Reunited

f o u r

The tensions between the Wen Sect and the other Sect's disciples were still running high following the end of the class and the welcoming ceremony, and while other's filtered out of the Orchid Room to be seen to their rooms, Xiaoying stayed behind with her head still bowed.

"Xiaoying-" Wen Ning began, but quickly caught himself with a small cough as he remembered he wasn't supposed to say her name around others. "Commander Xiaoyi," the name and title sounded odd and unfamiliar coming from off his tongue, "aren't you coming with us to see our room?" He offered, unsure about leaving her here alone.

Xiaoying smiled, "I will join you shortly, Wen Ning. Just allow me to have a few words with Clan Leader Lan and I will be on my way." She reassured, bowing in his direction before resuming her position. Only after she heard their footsteps disappearing, she moved to address the two dignified Clan Leaders in front of her. However, one seemed to speak before she managed to.

"Young Lady Wen, is there something troubling you? Why do you stay behind, rather than follow your clan to your sleeping quarters?" The younger Clan Leader Lan Xichen spoke, causing her to lift her head for a moment to look at him before her eyes cast back down and her hands came in front of her clasped together in a respectful bow. "Clan Leader, I wanted to take the time to apologize on behalf of my sect." Xiaoying explained, "we behaved irrationally and impolitely. We imposed on your lessons, we were disrespectful and brash, I cannot convey how deeply I am sorry-"

"Young Lady Wen, please," Lan Xichen stopped her, stepping forward to gently take her by her raised forearms and he aided to her to put them down. Xiaoying's arms dropped, her head gently lifting to look at him. "I understand you have only been with the Wen Sect for about three years, is that correct?" He mused, and Xiaoying was rather confused as to how he knew -- most people hardly knew about her in her own sect much less those in others.

"You are kind, and courteous to speak with us privately on these matters, though it would be dishonest of me to say that I did not expect this from your sect. Please do not take offense, I mean none by that. The Wen Sect is a great ally." He told her, beginning to walk around the room, "and they chose a very powerful cultivator to be their Battalion Commander."

Under his altruistic words, Xiaoying's eyes widened and she began to shake her head. "Clan Leader, you are much too kind! I'm just a-" Xiaoying tried to diffuse, but she was interrupted by Lan Xichen once again. "A formidable cultivator with perfectly timed defensive instincts and a very unique sword fighting style that could not be found by more than few."

Xiaoying stayed quiet. She knew what the underlying meaning was behind his words, because although yes she was a great ally, she was also a great threat. "While that may be true, Clan Leader, please allow me to at the very least copy the rules of The Cloud Recesses as retribution for my Clan's behavior."

As the two of them talked, Lan Qiren observed the young girl. She seemed so frail at first glance, though he had heard the tales of how a girl who seemingly appeared out of nowhere in the middle of the woods near the Qishan Wen Sect had built up enough Spiritual Energy in the span of three years to be, admittedly, one of the most powerful cultivators in the entire sect, not counting Wen Ruohan himself.

Lan Xichen was correct, she had a unique fighting style, one that no one could seem to place where it was from, and Lan Qiren was curious to see if he too would find himself at a loss for knowing the origin of it where she learned it. He noticed something was off about her the moment she walked in. She had the hard exterior of someone in the Wen Sect, however, her aura was something different. Nothing of malice or ill intent, and she was the only disciple without a red or black sword -- instead sheathing a white sword with pearl, moonstone and white jade embedded in the hilt.