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The sun shines over the soft pink petals of the many lotus that sprout from the peaceful water that belongs to the Lotus Pier.

A maiden in pink and purple robes strolled gracefully to the dock, seemingly looking for a certain boat to return as a soft breeze brushes by her which jingles the bell that hangs from her waist.

A local passes by. "Isn't this the young missie? Would you like to try today's fresh melon?" He asked.

The young maiden turns toward him, revealing to be the eldest child of the Jiang Sect Leader and sister to the Sect heir. Jiang YanLi. "Thanks for your kindness."

"Shijie!"

Hearing two familiar voices calling out to her, she turned back to the water. "A-Xian? A-Hui?"

And sure enough, she caught sight of the twins waving at her with excited smiles. "Shijie! We're back!" Wei WuXian called out.

As soon as the boat came to the dock, the twins hastily jumped off of it and raced toward their beloved sister.

Jiang YanLi chuckled softly. "Slow down, you two. Mind your steps."

"Shijie! We miss you so much!" Wei WuHui proclaimed before embracing the older maiden as the two girls giggled happily.

"Have you two finished your one year studying?" Jiang YanLi asked. "Why are you back so soon?"

Wei WuXian chuckled sheepishly. "Cause we...miss Shijie so much."

This causes Jiang YanLi to laugh. "Aren't you a sweet-talker?"

"By the way, we brought you gifts." Wei WuHui stated as she held out the box that she was carrying and opened the lid. Revealing luscious-looking desserts.

"For me?" Jiang YanLi gasped as she looked at the box. "Thank you, A-Hui, A-Xian."

Wei WuHui smiled. "I'm glad you like it, Shijie."

"We'd like to have lotus root ribs soup!" Wei WuXian proclaimed.

"It's being stewed."

"And sour and spicy lotus sprout!"

"Ready to serve."

"Super spicy, please!" Wei WuXian exclaimed.

"Idiot, it'll make you cry." Wei WuHui scowled as she poked him in the cheek, causing her brother to cry out in mock pain.

"Ow, Mèimei~!"

Jiang YanLi laughed lightly at the twins' antics before noticing Jiang FengMian walking toward them as she bowed. "Ā-Diē" She greeted.

Jiang FengMian smiled at his eldest child. "Where's your Ā-Niáng?" He asked.

Jiang YanLi smiled nervously. "On the training field." She replied.

———

Over to where the Jiang sect disciples train and practice under the watchful eyes of the Matriarch of the sect, Yu ZiYuan, and her trusted maids, JinZhu and YinZhu.

Four disciples strained under the scorching sun as they lifted stoned weights with sweats dripping down their faces.

"Steady!" Yu ZiYuan commanded.

"Ye-Yes." One disciple choked out as he straightened back, steadying himself.

"Such a simple Iron Hoop formation, yet you cannot break it. What about feral zombies? Let them step over you?" Yu ZiYuan scolded. "One more Shichen of training! You don't take cultivating seriously, only think of playing? See your Da-Shixiong and Shijie as examples? They wouldn't stop making trouble even in Gusu! Would you like to join them?"

"A-Niang." Then Yu ZiYuan paused in her harsh scoldings and turned to the voice of her daughter. "A-Li."

Jiang YanLi smiled, saluting to her mother.

Yu ZiYuan smiled for a second before noticing the people behind her as a frown replaced over it.

Wei WuXian and Wei WuHui both saluted deeply to the Matriarch. "Madame Yu."

Jiang FengMian looked at his wife with furrowed brows. "My Lady, haste does not bring success. Which level these kids can cultivate to depends on their own chance. To force them like this may accomplish the very opposite."

Madame Yu stared at her husband sternly before glancing over to a disciple who began faltering as she send him a cold glare, prompting him to regain himself. She then stood up. "It's all because of your spoiling, they are now good for nothing! Especially, this chief disciple. Fighting and brawling. Even needs the sect leader's intervention. It's the first time I've seen such thing!"

Wei WuHui clenched her hands tightly as she lowered her gaze to the ground in frustration while her twin brother looked down guiltily.

Jiang FengMian glanced over to the twins before returning to his wife with a stern expression. "My Lady..."

"What? Did I say anything wrong? His mischief in the Lotus Pier is one thing. Now, he brings shame on us in Gusu?! He clearly knows Lanling Jin and Yunmeng Jiang have affinity. He still brawled with ZiXuan?!" Yu ZiYuan continued.

There were a tensed silence between them, just staring at each other.

Yu ZiYuan glared and was about to speak again when a pair of soft hands grasp her's.

"A-Niang. Calm down. I heard A-Cheng is doing well in Cloud Recesses. Lan-Shifu also praised him." Jiang YanLi assured, quickly dispersing the tension that was growing as her gentle presence slowly calm things down.

Yu ZiYuan inhaled, pulling in her anger as she exhaled. "That kid, finally made a good showing. JinZhu, YinZhu, let's go." And with that, she and her maids leave the training field without a glance to Jiang FengMian and the Wei twins.

"Take care, A-Niang." Jiang YanLi said, saluting.

Wei WuHui sighed, feeling more relaxed after the confrontation as she turned toward Jiang YanLi. "Thanks, Shijie."

Jiang YanLi smiled. "You and A-Xian haven't seen those fellows for a long time. So, say hello to them."

Wei WuXian and Wei WuHui turned toward their fellow disciples, seeing them rubbing their aching limbs before two of them saw the twins and a grin appeared on his face. "Da—." However, he paused when noticing a certain sect leader still present.

The twins turned to Jiang FengMian, who smiled softly toward them and nodded reassuringly.

Without further ado, Wei WuXian sprinted over to the disciples and basically leapt onto them, bringing them to the ground in a pile of laughter.

"Did you miss me?"

"Gege! You could've hurt them!" Wei WuHui scolded as she strolled over to the trio, looking over them worriedly.

"Da Shixiong, are you being punished like this in Cloud Recesses?" One disciple asked as Wei WuXian got up from them and began walking off.

"More of copying, there. Lotus Pier is better, kneeling and horse stance is something." Wei WuXian stated.

"And did you meet Lan WangJi? What about his cultivation base?"

"Quite something! Just like me."

"I heard, one would freeze to death within three steps of him. Is that true?"

"Are you talking about a monster?"

"What about the 3000 rules of Gusu Lan Sect?"

"That is true! They were craved over a whole mountain!"

Wei WuHui paused in her steps before looking back as she stared after Madame Yu with her hair blowing in the soft breeze before shifting her gaze over to Jiang FengMian who was staring at Yu ZiYuan as well.

'I hope...me and my fated one will never becomes like what Uncle Jiang and Madame Yu are going through'

TRANSLATION NOTE:

— 阿爹 Ā-Diē: dad
— 阿娘 Ā-Niáng: mum
— Shichen: two hours
— 大师兄 Da-Shixiong: eldest senior brother/the first to become the disciple

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(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)