The Xia Clan occupies the north of Xia City. Back in the early days, the mountains and forests of the north were incredibly intimidating. The dense vegetation housed many wild animals and lost souls. The locals whispered of bodies being thrown into the forest, people going in and never coming out, and apparitions being seen near the edge of the forest.
Whether those rumors were true or not, nobody knew, but one thing was for sure. The forest was dangerous.
So when the Xia Clan decided to claim the northern side of the city, nobody stopped them. In fact, everyone rejoiced. Only cultivators would be able to deal with whatever was in the forest, and they would help protect the civilians from the dangers of it. It was a win-win situation for everyone.
The uneven terrain made it a good spot for training in combat and survival. The Xia Clan Head ordered men to clear out a small section of land near the edge of the forest to construct the clan's residence and had his disciples venture deeper into the forest.
Their goal was simple.
Map out the entire area, develop a training ground for their disciples, and gather any materials for the clan's use.
It was an investment that paid off over the years, allowing the Xia Clan to flourish as one of the strongest martial clans under one of the Big Four Clans, the Wu Clan.
The Wu Clan had taken an interest in the back mountains years ago and often used the area for joint training with the Xia Clan. This training session was no different. With the Wu heir attending under the name of his clan, the heirs of the other Big Four Clans had also decided to join. The clans had always maintained friendly relations, and opportunities for all of them to gather were rare.
RenJie stared in apprehension at the huge gates of the Xia Clan. The gates were taller and sturdier than those of the Yao Mansion. He gripped the small bag slung over his shoulder and bit his lip nervously as he watched Yao Zixian hand the invitations over to the disciples guarding the gate.
Having gone on training missions with the Xia disciples multiple times, Yao Zixian was no stranger to the workings of the Xia Clan. Yao Zixian quickly brought his cousins and RenJie through the gates and to the dormitory, instructing them to put on the Xia Clan's uniform for training.
Every clan had its own identifying colour, but it was a rule that cultivators undergoing training under another clan had to wear the hosting clan's uniform. The Xia Clan's colour was green. The darker the green, the higher the seniority.
RenJie and the siblings were handed the lightest green uniforms while Yao Zixian was given a uniform in a darker shade. They quickly changed and gathered at the main hall, waiting for instructions.
There were disciples from other clans waiting in the main hall. Some were vassal clans such as the Yao Clan, but there were also some from the Big Four Clans, and they drew the most attention.
The Big Four Clans would send their disciples and sometimes even their heirs to other clans to learn and exchange knowledge. It was also a chance for the younger generation to build connections, which was why disciples from various smaller clans would flock to curry favour with members of the bigger clans.
RenJie was pushed to the edge of the hall as the disciples crowded around the heirs. Yao Zixian was separated from RenJie and the Yao siblings when Wu Ling, the heir to the Wu Clan, slung a casual arm over his shoulder.
"Zixian, it's been a while since this big brother last saw you. What have you been up to?"
Before Yao Zixian could answer, another voice cut in.
"Brother Wu, please stop bothering Zixian. It is obvious that he is uncomfortable."
Su Qing, the heir of the Su Clan, tapped Wu Ling's arm around Zixian's shoulder with a disapproving look.
"Uncomfortable?" Wu Ling swung his head around to look at Zixian before asking, "Are you uncomfortable?"
At this, Yao Zixian couldn't help but roll his eyes at Wu Ling's question.
"If I were really uncomfortable, you'd be on the floor right now."
Wu Ling gave a dramatic gasp. "How could you say that to me? I thought we were close friends!"
Hearing that, the twins of the Mo Clan couldn't help but chime in.
Nan Ling scoffed. "Who's your close friend? You act as if everyone is your close friend."
Nan Liu added, "Just because Zixian-ge is a nice person, you take advantage of him every single time. Keep this up, and he'll start avoiding you."
Wu Ling stumbled back in shock at everyone's words before putting on a hurt expression. He turned towards Xue Jingxuan.
"Jingxuan-ge, look at how everyone is treating me. Are you just going to stand by and say nothing?"
Xue Jingxuan, the heir to the Xue Clan, gave a gentle smile as he soothed Wu Ling.
"They are just teasing you, Brother Wu Ling. It is precisely because we are close that such jokes can be made without fearing that you would take offence."
To everyone's disbelief, Wu Ling actually started tearing up at Xue Jingxuan's words. He rushed over and hugged Xue Jingxuan tightly, babbling about how Jingxuan was the only person who treated him right.
Xue Jingxuan looked over at him with a helpless smile.
For some reason, Yao Zixian paused.
There was something strangely familiar about Xue Jingxuan's eyes.
He had met the Xue heir several times before, yet he had never paid much attention to it. Perhaps it was the shape of his eyes, or the way they narrowed slightly when he smiled. He felt as if he had seen those eyes somewhere before but couldn't quite put his finger on it.
Yao Zixian blinked.
"Zixian, you still haven't answered me!"
Wu Ling's voice broke his train of thought as an arm landed heavily around his shoulders once again.
"Nothing much. And get off me."
From the edge of the hall, RenJie watched the exchange silently.
He had known that Yao Zixian was well-liked. Back at the Yao residence, servants greeted him warmly, the teahouse workers were familiar with him, and even Grandmother Yao treated him differently from the others.
But this was different. These were the heirs of the Big Four Clans, the ones who would lead the cultivation world in the future, and they were familiar with him.
Very familiar.
RenJie pursed his lips as an uncomfortable feeling grew in his chest. Yao Zixian was shining so brightly. If it was known that he was associated with someone from the streets, an orphan with no family or status, surely it would stain his reputation. RenJie's feet shuffled back subconsciously as he tried to blend into the background, only for a slender hand to reach out and grab him.
He looked up and met Yao XinYue's clear eyes.
"Intimidating, right? I felt the same way when I first met the heirs from the Big Four Clans. But Ling-gege just fits right in with them," Yao XinYue said softly, her gaze returning to Yao Zixian.
"Have they known each other for long?" RenJie found himself asking.
"Quite. They have been on some missions together," Yao XinYue answered with a small smile.
Back when Yao Zixian first started training, his talent quickly became obvious, and not everyone in the Yao Clan was happy about it. A child of the disgraced daughter who had been thrown out of her husband's house with divorce papers was actually outshining the heir of the Yao Clan.
Everyone knew it wasn't an accident when Yao Zixian ended up separated from the senior disciples during one of the missions and encountered a vengeful spirit. If not for his raw talent and the timely arrival of Xue Jingxuan, who was nearby on his own clan's mission, Yao Zixian might not have made it through that night.