The room chosen by Jiao Long overlooked a small garden, while Xu Wu's room offered a direct view of the great chain of snow-capped mountains, whose peaks were indistinguishable from those miles away, close to the kingdom's capital. Where they were bound to go one day. It was in this wealthy, bustling capital that the royal family lived, the one who summoned the various clans when strange or overly important events took place. This was why Jiao Long had mentioned the emperor when the three of them had been in the other court just a few minutes ago. Xu Wu stared at the mountains for a few moments; they were to the east. It was a magnificent landscape.

Cling 

With a small noise, an object dropped to the floor put her mind back in place. The rooms were made from solid wood frames and silk walls that served as curtains, the light was soft and despite their rather average size the space was divided so that one could do different activities ranging from reading to relaxing. Household servants had already put their things in their rooms, beds were ready, there were drinks and books for education laid out on a small table in the middle of the room as well as some clothes laid out on the bed. Xu Wu looked at the metallic blue object on the floor before tucking it away in his sleeve, it was a small ring with a stone the same color as his eyes that he'd had for a long time, in his memories it was as if he'd been born with it, he must never lose it because it was supposedly something of great value. That's what he'd been told, never to lose it was the only thing of value he had, along with his sword. This sword had been carefully placed in its scabbard on top of the pile of clothes and, for no good reason, apart from training or authorization, had been left as it was. Duels were forbidden here.

I should also go and meet the third person... he mused as he quickly re-combed his hair, tying it to one side before retracing his steps to find Jiao Long, visible at the end of the long corridor. The latter, having finally managed to tie his hair into a perfect ponytail, turned quickly, feeling himself being watched, before "Tss!" and continuing his walk, disappearing around a corner. At that moment Xu Wu realized just how endless the little corridor he was in suddenly seemed, feeling a cold sweat run down the back of his neck and then a shiver, he clenched his jaw and blinked slowly. The sensation had been very brief, but it had been enough to make him realize one thing: he didn't like being alone here. It was better to go to a place with people, even if it was only a tiny group of people. Anything but being alone. Arriving back in the great hall, he passed a few people, mostly masters, whom he greeted solemnly, so respectfully and sincerely that it surprised many! Xu Wu had been taken in and educated by a great master, so he had been taught to always respect his elders, never raise his voice, never turn his gaze away from a discussion, wait for the elder to start his meal before doing the same, wait for him to finish the conversation before leaving, speak softly, don't make too much noise and hide the broken skin on his arms with the long sleeves of his robes. The first points were things Jiao Long... didn’t really know.

"I've never seen you here before, are you new?" remarked a man as he approached, wearing a noble silk garment and lots of very extravagant pearl jewelry. He was older than Xu Wu, in his thirties but easily twenty-five, and yet he was already a master at this school. Compared to their old master, he had no beard and carried a large fan.

"Exactly, I arrived this morning," Xu Wu replied, discreetly adjusting his sleeves and standing up straight in perfect posture. The man in front of him remained silent and stared into his blue eyes for a long moment before speaking again.

"You don't have any family I take it?" he then asked, raising his eyebrows slightly. It was a question he already knew the answer to. Xu Wu was careful not to answer rudely and to say only what was strictly necessary.

"No, none."

To tell the truth, he had no memories of any family, so no, he didn't really have any - the great master who had educated him didn't really count as 'family', given that he had few if any memories of him.

"Did a great master educate you?" asked the man with the different eyes with an air of curiosity.

Here too, the answer was logical.

"Yes"

"Which one?" asked the master before going back on his words "Forget it, you probably don't know his name."

That's right, because the grandmasters weren't obliged to introduce themselves if they didn't want to. They were superior to the others, and apart from the emperor, nobody had anything to say about them, so introducing themselves or giving their names wasn't a usual thing for them. Above all, it kept them out of trouble. This was a good thing for some...for example, those who had only the status, not the behavior, of 'grand master'.

"He must have raised you very well from what I can see. What's your cultivation level?" He looked at Xu Wu while analyzing his behavior.

"Average." replied Xu Wu calmly. Average' meant normal, within the norm, neither weak nor perfect. One had to still be humble, not throw flowers at oneself but not put oneself down to attract attention, again the master in front of him raised his eyebrows when he heard this calculated and prepared answer. This young man was anything but natural.

"Hm, I see. He taught you very well", insisted the master, before gesturing with his arm to reveal a red motif on his robe, a large chrysanthemum flower, a symbol of prosperity and longevity. Nodding, Xu Wu arched his back in greeting before continuing on his way. The light-eyed master continued to watch him walk, smiling slightly, a beautiful jewel had appeared here. Something unique.

"It's a very good thing he's here." murmured the master before turning his head and spotting some youngsters walking down the hall eating, which he at once scolded causing even the walls to shake. "DON'T YOU HAVE ANY TABLES? WHERE ARE YOUR MANNERS? One crumb on the floor and I'll have you licking the ground, which will certainly shine brighter than your future here!" the rest of the sentence was inaudible, drowned out by the apologies and cries of the two students who hurriedly stuffed what they'd started to eat into their mouths, leaving no crumbs on the floor, and quickly knelt down in front of their eldest. Another sound was soon echoed. Xu Wu quickly found the source of this sound, which could have pierced his eardrums had he continued for a few seconds longer. A broad-shouldered, muscular-backed young man with a slim waist beneath his black clothes and a perfect hairstyle, his hair neatly tied back in a ponytail, stood before him with his right hand on his hip, laughing loudly. Xu Wu stared back and looked first at whom Jiao Long was talking to before stepping forward, but the other noticed.

"Ah, come on, instead of standing there! At this rate, you're going to take root!" he exclaimed, nonchalantly waving his left hand. Xu Wu felt a nerve twitch on his forehead, creasing his impassive expression without responding. The other person Jiao Long was laughing with was carrying a book about healing wounds inflicted by evil spirits and other malevolent creatures. He was the same height as Xu Wu, and had white hair pulled back into a ponytail like Jiao Long. A golden bracelet wrapped around his wrist like a snake.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. You..." began Xu Wu as Jiao Long didn't let him finish his sentence, cutting him off with a cheerful tone.

"He'll be our teammate!" announced Jiao Long without looking at the blue-eyed one. "I think with someone who's interested in healing I don't fear much. It's not my strong point."

'I' know he was talking only about himself.

"Um...It's not really for you, but I'm glad to hear it's a good thing, Jiao Long." Xu Wu didn't let on, but quickly realized that the two young people already knew each other or had seen each other before. "I don't know you yet, what's your name?" he asked.

"Xu Wu."

"Xu? The Xu family?" the white-haired one questioned, his index finger supporting his chin. "I don't know them. My name is Jun Feng."

Xu Wu had already heard of the Jun clan; they were an all-white-haired family, reputed to be rather discreet and preferred to do things quietly and silently, unlike the more extrovert Jiao clan, and rumor had it that the clan leader was a woman. However, they were even further from the capital than this place: from their home, it was impossible to see the mountains, and their clan base was located in the middle of a huge pine forest, the tops of which were nowhere to be seen, described as an almost unimaginable landscape.

"Our two families have known each other for decades," Jiao Long enthused. Suddenly, Xu Wu felt alone again in this huge hall, once again reminded that he was different and not in a good way. Under his sleeves he will his fists lightly before smiling at Jun Feng "Do you already have a room?"

"Yes, upstairs. And you?" replied the white-haired one before looking at Xu Wu apologetically and gripping his thick book more tightly "Sorry, and you?"

Xu Wu opened his mouth but Jiao Long was quicker. "Yes, just over there, at the corner of the large corridor at the far end."

"Ah right" Jun Feng replied before hiding his face to yawn "I think if we want to be in a good mood tomorrow and have enough strength to train together with the master we should go to sleep. I mean, I'm going to sleep."

Eyes watering after yawning three times, he greeted his two comrades without paying too much attention to Xu Wu, saving the big smiles for Jiao Long before slipping away. The magisterial hall illuminated by candles that made shadows dance against the walls was quiet, leaving Xu Wu and Jian Long alone.

"I..."

"Are you going to sleep too?" cut in Jiao Long, crossing his arms.

"You heard what he said," Xu Wu replied in the same tone he'd used when talking to the minnow-eyed master, "Our master isn't likely to appreciate an unmotivated team tomorrow unable to show their best stuff, and besides, it's dark."

"I'm not tired and I'm not used to sleeping so early," said Jiao Long, playing with his hair.

Xu Wu suddenly had a burst of curiosity.

"Have you known him long? Jun Feng, how well do you know him?"

Jiao Long frowned in astonishment, not expecting this kind of questioning.

"Since childhood, but I don't know his exact level of cultivation. However, like yours, I know it's lower than mine. His family is rather discreet when it comes to this kind of subject. Does he interest you?" This trio was strange. One was enigmatic, appearing out of 'nowhere' as if he'd appeared here by magic, with a face forged by the gods but a rather cold and psych rigid personality, the other was rather arrogant and full of himself but sociable, with an imposing aura and an advantageous physique, while the last seemed discreet but with a head on his shoulders, a serious air that stood out from the others with his light-colored hair.

"And you were able to talk to other people?"

"Of course I'm interested in him, we're a team," Xu Wu replied. "Yes, a master with different-colored eyes but no one else. What about you?"