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"Why do the roads look the same in Qishan?" Wei WuXian sighed irritatingly as he and his sister walked down a path. "If only someone can show me the way."

Wei WuHui glared up at her brother. "This wouldn't happen if it weren't for you wandering around and I have to go after you!" She exclaimed, startling the latter.

"Haha, right. Sorry, Mèimei." Wei WuXian replied sheepishly then the twins stopped in their track when they heard the sound of bowstring.

'Forceful bowstring sound' Wei WuXian thought as he turned toward the source of the sound. 'Punctuating the air with strength. Which superb archer is this?'

The twins spotted a young master in a white and red robes with sun motifs on the fabric. His dark eyes glaring at the target across from him with a bow in his hands and ready to be released.

"Great archery!"

The young master let out a startled yelp and accidentally fired the arrow toward the intruder, who turned out to be Wei WuXian as he luckily caught the arrow before any harm comes.

"What a close call!" Wei WuXian sighed out before letting out a pained cry after his head was chopped.

"WHAT WAS YOU THINKING?! WHY DID YOU EVEN DO THAT IN THE FIRST PLACE?! SOMEONE COULD'VE DIE!" Wei WuHui yelled angrily as she looked at her brother in disappointment.

"S-Sorry, Mèimei!" Wei WuXian replied.

Meanwhile, the young master watched the twins' interaction before tensing up when Wei WuXian's eyes went back on him.

"Which young master of Wen sect are you? Your archery is brilliant! I've never seen anyone from your sect shoot so-."

"I'm sorry!" Suddenly, the young master erupted out, giving a rushed bow before speeding off as he ran over behind the rock.

"Do I look so handsome that he was scared away?" Wei WuXian asked jokingly.

"Gege..." Wei WuHui sighed, shaking her head before she plucked the arrow from her brother's hand and forcefully threw it at the target, hitting the middle dead on. "The roads in Qishan are complicated, I wonder where's the entrance to the archery field?"

Then, the twins saw a trembling arm pointing toward their left. "T-That...over there."

The twins smiled and saluted gratefully. "Thanks a lot. I am Wei Ying from Yunmeng Jiang Sect, courtesy name is WuXian."

"And I'm Wei Yang from Yunmeng Jiang Sect, courtesy name is WuHui." Wei WuHui added. "May we know your name, Gongzi?"

The young master slowly moved out from behind the rock as he timidly saluted toward the twins. "Qi...Qishan Wen Sect, Wen Ning. Courtesy name is Qionglin."

———

"Wei Wuxian, where have you been?" Jiang Cheng proclaimed as he stomped toward Wei Wuxian, who rubbed his neck sheepishly.

"Mèimei and I nearly got lost. Fortunately, a good person painted the way for us." Wei WuXian replied before his eyes trialed to the large drums. "That is the famous Qiongqi Horn drum. It's magnificent enough!"

"Is this drum really made of Qiongqi's skin? Then the legend that the founder of Wen sect, Wen Mao, killed Qiongqi is true?" One of the Yunmeng Jiang disciples exclaimed.

Wei WuXian then caught a glimpse of yellow and glanced over to see Jin ZiXuan giving him a glare, which Wei WuXian returned before the young Jin master walked away.

"Qiongqi is a fierce beast in antediluvian period. Who's seen it today?" Jiang Cheng spoke. "The truth is just up to the lips of Wen Sect. But the drum though...Father said that it's really nothing ordinary."

Suddenly, Wei WuXian put his arm around the disciple's neck as he grinned. "What? You want it?" Then, he raised his other arm up. "Rest assured! If I can find such an ancient fierce beast, I will kill it for you and make a more magnificent drum!"

The sound of bowstring being pulled caught his ears as Wei WuXian glanced behind and his face immediately lit up at the familiar sight of the Second Young Lan Master. "WangJi-Xiong! When did you come?"

Lan WangJi stood gracefully as he merely glanced at the mischievous boy before beginning to walk away. But that didn't hinder the latter as Wei WuXian popped in front of him.

"We studied together at least, don't be so cold." Wei WuXian said.

Lan WangJi just sighed in exasperation. "Excuse me." He stated coldly.

Wei WuXian chuckled, playing along as he guide his arm. "Please." As Lan WangJi walked past him, a mischievous grin appeared on his face. "Your forehead ribbon is slanted!"

Lan WangJi then paused in his tracks and raised behind his head, feeling his ribbon before realising that he was tricked as he sent a glare at Wei WuXian before fully getting away from the laughing boy.

Then, the drums began to beat as it signals for the starting of the competition as every disciples began to organised themselves into their respectful sects.

Each flag of the main Sects was seen being raised toward the sky. "Lanling Jin Sect. Yunmeng Jiang Sect. Qinghe Nie Sect Leaders. Gusu Lan Sect, Lan QiRen." A Wen member announced. "Please take a seat."

The leaders of each sect then walked onto the ground with their heads all held up proudly. Then, walking behind them gracefully, were three young maidens dressed in beautiful robes of their sect's colours.

"Wow, the Sān Tiān-Xiān."

"I heard this year they'll be competing."

"Really? In what?"

"They say it is going to be a surprise."

Wei WuHui gulped nervously as she strolled behind Jiang FengMian as her light-purple robes flows behind her. She then glanced to her left, seeing her brother and Jiang Cheng smiling at her as Wei WuXian gave her a thumb up which made her sigh, feeling her nervousness slowly fading away.

Before she turned back to the front, she caught sight of Lan XiChen staring at her with a dazed expression as his eyes met her's before he sent her a smile that made her heart flutter. She felt her face heating up before her eyes quickly averted away but despite that, a smile grew on her face as she held a hand on her chest. Feeling her racing heartbeat.

'...I miss his smile'

TRANSLATION NOTE:

— Qiongqi: fierce beast in ancient China mythology who rewards the evil and punishes the good

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NOTE: I'm sorry for the long wait for this update, I just started my tertiary study so that've been pulling me away from Wattpad for a while but I'll try to update like usually as best as I could :3

(Please correct my translation if I'm wrong and the GIFs and pictures used in this chapter does not belong to me, but their rightful owners)