There wasn't much need for them to speak, for their suspicions were in sync on a certain point. Jiang Tengyi, who had been tossing and turning for two whole nights before sitting up and admitting he was worried about his junior sister. Ling Da Chuanli, used to his fussing when it came to his sickly junior sister, laughed not so nicely after Jiang Tengyi sat directly in the chair across from him after invading his room declaring this out loud. They still had about a week before the ship they would be boarding would return from overseas, so he was feeling somewhat restless because of his worry for Chao Bai. Jiang Tengyi wanted to go looking for a suitable gift for the young woman to ease his conscience.
"Each time we settle down in a large town, you always say the same thing. Can she carry the burden of your concerns?" Teased like this, Jiang Tengyi coughs and waves his ambiguous words aside awkwardly. "My junior sister is generous, and since she is still sick after all this time, she must be feeling stifled by having to stay indoors all day. I just want to find her some trinkets to pass the time. Is this wrong?" It was just a relief that they managed to find another method to hide her essence before it was too late. Da Chuanli rests his chin in his palm directly, as they weren't in a public space. Playing with the slithering Chi irresponsibly like a slothful young master.
The little snake has been restless since yesterday. I don't know what could possibly make her so eager to leave his side so suddenly after being so obedient most of the time. "So you will come with me?" Da Chuanli didn't hold back for Jiang Tengyi's face, directly exposing him again with a mild grin. "It has nothing to do with being too embarrassed to enter a jewelry store all alone?" "We can go somewhere you want afterward." With this proposition, Da Chuanli was about to decline, as he wasn't interested in anything right now. Jiang Tengyi hesitantly adds while eyeing his friend carefully as he asks, "Isn't it that time of year again?"
His question was especially vague; however, spending every day with one another, they naturally knew a bit more about the habits of the other. Like how Jiang Tengyi would habitually grow restless, wanting to send things back to his master and juniors back home. Or how he had a refined palate, unlike his tolerant and calm exterior. It also didn't take long for Jiang Tengyi to notice the shift in Da Chuanli's personality during a certain month of the year. And how, without fail, he would disappear quietly at the darkest time of the night to burn items, staring blankly as the ashes flew away. Sometimes they vary from sheets of music scores to valuable materials others would have heart attacks seeing casually destroyed.
And sometimes, just sometimes, exquisite yet fair pearl accessories accompanied by light blue dresses and slippers. His clothes would smell of lilac incense, quite unlike his personality or what men would usually prefer to use. Above all, no one would associate those things with someone as prideful as Da Chuanli, who could stab you with a smile on his face. The man wouldn't give anyone much to pick at on purpose if it could be helped. The contradiction of the smiling fiend to the aloof and somber male was so abrupt. It shocked Jiang Tengyi, who dared not speak more than necessary to that Da Chuanli whenever he appeared.
Da Chaunli always teased Jiang Tengyi about his junior sister being his white moonlight, but his actions more than proved the one with a deeply imprinted cinnabar mole was someone else entirely. While Da Chuanli didn't hide his actions from them, he wasn't exactly welcoming if they watched him burning those items for too long, eyeing them with unsettling eeriness. The only person they knew who passed away close to the young man was that Wang Lan Biyu, the adopted daughter of Wang Minglan. A supposedly rare genius, just like her senior brother, but she still passed away before her prime in An Xing.
It was obvious he was doing it for her; yet, he still chased the Heartless Dao. Jiang Tengyi didn't know what to say as a person who knew memories forgotten by the other about his junior sister. He felt even more complicated inside when he first found out, making it hard to look his friend in the eyes. Did he think of his junior sister as a replacement? Or was he really moved by her for another reason? Da Chuanli momentarily paused, letting the little snake actually manage to get to the end of the table, almost slipping out the window before being caught again, much to her distress. Perhaps she had enough of his meddling; she falls limp in his hands, playing dead.
Dark eyes lighten faintly because of her actions. "I suppose I haven't found anything to my liking lately." Relieved that the other didn't find his question offensive. Jiang Tengyi includes offhandedly, "No rush to pick; we still have a couple of days to spare. We can both take our time. I also have to find a good piece of jade to carve out a memory jade for my junior sister to record the theater troupe here." "....." A strange ripple went off in his head like the sound of a trap being triggered, snapping his soul to attention. Da Chuanli raised his head, a strange light flickered in his Aurelian eyes, which went unnoticed. Seeming to casually ask Jiang Tengyi with feigned carelessness, "Memory Jade? Your junior sister likes folk tales?"
Without noticing these changes in him, Jiang Tengyi was unguarded with these vague details, as by now the memories in Da Chuanli must have settled. "Not folk tales but songs." Another terrible throb in his head forced Da Chuanli's brow to twitch. His response was casual: "I see. Speaking of which, your junior sister, I don't recall what she looks like at all. Our meeting was pretty short. I always regretted being so harsh when rejecting her request to join us after seeing how close you two are." From the corner of his eye as he fiddles with the still-playing dead Chi, he could see Jiang Tengyi's expression freeze for a fraction of a second before he swiftly covers it up with a forced smile.
"It's nothing; junior sister isn't someone who holds grudges for something like this." His unperturbed mind began running. Pumping strongly in sync with the odd feeling in his chest. But on the surface he pretends he didn't notice Jiang Tengyi's oddity at all, still playing with Noodle Chi, though his heart was no longer into it. You forgot. You forgot. It was like the insistent whisper of a water droplet falling into a once full bucket threating to overflow with each addition. He lowers his head, only humming disinterestedly at Jiang Tengyi, who was hiding something from him. Like a shark who smelled blood in the water.
Wondering the streets of Veil Port City held a different atmosphere compared to those of inland cities. Splashes of color fluttered every corner of the stone streets, lanterns hung on every eave aligning their sides. And though their designs were simple, as dust approaches, the setting sun lined perfectly with the main street decorated with fabrics of various shades of the rainbow. A magical scene hard to find elsewhere. The pride and joy of locals, who wore wide grins and laughed brashly without a single restraint.
And amongst those foreigners and locals, were two young men following the crowd, blending in seamlessly. In a festive mood much like others, Jiang Tengyi showed the rare youthfulness he lacked in his sect. Seeing the outfits of others, ranging from hooded to exposed shoulders and legs of women and men alike. He didn't linger on any of them and sped up to try on the popular half face masks stalls, picking one at random with Da Chuanli trailing behind half interested himself. Peering at the quality, although not made of top-notch fabrics, he could still run a thumb along the sides and appreciate the fine stitch work put into them. Not a single frayed thread, with wire lining the exquisite bestial details to give a more prominent and fierce outline.
Somewhat cunningly, he picked up a rather ferocious looking white wolf mask with intimidating fangs curving around the cheeks of the wearer and slapped it onto the observing Da Chuanli. The handsome immortal's eyes glowed beneath the eye sockets, fitting the intimidating aura of a predator amongst sheep. The fangs which caressed his cheekbones only made his chin sharper and more defined, hinting at the owner's good looks beneath. Dressed in only white, if he only drew eyes out of his dashing looks before. Now, woman directly stared at him with red cheeks in a daze because of his alluring mysterious aura like a powerful noble in disguise.
Jiang Tengyi was dazed himself for a few moments after putting on what he thought would be an unfitting mask on his friend in comparison to his gentle outer appearance. Then, very seriously, asked his friend wearing a straight face, "My Junior sister should enjoy a souvenir like this too, what do you think? Is it comfortable?" Seeing through his intentions, neither removing the "thoughtful" gift nor annoyed by his actions, Da Chuanli chuckled directly in his face. Calmly looking over the remaining masks without answering, then, slowly reached for a blinding butterfly feminine purple mask right under Jiang Tengyi's bland stare. "...." A few minutes later, a man in a white wolf mask and another in an interestingly beautiful butterfly mask rejoined the crowd.
One obviously happier with the results than the other. Da Chuanli smiles harmlessly when Jiang Tengyi's ears turn red when another woman they passed by stared at them longer than necessary. Or, more accurately, at himself. Her eyes curious as she glanced between the two men with obvious amusement. It didn't take a genius to know she was mistaken about their relationship, making Jiang Tengyi nearly throw their friendship out the door. "Nuan, you say, if we were exposed right now would my Master break my legs or laugh at me?" Da Chuanli didn't pay much attention to his mild despair, twirling his snake bracelet half-heartedly.
"Your master wouldn't forsake you for wearing a simple mask, isn't this also good? Wearing such a flamboyant colored mask you can avoid showing your face and look the part entering a jewelry store at the same time." Jiang Tengyi grimaces, as even if he had protests about his companion's choice when it came to avoiding trouble or social interactions. Da Chuanli had never led them astray before. Seeing his reluctant acceptance, Da Chuanli nearly gave himself away with the light curl of his lips under the illuminated lantern's embrace. In reality, it wouldn't have mattered if they wore disguises or not.
Whether Jiang Tengyi realised it or not, nearly every single individual with deadly intentions towards them either couldn't remember them afterwards or conviently disappeared along the way since they left their sects. The occasional run ins they had were things within their capabilities of handling, like rowdy guests or disobedient cultivators who sought to harm them for petty things. And interestingly enough, those associated with the Golden Cloud sect had never really entered their vicinity even once. It could be accounted to goodluck, but with the vigilance and studious temperment of those in the Zenith Star. Da Chuanli knew more than to take for granted the smooth journey they had on account of Jiang Tengyi's importance within his sect.
If it had been he alone, no doubt his Master would have gifted him a couple more artifacts and teleportation jades in case of emergencies before letting him go out impatiently. Trusting him to not be stupid enough to cause big splashes and make himself a target for others. However, unlike Jiang Tengyi who had hardly seen to world before being taken in by his master. Ling Da Chuanli has seen the world before entering the secluded Azure sect far from the capital city. Like a fish being released back into the ocean he navigated civilization with ease. A temperment which Minglan took advantage of well, sending him back and forth from the villages near their sect to listen for both gossip and interesting news from afar.
As things even mortals knew about could contain more information than most cultivators would think to take seriously. Staying a step behind Jiang Tengyi, Da Chuanli glances over the counters decorated with precious accessories lazily while Tengyi spoke with the store assistant. Their entrance attracting quite a bit of attention from the women also shopping there. Their bafflement and curiosity evident. As typically, even if men entered these shops too they would be accompanied by a woman at least. Not another man. Seeing as the things in the front of the shop weren't good nor bad, Da Chuanli's interest had already waned for these somewhat common knickknacks.
"-Certainly! If the young master comes this way our shop not only offers a variety of male accessories but also much higher purity jade on the second floor. For the sake of security and to prevent thieft we don't display them often." Hearing this, as Tengyi nods in affirmation he glances over to Da Chuanli who caught up to him leasurely as he hadn't found anything on the first floor which was worthy. Contrary to first thoughts, the store had a rather large and extravagent second floor. With glass displays and clean floorboards nearly reflecting the sunlight entering from the balcony at the end of the room. Two men stood guard near the balcony, subtle fluctuations of spiritual energy emitting from them as well as the glass indicating protective arrays aligning almost every surface.
The ever inquisitive Jiang Tengyi couldn't hold himself back and laid a hand on the nearest glass display and was tempted to trigger the array to see it's functions. But logic prevailed, and he could only ask the still smiling store employee what where they managed to find such a skilled array master. "Unfortunately I am merely a simple clerk and don't have the information the young master seeks. The owner is the only person who interacts with the cultivator responsible for the arrays around our shop." Seeing as he wouldn't get the answers he wanted, Jiang Tengyi's enthusiasm faded rather quickly. At this moment, Da Chuanli had already made his way to a rather secluded corner of the room which carried a rather intriguing colleciton of pearl accesories.
In particular, a soft lotus bunyao with a single luxurious southern pearl tinted the most gentle of pinks in the center but otherwise purely the same milky white as it's kin. Three smaller pearls dangled from the end of the delicate ornament. Like white curtains hightlighting a foggy morning, soft black curls faced the darkened day, unblemished, gentle, distant, and beautiful. Her head quietly turning to peer behind herself, her lips the shade of soft plum blossom petals, eyes nearly cloudy jade. The pearls sway with even the slightest movement she made, blending into her black hair with charming shades of whites and silver.
Jiang Tengyi, not hearing input from Da Chuanli like usual turned to find where his friend went only to see him looking down at a pearl hair ornament with a familiar distant look in his eyes. Worried but not wanting to alarm the clerk still watching them from the entrance. He crept up to his side and questioned him casually "Nuan? Did you see something you liked?" Pulling him from his illusion, Jiang Tengyi didn't expect an answer from his companion and wasn't surprised when Da Chuanli addressed the clerk across the room instead. His expression both unclear and solemn ".....This one, I will take it."
________________________________ An Xing Rebellion Year Seven ________________________________
Alone in his room, Jiang Tengyi fiddled with the beautiful ruby phoenix hairpin he had bought for his junior sister with one hand while revising the letter he would send in accompaniment. Though she hadn't sent any reply in all the years hes sent her things, he wasn't lacking in rare herbs and personally packaged tea leaves originating from his junior sister. At the end of each year since they seperated, she never failed to deliver him some treasures of her own. Perhaps it wouldn't be much in the eyes of others, but the herbs and tea leaves were grown by his junior sister's own hands. And that in itself made them much more valuable than anything else he could have been given in return.
Chao Bai had always been like so, he knew she was indulging him, giving into his requests no matter how strange or sudden. Almost as if seeing through his calm facade, like peering directly at the socially awkward person within who didn't know how to get closer to others. It was comforting. He also cherished her subtle consideration. Among the items she had sent him, there were many like calming tea, stomach medicine, or medical wine for soreness. Even his master only gifted him his sword tassel and a small amount of money before letting him set off with a wave of his hand and rushing off somewhere again. Madam was more considerate and had packed him snacks as well as a few talismans for warding off demonic beasts in the wild.
With a faint smile, Jiang Tengyi wrapped the ruby hairpin very carefully and tied the letter ontop before leaving it on the windowsil. Knowing by morning it would have disappeared whether he watched it or not. Then, after moving away from the window, he stops midstep to eye the ceiling his room somewhat conflictedly. Yes, he had to cherish what he had, who knew what the future held... Like a trick of the candle light, white studded boots acend to the very top of the inn, unlike the bland whites of his clothes, silver lining the corners of the white wolf mask shone with the golden eyes of the owner.
They bore coldy at the blackened sea, neither a smile nor frown donned his features. Overlooking the port, the young man didn't do much as he stood there enduring the chilly fishy wind. All night long, the ghost stared at the sea, fading away right before dawn as if exorcisted by daylight. An ominious sight for anyone, cultivator or mortal... In the morning, Da Chuanli greeted Jiang Tengyi warmly who entered his room with the same smile he kept on his face for mere appearance sake. His eyes clear and unperturbed. "This morning when I had intended on paying for an extension on our stay at the inn I heard some rather good news." Pouring him a cup of water and extending a arm indicating him to join him at the table Da Chuanli shared his discovery very casually.
"The local officials reported several merchant ships returning from sea this morning, two entered the port just half an incense ago. I sent a missive to the Port Master if he knew if anyone of them were willing to let us aboard their ship in exchange of protection from bandits free of charge just now." Taken aback and once more impressed by Da Chuanli's networking abilities, Jiang Tengyi had no qualms about leaving early. Missing this opportunity would require them to stay here for who knows how long before getting another chance to cross the sea within the month without having to pull some serious strings and drawing too much attention to themselves.
"Any reason as to why they returned so quickly?" Even if he was glad about getting to leave early, he was somewhat wary of the sudden change in circumstances. Knowing what he was thinking Da Chuanli's lips quirks up briefly before he answered his question as if finding it amusing. "Not really, although the recent turbulance in the capital hasn't reached it's influence on the living of people here quite yet. More and more people are returning from overseas in person, wanting to be cautious and see for themselves the damage in the central plains." How else could they secure their valuables stashed away in their homeland if left to the ravages of the up coming war?
Understanding his meaning, Jiang Tengyi pursed his lips and fell into silent contemplation. The common people would naturally have more worries than they, however, it also meant that his sect would be facing more mortal danger to save these selfish mortals. Bitterness ate at him. Unable to help cursing under his breath as the frail silloutte of Chao Bai occupied his mind. "Some people really aren't meant to be born human." Da Chuanli glances over at him momentarily before looking away without commenting. In his opinion, no living being was safe from greed. Whether they were human or beast, every living creature had greed in their heart. Himself included.