Bamboo Peak, Moon-Viewing Platform.
A young girl with a slender frame, dressed in simple, pristine robes, sat upon the terrace. Her eyes were bright and spirited, yet they held a trace of hidden stubbornness. She swung her feet idly, staring blankly at the full moon suspended in the sky.
Under the ethereal glow of the moonlight, she appeared otherworldly, like a celestial being descended to earth.
"Xueqi, is your cultivation finished for the day?"
With a single step from the bamboo grove, Shui Yue, the Head of Small Bamboo Peak, appeared beside her, gazing at Lu Xueqi's quiet back. Lu Xueqi stopped swinging her feet, shook herself out of her reverie, and hastily rose to salute her master.
"Master. Today's lessons are complete."
"It is already so late; you have done several times the required work again," Shui Yue remarked. "You must rest more, Xueqi. Spend time with your senior sisters. Wen Min and the others worry about you. In cultivation, excess can be as harmful as deficiency."
Shui Yue couldn't help but feel the irony of the situation. She never thought she would see the day when she had to beg a disciple to take a break.
The world was truly a fickle place. She had heard Su Ru complain about Lucian Qing's lazy behavior over on Big Bamboo Peak, yet Lu Xueqi, who had joined the sect at the same time, was the polar opposite.
Lu Xueqi nodded but didn't reply, though her expression softened slightly.
Since ascending the mountain, she lacked for nothing; her master and sisters treated her with immense affection. Yet, having lived with Lucian for several years, she found the sudden change slightly unsettling.
Her mind drifted to Lucian. She wondered how he was faring on Big Bamboo Peak—if his cultivation was going smoothly, and if his old injuries had fully healed. She still remembered the years they spent together, and how Lucian would often speak of his yearning for the path of cultivation.
Unaware of her disciple's wandering thoughts, Shui Yue continued. "Your quiet, cool temperament is perfectly suited for cultivation. You are nothing like that boy who joined with you, Lucian Qing."
Shui Yue looked at the laconic girl before her and marveled at the contrast. One had become fast friends with everyone on Big Bamboo Peak within days, while the other remained a distant stranger to her own sisters even after a year.
Lu Xueqi didn't quite catch her master's underlying meaning, but her ears perked up at the mention of Lucian. Whether Shui Yue failed to notice or simply chose to ignore it, she went on:
"Lucian reached the first level of the Jade Essence Realm within six months of joining, but then he essentially gave up. For the past half-year, he's done nothing but read idle books and sleep. Your Aunt Su Ru has tried everything to persuade him, but nothing works."
Knowing Lucian's deep-seated obsession with cultivation, Lu Xueqi was initially happy to hear of his breakthrough. He finally took that first step, she thought. Though his talent might not match hers, it was far beyond that of an ordinary person.
But the second half of the news startled her. She knew Lucian was someone with a strong will; she didn't believe for a second that he would simply "degenerate" into laziness if he had the talent to succeed.
Driven by an impulse she couldn't quite name, Lu Xueqi spoke up in his defense.
"He... must have his own reasons."
Shui Yue knew the two were close and had relied on each other before joining the sect, but hearing her prize disciple talk back to her—and for a man, no less—made a spark of irritation flare in her chest. Her opinion of the "unambitious" Lucian soured further.
"You certainly have a lot of faith in that boy," Shui Yue huffed.
Lu Xueqi instinctively lowered her head at her master's displeasure, but then, convinced she hadn't said anything wrong, she raised her gaze and looked Shui Yue directly in the eye.
She did not flinch.
Seeing the budding streak of rebellion in her disciple, Shui Yue's cool composure shattered. She let out a frustrated, sharp laugh.
"Fine, fine. Why am I even arguing with you about this?"
Shui Yue turned to leave, and Lu Xueqi bowed respectfully, remaining silent. Just before she vanished, Shui Yue added one last command: "Remember what I said. Talk to your senior sisters more."
The gloom that had settled over Lu Xueqi vanished instantly. "This disciple obeys," she said softly.
Below the Moon-Viewing Platform, the wind rustled through the bamboo, and the evening chill seemed to dissipate.
The next day, mid-morning, Big Bamboo Peak.
Lucian was currently reclining in a lounge chair placed in the cool shade of the bamboo grove near his courtyard. An obscure book on ancient wonders lay in his hand, and a cup of steaming tea sat on a stone table beside him.
He rocked the chair gently, the picture of leisure.
Checking the position of the sun, he set his book down. It was time to head to the kitchen. Unfortunately, everyone else had been dragged away by Su Ru to be "thrashed" into shape, leaving him as the only available cook.
It was a classic case of a blessing being a curse in disguise. While his culinary skills were excellent, a slacker had to maintain appearances! He had spent so much effort teaching Song Daren and the others how to cook specifically so he wouldn't have to.
Did people actually enjoy smelling like cooking oil all day?
Noon, the kitchen.
Lucian, currently plating the dishes, watched as a group of battered, bruised men limped through the door. A smile touched his lips.
"Hard work, Senior Brothers! I've prepared plenty of delicious food to compensate you."
"Save it, Junior Brother," Song Daren groaned, collapsing into his seat, looking utterly drained. "The rest of us are suffering because of you and Old Sixth."
"Hey, I'm a victim too!" Du Bishu protested, pointing to a particularly swollen welt on his face. "You have no idea! Shiniang was out for blood when she caught me today!"
"That's because you were still acting like a lazy bum even after she scolded you," Wu Dayi pointed out.
Lucian walked over with a tray, teasing, "I thought it was because your gambling itch started acting up and Shiniang was trying to 'cure' you."
Song Daren suddenly remembered something. His expression turned stern, and he dropped the casual honorific. "By the way, Du Bishu. Did Lucian say yesterday that you gave him your... collection to read?"
Cold sweat instantly drenched Du Bishu's back. "Ah... did he? I only give out proper, wholesome books!"
"I never said they weren't wholesome," Song Daren countered, pouncing on the slip of the tongue.
The others quickly caught on. It was news to them that Du Bishu had "forbidden" books, but the real crime was showing them to their youngest brother.
"Old Sixth, have you no conscience? Junior Brother only just turned sixteen!" Lyu Daxin, who was always a stickler for the rules, barked. "At his age, he should be focusing on the Dao. You're sabotaging his future!"
Lyu Daxin grew more heated as he spoke. His own talent was mediocre, and he had been stuck at the fourth level of the Jade Essence Realm for years. Because he dreamed of seeing Big Bamboo Peak flourish, he was fiercely protective of Lucian's potential.
Du Bishu, cornered and speechless, could only take the heat. They don't know the real Lucian Qing,he grumbled inwardly. That kid can talk circles around me and debate the heavens; a little "forbidden" book isn't going to phase him. If anything interferes with his cultivation, it's his own desire to nap!
Seeing the genuine concern of his brothers, Lucian felt a wave of warmth. He decided to let Du Bishu off the hook for now.
"It's alright, Brothers. I didn't see much anyway. Besides, I'm old enough to exercise a little self-control."
Song Daren sighed, relenting. "Fine. Since Junior Brother forgives you, we'll let it slide this time. But if you try to teach him any more 'unwholesome' things, I'm going straight to Master."
Du Bishu let out a long breath of relief once the interrogation ended. He looked at the relaxed Lucian. "So you finally decided to say something for me, huh?"
Lucian shrugged and said nothing—mostly because Tian Buyi had just appeared at the door.
The group rose to salute. Once seated, they noticed that Su Ru and Tian Ling'er were missing. In such cases, Su Ru had usually returned to her home peak.
Song Daren asked, "Master, where are Shiniang and Ling'er?"
"Your Shiniang was called back to Small Bamboo Peak by Shui Yue," Tian Buyi replied, glancing at Lucian. "Apparently, it's about your Junior Brother."
"Me?" Lucian looked bewildered, pointing a finger at his own chest.
What he didn't know was that Shui Yue had returned home still fuming. Since she couldn't bring herself to harshly discipline the obedient Lu Xueqi, she decided to summon Su Ru to interrogate her about the "unambitious" boy instead.
Song Daren and the others were stunned. They had no idea their youngest brother had any connection to the formidable Head of Small Bamboo Peak. They weren't sure whether to be envious or terrified for him.
Shui Yue's reputation was legendary among the younger generation; few dared to even look at her. Yet, the envy won out—after all, who wouldn't want a connection to the peak full of beautiful female disciples?
"Spit it out, Junior Brother!" Du Bishu slapped Lucian on the shoulder, his face a mask of jealousy.
"I have no idea! I don't know why Master Shui Yue would mention me."
"Not that! We want to know how she knows you. Are you involved with someone from Small Bamboo Peak?"
Lucian gave a very calm, matter-of-fact nod.
"You lucky bastard!" Du Bishu lamented, looking toward the heavens as a mock tear escaped. "No wonder! No wonder you didn't want my books!"
"Master Shui Yue was the one who brought me to the Qingyun Sect," Lucian explained with a shrug, his face as flat as a board.
He didn't bother telling the whole story.
"You... you are the king of faking composure!" Du Bishu shouted, grabbing Lucian's collar and shaking him.
"You should be thanking me," Lucian said, prying Du Bishu's hands off. "Strictly speaking, if it weren't for me being the topic of conversation, you'd probably be getting another round of 'guidance' from Shiniang right now."
"Enough. Eat," Tian Buyi's stern voice cut through the noise.
The two immediately sat up straight, the bickering silenced.