Journey to the Beautiful Ending

C16 - Small Moment

The Cloud Recesses has gotten busy once again. Jingyi was in the gate, as the head disciple, he was task to welcome all the sect leaders arriving for the conference. Sizhui was busy at the Library Pavillion with his father, Lan Wangji. Wei Wuxian was at the training field with the new disciples, supervising their archery training.

Lan Qiren may hate Wei Wuxian's presence in Cloud Recesses and the latter might have low spritual energy, he was still the talented Wei Wuxian during his younger years. He started to task him in supervising the training of the new disciples in archery or give them a lecture about the things that they may have encounter during the night hunting. Swordmanship was task to Sizhui and Jingyi or sometimes to a senior disciple to make sure that they will learn only the Lan Sect swordmanship. The new Lan disciples are coming from the branch family aged 10-15. These are the sons of Lan disciples who got married. The kids started their studies at the age of three and will slowly exposed them in the training field.

Jin Ling arrived with two Jin disciples as he was coming with Jiang Cheng with ten Jiang disciples. Jin Ling never bother to bring more disciples especially that his uncle trust more of YunmengJiang disciples than of his.

"Welcome, Sect Leader Jiang, Sect Leader Jin. Allow our disciples to send you to your respective room." Jingyi said as he saluted.

"Jingyi, where is..."

Jiang Cheng cleared his throat to warn Jin Ling to act as a sect leader properly but his nephew only rolled his eyes. Jingyi bit the inside of his mouth to supressed his laugh.

When all of the sect leaders have arrived, Jingyi made his way to sect leader Jin's chamber and delivered Sizhui's letter. He wasn't able to do it when they arrived because of Jiang Cheng's piercing eyes.

The conference that will be held was just a simple conference with no competition. Since creating noise and running isn't allowed in Cloud Recesses, they prohibited holding any conference discussion to maintain the peacefulness of the place especially that there are new disciples that are being trained and studying in Lanshi.

"Jin Ling." The one called startled. He was about to read Sizhui's letter when he heard his uncle's voice outside his room. He immediately hide the letter inside his clothes and went out.

"Uncle, what are you doing here?"

"I just went to check if you didn't roamed around."

Jin Ling frowned. "Of course not! I'm not a kid to be reminded what to do."

"You're just seventeen. You're still a kid in my eyes." Jiang Cheng sighed and pulled Jin Ling to seat.

"What now?"

"I will propose to hold the conference discussion in Lanling."

Jin Ling opened his eyes wider in shock but it didn't last and crossed his arms towards his chest. "Sure. Why not?"

"This is the time to show off you skills in holding a competition. Make sure you won't lose both the faces of Yunmeng and Lanling."

Jin Ling pursed his lips. Its not like Jiang Cheng won't insist to provide help. He surely will appear during the preparation without him asking for it.

"About..." Jin Ling looked at his uncle when he didn't continue his words. Jiang Cheng looked hesitated so he frowned.

Jin Ling, "If you wanted to say something, just say it."

"The last time we were here, did you get rid of it?"

Jin Ling felt a lump in his throat. He knew what his uncle was talking about. Now that he is in a relationship with Sizhui, he doesn't know if its the right time to tell his uncle. He will surely have an heart attack or will break his legs for real. He cleared his throat.

"What are you talking about, Uncle?" He said with a high pitch tone. "What should I get rid? Sizhui is just a friend."

Jiang Cheng sighed heavily. "Okay, I'll leave now so you can rest."

Jin Ling didn't say anything but he was so nervous. Good thing that Jiang Cheng decided to leave or he will lose his composure. When he could no longer see even the slightest sight of his uncle's shadow, he breathed heavily as he stroked his chest from throbbing earlier. He took a cup of water as he felt his throat drying.

"Are you okay?"

Jin Ling spat out the water when he heard someone speak in his back and coughed. He felt the gentle hands rubbing his back and when he turned to see who was it, the warm smile appeared on his face.

"A-Yuan."

Sizhui wiped the water on the other boy's lips and pulled Jin Ling inside his room. Jin Ling noticed that Sizhui was carrying a small closed basket and when the two settled in the table placed in the room, Sizhui opened the basket with food in it.

"Wow!" Jin Ling exclaimed seeing different dishes inside the basket. "Where did you got all these foods? There's nothing like this in Cloud Recesses, right?"

"Yes but Fuqin was cooking food for Diē so I did the same." Sizhui answered him as he carefully pulls out the dishes.

"So," Jin Ling put an embarrased smile, "He ask you who would you give them to?"

Sizhui smiled at him assuringly. "I do not need to tell him. Fuqin knew who will I give these to."

"D-Do they know?"

"I don't hide anything from them. Even I don't tell them verbally, I knew they know." After serving the food, Sizhui handed him a chopstick. "Eat."

"Are you not going to eat? This was a lot."

Sizhui pulled his nape and kiss him. Jin Ling gasped from the sudden move but he adjusted his head and kiss him back. When their lips parted, Sizhui kissed his cheeks.

"ZewuJun asked for my presence in Lanshi. Jingyi will fetch the dishes later and tour you to the training field so you won't get bored but if you want to rest, just let him know."

Jin Ling understood and kissed him again before Sizhui left. He pulled the letter inside his clothes and opened it. He giggled with the letter's content. He's already getting used to Sizhui's boldness which was only shown to him.

"I'll have time to kiss you later." His choice of words are quite bold but he knew this is his way to say he'll have time to visit him which he already did.

He excitedly ate the food his lover put on the effort of cooking for him. It might not be the most delicious food in the world, but for Jin Ling, it was the best of the best.

Just like what Sizhui said, Jingyi, with two disciples tailing him, went to get the dishes. Jin Ling saw that they are also holding the same basket which means they went to get the foods prepared for other sect leaders too. Jingyi gave the basket to the disciples and dismissed them.

"Sizhui went this far and delivered the food he personally cooked for you."

"Shut up." Jin Ling said while his ears are turning red.

"Hey, just let me be proud of him. You don't know how those sect leaders wasted so much food today just because it doesn't pass their taste." Jingyi complained as he have to endure those insulting words he heard.

"You should have expected it. People who don't live here aren't use to your bland and bitter food."

"Fine." Jingyi let him off. Even though he's gotten used to their clan food, with so many delicious food outside Cloud Recesses, he couldn't agree more. "Oh, hey, Sizhui told me to bring you to the training field if you want to." He said remembering his friend's request.

"Mm. Let's go. I'm not tired anyway."

"Good. You might want to spar with one of our new talented disciples." Jingyi said with smug smile on his face.

Seeing the smug, Jin Ling accepted the offer. "Why not? That would be great."