On the Petals of a Flower, I found something that does not belong to me

17

To Everyone out there who is brave enough to defeat bad critisism, judgment and discrimination.

 I spent the whole day wandering around Gusu, trying like a bloody bastard to find any magic portal that would lead me back.

 Thing that was impossible. If there was a portal, wouldn't I go through there when I came here? Why would a portal appear out of nowhere magically?

 "Bollocks" I said with a low voice. Some disciplines opened up some space for me to pass through, as if I was the Loch Ness's monster and they were opening the lake like Moses.

 I passed them and continued to look left and right.

 There were several houses and rooms, places I could not enter so easily, except secretly. And I didn't want to risk seeing anyone naked in there. It was not right.

 Not that it would hurt me if I accidentally saw any cough Lan cough Xichen cough.

 "Did you enjoy your food?"

 I turned behind me. Speak of the devil. My field of vision shone and I could close my eyes to this white light emanating from Lan Xichen.

 And that smile! What a smile!

 I shook my head and coughed. Stop Charlie. Stop it.

 "Xichen," I said. "I can say that maybe I liked it more than Yunmeng's." Although I ate it with my hands like our ancient ancestors.

 The disciples that before made room for me, as if I was walking on a catwalk, greeted Lan Xichen and then looked at us curiously.

 "Did you hear?" some kid whispered to another.

 "What?" made the boy next to him.

 "The news. For this girl. That... that .. »

 "That what?" did a third boy.

 "I'm ashamed to say it," said the one who mentioned me.

 "Say it! Don't make as wait."

 "I know what he wants to say," said a fourth boy, and he puffed his chest out proudly. The others gathered near him.

 "Apparently, this idiot grabbed Zewu Jun's ribbon!"

 "What?" everyone else whispered.

 "You ... are joking with us. That.... of Zewu Jun? »

 "Yes, I tell you. She touched it! But there is worse."

 "Do not tell them. I don't even want to hear it," said the person who spoke first.

 The one who narrated the events, continued unabated. "Apparently, not only she touched the ribbon of Zewu Jun, but also the ribbon of Lan Jingyi!"

 "Eh???" did all the other boys together.

 "But why?"

 "They sat that it was an accident, but I don't believe it," said the narrator. "Otherwise why she would be here? Girls are not allowed in this part of Gusu. He should be with the other girls, on the other side. But she is here. Think logically. Why? I think it has to do with these events."

 One of the boys grabbed his ribbon with his hands. "What if... what if she wants to attack us all? To touch the ribbons of all of us on purpose?"

 The other boys followed his example and grabbed their ribbons.

 "No!"

 "No way."

 "Over my dead body."

 I sighed. These little ones were so stupid that their whispers could be heard ten meters away and clearly.

 "Hey guys," I said, irritated by the whole situation. "If you have something to say to me, say it directly. If of course you have the guts."

 "Eeek!"

 "How do you speak like that?"

 "Do you know where you are?"

 Lan Xichen coughed. The children looked at him in horror.

 "Unfortunately, Maiden Charlie does not know where she is and does not know the rules. Whatever happened, it happened by accident. But you know the rules normally. Nevertheless, you continue to gossip behind the other person's back. Please go to Lan Qiren to tell you about your punishment."

 "But .. Zewu Jun .." complained the boy who spoke first.

 But Lan Xichen left them no room. "Now." His voice sounded stern.

 The boys gathered and with their heads bowed, groaning and sighing, dragged their feet to the place where Lan Qiren was.

 Lan Xichen turned to me. "Sorry about that, if it made you feel uncomfortable."

 I shrugged my shoulders. "I was stoned here, will that bother me? And what about your ribbons? What in the world? Is something that is so sacred?

 Lan Xichen took a few steps towards me and stopped two meters away from me.

 "Maiden Charlie. Our ribbon has a meaning, a significance. That is why it is important to us. Means..."

 "Brother."

 Lan Xichen turned back. Behind him, a few meters away, came Jin Guangyao.

 "A-Yao?" did Lan Xichen. "Is it time?"

 "Yes," replied Jin Guangyao. Then his gaze fell on me. "Good evening, maiden Charlie," he said, and greeted me with that handshake.

 I shook my hands in front of me. "Don't do this. Just a hello is enough. We are okay. Please don't do this again. I feel uncomfortable and bad," I said.

 Jin Guangyao nodded. Then he turned to his 'brother'.

 "After Koi Tower, should I inform Brother Mingjue to come and pick up the maiden?"

 Lan Xichen nodded.

 Wait a moment. To pick up which maiden? Me?

 "What is all this for? Where do you want to take me? And why?" I demanded to know.

 The two guys looked at me. I tried not to be so aware of myself.

 "You will spend a day in Lanling, where A-Yao will help you find information. Then you will go to where the Nie Sectis the next day for information. In case you do not find anything there, we will start our mission. As long as you are looking and we will help you, at the same time we will prepare. If, as I said, we can not find anything that exists about how you came and your return to your area, then you will be forced to come with us on our mission. Maybe then we can find something, as we will travel to other areas," Xichen explained.

 It didn't sound bad. It sounded very logical. They made my plan for me.

 "Very well," I replied. I had nothing to lose. "I have not found anything here so far. But I have not looked everywhere... »

 "Because we are running out of time, we will go to the Lanling Jin Sect together tonight," Jin Guangyao interrupted me. "So you have some hours to get ready and look for what you want."

 I sighed. "You said we would try my idea, go back to the house where I was from the beginning."

 Lan Xichen smiled. "You will go there too. But you better go to the Lanling Jin Sect first. We are a bit in a hurry."

 If you were in a tight spot, you would not waste time treating me well and forcing me to eat. We could have gone straight after failing with the Forbidden Documents.

 I would endure. Even if I was tired. At least that's what I thought.

 "I don't have many things to take with me" I said and turned to leave.

 "If you find it difficult to dress maiden Charlie," said Jin Guangyao, "tell me to help..."

 "Stop it, stop it," I said and moved nervously.

 What did he want again? To dress me? Did I look like a baby?

 "Where did I get involved my God" I murmured and looked at the sky. I then wished from within, for some courage for myself.

 The night would be long.