A Third Jade {Mo Dao Zu Shi}

♬Chapter 7♬

~Xuan Zheng Year 18, 20 years ago~

In the mountains of the Cloud Recesses, a young Wei Ying and a young Jiang Cheng were running late to their studies.

The Gusu Lan Clan were holding lectures in Cloud Recesses. The Jiang Clan, The Nie Clan, the Jin Clan, and other cultivation clans were all invited to participate and study there for the next year to improve their cultivation skills. It was too good of an opportunity to pass up.

"We made it! Let's take a break, rest for a bit" the teenagers stopped at a bridge to catch their breaths. "If you get up late again, I definitely won't wait for you" Jiang Cheng complained, "It's just being late" Wei Ying tied his hair into his usual ponytail and smiled at his Martial brother, "We'll be punished to stand at worst. What's there to fear?"

Jiang Cheng noticed two people wearing peony-adorned robes with vermilion marks between between their brows. "Bro Zixuan" Jiang Cheng bowed down to Jin Zixuan, the heir to the Lanling Jin Clan. Wei Ying also bowed but Jin Zixuan and the other person stared at them and didn't say a word. They just walked past them.

"This Bro Jin is getting more pompous" Wei Ying angrily said, "Lanling Jin Clan is wealthy as a king. Jin Zixuan is God's favored one. Of course he's pompous" Jiang Cheng explained. Wei Ying had a mischievous grin on his face.

Jiang Cheng noticed it and smacked Wei Ying, "Wait, stop thinking of mischief! I'm warning you. No matter what, Jin Zixuan is sis's fiancé. They'll get married one day. Bear with it even though you despise him"

"Alright. Don't forget that you have a fiancé too, so don't you go cause any trouble for her!" Wei Ying laughed. "Oh please, I'm not like you!" Jiang Cheng scoffed, he then pulled out a small white pouch with small pink lotus designs all over it and it was seal tight with a red string.

Wei Ying smirked and wrapped his arm around Jiang Cheng's neck, "Right. You want to make her like you since you got a little crush on her. But I totally understand. Lan Mei is beautiful as a water lily. You couldn't even stop talking—" Jiang Cheng's blushed and pushed Wei Ying out of embarrassment, "Shut up!"

They ended their argument there and made it to the Orchid room, or the classroom as they call it. "Orchid room. Its name is elegant but the old master who teaches in there is stuffy"

"He's really capable though. Even a useless person, could become a decent man after 1 or 2 years of his discipline"

"Am I not decent enough already?"

"Bro Jiang! Bro Wei!" Their friend, Nie Huaisang, called them out and they were still somewhat arguing.

"Bro Wei is just a disciple from Yunmeng. Why could he come to Gusu to study?" A disciple asked. "Bro Wei is the son of Clan Leader Jiang's old friend. He has been treated as their son" Nie Huaisang answered.

"I see. That explains why they don't look like master and servant, they seem like brothers" the disciple said in shock.

"Bro Wanyin, Bro Wuxian. This is your first visit to Gusu. It's boring, isn't it?"

"Not really. Problem is getting up too early" Wei Ying yawned. "Here we get up at Mao Shi. Seems fine. When do you get up?" Nie Huaisang asked while fanning himself.

"He gets up at Shi Shi and rests at Chou Shi. Once awake, he doesn't train in the sword or meditate, but goes canoeing, pluck lotus and hunts pheasants" Jiang Cheng answered for him.

"I'm still the champion even in pheasant hunting" Wei Ying chuckled. "I wanna study in Yunmeng next year! No one can stop me!" Nie Huaisang declared, "Bro Huaisang. No one will stop you. But your elder brother will break your legs" the disciple said as he bowed.