“Ah, this is going to be so much fun with everyone coming together! What exactly are we going to do though? I think we should all tell stories about our times at all the sects we were part of. After all, that’s where everyone met, right?

“I have a few I can tell myself. I mean, I’ve only been officially part of two sects but my sister is part of the Hei Dian Sect and I’ve been over there for quite some time so I’ve also made some experiences there. I might even know the other disciples you’ve invited.

“I guess talking about my time at the Chun Feng Sect might not be so good but the Zheng Yong Order is really good. You haven’t really met my martial sisters but they’re all awesome! If you have time in the future, you should definitely come by for a visit.

“Anyway, I haven’t heard much about the Yun Zou Sect either but that’s your original sect, right? You absolutely have to tell me more when we’re back at the guesthouse later. Although maybe telling too many stories at once could get boring as well. Oh, right! How about exchanging some pointers in-between? That way, it won’t be too monotonous!”

Jing Yi smiled wryly. Hong Bao’s idea had started out not sounding bad at all but then, it somehow derailed again. Well, he probably shouldn’t be surprised about that. “Better be careful with the pointers. We wouldn’t want anyone to get hurt or the room to suffer. The stories sound lovely though. I’m sure everyone would like that.” Well, even though he couldn’t speak for the others, he was sure that he himself would indeed enjoy this.

Somehow, the idea reminded him of the time his parents had left the village with him. Back then, all the villagers had come together on the last night as well, telling stories that had happened over the years while eating and drinking. It had been fun, maybe the most fun he had ever had in that place.

Even now, he still liked to think back to that night. Even though they had made some fun of him and he hadn’t known the other people very well, he still vividly remembered his parents’ smiling faces and the way they had looked at each other when their personal stories had been shared.

By now, the two of them were long gone but the memory of that night lived on and it always would for as long as he lived. He didn’t know if this evening would have the same impact but it felt similar in what it was supposed to mean. And yes, because of that, he was looking forward to it.

They finally arrived at the guesthouse while Hong Bao was still chattering on and found Shen An De and Hong Ai sitting in the hall, quietly drinking tea.

Jing Yi raised his brows, wondering where everyone else was. He didn’t get the chance to ask though.

Hong Bao rushed over and looked around, completely puzzled. “Where is everyone? Don’t tell me you couldn’t find them?!”

Shen An De shook his head and motioned to the ceiling. “I did find them but that Yue Lin looked like he had missed out on about five hundred years of sleep so we told them to go and lie down for a while since you weren’t back yet.” He tilted his head and looked past Hong Bao, raising his brows at Jing Yi. “I hope you don’t mind?”

Jing Yi shook his head. “Were you able to clear up everything?” He went over to the table and sat down together with Qiu Ling.

Meanwhile, Wu Ya took the opportunity to help out and led the disciples of the Yun Zou Sect to the hall where they were supposed to gather. Anyway, this wasn’t a discussion they needed to be a part of and he wanted to take some work off Jing Yi’s and Qiu Ling’s hands so the two of them could enjoy themselves. After thinking for a moment, he cleared his throat. “Well, I’m sure they’ll be done in a moment. Actually, let me go and tell the servants that they can get the food and everything ready.”

Wu Min Huan naturally took the lead among the four of them just as he always did in the sect and nodded. “Thank you very much.”

Wu Ya smiled brightly and then rushed out, getting everything ready.

Shao Hai couldn’t help but stare at the door. He had hoped to see Xiao Dong again but … he hadn’t been there when they arrived. It really made him want to sigh. In the end, he could only resign himself to fate and wait.

Back in the restaurant on the first floor, Shen An De nodded in response to Jing Yi’s question. “I was. He will be compensated for everything and the Elders will be in major trouble. Well, officially, it’ll only be a little trouble but I can be unreasonable if I want to and they won’t stand a chance. You can be sure that I won’t let them get away with this.”

“Thank you.”

Shen An De shook his head again. “There’s no need to thank me. Yue Lin is a disciple of my sect and this shouldn’t have happened in the first place. I’m simply making up for it the only way I know. But anyway, that’s not important anymore after dealing with it, is it? Instead, we should probably go and wake him up and then start that gathering of yours. I sure you don’t mind that we invited ourselves.”

Jing Yi chuckled. At first, he had actually minded but not known how to refuse. Now though, he felt a bit closer to Shen An De. Even though he liked to trick people for his own amusement sometimes, he wasn’t a bad person. No, when it counted, he was quite helpful. How could he begrudge such a person?

Thus, they gathered the two people who had gone to rest. and finally, everyone came together. Well, everyone save for Niu Hai who was still wandering the streets of the capital city, wondering when everyone else would be ready to come together. It seemed that in his hurry to evade the Grandmaster of his sect, he hadn’t found a reliable way to get back in time for what he had originally come for.

« ToC »