Qiu Yunru wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry. He didn't dare try to take her hand off his collar for fear that she might kill him on the spot if he touched her! "Shimei...or is it shijie?"
"Call me shijie," She snapped. "We're close enough in age. I'm not your shimei." Qiu Yunru nodded obediently, invisible sweat pouring down his collar.
"Shijie! Lei-shijie...I can explain. You see, I passed out on the street in front of your mother's inn. She took me in and asked me for a favor. I completed her favor, and she started giving me various gifts, including this sword. She insisted I wear her son's robes. I really tried to protest and even prayed for forgiveness at his shrine! But I didn't want to upset her, so I took them. This shidi promises they are in good condition. If there's anything he can do to make it up to you or prove he didn't rob your mother, he absolutely will. If Lei-shijie visits her mother soon and mentions my name, she will surely remember me!"
As he rattled out his tale, Lei Ruolan's grey eyes flashed through a series of emotions: fury, disbelief, suspicion, incredulity, confusion, and suspicion again. She narrowed her eyes at him. Standing so close, Qiu Yunru realized that she was taller than him. What an intimidating figure she cut, even at her age! He lowered his head, praying to the gods that she wouldn't beat him half to death.
After a moment, she released his collar, pushing him back harshly. She gave him a cold look up and down.
"Qiu Yunru, if you're lying, I'll really kill you. I'll visit my mother this month and see if you're telling the truth. For now, give me the robes back."
Obedient again, Qiu Yunru rummaged hurriedly in his pack and handed her the folded grey robes. He thanked the gods again that he'd taken the time to fold them nicely last night!
Just as he was about to apologize profusely again, Lei Ruolan appraised him one more time and snapped, "I don't like your face. Don't come near me again. If you try to show me up, I'll make you regret it." Then she stamped off towards Fang Hai and Pan Fa.
Qiu Yunru swallowed back a mouthful of blood. Was this what it meant for there to be "no winning"? No matter how much he prostrated himself to her, Lei Ruolan hated his guts just as much! He made sure to stand far away from her on the sect tour, avoiding even making eye contact for fear of being pinned with a glare heavier than a thousand pounds of icy water!
However, he quickly forgot his woes as the three of them followed Fang Hai around the peak. The Jade Clouds Sect was...
Truly luxurious!
"These are the training grounds. We gather here every morning just after dawn to meditate and begin daily training. This is the Bamboo Forest. Occasionally, beasts are released here for hunting and cultivation practice. There are the sleeping quarters, here are the hot springs, there are the cold springs, here is the Sword Lake where we each receive our spiritual blades. There are the herb storages...Here is the kitchen..."
Qiu Yunru could barely listen to Fang Hai's explanations over the sound of his own rejoicing. He'd had bad luck, bad luck, and bad luck, but he'd truly had a stroke of luck from the gods on the day he'd been accepted into this sect. Every building was grand and beautiful, with ornate wood carved by the hands of expert craftsmen. Every spring was overflowing with glittering mist that made the mind calm simply to breathe in. The Sword Lake glowed like it was filled with rare gems. The herb storages had every important ingredient he could need for potion-making purposes. Even the beds in the sleeping quarters were so large and comfortable that they seemed like they should be in a palace, not a dormitory.
In terms of Spring Blossoms, Autumn Fruits sect prestige levels, this was the absolute jackpot. Refined, wealthy, and comfortable, he wouldn't want for anything here!
As they passed by the Bamboo Forest on the way back to the disciples' sleeping quarters, Pan Fa called out curiously: "What's that? Who's staring out of the bamboo with red eyes?"
Fang Hai hmphed. "Shidi is mistaken. There are no entities in the forest at this time; we only practice hunting every other week, and all of the beasts are removed properly after training is complete. Our safety practices on Li Hua Mountain are unparalleled!"
"...Shixiong..." Qiu Yunru said weakly. "Pan-shidi is right. There seems to be something in bamboo, looking at us right now..."
"Nonsense!" Fang Hai whirled around, arms crossed. Thankfully, he stopped insisting right away when he saw the two enormous, glowing scarlet eyes staring at the four of them from within the swaying bamboo stalks. "...Oh."
Qiu Yunru had a bad feeling in his stomach. At that moment, an orange quest marker popped up in front of the Bamboo Forest, with a title: Defeat the Three-Headed Snake! Save Li Hua Mountain! Qiu Yunru was wondering where these other two heads were when two more sets of enormous glowing eyes blinked open: one yellow, one blue. Perfect! All of the primary colors.
Qiu Yunru wanted to beat his head against game menu until both the screen and his brains were a pulp. First, how could this be a Medium quest? That beast had to be as tall as three men! Second...did the game really have to make him trip and fall in a ditch every single time he started to celebrate any bit of comfort?
At the front of the group, Fang Hai drew his sword, sweat dripping off his brow. He was trying to put on a brave face for these three new disciples, but in truth, his stomach was turning a million times. This kind of beast was meant to be hunted by five or so disciples at once. How could he take it on alone, with three newbies dragging him down? "Pan-shidi! Go get Shizun! Lei-shimei, Qiu-shidi, stay behind me!"
"This shidi is not good with directions, but will try his best!" Pan Fa shouted obediently, scurrying off. Qiu Yunru's heart shriveled up a little. Indeed, Pan Fa had proven to be terrible with directions even on the streets he'd grown up on back in Jin He City. With him searching for help, they would be lucky if help arrived in ten thousand years!
Qiu Yunru held his head and closed his eyes. There must be a potion, a glitch, something that could help with this kind of situation!