"That little!" Bursting out of the Patriarch's mansion, the Third Elder raged.
"Calm yourself, Xiao Canghai!" The Second Elder, Xiao Lie, frowned.
Soon, they all gathered outside the Patriarch's mansion, lined up and waited.
It was not long before the Patriarch came out with Xiao Yun behind him, looking defeated and gloomy.
"Xiao Clan!" Bolstered by powerful magical energy, the Patriarch's voice filled the Manor.
"Let it be known, that Xiao Yun is hereby banned from any and all activities and confined to his abode. Furthermore, no one is to speak to, interact with or even mention his name."
"Those caught doing so... shall be punished accordingly."
Every member of the Xiao Clan heard that address. Some of them were caught of guard, others had been awaiting it ever since the earlier events.
"That damn Xiao Yun is going to stress his poor grandfather out. The Patriarch's going to lose all his hair at this rate." Someone remarked.
"It'd be an upgrade, though, wouldn't it?" Someone else dryly joked.
"Have some respect!"
"Kick his ass!"
It went without saying that the person who made that remark was jumped by those around him.
Dismissing the elders, and glaring again at Xiao Yun, the Patriarch vanished back into his home.
The elders dispersed, leaving Xiao Yun alone.
At a lower point, walking out of a different exit, Long Ding, Long Dong and Sageflower glanced back at Xiao Yun, shaking their heads.
Sageflower seemed especially disappointed as she sighed and returned to her home.
Xiao Yun took a moment to collect himself, fighting the frustrations and the urge to vent them. Instead, he composed himself and did as he was told.
He went to his abode.
It was near to the Patriarch's mansion, closer to the southern wall. A decently sized house with two floors, once inhabited by Xiao Yun's family.
Entering, he gazed at various pairs of shoes, some male, some female, that were neatly lined up.
He took off his own shoes and went in, passing a painting that was covered by a cloth.
"I'm home..." He sighed, entering the kitchen. Nothing broke the silence, and Xiao Yun went to bed.
___________
"My dumplings-!"
Jin Huang woke up, frantic, gasping for air and sweating. When he collected himself, he noticed he was in what looked like a lab.
There were odd glass containers and small fires going, heating up liquids and metals.
Strangest of all was a kind of ever-present energy that filled entire space, like a white miasma or smoke from lit incense.
Han Jianyu laid next to him on an identical bed.
Reaching over, Jin Huang smacked him around a bit. "Jianyu? Jianyu! Jianyu! Jianyu!"
Everytime he called him, he slapped one of his cheeks.
"Jianyu-"
"He's not going to wake up anytime soon," a female voice came from across the room.
Gasping, Jin Huang turned and saw something stirring in a dark corner of the room.
Barely discernible, a female figure shifted in the dark, approaching the very edge where the shadows ended and the light began.
Jin Huang glimpsed her dress as she said, ""So you can stop slapping him. Let him rest. He needs it."
"Who are you?" Jin Huang sat up properly on the bed.
"Call me Sageflower. I'm a doctor." She stepped out, her black hair in a bun, blue eyes shining and bolstering her amiable expression.
"My nephew found you both, unconscious in the forest. You seem to have suffered energy deprivation. Mind telling me how that happened?" She took a seat on a nearby chair while also gesturing toward one of the flames.
Following a soft white glow, the flame shrunk until it was extinguished.
"To be very honest," Jin Huang stretched, "I have no idea. Where even are we?"
"Greenwind Province, in the Xiao Clan's manor. Seeing that you were found in the forest just east of the manor, I'm assuming you two came through the Wildlands."
Sageflower's eyes narrowed. "Were you... fleeing from something? Someone?"
Shaking his head, Jin Huang slid to the edge of the bed and let his feet reach the ground.
Sageflower observed his actions with a peculiar gaze.
"We were sent away. Some old fart back home thought we needed to see the world." He said with a wry smile.
"Ah? So you're from a clan, then? Some prestigious family? A sect?" She surmised.
"A sect," he randomly chose. "Very old and far away. The old guy used some kind of teleportation array or something."
"Array? Do you mean a magic circle?" She blinked.
"Yes, that," he nodded.
She folded her arms, "I understand. Elders of sects can be overbearing. Oh, what's the sect called, by the way?"
Gulping, Jin Huang scoffed and waved his hand, "You wouldn't know even if I told you."
She leaned forward, fingers interlaced in front of her. "Try me. I'm far more well-traveled and knowledgeable than you think."
Beads of sweat formed on Jin Huang's forehead, hidden by his long yellow hairs.
His moon-like eyes blinked cluelessly, as he slowly opened his mouth. "It's called the- !"
Just then, the curtain leading into Sageflowers place was thrown open.
Coming in with straight black hair that reached his lower back, a young adult man walked in. His sleeves were joined, white robes pristine, the image of a potion printed on his chest.
"Xiao Ming," Sageflower stood to greet the new arrival. Behind him, the First Elder, Xiao Lingxi, came in.
"Ah, so Yellow Hair is awake. Start with Grey Hair, then." The First Elder directed Xiao Ming, who said nothing and got to work.
Jin Huang curiously reached for his hair and looked at it.
Xiao Lingxi then came over to Jin Huang, who was secretly thanking his lucky stars for her arrival.
At least, he was until she opened her mouth.
"I am the First Elder of the Xiao Clan, and this is Xiao Ming, our genius apothecary."
Xiao Ming was currently using various methods to inspect Han Jianyu's state.
"He will look over your conditions before making a report to the Patriarch. Likewise, you will give an explanation to the Patriarch in the presence of the elders."
"Seeing that you seem to be fine, we'll waste no time." Xiao Lingxi nodded, her tone demanding.
"After Xiao Ming's inspection, we'll head straight on over and have you explain to the Patriarch how you ended up in the forest so close to the manor."
Jin Huang was speechless. He didn't think he had ever met such an authoritative granny in all his life.
"I-" Jin Huang opened his mouth.
"Say nothing. Only when we are in the presence of the Elders and the Patriarch will you be heard."
She frowned, "Xiao Ming."
The young man rose from his examination, a thoughtful expression on his face as he muttered softly.
"Yes. Miss Sageflower's assessment was, of course, right. Energy deprivation. Not a trace of magical energy in them. I can't, in good conscience, give him a potion."
"It might do more harm than good."
Xiao Lingxi nodded sharply, "Then check this one out and let's go."
The young man swiftly came to Jin Huang.
"Please," he said as he held his hand out, motioning for Jin Huang to give him his arm.
After that, he did a few more inspections before he made a curious sound.
"Whatever it is," the First Elder spoke without looking at him, "save it for the Patriarch."
"If that's all, then we'll be taking him." Xiao Lingxi addressed Sageflower for the first time, only to tell her that they were leaving with Jin Huang.
Jin Huang glanced at her once as he got up out the bed to follow them.
"Thanks," he said before leaving.
Sageflower watched them leave with a sigh, her blue eyes absently staring at something and nothing at the same time.
"Just who have you brought us this time, Xiao Yun."