#fhsjfgd wanning no

[tiianwens]

𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆: @cuckoo-among-beasts // NIE HUAISANG

Since his year at Cloud Recesses had been cut short and his cultivation not improved by the slightest, Mingjue decided to ask for permission for Huaisang to study elsewhere. The answer had been yes. He's aware that his dage had told about his lack of golden core, struggle to cultivate, laziness and that there had been... social challenges at Gusu. Unfortunately this does nothing to ease his anxieties and Huaisang wishes he could run and hide. He's small for a fourteen year old boy, he can hide where others can't, but unfortunately that is not an option as the very intimidating man, his teacher, looks at him. Huaisang almost whimpers. "Thank you for showing this lowly one to attend your sect's teachings," he somehow manages to say as he clasps his hands and bows deeply.

IT IS UNCOMMON for guest disciples to tread so dangerously close to the border between life and death, it is even less common for anyone to dare approach the Yùhéng Elder on their own volition — perhaps, there's more bravery to this boy than he would care to admit. There's nothing about Chu Wanning that could instil anything other than fear into the hearts of others. There's nothing about his temper to be deemed agreeable, at the very least, and from the way his brow furrows, one could easily abandon every pursuit that doesn't involve running away as fast as they can. He is more than well aware of it.

Yet still he stands, unperturbed, the whites of his robes almost blinding as he humphs — neither of them has chosen the other, then what's the point of it all?

❝ I was made aware of your lack of golden core, ❞ he speaks at last, phoenix eyes darting from the boy's small frame to his scattered gaze. The pleasantries are easily brushed aside, for he never learned to, nor cared to make himself more likeable — lest yet another fearless soul grabs his hands and wrecks the shallow tranquility of mind. ❝ It seems that Nie-zōngzhǔ intended for you to master offensive cultivation under my guidance. Among my disciples, there's no place for laziness and I won't stand for lying, so there's only one question I'm going to ask you. Are you here because your brother decided for you, or are you here to learn something? ❞