The Dragon Boat Festival was one that happened each year in June to ward off evil spirits and corruption. The nearest large celebration always occurred in Jin He City. The Lan River that flowed through the city's northern reaches was where elaborate dragon boat races were held. Crowds eating rice dumplings gathered to watch rowers race down the river in boats they had built with their own hands. Artists were hired by the local magistrate to construct great paper dragon lanterns that were floated along the river at night to ward off disease and bad luck.
There was a similar festival in Qiu Yunru's past life--indeed, the real world also had a Dragon Boat Festival. However, he'd never been to one. The crowds had always made his head hurt. What's more, he'd once fallen into the water as a kid and nearly drowned. Ever since then, he'd never dared to go.
If he was being honest, he didn't really want to go in this life, either. Even if he wouldn't get such splitting migraines any more, he wasn't interested in being crushed by hordes of people and listening to shouting all day!
However, seeing the hopeful look in Li Chenyuan's eyes, Qiu Yunru once again found his heart growing weak.
He really needed to get a grip on his pity!
"All right," He sighed. "This shixiong will go to the Dragon Boat Festival with you. However, I really don't want to go when the crowds are too big..."
"That's all right!" Li Chenyuan said quickly. His pretty face was bright with a happiness that Qiu Yunru rarely saw. "We can go later. I prefer to watch the lanterns."
"All right. I'll ask Shizun for a break that day, then." Qiu Yunru rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I'm sure there are some others who would enjoy it as well. Perhaps--"
"No." Li Chenyuan's voice was cold and firm. Upon seeing his face, Qiu Yunru felt the hairs on the back of his neck prickle once more. What a determined, harsh expression! "Just us. Even if other disciples come, let's go together."
Qiu Yunru opened his mouth, and closed it.
Just them?
Hmmm. Perhaps it made sense. Being his mentee, of course Li Chenyuan would like to have some one-on-one time with his shixiong away from training. After all, they had only been training every single day since he came to the sect. It was important to also build relationships with each other, so he probably wanted to get to know his sect brother a little better in a different setting. Having other disciples hang around all the time would make that difficult!
"All right," He said in the end. "I can't promise others won't also take time off; it's a very popular festival. But we can plan to go together."
"Many thanks, Qiu-ge." Li Chenyuan stood and returned with a cup of water. His cheeks were lightly flushed. "Qiu-ge must be thirsty. Drink."
Such a thoughtful shidi!
_____
The days came and went like water running into a gutter. As the spring stretched into summer, it began to rain heavily. Monsoons came and went, passing over Li Hua mountain over and over again.
"Can't we train inside?" A disciple complained as they stretched outside for morning running.
Overhearing this, Fang Hai spoke up loudly. As the Head Disciple, it was his job to keep up morale and passion for cultivation!
"Running in the rain is essential!" He called out. "If you're chased by a demon in the rain, will you sit down and wait for it to eat you? You should know how to run no matter the weather! Let's go!"
So, all the disciples were forced to run until their uniforms grew muddy and they slipped and slided in the dirt.
Soon enough, it was June.
As Qiu Yunru predicted, many disciples had requested leave for the Dragon Boat Festival.
In fact, so many had gone to their Shizun to make requests, that he had cancelled any training for that day and the days before and after altogether!
"Though you should work and train hard, everyone should also learn to enjoy themselves and celebrate good things together," He Yongliang told them kindly at cultivation training a few days before the festival. "If anyone is in need of some funds for the festival, feel free to consult Accountant Qiao. I've instructed him to allot you all a little money."
Everyone was overjoyed at this. What a kind and loving Shizun they had!
Accountant Qiao, on the other hand, was devastated.
"How can I budget sect funds if we're giving out allowances?" He wrang his hands in despair, handing out small bags of coins to each disciple lined up outside of his quarters. "Preposterous! You, He Yongliang--!"
In the end, everyone besides him was content. All of the disciples attending Dragon Boat Festivals in various cities set out on the their swords. Since most were headed to Jin He City, a large group of them set off in the morning of the festival to head there.
In this group were Qiu Yunru and Li Chenyuan.
Li Chenyuan seemed incredibly disgruntles by the sheer number of disciples who were attending the festival in his home city. Qiu Yunru saw him glaring around and gripping his robes tightly, as though personally affronted. When everyone hopped on their swords to set off, Qiu Yunru went to stand on his, only to be stopped by a hand on his wrist.
"Let's leave a little later," Li Chenyuan said darkly. "There will be too much traffic."
Traffic...?
Qiu Yunru was baffled.
How could there be "traffic" when there were only twenty disciples riding swords in the air? If there was any congestion, they could just ride a few more feet behind!
But as he always did upon seeing Li Chenyuan's expression, he nodded.
"All right. We can wait a little. I suppose there will be a lot of people flying into the city at this time. We can avoid the crowds by leaving later."
So, they hung around, planning to head out once it was noontime.
While they lazed around, lying in the grass, the head cook Cai Mingzhu approached. The smell of smoke followed her. Indeed, she was smoking heavily as she walked up and looked down at them, a crooked grin on her lips.
"I see you kids haven't left yet. Not going to the festival?"
"Of course we're going," Li Chenyuan scoffed.
Qiu Yunru felt incredibly awkward. He had never seen these two interact before, since Cai Mingzhu was always hanging out at the back of the kitchen and gambling, and Li Chenyuan was always either training or following him like a stalking cat.
How could Li Chenyuan speak so rudely to someone older than him...?
"Li-shidi...Apologies, Cai Dajie. We are waiting a little longer to go, since we don't want to arrive when it's too crowded."
Cai Mingzhu puffed out a cloud of dark smoke over their heads. She was looking down at Li Chenyuan with narrowed eyes, as though deep in thought.
"We haven't talked before," She said to him. her voice was casual, as if she hadn't just been spoken to like she was a piece of dirt on someone's shoe. "You're the new disciple. Noble kid. Li Chenyuan?"