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This was just a normal day in Yunmeng – a famous busy port town of the south. Ships and vessels docked to load and discharged their cargoes and passengers. The crowds were toing and froing along the street.
The epicenter of the town was a place for shophouses of different ilk and crowded space jam-packed with hawkers. This crowded place was a true heaven for Xiao Daozi the Pickpocket who enjoyed his career lottery. Luckily, he managed to snatch or pickpocket many thick pouches.
Enjoying his spoils-of-war, Xiao Daozi noticed that among the dull dark fabric of ordinary pouches laid a pure white pouch strapped with an elegant blue and white tassel. Considering its material, this pouch must be carried by those from the noble family.
When took a closer look, the familiar pattern embroidered on the fabric strangely reminded him of something. Xiao Daozi was quite certain that the pouch must be possessed by the fair childe who was talking to the hotel owner.
Regarding his silhouette, anyone with eyes could tell how wealthy that childe was.
Sneaking out of the town, Xian Daozi dropped by a deserted sidewalk and emptied the stolen pouches to see how much he had gained from the town.
Most of the pouches gave him a tiny earnings. The emptied pouches piled up next to where he sat.
“If I could sell these useless rags, these cheap fabrics might be worth only a few coins.” He thought.
He turned to the pure white pouch on his lap.
Unlike the other, this pouch looked costly. It must be a good sum for his day. He thought as he unfolded the silk strap, hoping to claim his reward.
“Aiya!!!!” Screamed poor Xiao Daozi.
When opened, the pouch immediately released a purple sword with its full force.
The shaft zipped forward and directly hit Xiao Daozi’s chin with no mercy.
Still counting the stars, Xiao Daozi staggered. His eyes blinked at the silhouette in front of him.
That silhouette slowly reclaimed the purple sword that promptly returned to its master.
As Xiao Daozi looked up, a blurred silhouette became a clear appearance.
It was him – the childe!!!
He was tall and slender with a full sense of dignity. His brow was a simile of the edge of his sword.
A cold shiver ran down Xiao Daozi’s spine as he made an eye contact with the childe’s sharp eyes.
“Little bastard! How dare you steal me pouch in broad daylight! Such a nerve of steel your unlawful action was!” The childe lashed his words.
Shortly after, Xiao Daozi found himself surrounded by the plaintiffs who splashed the loud, disoriented, babbling noises onto him.
Observing the scene, the childe did not say a word. He then reached out. The white pouch subdenly slipped off Xiao Daozi’s grab and returned to the childe’s waiting hand.
Seeing the pouch gone, Xiao Daozi screamed ““That’s pouch! That's the motif of the GusuLan Sect!!!”
Although Xiao Daozi was currently living in Yunmeng, he was born and raised in Gusu.
Xiao Daozi recognized the pouch now.
It was no common pouch; it was a Qiankun Pouch – the infinite-portal-in-form-of-a pouch pouch modified by a cultivator to store their belongings.
Due to that fact, he had seen this kind of pouch carried by the disciples of the GusuLan Sect countless times.
“Bastard! We the Yunmeng live peacefully. Never at once we had an incident like this. It must be you who did the pickpocket these few days!” A grocer said.
“That’s right! If Sect Leader Jiang didn't use his own pouch as a decoy, we would never catch you red-handed!!!” Another added.
“Wait a sec! He himself too stole that pouch from the GusuLan Sect!” Xiao Daozi pointed to the pure white pouch in Sect Leader Jiang’s hand.
“See??? That’s the cloud motif of the GusuLan Sect. It’s Qiankun Pouch!!!” Xiao Daozi claimed.
“Such a non-sense talk’in!!! You stole the pouch, yet you dared accuse Sect Leader Jiang of stealing it from the GusuLan Sect!!!" The plaintiffs yelled at him.
He whom was called 'Sect Leader Jiang' remained serene as he inserted his Qiankun pouch back into his inner collar.
“To a person like you, I do not need to clarify how I have possessed this pouch. Master Officer, I may leave this man under your arrest.” He spoke.
The officer bowed to Sect Leader Jiang as a sign of respect before arresting the little unlucky pickpocket. They then left the place, heading back to the town of Yunmeng.
……………………………………….
At the Cloud Recesses…
“Since when that our belongings must be inspected before we pass through the gate of the Cloud Recesses?” Lan Jingyi complained.
“Since the last time you messed up and got yourself into trouble, Lan Jingyi!!!” Lan Qiren replied.
Seeing Lan Qiren and an inspector stood at the main gate of the Cloud Recesses, Lan Jingyi found himself leveraged without any reason.
Lan Sizhui stepped forward and firmly presented his Qiankun pouch to the inspector. The inspector pulled his belongings out item by item.
“Zither, talisman, a spirit-attraction flag, spare zither strings, antiseptics, fever reducer, bamboo butterfly”
"It's my charm. I always have it with me. I beg for your understanding.” Lan Sizhui explained to Lan Qiren who nodded.
“You may enter the Cloud Recesses."
Lan Jingyi’s Qiankun pouch was full of foodies: sweets, candy jujubes, loquats, salted watermelon seeds, and a ton of peanuts.
“They help keep me awake when I study for my exam.” Lan Jingyi explained hopelessly and he failed miserably as usual.
“Non-sense!!! I know they are Wei Wuxian’s liquor nuts!” Lan Qiren snaped. “Lan Jingyi, copy the GusuLan Sect’s rules 300 times!”
As the agonizing lament of Lan Jingyi was gone with the wind, Lan Qiren turned to his first jade.
“Xichen, you too.”
Raised his eyebrows, Lan Xichen argued. “Uncle, I do not think that I do need to –”
“The rules must be equally applied to everyone, no matter who they are. You..Ahumm!..be a good role model for your disciples, Xichen.” said Lan Qiren.
Reluctantly, Lan Xichen slowly pulled his Qiankun pouch out of his inner collar.
Lan Xichen’s Qiankun pouch was a fine purple silk pouch, embroidered with the pattern of the seven-pedal lotus – a very motif of the YunmengJiang Sect.
“You!!!” Lan Qiren’ face turn pale after seeing the pouch. “Whose Qiankun pouch is this!?! And where is yours?!!!”
Lan Qiren was shocked.
Lan Sizhui and Lan Jingyi looked astonished.
Lan Xichen smiled faintly.
“Enough!” Lan Qirent gestured his hands.
“Though this rule applies to everyone, the Sect Leader of GusuLan is the exception! Now, everyone may enter the Cloud Recesses!”
[end]