The Pretty Guard

“Y’know. I still don’t know what I’m supposed to do for the ‘Midnight Escape’ quest.” Meng Mei mused aloud as she balanced on top of the railing of one of the covered pathways.

Today, Guang-laoshi decided they needed a break from Meng Mei falling all over herself when trying to learn proper movements. So Meng Mei was learning the art of stealth instead. All she had to do was stay hidden from Guang-laoshi until the end of their lesson.

Which is how she found herself high up in the eaves of Libaogong, balancing precariously on one of the railings.

[A-Mei only needs to discover the people who are plotting against Libaogong!!]

“That’s just the thing.” Meng Mei frowned, grabbing onto one of the support beams. “I’ve been thinking about it when I’ve had time and I can’t think of anything that happened in Seasons of Sorrow to have a quest like this.”

After discovering she was only a few weeks away from meeting Lai Huang and completeing the special event side quest she’d started thinking more seriously about the main quest.

Even though neither of the main characters were from Libaogong, it was still discussed frequently in Seasons of Sorrow. Meng Mei should know if there was anything that could’ve amaged such a promenient sect’s reputation.

[That is because originally Meng Weiyuan put a stop to the disaster before it managed to greatly harm the sect. Libaogong then kept it secret out of shame]

“So what does that really mean for me? Will Meng Weiyuan not fix the problem in this world?”

[Due to A-Mei’s interference, Meng Weiyuan will not be able to stop the distater in time]

“Ugh. So what am I supposed to do? I don’t even know where to start.” Meng Mei grumbled unhappily. At least the system was actively engaging with her again, even if it wasn’t being helpful.

[Would A-Mei like a hint?]

Meng Mei raised an eyebrow doubtfully.

“Is there a catch?”

[No. This hint is pentalty free!!]

“Then yes. I’d like a hint.” Meng Mei sighed. It felt like admitting defeat to say she didn’t know how to solve this quest.

[Hint: A-Mei already has a clue in her possession]

Meng Mei stared at the message in disbelief. What? How could she already have a clue in her possesion? She was just asking for directions on how to start this stupid quest.

While she racked her brain for an answer she almost didn’t see Guang-laoshi closing in on her position. Thankfully the bright blue pashmina she was wearing stood out againt all of the red and drew Meng Mei’s eye.

WIth a muttered curse Meng Mei jumped down onto the pathway and booked it towards the crridor that ould lead her back inside. She ran like her life depended on it down the hallway. She didn’t have a set destination in mind until she realized she was drwing near the minor treasury.

It was minor because it only had things the Meng’s liked to display and show off in it. Nothing in there would actually hurt them if it was stolen.

Making up her mind she threw open the door and rushed inside. In the back half of the room there were racks of beatiful hanfus. Meng Mei dove into the middle of them and hid herself underneath the layers of fabric.

When she was sure she was relatively safe she settled down and continued trying to puzzle out the system’s hint.

The system had specifically stated that the clue was in Meng Mei’s possesion. Not Meng Xiāng’s. The distinction had to be important since Meng Mei hadn’t really accquired anything since she’d arrived.

She’d made her fan, recieved the engagment gift, been given various trinkest from Meng Yong. Surely it wasn’t any of those things.

What else was in her possesion?

A yellow hanfu caught her eye while she thought. There was something about that color…

Her eyes widened in realization.

“The sword tassel!” She suddenly exclaimed.

It felt like a lifetime ago she’d found the sword tassel in the hallway. She’d barely given the object a second thought since that moment. She’d been so focused on completeling the tutorial quest that the bait for the next quest had just completely slipped her mind.

She’d have to go back to her room and dig it out of the small hiding place she’d given it. Once she examined it a little closer she may be able to identify something strange or new about it. FInding the owner of the tassel would be a struggle but it would most likely give her a breakthrough on the quest.

That morning she’d heard voices talking about carryig somethig heavy and being worried about being caught. Technically Meng Mei already knew what the owner sounded like, even if it would take agaes to find them.

Meng Mei was debating this problem when she suddenly felt a hand grab the back of her hanfu and lift her upwards. She let out a yelp of surprise as she was lifted from her safe nest of clothing.

She half expected it to be Guang-laoshi, ready to boast about beating her.

The man standing in front of her was not Guang-laoshi.

He was dressed in the tight uniform of the Libaogong guards. Instead of the customary flowing hanfu that so many in the cultivation world prefer, Libaogong guards dressed in tight fitting robes that wouldn’t infere with their duties. Their sleeves were gathered up into leather bracers and their bottom half was fashioned into slightly bulky pants.

The man who had grabbed Meng Mei was clearly a Libaogng guard but Meng Mei had a hard time wrapping her head around it. He was just so…pretty.

The guard’s face was smooth and clear of any blemishes. Both his jawline and his nose were sharp anddefines, but not in a way that was overpowering. His long, silky black hair was gathered up into a ponytail and decorated by a simple guan.

‘He’s much more suited to be a model rather than a guard.’ Meng Mei thought.

It didn’t take very long for the guard to realize that he’d just scruffed the sect heir. His eyes widened in shock and he hurried to put her back on the ground. The secod that her feet touched the ground he was in a deep bow.

“This lowly guard apologizes for his transgressions.” He rushed out. “I assumed a theif had snuck in. I did not realize it was you guniang.”

“It is good to see our guards react promptly. You are forgiven guard….?” Meng Mei paused, waiting to see if he would offer up his name.

“This lowly one is named Zhu Huiqing.”

“Ah yes you are forgiven guard Zhu….” Meng Mei trailed off, her eyes widening in shock.

Zhu Huiqing as in the jade swordsmen Meng Mei had been looking for? That Zhu Huiqing?

“Young miss are you alright?” Zhu Huiqing asked worriedly as he rose from his bow. Meng Mei stared at him mutely. Zhu Huiqing was not supposed to be this pretty. When h’d been described in Seasns of Sorrow it was as a seasoned cultivator who was covered in battle scars.

He was meant to be intimadting and stoic. Not this pretty boy who let his emotions show on his face.

“Ah…yes guard Zhu. I am fine. Would you mind escorting me to Guang-laoshi? I think I should inform her that I have lost our game.” Meng Mei sighed in defeat.

Even though Guang-laoshi hadn’t been the one to find her, she’d certainly been found. She couldn’t just act like nothing had happened. And she really wanted to study Zhu Huiqing for a moment longer.

“It would be my honor.”