Unexpected
It had been a hassle to deal with the onslaught of memories. They’d come on too suddenly and he hadn’t really had a chance to grasp all that had been shown to him. Meditation proved to be useful, though. As he didn’t have much else to do, Bai Qingli had settled down in the center of the cave. There was a nice area surrounded by moss, a clean circle beneath a hole in the cave’s ceiling which allowed the moonlight to spill inside. He could feel the spiritual qi condensed within the area once he began his meditation.
The memories themselves seemed to flow seamlessly once he’d settled down. Bai Qingli focused on pulling forth the qi surrounding him, breathing slowly as he felt it flowing into his meridians. It was unlike anything he'd experienced before. Calming. Something he definitely needed after the stunt the System had pulled with the Memory Transfer.
Nevertheless, with the memories fully processed he had a better understanding of what he would have to deal with. Distant from his peers would be an understatement. The original Bai Qingli had not only not interacted with his martial siblings outside of Peak meetings he barely spoke . If he had nothing to contribute he tended to stay silent outside of his own reports. He was respectful to his martial siblings but didn’t seek any further connections with them.
And yet he was so different with his disciples. The Shuo Dao disciples were personally taught the dizi in the morning by Bai Qingli and he even held a class in the afternoon for musical composition. Shuo Dao Peak, while unmentioned in the novel, was a Peak of musical cultivation. And the original Bai Qingli had composed various scores of music and proved to be a talented individual when it came to learning new instruments. He could have done so much for the Sect with his skills but had refused. While he never brought harm to Cang Qiong, he hadn’t gone out of his way to assist in its betterment either.
Bai Qingli planned to change that. Since he couldn’t stop the protagonist from joining Qing Jing Peak he would have to be sure the Sect was prepared for anything. The ding of the System had him opening his eyes, watching as words appeared on the blue screen in front of him.
[ Congratulations! User has completed Three Months of Meditation in Lingxi Caves. +100 Points ]
“Finally,” he muttered, raising his arms over his head. He wasn’t as stiff as he tended to be when having stayed in one position too long. Three months at that. The perks of having a cultivator’s body. Besides the impending doom of the Sect by the protagonist's hand, Bai Qingli found himself excited at the prospect of meeting all the characters he'd read about.
Thanks to the Memory Transfer he wouldn't have the unfortunate need to ask his martial siblings their names when he met them. Or awkwardly wait to find out who was who. That would have put a serious dent in his plans going forward to bridge the gap between himself and his fellow Peak Lords.
"Let's go inspect my Peak then, shall we?"
Flying was… interesting. He didn't have a fear of heights so he thanked his lucky stars for that, but he couldn't entirely stamp down the fear of being so high up in the air. Especially when the only thing keeping him aloft was a thin sword beneath his feet. There would be some training in his future. Memories or not, he wanted to be sure he knew what he was doing.
So he landed carefully even as his eyes wandered over the scenery before him.
Shuo Dao Peak was beautiful . There were various trees surrounding the area, flowers interspersed within the greenery in a variety of colors. Almost immediately upon landing Bai Qingli discovered the namesake for the Peak. In the very center was a large island surrounded by a thin man-made lake. There was a willow tree along the very edge, providing shelter to three small tables on the right side.
The original goods always held his morning sessions there, obscured within the willow as his disciples sat on the soft grass covering the rest of the island. It was a peaceful event, one Bai Qingli was looking forward to. His disciples were all such sweet children.
"Shizun!"
Speak of the little devils.
A pack of those same disciples were running toward him, attired in the red and white uniform of Shuo Dao Peak. At the very front was his Head Disciple: Feng Han. He was a young man with long, black hair tied back into a bun to keep out of his face. A handsome face with an easy smile. With how quickly he was shushing his fellow disciples it was no surprise why he'd been given his position.
In unison the disciples lined up before him. Bai Qingli counted 13 in total. The oldest of them being 17: Li Xiulan. And the youngest a mere 11 years old: Shi Ning. Besides his Head Disciple and Li Xiulan, the other 11 were the last batch he had accepted before he’d gone into seclusion.
"Welcome back, Shizun!" each disciple greeted him simultaneously, bowing before him. It was endearing. No wonder the original had doted on them.
"This Master has returned," he needlessly informed them, a small smile appearing on his lips as he watched them.
The sight of their Shizun's smile after so long of its absence had warmth spreading amongst his disciples. Quite a few of them – orphaned as they had been before being accepted into Shuo Dao Peak – secretly considered him a father figure. Since the original was unaware of this, Bai Qingli also remained in the dark.
“Shizun, would you honor these disciples with some music after your absence?” Feng Han boldly stepped forward. Bai Qingli could have in no way denied his disciples, though, not when their eyes lit up brightly upon the request. He did, however, choose to torture them for a moment by pretending as if he were pondering his options. They were just so endearing as they tried not to fidget beneath his gaze.
“Of course. This Master shall prepare. Feng Han, inform the other disciples and have everyone convene on the island. Li Xiulan, ask the kitchens to bring food,” he ordered his two disciples. They both immediately acquiesced, departing from their Master with a final bow. The rest of the disciples followed quickly behind them, eager to assist in whatever either would need for the event.
Bai Qingli smiled at their eagerness. He wouldn’t take his second chance for granted. Merged. As the System had stated he had merged with the original goods. Their memories were one and he could no longer differentiate whether they’d ever been his or not. This was his life now and he planned to treasure every moment of it. With a small smile on his face, he proceeded toward his own home. It was further within the Peak in a clearing of trees. There was a small pavilion directly to the left of it that looked out into a lake. Bai Qingli would have loved to curl up on the cushioned seat but ignored it in favor of heading into his abode.
It wouldn’t be long before his disciples came looking for him. Just as he moved to head into his personal chambers, a small body practically ran into his chest. Instinctively, he reached up and placed both his hands on his shoulder to steady the child. The face that looked up at him was familiar.
Yu Lei. 16 years old. A shy little thing that had been given the task of keeping his home tidy along with Tao Bao. Usually such a thing would be done by his Head Disciple, but Feng Han had higher priorities in his Master’s absence. The chore had to be handed down to other disciples who would be capable of it without it interfering in their own studies and meditation.
“Shizun! This disciple apologizes!” the young boy cried out. He immediately dropped his head, avoiding eye contact with the man he’d just run into.
“It’s alright, Yu Lei,” Bai Qingli was quick to reassure the boy, patting his left shoulder where his right hand still rested, “There is no need to be so alarmed.”
“Would Shizun like a bath prepared?” his disciple asked, glancing up at him through his lashes. It seemed he still refused to lift his head to look at him properly. Honestly, his disciples were just too cute! It was such a shame that they’d had no place in the actual novel. Besides the mention during the decade mourning period, Shuo Dao Peak had basically gone ignored in the story. Bai Qingli was only sorry that he’d discovered the travesty of such an action after he could no longer rant at the author about it. Seriously Airplane, what a waste of potential!
“Perhaps later. Yu Lei should head to the island for the event. This Master shall join you momentarily,” he informed the boy as he moved to go around him. He said nothing as he received an affirmative before he heard the receding footsteps of the other individual. Once within his room, Bai Qingli wasted no time in divesting himself of his robes and donning new ones. He couldn’t very well perform for his students in those robes. While he had bathed in the small pool within the cave, he hadn’t had the option of changing his robes. That was something he would remedy once he returned.
He had just finished tying the guan into his hair when he heard a knock at his front door. Curious. Hardly any time had passed since he’d parted from his disciples. Usually they weren’t so impatient as to seek him out. Tossing his hair over his shoulder, Bai Qingli exited his bedroom and strode into the hallway. The door had been left open so he had no trouble seeing who his guest was.
“Zhangmen-shixiong,” he greeted the man standing beneath the doorframe. There was no mistaking him. There was that familiar aura he was so accustomed to when dealing with him. Gentle, restrained, soothing.
“Bai-shidi, I see you have returned from your seclusion,” the other man stated, a small smile lightening his expression.
“Forgive me, Zhangmen-shixiong, this shidi should have reported to you as soon as he left Lingxi Caves,” Bai Qingli is quick to apologize, lowering his head to bow to the Sect Leader. In a parody of what had occurred with Yu Lei he felt hands upon his shoulders. Yue Qingyuan eased him back into a proper position, his face open and gentle as he shook his head.
“I have not come to reprimand shidi. Simply to remind you of the monthly meeting tomorrow.”
“This shidi thanks Zhangmen-shixiong for the kind reminder,” he said with another bow, though he didn’t attempt to stay there for longer than a second before he rose again, “Would Zhangmen-shixiong like to stay for the event?”
It was strange for him to ask such a thing, he knew. And it was made even more apparent by the visible surprise on Yue Qingyuan’s face. Bai Qingli didn’t fault him. Not once had he been prone to inviting the other Peak Lords to the events he tended to hold for his disciples. He was certain none of them had even heard him play since their own disciple days. After their ascension to Peak Lords, he had done all he could to remain within his Peak and cut off any personal ties with his fellow peers.
Truly one couldn’t really fault him. Bai Qingli had lost his younger brother a few months after they’d taken their new titles, and he’d closed himself off from the other Peak Lords almost immediately. Not that they’d had such close ties even during their disciple days but they hadn't been so estranged as they were now. He hadn’t been able to go to the funeral, not when he had newly appointed disciples to care for. To abandon his position so soon after attaining it would have caused rumors Cang Qiong Mountain Sect couldn’t afford after their predecessors had ascended. It had made Bai Qingli bitter, even though he knew it was no one’s fault.
He’d gone into seclusion as soon as it was considered polite, the first year spent mourning the little brother he hadn’t been able to say goodbye to. The letters from his parents hadn’t helped. They’d been filled with understanding and he had been riddled with guilt as a result. Before he could lose himself further in his memories, Yue Qingyuan’s voice pulled him back.
“Would shidi be opposed to inviting the other Peak Lords?” he asked cautiously. Bai Qingli couldn’t blame him for his hesitation.
“Should they be amenable to the idea then of course they are more than welcome to attend,” he quickly assured the Sect Leader, a smile appearing on his own lips. He hadn’t expected such an opportunity to fall into his lap. It was unlikely that most of them would even appear. Not only had he never personally invited a fellow Peak Lord to his Peak, but they had no relationship to each other outside of martial siblings.
“I shall have a message sent immediately. How soon before the event begins?” Yue Qingyuan asked him, his brows furrowing in concern. Of course, it was such short notice that they might not make it before the event started.
“My disciples will inform me once the preparations are complete. It shouldn’t be too long,” Bai Qingli answered, watching as the other man waved over one of his passing disciples. A young girl who seemed to be running in the direction of the island.
“This disciple greets Zhangmen-shibo and Shizun,” Su Xun bows before the two.
“Su Xun, please inform some of our elder disciples to invite the other Peak Lords to the event,” Bai Qingli took the lead in giving the order. He doubted Yue Qingyuan even knew the name of the disciple he’d waved over. Once again, not something the poor man could be blamed for.
Su Xun appeared startled by the command. Her eyes had widened and her mouth was open in a small o of surprise. It seemed he would be eliciting that reaction for a long while.
“Shizun?” she asked, her voice small. The young girl even appeared lost. Bai Qingli smiled at her and he was greeted by his disciple brightening at the attention. Sheesh, he hadn’t even complimented her! His disciples were so easy to please.
“Do as your Master has asked, Su-shizhi,” Yue Qingyuan kindly prodded the girl when it seemed she was content to remain before them. Blushing a bright red, Su Xun quickly bowed and went on her way to do as ordered. Bai Qingli couldn’t have repressed his amusement even if he’d tried. The Sect Leader seemed to have caught onto his mood.
“Bai-shidi seems to be in an agreeable disposition.” Even though he phrased it as an observation, Bai Qingli could hear the question behind it.
“Mn, this one has had much to ponder during his time in seclusion,” he didn’t need to elaborate further. Yue Qingyuan seemed to understand if his expression was anything to go by, “Shall we head to the island?”
Yue Qingyuan gestured for him to lead the way and fell into step beside him as they made their way there. The island was one of the first landmarks one saw when they landed on Shuo Dao Peak. Unlike Bai Qingli’s home which was hidden further inside. The walk wasn’t especially long but neither was in too much of a hurry to get there either. It would also save his disciples the trouble of having to fetch him once everything was prepared.
Their walk had been filled with peaceful silence. Yue Qingyuan seemed intent on taking in his surroundings as he didn’t tend to stay longer than necessary when he came to the Peak. Bai Qingli, himself, had simply been enjoying the tranquility of the moment so he was surprised when the other man spoke again.
“I must offer my condolences for your loss.”
The words were spoken with hesitation as if he were afraid Bai Qingli would close off again. Their Sect Leader had always been exceptionally kind, prone to doing what he could for his martial siblings. When Bai Qingli had been informed of his brother’s passing he had been in Yue Qingyuan’s presence. The man had probably seen more emotion in him that day than he’d ever seen in their entire acquaintance. Bai Qingli had quickly vacated their meeting once he’d extracted a promise of silence from the man. Which had been reluctantly given.
Yue Qingyuan had respected his need for privacy - and he didn’t doubt that he’d kept quiet all these years - but he’d nonetheless hoped he would rely on his martial siblings during such a hard time. He hadn’t. He had thrown himself into his work. His entire focus had been on teaching his disciples, distracting himself with lesson plans and music composition. Anything which would keep his mind away from the agony threatening to swallow him whole.
There was still a stab of pain in his chest as he was reminded of that time. It hurt. No doubt it would continue to cause him pain for years to come, but he no longer planned to hide himself away and dwell on it. He would lean on those willing to help him. He’d been given a second chance, both as Bai Xian and Bai Qingli. One had died in another world while the other had been slowly killing himself unknowingly. He didn’t want to live like that anymore.
“Thank you, Zhangmen-shixiong,” his voice was soft, a mere whisper between them. He was heard regardless. Nothing more was spoken between them as the island finally came into view. His disciples had outdone themselves.
The sun was just beginning to set. The rich hues of pinks, purples, and oranges in the sky only made the scene they’d created all the more picturesque. There were various cushions on the grass facing the willow tree. Two tables were on the very edge where drinks and food were laid out for everyone’s perusal. The willow’s vines had been pulled aside to reveal a seating platform with its own cushion in the center. Glowing lights of qi were floating around the island, making sure the area would be well-lit even when the sun finally descended into the horizon.
Many disciples were already seated. Some seemed to be waiting for the arrival of their Master. Bai Qingli’s memories quickly helped in recognizing the Peak Lords who had chosen to join the event. Qi Qingqi of Xian Shu Peak was standing on the inside of the island with Qian Cao Peak’s Mu Qingfang. Both were seemingly holding a conversation about the decor if their gestures were any indication.
The one that surprised him the most was the person standing off to the side, waiting by the small stone bridge that led into the island. He was a beautiful man more so than handsome, though he was sure stating such a thing would warrant a beating. His long hair was tied into a long ponytail and out of his face. Bai Qingli couldn’t see much else save for the indifferent look upon his face. Liu Qingge. The War God of Bai Zhan Peak.
When reading the story Bai Xian had been miserable to learn of the absolute potential this one character had. The very stories of his might, his talent had instantly made him his favorite character even if he’d died prior to the novel’s beginning. At the hands of Shen Qingqiu no less. Determination swelled in his chest as they approached the other Peak Lords. He wouldn’t allow that to happen. Liu Qingge wouldn’t die if he could prevent it. And Liu Mingyan wouldn’t lose her older brother.
Bai Qingli would save her the pain he’d experienced.
“Ah, Zhangmen-shixiong. Bai-shidi, I must say I was quite surprised to receive an invitation,” Qi Qingqi started once she’d caught sight of them. There was some bitterness to her tone but Bai Qingli wasn’t offended. They didn’t know why he’d suddenly cut them off entirely so the animosity was expected.
“Yes, it has been a while since I have had the pleasure of seeing Bai-shidi play,” Mu Qingfang intervened in a more jovial tone.
“This shidi apologizes for his rudeness at the sudden invitation. I know it was on short notice and I appreciate your coming,” Bai Qingli responded to both, bowing slightly in their direction. That in itself seemed to startle Qi Qingqi. Her hands rose as if she planned to lift him from the position but Bai Qingli was rising at the scoff he’d heard to his left. Directly from where Liu Qingge still stood. He was much closer now, his shoulder less than a foot from Mu Qingfang’s.
“Why?” was the only question the man directed at him in a gruff tone. As much as Bai Qingli had expected some hostility from his martial siblings - since he hadn’t been too inviting in the past few years - he was surprised to be questioned for the reason behind the invitation. It didn’t seem appropriate to hash out those dreadful memories during such a lovely event. Bai Qingli didn’t want to dampen the mood when his disciples were so excited for it.
“Can this shidi answer Liu-shixiong’s question during a more appropriate time?” he countered. He didn’t know what sort of expression he must have been making, for Qi Qingqi let out a shuddering sigh as she made her way toward one of the vacant cushions in the front row with Yue Qingyuan right beside her. Mu Qingfang followed with a gentle smile in his direction. Bai Qingli had to wonder if he knew. He was the Master of the medical peak. Should Bai Qingli have been at risk of Heart Demons then he would have been informed.
“Fine,” came the response from his taciturn shixiong. Bai Qingli couldn’t contain the grateful smile from his face.
“I promise to satisfy shixiong’s curiosity at a later date!” he informed the other man as he moved over the bridge to take his place on the platform. Had he looked back he might have seen the stunned expression on Liu Qingge’s face. It had been much too long since any of the Peak Lords had seen the distant Shuo Dao Peak Lord smile. Liu Qingge was more than a little miffed that he’d been so thrown by the unexpected expression that he’d stood there for a moment too long. Long enough for some of the disciples to be bold enough to glare at him.
He was keeping their Shizun from playing for them. Two years, they had been deprived of his presence for two years. To say the usually obedient children were irritated with the God of War for stalling the event would be an understatement.
Liu Qingge joined his martial siblings, sitting beside Mu Qingfang in the front row to face the platform. There was anticipation in the air. For the disciples they were eager to be graced with the music of their Shizun. Yue Qingyuan was simply proud that one of their more distant martial siblings had begun to open up to them. He only wished the same could be said for a much colder Peak Lord. Qi Qingqi was someone who enjoyed entertainment, whether it be through music or novels. She could readily admit she had been disappointed when Shuo Dao Peak had closed its doors to outsiders for these events. Mu Qingfang, unsurprisingly, was hoping to observe his shidi. Bai Qingli was famous for evading him for his annual evaluations. Liu Qingge, on the other hand, couldn’t have stated why he was there. More than likely because he had been in the company of Qi Qingqi when the invitation had been given.
“Alright. This is our first event since this Master went into seclusion. Do any of my disciples have any requests?” Bai Qingli addressed the crowd. His dizi, a beautiful ivory instrument with a beaded red tassel, was already poised in his hands.
One of the disciples in the third row raised their hand. Ah. Su Xun’s twin sister.
“Yes Su Hai?”
“Should we not allow our guests to choose first, Shizun?” she asked timidly, her face flushing at the attention when she noticed everyone looking at her. Truly endearing.
“A wise decision, Su Hai,” he complimented the girl who only seemed to blush deeper at his fond tone. Bai Qingli spared her further embarrassment and turned his attention to his martial siblings, “Would any of our honored guests be willing to offer a selection?”
It was no surprise that the other three quickly turned toward Yue Qingyuan. As the one with the highest position they were giving him the choice.
“I am not as adept with music as Bai-shidi or Shen-shidi,” he quickly said, turning instead to his left where Qi Qingqi sat, “Qi-shimei would certainly have a suggestion.”
“Painted Heart,” the woman stated, crossing her arms over her chest. The children looked at one another, whispers breaking out as they tried to discover what song it was. Bai Qingli understood their confusion. It was a song he hadn’t played since his disciple days. One of the first he’d ever composed. His own disciples were a few years too late to have heard it.
Sorrow filled the Shuo Dao Peak Lord as he nodded minutely at his martial sibling. His eyes slid shut, obscuring his view of his audience as he lifted the dizi to his lips and began to play.
His audience was captivated almost instantly. The notes which flowed from the instrument were beautiful, the emotions twining with the music as it filled the space around them. But the truly mesmerizing thing about the performance was the man playing. Graceful fingers moved seamlessly over the dizi, pulling the sweetest sounds for the people seated breathlessly before him. Bai Qingli seemed ethereal in that moment. There was a melancholy to his features that couldn’t be explained but was felt deeply. For reasons some couldn’t understand their heart ached with every note that spilled into the suddenly still air.
This performance only made Liu Qingge more intent on discovering the reason behind the invitation. Unbeknownst to him, he wasn’t alone in this desire. Qi Qingqi, like all the other Peak Lords, knew Bai Qingli had only ever wished to remain professional with them. However, he had very suddenly wanted almost nothing to do with them immediately after their ascension. Most of them had assumed it was due to sudden arrogance, the superiority of a prodigy, but she was beginning to wonder if maybe their Sect Leader and Mu Qingfang had defended him for a reason.
The tear which spilled down Bai Qingli’s cheek only seemed to make her theory stronger. Something had happened to Bai-shidi for him to suddenly turn so cold, but his seclusion seemed to have done him some good.
The Shuo Dao disciples couldn’t help but feel agony at their Shizun’s obvious distress. They were unaware of the reason but knew they would do anything to get him to smile again. Once the music came to an end there was silence for a brief period. No one said a word, stunned speechless as the despondent musician lowered his instrument and opened his eyes. He seemed dazed, silver eyes misty as if he’d momentarily forgotten where he was. That seemed to be the breaking point for the disciples were soon clapping for their Master.
It took a moment for Bai Qingli to compose himself. He’d tried to keep his hands steady during his performance but the ache in his chest was almost crippling. Painted Heart was a song he’d composed for his brother. The last one. Relief and pain warred within him, weighing him down while simultaneously trying to lift him up. In some ways he felt as if some invisible force had been lifted from his chest, but he felt the sadness threatening to overwhelm him.
His sweet disciples, ever the precious children, came to his rescue almost immediately.
“Shizun, this disciple would be honored to play for you!” Feng Han cried out, raising his hand above his head. A multitude of others followed, their voices drowning the contents of their words out. Warmth pooled in his chest at their antics.
“Alright, alright! This Master would be pleased to hear his disciples play,” he quickly said before they could continue. They were rowdier than usual but he didn’t mind it. He had missed their presence very much during his seclusion. He hadn’t realized how much until that moment.
Bai Qingli stepped away from the platform to allow his disciples the chance to take their turn. It gave him some much needed relief after the emotions still swirling inside him.
“I had forgotten just how talented Bai-shidi is,” Mu Qingfang was the first to address him. Bai Qingli had taken the last seat beside Liu Qingge so he had to peek over him to see the Qian Cao Peak Lord.
“This shidi thanks Mu-shixiong for the compliment,” he responded, feeling heat gather in his cheeks. He was accustomed to the honeyed words of his disciples. They were sweet children, much too indulging of their Master, so he tended to laugh off their commentary with ease. It was different with his martial siblings. Bai Qingli could admit, at least to himself, that he had been nervous about the performance.
“This shijie hopes invitations will be more forthcoming,” Qi Qingqi said, tilting her head as she observed the younger man. His face got redder, no doubt in shame since she hadn’t been too subtle in her barb.
“It would be the pleasure of Shuo Dao Peak to welcome Qi-shijie to any and all events,” was the whispered response. Oh, she wanted to tease him, she really did. Who knew their little shidi was so easily flustered?
“You were good,” Liu Qingge interrupted before she could start on the torment. She immediately began plotting her revenge. No doubt Liu Mingyan would be perfect in implementing it.
Bai Qingli turned to look at his usually quiet shixiong, eyes wide in surprise. He hadn’t been expecting any sort of comment from the Bai Zhan Peak Lord. The book did nothing in helping him piece out his personality, but his memories had shown how rarely he spoke. Liu Qingge was a man of action rather than words. Which only made the compliment all the more impactful. Silence reigned between them for a moment as Bai Qingli had to gather his mental faculties after such an unpredictable situation.
“Thanking Liu-shixiong for the compliment,” he eventually replied, bowing his head to hide the no doubt scarlet flush of his face. His favorite character had quite literally commended his performance. To think he had the opportunity to interact with him! He was so grateful to have transmigrated to a time when he still lived!
Liu Qingge nodded at him, his own ears warm as he turned his head to the platform once more. Bai Qingli followed his gaze, a fond smile quickly overcoming him as he noticed the three people patiently waiting for his attention.
Feng Han, Yu Lei, and Tao Bao. Those three were the closest in age. They had almost immediately stuck together when they’d joined Shuo Dao Peak.
“And what do my disciples have planned for their performance?” Bai Qingli asked. His tone was far more teasing than it tended to be, and even his disciples were surprised if their expressions were any indication. But they were pleased, their eyes lighting up much more than they had been previously.
“These disciples have prepared a joint performance. We hope the esteemed Peak Lords will stay to listen!” Feng Han was the one who announced, a small grin on his face as he addressed the Peak Lords in the front row.
Yue Qingyuan smiled as he gestured for the disciples to continue. It didn’t seem they planned to go anytime soon. The sun had barely hidden itself away and there was enough light from the qi-infused orbs to see. There was no need for the night to end so soon.
Bai Qingli smiled as he watched his disciples begin. This was what he wanted. The intimacy that came from something so simple. His disciples were happy and he was on the path to mending bridges with his martial siblings. There was still a long road ahead of him and heavy conversation to be had, but he would enjoy the tranquility of this moment.