about to escalate into an ugly one.
Lan Wangji came in like a savior sent from heaven as he urgently made his way toward him. He gently grasped Xiao Zhan's shoulder, trying to coax him back to reality. "Wei Ying, calm down."
The deep baritone voice instantly brought Xiao Zhan out of his reverie, and he finally noticed how everyone else seemed frozen in their positions. He took a deep breath and pulled himself back from falling into an abyss of a fiery pit in his mind. He turned around and looked at Lan Wangji with an apologetic smile on his lips. "Sorry, I don't know what came over me." he said.
Everyone in the room let out a sigh of relief and relaxed their stiff muscles. It seemed like they had been expecting some form of catastrophe, and they felt like they had just escaped death. They, however, still rooted in their places and dared not to say anything, just in case their movements would provoke that scary person again. As if nothing had happened, Xiao Zhan clapped his hands and said in a normal, playful tone, "Alright, everyone! Tidy up and return to your seats."
Xiao Zhan then looked at Jiang Cheng, who was still seething but standing at the far side of the room. He turned his cold glare at Jin Zixuan. However, no matter how calm he appeared, he could not hide the rage in his eyes. He spoke commandingly, "Both of you, wait for me at the training ground and stay six feet apart!"
Jin Zixuan nodded, still looking scared out of his wits, while Jiang Cheng merely shrugged. Both complied, albeit very reluctantly, and walked out of the class.
Satisfied with how everything had been returned to its normal layout and the rest of the disciples had gotten back to their seats, Xiao Zhan took his leave with Lan Wangji at his side. He said in a cheery but tired manner, "Lan Zhan, are you going to apprehend me for cursing?"
Lan Wangji shook his head. "You curse every day. Nothing new." he said softly.
Xiao Zhan knew how hard it was for Lan Wangji to tolerate his swearing in front of others, especially outside the training sessions. He chuckled, shaking his head slightly, "As the head of disciplinary personnel, you are too biased," he remarked.
"I told you, there are no rules when it comes to you." Lan Wangji replied calmly.
Xiao Zhan smirked. "Lan Er Gege, your uncle might label me as a bad influence on your pristine reputation," he said teasingly.
"I do not care for reputation. I only care about you." Lan Wangji stated firmly, his gaze showing his sincerity.
Ah, what a natural-born flirt you are, Lan Zhan.
Xiao Zhan smiled brightly at his answer. "Lan Zhan, you are going to make my heart stop beating any second now," he replied flippantly.
"I will restart it." Lan Wangji declared without missing a beat.
Now he knows how to joke, too.
Amused, Xiao Zhan couldn't help but flirt back a little. He leaned closer to whisper in his ear, "Oh, really? How do you intend to do that?"
Before Lan Wangji could give his answer, they heard someone clear their throat, interrupting their conversation. They both turned their heads sharply behind them to see Nie Huaisang, whose cheeks had pinked up slightly.
Xiao Zhan raised an eyebrow at his friend, who was trailing quietly behind them without their knowledge (or they were simply too engrossed in each other to notice).
Nie Huaisang averted his gaze, attempting to suppress his giggle while mouthing, "Sorry."
Xiao Zhan rolled his eyes, asking impatiently, "Why are you following us?"
"Wei-xiong, I am just worried about Jiang Cheng. You know, he is my friend, and I want to be there for him."
"Do you want to be punished with him then?" Xiao Zhan narrowed his eyes.
"Nope!" Nie Huaisang answered immediately. "Should I just return to the lesson hall?" he asked, scratching his nape awkwardly.
"Yes," the couple answered simultaneously in a stern tone. Lan Wangji even raised his voice slightly, truly annoyed at being interrupted at such a moment.
When Nie Huaisang heard their synchronized answer, he ignored their obvious irritation, "What a pair of lovebirds!" he said, chuckling lightly.
Xiao Zhan shot him a sharp glare, and Nie Huaisang hastily excused himself from the conversation. He shook his head as they both continued to head toward the two troublemakers.
Xiao Zhan stood in front of the two boys with bruised faces, his arms crossed over his chest. His voice was laced with frustration and annoyance as he asked, "So, you two wanted to kill each other that badly huh?"
"You heard what he said yourself!" Jiang Cheng shouted loudly as a reply.
Xiao Zhan could swear his eardrum had almost ruptured. He closed his eyes briefly, praying to whichever supreme being, up in heaven or down in hell, to give him patience, an abundance of it. "Jiang Cheng, you need to keep you temper in check. A future leader should not be so easily angered." Xiao Zhan admonished, patting Jiang Cheng's shoulder.
Jiang Cheng snarled at him, "And you should know who your family is."
Xiao Zhan sighed as he rubbed his forehead in exasperation. He deadpanned, not bothering to conceal the disappointment in his voice, "I am speaking to you as an instructor here, Young Master Jiang. There are rules in this place, and such poor conduct warrants punishment." he reprimanded sternly.
"I will not apologize for defending her name! I will fight anyone who dares to speak ill of my sister, at any time!" Jiang Cheng yelled indignantly as he glared at Jin Zixuan with pure hatred. His fist was still clenched into a ball, ready to deliver a devastating blow to Jin Zixuan.
"I never said anything derogatory about your sister," Jin Zixuan countered, sounding defensive. "I simply do not want her as my fiancée, that's all."
"Jin Zixuan, did you honestly believe I was unaware of your disparaging remarks about my Shijie?" Xiao Zhan said, finally turning to face Jin Zixuan. He observed the man flinching and biting his bottom lip. He let out a small mirthless chuckle before turning serious once more. "And you had the audacity to drag my name into this mess? Should I be the one to put you in your place then?"
"I..." Jin Zixuan stammered before trailing off.
"Young Master Jin, I would suggest watching your mouth when speaking of my *shijie* next time. Your words can cost you everything," Xiao Zhan reminded him coldly while glaring meaningfully at Jin Zixuan, "Including your life, if you are not careful. Do you understand?"
Jin Zixuan did not care to keep up a façade of calmness; he swallowed loudly, "Understood."
"Good, then let us settle this once and for all." Xiao Zhan said as he glanced sideways at both boys. He stated, crossing his arms against his chest. "I am giving you two a chance to fight it out. Punch, kick, hit, curse each other, or whatever! Have it your way!"
A murderous expression immediately surfaced on Jiang Cheng's face, and a fierce scowl adorned the peacock's face as well. They glared angrily at one another, silently preparing to launch themselves at each other.
"I haven't finished!" Xiao Zhan exclaimed as he snapped his fingers to stop the two from pouncing on each other, effectively immobilizing them in place. It was his 'motion-stopping' spell, which would render someone unable to move for one minute. Both boys were flustered as they couldn't move a muscle, as the spell paralyzed them completely. They could only move their eyeballs in disbelief as they followed Xiao Zhan's movements.
"This will be one time only at today's training session later. After that, if I ever hear about you two fighting again, I personally will beat you two up. Do I make myself clear?" Xiao Zhan asked, crossing his arms.
The spell soon wore off, and both boys slowly regained control of their bodies. However, neither boy had the courage to defy the tyrannical trainer, and Xiao Zhan wasn't joking. He truly intended to beat them to a pulp if he caught these brats fighting again. They both nodded in agreement.
Lan Wangji, who had been silently observing from the side, ultimately approached Xiao Zhan. "Wei Ying, shouldn't you set some rules?" he suggested.
"Hmm... Let's do that." Xiao Zhan rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he eyed both of them with his sharp gray eyes. He looked up, and a wicked grin plastered itself on his face. "There's only one rule: don't die." He stated, holding a finger up.
"One rule it is." Lan Wangji nodded. He knew exactly what Xiao Zhan meant by this, and he did not mind one bit.
Jin Zixuan could not believe his ears, while Jiang Cheng's eyes widened. "Huh??"
"What's wrong? Didn't you two want this?" Xiao Zhan taunted as he circled around them like a vulture. "I'll give you a full six hours of it. Nonstop!" he said, watching as Jin Zixuan's face blanch and turn ash white, while Jiang Cheng's jaw dropped in horror. The two of them stood there like statues while staring at both trainers, wide-eyed and horrified.
Jiang Cheng and Jin Zixuan snapped out of their daze when their ears picked up the sinister glee in Xiao Zhan's laughter. This made their blood boil, and their hands trembled as they balled them up into tight fists, but neither of them could utter a retort. Xiao Zhan stopped right in front of them and placed both hands on his hips. He commanded with a dismissive wave of his hand, "Good! Now, go back to class, and we shall see you two in the arena this afternoon."
Without uttering a single word, they immediately turned around and marched away towards the direction of the class room, grumbling under their breath and not bothering to look back.
Xiao Zhan shook his head at the pathetic sight and turned to Lan Wangji who was still standing beside him, waiting patiently. He pouted, "Lan Zhan, I'm hungry." he complained, rubbing his belly.
"Let's go." Lan Wangji replied gently.
Xiao Zhan grinned widely and grabbed onto Lan Wangji's arm. "What would you like to eat?"
Lan Wangji stared at him, and his lips curled upward. "Anything is fine."
"Fried rice it is!" Xiao Zhan exclaimed excitedly, and the two made their way to the dining hall.
In the kitchen, the cook couldn't help but sneak curious glances at the handsome man in black robes with rolled sleeves who was moving his knife smoothly while cutting vegetables. He wondered how a person this young could have mastered such cooking skills, and this was just one of his many established talents. He couldn't help himself and asked, "Young Master Wei, where did you learn how to cook?"
Xiao Zhan paused for a second before resuming his slicing. "I taught myself."
"Oh?" The cook blinked. "You have good taste in food."
Xiao Zhan hummed as he continued his tasks. "I'm just a fussy eater."
"I can see that." The cook chuckled softly. He complimented further, "You seem to have years of experience in this."
Xiao Zhan smiled. "You could say that."
The cook cocked his head to the side, a little confused. The teenager was still in the process of growing, and it was a well-known fact that the young man had been brought to the Jiang household when he was nine. How did he even have the time to learn so many skills at once, he wondered. He quickly brushed that thought from his mind and attributed Xiao Zhan's achievements to his intelligence. "Then, Young Master Wei, you are welcome to share your recipes with me at any time. Let me know if you need anything. I will be happy to help you get any ingredients that you want."
"It's very kind of you, Lan Qianbei. Thank you. I am grateful." Xiao Zhan said politely as he glanced briefly at the cook, his lips curving into a smile.
"No problem, Young Master Wei," the cook said, smiling back at him.
Xiao Zhan resumed his business without further delay. Not long later, he placed two large bowls of freshly cooked, fragrant fried rice on the table where Lan Wangji was sitting.
Lan Wangji smiled gratefully as he took a bite. His smile stretched wider as he showed his approval of the dish. Sitting across from Lan Wangji, Xiao Zhan observed his every movement with a faint smile on his face. His lips quirked up in satisfaction when the Second Jade of Lan began to savor his food. He also started eating afterward.
********
The sun was directly overhead, and the light shone brightly, nearly blinding them with its intensity. The sky was blue, and the clouds resembled wispy white smoke, offering scant shade. Fortunately, they were situated on the mountainside, where the temperature remained relatively cool, and a refreshing breeze rustled their hair and the layers of their clothing, causing the tails of their garments to flutter in the air.
On the training ground, the disciples sat with their knees crossed, except for two who stood facing each other at a distance, clasping their swords with a different grip than the others. One had his sword slanted to the side while the other had his straightened at an angle. The Yin and Yang trainers stood between the two in the middle of the designated arena. A large circular array with numerous complex runes inscribed in it had been drawn on the ground earlier by Xiao Zhan, with Lan Wangji's assistance, after they had had their lunch. Lan Xichen, Lan Qiren, and a few elders were also present on the sidelines, keeping a close eye on everything and everyone. They were interested in seeing how much progress these disciples had made under the rigorous regimen of the pair of young cultivators. Most of all, they were intrigued to see Wei Wuxian's training capability firsthand.
"Like I said earlier, you two are going to do this for the entire six hours, and this array will prevent either of you from escaping." Xiao Zhan announced. He pointed with his finger at the few smaller arrays hidden within the vast enchanted formation, "Now, remember, if you remain motionless for more than five minutes, an intriguing mechanism will activate, and I assure you that you will be unable to stand still. Although, if that happens, things will become more entertaining to watch. I might even relish the spectacle. So, are you ready to fight?" he warned with a sly grin on his face.
Both Jiang Cheng and Jin Zixuan suddenly had the urge to give up on their brawl and just run away instead. They would even hug each other if that was what it took to stop this madness from happening, but at the same time, their egos and pride were stronger than their fears. Expecting the worst of his insanity, they both swallowed down their anxieties and nodded in determination as a signal that they were both ready. Xiao Zhan raised an eyebrow at their stubbornness; he was half expecting them to declare forfeit, but they didn't. Finding humor in this situation, he couldn't help the chuckles that came from his mouth.
"As you wish, gentlemen." Xiao Zhan said as he threw one hand onto the ground and activated the array formation. The ground beneath them began to shake as the runes flashed red briefly before disappearing into nothingness, throwing small pebbles and dust. Before the half sphere could fully develop and entrap them, both trainers made their way out swiftly. In split seconds, the arena was enveloped by a thick, translucent barrier. The two who were stuck in the middle of it temporarily forgot their purpose and briefly wondered how much spiritual energy those demons had spent to create such a powerful enchantment or how great their cultivation base was. They looked questioningly at the couple on the outside, and both were without any sign of depletion.
"What are you two waiting for?" Xiao Zhan yelled impatiently at the two who were staring at them blankly, trying to sound serious and intimidating. His voice cracked halfway, and it was obvious that he was holding back his laughter. "You are supposed to fight!"
Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes, "What a lunatic." he grumbled under his breath.
"Jiang Wanyin, Jin Zixuan. Please begin." Lan wangji calmly instructed.
Jin Zixuan took a few seconds to compose himself and snickered at Jiang Cheng. "We don't have all day. Just bring it on, or are you scared?"
Jiang Cheng snorted and continued to glare at him. Without warning, he dashed forward and used the momentum to jump higher. A purplish sword glare flashed as he swung his sword down. Jin Zixuan blocked his attack, and a loud clang of metals clashing erupted, accompanied by a yellowish flare. He immediately moved backward, keeping a safe distance from Jiang Cheng's aggressive stance and making enough room to evade his attacks. The two were in intense combat, both fighting styles vastly different and clashing with each other every second, giving rise to a lot of sparks. After all, both were skilled in the art of the duel, having trained in this kind of sparring for some time.
Lan Wangji turned his attention from the ongoing brawl inside the barrier to Xiao Zhan, who was folding his arms with a serious expression on his face. He had stopped laughing when the battle officially started an hour ago, and his eyes were busily tracking the sword fight, analyzing their skill sets. He spoke up, "Wei Ying, can they last for six hours without rest?"
Xiao Zhan looked at him, "Don't worry, I will jump in if I need to." he said.
"This is a harsh punishment." Lan Wangji remarked.
Xiao Zhan shrugged, speaking nonchalantly. "I gave them ample time to forfeit this match. They desired to fight, so let them fight until they are weary of it. Perhaps they will learn something from this."
"That's a clever solution, Young Master Wei," Lan Xichen stated as he emerged from a corner with the Elders.
Lan Wangji and Xiao Zhan greeted them courteously. Some of the elders walked past them and headed straight to the barrier, eager to touch it. Xiao Zhan wanted to stop them, but before he could say anything, loud gasps of pain were heard from their mouths. He winced at the sight and immediately bit his tongue to suppress his laughter. Lan Qiren frowned deeply, and his face demanded an explanation.
Lan Wangji glanced at Xiao Zhan from the corner of his eye and explained on his behalf, "The barrier is electrified, Uncle."
The rest of the elders continued to assess the barrier, but they knew not to touch it now.
Lan Qiren still looked displeased. "Perhaps a warning should have been given earlier."
Xiao Zhan held back a sarcastic reply and bowed slightly, choosing his words as politely as possible. "I will remember to do so next time, Lan-xiansheng."
The graceful smile on Lan Xichen had yet to leave his face as he interjected, "Young Master Wei, that barrier looked complex. How long did it take you to construct it?"
Xiao Zhan rubbed his chin and counted in his head. He eventually answered, "Around half an hour, I guess."
As if it were planned in synchronization, the Elders' gazes landed on his face, and their expressions twisted into what seemed like shock mixed with astonishment and a hint of fear. They were no longer interested in the ongoing fight.
"My apologies, Young Master Wei. I must have misheard your answer. Did you say half an hour?" Lan Xichen asked, his eyes narrowed into a squint.
"Thirty minutes." He calmly answered. Feeling a little disturbed by all the glaring he received, he added, just to be on the safe side, "Or more. I didn't time it."
Xiao Zhan wasn't sure why they were so surprised. He thought it was quite a normal time, and that was the usual duration he took when he came up with his new combination of formations. He tilted his head to the right and looked over at Lan Wangji, silently communicating with his eyes.
Lan Wangji saw his confusion and stepped in to clarify, "Wei Ying has been experimenting with arrays these days. He's already familar with it. So, it took lesser time."
"Less time? Thirty minutes for a large array of this size?" An Elder remarked, gesturing toward the approximately one-hundred-meter area.
Lan Wangji stated the facts without any change of emotion on his stoic face, "There are five smaller arrays laid out within the large circle itself."
"You mean to say that he spent five minutes on average for each array?" Lan Qiren gasped quite loudly, sounding a bit perturbed.
Xiao Zhan blinked multiple times as he corrected him, "No, I spent fifteen minutes on the biggest one, and the restâ"
Xiao Zhan trailed off when he noticed the Elders gawking at him as if he were an exhibition. He cleared his throat and tugged on the white fabric that hung loosely beside him, signaling his partner for help. He was getting antsy with this kind of fretting attention.
Lan Wangji gave him a subtle nod. "I did help him construct the largest circle."
Lan Xichen's mouth was hanging open as he asked his brother, "Wangji, let's say you didn't help. How much time would it take?"
As honest as usual, Lan Wangji replied, "Perhaps an additional thirty minutes, at most."
Xiao Zhan did not know whether to laugh or cry at the Second Jade of Lan's answer, although he knew it was the truth. He could not find any excuses or ideas to avoid this interrogation-like situation.
The Elders and the First Jade of Lan stared at the pair, dumbfounded, for almost a full minute. Lan Qiren finally found his voice again. "That is absurd."
Lan Xichen took a few more seconds to process the entire situation before eventually putting back his usual smiley face as he said, "Uncle, Wangji would not lie, and it might be possible with Young Master Wei's knowledge and talents."
An elder said after giving his beard a few thoughtful strokes, "It sounds reasonable."
"Though it might be hard to believe, the formations were really well done." Another Elder agreed. A couple more nodded along with his comments.
Lan Qiren muttered under his breath, "I will believe it when I see it for myself."
The other Elders exchanged glances, but none of them dared to comment. The silence was suddenly broken by the loud sound coming from inside the arena. They turned to stand on the side, eyeing the spectacle that saved Xiao Zhan from the pins and needles he got the longer he was stared at.
Xiao Zhan immediately broke into a grin as the interesting part he had warned about earlier was happening right at that moment. The two must have attempted to take a break. The ground inside the array that housed the giant ring trembled violently and rippled from underneath as though they were trying to shake something out of its structure. The two fighters almost fell to their buttocks as they lost their balance, and with that, they finally understood what he meant by 'not able to stand still'. They literally couldn't even if they wanted to. The moment they started moving again, the ground settled down gradually, and it took a minute for the surface to return to its normal flatness. The boys figured that they had no choice but to keep moving for at least five more hours, and this sparring was never about satisfying their urge to fight each other in the first place. Rather, it was designed to be their punishment for fighting.
"Wei Wuxian! You cruel devil!" Jiang Cheng screamed the name on top of his lungs, he would love to strangle his martial brother if given a chance at the moment.
Xiao Zhan could not hold his laughter this time.