THE GAME

Chapter 3

(Beginning of The Year...)

Lessons had begun after a series of paperwork and tedious registration processes. One had to go the extra mile to get admitted at the University of Gusu. Although there was special enrolment for families of great sects, it was still mandatory for the students to meet the mark.

"Shit, can't believe you made me late to our first cultivation class... I heard the old Lan is pretty strict...", Jiang Cheng sped up after taking an abrupt turn. His white robes flying with the wind. They were too excited to sleep the night before and woke up late. Cultivation lectures mostly began at 7 in the morning for freshmen and it was already 6:58."

"Calm down, we'll only be a little late... Blame these robes for slowing us down.", Wei Ying held his sword in his mouth while fastening his loose belt again. His speech a little impeded. The cultivation block, unlike the other buildings, was built in an old fashioned way to keep the tradition alive. Most things in there were archaic and valuable. Stepping into the infrastructure was like transfiguring into the ancient era.

The boys eased their breath a little when they saw their mates standing through the wooden class window. It would be easier for them to slip in without being noticed. With a little haste, they executed their plan and found a seat at the back.

"You may all take your seat...", a firm yet calm voice sounded in the room and the students obeyed. "Not you two...Yes, both of you at the back. Come forward.", Old Lan stroke his goatee, waiting for them to approach. "Why're you late?" He asked with a little distaste.

Jiang Cheng bowed his head, "Umm..."

"We got lost finding the class.", the taller of the two answered swiftly, smiling. That faded as soon as Lan QiRen asked the next question, "Did you by any chance run in your sorry attempt to get here on time?"

Wei Ying, "...Yes, yes we run as fast as we could to get here.". A small pout could be seen on his face, trying to look like the victim of time. 

"So you broke more than two rules then?", Lan QiRen frowned. Wei Ying was indeed stupefied after hearing that yet his spirit did not waver and he went ahead to seek an explanation of what his crimes were.

Lan QiRen, "Count one: You came to class very late..."

"Huh? But it's 7:03, we were just three minutes late...Two-if you take out the time you called us forward.", Wei Ying said with his head slightly tilted, revealing the red wristwatch beneath his long sleeves. 

Lan QiRen glared at him from the corner of his eye. "Count two: Bringing modern gadgets to class"

Wei Ying, "Wha...!"

Lan QiRen, "Count three: Indecent dressing!". His words were pitched up a notch.

Jiang Cheng tried to shush his brother by pulling slightly on his sleeves. 'Wei Wuxian learn to shut up!', words he could only scream in his mind.

Lan QiRen, "Count four and five: Talking back at your teacher and unreasonable disruption of lessons."

"But you've not even...!",  Jiang Cheng pressed his palm on his brother's lips to stop him from doing any more damage. The students were shocked at the drama and Lan QiRen was not even done. He nodded proudly while gently tending to his goatee. "And don't forget count six: Running to my class.", Lan QiRen's frown eased into a satisfied smile. The fact that this man was eager to get him into trouble astonished Wei Ying. His grey eyes widened and his neatly shaped brow went up. 

Lan QiRen, "You are to copy the Lan code of conduct ten times by the end of today and submit it to Lan Wangji." A young man sitting in the first seat bowed his head slightly at the mention of his name. "Now, take your seat..." old QiRen added.