A Flower Of Youth

Chapter 4

When Lan Hao had recovered two days afterward, the older disciples assign him and Lan Yuan with the task of cleaning up after the bunnies as punishment for their forbidden adventure.

"This is gross," Lan Hao sighs through his muffled voice. He and Lan Yuan both have strips of cloth tied around their noses to block out the smell.

"We broke the rules," Lan Yuan sighs. "But I agree it is gross. I'd prefer to be copying out sect rules than do this. " But we only do that for minor punishments. " Lan Hao stares at him in shock.

"Minor? I heard that Hanguang-jun makes the junior disciples do handstands while copying them out!"

"Are we not 'juniors'?" Lan Yuan blinks

"We're not even old enough to night-hunt. We're still children." Lan Hao shrugs

"We don't need to wait long. We get our swords in one year."

"And you're getting a guqin as well. I don't know if I want to learn the qin...I don't think I will be good at playing an instrument."

"Every Lan disciple is required to learn it..after all, how else will we communicate with ghosts?" Lan Hao shudders in fear at this.

"I don't like ghosts. They're scary!" Lan Yuan punches his friend lightly.

"We're going to be cultivators. We shouldn't be scared of such things!"

"Hanguang-jun told me that everyone is scared of something and we just need to be strong enough to overcome it. We shouldn't be ashamed."

"Hanguang-jun said that? Wow."

"Of course! Hanguang-jun is wise and he's the best!" Lan Hao replies.

"He really is!" Lan Yuan agrees.

Three years later (both Lan Hao and Lan Yuan are twelve and have their courtesy names, Lan Jingyi and Lan Sizhui respectively.)

"Sizhui, this is for you! Happy birthday!"Sizhui blinks in surprise as Jingyi holds up something to him, wrapped up in cloth with a string tied around it.

"My birthday?" He echoes. Sizhui didn't remember celebrating his birthday when he was younger, not even with Hanguang-Jun. There was never a major celebration for a birthday unless it was for a sect leader, sect elder or a newborn baby from a grand marriage. However, thinking back into the past, he remembered the distinct tastes of something awful and hot that burned his tongue.

"Thank you! How did you know?" Sizhui says, smiling as he takes the gift.

"Hanguang-Jun told me. I didn't realize you were about the same age as me! You seemed a lot older!" Sizhui laughs.

"You never asked me and I didn't ask you either."

"Come on, let's go back to our room so you can open it." As they head back to the dorm, one of the older disciples sneer and make faces at them. Lan Jingyi clenches his fist, but Lan Sizhui takes his arm and hurries him inside before insults could start flying.

"What is with that Lan Xinya? He always looks down on us. All because he's an outside disciple that comes from one of the richest families in GuSu," Jingyi grumbles.

"We mustn't talk behind others' backs," Sizhui says warningly.

"I know..but I bet he and his little gang do the same thing. Who knows what they're whispering about at night?"

"Jingyi, we shouldn't be like them. We know better. Let's set a good example and show Master Lan that we're good disciples, okay?" Jingyi nods grudgingly. They finally head inside to their room and sit on the bed together. Sizhui unties the string and unwraps the cloth carefully.