Morning mist curled lazily around the jade pavilions of the Celestial Veil Sect, drifting over lotus ponds and stone bridges with the serenity of an untouched paradise. Veterans said the sect had remained quiet for years. Too quiet, in Yu Zhen's opinion.
He stood beside Ling Wei on one of the higher terraces, watching the disciples begin their morning routines. Ling Wei, disciplined as always, held a bamboo scroll in one hand and a cup of tea in the other — the picture of calm elegance.
Yu Zhen nudged him. "Something… is approaching."
Ling Wei didn't look up. "Your intuition again?"
"My intuition is never wrong."
Ling Wei raised an eyebrow. "The last time you said that, you made us check the entire forest for a 'demonic bird.' It turned out to be a squirrel."
"That squirrel looked suspicious."
Before Ling Wei could respond, a distant scream pierced the peaceful air.
At first, it was faint.
Then it grew louder.
And louder.
"RONG, I'M GOING TO — STOP RUNNING —"
"YOU CAN'T CATCH ME IF YOU CAN'T SEE ME!"
Yu Zhen sighed. "Ah. Misfortune has arrived."
What burst through the gates was not misfortune — it was a disaster with legs.
Two boys sprinted toward the courtyard as if chased by heavenly lightning. One, with wild black hair and fire in his eyes, clutched a smoking talisman like a weapon. The other, running in zigzags, held what appeared to be… a glowing frog.
They didn't stop. They didn't slow. They didn't even notice Ling Wei and Yu Zhen standing in the middle of the path.
"Shen Yu, stop!"
"I'm TRYING!"
They tried to turn.
They failed spectacularly.
Both crashed straight into Ling Wei and Yu Zhen.
Ling Wei's scroll went flying.
Yu Zhen's tea spilled.
The frog croaked angrily.
For a heartbeat, nobody spoke.
Ling Wei rubbed his temple. "…Get off."
Shen Yu scrambled upright. "I—I'm sorry—Senior—I mean—sir—uh—"
He looked up.
Ling Wei looked down.
And for a split second, both froze.
Shen Yu blinked at him, eyes wide with the kind of dazed admiration one had when discovering that the person they tackled was unbearably beautiful.
Ling Wei's heartbeat stuttered — quietly, dangerously.
He stood up straighter.
Yu Zhen was not as patient.
He flicked Xiao Rong's forehead. "Explain."
Xiao Rong grinned sheepishly. "Senior brother Shen Yu thought he could scare me. So I borrowed a frog. A magical one. It may or may not have exploded."
"It did explode!" Shen Yu snapped.
Then he pointed at Xiao Rong. "And YOU put it under my pillow!"
Xiao Rong opened his mouth to argue — then froze as he finally registered who he crashed into. His eyes widened.
"…Pretty," he whispered.
Yu Zhen's jaw tightened. "What?"
"I mean—pretty serious! I mean—you look serious—"
Ling Wei coughed. "Names."
Shen Yu straightened instantly, trying to look dignified despite the soot on his face. "Shen Yu! Disciple of Azure Sky Sect!"
Xiao Rong bowed, frog still in hand. "Xiao Rong! Also from Azure Sky Sect! Please don't kill us."
Yu Zhen's eyes narrowed. "Azure Sky… you two are the ones sent for the temporary exchange training?"
Shen Yu nodded vigorously. "Yes! We promise we're usually better behaved!"
"Lies," Xiao Rong muttered.
Ling Wei pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling through his teeth. "Come."
He walked forward.
The boys shared a look.
"Are we in trouble?" Xiao Rong whispered.
"Oh definitely," Shen Yu whispered back.
Ling Wei and Yu Zhen led them to a quieter courtyard, shaded by ancient peach trees. The two boys followed like condemned convicts walking to their fate.
"You will undergo an initial evaluation," Ling Wei said.
Shen Yu whispered, "Do you think they'll make us fight a monster?"
Xiao Rong whispered back, "I hope it's the frog. I've trained for this moment."
Yu Zhen shot them a look. "If you two keep whispering, the test will include running laps around the entire mountain."
Silence.
"Good," Yu Zhen said. "Now—Ling Wei?"
Ling Wei gestured toward a large stone platform.
"This test will evaluate your—"
Before he finished, Shen Yu burst out, "Strength? Reaction speed? Swordsmanship?"
Ling Wei paused. "…Patience."
"What?" Shen Yu blinked.
Yu Zhen smirked. "This test will determine whether you can follow simple instructions without causing property damage."
"That's impossible," one elder passing by muttered.
Xiao Rong raised a hand. "Uh, what's the test?"
Ling Wei brought out two items.
A broom.
And a bucket of lotus petals.
Shen Yu stared. "…Are we… cleaning?"
"Not just cleaning," Ling Wei said calmly. "You must sweep petals into neat piles without using spiritual energy. Without causing chaos."
Yu Zhen added, "And without fighting each other."
Xiao Rong's face fell. "Oh, so the real test is torture."
The two boys started sweeping.
For three minutes, everything seemed peaceful.
Then—
The frog croaked.
Xiao Rong jumped.
Shen Yu tripped.
The broom flew.
The bucket overturned.
Petals went everywhere — swirling like snow, raining like a celestial disaster.
Ling Wei closed his eyes. "I felt this coming."
Yu Zhen sighed. "At least the frog didn't explode this time."
Xiao Rong held up the frog defensively. "He has anxiety!"
Shen Yu pointed at him. "YOU have anxiety!"
The petals kept falling.
The chaos kept rising.
And for the first time in a long while, the Celestial Veil Sect felt… loud. Messy. Alive.
Ling Wei watched them — Shen Yu chasing stray petals, tripping over his own feet, cheeks flushed with frustration — and something warm unfurled slowly in his chest.
Yu Zhen watched Xiao Rong struggling to shoo the frog off the broom while mumbling curses under his breath — and a reluctant smile tugged at his lips.
When they finally managed a somewhat acceptable pile of petals, both collapsed dramatically on the ground.
Shen Yu flopped onto his back. "Senior Ling Wei… that was cruel."
Ling Wei looked down at him. "…Stand up."
Shen Yu groaned. "Can't. Dead."
"Stand."
"I'm already ascending."
Ling Wei offered him a hand — out of practicality, of course.
Not because seeing Shen Yu sprawled like that made his heartbeat stutter again.
Shen Yu grabbed his hand, let himself be pulled up, and wobbled right into Ling Wei's chest.
Ling Wei stiffened.
Shen Yu froze.
Yu Zhen exhaled sharply through his nose.
Xiao Rong whispered, "Oh, we're starting romance arcs this early?"
Shen Yu shoved him. "Shut up!"
Ling Wei stepped back calmly, but his ears were faintly red.
Yu Zhen had not missed that.
By the end of the day, the Celestial Veil Sect elders had declared one thing:
"These boys will drive us insane."
But as Shen Yu and Xiao Rong chased each other across the courtyard, bickering over who caused the mess, Ling Wei and Yu Zhen exchanged a look — equal parts dread… and reluctant fascination.
Ling Wei murmured, "Our peaceful days are over."
Yu Zhen snorted. "Peace is overrated."