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Chapter Text

Jiang Cheng was born in a small village situated at the outskirts of Yunmeng. His father, Jiang Chuandao, belonged to a distant branch of the Jiang Clan who opted to live a peaceful life as craft artists. His mother, Lian Xiangzhen, is from a family of bladesmiths. It was a given that their first-born child will follow the footsteps of their parents, so it came to them as a surprise when their newborn showed strong spiritual pathways, showing high potential for cultivation.

“It’s a blessing!” His mother coos in delight, caressing Jiang Cheng’s cheeks, “I was once saved by the Violet Spider while I was still carrying A-Cheng.”

It was a story Jiang Cheng often listened to while growing up. Their village has been plagued by fierce corpses back then, due to the deaths caused by an erosion on the mountainside. His father was out hunting when a younger Jiang cousin strayed too far into the forest, and his mother, brave yet reckless, and unaware that she has been carrying for weeks, decided to take matters into her own hands.

She set off to search for the child, only carrying with her a bow and a few arrows, when a pack of fierce corpses sensed her presence and lunged towards her. She was able to immobilize some of them, but couldn’t fend them off. It was only until a streak of purple lightning that slashed the fierce corpses did she recognize she was safe.

“Sometimes, your mother wishes to exchange me for the Violet Spider, A-Cheng.” His father tells him, as he sobs exaggeratedly.

“You jealous coot!” Lian Xiangzhen teasingly pokes her husband in the forehead, “Even if I truly do, nothing good comes from marrying a highborn.”

(It was only until years later does Jiang Cheng find out about how her mother once had a friend, a cultivator, who married into one of the Great Sects and whom she never saw again.)

Jiang Cheng was 6 when his parents gifted him a wooden sword, and he spent most of his afternoons playing with other children. Though there was one evening when he returned home with tears welling up in his eyes.

“Rui-jie, Zhi-ge, and several others are already my friends,” He sniffs on his mother’s shoulder, his father leaving soft touches on his back, “but Kai-ge thinks I’m rude and that I scowl too much!”

Jiang Chuandao attempts to alleviate Jiang Cheng’s hurt by telling him that his scowls are actually a pout, a very adorable pout on top of that, but Jiang Cheng does not stop crying.

“A-Cheng, you don’t have to be loved by everyone.” His father gently imparts wisdom to him, before reaching out to hold his mother’s hand and pressing his lips to her knuckles. “because even the love of one person is more than enough.”

Jiang Cheng decided then, that he wants what his parents have.

Jiang Cheng lived a normal and happy life. His older cousins spoil him with trinkets from their various travels. He was also the favorite of their village teachers, as he showed great fluency and eloquence in both reading and writing at such a young age. His calligraphy is splendid and he has nearly mastered the Rites. Though sometimes he does not only listen to his Confucian teachers, he also listens to the former Buddhist monks who lived in their village.

“You are destined to cut through Sandu.” One of them tells Jiang Cheng, who listens intently. “As long as you remind yourself of its three wholesome counterparts—humility, love, and wisdom.”

Jiang Cheng also played weiqi with veteran soldiers who settled in their village, listening to their stories about the Palace they once served, and taking notes of their strategies and battle tactics. Sometimes, Uncle Zhang, one of the veterans, would tearfully embrace Jiang Cheng, and wish that he will be untouched by the horrors of war.

Every now and then, travelling musicians would stop by their village, and Jiang Cheng learns how to play the guqin, though he prefers the way one creates music using the yangqin. Eerily enough, he feels his heart go heavier at the sound the dizi makes.

The folks from their village learned of Jiang Cheng’s many talents, and has even titled him Young Master.

Jiang Cheng was 9 years of age when he was able to interact with a real Young Master; one that came from a noble family. He has seen many Young Masters and Young Mistresses before, but he avoids them since they’ve always referred to children from families like him as filthy. Street children suffered the worst, on top of that.

He was simply accompanying his grandmother at the market, when he catches sight of two elegantly-dressed boys. One of them looks youthful but is almost the same height as Jiang Cheng’s father, and the other one is much frailer and his tiny hands clung on the taller boy’s robes.

“Young Masters! I see that you both seem to have an eye for the arts,” A local merchant waves at them. “Here, take a look at these potteries, unblemished and well-made. They’re the latest imports from a faraway nation.”

“That’s a scam!” Jiang Cheng himself is baffled at his sudden voice, but damps his worries nonetheless, as the two Young Masters wore green robes and not the red and yellow ones that his father told him to be wary about. He stomps his foot towards them, earning a glare from the merchant.

“Those are locally-made. They only seem beautiful because the vases over there look shattered!” Jiang Cheng points towards the next stall. “When in fact, those are the valuable ones from Dongying!”

Jiang Cheng starts to feel anxious as he realizes the sheer presence held by the taller boy. But confident with the knowledge taught to him by his father regarding ceramics and potteries, he tilts his chin up and stands his ground.

“The people from Dongying fix their shattered ceramics by putting the pieces back together with gold, and it was built on the belief that in embracing one’s flaws and imperfections, one can create an even stronger, more beautiful piece of art.”

For a moment, Jiang Cheng’s resolve falters. Did he sound too condescending? Many Young Masters may act condescending themselves but if they were against children like Jiang Cheng, they would not hesitate to use their family’s power to give him a beating. Perhaps, the Young Master was already aware of what Jiang Cheng was talking about? And is rolling their eyes at Jiang Cheng’s audacity? Oh, from now on he will avoid all Young Masters and Young Mistresses!

Noticing that the taller boy is raising his hand, Jiang Cheng closes his eyes instantly, waiting for that painful slap.

It does not arrive.

The taller boy is petting his hair!

He does not look annoyed at Jiang Cheng’s presence, but he looks fond. “You may still be a child, but you have more honor than this man.”

Jiang Cheng, as young as he is, blushes at the unexpected compliment. A mischievous part of him wishes to stick out his tongue towards the other seller. Though before he could do so, the younger Young Master, one who has been hiding behind his brother’s robe and simple peaking at him, has kissed him on his cheek!

“Wha—!” Jiang Cheng flusters even further because of the embarrassment, but before he could longer process what happened, he runs away.

Chapter Text

“This is a teapot whose spout is not quite well-made.” Jiang Chuandao holds a brown teapot with two hands, one to guard its lid and the other to shift it. Jiang Cheng watches as water pours out of it and unto the basin, “You hear how the sound it makes? It sounds tattered, and the flow of water looks like it's dripping from a leaking pipe.”

Jiang Cheng pouts, a habit he does whenever he’s deep in thought. “It creates too much ripples too.”

“Correct, A-Cheng!” Then, he takes a black teapot and shifts it the same way. "Here’s a teapot whose spout has an excellent quality, can you tell me what you observe?”

“The sound it makes is clear and the flow of water is smooth. It does not cause too many ripples and bubbles too.”

“That’s a great observation, A-Cheng!” His father pats his head, beaming at him with pride. “Next week, I’ll be teaching you how to create pots. But I won’t keep you too busy today. Aunt Fei offered to show you how they create paper.”

Jiang Cheng’s widens in glee, “Really?”

Jiang Fei, one of his father’s cousins, owns one of the best paper-processing stalls in their district. Many scholars buy from his aunt’s store, since their paper is known for their affordability and durability. However, Jiang Fei values hard work and does not give paper for free even if it’s just for her relatives. Jiang Cheng had to learn how to read and write from bamboo scrolls and cheaper forms of papers.

“Yes! Also, bring this with you.” Jiang Chuandao takes a small square pouch from his sleeves, “This will help repel mosquitoes.”

“Thank you, a-die!” Jiang Cheng accepts the pouch earnestly, before exiting the house. He notices that the herbal pouch smells like lemon, and another vague scent he once smelled when he visited his uncle who is a healer. “I wonder why mosquitoes would hate this?”

Jiang Cheng supposes their sense of smell is different from humans. Maybe they could even see other colors too.

He continues to walk around their bustling village, greeting their neighbors a good morning just like what his father taught him.  The village he lives in is growing larger and larger every year, which means there would be more people to meet and more children to befriend. From a distance, he sees his uncle playing Xiangqi along with other district guards.

“Xiao-jiujiu!” Jiang Cheng calls out, rushing towards his uncle’s side.

“Hold on, A-Cheng. I need to win this round.” Lian Hong’s eyes are focused solely on the board game, his forehead dripping with sweat. “It does not matter if I break my record of winning through checkmates.”

The game of Xiangqi can be won either through checkmate or stalemate, a stark difference from a similar game that came from the West. Jiang Cheng, like his uncle, begins analyzing the pieces. He has been taught how to play by Lian Hong a few years ago, but Jiang Cheng has mostly played Weiqi.

Jiang Cheng moves the chariot, which results in the opponent’s general no longer having possible moves. “There you go, a stalemate.”

The guards gasp in unison, before a booming laughter escapes Lian Hong’s lips. He embraces Jiang Cheng while patting his head.

“I kept on signaling you to do that, Lian Hong!” One of the guards elbows his uncle. “Good thing our Young Master thinks!”

Jiang Cheng blushes at the nickname, remembering that other Young Master who has stolen his first kiss. Jiang Cheng has only talked to his grandmother about this naughty Young Master, and he was told that he will have to marry whoever kisses him! He wants what his parents have but not when he is still a child!

“Hey! This isn’t your victory because you had to depend on a child!” His uncle’s opponent reminds him, before slipping a red envelope to Jiang Cheng’s hand. “Next time, you help me instead.”

“Don’t bribe my nephew!” Lian Hong grabs the envelope from Jiang Cheng’s hand and tosses it back to his opponent. Too bad Jiang Cheng has learned hand trickeries from his cousins that he was able to get the envelope’s contents already. “A-Cheng, don’t tell your mother, but I’ll teach you how to wield a real saber as a reward for this win!”

“You promise?” Jiang Cheng grins, beaming with excitement.

“Of course!”

“I’ll visit tomorrow afternoon, then!” With that, Jiang Cheng takes his leave.

His mother was very adamant on not letting him hold a real blade until he is 12 years of age. He always wanted to spar with a double-edged sword that many cultivators commission from his maternal family. His family usually forge or work as guards, and instead of a double-edged sword, they prefer using a single-edged one, the saber. The war veterans who reside in their towns prefer using spears and polearms, to which Jiang Cheng will soon learn how to use.

There’s a crowd forming from a distance, with a travelling musician at the center. Jiang Cheng rushes to watch, marveling at the skills of the musician. He listens to the tune, intent on capturing its melody so he could try and play it once their village teacher acquires an erhu. He has only held an erhu a few times compared to the other stringed instruments that his teacher lent to him.

Jiang Cheng puts some of the coins he sort-of stole from one of the guards earlier, to the musician’s canister. His teacher would be disappointed with what he had done, but Jiang Cheng’s father always told him that as a Jiang, he must do what he believes is right, and sometimes it is not necessarily what most believe is righteous.

“A-Cheng!” Jiang Cheng looks over to the direction of the voice and finds his friends, Zhang Rui and Wu Zhi. Behind them is Liu Kai whom Jiang Cheng has grown closer over the years.

“Rui-jie! Zhi-ge! Kai-ge!” Jiang Cheng rushes towards them, unmindful of the mud he just stepped on.

“Look! A-Kai here found a yangqin!” Zhang Rui tells him, pointing to an instrument tied to a makeshift wagon.

Liu Kai sneers, “It wasn’t me! Rushi found it first when he saw a nobleman carelessly throw it away! I just thought this brat here would want to have it!”

It is nothing more than a broken piece of wood and tangled strings but Jiang Cheng feels a surge of happiness whirling within him. It’s a yangqin! He has not been able to buy tanghulu with his friends in an effort to save enough money to buy one but he now has a yangqin! It is broken, but he and his parents can find a way to fix it, and he could ask his teacher to help him tune its strings.

A nobleman’s trash is a humble boy’s treasure!

Jiang Cheng embraces Liu Kai despite the latter’s protests. “Thank you so much, Kai-ge!”

“Let go of me! Hey! Are you crying?! Don’t cry on me! Urgh!”

“Alright, alright. We’ll bring your yangqin to your house, A-Cheng.” Wu Zhi pats Jiang Cheng’s back, offering him a spare towel for his tears (though Jiang Cheng denies that he cried!). “I’m sure you still have errands to attend to. We won’t disturb you anymore.”

“Just fly kites with us tomorrow morning, alright?” Zhang Rui adds.

“Okay, thank you so much!”

Jiang Cheng bids them farewell, but instead of going to Aunt Fei’s home, he makes a detour towards the home of two of their village teachers, Pei Cuiruo and his wife, Chen Xiaolu. Jiang Cheng and children his age only have to go to school a few days a week, and the remaining days were either for children younger or older than them.

His teachers’ home is located in the center of the district, making the streets near it crowded. Jiang Cheng makes his way among the gathered students just leaving their respective schools, evading carriages and horses. He finds his teacher bidding younger students goodbye and before he could enter his house, Jiang Cheng calls out for him.  

“Laoshi!” Jiang Cheng hushes down upon nearing their home, remembering etiquette. He then cups his hands and bows. “Pei-laoshi, this humble student apologizes for visiting so suddenly.”

Pei Cuiruo was one of the teachers known for their leniency, and is not truly strict despite their austere demeanor. “Xiaolu! Our Little Gentleman has visited us!”

Jiang Cheng blushes at the title, it was another one of his nicknames around the village. He has learned how to read and write earlier than most of the children his age, and he has recently started to learn advanced scripts in calligraphy. Arrogance is discouraged but Jiang Cheng takes pride in his abilities as a student.  

“What can we help our student with?” Pei Cuiruo gestures for Jiang Cheng to sit.

“Laoshi, my peers recently gifted me a yangqin. I am yet to fix it, but I’d like to humbly ask for your help in tuning its strings?”

Pei Cuiruo is Jiang Cheng’s teacher who, apart from teaching him how to read and write, has lent him and taught him how to play many musical instruments.

“Of course! You are one of our best young musicians! And one must not waste their talents.”

Jiang Cheng smiles gratefully.

“But before you leave, there is something I would like to give you.” Pei Cuiruo peeks inside his home and calls out for his wife, who soon appears with a basket. “Here is a painting set. You’ve proven how adept you are with calligraphy, and we believe it is time for you to learn how to paint as well.”

Jiang Cheng stares at the contents of the baskets with awe. Inside it were inkstones and several colored pigments. Jiang Cheng has seen his mother make sketches of blades and weapons, and his father draw and paint on ceramics. But painting ? He has only heard of how wealthy families send their sons to prestigious schools or hire teachers to teach their children how to paint. It was even said that painters rank higher than musicians.

“In your next visit, I could teach you two techniques in painting, and soon, you will be able to paint on paper and fans.”

Chen Xiaolu appears by her husband’s side; a gentle smile is etched on her lips. “And if you wish to improve your visuals, you can first practice with embroidery. I added threads and cloth in that basket.”

Jiang Cheng, extremely grateful for the blessings he received this day, stands up and bows deeply. “This student thanks both of you very much.”

His visit with his teachers went calmly, but it was after lunchtime when he realized that he is yet to visit Aunt Fei. He bids his teachers farewell before sprinting a few streets down to his aunt’s store. It’s one of the biggest structures in the area and is difficult to miss. Jiang Cheng runs as he covers his basket with his arms, not wishing to stain his teacher’s gifts.

Upon reaching the store, Jiang Cheng finds his aunt lifting wooden boxes of garments towards a carriage, and many attendants are already closing the store quite early.

“Aunt Fei, I’m sorry I was late.” He greets his aunt, bowing. “I had to visit my teachers.”

Jiang Fei has a slight frown on her face but it mellows quickly upon hearing Jiang Cheng visiting his teachers. She always had a soft spot for academically-inclined children.

“A-Cheng, I just received news that one of my sons had passed the civil examination. I had to close the store early so I could travel and visit him, but I could still show you how to create paper next week.” She explains to Jiang Cheng, who lowers his head out of guilt. “For now, I could give you a quick lesson about paper and give you some sheets of paper as well.”

Jiang Cheng glows with joy. Not only did his uncle offer to teach him the saber, receive a yangqin from his friends, and be gifted a painting set from his teachers today, his aunt will also give him papers!

Jiang Fei shows three types of xuan paper to Jiang Cheng, one that easily absorbs water, another that can be torn easily, and the last has qualities of the first two. Jiang Fei gives samples of all three to Jiang Cheng, and reminds him that the second one is called Shuxuan and is best suited for a painting technique called Gongbi. She also gives him mulberry papers which Jiang Cheng could use for paper folding and calligraphy, and even for paper screens.

Jiang Fei offers to give Jiang Cheng a ride home. They even stopped for some youtiao along the way as Jiang Cheng missed lunch.

It was almost sunset when Jiang Cheng reached his home. His father was waiting for him outside, a worried expression etched on his face. There’s a sudden ache in Jiang Cheng’s heart.

“A-die! I’m home!”

“A-Cheng!” Relief washes away Jiang Chuandao’s worries. “I was worried! You almost missed dinner. I made you your favorite braised lotus root and pork belly too! Oh, and Fei-jie, thank you for ensuring my son's safety!”

They bid farewell to Jiang Fei and Jiang Chuandao checks Jiang Cheng for any sign of injury.

“Don’t worry, a-die. I’m alright, and I’m sorry I took so long.”

“No! Don’t apologize. What’s important is that you are safe.” Jiang Chuandao helps his son carry the things he has procured today. “Oh, and your mother and I would also like to introduce you to someone.”

Jiang Cheng feels his stomach grumble, earning a chuckle from his father. Stubborn, he insists that he can meet their guest first before eating dinner. Entering their home, they find Lian Xiangzhen examining a scabbard, a man dressed in brown robes sat opposite the table.

“A-Cheng, welcome home.” Lian Xiangzhen returns the scabbard to the man and walks towards Jiang Cheng, embracing him and kissing his forehead despite his protest. “I’d like you to meet Qiao Donghui. He is a rogue cultivator who stays near our village.”

Jiang Cheng bows to him respectfully, sending curious glances his way.

His father continues, “Your mother and I believe that it is time for you to learn how to cultivate.” 

Chapter Text

The time spent to form a core varies from one person to another, but it was a norm to start earlier in order to have a stronger and more stable core. Those who start later in life will most likely form weaker ones, and Jiang Cheng learns that it is a shame for a child of a prominent cultivator to form a core late. He also learns that one's cultivation can be stronger than what their parents or close relatives have, while some can be weaker. 

Jiang Cheng never expected to be taught how to form a core. He could have been a scholar, a healer, a crafts artist, or a village patrol and live a normal life. What he knows about cultivators come from the stories his father tells him about his distant cousin, or the cultivators he and his friends see flying on their swords. 

His mother would sometimes tell him her knowledge about cultivation but when Jiang Cheng asked how she knows about it even if she is not a cultivator herself, a sad glint appeared in his mother's eyes.

So it came to him as a surprise when she initiated for Jiang Cheng to learn how to cultivate, and not waste his potential. 

"Be careful of those books you see about cultivation." Qiao Donghui explains, gentle yet stern. Jiang Cheng remembers reading some of those with his friends. It included amusing illustrations and vague instructions. "Some of them are written to scam those who want to learn how to form a core."

Jiang Cheng marvels at Qiao Donghui's movements. He still cannot believe how lucky he is to be given an opportunity to be a cultivator, even without the backing of a sect. He will be able to run faster and jump higher! And he will learn how to fly soon!

Qiao Donghui teaches Jiang Cheng the basic meditation techniques in order to temper his body enough for it to sense and send Qi throughout his body. Jiang Cheng will have to be able to do so before he could reach the Foundation Building level. 

Qiao Donghui also explained to him the histories of the cultivation sects, of how there was a time when sects where similar to schools that take students for their merit, until Wen Mao defeated Qiongqi, the divine beast of chaos, and changed the sects to follow a bloodline-based system, allowing sect leaders to pass their leadership to their children.

"Wen Mao despises those who abuse their power and authority, but look at Qishan Wen under Wen Ruohan's rule," Qiao Donghui says, an unpleasant expression on his face. "It's tyrannical. They punished the sects that refused their ordinances."

As far as Jiang Cheng knows, they all have roles to play in a society, but isn't it too much to demand compliance from others? Jiang Cheng has heard of court politics from his older cousins, although the topic seems complicated and they use words unfamiliar to a child, he supposes that the relationship between the sects may not be as different with those wealthy merchants and noble families.

"What about Yunmeng Jiang?" Jiang Chuandao asks, laying out food on a table, with Lian Xiangzhen following suit. "They're a powerful sect as well, and Jiangs will not stay silent in the face of injustice."

"Most of the Great Sects have done nothing. All I know are hearsays that Sect Leader Jiang may have sired a bast—," Qiao Donghui halts at seeing Lian Xiangzhen's glare, reminding him of Jiang Cheng's presence. Lian Xiangzhen may have allowed Jiang Cheng to hold a blade earlier than 12 but she will not allow him to learn about curse words until he is old and frail. "an illegitimate child. He recently took a child to Lotus Pier and favored him over other Jiang cousins, and even over his own daughter."

Lian Xiangzhen pinches her husband's arm, " Never do that."

"Of course! Only you and A-Cheng occupy my heart!" Jiang Chuandao chuckles, and his wife's cheeks grow scarlet over his words. 

They enjoy their food in peace and harmony until Lian Xiangzhen asks a question that has been bothering her for many years.

"What about," She starts, a bit hesitant. "What about Gusu Lan? Is there any news about them?

Qiao Donghui takes a sip of water from his bottle, before the edge of his lips tug into a smile. "The most talked about is their heir apparent who has shown magnificent talent at such a young age! If this village has Xiao Cheng, the cultivation world has Gusu Lan's heir!" 

Jiang Cheng was still munching on a piece of meat, making the way he blushed at the praise more visible. His father pats his hair and his mother, though her question was left unanswered, beams at him with pride.

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Teaching Jiang Cheng did not require any silver given in return since the Jiangs offered to give him a free lodging in one of their village's huts. But Qiao Donghui is regularly on night-hunts, and spends hours responding to commissions given to him. Even so, he allotted a sufficient period of time to teach Jiang Cheng, and the perseverance is worth it as Jiang Cheng is adaptable and hard working.

"One can cultivate not only through fighting, but even through dancing, painting, and cooking." Qiao Donghui hands Jiang Cheng a wooden staff, and with his own staff, he performs a routine. "While you're still starting, we can begin with a pole, then a spear or a bow and arrow, and maybe a polearm, until you are gifted a sword or a sabre."

Jiang Cheng follows his movements, lifting and twirling the staff as he steps to the right, "Teacher, will I have to choose one weapon over the other?"

"Hm, most cultivators and sects prefer the jian over the dao." He pauses his routine, thinking deeply. "But we are rogue . We do not adhere to a single sect, which means you could choose to have two weapons. Or even more."

Jiang Cheng's eyes lit in glee. He remembers his uncle who performed a dual broadswords routine, and as much as he wishes to honor his Jiang roots by using a double-edged sword, he also wants to fight using a single-edged one. 

"I heard you also play instruments, correct?"

Jiang Cheng nods.

"I do not know anyone from Gusu Lan Sect, but I do have friends from sects who also cultivate with other instruments. If they are willing to share musical sheets, I will give them to you."

Jiang Cheng beams in excitement. Learning how to cultivate with several weapons and instruments is a tedious task but his mother always said that with hard work, he can accomplish anything.

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"Nainai!" Jiang Cheng greets his grandmother, cupping his hands and bowing in respect.

"Xiao Cheng!" His grandmother may be frail with age, but she still rushes towards Jiang Cheng to shower him with kisses.

Despite Lian Xiangzhen marrying out of the family, she and her husband stayed in a village nearer to where her family lives. Thus, Jiang Cheng was closer to his maternal grandparents. 

"But I don't want to marry that naughty Young Master, laolao!" Jiang Cheng stomps his feet in defiance, earning a giggle from his grandmother.

"Oh, don't worry, Xiao Cheng." She pats Jiang Cheng's hair. "Your grandfather was naughty in his youth too, but when I saw him spar, he did not only win the competition, he also won my heart!"

But with Jiang Cheng's paternal grandfather passing away, Jiang Chuandao and his siblings decided to stay with their mother from time to time, circling per season. Jiang Cheng's parents will accompany Lady Jiang from late winter to early summer. This year will also be the first birthday where he will not be able to see his friends. He will miss them but he is also happy that he gets to spend time with his grandmother and his cousins.

"It will snow soon! Here, I stitched you a coat and a pair of gloves." 

"Thank you, nainai!" Jiang Cheng courteously accepts the gifts, the clothing warm and soft on his hands. His grandmother grew her own mulberry leaves and silkworms, and Jiang Cheng knows for sure that anything she stitches is durable. Her creations are also beautiful, and the coat she gave Jiang Cheng is embroidered with lotuses. 

Jiang Cheng wonders if he will ever set foot to Lotus Pier.

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On his birthday, Jiang Cheng receives a bow and arrow from his mother, with a promise that she will soon teach him how to shoot. His father, with the help of Qiao Donghui, gave him a gift which he will treasure forever.

Puppies.

Three spiritual puppies.

"They'll be your loyal companion, A-Cheng." His father instructs him, "Treasure them."

Jiang Cheng reaches out to embrace his parents, "Thank you so much, a-die and a-niang!"

Lian Xiangzhen caresses his cheeks, "And what would our A-Cheng name his puppies?"

Jiang Cheng ponders deeply, leaving his parents' embrace to cuddle his puppies. They resemble little clouds! He thinks that since they will be his companions forever, he should give them names of his favourite things.

"This one will be Princess. This one will be Little Love, because I want to love. And this one will be . . ." Jiang Cheng hums, petting their soft fur. He was unaware of the giggles surrounding him. "Jasmine! for my favorite scent!"

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Wintertime was spent playing and training his puppies, cooking and learning how to make dumplings and rice cakes, building snowballs with his cousins, and sometimes, practicing how to write on the surface of the snow.

Wintertime also meant not having a proper space to train and meditate, and with the guilt burdening Jiang Cheng, he compensated when summer began.

He did not play with the other children in his village, only practicing intently on his wooden staff and sword. There's a voice in his dreams reprimanding him whenever makes a mistake. When he wakes, he forgets all the others except for her. Lately, the woman's words have become sharper, and venomous.

"How did I even give birth to a child like you?!"

Jiang Cheng shakes his head, pushing the thought from his mind. He knows his mother, Lian Xiangzhen, may be a tough woman, but she has never said those words before. 

It was when he woke up before the sun rose did Lian Xiangzhen approach him.

"A-Cheng?"

Jiang Cheng wipes his sweat, his arms aching from the constant practice. "Yes, A-niang?"

Lian Xiangzhen gently takes the wooden sword from Jiang Cheng's hand, revealing the burns and scarlet spots, "You'll get a blister."

Jiang Cheng lowers his head, wary of disappointing her. After all, she belonged to a family who wielded blades. "I'm sorry, A-niang. I'll wear gloves from now on."

Lian Xiangzhen shakes her head, "Your father and I are worried about you. You haven't been spending time with your friends lately."

Jiang Cheng feels another surge of guilt. His breathing starts to be uneven, and his shoulders droop. Unable to withhold his doubts, he asks, "Are you proud of me, mother?"

"Of course!" Lian Xiangzhen gasps, her eyes full of worry. "Your father and I are proud of you. Every parent in this village and beyond would wonder why their sons can't be more like you."

Jiang Cheng lays his head to his mother's shoulder, the ache in his heart diminishing. 

"I'll put an ointment on your hand. I'll only teach you archery once you have rested for a week or two. Understood?"

"Yes, A-niang." 

Lian Xiangzhen wipes the beads of sweat on Jiang Cheng's forehead. "Go play with your friends too. Even your Kai-ge misses you."

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"There are talismans that require paper, and there are those that you can draw on the palm of your hand." Qiao Donghui explains, showing talismans of various strokes to Jiang Cheng. "There are also talismans that do not require a strong cultivation, and there are those that do, such as transportation talismans."

Jiang Cheng's interest is piqued, "Transportation talismans?"

"Yes, it's a technique that costs too much energy. It allows a cultivator to transport from one place to another."

"In a matter of seconds?" Jiang Cheng gasps.

"In a matter of seconds."

Jiang Cheng observes the strokes on the talismans, wishing he could finally form a core in order to render a talisman effective. "I want to create one too." he murmurs.

"I could teach you what each stroke and pattern stands for. Oh, before I forget," Qiao Donghui hands Jiang Cheng a pouch. "This is called a qiankun pouch, and you could use it once you form a core. You could store any amount of everything in it."

Jiang Cheng accepts the pouch, eyes glowing with wonder. Not only can cultivators fly on swords, defeat monsters, and travel in a matter of seconds, they also have pouches that could store anything! If he forms a core, he could help his father with delivering handmade crafts from one place to another, and also protect his village.

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Jiang Cheng has not dreamt of heartbreak for months since his mother has reassured him of her contentment, but tonight was strange and eerie. Jiang Cheng was surrounded with darkness, as well as the mantra of a monk who he once talked to.

"You are destined to cut through Sandu. As long as you remind yourself of its three wholesome counterparts." 

"Humility, Love, Wisdom." Jiang Cheng recites, his heartbeat erratic.

"Greed, Hatred, Ignorance." Voices of various timbres repeatedly murmur, while some shriek. "Greed, Hatred, Ignorance."

The voices grow louder and stronger, some in anger, some in agony. They shatter his peace through their words alone. Jiang Cheng starts to sense the presence of another enmity around him. He runs away, covering his ears in an attempt to block the sounds. He shuts his eyes, wishing and praying that he could wake up. 

When the voices diminish and the chant ends with greed, he gradually opens his eyes, only to be greeted by a gruesome vision of a man in yellow robes—robes that are tainted with blood. He crawls his way to the top of the staircase, but bloody and desecrated bodies hold on to his feet, preventing him from doing so.

"Greed, Greed, and Hatred, Hatred." 

The chant begins once more, and when Jiang Cheng shifts his gaze upwards, he finds a man wearing green and grey robes atop the staircase. On one hand, he holds a sabre, and on the other, he holds a severed head. 

Jiang Cheng covers his mouth. His surroundings reek of death and torture, makingh his stomach lurch. He runs away from the staircase, runs until the voices are far from him, but he knows there is one poison left.

In a sudden shift in the atmosphere, he finds himself in a temple. He turns around and sees that the staircase, though far, is still there. Greed and Hatred can still be heard from a distance. 

Jiang Cheng, however, is not alone in the temple.

There's a man wearing white and blue robes, untainted from bloodshed. His hair flows down to his waist, and his back is facing Jiang Cheng. On his feet is a shattered flute. Standing at the front of a statue, he looked ethereal and at ease.

"Master! Young Master! Can you hear me?!" Jiang Cheng rushes towards the man. He grasps his robes in desperation, breaking etiquette in the face of fear. "I need your help! T-there's something out there an—,"

The man's face remains impassive, and a ribbon covers his eyes.

"Ignorance."

"A-Cheng!" Jiang Cheng bolts awake upon hearing his mother's voice. He was shaking and crying in her arms. Lian Xiangzhen smooths his back, singing him a lullaby. She sings of how the moon resembles a silver boat in the night sky, and as it sails away, may it take her child's nightmares too.

══════ ∘◦❀◦∘ ══════

"A-Cheng," Lian Xiangzhen calls her son, on her hand is a sketch of a sword. "What would you want to name your sword?"

It has been weeks since Jiang Cheng has last dreamt of it, but he responds, "Sandu."

Sandu. The Three Poisons. 

To name a sword out of the three roots of suffering? It worries Lian Xiangzhen deeply.

She chooses purple for her son’s Jiang roots, and sketches two snakes that envelope around the scabbard, to remind Jiang Cheng to cut through hatred and choose compassion. At the pommel of Sandu, is a silver frog, a symbol of transcendence.

══════ ∘◦❀◦∘ ══════

Jiang Cheng forms a core on his 11th birthday.

When he woke up, he felt a spark in his dantian, like a seedling starting to grow. He confirmed his assumptions when he was able to open his qiankun pouch.

"A-die! A-niang! I did it!"

Jiang Cheng leapt from his sleeping quarter's window, to the surprise and shock of his parents. His puppies bark at his presence.

"A-Cheng, be careful!"

Jiang Cheng's leaps and jumps are higher, and his sprint is faster! He basks in the warm sunlight with the powers his core is giving him. It felt as if the core belongs there, in him, and that this was meant to be all along. 

He may have skipped breakfast but he feels so strong! He helps children get their kites that were stuck in the trees. He assists the common folk carry their load, and he helps push their wagons and rickshaws. 

Jiang Cheng's lips tug into a grin, just thinking about the possibilities he could achieve. Once Sandu is forged, he could learn how to fly! He could create talismans that will help their village during flood seasons! He could slay monsters and beasts! And perhaps, he could try and set foot to Lotus Pier? The cultivation world is just in his reach. He has not interacted with many other cultivators apart from his teacher, and he wonders how cultivators from the sects are truly like.

"Master! You promised to give me some sweets!"

The shout of a young street child reaches Jiang Cheng's ears, his sense of hearing stronger like his sight. He rushes towards the commotion and finds a man (Jiang Cheng can sense his spiritual energy! He's also a cultivator!) flinging a whip towards a child. 

"I did not promise you anything! Scram you brat!"

The child manages to evade it, much to the frustration of the older man. He gears his carriage towards the ground the child lays on and drives forward.

Jiang Cheng, still shocked at witnessing the cultivator's deeds, rushes towards the child, and manages to hurl him with him to the safe side of the road. 

"Teacher isn't like this." Jiang Cheng murmurs, defiantly glaring back to the older man, who continues driving forward. A child almost died and he has the audacity to live as if he has no regrets. The people around them did nothing too.

"Are you alright?" Jiang Cheng asks the younger boy, searching his body for wounds. He was frail, his bones showing. His hair is unkempt and the thread of his robes are loose.

"That man promised to give me sweets!" 

"People like them break promises." Jiang Cheng sighs, "I could give you sweets. What's your name?"

The younger boy grins, missing a tooth. But the warmth in his eyes reminds Jiang Cheng of someone he has not yet met. 

"I am called A-Yang!"

Chapter Text

Xue Yang.

That was the full name of the child. It took a lot of pastries and sweets but Lian Xiangzhen and Jiang Chuandao were able to discover his surname. 

“I never heard of any Xue before.” Jiang Chuandao murmurs to his wife. 

Lian Xiangzheng nods, “Perhaps, he was from a small clan? From another province?”

Many orphans and street children do not carry a surname any longer, as they most likely have forgotten about it. There is also a chance that Xue Yang may only be taking a surname he heard from the streets, or he simply lost his family recently and can still remember their name.

“Xiao Yang,” Jiang Chuandao starts to talk gently, “Tell us about your family.”

Another munch on the lotus bun. “Mama left me at an inn and she never came back. Then ugly auntie kicked me out of the inn.”  

He busied himself with his sweets and his voice was void of any melancholy, which Lian Xiangzhen and Jiang Chuandao found strange, but their son does not.

“A-die, A-niang, can we keep him?” Jiang Cheng asks, eyes imploring.

Lian Xiangzhen and Jiang Chuandao gave each other a look. They had long tried to have another child after Jiang Cheng but the deities did not answer their prayers. Jiang Cheng also never asked about having a sibling as he seemed content with the company of his friends and cousins. He also has three puppies to play with already, but seeing how lively Jiang Cheng is with the child, Lian Xiangzhen and Jiang Chuandao supposed that there is no harm in adopting one.

“A-Cheng,” Lian Xiangzhen sat on the other end of the table and held Jiang Cheng’s hand. “A child is not a puppy, and being an older sibling requires responsibility. Will you be able to manage that?”

“I will! I promise!” Jiang Cheng hugs Xue Yang, who is baffled at first but returns the embrace nonetheless. “Say, A-Yang, do you like puppies?”

“I like wolves!”

══════ ∘◦❀◦∘ ══════

Zhang Rui and Wu Zhi look at Xue Yang affectionately, whereas Liu Kai stares at him with distrust.

“His name is Xue Yang!” Jiang Cheng beams in delight, “And he’s my younger brother!”

Zhang Rui claps her hand, “Our A-Cheng is a dage now?”

Wu Zhi pats Jiang Cheng’s hair, chuckling along with Zhang Rui. Liu Kai huffs, “Siblings are a pain in the ass!”

“A-Yang isn’t annoying, Kai-ge! Right, A-Yang?”

Xue Yang glares at Liu Kai, and before anyone could react, he bites Liu Kai’s arm!

“Ah! Get him away from me!”

══════ ∘◦❀◦∘ ══════

Word circulated fast and soon, other village kids learned of how Xue Yang bit Liu Kai’s arm. It soured the latter’s mood, but Xue Yang is smug about his feat, despite Jiang Cheng’s reprimands. 

“A-Yang, here.” Jiang Cheng hands Xue Yang a paper and brush, teaching him useful skills such as writing instead. He has given up on persuading him to apologize to Liu Kai, but he is still worried about how Xue Yang will treat others who do not warm up to him quickly. “Do you remember how to write your name?”

Xue Yang takes the paper and brush, etching proper strokes to complete his name’s characters. It was still quite messy and the ink smudged on the paper here and there, but he was able to write his name without mistakes.

“I’m done!” He presents the paper to Jiang Cheng with a toothy grin. 

“That’s great!” Jiang Cheng pats his hair. “I think you’re ready to go to school. I can tell A-niang and A-die.”

In a sudden shift of emotions, Xue Yang lowers his gaze and nestles his head on his arms.

“Don’t wanna.”

Jiang Cheng brings his ear closer, “Hm?”

“I don’t want to go to school.” 

It was the first time Jiang Cheng heard Xue Yang speak in a somber manner, “Why not? I’ll be attending the same school as you, and out teachers here are kind.”

Xue Yang crosses his arms, looking away. “Would you be in the same class as me?”

“No, not anymore. But you’ll still see me! We’ll go to school and return home together.”

It takes a few more days and a promise to go swimming before Xue Yang finally agrees to go to school. Jiang Cheng never learned why Xue Yang seemed so hesitant and he did not force him to reveal his reasons. Instead, he introduces him to the rest of the family and the other people in their village. 

Jiang Cheng takes him to his maternal uncles’ place where they forge different types of weapons.

(“I want to have a sword like yours, Cheng-ge!”

“And what will you name it?”

“Hm… something dangerous! Like Jiangzai!”)

Jiang Cheng also takes him to where one of his paternal aunt lives, and learns more about the art of woodcarving.

(Xue Yang takes one of the wooden toys and makes the puppies sniff it before throwing it to an acceptable distance, “Catch!”

“A-Cheng, eyes on your blade.” Aunt Gui reminds him, “You might get wounded.”

Jiang Cheng nods, apologising. He looks back to the wooden lotus that is yet to be finished and grimaces as it seemed visually unpleasant. 

“It’s your first time creating one, A-Cheng. It does not have to be beautiful.”

Jiang Cheng sighs. He knows that even though he is more talented than most children in his village, he is no genius. Whatever skill he has was polished by hard work as well. 

“What do you do with the little trinkets you make out of leftover wood, auntie?”

“Well, sometimes I give them away for free and sometimes I sell them as little souvenirs.” Jiang Gui responds, before standing up and taking a box from one of her shelves. “While these are what I give to my husband for every day he does not overwork himself.”

Jiang Cheng moves closer to look at the contents of the box. He finds dozens of wooden miniatures of different types of animals and flowers and even fruits and vegetables. The box also contains miniature books and carts and houses. It’s a variety and they were all carved smoothly under the expert hands of Jiang Gui. 

Jiang Cheng takes a wooden bunny and smiles. “It’s beautiful.”

“That’s all I have of him.” Jiang Gui continues, voice breaking as she remembers the fire that took her husband’s life. “A-Cheng, when you meet someone, you can carve miniatures for them too, as a memory.”

══════ ∘◦❀◦∘ ══════

It’s spring once again, and this time, the Jiang branch has decided to get together and celebrate one of their relatives’ bountiful harvest. The river glistened under the golden sunlight and the lotuses blossomed magnificently. Children played games and raced from one end of the river to the other, and Xue Yang was given an opportunity to learn how to swim as well.

“Oh, that boy learns how to swim quite fast.” Lady Jiang comments as she watches Xue Yang swim. His movements were quite rough, but his breathing was strong and he could endure swimming and diving for a long while.

“Nainai, A-Yang may not be a Jiang by name, but he is a Jiang now.” Jiang Cheng takes a seed from a lotus pod and feeds it to Princess. He takes another two and gives it to Love and Jasmine. “And every Jiang is a great swimmer.”

Lady Jiang chuckles at her grandson’s insistence, “As you say, Xiao Cheng.”

They sit in serene silence, watching adults converse on complicated topics and sharing gossip. Jiang Cheng offers a bowl of lotus seeds to his grandmother, to keep them from hunger. He was about to throw away the stems when they broke in half, and the only thing that kept it from separating are its fibers.

“Nainai, look!” Jiang Cheng shows the fibers to Lady Jiang, his curiosity at its peak. “They resemble threads!”

Jiang Cheng rotates each half of the steps to the opposite direction of the other half, binding the fibers together and making it sturdier. 

“They do look like threads.” Lady Jiang affirms, her hands grasping the makeshift threads.

“Do you think we could create silk out of this?” Jiang Cheng was hesitant at first, it seemed too impossible.

“I’ll see what I can do,” Lady Jiang smiles at him. “A little innovation hurts no one.”

══════ ∘◦❀◦∘ ══════

“Xiao Cheng!” Qiao Donghui beams as he finds Jiang Cheng on his sword, his flight is smoother than ever. “You’ve improved! So fast too!”

“Teacher!” Jiang Cheng jumps from his sword and runs towards him, his dogs sprinting behind him. “I practiced during winter! I didn’t have to worry about falling on a rocky surface since everything is covered in snow.”

“You practice a lot! When I was your age, all I did was throw snowballs at wealthy people’s houses!” Qiao Donghui laughs as he remembers his own childhood. “Since it’s springtime, do you want to try and fly around the next village?”

Jiang Cheng glimmers in excitement, he has always wanted to fly like the cultivators he sees roaming in their area. They resembled the birds in the sky as they flew freely.  

“I want to!” Jiang Cheng exclaims, before crouching down to relay a message to his dogs. “Go back home alright? I’ll return soon!”

“Cheng-ge!” Xue Yang’s voice can be heard from behind, “Cheng-ge! I want to come with you!”

“Oh? Is this the rumoured Xiao Yang?” Qiao Donghui asks.

Jiang Cheng places both of his hands on Xue Yang’s shoulders. “I’m sorry, A-Yang. It’s not safe to fly with us yet. I’m still learning. I promise to fly with you when I’m much better at it.”

Xue Yang does not seem convinced but with Princess, Love, and Jasmine’s cheerful barks, he thinks that spending the afternoon with them would suffice.

══════ ∘◦❀◦∘ ══════

On Sandu, Jiang Cheng flies.

He flies, and it is the most beautiful thing he has experienced in the first 11 years of his life. His golden core swirls in his dantian and he feels more alive than ever. A rush and a burst of cold wind clatter from behind him but happiness lights up like a little spark and lingers in his heart. 

“I’m a bird!” He yells from the sky, earning the flabbergasted looks of bystanders and passersby in their village. “I can touch the sky!” 

Qiao Donghui’s bellowing laughter echoes around their vicinity. He has flown with his sword for years, and he has grown accustomed to flight, but a young cultivator’s untainted joy in their first flight will always bring back the thrill he felt when he flew for the first time. 

He guides Jiang Cheng to another area to get a view of Yunmeng’s forest, taking note of the nearest village in case they grow exhausted from flying and need rest.

“It’s so full of life!” Jiang Cheng points to the virescent woodland, at awe at the greenery that adorned Yunmeng. 

“Xiao Cheng, wait.” Qiao Donghui’s voice is stern. Gone was his mirth.

Worry washes away Jiang Cheng’s excitement, “Teacher, what’s wrong?” 

Qiao Donghui does not respond, merely staring off at a distance. Jiang Cheng follows his gaze, and there, nestled in the corpse of barren trees, he finds cultivators dawning on red robes. In front of these cultivators were men and women, elders and children, on their knees with tears on their eyes.

“What’s going o--?”

“Jiang Cheng, listen to me.” Qiao Donghui clammers to grab a letter from his pouch, and gives it to Jiang Cheng. “Take this to your father, and tell him to pen this to Sect Leader Jiang of Yunmeng Jiang Sect.” 

══════ ∘◦❀◦∘ ══════

Days have passed since Jiang Cheng frantically handed the paper to his father, detailing to him his teacher’s instructors. Days have passed since Qiao Donghui was last seen and his whereabouts remained unknown since then. Days have passed since Jiang Cheng last flew on his sword. 

Hearsays around the village involved a large number of corpses in the forests, making hunting for food more difficult. Families visit their village, asking for a place to stay and searching for a new livelihood. No one knew the root cause of why this occurred. Gossiping folks say the other lands were cursed, while older folks would murmur about how another war is brewing on the horizon.

Jiang Cheng kept his silence, helping his parents with crafts and chores and teaching Xue Yang how to read and write. He has not told anyone what he saw in the forest. 

A knock on their house’s door wakes him from an afternoon nap.

Jiang Chuandao answers it, with Jiang Cheng following from behind. Upon sliding the door open, they see a man wearing purple robes, with a lotus motif etched on his hanfu. Jiang Cheng’s core recognizes the presence of another core. It was not the first time he had sensed another cultivator. He could sense his teacher’s core as long as he was near, and he could sense rogue cultivators just as much as they could sense him.

He could sense the other cultivators the man brought with him, but the man’s golden core is familiar .

“Sect Leader Jiang!” Jiang Chuandao acknowledges him, before bowing. Jiang Cheng ought to follow suit but he remains frozen from where he stands.

“That is not necessary, Chuandao.” The man, Sect Leader Jiang, gestures for Jiang Chuandao to stand at ease. “We’re cousins. Distant, but still cousins.”

“Ah, apologies. It’s been too long.” Jiang Chuandao scratches the back of his head. 

“It’s alright. No need for apologies.” He smiles gently, keeping both of his hands behind him. “I just received your letter and…” He looks towards Jiang Cheng, and Jiang Cheng cups his hands and bows, in accordance with etiquette. “I was not aware your son is a cultivator.” 

“Ah! Well,” Jiang Chuandao puts both hands on Jiang Cheng’s shoulder, proud of his achievements. “My wife knows a rogue, who taught our boy. Even as a baby, A-Cheng already showed potential.”

Jiang Cheng preens at the praises.

“Is that so? You did not send him to Lotus Pier?”

“Eh, A-Cheng was our only child for years and…Lotus Pier is quite far from our village.”   

Jiang Cheng purses his lips. He looks at his father, his eyes relaying his wish to visit the Jiang residence. 

“But I’ll see to it if my wife allows A-Cheng to visit Lotus Pier.”

The man smiles at Jiang Cheng, who lowers his gaze, his heart both worried and elated at the same time. He is uncertain but he feels two conflicting emotions in the presence of the man, reverence and sadness.

“Lotus Pier will welcome another junior disciple to its home.”

══════ ∘◦❀◦∘ ══════

Every Jiang relative who showed potential for cultivation was taken to Lotus Pier to join Yunmeng Jiang as a junior disciple or a guest cultivator. Even in other sects, it’s a privilege granted to those related to the main clan. It was only Lian Xiangzhen’s worries that prevented Jiang Cheng from doing so.

“Please, A-niang. I really want to learn. I’ve been taught how to fight a sword, use my qi, create talismans, and fly but,” Jiang Cheng hands the plate of braised pork belly and lotus root he painstakingly cooked in order to appease his mother, “I was never taught how to be a cultivator.”

“I’ll go with Cheng-ge!” Xue Yang appears as well, grinning and waving his wooden sword. “And I’ll slay monsters too!”

Lian Xiangzhen chuckles, accepting the dish made for her, before sighing. “Those highborns are really taking away everyone important to me.”

Chapter Text

CHAPTER 5

On his 12th birthday, Jiang Cheng and Xue Yang pack their clothes and items, and prepare to leave for Lotus Pier. 

“A-Cheng, we have a little problem.” Jiang Chuandao sighs, all the difficult responsibilities are mostly handed to him.

“What is it, A-die?”

“Well, you see, Sect Leader Jiang wrote me a letter and,” He scratches his head, “Princess, Jasmine, and Love . . . they can’t go to Lotus Pier.”

XY threatens to bite anyone who hates dogs. Though disappointed, JC agrees to leave Princess, Little Love, and Jasmine.

Upon arriving at LP, JC and XY marvel at how majestic it is. They are introduced to the Jiang disciples while they wait for the Sect Leader and his family. Everyone is curious about how JC already has a core since most of them go to Yunmeng Jiang without a core. Initiation in YMJ is to wrestle in the mud and JC and XY ended up dirtying their clothes. 

A disciple ushers them to a washroom to get themselves clean. They pass by a classroom with junior YMJ disciples playing and throwing paper instead of studying (rich kids smh).

After dressing in cleaner clothes, JC and XY are summoned to the main hall. Madam Yu scolds JYL about her performance in handling talismans and daggers. WWX glances at JC and XY, but pointedly smiles dashingly at JC. JC's heart skips a beat.

JFM welcomes JC and XY who bow to the family. 

“He resembles you, San-niang.”

Madam Yu remains neutral but she plans to see the extent of JC' skills.

An attendant provides JC and XY their YMJ robes and clarity bells.

YZY calls for a junior disciple to spar with JC to test his skills, but WWX volunteers. JFM permits it. JYL is curious while JC reassures XY that he'll be fine.

The duel ends in a draw.

It is the first time for WWX to not win in a quick match. Other disciples are surprised and curious about JC. YZY is impressed and intends to mentor JC personally.

JFM asks JC and XY if they want to eat dinner with the main clan but they refuse.

Nearing midnight, JC decides to roam around LP while XY is asleep. He goes out to the river that night and sees WWX playing a dizi, surrounded by Emperor’s Smile jars! 

They banter, and it ends with JC saying WWX is too young to drink, so he plans to give him one wooden miniature for every week where WWX does not drink.

CHAPTER 6

First week in school! JC knows a lot of academic topics already. He learns more about field medicine and medicine arts.

XY, tells JC: WWX looks at you the same way Pervert Uncle looks at Rui-jie!

WWX tries to get JC to call him “gege”.

“Chengcheng! Let’s sneak out and skip classes!”

JC ignores WWX while helping XY with his homework. “Don't be too complacent that you're top of the class, Young Master Wei!”

“I also didn’t drink for a week! Will I get a reward?”

JC sighs.

A month passes by and JC becomes Madame Yu’s favorite. He gets an offer to learn how to do hand-to-hand combat, Meishan Yu style. After one training, he can’t seem to find XY. He comes across the kitchen and sees JYL. JYL and JC talk about different variations of Yunmeng cuisine!

Before winter starts, Madame Yu makes JC and XY and JYL accompany her to Lanling Jin. They meet JZX and the other arrogant rich kids too. Jin Zixuan and JC talk about their puppies! 

Jin Zixun bullies XY and JC punches Jin Zixun! Madame Jin asks Jin Zixuan what happened and he tells the truth. Jin Zixun gets reprimanded!

JC and XY write letters to his parents. They tell him about how the lotus silk is highly in-demand, and how their village is earning a lot of income from it.

A montage of ChengXian moments throughout the seasons.

WWX has a lot of wooden miniatures now but JC still won’t call WWX gege. XY glares and pulls his tongue out at JC.

More sparring. ChengXian attends festivals! They eat “dragon’s beard” and do sugar painting! They discuss poetry and chengyu.

JFM announces that Lotus Pier will host a discussion conference in three months.

XY finally forms a core and gets his sword, Jiangzai. In a letter, JC asks his parents what his courtesy name will be.

CHAPTER 7

JC and XY visit their hometown and help with the deliveries of the lotus silk. They promise to return a month before the discussion conference.

They meet Meng Yao (MY) and Meng Shi (MS) during the time a client drags MS out of the brothel to humiliate her. JC's mom, Lian Xiangzhen (LXZ) defends her and uses her income from the lotus silk to pay for the freedom of the sex workers who no longer wish to work in such industry.

LXZ and MS discuss and she offers her a job as a craftswoman. MS is still in love with JGS but LXZ discourages her feelings for such filthy and heartless men. MS shows her the pearl JGS gave to her.

Jiang Chuandao (JCD), JC's dad, examines the pearl and says it's fake. MS is upset, and explains her wishes that Meng Yao (MY) be acknowledged by his father and for him to be a cultivator.

JCD writes a letter to JFM. JC is nervous because Madam Yu and Madam Jin are sworn sisters.

They ultimately bring MY to YMJ. YZY is angry and JYL tries to appease her

JC and XY defend MY and assures her that they will not attempt to cause a ruckus or force LLJ to recognize MY.

WWX is curious and slightly jealous because JC calls MY, Yao-ge.

YZY remains cold towards JC and XY for weeks before the conference. She trains JC and XY harder than everyone else. 

JFM defends JC and XY from YZY, much to everyone’ surprise. He instructs XY to rest and play with other junior disciples, and he introduces JC to the paperworks and diplomatic relations that a sect leader manages aside from training disciples. The conference is nearing so JFM makes JC assist him in sect matters.

MY forms a core. It is formidable but not as strong as JC's and WWX's. He excels in academics for his photographic memory. JYL and MY are often together due to their shared love for court politics (and scheming, on MY's part).

It is implied that JFM sees JC as a worthy sect heir, much to YZY's delight. JC tells WWX is it more likely for JFM to have WWX as his sect heir as he is clearly The favourite; however, WWX reminds him that YZY will never allow it and she would rather have a distant Jiang relative be the heir.

During the discussion conference in LP, XY notices the way Wen Zhuliu (WZL) and YZY look at each other, “Imagine if A-die and A-niang were not able to marry each other? and they will spend their lives longing for each other? that's how they look at each other!”

XY tries to play matchmaker, while JC is more intrigued about WZL's core-melting skill. He feels a sense of trauma from losing a core but a desire to learn how to melt it as well. JC meets WQ along the way and they discuss medicinal arts while WWX and WN bond over archery. JYL rescues XY before he does something dangerous just to matchmake WZL and YZY.

JC meets the Nies for the 2nd time when NHS is trying to catch a bird and NMJ is the ideal man of every cultivator in their generation. JC is starstruck with NMJ, and then he realizes it was NHS who stole his 1st kiss!

JC and JZX meet again. He arrogantly snubs JC at first. While JC is forbidden from introducing MY to the Jins, he grabs MY and they both chase after JZX. JC introduces MY to Jin Zixuan and explains his identity as his half-brother. Jin Zixuan is stunned but sympathetic. However, Jin Zixun mocks both JC and MY. JC threatens to punch Jin Zixun again. JZX drags his spoiled cousins away.

End this chapter with JFM saying JC, WWX, and MY will attend the GSL exchange student program. 

XY is too young and has to stay in LP. JC wants XY to learn how to detach from him and spend more time with other juniors. Later, in his letters, XY claims that he is now Madam Yu's favourite disciple and that he allegedly saw her letters to Wen Zhuliu.

CHAPTERS 8 to 10

Plot bunnies in the Cloud Recesses Era:

YMJ's entourage arrives at night, only a few GSL disciples get to welcome them but an attendant promises to introduce them to the main family the following morning.

JC sneaks into a music room at night while WWX is out for Emperor' Smile but he was not aware that it was only for the inner disciples of GSL.

LWJ catches him playing some of the instruments. LWJ does not meet WWX yet, he meets JC first. JC was playing a song in the yangqin that he learned from his mother but it was also the lullaby that Madam Lan's taught to the Lan brothers.

NHS, JC, WWX, MY get drunk and WWX asks JC who his first kiss was. JC only recently realized that it was NHS and they share a look, but JC says, “I never knew their name” then WWX suddenly pecks his lips.

JC runs to leave their room and gets rid of alcohol using his core. He vomits anyway and MY holds his hair up, patting his back and offering him water.

JC befriends Su She with MY.

During a class, WWX angers LQR for insinuating the use of harnessing negative or resentful energy to cultivate (demonic cultivation) and LQR sends him to the Library to copy all of GSL's rules. JC takes it as a moment to discuss with WWX in private so he attempts to shock LQR by asking about the ability to melt or destroy cores. LQR is taken aback and announces his plans to report the two to JFM, however, he only makes JC write GSL's 1st 100 rules.

Su She also gives JC a pass to the music room for outer disciples so next time he doesn’t get caught again. LWJ accompanies JC, curious about the similar songs that their mothers taught them.

JC asks LWJ, “Do you have a puppy?"

“Pets are forbidden in Cloud Recesses."

“Oh.”

Nonetheless, LWJ takes JC to an area full of bunnies.

Later, NHS and JC talk about paintings and poetry and his brother's expectations. JC suggests that NHS fights using fans. 

At some point, JC and MY attempt to approach JZX but they have to deal with the Jin disciples’ elitism. Annoyed with JZX's nonchalance and lack of initiative to recognize MY as his half-brother, JC confronts him, “We hold you at a higher esteem compared to your incompetent cousins, but you should know better than to end up like your father!”

JC is sent to the Library to copy a few rules as punishment for shouting. It is not LWJ who oversees his punishment, but LXC.

LXC tells JC that LWJ told him of a certain Jiang that knows the songs their mother used to play for them. LXC also says that he practices everyday in the music room an hour before dinner and he invites JC. 

JZX spends time with MY.

At one point, MY hugs JC as gratitude.

JC avoids other elitist rich young masters but NHS keeps on flirting with him. JC makes it a point to gift NHS lotus silk.

The events in Caiyi Town occur. Both JC and WWX come into contact with the Waterborne Abyss in the Biling lake. However, WWX sees glimpses of a demonic cultivator, whereas JC sees glimpses of the core-melting hand.

CHAPTERS 11 to 12

After the Cloud Recesses era

JC regularly writes letters to LXC and NHS. MY also writes to JZX.

On JC's birthday, YZY gives JC a practice whip. LXC and LWJ had a flute and guqin delivered to JC. QHN sends an invitation to JC to be a guest disciple for a few weeks.

YZY narrates Madam Jin's anger over JZX and MY's friendship. She wishes to make MY leave YMJ, but JC refuses—claiming that he, too, will leave. JFM commands WWX and MY to accompany JYL in Meishan to appease YZY, while JC and XY go to Qinghe. 

Before leaving, JFM asks JC if he wants to be an heir apparent.

JC gives NHS a hanfu made of lotus silk. 

Due to Qinghe's ancestry, XY becomes curious with demonic cultivation.

NMJ and JC spar and JC spars using different weapons! NMJ and his father are impressed. During a hunting in a discussion conference hosted by Qishan Wen, Sect Leader Nie's sabre breaks but JC flings a spear and saves him.

NHS asks JC to throw him a flower during the introduction. JC was supposed to throw a lotus flower to NHS but the lotus flower gravitates towards NMJ.

CHAPTERS 12 to 14

Prior to leaving for Meishan, MY visits his sick mother. JC's mom, LXZ, continues to tend to Meng Shi. MS's advice for MY was no longer “ensure your father acknowledges you”. Instead, she wants MY to pledge loyalty to the Jiangs.

Attack on Gusu Arc

After the opportunity to be a guest disciple in Qinghe, JC and XY go back to their village. The news of QSW burning Cloud Recesses reaches JC only when he happened to come across a distraught LXC who carried with him a qiankun pouch containing most of the books in their Library from Gusu to Yunmeng.

JC takes LXC back to his village and when JC's mom sees LXC, she is stunned with how much of a carbon copy he is with Madam Lan. A lot of Xicheng moments follow concerning JC teaching LXC basic household chores, living in a humble village rather than a rich sect, etc.

Later JC is summoned to LP because cultivators have to go to the indoctrination camp. JC's village has heard of the Wens and they make JC bring healing herbs and extra weapons, just in case. XY makes JC wear lots of qiankun pouches in their sleeves to hide more food, weapon, talisman, and healing herbs storage. He bids his goodbye to his brother and JC promises XY to protect their family and LXC while he's gone.

Indoctrination Camp arc

In order to not have to send JYL to the camp, the Jiangs publicly announce JC as the heir apparent. MY and JYL stay in Meishan while WWX is also summoned back to LP to accompany JC. NMJ is sent to the camp as his father is alive in this AU and he is yet to become the sect leader. An injured LWJ goes on behalf of Gusu Lan because in the eyes of the cultivation world, LXC is either dead or has disappeared. 

All the disciples’ swords are confiscated, JC is wary but luckily, he has his hidden daggers.

JC helps heal LWJ's injury and he tells LWJ that LXC is safe in their village.

Back at the cave, everyone notices that WZL is no longer WC's guard. Wen Xu accompanies WC and WLJ instead. Most of the disciples protect Mianmian.

At some point, the giant turtle eats WLJ, JC tries to reach for WLJ but it's too late, he almost gets dragged too but Su She saves him.

During an attack, JC releases his whip, throws an extra saber to NMJ and throws a weapon to WWX, and then JZX and LWJ. They fight their way and JC finds an escape route while diving. He asks NMJ to lead the disciples’ escape. JC, WWX, and LWJ remain in the cave. They're able to kill the giant turtle but JC is injured. 

JC tells WWX to swim LWJ out of the cave first before helping him. WWX and LWJ swim and escape but the cave crumbles before WWX could go back for JC. JC is stuck to tend to his own wounds with his remaining herbs in his qiankun pouch. While stuck in the Xuanwu Cave, he finds the Stygian sword.

While examining, he begins to feel drowsy and eventually falls asleep. He dreams of his core being melted and the canon events of MDZS, and Sandu Shengshou's eventual passing and his wish to turn back time.

CHAPTER 15 onwards

This is where I write a lot of chapters then make you readers choose which ship to read. 

XiCheng/Zhancheng:

Halfway through the camp, XY accompanies LXC back to CR.

LWJ persuades GSL to retrieve JC in Xuanwu Cave

JC wakes up in Cloud Recesses

With his access to their library, JC learns how to destroy cores

Mingcheng/Sangcheng

NMJ reaches QHN and persuades his father to rally against the Wens

NMJ and NHS lead QHN's troop to retrieve JC in Xuanwu Cave

JC wakes up in the Unclean Realm

JC learns to wield the Stygian blade through the Nie's cultivation technique of using resentful energy

Xuancheng

Back in Koi Tower, JZX overhears YZY and Madam Jin discuss how the Wens massacred WZL's family but made WZL believe that they saved him. WZL now serves YZY. JZX tells them that JC is stuck in Xuanwu Cave and they rescue him. WZL teaches JC how to melt cores. The Wens attack Koi Tower and JGS is killed.

Chengxian

JC wakes up in YMJ, with JFM telling him how proud he is of JC. The Wens arrive at LP and try to have YMJ punish JC and WWX. XY rescues them by whipping WLJ's hand that's carrying the signal flare.

OUTCOME

The war still happens. No demonic cultivation despite JC's Stygian Blade or WWX and XY's interests in it. JC persuades WQ to publicly surrender her clan so they'll be spared from the trials, and JC makes Qinghe Nie indebted to the Wens by making WQ help with the Nie's qi deviation. No betrayals from LLJ as JZX acknowledges all his siblings and JGS is already dead.

Depending on whoever JC chooses, a sworn brotherhood ceremony will be held.