Suji sighed.
He couldn't help but remember more of that same day—the one he might never forget. He never wanted it to be like this. And yet… it felt as if he was the one lying now, not the petals.
His face flushed faintly with silent embarrassment. Perhaps he was a fool, after all.
He lifted the gem again, holding it to the light. Its silvery edges caught his reflection—his own face staring back from within the dreamlike swirl of blue. Deep. Confusing. And beautiful, in its own strange way.
Flashback — Five Years Ago again....
The market buzzed with color and sound. Cherry blossoms floated lazily through the air, and sunlight glazed the rooftops in warm amber. Local vendors lined the paths, offering jewelry, silks, calligraphy, food, and trinkets of all kinds.
Kansai, still new to the clan, was moving from stall to stall with curious delight. His sleeves swayed like wind-chimes, eyes wide as he eagerly inspected every item—even though he didn't have a single silver to his name.
Everything was expensive here. Meant for high-ranking cultivators, not boys like him.
Suji watched him from a distance. Not too close, not too far—just enough to keep the boy in sight. He folded his arms behind his back, posture poised, eyes sharp beneath his pale lashes.
"That boy will get himself into trouble again," he muttered. "He always does."
His gaze lingered as Kansai paused at a jewelry stall—a place selling ornate ribbons, crowns, brooches, and gems worn by men of prestige. It was a place Kansai clearly didn't belong.
Suji narrowed his eyes.
"I'll keep an eye on him. If he ruins another shop like he did with that petal nonsense…" he murmured.
From a safe distance, he watched Kansai peer at a selection of shimmering gems behind the glass.
A middle-aged shopkeeper greeted him with a courteous smile.
"Good evening, childe. What are you looking for?"
Kansai leaned forward slightly, pointing at the display.
"What are those gems for?"
Suji took a half-step closer, half-ready to intervene if Kansai embarrassed himself again.
"Ah, these?" The shopkeeper smiled. "They are known as message-gems. Each color carries a different meaning."
Kansai's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"Meanings? Like what?"
The shopkeeper gestured elegantly to each gem in turn.
"Red means 'Will you marry me?'
Green means 'I care about you.'
Yellow—'Keep smiling.'
Gold—'Your Highness.'
White—'I forgive you.'
Violet—'Thank you for everything.'
And blue… means simply, 'Take care.'"
Kansai's ears tinged pink at the red gem. His hands stayed behind his back like a schoolboy avoiding suspicion.
But then he pointed at a different one—deep blue with delicate silver accents.
"What about… that one?" he asked softly. "It doesn't look just blue."
The shopkeeper nodded, eyes bright.
"Ah… that one is special. It's called Lán Qīngyè (蓝青夜) which meant Blue Clear Night .A rare blend of blue and silver. Its meaning is left entirely to the giver and the receiver. It's only sold to high-ranking cultivators."
Suji stepped forward now.
The merchant noticed him instantly. His eyes widened, and he straightened into a deep bow.
"Daozu Suji! What an honor—please, welcome!"
Kansai stiffened.
He looked between Suji and the gem, then lowered his eyes, embarrassed again. Suji gave a faint nod, polite but distant. His gaze dropped to the gem—the same one Kansai had admired.
He reached toward it.
"May I try it?"
"Of course, my lord!" the man exclaimed. "Please, no need to ask permission!"
Kansai stepped back two paces, now silent. He watched as Suji lifted the gem and adjusted it onto the silver crown at his half ponytail.
It shimmered—dark blue laced with silver, catching light like the reflection of stars over water. He looked at the mirror the shop already had , took his own appereance silently from different prospective .
The shopkeeper clapped once, delighted.
"Truly stunning, my lord! You wear it like royalty."
Kansai's breath caught in his throat.
For a moment, Suji really did look like the First Grandmaster, not the Second. A king, not a prince.
Kansai quickly turned away, his chest tight. He tried not to show it, but Suji saw everything.
"Ah, yes," the shopkeeper continued, now turning to Kansai. "These rare gems are usually bought by grandmasters and high cultivators. Ordinary cultivators aren't allowed to own them unless gifted."
Kansai blinked.
"Wait—what? Even if I had the money, I can't buy it?"
The man shook his head kindly.
"No, child. It's worth ten silvers and five blue crystals… but it's only for those of rank."
Kansai's heart sank.
His eyes fell. He felt.. something heavy..but then He quickly masked the disappointment, trying to smile through it.
"Haha… well, I wouldn't wear such a heavy thing anyway. Not my style. Too much for someone like me…"
He scanned the display, then pointed at a simple white ribbon—modest, almost plain.
"I'll take this one. It's soft. Not heavy like Grandmasters' accessories."
The shopkeeper nodded and wrapped it up. Kansai paid with the few silvers he had left, then quickly excused himself.
"Thank you for the explanation!"
He ran off toward Shigure and Unonome.
Suji remained still, watching him go. The gem still rested in his palm.
He said nothing, but placed a pouch onto the counter—twenty silvers and five blue crystals.
"I'll take the Làn Qīngyè," he said simply.
The shopkeeper's eyes lit up with awe.
"Of course, my lord!"
He carefully wrapped the gem in velvet-red silk, tucked it into an ornate box, and handed it to Suji with both hands.
As Suji walked away, the man called after him:
"Thank you for visiting, Master Suji! Come again!"
Suji turned slightly, gave a single nod, then disappeared into the winded path.
Back to Present
The memory faded.
The gem still shimmered in his palm, its colors unchanged. Suji gazed at it long and quiet.
Lan suji , may I talk with you ? "
Suji comes back to reality when he hears the call from outside . He quickly hid the gem into its box again , fixed his robe before answering
" come in "
A 2nd ranked Lan named lanyin came in and bowed him . His long black hair smoothly falling from his shoulders a but . He wished him in respectful manner
" good morning , Lan Suji.."
Suji nodded .his hands resting over his guqin .
" so..what brings you here at this early morning , lanyin ? "
Suji asked and landed forward a little , his hands blocked together over his lips and nose , eyes over lanyin .
" Actually , Dao suiren ordered me to tell you something about Kansai and Utsushi "
Suji blinked a bit . He can't help but worry If something happened to Kansai again or not..a little too much then he wants to admit but prefers not to show...
Kansai already sick after getting injured by kuradome . And the question was what also happened to Utsushi again . Suji rested his hand over the table again and asked in serious tone
" Did anything happened to them again ? "