Lìngxiāo felt his chest tightened with a mix of admiration, excitement and fear all at once when the mighty Hàngwō Clan came into view.
The silver stone stood tall around the clan as the barrier, violet curtains painted the clan outside, polished dark woods at the corridors.
Lìngxiāo knew the clan is big—but didn't knew this big. All of the admiration and knowledge floated back to him.
The clan is strong on roots, respects the traditions strictly but also flexible without being bound like the Xuè Gusu side clans. Even open with adopting disciples while other clans would mostly marry multiple times to have children as heir.
That's why even after having no guarantee of being any disciple's child—but only possibilities, Lìngxiāo have received multiple contracts from the clan—only to be rejected by this very man who raises him.
But here, the heir was officially announced as one by the clan. He have never seen the heir but heard they are twins but he doesn't understand why they announced as one if they were two. Curiosity pinched him like ants. He wanted to see them closely—no doubt. They felt like royalty to him.
The wheel carried them down into the middle of the empty space outside the Hàngwō Clan. It stopped slowing down, like a lamp dying by the touch of wind.
"Get down." The man ordered casually, as if sneaking in here wasn't a big deal.
Lìngxiāo can't even understand why nobody is seeing them landed here. They just walked past as if they were ghosts even they can't see. The youngers were playing with some ribbons which Lìngxiāo doesn't understand what is this called and a few elders were eyeing on the kids to take care. Some elders were also busy shifting scrolls here to there, passing information to others.
"N-no. What if they will scold..?" Lìngxiāo mumbled as he kept hanging over the man's arm, face flushed, smile tight and eyes looked like earth is already tilting inside with multiple emotions. He still couldn't believe nobody is seeing them.
"Ah.." the man exhaled, leaning his head behind carelessly as he mumbled, "Why kids are so annoying?"
Lìngxiāo's gaze pleaded a little by the comment. He doesn't like when this man gets annoyed by him. "Apologies.."
Hearing the Apologies, the man finally turned at him and added, "They would not. You already see the prove. You just have to learn to accept things."
Lìngxiāo blinked before looking at the ground — even this felt like royalty into this clan. He slowly touched his bare feet at the cold small grasses and then another.
"There you go." The man guided him down and then himself stepped down with a light jump, an arm neatly behind, back straight while other hand opened up a hand fan near to his chest, "See, was it too hard to even step on the ground..?"
Lìngxiāo— always thoughtful got lost deep into it and before he could take too time, the man said again with a little hopelessness, dry and light "you suppose to say, 'yes shù fù, I understand.' I would need to answer your answer too? Have I asked you to reside any spell of exorcism?"
Lìngxiāo immediately nodded "Um..yes." but then shook his head, face heated up by the realization that he is acting strange since the time he landed his feet here." I mean, no..I understand, shù fù!"
"Alright alright.." the man pressed the hand fan at the middle of his temple after closing it. "Move ahead. We will go inside the clan. I have another clan to show you so do not waste time."
"I-inside?!" Lìngxiāo's eyes sparkled. He never thought he would step on this ground while now this man is saying they will go inside? It was insane for him. But he took a deep breath, raising up his chest as he composed himself, "Then.. let us go inside, shù fù."
"Hmph.." the man raised his one shoulder in a knowing way like he knows exactly what excitement is creating chaos into little Lìngxiāo, "Come on.." He took Lìngxiāo's hand and walked towards the main gate.
Lìngxiāo gripped the man's hand too hard like he can get lost into this place if he goes a little far from him. He looked around with big eyes. The curtains were too expensive — violet. A color which isn't easily produced at this time that most of the clan wears black, white or gray. The corridors had a lot of busy disciples walking away from his side and the each grand doors felt like doors to the another world.
I wonder why do they need so many chambers..is it because they are a lot of people..? Or something more..?
At the left side, there was another big separated part from this clan can be seen from the corridor. A large house where some of the Hàng Wàng members were taking white fabric covered something into a size of an older man.
He felt a shiver by the scene. It clicked a little more into places. Hàngwō works with dead bodies. Just when he was sure about it, the man whispered to him in a playful spooky tone, "Dead body room~"
Lìngxiāo almost stumbled by the warm air into his ear. And though he knew they work with dead bodies it still surprised him as a young boy who is already shaken by that body earlier he was working for his exorcism.
"Careful careful." The man caught him before he almost bumped into any Hàng Wàng member.
Lìngxiāo felt like his soul got out of his body as he was so close to ruining things. He quickly stood up properly and walking a little faster. "A-apologies.."
"Hm, spend rest of the life with Apologies. And why you would not stop always apologizing..? You sometimes..bore me a lot, kid." The man said with a faint hum, "foolish lantern.." then adding with seriousness, "Anyways, do not stumble on anyone. Remind you They: They cannot see us but if you touch them, they can feel."
This time Lìngxiāo held back his apologies again. He really doesn't want to spend his rest of the life saying sorry to others. He just walked beside, waiting for his destination into this clan wherever he us taking him.
"Remember.." the man spoke, attracting Lìngxiāo's innocent attention. He spoke when Lìngxiāo looked up "the more you bow, the more others will make you bow them. So you bow only to your desires and motive. The rest would already bow you because people are dedicated to the things they can never have.."
When Lìngxiāo thoughtfully nodded, gaze focused yet not, the man added, "Indeed, now think about it. Those are things to think about. Others are just cheap distractions..but if.."
he paused a little, letting the weight of the words settle between Lìngxiāo's heart properly like a marble puzzle piece met the metal.
"But if..?" Lìngxiāo breathed, curiosity is up to his throat. The words are addictive, logical and even clear, purposeful. He can't help but wait for the rest.
The man chuckled lazily, "first of all, little lantern...all you have to do is trust me~"