To Love the Gentle Moon - Lan Xichen X Reader

Journey to Gusu - Part 3

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Yuemei winced as she shifted her arm, the bandage Li Shixiong had carefully wrapped beginning to itch. The soft rustle of conversation nearby pulled her attention. From the corner of her eye, she saw her younger brother, Feng Ming, speaking with a group of disciples, his expression a mixture of calm authority and youthful eagerness.

"Is anyone hurt, A-Ming?" she called softly, her voice steady despite the lingering ache in her arm.

"Nothing serious, Jiejie," he replied with a quick smile. "Just a few scrapes here and there."

She nodded, relief softening her features, before her gaze shifted to the two cultivators who had been battling the beast for the longest time. Turning to them, she asked, "What about you, senior cultivators? Do you need any medical attention or assistance?"

The one who had introduced himself as Xiao Xingchen offered a polite smile, his voice warm and measured. "Nothing we can't handle ourselves, thank you for your offer."

She inclined her head, studying him discreetly. His name had struck a chord, and now she struggled to match it with his face. In her previous life-or rather, her previous world-this was a name she had only seen in text, a character shaped by her imagination. But now, standing before her, Xiao Xingchen's serene demeanor made him both familiar and alien.

Her gaze flickered briefly to the man beside him, Song Lan. If Xiao Xingchen radiated warmth, Song Lan was his opposite-a quiet storm cloaked in cool detachment. Yet, to her surprise, Song Lan's appearance aligned closely with how she had pictured him: tall, stoic, and carrying an air of unwavering resolve.

Yuemei felt the weight of her thoughts pressing down on her. She hadn't encountered any notable figures from the book so far, and it had given her a false sense of ease. But now, seeing Xiao Xingchen and Song Lan in the flesh, she found it disorienting. The stark reality of their presence blurred the lines between her memories of the book and the world she now inhabited.

Drawing herself back to the moment, she joined her brother in small talk with the two cultivators. Xiao Xingchen's voice carried a gentle curiosity as he inquired about their journey.

"We're heading to Gusu," A-Ming explained, his tone bright. "Our sect was invited to the year-long lectures being hosted there. It's an opportunity to learn and exchange knowledge."

Xiao Xingchen tilted his head, his expression thoughtful. "I've only recently descended from the mountain and hadn't heard of these lectures. It sounds intriguing."

Song Lan, standing slightly apart, seemed more engaged by the mention of Gusu. His gaze lingered on Yuemei, prompting her to speak.

"Perhaps you could join us," she suggested hesitantly, glancing between the two. "Though I'm not certain if the invitations extend beyond sects. We wouldn't know until we reached the Cloud Recesses."

She bit her lip, uncertainty creeping into her voice. Invitations to the lectures were typically formal affairs, issued based on alliances and prestige. Xiao Xingchen and Song Lan, being independent cultivators, might not fit the criteria. Still, the idea of their presence in Gusu filled her with a peculiar sense of hope-perhaps they would play some role in altering the course of events she feared.

Before the thought could spiral, she added, "But there's a discussion conference happening in Qinghe soon. You might consider attending-it could be a good opportunity to connect with other cultivators and sects."

Xiao Xingchen nodded thoughtfully. "Thank you for the information. Qinghe is not far from here; it might be worth considering."

After a moment her brother spoke up. "I think I'll write to Father about this encounter and let him know that you two are welcome to join the Feng Sect as our guests during the discussion conference in Qinghe."