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❃𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓘 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓴𝓲𝓷𝓰?!❃

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The air in the room was still, save for the faint sound of Huan moving about in the washroom. Akira sat on the edge of his bed, dressed in his clan's finest attire. His new nagagi fell neatly against his frame, over it he wore the red embroidered black haori. His hakama—loose and elegantly tailored—completed the outfit and his hair had been carefully styled, a rare indulgence for an occasion of this significance.

In his hands, he held the photograph. His eyes traced over the image, lingering on the man in dark robes. Jia Yuxi... Could it really be him?

His uncle might know, Akira mused. But the idea of asking filled him with hesitation. His uncle rarely talked about his late lover.

The sound of the door opening pulled Akira from his thoughts. Huan stepped out of the washroom, adjusting the collar of the blue qipao Akira had bought for him. The rich fabric hugged his frame, accented by intricate white embroidery that trailed delicately along the edges. White pants and neatly combed hair completed the look, though Huan was still barefoot, holding his boots in one hand.

Akira smiled for a moment. Huan looked perfect.

"This is ridiculous," Huan muttered, glancing down at himself. "I look ridiculous..."

"You look fine," Akira replied. "More than fine."

Huan rolled his eyes, muttering something under his breath, but there was a faint blush dusting his cheeks as he sat on the bed to put on his boots.

By the time they stepped outside, Akira couldn't help but think how much Huan resembled a modern cultivator. The outfit was perfect for him, no matter how much Huan grumbled.

As they reached the gathering point, the others were already assembling.

Tayla caught Akira's eye first. She wore a stunning sleeveless black mermaid dress that hugged her figure beautifully, exuding confidence. Her dark curls cascaded over her shoulders.

"You look incredible," Akira said earnestly. "Marcus will surely love it!"

Tayla smiled brightly at him, but before she could respond, Jiamei appeared at her side, clutching a black paofu robe.

"So sorry, but you gotta cover your shoulders," Jiamei said, her tone matter-of-fact. "It's a formal gathering, with...elders..."

Tayla sighed but accepted the robe, draping it over her. Jiamei herself was dressed to match the elegance of her clanmates, her green hanfu perfectly tailored and adorned with subtle floral embroidery that mirrored the Zhao Clan's traditional colors.

Nearby, Akira spotted his own disciples from the Fujisawa Clan. Kaiko stood poised in a graceful kimono with delicate cherry blossom patterns, while Genya wore a detailed uniform. Both looked immaculate, as was expected of them.

Then there was Ruòxīn. True to his nature, he was the most elaborately dressed of them all. His dark red hanfu was a masterpiece, bold yet refined, and his eyeliner was so flawless it might as well have been painted by an artist. He carried himself with a regal air, as if he were already the center of attention.

As the group began walking toward the boat that would take them to the gathering, Huan received a stream of compliments from both tech students and disciples passing by.

"You look amazing, Huan!" Baozhai chimed.

Justin nodded, "That qipao suits you well."

Huan blushed begrudgingly at the attention but managed to mutter a few thanks.

Akira smirked to himself, watching Huan struggle to handle the praise. "Told you," he murmured under his breath. "You look fine."

Huan shot him a sideways glance but said nothing, his faint blush deepening as they continued toward the boat. The day was off to an unexpectedly smooth start, though Akira couldn't help but wonder how long it would last.

What could go wrong on a day like this?

The docks were alive with the sound of chatter, rustling fabric, and the occasional clatter of footsteps on wood. Akira and Huan stood to the side, watching as the girls began boarding the boat, their elegant attires were really turning the process into an exercise of patience and balance.

Jeo Yuna and her entourage were the vision of beauty, each of them draped in embroidered hanbok. The poofy skirts and vibrant colors made them look like they had stepped out of a painting, but it was clear the traditional attire wasn't exactly practical for walking the gangplank.

Behind them, Jiamei and other Zhao Clan disciples followed, their hanfu just as elaborate, the wide sleeves and layered skirts requiring careful steps.

And then there was Kaiko.

Akira couldn't help but wince in sympathy as she shuffled forward in her kimono, her movements stiff, kimono's were very heavy. She was clearly struggling, her brow furrowed in concentration as she gripped the railing tightly.

Ruòxīn, standing just behind them, let out a dramatic sigh, fanning himself with slow, deliberate flicks of his wrist. "Honestly, watching this is painful. It's like herding a flock of untrained ducks. If it were up to me, I'd have organized this entire procession properly. After all, grace is second nature to me."

Akira raised a brow, suppressing the urge to roll his eyes.

Ruòxīn wasn't done. "But no, instead, we're forced to endure this parade of mediocrity. It's embarrassing, really. If they can't handle a simple gangplank, what hope do they have in representing their sects?" He gave a sharp flick of his fan, his tone dripping with condescension. "Honestly, they should have just let someone like me go first. I'd have set the standard, as always."

Huan, however, had clearly heard enough. He leaned back against a post, crossing his arms, and delivered his retort like a blade. "The only standard you'd set is for how quickly someone can trip over their own ego."

Ruòxīn froze mid-fan flick, his regal expression faltering. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me," Huan continued, "you're standing there like some tragic peacock who doesn't realize its feathers are glued on."

Akira clamped a hand over his mouth, as for it, to not hang open.

Ruòxīn snapped his fan shut with a loud click, his cheeks turning crimson. "You dare to insult me? I am Ruòxīn of the Múróng Clan—known for my refinement and elegance! And you are nothing more than—"

"Someone who doesn't need a fancy fan to get attention," Huan cut in smoothly, his lips curling into a smirk. Oh so he is awear that he is good looking.

Ruòxīn's jaw cletched soundlessly, his indignation hanging in the air like a storm cloud.

Akira coughed into his hand, still fighting back a smile.

By the time everyone had finally boarded the boat, the tension had mostly dissipated, though Ruòxīn still looked miffed. Akira and Huan found a quiet spot near the edge.

Akira leaned against the railing, letting the cool breeze ruffle his hair. Huan stood beside him, his arms resting on the railing as he stared out at the scenery. The boat cut smoothly through the water.

"You're in a bad mood today," Akira remarked, glancing at Huan.

Huan snorted looking at him, "Well yesterday, I just found out I am part of another clan...yeah I am in a bad mood. AKIRA." His gaze fixed on the distant horizon.

Akira smiled faintly. He didn't press the issue.

The soft ripple of the water was suddenly disturbed by a larger, statelier boat coming into view, its intricate carvings and regal banners unmistakable. Akira's eyes narrowed, recognizing the emblem on the sails instantly—the Chen Clan.

Beside him, Huan stiffened, his jaw tightening as he averted his gaze.

Akira glanced at him. "Hey," he said softly, patting Huan's back. "It's just a boat. You'll be fine."

Huan gave a noncommittal grunt, his shoulders tense.

Akira was about to say more when a strange movement in the water caught his attention. The river was calm, yet there—a current swirled unnaturally. His eyes widened as the current surged toward their boat.

"Uh, Huan?" Akira began, but before he could warn him, the water shot upwards in a spectacular arc. In a blink, the liquid coalesced into a human form and landed with a dramatic splash behind them.

Sanji grinned, shaking droplets from his hair. "Whew! Made it!"

"Sanji?" Akira blinked.

The newcomer waved nonchalantly. "Yeah, yeah. It's me. Oh my god, the Chen Clan! Can you believe those guys?" He gestured wildly at the other boat. "Climbing up that stupid mountain of theirs was like raw dogging Mount Fuji twice! My legs are still sore!"

Zhan appeared from the main deck, his expression unimpressed. "Mai Bai Mountain is twice the size of Mount Fuji. So, obviously."

Sanji threw him a mock glare. "Whatever. I'm here now. That's what counts."

"Not for long," Zhan retorted. "You're on the wrong boat. Get back to the Chen Clan's vessel."

Sanji winced but reluctantly moved toward the edge of the boat. Instead of leaving entirely, he hovered just above the water, gliding effortlessly on its surface. "I'm not leaving yet, I need someone to complain too." he said, grining as he turned to his cousin. "I wanted to talk to my dear cousin Akira first."

Akira crossed his arms, his tone flat. "I don't want to talk to him."

Sanji's grin faltered slightly, but he quickly recovered, leaning forward as if to plead his case.

Meanwhile, Ella, who had been watching the whole scene with wide eyes, stepped wheeled closer. "Wait a minute," she said, turning to Akira and Sanji. "There's a dragon sleeping in this river, right? Are there dragons in Japan too?"

Akira pursed his lips, his mind drifting to the giant fox demon that resided in their sentient minka, Ikigai. "Not exactly dragons," he said hesitantly.

Sanji, however, jumped at the chance to answer. "Oh, we've got one. A water dragon. Way smaller than the one here, but it's different."

"Oooh how different?" Baozhai asked, her big eyes twinkling.

Sanji shrugged. "It is the water. It has a separate form but it's—it's just... made of water. That's the best I can explain it."

Ella's brows knitted further. "So, like, it could be swimming in this river right now, and we wouldn't know?"

Sanji smirked. "Exactly."

"And what happens," Ella continued, her tone growing cautious, "If this dragon, in this river decides to wake up now?"

Zhan's gaze darkened as he folded his arms. "Then she had decided it's time for all of us to meet our maker."

A tech student, who had been listening nearby, chuckled nervously. "Well, I'm not quite ready for that yet."

Huan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, same. I don't think I want to find out which one of us was right."

"Agreed..." Adi chimed in, leaning against the boat's railing, his tone equally drained.

Zhan, ever the voice of authority, straightened his posture and fixed Sanji with a sharp look. "Alright, enough of this nonsense. Go back to the Chen Clan. Your disciples are probably wondering where you've wandered off to."

Sanji scoffed dramatically, rolling his eyes. "Ugh, fine. I'm going..." He dissolved into shimmering water, the droplets sinking seamlessly into the river below.

The group exhaled collectively as the ripples on the water's surface stilled. Hopefully, the peace would last—at least for a little while.

Tayla, breaking the silence, folded her arms and tilted her head inquisitively. "Sooo... what's this gathering like, anyway?"

Jiamei shrugged casually, adjusting her green hanfu. "It's basically a boring summit for old people to gossip, show off and drink tea all day."

Ella, raised an eyebrow. "What gossip do you guys talk about?"

"There are alot!" Baozhai cut in. Her elaborately braided bun swayed as she leaned forward. "Like that rumor about one of the tech students secretly being a cultivator who defected from a clan."

The statement struck like a bolt of lightning. Huan stiffened visibly beside Akira, his hand tightening around the railing. Akira swallowed hard, instinctively placing a comforting hand on Huan's arm, though his own nerves were fraying. No matter what he did, he wasn't sure he could protect Huan from this if it escalated.

Another Zhao disciple, with a knowing smile, joined the conversation. "Yeah, I heard some of the elder disciples mention feeling traces of qi around a tech student back at SSE. But none of them could figure out who it was."

"Interesting~" Ruòxīn purred, his dark red robes fluttering slightly as he turned to face Huan and Akira. His smirk was sharp and teasing. "I wonder if it's one of you."

Akira bristled, biting back the urge to glare. He already didn't like Ruòxīn's attitude, but this? This was worse.

The boat slowed as they neared the Li Estate, the sprawling compound known as Lǐ Huā Yuán.

As the boat docked, Akira took a moment to assess the scene. The estate was breathtaking. A grand, tiered structure rose in the distance, its roofs gleaming with golden tiles under the sun. Winding stone paths cut through lush gardens filled with plum blossoms, koi ponds, and rock formations. Lanterns hung from delicate wooden arches, their soft red hues casting a warm glow even in daylight. The air was thick with the scent of jasmine and freshly turned earth.

At the dock, the Team One disciples were already disembarking from a stately boat emblazoned with the Hūyán Clan's crest. Chauhan Maurya, their tall and broad-shouldered leader, stood at the bay, his deep tan complemented by the stark white kurta he wore, embroidered with golden patterns that shimmered subtly in the light. Over it, he had draped a flowing red shawl, its edges trimmed with intricate beadwork.

Gracefully, Chauhan extended a hand to help his female disciples disembark. Even so, their layered sarees proved a challenge to walk in. Sarees wasn't exactly the easiest garment to walk down either.

"Let's go," Zhan said, taking the lead. The group followed him along a winding path that led to the estate's main tower.

Inside, the juniors were assigned rooms on the fourth and fifth floors—men on the fourth, women on the fifth. Elders were stationed higher up, likely already immersed in the initial greetings and posturing.

For now, the juniors were directed to remain on the ground floor to greet the elders as they arrived.

This was the part Akira usually dreaded—being alone in the corner, awkward and out of place. But this time, things were different. Huan had latched onto him, and pulled around where ever he went.

Akira trailed behind Huan as the latter led him through the crowd. He caught snippets of Adi marveling at a particularly striking siddha girl, her saree shimmering like a jewel.

"She's really pretty," Adi whispered, nudging Huan.

Huan shrugged nonchalantly, his tone dismissive. "Every girl here is pretty, like litterally."

Akira felt an uncomfortable twist in his chest. Jealousy. He hated the feeling but couldn't shake it. I am pretty as well, notice me Huan

Before he could dwell on it, Ruòxīn and Sanji joined them, launching into a discussion about the so-called 'Jade Beauties' present at the gathering.

Akira tried to tune them out, the words meaningless to him. He wasn't interested in girls—never had been.

Ruòxīn tilted his head. "It's a shame, really. The Jade Beauties of this generation seem so... uninspired." He adjusted the golden pin in his sleek black hair and smirked. "Back in my father's day, the beauties had presence. Elegance. Now? They're just... decorative."

Sanji scoffed, his arms crossed as he leaned lazily against the railing. "Says the guy who hasn't shut up about their 'lack of presence' for ten minutes straight. Sounds like you're very interested in them." His sharp grin made Ruòxīn's smirk falter for a split second.

Ruòxīn waved a hand dismissively, recovering quickly. "Don't be crass, Sanji. I'm merely offering a critique. Someone has to maintain standards around here." 

Adi, standing nearby, couldn't help but jump in. "Oh, come on, Ruòxīn. You can't tell me that all of them are disappointing to you." His eyes darted across the room, landing on a stunning siddha girl in a radiant dark orange sari adorned with intricate silver embroidery. "What about her? She's practically glowing."

Sanji tilted his head, giving the girl an appreciative once-over. "Not bad. She doesn't really qualify to be 'Jade Beauty' But definitely a 'Golden Beauty'" He shrugged.

Huan, who had been quietly observing the exchange, finally spoke up. "You guys are way too obsessed with this whole 'Jade Beauties' nonsense." He grabbed a cup of tea from a passing android servant and took a sip, his tone casual. "Every girl here is beautiful in her own way. Why do you need to rank them like some competition?"

Ruòxīn's eyes gleamed with mischief. "Oh, forgive us, Huan. I didn't realize you were such a romantic."

Sanji burst out laughing. "Right? Maybe Huan's got a secret crush on one of them!"

Huan raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Don't be ridiculous. I'm just saying it's shallow to reduce people to labels."

But Ruòxīn wasn't done teasing. He leaned in closer, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Come on, Huan. If you had to choose, who would it be? Which one of these 'Jade Beauties' or 'Golden Beauties' has caught your eye?"

Huan rolled his eyes, but before he could respond, Sanji nudged him with an elbow. "Yeah, Huan. Tell us!"

Caught in the crossfire, Huan sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Fine. If I had to pick, I guess—"

Before he could finish, Ruòxīn turned his attention to Akira, who had been quietly standing beside Huan, clearly trying to stay out of the conversation.

"And what about you, Akira?" Ruòxīn's voice was syrupy sweet, but the sharpness in his gaze made it clear he was having far too much fun. "Surely you have an opinion. Who do you think is the prettiest 'Jade Beauty' here?"

Akira froze, feeling all eyes on him. He opened his mouth, unsure of what to say, when Huan, smirked and joined in the teasing instead of giving his answer.

"Well, I am interested in knowing your opnion aswell." Huan's tone was light. "Who do you think is the most beautiful?" 

Akira's brain short-circuited. His mouth moved before his mind could catch up. "You," he blurted out, loud and clear.

The group went dead silent.

It took Akira half a second to realize what he'd just said. His face turned a brilliant shade of red as panic seized him. Without another word, he spun on his heel and fled, leaving behind a stunned Huan, a giggling Adi and an uproariously laughing Sanji.

"Well, that was unexpected," Ruòxīn murmured, his lips curling into a wicked grin. "Very interesting indeed."

What was I thinking?!

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I have worn both Kimono and a Hanfu, and I can tell you now...Hanfu is much easier to move around in. I remember I face planted once wearing a yukata bc I tried to sprint in it or do other dumb shit kids do

And while we are at it, here is a

FUNFACT:

Kimono's are derived from garments worn during the Wu Dynasty in China