Jin Huang had no luck finding Qin Shuyue.
Instead, he decided to simply enjoy the Club Fair while snacking. Thankfully, he had swung by Madame Cho earlier that morning and acquired a fresh batch of things to eat before meeting up with Qin Shuyue. His spatial pouch was now pleasantly heavy, and his mood improved considerably with every bite.
As he wandered from cloud platform to cloud platform, chewing thoughtfully, he saw all manner of interesting things.
There was a club dedicated to the arts, proudly displaying sculptures, paintings, calligraphy, and long scrolls filled with dense philosophical musings. Jin Huang was not a fan of art, nor was his handwriting anything worth praising. Still, he lingered nearby—not for the exhibits, but for a heated discussion unfolding beside the Society for the Refined Arts' booth.
"In the Confucian Epoch of Tian Ju's time," said a student in Buddhist robes, hands clasped solemnly before him, "he once observed the defecation of a grand, black stallion. It is said he spent hours observing the act, making copious notes, which eventually led to his enlightenment."
"He spent hours observing that?" replied a female student in a standard academy uniform smeared with paint, a brush clenched in her fingers. "Brother, are you perhaps unwell? Your words make no sense. Was the horse constipated, by chance?"
The Buddhist student scoffed, clutching his prayer beads tighter. "Who are we to speculate? The ancient records are beyond our understanding. Their interpretations confound us endlessly. Only those of higher enlightenment can hope to grasp their meaning."
"No, no," the female student pressed, waving her brush emphatically, "you clearly said he watched a horse relieve itself for hours. That horse had to be constipated. And if that's the case, how could staring at that possibly lead to enlightenment?"
"Sister, you are far too presumptuous!" the Buddhist student snapped. "Were you there during Tian Ju's time? Did you see what he saw? Learn what he learned? No!"
"I've seen hundreds of horses take a shit!" she shouted back. "Where's my enlightenment? Maybe I should've taken 'copious notes'! Perhaps then I'd have been enlightened of the heavenly Dao of horseshit!"
Jin Huang and several nearby spectators were rendered completely breathless, laughing far too hard for far too long. His stomach hurt, his face burned, and tears welled in his eyes as the argument continued unabated.
As he laughed, a peculiar sensation brushed against his awareness.
When he turned, he saw her.
A platinum-haired young woman stood beside him, around his age, wearing the standard academy uniform. On her, however, it looked less like clothing and more like an enchanted dress, flowing naturally with her movements. Her skin seemed to glow faintly, complementing her glittering eyes.
She had been glancing at him when he noticed her, and Jin Huang felt his jaw threaten to detach itself entirely.
"Dao Yuan," he said, sounding as though he couldn't quite believe she was real.
"Jin Huang," she replied with a small nod. "Enjoying the fair?"
He cleared his throat and straightened instinctively. "I actually am. Quite a bit. I've never been to anything like this before. You?"
She clasped her hands behind her back. "It's not too bad. I haven't found any interesting clubs, though."
Jin Huang almost launched into his suggestion—but hesitated now that she was actually in front of him. Something about her felt… different. Instead, he asked, "What kind of club were you hoping to join?"
"Something fun," Dao Yuan said calmly. "I'm often told I need to relax more. I just don't feel drawn to most of the clubs here. What about you, Jin Huang?"
"Well…" He gulped, glancing vaguely in Hei Shisan's direction, even though he couldn't see the booth from here.
"Well?" Dao Yuan prompted.
"Well, Dao Yuan," he said with the straightest face he could manage, a bead of sweat slipping down his temple, "are you a sheep or a goat?"
"Beg pardon?" Her smile flattened.
"I mean—are you a steamed bun or a dumpling?" he blurted.
She shook her head slowly. "You aren't making any sense."
Jin Huang laughed weakly. "Will you just follow me?"
After a moment's hesitation, Dao Yuan nodded and followed him.
They arrived at Hei Shisan's booth to find Hei Shisan himself chatting with Li Qingyu and Wu Shen.
Both Jin Huang and Dao Yuan were surprised by this.
Seeing them approach, Li Qingyu offered a half-drunken nod. Wu Shen scoffed, snatched the jade talisman Hei Shisan had just handed him, and stormed off in a huff.
"Where did you find such intriguing characters, Huang?" Hei Shisan said, eyes gleaming. "They all have such potential for recalcitrance- especially that Wu Shen fellow."
Jin Huang chuckled and stroked his chin proudly. "I have my ways of feeling people out. I figured you'd find something to like. They are the freaks of Class Four, after all."
Hei Shisan's eyes sparkled. "Class Four, huh?"
Li Qingyu lifted his talisman with unsteady fingers and slurred, "Thanksh, Hei Shishan. I'll be shure to heed the call."
They watched him stagger away in amusement before Hei Shisan turned his attention to Dao Yuan.
"Now this is interesting," he said. "Aren't you Immortal Tai Yi's daughter?"
Dao Yuan stepped closer and nodded. "And you are Number Thirteen. The worst of the worst, and the best of the best. So this is your club."
Jin Huang noticed the shift in Hei Shisan immediately.
"It is," Hei Shisan said, sitting up straight and folding his arms. "The Eternal Recalcitrance Club. This time, I'm going to make a difference."
Dao Yuan half-smiled. "Funny that you'd care so much about the Academy, considering how often you break its rules and frustrate the staff."
Hei Shisan grinned. "What can I say? The place grew on me."
His smile sharpened. "Plus, I'd hate to see all their effort go to waste. I'll shake things up this time. Even if it costs me."
Dao Yuan's eyes flickered. She folded her arms behind her back. "Interesting. Then you'd better sign me up. I wouldn't want to miss your last hurrah."
Jin Huang watched in awe as Hei Shisan handed her a jade talisman.
After pocketing it, Dao Yuan turned to Jin Huang with a fuller smile. "I'm excited to see what part you'll play in all of this. Out of everyone in Class Four, you're the only one who might surprise me."
Then she left.
Hei Shisan snickered. "Careful with that one, Huang."
"Huh?" Jin Huang frowned. "What do you mean?"
"The Tai Family women are known for one thing," Hei Shisan whispered, leaning closer.
"They choose only one partner in their lifetime… and drain him completely."
Jin Huang gulped. "Drain… how?"
Hei Shisan's grin turned wicked. "Through intimacy. They love their chosen man so thoroughly that his vitality doesn't stand a chance and his lifespan gets drastically reduced."
Jin Huang shrieked.