Love Beyond Limits

Chapter 1: Invitation to Gusu

"WE HAVE LOST OUR INVITATION." Jin Ling lied. "How many times do I need to repeat myself?"

"No invitation, no entry." the gatekeeper, wearing the infamous white robe with the forehead ribbon, replied.

"I told you; we've lost it. Are you trying to say that we should go back to where we were hours ago and look for that piece of paper?"

The gatekeeper just nodded his head, a typical Lan behavior, very frugal with his words.

"Are you serious?" Jin Ling gasped.

After three years of closing the gate for associate training, the Gusu Lan Sect has finally opened its door to accept new students from other clans to further their knowledge and education with the way of cultivation. It is a well-known fact that the education system of the Lan Sect was one of the most prominent amongst others and aspired by a great number of cultivators all around the world. They have well-known great Elders whose devotion and passion to teach junior cultivators were tested for centuries. Their skills, talents, knowledge and philosophical ideas and opinions were great contributors and influence to the recent generation.

As the tradition resumes in the Lan Clan, Lan Xichen, the current head of the Lan Sect, requested all Cultivator Sect Leaders to send him potential Junior Cultivators that they wanted to partake in the lectures. After reviewing and filtering the list, invitations were sent to all selected promising students a month before the official lecture starts.

All students are requested to arrive at Cloud Recesses three days on or before the scheduled opening ceremony.

"Rule No. 1672, all guest disciples and associates are only allowed to enter the premises of Cloud Recesses upon presenting a formal identification through a valid invitation coming from a member of Lan Clan." the gatekeeper dictates. "This rule is written in the Wall of Discipline and shall be obliged not only by the Lan members but by all."

Jin Ling sighed in frustration and the exhaustion climbing the mountains from Gusu Central Town doesn't help any less. It was fine if he was alone, but he had his older cousin Jin Wumei, his attendant Chao Xing, and three other servants who helped them bring their stuff with him. To think that it was his fault that they would be stranded in that state makes him feel worse. It's just a spur of a moment, Fairy wanted to play fetch near the sunflower field that they passed by on their journey and while doing so the spiritual dog accidentally tore the invitation apart. No one expected that will lead them to end up stranded tonight.

Jin Ling thought that it was a clever idea to use his position as the future leader of the Lanling Jin Clan to hide the fact that the invitation is nowhere to be found but he underestimated the Lan Sect's sense of integrity. They never care about statuses and names and they treat everyone on equal footing.

The sun is about to set, darkness starts to envelop the area and the wind is getting chiller. Jin Ling has seven people with him, and he doesn't want them to spend the night outside because of his stupid mistake.

"A'Ling, let's go back to the inn for the night and then let's talk about what we should do next." Jin Wumei suggested with her gentle voice. "The night is growing deep, it will be a hassle if we don't leave now." She is Jin Ling's elder cousin, second daughter of Jin Wenyan, the current Sect Leader of the Jin Sect. She is three years older than Jin Ling, very modest and demure.

Jin Ling pouted and didn't say anything anymore. If Jin Wumei said that, then he has no choice but to agree even if it is against his will. He turned his back in frustration but immediately bumped into something... someone.

"Ouch... can't you see where you are standing?" he complained. Looking below, he saw a person wearing a black wardrobe with red linings at the edge.

"You're the one who bumped on me first." A familiar voice echoed in his ear. Jin Ling lifted his head and an annoying smile from a familiar face greeted him mockingly. On his right side is the well known apple loving donkey and a few inches away to his left standing a dignified-looking gentleman wearing an all-white robe like he will attend someone's funeral.