Yu Lin entered the courtyard before anyone else as she waited for Zhi Shu. The previous day Yu Lin had already picked out all the herbs that she wanted with her. There was a lot of herbs in the herb hall, however, she only picked the cheap ones and a few semi-expensive ones.
“M-master?” she turned around to see Nie Fu standing behind her with a pale complexion.
“Are you alright? Your complexion doesn’t look so well.”
“I’m fine… just… Master, do you know a good remedy for constipation? I tried a few and they aren’t really working out well for me…” Nie Fu let out a nervous laugh.
“Why are you asking me?”
“It’s… I feel embarrassed asking the others,” he rubbed the back of his head. Yu Lin let out a small sigh before a paper and brush appeared in her hands. “M-master!”
“There’s no point in hiding it anymore since people already know that I have an endless bracelet. Here, try this. It will ease the pain for now and tomorrow when you wake up you will be able to use the bathroom freely,” Yu Lin handed him the piece of paper.
“Thank you, Master,” Nie Fu gave her a bow and took the paper.
“Tell Teacher Li that you aren’t feeling well today and that you will go tomorrow.”
“That…” Nie Fu looked at the ground, his pupils shaking.
“What’s wrong?”
“I… I have skipped too many projects. I’m scared if I also skip this one then Teacher Li will not show me his grace anymore but his wrath.”
“You,” Yu Lin let out another sigh as before another herb appeared in her hand, “take this and boil it with the remedy. It will help you out, understand?” she handed the herb to Nie Fu.
“B-but… what is it?”
“It’s a Higi leaf.”
“Higi?!” Nie Fu jaw dropped. “M-master, I shouldn’t take this. It’s too prec-”
“Shut up and go make your remedy already. I don’t want to lose my servant to mere constipation, alright?”
“...yes. I will be right back,” Nie Fu gave her a bow before stumbling away. Yu Lin just looked at him and shook her head.
“Yu Lin!” Yu Lin turned around to see Yang Yang running towards her. Yu Lin gave her a small bow.
“Good morning, miss Ni,”
“Ayyy! Just Yang Yang is alright, besides if you both I and Qian Su miss Ni, how are we going to tell each one apart?” Yang Yang said as she smiled at Yu Lin.
“Then… young miss Ni. I will call you young miss Ni.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Because you are more prettier and have a more youthful complexion than miss Ni,” Yu Lin said nonchalantly. Yang Yang blushed before smiling.
“Really?” she asked.
“He’s lying to you, you fat pig!” Qian Su’s piercing voice screamed out as she stomped towards them with Yamanaru behind her.
“Unlike certain people here, I do not lie,” Yu Lin said.
“You lowlife! Shut your trap! Don’t go giving her false hopes like that! Even if she is an illegitimate child, she is still my younger sister. I will not let you go around spreading lies to make her think she will ever be better than me.” Qian Su sneered. Yang Yang face flushed red before she looked away.
“I don’t have to spread lies to know that she is already better than you,” Yu Lin said.
“What kind of nonsense are you spouting out now?! I am obviously better than her! Unless you are blind, you have no right to say she is better than me! I am prettier than her, and my skills as a healer are always improving so I will surpass her one of these days, and when I do, then she will really have nothing to say she is better than me at,” Qian Su said as she held her wrist up where she had her scarf tied onto it. A golden number four gleamed at her as Qian Su smiled proudly before the number disappeared. “I bet, I will rank even higher than you!”
“You may be ranked higher, and to others you may have a better appearance, but to me, you will always be inferior with an attitude like that.”
“Y-you!”
“Enough!” Chen Hua yelled as he entered the courtyard with Saruto and Leng Zhuang behind him.
“Chen Hua!”
“Qian Su! Why are you so mean to the new student?”
“Y-you, how could you act like this too Chen Hua! In your country, people like her are just slaves!” Qian Su cried out. Yu Lin froze for a second before looking at Chen Hua. His gentle dark blue eyes grew with fury as he glared at her. Qian Su covered her mouth realizing her mistake, but it was too late.
“Just because people like her are slaves in my country, does not mean my country is right!” he yelled out as veins appeared on his forehead. Qian Su ran and grabbed Chen Hua’s arm.
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I was wrong! Please don’t be angry with me Chen Hua!” she pleaded. Yu Lin watched as Chen Hua shook off Qian Su’s arm before walking over to her.
“Yu Lin,” the fury disappeared from his eyes as he gave her a gentle smile, “let’s get along,” he said as he held out his hand.
“Un,” Yu Lin nodded as she shook his hand. She looked behind him to see Leng Zhuang looking at her but when they made eye contact he looked away.
“Chen Hua!” Qian Su cried out but Chen Hua just ignored her as he let go of Yu Lin’s hand.
“Leave him be, Qian Su. You know how Chen Hua is,” Yamanaru said as he helped pick Yu Lin off the ground. Yu Lin looked and saw Qian Su giving her a death glare but she didn’t care as she just looked away.
“I’m back! Teacher Li is not here right? I am not late, right?” Nie Fu said as he ran to the courtyard. Nobody answered him as the tension in the air was cold. “W-what’s wrong?” he asked.
“What are you doing standing in the doorway like this?!” Zhi Shu said behind Nie Fu. Nie Fu jumped forwards, before he and the rest of the students bowed.
“We welcome and honor Teacher Li,” they all said.
“Please rise.”
“Thank you Teacher Li,” they all rose. Zhi Shu smiled at them as he held a white scarf in his hand. He walked up to Yu Lin.
“Congratulations for working hard to be able to join us in the White section, Du Yu Lin. This is for you,” he handed the scarf to Yu Lin. Yu Lin received it with both hands.
“Thank you, Teacher Li,” she said. She looked at the scarf and the scarf suddenly illuminated. Not only hers, but also the rest of the student’s scarf illuminated. A golden number four appeared on her scarf. She looked around to see that Chen Huan was ranked first, then Leng Zhuang, and then Yang Yang. She didn’t care for the others who ranked beneath her but she glanced to see Nie Fu ranked eighth and she sighed internally. Zhi Shu let out a small chuckle as he stroked his beard.
“Already ranked fourth of the class when you just joined? I’m impressed. It’s the first time that this has happened since I began to work here ten years ago. Usually when people join they are ranked last or second to last,” Zhi Shu let out another small chuckle.
“Not possible!” Qian Su yelled out.
“What’s wrong? Do you have any objections Qian Su?” Zhi Shu looked at her.
“I-I… no. Sorry,” she bowed her head.
“Good. Then let us start to head out. You all have what you need correct?”
“Yes,” they answered as they all showed Zhi Shu their bundle, all except Yu Lin. Zhi Shu knitted his eyebrows as he looked at Yu Lin. Yu Lin just raised her wrist up and then he nodded his head.
“Then, let us go,” he said as he led the way towards the circular platform.
The group stood at the front gates and Yu Lin peered around to see students going on their way.
“What are we waiting for?” she asked Nie Fu who stood besides her.
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“We are waiting for people from other classes,” Nie Fu answered her.
“Why?”
“The elves from Magic studies usually help fly us over there so that we get there faster. There are also people from Martial Arts studies who come by sometimes to offer some protection, or they also have their own missions to do.”
“Hmm… ok, thank you,”
“No problems master,” Nie Fu gave her a smile and she just gave him a nod. Yu Lin crossed her arms, bored when she noticed that one of the walls had a mural painted onto it. She straightened her neck and took a closer look to see that the wall had the map of the world painted onto it.
Map of world [https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/407294648890032140/407294819040362502/20160729_195029.jpg]
Her eyes laid themselves on the Sky continent as she continued to stare into its distance, as if her mind was there itself.
“They’re here,” Nie Fu nudged her and she broke out of her trance as she turned her head. She saw five wind elves walking towards her. Their white hair and grey eyes seemed to mesmerize others as students turned their heads to look at them. Their white skin reflected the sun and their white clothings complimented the rest of them.
“Hello, Sheisa,” Yu Lin heard Zhi Shu said and she turned to see him giving a small headbow towards the elves’ direction.
“Hello, Zhi Shu,” the shortest female elf replied.
“My students and I are all ready to go,” Zhi Shu said with a smile.
“You and your students may be ready to go, however, my students and I aren’t ready to go yet,” Sheisa replied.
“Huh? Why?”
“Why? Well because you guys have a passenger that we don’t want to take with us!” Sheisa looked straight at Yu Lin when she said this.
“Sheisa! You are a teacher! Are you going to teach your students discrimination?”
“Have you forgot your roots Zhi Shu? Have you forgotten how that dark lord cause so many problems in your hometown? That wasn’t the only place where he caused destruction. I won’t allow myself to ever give a helping hand to one of his kind. Either he finds his own way there, or you all can walk to your destination.”
“Sheisa!”
“I won’t change my mind, and you can’t make me, Zhi Shu,” Sheisa’s eyes burned with fury as she glared at Yu Lin, “just be glad that I won’t end her life myself,” she hissed. Zhi Shu furrowed his eyebrows as he stroke his long beard.
“Fine. Then my students and I will just have to wa-”
“Teacher Li,” Yu Lin suddenly said, “if they don’t want to help me, then that is fine. Please don’t put everyone through trouble just because of me. I will be able to get there myself, I will just need a map.”
“Yu Lin!”
“I don’t want to trouble my other classmates any longer. Please, Teacher Li,” Yu Lin bowed to Zhi Shu. She heard him let out a sigh.
“Alright. Rise.”
“Thank you, Teacher Li,” Yu Lin stood up. She walked up to him and he handed her a scroll. She opened it up to see a map of the surrounding areas.
“We will be going to Henau village. If you want to be able to catch up with us then you should leave now.”
“Yes, Teacher Li. I will see you guys there then,” Yu Lin gave him another bow before turning to Sheisa, “please bring my classmates safely to the village,” she gave her a bow before standing back up and leaving the gates of the academy.
-
He Lan was in deep in his thoughts that early morning as he had a dream about someone who had helped saved his life before. He stood in the courtyard waiting for other students. He kept wondering about the figure that he had seen the other day and was wondering if the person who he thought it was, was the figure.
“He Lan!”
He wondered how she was doing. He remembered regretting not being able to tell her his goodbye wishes.
“He Lan!”
If he could see her one more time, he would apologize for his actions that day. He wouldn’t ha-
“He Lan!” He Lan felt a tug on his arm and he looked down to see Mei Rong looking back up at him with her big puppy eyes as she pouted.
“What do you want?” he asked her which made her face scrunch up even more as she pushed him away.
“I’ve been calling your name for a while here! Why don’t you answer me?” she crossed her arms, her new orange scarf was tied around her upper arm.
“Ah, sorry! I was just thinking about our mission so… I was lost in thoughts,” He Lan apologized as he gave her an apologetic smile. He watched Mei Rong gave him a small look before smiling and wrapping her slender arms around his muscular one.
“Alright! I forgive you, but in exchange you have to train with me tomorrow!” Mei Rong smiled up at him.
“Okay! Okay!” He Lan said as he gave her a pet on the head.
“Ho ho! Look at our love birds over here!” He Lan turned around to see Jin Long and two other seniors walking towards them with a smirk on his face. He pulled his arm away from Mei Rong and bowed to Jin Long.
“Greetings seniors!” he quickly said.
“Ho ho! Don’t mind me, He Lan! Continue with what you two were doing! Hehe!” Jin Long said as he gave He Lan a nudge.
“O-ou-our relationship isn’t like that at all!” He Lan’s face flushed red.
“Ohhh! Look at how he’s denying all of this, Li Ying! He’s acting just like me when you started coming on to me,” He Lan watched as Jin Long swung his arm gently over one of the other senior girl. The girl flushed red before she gave Jin Long a side eye and elbowed him. Her face was more on the cuter side and her body was lean and fit.
“You were the one who was coming on to me! What do you mean I was coming on to you?!” Li Ying said as she gave Jin Long a light punch.
“You were the one who came onto me first!”
“Did not!”
“Did too!” Li Ying gave Jin Long another punch and he caught it before twirling her arms over each other and giving her a back hug.
“Alright, alright! It doesn’t matter who came onto each other first, the only thing that matters is that we got together in the end. Just like how you and Mei Rong will end up sooner or later, He Lan! Hehehe!” He Lan looked at Jin Long to see Jin Long giving him a wink. He looked away and shook his head.
“That’s not it. We are only childhood friends,” He Lan quickly said.
“Li Ying and I were also just childhood friends.”
“But it can’t happen.”
“Huh? Why? Do you have another in your heart?” Jin Long asked. He Lan bit his lip as he looked away.
“That’s ri-”
“We better get going now!” Mei Rong suddenly yelled out. “It’s almost time to meet at the gates, so we should get going now!” she smiled before grabbing onto He Lan’s arm. “Let’s go!” she said and started to pull him towards the platform. He Lan didn’t say anything as he just followed along with the seniors behind him.
-
They reached the gates and saw that the healers and elves were already getting in formation to head off. He Lan frowned as he counted only seven healers, whom he had met already.
“Leng Zhuang!” Mei Rong called out and Leng Zhuang turned his head. He saw them and gave them a big smile and waved. “Let’s hurry!” Mei Rong said as she pulled He Lan along with her.
“You guys are finally here!” Leng Zhuang exclaimed.
“Un! I’m so excited! This will be the first time I go out on a project with you and He Lan!” Mei Rong jumped up and down.
“But,” He Lan looked around again and looked back Leng Zhuang, “Leng Zhuang, why are there only seven of you guys? I thought that you guys had a new recruit?” he asked. He saw Leng Zhuang’s eyes widened before Leng Zhuang looked away.
“It’s… he left first. We will meet him there,” Leng Zhuang quickly said.
“Why?”
“Because he’s a low life creature!” Qian Su called out from behind Leng Zhuang. He Lan frowned.
“A low life creature? What do yo-”
“Alright! Stop asking questions. This is a matter dealing with my section. I don’t pry in yours, so don’t pry in mine,” Leng Zhaung said, “and shut your mouth Qian Su. You already made Chen Hua angry, are you going to make me angry too?”
“Y-you! Hmph!” Qian Su turned her head away from them. He Lan’s eyes widened.
“Chen Hua got angry?” he exclaimed. Throughout his time at Jongan, he had never heard or seen Chen Hua get angry before. He looked up to see Chen Hua talking with Jin Long. Those two have always got along.
“He Lan!” Leng Zhuang gave him a frustrated look and He Lan nodded.
“Alright. I won’t pry anymore,” He Lan said as he started to get in formation too. He stood where he needed to and without even realizing it, his fingers themselves reached up to touch his blue headband.
-
Yu Lin started leaping her way towards Henua. She knew that even if she had a headstart that they would get there before her. If she had walked it would have taken her four hours, but by leaping she had cut it down to one. Still they would get there in fifteen minutes since wind elves are known for their great speed. She only clenched her teeth and hoped to get there in 45 minutes instead of an hour.
-
Yu Lin reached the area and she took in deep breaths to help with her panting. She quickly wiped away her beads of sweat as she walked towards the gate of the village to see Nie Fu standing there, waiting for her.
“Ah! Master!” he waved out to her.
“Why are you still here?” she asked him.
“Ah! I asked Teacher Li if I could stay here to inform you of the situation.”
“And why would you do that? You will losing on your practice!” Yu Lin scolded him.
“Ah! It’s nothing, master! Let us go in!” Nie Fu gave her a smile and she let out a sigh before nodding her head.
The two walked around the village as Yu Lin looked around. There were stalls here and there with lots of people walking around. They saw her, and when they did they looked away and started to walk away.
“What happened to other students?” Yu Lin asked.
“The healer class scattered as they each have their own um… patients to attend to. The elves went to practice magic near a river, and the martial artists went to the outskirts of the village to make sure no beasts will come through.”
“I see… thank you,”
“It’s nothing! It’s nothing!” Nie Fu said as he laughed. The two walked for little bit longer before Nie Fu stopped. Yu Lin turned around. She saw that this was at the end of the busy street.
“What’s wrong?”
“I will stay here. These are the patients that I will tend to. I suggest also help the people in this area too. If you keep walking further then you will go to patients that are… well… not great,” Nie Fu said. Yu Lin frowned at him.
“Why?”
“If you keep going, then you will the um… less fortunate people. They are hard to deal with and don’t have money to repay us so we will lost points because we couldn’t compensate on our costs!”
“You fool!” Yu Lin raised her voice and Nie Fu’s backed up a bit. “As a healer, you must not discriminate against anyone patient. We are here to help people, if we don’t help them, then who will? Do you understand?”
“I’m sorry! I understand!” Nie Fu quickly answered. Yu Lin took a deep breath in before letting it out.
“I’m sorry for yelling at you. If you want to stay here, then go ahead and stay here. I will continue to go by myself,” Yu Lin gave him a small headbow before turning on her heels. She continued to walk deeper into the town.
Yu Lin looked around to see that the buildings were more rundown on this side of the town. She looked to see people cowering at the sight of her and others straight up glaring at her. She didn't mind. She had witnessed this scene a lot while traveling with Wang Pei. She walked to an open area and a table appeared before her from out of her endless bracelet. She set down on the table and set some herbs on a small mat before her. ‘Let’s get started, Du Yu Lin,’ she told herself and took in a big breath.
“I am a physician from Jongan academy! If you need help, please come to me!”