A Flower Of Youth

Chapter 8

A/N: Okay so I kind of forgot that Jin Ling is like two years younger than Sizhui. I'm not sure about the ages of Zizhen and Jingyi but for my story, I'll make Jingyi the same age as Sizhui and Zizhen Jin Ling's age. That being said, I'd like let everyone to know that when the guest disciples come, Jin Ling is already twelve so Sizhui and Jingyi are fourteen (I am following the '16 years later' timeline rather than the novel's '13 years' in this story just to make things easier at this point in the story)

Not long after they arrive back in Cloud Recesses, Lan Sizhui is summoned by Hanguang-jun.

"Hanguang-jun, I'm attending a conference meeting?" Sizhui gasps. "With you?" It was extremely rare that a junior disciple attended a conference meeting held in LanLing. The only exception for other sects was for sect heirs.

"Mn." Lan Wangji nods. Sizhui hesitates before asking.

"Jingyi can't come?"

"Not this time." was the reply. "You should pack and get ready. It will be a long journey.

"Yes." Sizhui bows and leaves the room.

"You're so lucky!" Jingyi says loudly as he helps his friend pack. "Hanguang-jun really dotes on you so much!"

"Well yes...he's like a father to me. We both know this. I wonder what the conference meetings are like."

"You'll be able to see Jin Ling and Zizhen," Jingyi says enviously. "And Lianfeng-zun as well. Also Sandu Shengshou."

"We've seen him before...when we were little, remember?" Sizhui still remembers the flint in his eyes.

"He really lived up to his name, didn't he? He has quite the reputation," Jingyi says. "We learned that he was the one to take down the Yiling Patriarch. They were sect brothers too!"

"That's..." Sizhui shudders. He didn't know what to think of that. Brothers should not kill brothers.

"Sizhui," Jingyi says, lowering his voice. "You have different opinions on the Yiling Patriarch, don't you?"

"I-"

"Don't worry. I won't judge you. I've been thinking about what you said the other day and I think you're right. Nobody knew the reason Wei Wuxian turned to Demonic cultivation. We didn't know his intentions...plus he didn't always use it for evil, right? The Sunshot Campaign...he still contributed. He must have, right? He was still in Yunmeng Jiang at the time and it wouldn't make sense if he didn't assist in the war."

"Right," Sizhui agrees. "Our history books...don't seem to have the record for that though."

"That's unfair! Jingyi shakes his head. "Even if it was demonic arts he used, he was still part of the main force against the Wens."

"Jingyi, quiet," Sizhui casts a nervous look at the door. They both fall silent and they put the remaining talismans and books into Sizhui's qiankun pouch. He had made it himself, adding in shapes of bunny onto the white silk with blue stitching.

"I'll take the bunny carving you gave me for good luck." Sizhui slips it into his pouch and closes it.

"Have a safe journey." Lan Jingyi walks him to the door and to the gate where Hanguang-jun and Zewu-jun were waiting.

"Thank you. You'll take care of yourself too, okay?" Sizhui touches his friend's hand slightly. "And try not to make trouble with Lan Mingyu?"

"Only if he doesn't-," Jingyi begins but seeing the look Sizhui gave him, he stops and just nods.