"I am Han Taiyi, Sun student." The woman stepped forward and introduced herself with a palm-hold-fist salute, bowing slightly. Her features were sharp and stern that would make those around her squirm uncomfortably under her gaze—especially with that height.

However, her almond shaped eyes contradicts it, and so did her disarming smile. "This is my partner," ​​

"Chu Lizheng." Her partner said, doing the same salute. He, too, was on the tall and lean side. He's also quite the eye candy with his gentle, overly polite-looking face that seemed to have a knack of bringing even an enemy to his side just by sweet talking them.

Chu Lizheng straightened his body and added, "I hope we did not interrupted this esteemed one from something?"

"Not at all." Lillie smiled reassuringly, reciprocating their greeting gesture. "Please, you two need not be so formal, you may call me Shengming."

But the two shook their heads, unrelentingly. "I'm afraid that it is unbefitting for us to call this esteemed one's name so freely." Chu Lizheng said, his voice placid yet determined.

"Never hurt to try changing your minds," Lillie shrugged. "But I insist. We haven't step foot on the Academy yet, so formalities may have to be set aside for awhile."

The two exchanged glances before exhaling in relief, their shoulders relaxed from their previous stiffness.

"Oh, thank god." Han Taiyi muttered. "You have no idea how hard—wait, you might actually have, but whatever. I hate talking like I'm in the ancient time." Her whole demeanor made a 360 degree turn.

Chu Lizheng softly chuckled at his friend's exasperation. Unlike Han Taiyi, he continue carrying himself with poise, but more loosen-up. "Even so, you mustn't slouch like that, Taiyi, it'll be bad for your spines."

"Yeah, yeah..." She relented and did as she was told.

"There. Now isn't that way more comfortable? You see, I'm also not fond of being too formal." Lillie admitted casually.

"I think non of the students does, but flows with it anyways because the teachers would punish anyone who talks 'ungraciously'." Han Taiyi air-quoted, rolling her eyes.

"Oh, but you probably already know that too..." Han Taiyi wanted to slap herself for being silly.

"Well, not all teachers. Some would prefer speaking casually, like Master Qi. He hates being too formal because it made him feel older than he already is—his words, not mine."

Han Taiyi snorted, "Really?"

Lillie nodded. "That's why he choose tasks outside the Academy. Also, so that Grandmaster Xie's loud scoldings wouldn't reach his ears."

"Of course he would run away from the strictest of them all. I swear that lady was born in the Xia dynasty. Sometimes no one can really understand what she was saying!"

Chu Lizheng nodded in agreement. "I pity her disciples. Thankfully, she only accept girls."

Han Taiyi perked. "That reminds me!Grandmaster Xie wanted you to be her disciple too, didn't she? What made you choose Grandmaster Wei instead? Oh, don't misunderstand, Grandmaster Wei is amazing! In fact, I would choose him out of the three Grandmasters if I were given a chance to be picked. Ever since I entered the academy I already had my eyes set on—"

"Taiyi, breathe," Chu Lizheng pats her shoulder. "You're drifting off from your question."

Han Taiyi awkwardly laughed, sheepishly scratching her cheek. "Hehe...sorry."

"She tends to...babble a lot that people weren't sure anymore of what she was really talking about." Chu Lizheng explained.

"That's nothing to be ashamed of. Loquacious people are those who have little to hide and often shows who they really are." Lillie wisely said. "This also let me know that I'm someone she finds comfortable enough to talk with. For that, I'm grateful."

Chu Lizheng, and especially Han Taiyi, were astonished. The latter felt her eyes moisten.

"I..." Now she wasn't sure what to say anymore. Some of her friends, and even family, were quite annoyed with her prattling. It was Chu Lizheng who tolerates it more than the rest, that's why she was closer to him.

"Waaahh!" Chu Lizheng flinched when the woman beside him suddenly let out a wail.

"You're a saint! A saint!"

Lillie blinked. "Uh...thank you?"

"You're welcome!" Was Han Taiyi's automatic response.

Chu Lizheng shook his head as an appreciative smile etched his lips; glad that Grand Disciple Life wasn't one of those people who grimace from his good friend's exuberance.