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Chapter Text

“Lan Zhan,” The fearsome Yiling Patriarch whispered, voice delicate as white porcelain. His hand tightened in his zhiji once more.

Should he confess now?

He began to sweat at the thought.

What would Lan Zhan say?

Would he deny Wei Ying?

A lump formed in his throat, but he quickly cleared it.

“A–Die,” A–Yuan called timidly, hesitation in his small eyes even after his father’s honest words.

The immortal sighed and silently thought. ‘You are insecure at such a young age, my child. Why?’

“My child,” she spoke softly as both her grandson and great grandson turned to her. “A–Yuan,” she corrected and for a second thought she’d see the hurt in her A–Ying’s grey eyes but there was none, since the moment he arrived she had been reaching for him constantly, his essence and entire being understanding that she would never leave. Her child didn’t have the insecurity of a betrayal from her part, on the contrary he would confide in her, seek guidance and her immortal wisdom when an obstacle came into his path. And even if A–Yuan was small, a child can become insecure because of the unstable bond with their parents.

In Celestial Mountain, children never suffered such a faith, the practice of reaching was so rooted in their lives that not doing so felt like living without food, it was essential.

Although technically A–Yuan wasn’t A–Ying actual son, he had adopted him somehow, a piece of knowledge she would discover later. So in her books, A–Yuan was Blood, he is the Blood of Yin, he’s the only Blood of Yin who hasn’t been reached, even in the womb, a mother reaches for her child as does the father. But A–Yuan didn’t have that, he needed that to cement his place and never question it, yet she was bitterly remained that her grandson couldn’t.

‘Could the Blood of Lan?’ she thought.

Wei Wuxian had shown early signs of reaching, looking for his soulmate in every person he met and right now Baoshan Sanren could clearly see how her grandson has showed his attraction to the Second Master of Lan.

But she had reason to doubt.

Yes, he had a powerful core, so what.

What if his core was damaged with unhealed trauma?

What if his core couldn’t handle the bond with someone like Wei Wuxian?

What if he loved another and didn’t want to let go?

What if he was insecure about this child taking Wei Ying’s love?

What if he was arrogant and only wanted children of their blood?

What if…?

They didn’t have a bond from what she had seen so far and to introduce A–Yuan, the current youngest member of the family to a candidate was unthinkable. No matter how much her grandson loved the man, they weren’t bonded when A–Yuan entered Wei Wuxian’s life.

How could they when Wei Ying didn’t even have a core if her calculations were right?

A–Yuan is firstly Yin, and an unstable Yin will even attach to parasites thinking the thing that was harming them loved them.

Her grandson was the primal example, she would never let her great grandson have even a remotely similar fate if she could help it.

“Come here,” she told, and the boy quickly followed her instruction when close she scooped him in her lap and glanced at her grandson. “May I?” she asked even if she was the boy’s great grandmother and an Immortal, he still had a parent, plus Wei Ying unconsciously was more likely to accept reaching from her and her disciples since he recognized their energy as family, so there was no need for permission on his part. A–Yuan was new to this world, like when Zhao Zhuliu asked for Cangse and Wei Changze permission when checking to see if A–Ying had a golden core and then A–Ying himself, she need to do the same.

Wei Wuxian nodded with a smile then she looked at Wei Yuan.

“My child, will you allow me to reach?” His eyes widened in wonder as he touched his heart making Baoshan Sanren laughed. To the Hall her laughter sounded like bells sent straight from the heavens. “I will be reaching for something more precious than your heart,” she moved closer and said tenderly. “I will reaching to your very soul.”

He didn’t look scared at her words and allowed her hand of fall of his head as she began to reach, humming softly under her breath. And like magic A–Yuan started to relax, curling in his great grandmother lap as his grey eyes reflexively glowing silver.

“They will spoil his young highness rotten, Immortal, such dazzling eyes,” Zi Mo quickly complimented as he female ghosted cooed at A–Yuan.

“Is he okay, Master?” Xiao Xingchen asked.

Baoshan Sanren sighed. “He is young and has suffered greatly,” they all frowned. “But he will be okay now.”

“Is it normal for his eyes to flash like that?” Wei Wuxian asked, looking at his son and grandmother when she flashed her glowing silver eyes at him and unexpectedly, he answered in kind.

“It is very normal,” She answered her eyes still glowing a beautiful silver. “When you were young, I imagine whenever your mother reached for you, your eyes would glow like A–Yuan’s with practice and control your eyes shouldn’t flare up for minute things.”

“And what happened just now?” Nie Huaisang questioned, fanning himself.

“He answered my call. We use it for discipline for any naughty children and other things,” Baoshan Sanren pinched A–Yuan’s cheek. “But my little one isn’t naughty right, my child?” she flashed her eyes and A–Yuan answered at same way, watching this without thinking Wei Wuxian’s eyes grew impossible soft to the point everyone was watching him with excessive interest.

Quickly Lan Wangji blocked him from view and with the Immortal attention on A–Yuan she didn’t see how the Second Master of Lan made them recoil in terror at his deadly silver eyes.

But that was their imagination, right?

Wei Wuxian pressed his back into the throne and sighed as he closed his eyes when he heard his voice.

‘Smile,’ The voice of Wei Wuxian echoed in the hall while many images flashed at the same time undistinguishable from one another but from the colors they saw a lot of red.

The Hall turned to the man in question, with elegant and expensive robes it was strange to hear such sadness in a commonly positive word.

‘Smile so they don’t see the crakes.’ He said timidly. ‘Laugh so if you cry, they think it’s of laughter. Be playful and touchy with others so they will never be as bold with you, never let them feel the scars under your robes. Be shameless so they never see the cracks of your soul.’

But the image changed again, and it was now daytime. The first thing at appeared was the banners of Gusu Lan as the image focused at the pristine and gorgeous mountain with water falls and luscious trees everywhere one would turn.

The Famous Cloud Recesses, the home of the Lan Clan and Sect.

“It’s so beautiful.”

“A paradise on earth.”

“The architecture is beyond this world.”

“The poems of Cloud Recesses don’t do it justice.”

They all praised the home of Gusu Lan until the image changed.

A boy was running at high speed up the mountain, his black and red robes and long black hair riding the wind as he panted with a smile on his face, behind him they could see a young man as well with different color robes when the passed a bridge the latter yelled.

“We made it! Let rest for a bit,” his hands were above his head as he stretched his body until his bone made a satisfying crack.

“If you get up late again, I won’t wait for you this time,” his companion told while the other laughed, turning to face him.

“It’s just being late. The worst punishment they can give us is kneeling for a couple of hours,” He said.

Xiao Xingchen frowned while drinking from his cup of tea.

Behind then a young man and his servant walked on a different path but lead them to the same destination.

Jin Zixuan tried not to cringe at his younger self as he made an appearance.

Thick golden robes with a snow peony in the center, hair held in a short ponytail. Wei Wuxian back was to the young boy, but he knew who it was immediately from what is core said.

‘Delicate flower of rotten gold,’ the voice said pitifully.

The Hall paused and started to whisper quickly after. So it was true! They were rivals trying to win the Young Lady of Yunmeng Jiang’s heart.

Jiang Cheng saluted first calling in a polite tone, “Jin–gongzi.”

But Jin Zixuan, arrogantly didn’t even pause his steps as he weakly brought his hand together to salute in the most disrespectful way and turned his face in the other direction without saying a word and walked away. 

“Jin Zixuan!” His mother roared making him and unexpectedly his father flinch as Jin Zixuan wife sighed beside him in disappointment.

‘Arrogant,’

‘Too weak to be arrogant,’

‘Unworthy for master’s eyes,’

‘Unworthy of master’s thoughts,’

Wei Wuxian couldn’t help even now agreed with his core as did the Hall, muttering their distaste.

He huffed and turned to his shidi. “Jin–gongzi is becoming more self-centered as the years go by.”

Jiang Wanyin crossed his arms and said. “Well, he can, Lanling Jin are as wealth as Kings, and he is their heir. Of course he’s pompous.”

Wei Wuxian smirked while Jiang Wanyin hit his shoulder making him lose his balance as he stumbled.

“I know what you’re thinking, Wei Wuxian, stop think about mischief!” he scolded, watching how his Da–shixiong massaged his lower back. “I’m warning you. Jin Zixuan is A–Jie’s fiancé and one day they’ll get married so deal with it even if you hate him.”

“Alright, alright.” He said, his face staring at the building a few meters away. “The Orchid Room, a very elegant name,” he praised.

And the disciples of Lan smiled at his words.

“But I heard the Old Master who teaches here is stiff.”

Lan Qiren glared at the image of the boy as he heard a cough disguising the undistinguishable sound of a cut laughter.

“But he’s a capable teacher,” Jiang Wanyin countered. “Even a useless and talentless person can become a decent man in 1 or 2 years with his guidance.”

Lan Qiren stroked his goatee.

“Am I not decent enough already?” Wei Wuxian shamelessly asked as the image moved to show Young Master Nie with a servant at his side.

“You look so young!” Wei Wuxian commented “You even have the same hairstyle, Nie–xiong.”

Nie Huaisang laughed, hiding behind his fan, his eyes wondering to the maiden next to him wanting to know her reaction.

“Jiang–xiong! Wei–xiong!” he shouted when he turned to face them.

They waved back at him.

“You’ll mark Master Lan’s career of teaching with disgrace,” Jiang Wanyin said.

The Immortal leaned forward, glaring and both the Lan and Jiang Sect, she dared them to comment on this.

“Young Master, isn’t Wei–xiong a disciple of Yunmeng Jiang?”

A breeze of air entered Pageantry Hall, cold and powered with spiritual energy. Nobody turned to the group up on the platform.

“How could he study in Cloud Recesses?” The servant beside Nie Huaisang asked and the Immortal scoffed.

“Wei–xiong is the son of Sect Leader Jiang old friends,” he responded. “So, he treats Wei–xiong like his own son.”

Sect Leader Ouyang loudly laughed as other cultivators were remained of what truly happened.

“Like his own son? As if he was their servants!”

“He was whipped too, remember?”

“Yes, by Zidian! Did that wench whip her son?

“Enough! Let us view these events in silence. We don’t need any of your opinions,” Xiao Xingchen ordered, glaring at the Hall.

“I see. That’s why they act like brothers and not master and servant.”

They majority bit their tongue at that comment, others snickering.

“Jiang–xiong, Wei–xiong. This is your first visit to Cloud Recesses, is it boring for you?”

When they were close Wei Wuxian felt his core vibrate with a whisper of interest. Both Nie brothers watched eagerly but nothing happened as his core just hummed.

Nie Huaisang opened his fan and glanced at Xiao Xingchen. “What does that mean?”

Xiao Xingchen eyebrow rose, “It can mean happiness or content with the company he is currently with.”

Nie Huaisang eyes sparkled, “Wei-xiong!” Wei Wuxian quickly turned to see Nie Huaisang wiping tears form his eyes. “You never told me how much you enjoyed my company,” He whined. Awkwardly the Patriarch nodded while looking at the rest of them for help. But he was glad when his voice interrupted them.

“Not really,” Wei Wuxian answered. “I just have a problem waking up early,” he said finishing it with a yawn.

Young Nie Huaisang fanned himself his mouth pursed in confusion. “We all wake up at 5:00. When do you get up?”

Crossing his arms and with a huff, Jiang Wanyin answered. “He gets up at 11:00 and sleeps at 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning. Once awake, he doesn’t train or mediate, he simple hunts pheasants, plays in the lake and eats lotus seeds.”

Although they couldn’t express their anger, many thought for a moment and reflected on the Young Sect Leader’s words. It was true Wei Wuxian hunted pheasants and ate lotus seeds. It was true woke up very late and sleep very late but the reason behind it was because of his duties, Jiang Fengmian pushed Wei Wuxian to do more duties than necessary, filling the role of an adult Sect Heir and adding the punishments Madam Yu gave him.

How could the boy sleep early and rise early when his core was healing all the damage that woman gave him the night before?

Not to mention all the class he had to catch up too.

“But I’m the champion of pheasant hunting,” he said happily.

“I want to study in Yunmeng Jiang next year! No one can stop me!” Nie Huaisang proudly said.

It made Wen Qing chuckle, watching the Young Master of Nie fondly. Nie Mingjue huffed staring at the younger version of his brother be so childish and carefree yet like Wen Qing he was fond about his brother.

“Nie–gongzi,” The young servant placed a hand on his shoulder and bowed his head. “No one will stop you but Sect Leader Nie will break your legs.”

Nie Huaisang pouted while Wei Wuxian laughed.

“Actually, I like it here. Gusu Lan is quite fun,” he said.

“Are you kidding, Wei–xiong?” he asked perplex with his hands behind his back. “Here’s my advice sincerely. Cloud Recesses is not like Lotus Pier.” Many in the Hall without thinking nodded. “During your stay in Cloud Recesses remember to not provoke a certain person.”

“Who? Lan Qiren?” he questioned, starting to walk towards the Orchid Room.

“No, not that old man.” Lan Qiren glared at Nie Huaisang while the ladder fanned himself, ignoring the man’s laser gaze. “His disciple, his favorite disciple. He’s One of the Twin Jades of Lan, Lan Wangji.”

“Lan Wangji? Lan Zhan?”

“Yes!” Huaisang answered. “He’s in charge of punishment and discipline in Cloud Recesses, he’s very skilled and everyone is scared of him.” He sighed then turned to Wei Wuxian. “We’re lucky since he’s been cultivating in seclusion for years so we don’t see him of–” Nie Huaisang squeaked, holding his fan in front of him as he took a step back.

Wei Wuxian turned; in that moment the wind had entered the classroom making the boy’s long ink hair move like gentle clouds with a white ribbon fluttering in sync.

The voice purred and for once Wei Wuxian was genuine shocked. He always felt the people around him and for him to not even sense him was… he couldn’t explain it.

Nie Huaisang turned to Xiao Xingchen to ask him more about reaching, but the man was smiling softly.

“Why is he here?” he asked as Lan Wangji turned just a bit to see his face.

‘Master!’ his core purred, and his body froze.

Everyone in the Hall froze suddenly. Wei Wuxian blushed but remained neutral even if he was fisting his robes like his life depended on it. His uncle tried to hide his flush state by looking elsewhere while Lan Wangji watched intently much to Baoshan Sanren anger.

Wei Wuxian core instantly remembered the night before while face showed genuine shock. Nie Huaisang observed the interaction his fan snapping open while glancing at Wei Wuxian turned face.

“Wei-xiong, did something happen?” he asked.

Wei Wuxian had a small smile as he paused. “Well…” he began recounting their meeting and ended it with how Lan Wangji broke his Emperor Smile with a huff.

  “Up passed curfew, drink wine and participating in an unauthorized fight!” he hit the palm of his hand with the closed fan three times. “Wei-xiong! All off these things are banned in Cloud Recesses! You just broke three rules!” he shoved three fingers in his face.

The Lan continent was speechless, the boy hadn’t even been in Cloud Recesses for twenty-four hours and he recklessly broke the rules without a care in the world.

“Can we truly blame the child?” a younger Elder asked, his fellow Elders stared at him in silences and Lan Qiren glared at the image. “The only place he knew at that time was Lotus Pier, although many of us believed Wei Wuxian was favored, it was the furthers thing from reality. Anything he did or didn’t do had the underlaying threat of punishment, his mentors feared for his safety but could do nothing in return as they were threatened as well.” He elaborated.

“So, we are supposed to be lenient to every disciple just because they have a tragic past?  What about the others that come to Gusu, how will we treat them? How are we even supposed to know their history?” An elder asked as others nodded along.

“Let us not get ahead of ourselves,” A female Elder mentioned. “It is too soon to have an opinion.” The first young Elder who spoke nodded as did the rest when her eyes found the Second Jade and bowed her head.

“The rules are more than ants,” Wei Wuxian muttered with a pout still watching Lan Wangji who continued to glare when a hand landed on his shoulder.

“He’s your enemy now. Good luck,” Jiang Wanyin said while Wei Wuxian smirked.

Lan Wangji glared at the image but more the words pierced his heart in an unimaginable way.

A bell ringed announcing the arrival of Grandmaster Lan Qiren, his posture rigid as he scanned the classroom full of young masters and disciples of various Sects and Clans.

“Good Morning, Grandmaster,” They all said together, bowing to the man as he hummed.

“Please sit down,” He ordered his hand stretched to grab a thick scroll letting the end fall on the wooden floor with a thud, the scroll traveled a great distance and still didn’t manage to unroll itself completely. The students’ eyes widened and they muttered uncertainly to the person beside them while head snapped in Lan Qiren direction. “These are the rules of Gusu Lan: No unauthorized fighting.

No promiscuity.

No killing in Cloud Recesses.

No wandering past curfew…” Lan Qiren continued to recite the rules

Gusu Lan sat straighter if it was even possible as many in the Hall groaned.

“Do not be late,”

“Are you really going to listen to the Rules of Cloud Recesses?” A Jin cultivator whined.

“Do not stand incorrectly,”

“Silence!” A Sect leader ordered his disciples. “You can all learn something so pay attention!” his disciples nodded at focused on the image.

“Do not be difficult with food,”

Wei Wuxian yawned and Baoshan Sanren rolled her eyes at the image of Lan Qiren.

“Do not talk doing meals,”

“How dare he make me listen to these rules when I was there when they were written,” she cursed under her breath and began to play with A–Yuan’s arms as the boy giggled.

“Do not sneer,”

“Do not sit improperly,” Just like how Wei Wuxian was right now, staring at Lan Wangji with a hand on his face.

‘How can he sit so proper listening to something so boring,’ he thought.

“Do not touch other–” Lan Wangji froze, but Lan Qiren stopped reciting and he sighed.

Something… most definitive a ruler smacked a table making Wei Wuxian flinch unbeknownst to other, his head turning to Lan Qiren direction.

His flinch, a remained of his pasted and all he endured, some heated glared were sent to the Jiang Continent as many bowed their heads while Sect Leader Jiang ignored their many eyes.

“Since no one bothered to read from the Wall of Discipline, I’m repeating them one by one now. Let’s see who can violate them and claim ignorance again!” his eyes landing on Wei Wuxian for just a moment.

Wei Wuxian smiled. ‘Is he talking about me?’

Stroking his goatee, Lan Qiren continued. “Someone is still not playing attention. Very well. Let us change topic.” His face turned to Wei Wuxian. “Wei Ying,” he called.

Baoshan Sanren sat elegantly her lips curved to a frown while her disciple clutched tightly his cup.

“How dare he call my Lord by his birth name,” Zi Mo hissed.

The Immortals eyes found Gusu Lan than Lan Qiren as she held contact her eyes glowing a heated silver, daring him to look away.

“Here!” he made a tiny giggle moving to the side so Grandmaster Lan could see him.

“Who was the first in the cultivation world to focus on the rise of his Clan instead of his Sect?” he asked.

“The Founder of Qishan Wen, Sect Leader Wen Mao,” he quickly answered.

“What was the profession of the Founder of Qinghe Nie Clan?” he questioned.

“A butcher,” he said.

Baoshan Sanren eyes grow sharper while Lan Qiren began to sweat.

“What are the differences of spirits, demons, ghosts, and monsters?”

“Spirits are formed from living non-human beings. Demons from living humans. Ghost from dead humans and monsters from dead non-human beings,” he effortlessly answered as the students watched him in awe and Jiang Wanyin sighed in relief.

“I think we should be writing this down, no?” a young disciple of Yuncheng Bao said and many disciple young and old began to take out scrolls and ink.

But Lan Qiren wasn’t done.

“There was an executioner with parents, a wife, and children. He executed over a hundred people in his lifetime.” He began to walk in the classroom until he stopped beside Wei Wuxian and turned his head. “He died a sudden death, his body left on the street for seven days with the buildup of resentful energy, he started to haunt and kill. What should be done?”

The students were clearly lost in thought as were the cultivators in Pageantry Hall while Wei Wuxian hummed to himself.

“Well…” was the only thing he said before Lan Qiren turned to his nephew.

“Wangji,” he called. “Tell him what should be done,” he told as Lan Wangji stood.

“Firstly, liberate him,” he began to recite. “Appeal to his sentiment towards family. Grant his dying wish and relieve and lingering obsessions, if it fails, suppressing is the next step.” At the moment Wei Wuxian promptly sat back down, slamming a piece of paper on his desk while he began to scribble, his thoughts distorted by a water like sound were rapid and easily came and went. Lan Wangji glanced at him, watching as he wrote away at the same time flawlessly reciting the next steps. “If his crimes are grave and resentful energy persists, exterminate him.” Behind Wei Wuxian, Nie Huaisang curious lend forward his mouth slightly open. “Cultivators should abide by this order in their exorcisms without fail,” He ended.

In the Hall many cultivators nodded, understanding the dangers one could encounter if one did not follow the steps correctly, many could get injured or worse.

“I have a question,” Wei Wuxian asked, lifting his brush.

Finally, Baoshan Sanren stopped her spiritual energy and turned her gaze at the image and Lan Qiren sighed in relief while nervously drinking his tea, his entire body felt strange, his golden core shaking as if wanting to jump out of his chest, his life force fading as dread consumed him. Lan Qiren hadn’t felt that in more than twenty years.

Baoshan Sanren raised her brow, wonder what question her grandson could have.

No even waiting for permission Wei Wuxian continued, and for Baoshan it irked her as the conversation continued The Immortal reached for her disciple and felt the same unsteadiness.

-Master,- he questioned, his emotions bleeding through the bond.

-Those crazy murdering bastards didn’t even give him formal education did they, A–chen,- she told directly forming it as a question when she already know the answer, feeling a swipe of energy from Xiao Xingchen just made her angrier.

-It is to be expected Master,- he began, his tone careful neutral. -The son of two powerful cultivators, an orphan, a street child could not be brighter than the sect heir from where he was rescued. From what we saw of his childhood he mostly was by Jiang Fengmian’s side and because of that mirrors most of his attitude. What Sect Leader asks for permission to speak?,- he questioned.

But Baoshan energy spiked in the connection. -It is about courtesy; a prince doesn’t speak his mind just because he can and more importantly this isn’t about rank or titles his education is deplorable compared to others and the shocking fact no one is correcting him is an issue as well. It is like they want him to misstep and do something of no return, as the Head Disciple of the Five Great Sects he must understand the dangers of his position.-

“Such a waste!”

Baoshan Sanren heard as she snapped her reaching from Xiao Xingchen shut.

“It’s not like I didn’t know this answer, but I was considering a fourth option,” Wei Wuxian said turning to face Lan Wangji.

“I have never heard of a fourth option,” the young second jade answered unfazed.

Many cultivators nodded along.

“I wonder what Wei Wuxian considers as a fourth option?” A cultivator of Nie asked.

Smiling a disciple of Ouyang said. “Maybe it has something to do with talismans since Young Master Wei is so talented at creating them.” Many agreed and waited in anticipation for what was going to be said next when Sect Leader Su Minshan mocked with a laugh.

“Or maybe he theorized his wicked path!”

Whispered began as all looked at Wei Wuxian.

“That can’t be possible he was so young!” An older cultivator of Nie voiced.

“That’s right he was just a boy,”

“Look at his childhood of course he’d create an evil path so he could escape,” An Elder of Jin spoke.

“With such a bright future I can’t fathom throwing it away for a dangerous and unrewarding path,” The eldest daughter of Yu mentioned crossing her arms.

“Sect Leader Su, do you even have proof of A–Ying practicing demonic cultivation when he was fifteen years old?” Xiao Xingchen questioned, his gaze slowly moving towards his marital nephew.

“Sect Leader said theorized never practiced,” A disciple of Su softly defeated.

Wei Wuxian glanced somewhere else while Nie Huaisang voice hitched and tried to cover it up with his fan while the Wen Remnants stared at Lan Wangji who stared at Wei Wuxian. At the bottom of the Hall, Jiang Wanyin scowled.

Out of nowhere Wei Wuxian shoved a drawing into Lan Wangji’s face. “The executioner died a horrible death, so he’ll certainly turn into a fierce corpse because the executed hundreds of people sooo… why not dig up the grave of his victims and use the resentful energy and let the hundreds of victims fight against the fierce corpse?”

Around him the students gaped, Lan Qiren trembled in fury while Jiang Cheng smacked his hand on his face at hearing Wei Wuxian speak. A wooden cane whooshed into view as Lan Qiren smacked Wei Wuxian’s hand.

“The essence of purging evil is to liberate them. How dare you think of arousing resentful energy instead?” his voice grew louder. “You are reversing the natural order, disregarding ethics and morality!” He threw a scroll at the boy but he dodged and hit Nie Huaisang in the process. 

“Spiritual energy is energy; resentful energy is also energy. So why can’t resentful energy be used as well?” he asked.

Glaring, Lan Qiren straightened is posture. “Then let me ask you this. How will you make such the resentful energy obeys you and not harm others?”

Wei Wuxian pondered for a moment and sighed. “I haven’t thought of that yet,” he muttered.

“If you’ve thought of it than the cultivation world will not allow your existences to continue!”

“SCRAM!!!” he shouted, throwing as many scrolls as possible while Wei Wuxian ran out of the classroom.

Pageantry Hall was silent, none looking at Wei Wuxian. His throat began to close as the silence became deafening. When he felt a hand on his shoulder that made him flinch, hesitant to turn, he heard.

He was growing quite tired.

“Ignore them, Young Master Wei,” Wen Ning said kindly, a reminder of when Wei Wuxian said the same to Wen Ning at the beginning of the archery competition.

“Correct,” His Immortal grandmother said. “You had a reason to create the path you did and none of these insects have the right to judged you.”

But Wei Wuxian didn’t even look her way, his eyes fixated on his lap.

“A man cannot shake a proud mountain, a mortal cannot see in total darkness, a lover cannot guarantee faithfulness. But we must believe… I believe.” She smiled.

“Waipo,” he called shyly.

“Yes, my Ying–er.” Wei Wuxian blushed.

“Thank you.”

The image changed… the sound of water slashing entered their ears while the scenery of mountains with a lake below under the moon light was peaceful along with the song of animals wondering in the night, but the moment shifted to a group of commoners in the middle of a docker with lanterns in their hands, a woman rocked her child trying to console the tiny bundle.

“Da-ge, you said the boat would arrive tonight,” she told.

“Well, it should be here by now,” he said trying to assure her.

“We’ve waited for so long,” An older man commented.

“Why are they so impatient?” a cultivator asked rolling his eyes.

“Mortals value their time since they have so little compared to us,” a Sect Madam, Madam Bao said.

“It’s coming! It’s coming!” a man shouted moving closer to the dock as a giant ship began to sail into the river.

But the cultivators in the Hall were the first to notice how damage the ship was. The wooden structure with missing frames and others falling as it continued to sail while the mainsail and jib had holes.

“How is it even sailing?” A young disciple asked.

“It must be because of the curtain of the river. I’m surprised it hasn’t sunk,” he said with wonder.

“The boat’s here! Gather your things,” A man shouted to the group behind him. The humble people clutching the few belonging they had wrapped in old sheets of fabric behind their back.

“Somethings in the water,” they muttered, watching what appeared to be a miniature hurricane speeding under the ship like a predator hunting its prey.

The water seemed calm under the moon light reflecting its cold white light on the crystal water until the water turned chaotic, waves forming in seconds as the ghostly boat fought to stay a float but the water grew fiercer and in a blink of an eye tentacles of water shot up into the air.

“The signs of a waterborne abyss,” A cultivator with black and grey robes highlights by the pops of a light blueish purple mentioned in a deep voice. Xiao Xingchen turned in the direction and at the very entrance was a sizeable group of cultivators wearing the same robes as the man just a little different. Their Sect Leader was next to that man… Xiao Xingchen’s reach.

“Who’s going to save those people?” A disciple of Hedong Fu asked.

The commoner screamed and backed away.

“Water ghost! WATER GHOST!”

A disciple from Pingyang Yao laughed. “These idiots doing even know the different between a water ghost and a waterborne abyss,” he mocked.

“What… what can we do? How are we going home?” the man whispered in defeat, seeing how the limbs of water moved closer to the rocking ship until a group of cultivators raced to the waterborne abyss

“Qishan Wen,” the Hall murmured.

“Qishan Wen Clan is here to purge evil,” an old man announced as the group of commoner turned to the sound. “Stand back everyone!” he ordered.

“Beginning the formation!”

The formation was neat and concise, the disciples knowing their stop to heart moved as one while small shields of yang energy moved in the air, in seconds it formed an even bigger seal pushing the waterborne abyss until it started to disintegrate by the strong yellow light from the cultivators, the action creating huge waves of water tearing the dock the commoners once stood on. 

“They didn’t suppress it?” a young disciple mentioned in the silent hall. “Hanguang-jun said after liberation, suppression is next so why…”

“It would take a couple hundred cultivators to liberate it depending on the amount of resentful energy it has so it would be extremely difficult to liberate a waterborne abyss when you have mediocre cultivators doing the task,” Xiao Xingchen responded.

“The majority of disciples of Celestial Mountain could easily liberate a waterborne,” The Immortal told as Xiao Xingchen nodded.

“Jinxiao would have been very excited if he had the chance to slay a waterborne abyss.”

The immortal laughed while the cultivators were shocked, confused and at the same time embarrassed.

The commoner cheered, singing praise to the cultivators of Qishan Wen until they saw a younger man move to the leader.

“But Master, we just pushed the waterborne downstream we didn’t liberate like Sect Leade–”

The disciple received a smack on the head.

“How inappropriate you are!” he spat. “We can’t defeat a waterborne abyss even if Sect Leader ordered just too.”

“But downstream is Gusu Lan territory, I’m afraid…”

“What about it?” the old man asked casually. “We have more than half the Cultivation World as allies. What can those monks of Gusu Lan do?”

“But Maste–”

“Enough, let’s move!”

“How dare Qishan Wen send a waterborne abyss to our sect!” a Lan Elder hissed.

Ouyang Aisi rolled his eyes. “Wen Ruohan wanted it to be liberated, eliminated, exterminated. He didn’t plan to send it to Gusu Lan, it was an unfortunate accident.”

“Unfortunate accident you say? Of course, you defeat him since you were his ally,” the man accused, but could he really accuse him since it was true?

Sect Leader Ouyang raised his eyebrow in a mocking manner. “Yes, I was until our views didn’t align, at the time Sect Leader Wen was furious and punishment the old man then was kicked out of Qishan Wen,” his eyes when to Wen Qing who nodded in conformation.

A flexible branch with tiny leaves entered the water enticing a small koi fish while Wei Wuxian felt his core stir but the boy ignored it and pretended like no one was coming closer.

‘So, class just ended?’ he thought as he heard Nie Huaisang shout his name.

Wei Wuxian turned and behind Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang was Lan Wangji. Leaning back, he shouted. “Wangji–xiong!” he waved his hand, smiling brightly to the boy who turned and ignored him.

‘Why?’ he asked while his golden core sadly whined. But on the outside Wei Wuxian appeared unaffected as he said.

“He ignored me.”

Jiang Cheng huffed. “I’d be surprised if he gives you the time of day especially with what you said in class.” Wei Wuxian pouted. “We’re in Gusu Lan, you saying those thing in front of Grandmaster Lan and Second Young Master Lan are a death sentence.”

“That’s right, Wei-xiong,” Nie Huaisang mentioned, gripping his fan as he walked closer. “Lan Wangji…” Wei Wuxian perked up. “He’s never been this impolite to anyone. However, I find your theory very interesting,” Nie Huaisang blurted, and Wei Wuxian eyes widened.

“A–Sang,” Nie Huaisang brother warned, sending him a glare.

“My talent was probably stolen when I was still in the womb since when I was little, I had difficulty forming my golden core.”

“Really?” Wei Wuxian asked, looking up from where he was dipping the branch in the water creating tiny ripples.

“Yeah, I followed every teacher and book but nothing until later. But think about resentful energy if I could use that it would be wonderful!” he said with a sparkle in his eye.

Pageantry Hall stared at the Young Master of Qinghe Nie with suspicion yet vanished when they realized it was Nie Huaisang, a Young Master who is known for loving pretty thing, bird watching and painting fans they couldn’t help pitying the young man for wanting to live a life free of the Red Blade Master’s high expectations.

“Well, if we could cultivate readily available resentful energy imagine the place we could go and clean the place of such dense spots, those areas wouldn’t even be considered forbidden anymore like Yiling Burial Mounds could become a fortunate land.”

The ghost and Wen Qing tensed.

“Enough of your nonsense, you’re going out of hand,” Jiang Cheng scolded.  “You can speak of it but never do it, don’t walk that wicked evil path.”

“Why would I leave my brood paved path for a single narrow dirt road surround by murky water?” He questioned; his head angled with a perfect view of Jiang Cheng. “If it was easy someone would have invented it,” he said, standing from his spot as he walked towards his marital sibling, wrapping his arm around his neck. “Come on, let’s hunt pheasants!” he smirked, and Jiang Cheng moved away.

“Cut it out we aren’t in Lotus Pier, besides Lan Qiren wants you to copy the book of Virtue and Rightness three times,” he told.

“What? Three times! I’ll ascend to heaven first before I finished the first copy,” he argued.

Baoshan Sanren inhaled deeply and closed her eyes.

“Immortal,” Zi Mo said softly hovering behind her throne. “No justice is done with mere thoughts. What you think will not occur both in the past and future.”

“Your words are not wanted, General,” she hissed.

“But they are needed, my Empress.”

Baoshan Sanren chuckled. “I am no longer your Empress, Zi Ruiqing.”

“And yet I proudly serve the Blood of Yin in death, Yin–”

“You dare cheat in your exams, Huaisang!” Nie Mingjue shouted. Baoshan Sanren recognized the sign of a growing headache but hearing all these simpletons.

“I didn’t cheat!” Nie Huaisang argued back, turning his back at his older brother.

“Because Wei Wuxian didn’t let you,” he countered, and the rest of the Hall ignored their discussion as they watched the three teens walk up the stairs to Gusu Lan’s library.

The boys talked some more until the view of Cloud Recesses beautiful library with hills and waterfalls in the ground painted an ethereal and magical place many had not seen.

“Huaisang, Old Man Lan said no one can help me copy but how will he know?” Wei Wuxian asked, pushing the ancient wooden doors open. “You can help me,” he mentioned smirking over his shoulder to the Young Nie Heir.

“It’s not like he’ll send someone to supervise me?” he uttered. 

“He will,” his martial brother said, crossing his arms.

“What did you say?” he breathed and turned to the center of the library was a young man with impeccable white robes, in his left hand was the book of Rightness and in his right hand a first-class brush, transcribing word per word with deep concentration until his eyes flicker for just a moment up, his eyes bore into Wei Wuxian as did his.

“Lan Zhan,” he squeaked quietly paralyzed as Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang quickly left without a word and Wei Wuxian yelled for them. When he turned around Lan Wangji had started writing again.

‘I´ll be alone with him for a month.’ At the thought his eyes flashed silver and blushed, until as if remembering something he sulked and muttered to himself.

“He’s so quiet… Old Man Lan wants to torture me for a month.” Immediately he sat in front of Lan Wangji and began to pester him with a sly smile.

“Wangji-xiong, I have a question,” he expressed, yet Lan Wangji continued writing unbothered. “Do you really hate me?” he asked.

Silence.

“Why are you ignoring me?” he questioned in frustration until he began to tap his fingers on the table then moved them like little legs.

‘What do I need to call you to get a response?’ he thought.

Pageantry Hall seemed genuinely interested in this as many chuckled or giggled at the childish nature of the Yiling Patriarch.

The Young Hanguang-jun continued to write; Wei Wuxian moved behind him as he teased.

“Wangji…”

“Lan Wangji…” he moved to his right.

“Lan Zhan!” he sat on the table while the Elders who watched spat at the uncivilized boy, but Wei Wuxian moved closer and directly in Lan Wangji’s ear he said. “Or should I call you Master Lan?” he asked in a teasing way as he sat on the Lan Heir’s sleeve while he wiggled around in thought.

‘Restrain,’ A voice they haven’t heard before gritted.

Wei Wuxian eyes widened as he unconsciously wetted his lips when he glanced at his zhiji.

“Oh I got it!” Wei Wuxian exclaimed. “Lan-erge!” He smiled with pride while Lan Wangji glared at him.

‘Restrain him,’ The voice shifted to a deeper tone and at that moment Lan Wangji placed the Famous Lan Silence Spell on Wei Wuxian, his face turned a cherry red as he ran around a few seconds, Lan Wangji watched but did nothing. His classmate sat back down again, slammed a piece of paper on the table, snatched a brush and briskly started to write. When he was done, he shoved the piece of paper into Lan Wangji face.

The Hall read aloud loud. “I’m sorry, Wangji-xiong, please remove the Silence Spell.”

‘Good,’ the voice said. Wei Wuxian continued to stare at Lan Wangji.

“Doesn’t that voice sound familiar?” Nie Huaisang shared his eyes glancing at the Lan cultivator beside him.

The Second Heir of Lan glance at it for an instant, then continued to read the Book of Rightness. Moving his body chaotically Wei Wuxian grabs another piece of paper, golden eyes track his movement only to see a wolf and chicken drawing. Lan Wangji grabbed the paper, folded it neatly and placed it in the empty box for disposal.

They all laughed as Wei Wuxian murmured only for the ones high up to hear.

“You’re enjoying my suffering, Hanguang-jun?” He teased.

“Pathetic,” Lan Wangji said and undid the silence spell.

‘He’s so mean,’ Wei Wuxian thought while he said. “I felt to smothered. Hey, Lan Zhan!” he shouted. “I honestly wanted to apologized! And–and why are you like this?”

“One more word and I wont undo it,” He threatened while Wei Wuxian gaped.

The whole Lan Clan and Sect blood pressure dropped in that moment hearing their shameless Young Master, although Lan Wangji was correct in disciplining Wei Wuxian they couldn’t see pass the hidden meaning behind his threat.

“Young Master Lan is quite…”

“Cold,” A cultivator of Nie said.

“Stiff,” A Senior Disciple of Lanling Jin shared.

“Repressed.” She ended only for her ears.

The scene changed once more, showing the flashes of moments shared by the two Young Masters accompanied by text.

“Diligence is your core, virtue precedes all,” a young disciple of Yunmeng Jiang voiced.

“Harmony is of value, learning leads the way,” An Elder of Yingchuan Wang said.

“Be earnest and love generously…” A female disciple of Yu started as her older brother continued the line. “Honor your teachers and their guidance,” he said glazing at his Laoshis.

“Be modest and display comity…” Jin Zixuan recited. “Attain both loyalty and filial piety,” Jiang Yanli said only to frown a second later.

“Without trust, nothing is true,” Lan Xichen said glazing at his younger brother with a smile.

“With faith, everything is viable,” Lan Wangji continued.

“When your faith is unwavering, even rocks can be fractured,” Nie Huaisang recited perfectly not even looking at the image as he fanned himself, watching his Dage and Wen Qing.

“One month Later,” An elder spoke.

Wei Wuxian was writing well it appeared to be as his focus was solely on the page, his brush elegantly gliding on the white canvas. In the background, Lan Wangji was reading a book and from time his gaze when to Wei Wuxian until the boy appeared in front of him.

He laughed softly. “Young Master Lan, it’s been a month! So I won’t be coming in tomorrow.” Wei Wuxian than held a piece of paper in front of Lan Wangji. “This is my farewell gift.”

Lan Wangji mouth became slightly opened, his eyes moved to every perfect stroke, thick and tiny, several strokes were chaotic and messy, others beautiful and elegantly as if made with the utmost care. This portrait… Lan Wangji’s portrait was breathtakingly beautiful.

“A true Master of the Six Arts, Young Master Wei.”

“Elegant, simply elegant!”

“Wei-xiong we can paint fans together!”

Wei Wuxian laughed and nodded at Nie Huaisang much to the ire of Jiang Wanyin.

Closing his book, Lan Wangji complaining accepting this gift but ultimately, placing his book on the closest shelf, the image showing the title Poem Collection of Lan An. Wei Wuxian smiled. Grabbing the portrait Lan Wangji carefully examined it again, his eyebrows crinkled until they saw the Second Master of Lan with a beautiful peony on his head, Wei Wuxian bursted in laughter.

The Hall was shocked, eyes wide while Baoshan Sanren and her disciple laughed, as if on cue the Wen Remnants began to giggle and laugh.

“Do you like my gift, Lan-gongzi?”

“Pa–“ Lan Wangji began

"Pathetic,” Wei Wuxian said in a similar tone to Lan Wangji. “Again, am I right? Can you not say another word, Lan Zhan?” he asked smirking when his eyes landed on a blue covered book.

‘Play, play, play!’ his core sang happily.

“Extremely pathetic,” Lan Wangji replied in a deep voice, turning away for just a second while Wei Wuxian moved the book.

“What is our Lord doing?” Hui Fen asked, her head tilted to the side.

Lan Wangji reached to the book on the shelf, opening it, allowing his thumb to let the pages to fall until he found the poem he was reading, the moment he stopped his eyes widened and dropped the book only for it to fall on the ground reveling the contents.

It was a book of erotic art.

Wei Wuxian laughed as Lan Wangji seethed.

“WEI WUXIAN!” Lan Qiren shouted, standing from his seat while he glared and pointed at the froze young man sitting in his throne. Wei Wuxian fought the urge to ran away or curl into a ball and just die when his laughter continued to echo in the Hall. “How dare you corrupt my nephew?”

Baoshan Sanren eyes snapped at him as did Xiao Xingchen. Lan Xichen grabbed hold of his uncle’s sleeve while whispering in his ear to stop.

“Wei Ying!” Lan Wangji growled.

Falling to the ground to laugh some more he responded. “Here! I’m here!”

“You!” Lan Wangji began but bit his tongue. ‘Make his obey,’ he darkly thought as he looked at his sword hanging to the wall.

Wei Wuxian’s eyes widened when he heard his thought, face beginning to heat.

The sound of a sword being pulled out of his sheathed and Wei Wuxian sit up right, only for his face to fall as he pulled the book close to him and running to the table like his life depended on it and took Suibian in his hand, pushing it in front of him like a shield.

“Manners!” was the only think he could utter, staring at an angry Lan Wangji. “Second Young Master of Lan! Mind your manners!”

“Is he serious right now? He provoked him obviously there’ll be consequences!” A Disciple of Lan said.

Wei Wuxian continued. “If we fight here, would the library be safe?”

“You!” Lan Wangji gritted, clutching his sword with such force his spiritual energy began to leak. “What sort of person are you?” He questioned his whole body trembling with adrenaline.

“But a man, of course!” Wei Wuxian answered. “It’s just some erotic art, every man has seen it.”

All blushed at the easy response of the Yiling Patriarch.

“Don’t tell me you’ve never seen it before?” he asked as his pitying Lan Wangji until. “So you really never–”

“Shut up!”

The Lan Continent stilled.

Lan Wangji spiritual energy stilled poured out of him until they could physically see it.

“You’re really shameless!” He slashed Bichen perfectly and a blue stroke of light made the books and papers of the library fly in the air when another slash hit Wei Wuxian making him drop the book.

Wei Wuxian core whimpered.

“Lan–gongzi, calm down, calm down! Unsanctioned duals are forbidden in Cloud Recesses,” he tried to reason, his head turned to the book rising high in the air, seeing this Lan Wangji jumped for the book as did Wei Wuxian. They both grabbed it that the same time and with the force of two cultivators they slammed their arms onto the low table, making the room shake under their strength while they battled for the book. Around them loose papers rained like the leaves on an airily fall afternoon. They both held tightly the book, when icily golden eyes pierced Wei Wuxian as he ordered.

“Let go.”

  “Why? I thought you didn’t want to read it,” Wei Wuxian commented. Acting surprised he boy continued. “Oh, so you do want to take a look.” His eyes had a hint of something as he told. “You’re not speaking truthfully, Lan–gongzi.”

Trembling with rage he rasped. “I’m. Not. Looking.” His hand clutched the book harder.

“Them why are you holding the book so tightly?” he hummed, moving closer. “Are you going to hand it to Oldman Lan? No– no I mean your uncle. Don’t do that Lan Zhan! What if he suspects you read this too, won’t you be embarrassed?”

“Wei Wuxian!”

“You!” he stood taking the book with him. “All because of you– I–”

“Why are you stuttering? Second Master of Lan his truly a gentleman, the purest of white jade.” They began to pull the book to tightly and as Wei Wuxian continued to talk the book start to tear. “Scholarly on the outside, while flushed on the inside. Learning avidly with diligence, sitting upright like a mighty tree. If your Elders learned of this, what would they–” his train of thought stopped when Lan Wangji sent a burst of energy to his hand and destroyed the book into tiny pieces.

Wei Wuxian laughed, “That was a fine piece of erotic, quite expensive. We could have shared it if you hadn’t destroyed it.” Turned his back to Lan Wangji and said. “I’m not helping, you clean up.”

“Scram,” Lan Wangji muttered.

“What? Scram you say? You actually said scram!” He walked around the boy. “Oh my, Lan Zhan. They all say your courteous and righteous, well–versed in the art of etiquette but who knew you can be so rude. Aiyah!”

“SCRAM!”

“That’s Caiyi,” A cultivator told.

“Biling Lake,” A Lan Cultivator added.

In the lake there was a single boat with a small lantern with small insect singing in the night the fisher man didn’t see that the tug on his fishing line was a corpse and not a fish as the boat rocked until it flipped on itself and a dozen corpses consumed him until he became one of them.

The sun shined in the clear waters of Biling Lake as Young Master Nie boat created small ripples of waves while he fanned himself with his new purchase. It was costed with a good nugget of silver, but it was worth it.

“It is a beautiful fan,” Nie Huaisang happily commented.

Nie Mingjue took in a larger amount of air in his lung and simply ignored his younger brother.

“Bridge riding over the stream, houses resting by the river. Caiyi  Town is truly worthy of its name,” he told, standing as he took in the view, abruptly the closed his fan when he heard laughter, close to the docks was an ice cream shop.

“Heaven is on my side!” Wei Wuxian exclaimed while Jin Zixuan rolled his eyes as his servants prepared his boat.

Cautiously Jin Zixuan pretended the eyes of his mother weren’t penetrating his skull.

“The little prude is busy exorcising,”

The Immortal and Zi Mo smiled at the comparison while The Wen Remnants smiled in fondness and Lan Wangji glanced at Wei Wuxian.

“The Old prude is busy attending the Discussion Conference in Qinghe Nie. I have such a luck strike!” he finished while taking a bite of his ice cream.

In front of him, Jiang Cheng wore a bored expression, his hand on his chin as he lazily stared at his Da-shixiong. His eyebrow rose as he asked.

“Luck? You’ve offended the whole Gusu Lan Clan. After Lan Qiren returns you’ll definitely be punished and I won’t bury your corpse.”

“Why does everything lead to punishment when it’s Wei-gongzi?” A brave recently promoted female disciple of Lanling Jin said.

“You’ve already buried my corpse so many times, Jiang Cheng, what’s wrong with once more? Beside whom cares about what happens after death? Live a plentiful life!” he paused for a moment before continuing to rant about ice cream and how many his shijie would love it.

It brought a smile on Jiang Yanli face.

Then Wei Wuxian began to sniff the air like a dog.

It sent a chill down the Yiling Patriarch’s spine accompanied by a horrified face.

Wine!’ his golden core chirped excitedly. “The scent of rice wine!” Running to the closest boat, Wei Wuxian launched himself.

“Be careful your going to capsize!” Jiang Cheng shouted while Wei Wuxian’s hands quickly took hold of the long bamboo pole and steering the boat in the direction of the scent.

“Thanks for your concern!” he said but his mind and core were on one thing.

‘Wine!’

“His ability to smell wine at such a distance is impressive,” Nie Mingjue muttered.

He didn’t even notices that above him were the Twin Jades of Gusu Lan watching as he sailed away.

“He is quite lively,” Lan Xichen commented, his eyes staying on the youth for a moment.

“Why did you bring them here, brother?” his younger brother asked while dodging his comment. “Fooling around is inappropriate during an exorcism,” Lan Wangji uttered. “The water ghouls in Biling are strange, we many encounter a difficult journey.”

“The Head Disciple and the only son, the Heir of Yunmeng Jiang are quite well–known in their land. It’s likely they know more than just fooling around.” His face turned back to face his younger brother directly with a kind smile. “Also, didn’t you wish for him to come along? You looked as if you wanted the Head Disciple of Yunmeng Jiang to come with us.”

Lan Wangji’s eyes widened.

“That’s why I agreed,” Lan Xichen told.

“Was Sect Leader Lan playing matchmaker?” A group of female disciples of Baling Ouyang asked than began to whisper amongst themselves.

Lan Wangji’s head moved to the side just as Wei Wuxian’s boat passed by, his irises moved on instinct until he closed them.

“No such thing,” He said.

Smiling Lan Xichen thought. ‘Don’t lie to yourself, A–Zhan.’

Stilling rowing his boat in search of his wine his focus elsewhere when his boat collided with another as he answered a beautiful young lady’s question.

He quickly saluted, apologizing for the mess when Jin Zixuan glared at Wei Wuxian, throwing his cup into the river in a fit of rage.

“A–Xuan!” his mother scolded him; his flinch didn’t go unnoticed by Jiang Yanli.

“Did you do that on purpose, Wei Wuxian,” He accused. “Why must your boat collide with mine when the river is so width?” he mused.

“My apologize, Jin-gongzi! Let me repay you with some new rice wine,” He offered politely again with another bow.

“Wei-gongzi is very kind,” the daughter of Hedong Fu Sect Leader said behind her sleeve in a shy manner as she glanced at said kind Young Master.

“No need,” Jin Zixuan rudely answered while the cleaned himself with a handkerchief.

“Okay since Young Master Jin doesn’t mind I’ll–” he had already turned around when Jin Zixuan barked.

“I’ll be at peace when your Yunmeng Jiang Clan stays away from me!”

Wei Wuxian head immediately snapped at him.

At the same time many eyes glanced at the couple. Jin Zixuan silently endured it as well Jiang Yanli was accustomed to the looks of pity; she received her entire live. The whole of Yunmeng Jiang opened glared at the Jin’s yet nothing could be really said since they were now married and had a child.

However it didn’t stop the other Sects and Clans from sharing their opinions.

“How can he say that about Young Lady Jiang Family?”

“Does any Jin know courtesy?” An Elder of Nie boldly asked.

“Right, just look at the lot!” Answered a disciple of Rong.

“Showered with gold, one is not rich,” a young Lan Disciple quoted.

“Who would say anything to his blatant disrespect of a fellow Great Sect?” One asked as the Hall became silent.

They didn’t need an answer to this particular question since glowing silver eyes glared at them.

“What do you mean?” Wei Wuxian coldly asked, brilliant silver piercing Jin Zixuan.

Jin Zixuan body shifted boastfully, his sword beside him and he huffed.

Wei Wuxian fisted his hands tightly as his core spoke to him

‘Arrogant peacock! So weak with his status,’

Jin Zixuan tensed, his eyes lowering to his lap until he snapped his eyes at Wei Wuxian who was surprisingly staring at him.

‘Do you still believe me has weak?’ he thought, as his lip pursed. ‘Did I even get your blessing when I took your shijie’s hand?’

As if the Heaven’s rained their blessings Nie Huaisang boat came into view.

“Relax,” he spoke softly, facing the Jin Heir directly. “Let’s all calm down,” he said with a gentle hum, waving his fan hesitantly.

“Young Master Nie, a piece of advice.” He observed the Head of Yunmeng Jiang from the corner of his eyes, tone condescending. “It’s said that one takes on the color of their company. Someone such as yourself should pick more wisely, to neglect one’s studies for moments pleasure is the opposite of what your elder brother wants,” he told than ordered his servants to steer the boat down a different path when the vessel began to shake uncontrollably. “WEI WUXIAN, YOU-!”

“Of course, you’d blame our Lord for every negative occurrence,” Hui Fen snapped, glaring at Jin Zixuan.

“Don’t look at me!” Wei Wuxian said calmly his arms in the arm while looking at the water. 

The boats shook again.

“This is strange,” Jin Zixuan mentioned, his head moving back and forth trying to find something in the water.

“What’s happening?” Nie Huaisang his confusion evident as the water moved like it had a mind of its own.

“Get out of there!” A cultivator of Nie shouted.

‘Master!’ Wei Wuxian core loudly pulsed as a wave of water charged to Nie Huaisang and a water ghoul jumped out of the water aiming at the defenseless boy when a bamboo pool smacked the creature in the face sending it back to the water, because of the impact of the two boat Nie Huaisang stumbled and fell while screams started and grew louder as more water ghouls began to sprout in the lake.

“Water ghouls!” The residents of Caiyi town shouted , running for their lives. Stalls of fruits and vegetables and other articles were abandoned, people fighting to be the first to get away. A cry was heard in the distance, a water ghoul had caught a young girl, it began to drag her under until a slash of red spiritual energy cut the creature in half.

“It’s Da–shixiong,” the older disciples that actually knew Wei Wuxian said to the younger, their eyes sparkled at the presence their Senior had.

“Help!” Nie Huaisang yelled and Wei Wuxian eyes flashed silver as he ran to Nie Huaisang boat, a massive water ghoul had placed its body weight on the tip of the boat, it rose and Nie Huaisang continued to scream and hold on to the reeling. Hearing this Jin Zixuan pushed himself to help but more water ghouls keep coming and Wei Wuxian was facing the same problem until out the nowhere his entire body relaxed and his golden core hummed happily.

‘Candidates,’ His core breathed softly.

Everyone in the Hall eyes widened, some eyes going to Sect Leader Lan and others to the Second Master of Lan. Jiang Wanyin jaw was tightly locked.

Light blue wisps of spiritual energy cut the ghouls that were near the boats and the waters instantly calmed as a young and handsome Lan Xichen landed elegantly on top of Nie Huaisang boat.

Once it was clear Nie Huaisang warily walked out and he shyly said. “Thank you, this young–” his eyes widened as Lan Xichen gave his famous smile. “Xi– Xi–gege!”

On another boat Wei Wuxian flashed uncontrollably.

Wei Wuxian quickly sliced a water ghoul without looking, his spine his sword in a circle beside him as his marital brother landed on top of a boat next to him.

“We got this,” Jiang Chen confidently said.

As talismans speeded pass him and his golden core flared with excitement instantly recognizing who was powering them.

‘Candidate!’ His golden core purred. Watching the water ghouls being suppressed while other fled into the cold deeps of Caiyi Lake. Wei Wuxian immediately turned his gaze at the Second Jade of Lan when he landed on the boat next to his. 

“The water ghouls are retreating,” A Lan disciple announced as Lan Xichen appeared at his brother’s side.

Lan Wangji turned and said to his older brother. “Biling Lake is not the only place haunted by water ghouls.”

Lan Xichen eyes took in all the damage the town suffered in such a short amount of time.

“The situation appears more severe than I thought.” His gaze falling on the young Nie. “Huaisang, you’ll be staying here since you don’t have your saber.”

“A wise chose!” Nie Huaisang said happily.

“Everyone else,” he said in a soft but commanding voice. “Come with me to Biling Lake.”

“How many disciples did you take on this mission, Sect Leader Lan?” Asked Sect Leader Zhao.

Lan Xichen was in a daze, his mind blank while continuously drinking tea and snacking on the many things the servants placed on his table. Said servants couldn’t even take a break since it took minutes for him to consume everything on the table when they came back with more refreshments everything was gone.

None of the Lan’s said a word, Lan Qiren didn’t scold his nephew or Sect Leader. Discreetly, there were times Nie Mingjue tried to capture his attention, Lan Xichen would look at him, his eyes would soften like they always did when he stared at his Da-ge, but then something would happen and he’d stiffly drink his tea.

Lan Xichen in all honesty was trying to ignore everyone as politely as he could since he was reveled to be a potential, and more so with all the interactions he had with Young Master Wei during and after the war. His mind was elsewhere, combing every conversation or potential conversation they had. What pained him the most was what he once said to the man in Yunmeng Jiang.

He dreaded the moment it would be played for all to see. He didn’t care what others thought of him. that day he ignored the rules of Gusu Lan, brushed away the voices that told him to stay silent, it was not the place or time to say what he said, he disregarded everything and spoke his heart.

Lan Xichen regretted it now.

“Sect Leader Lan,” Sect Leader Zhao called again and Lan Xichen smiled.

“Ahh, yes… We–” he paused for a second his head turning to the image. He saw the familiar surrounding of Biling Lake and many boats. ‘What did Sect Leader Zhao ask?’ He thought.

“More than thirty disciples,” Lan Wangji answered instead.

“Young Master Lan, has Caiyi Town been haunted by water ghouls before?” Wei Wuxian curiously asked as he rowed his boat with a long bamboo stick.

“Never,” Lan Xichen answered. “This is only recent, I had formations and nest already set up in Biling Lake and it caught a dozen water ghouls. Most of the corpses were unidentifiable by the locals.”

“How strange! Water ghoul are very pick about their territory, they never stray to far from the spot the died, it’s rare for them to leave. ”

“No wonder Rumi River is infested with water ghouls since many people die in those waters!” A junior disciple of Meishan You commented.

“Yes, we experience the same problem in our Bailuo Lake,” Sect Leader of Hedong Fu told.

“I believe that your water are infested is because of all the water ghouls that come from Fudu Port,” A female Senior Disciples of Qin said, ignoring her Sect Leader’s glare.

“Fudu Port?” Wei Wuxian questioned.

“Fudu Port is the where many of our merchandise enters and many ships have suffered grave consequences, out of the dozens shipments were receive at least one or two sink,” Qin Su commented.

“One or two ships,” Wei Wuxian and Jin Guangshan said in different tones. Wei Wuxian appeared concern while Jin Guangshan smiled tightly at Sect Leader Qin.

“So catching it with nets will be tricky.”

The voice of the Young Wei Wuxian snapped everyone’s attention back to the investigation of Biling Lake.

“If only there was a device that can pin point the position of resentful energy like a compass,” he casually blurted then he was splashed with water.

“Is is even possible for there to be such a device?” Madam Ouyang asked, squeezing her husband’s hand that was on his lap to gain his attention. Attentive eyes were on her as he answered.

“I believe his highness can accomplish everything he has in mind, my love.”

She nodded and Ouyang Aisi squeezed her fair hand.

“Look that the water and focus,” Jiang Wanyin ordered. “Don’t let your imagination run wild.” He scolded.

Lan Wangji paused, knowing what he knew now, his mind wondered on all the possibilities if he had been more open with  his zhiji, if he disregarded some rules so the two could have a more close friendship. Lan Wangji would have laughed at the thought, no, in the past he would have wanted that, believing it was the only thing possible. Yet now, he knew there’s potential for more.

Wei Wuxian sighed, his eyes glazed watching the small loose threads that ultimately destroyed the tapestry, both Jiang Wanyin and Wei Wuxian had fault, for better or worse, Wei Wuxian was by Jiang Wanyin’s side whenever he need to be even if he wasn’t physically there. Listening to his younger self giggled pierced his heart with an indescribable amount of pain, it had been years since he giggled and laughed, even with Jiang Wanyin scolding would slip off like water.

‘When did they start to sting?’ He thought, his mind going elsewhere, lingering as he was supposed to be watching the  past.

“In the past cultivation and sword flying was just a wild idea,” He commented.

The Hall nodded in agreement.

Wei Wuxian then steered his boat towards Jiang Wanyin as he whispered. “Moreover, Biling  Lake is overflowing with resentful energy,” His golden core hummed. “Thus it will attract more water ghouls. So why not harness the resentful energy to eliminate the root cause.” His golden core agreed with the statement happily.

Jiang Wanyin without a word pushed Wei Wuxian boat with his foot though his thought could be heard, in a concerned tone. ‘Stop think about resentful energy, Wei Wuxian.’

“Sect Leader Jiang was just trying to look after his brother,” A cultivator of He Sect said sadly.

With the push Jiang Cheng gave his boat he was now heading towards Lan Wangji. Wei Wuxian opened stared that the Second Jade of Lan, his posture perfect, his white robes with blue accents clean and pristine, not a hair out of place.

‘Perfect,’ his golden core spoke. But Wei Wuxian wasn’t interested in that as his gaze when lower and lower.

Lan Wangji blushed.

“Lan Zhan!” Wei Wuxian shouted and waved for the boys attention.

The Hall gapped at the interaction with the two Young Masters.

“Young Master Wei shouldn’t tease Second Young Master like that,” A young girl from Gusu Lan commented softly with a small frown.

Behind her a group of older female disciples giggled. “Some men tease their desired person so they can see them,” One quietly told.

“Lan Zhan!” He jumped in his boat waving both his arms in the air but Lan Wangji became deaf . “Lan Zhan, look at me! Look at me!” Seeing this, Jiang Wanyin’s eyes widened his mouth open in shock then hit his forehead because of his brother’s actions.

Baoshan Sanren paused for a moment. ‘So at a point of time did he consider him a brother in all but blood?’

“Wei Wuxian, can you stop fooling around?” Jiang Wanyin shouted.

And the cultivators of Pageantry Hall laughed.

Wei Wuxian boat moved fasted, cutting into the water smoothly as it target was Lan Wangji. The Second Young Master of Lan didn’t have time to react as Wei Wuxian had splashed him with water when his bamboo pole struck the water with intense force causing Lan Wangji to jump to safety on his brother’s boat that was next to his.

“You!” Lan Wangji  he said, tone neutral while Lan Xichen sightly glared at Wei Wuxian, for once his core was silent.

‘So you do have a spine?’ Xiao Xingchen thought, his gaze moving to the Sect Leader Lan.

Wei Wuxian was silent, moving swiftly with not wasted movement he jumped on the side of Lan Wangji’s boat with the momentum jumped on the roof on his own boat and with a powerful lash launched the ship in the air.

All stared, mouthes wide.

“Wow! Did you see that, shimei?” A junior disciple of Rong pointed.

“Wei-gongzi is really strong!”

The boat flipped in the air as the Twin Jades gaped while a grayish green hand appeared.

“Water ghoul,” Lan Wangji said then instantly became alert as his right hand unconsciously formed the characters for a paperless talisman to subdue the creature.

The moment the water ghouls made contact with the sun an array fell on the three instantly disintegrating them.

“Wei–gongzi,” Lan Xichen saluted with a bright smile. “How did you know there was water ghouls under Wangji’s boat?” He asked.

“Simple!” He hit the wood of his boat as the other disciple on the mission stared in several states of shook. “The draft was wrong! Second Young Master boat was deeper than others, therefore something must have clung onto the bottom.”

“I never know a water ghoul could do that,” A junior disciple of Meishan Yu mumbled.

“Young Master Wei is very intelligent,” A Nie Disciple complemented. Wei Wuxian still wasn’t paying attention but the others beside him nodded in agreement.

“You are an exceptional cultivator indeed, Young Master Wei,” Lan Xichen praised.

Wei Wuxian smiled and even if his golden core liked the praise, he didn’t, he looked away silently cringing the awkward feeling as he said.

“I didn’t mean to splash water on you, Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian began. “Water ghouls are clever and if I said it out loud, they would have hear and swam away,” he sang, rowing his boat closer.

‘Why is he ignoring us?’ His golden core sadly asked.

“Don’t ignore me, Second Master of Lan, Lan –!” He stopped talking when Lan Wangji rose his hand that when Wei Wuxian core pulsed, his gaze fell on the water, it was to silent, eerily silent until slowly the water started to turn black.

“It’s growing to much,” Madam Ouyang exclaimed, her eyes wide.

“They need to get out of the water now,” Madam Jin said, her fist balling at her dress.

The body of water became dangerous quickly from calm waters to large waves appearing out of thin air.

“It’s coming!” Wei Wuxian said excitedly.

“Do you feel that?” A cultivator of Moling Su questioned.

“Resentful energy,” Wei Wuxian answered nonchalantly.

Hundreds of hand made of water emerged from the countless waves, the Twin Jades unsheathed their swords and as one combined their power into a powerful attack then Lan Wangji launched himself in the sky and with three single slashes of spiritual energy eliminated the wave of hundreds of hands.

However the wave grew in size but quickly unsheathed his sword and purged the creature.

“Fine blade,” Lan Wangji noted. “What is its name?”

Wei Wuxian sent his spiritual sword flying into the water as he answered. “Whatever.”

The viewers looked confused as Wei Wuxian smiled and Lan Wangji huffed.

“It has spirituality, calling it casually is disrespectful,” he scolded sending his sword flying along with Wei Wuxian.

Many cultivators nodded.

Wei Wuxian chucked.

The Hall watched as the sword danced around each other beautiful as Wei Wuxian retold.

“When Uncle Jiang bestowed me this sword, he let me name it.”

The crowd was in awe as the two Young Masters controlled their swords seamlessly without breaking a sweat.

“I was up for weeks on end researching for the perfect name for my blade, but none of the names satisfied me, so I asked for his help in naming it.”

The cultivators focused on what Wei Wuxian was saying, so did Jiang Fengmian just name the boy’s sword “Whatever” because he could?

Everything the man was mentioned it left a bitter taste in their mouths.

The blades cut thought everything in their path cleanly with blue and red tails of light following close behind. 

“I said “Whatever” after the sword was forged its name was really Whatever ” Wei Wuxian arm rose and Suibian entered the hilt with no complication, he then showed Suibian, pointing to the characters on the side. “See, I wasn’t lying.”

“Absurd,” Lan Wangji said, his sword gracefully landing in the palm of his hand.

“It truly is, Wangji,” Nie Mingjue said chuckle.

Su Minshan rolled his eyes and drank his wine while glaring at the image.

“Absurd? How mean, Lan Zhan! It’s such a good name.” His hand rested on his hip as he smirked. “It tricks serious people like you all the time!” He laughed as the image became smaller and it showed a snake like creature with black hairs.

“How is it possible we can feel this much resentment?” Meng Yao questioned, daring to finally ask the question everyone had on their minds.

“The crystal show everything of the person’s life.” He turned to his Master as he asked. “If the resentment is leaking from the crystal will emotion too as well?”

Baoshan Sanren, stopped playing with her little great-grandson and glanced at Xiao Xingchen and just stared at him. “If the resentment is showing itself we can have other surprises.”

“Baba’s the strongest!” A–Yuan said, looking at his great grandmother’s face for approval, the Immortal hand patted the little boy’s head winning a beautiful smile.

Wei Wuxian laughed heartedly. In the water, black, hair like beings rose calculatedly from behind the young cultivators.

“Be careful!” Jiang Wanyin shouted, his sword unsheathed. “Something’s in the water.”

  The water began to move unexpectedly as he finished, sporiadically currents of waves rocked the boats aggressively that had the nets, the group of Lan disciples  began to panic as there boats were dragged backs with high speed.

Lan Xichen quickly unsheathed his sword, fusion more spiritual energy into his blade as he sent Shouyue flying with a smoothed flick of his hand, it entered the water, and the cultivators in the hall watched in awe as the blade cut the black tentacle like creature, from the water only came a couple of black like strings.

Lan Wangji took a step back to not let the water splash him.

“How controlling,” Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren heard a critical remark that they ignored for now.

“This is–?” He muttered and on Wei Wuxian boat the young man kneeled, scooping up the black strings.

“You are quite careless when it comes to your safety, my Lord,” One of his pretty ghost servants noted as her two sisters nodded along. Lan Wangji simply side eyed them, in the past, it was have made him extremely jealous, the constant rumors that he shouldn’t have listened to and the times he’d seen his zhiji flirt with women had keep him up all night, it was a vicious and draining circle of writing the rules countless of times, a calming activity until he remembered why he was doing it, it brought back the ugly feeling making Lan Wangji write more, yet now, he saw those three ghost ladies as Wei Wuxian’s servants yet his eyes drifted to the only male ghost present.

“It is why he has us,” Zi Mo said. “Right, my Lord?” He asked, accentuating his question while smiling at Wei Wuxian and glancing a Lan Wangji his mouth spreading to something more ruthless.

Wei Wuxian chuckled and waved him off.

Without a word two swords soared in the sky and two more came along as the blades dove into the treacherous waters, the water instant began to erupt chaotically until everything stopped.

“It’s over,” a young handsome man sighed in relief.

Lan Wangji glared at the image and more at the description as many– the majority of the Hall spat their tea and Su Minshan was wide eyed and his head snapped in Wei Wuxian direction.

“I’m not a disgusting cutsleeve!” He shouted, standing from his low table and pointing at Wei Wuxian.

Wei Wuxian blinked at him, white robes that weren’t the sprinkling white of Gusu Lan, fine skin but not the porcelain he yearned for, brown with the faintest of waves weren’t ink black straight long hair, his robes secondary color wasn’t right either to put it plainly the Yiling Patriarch could agree the man was good looking but not enough that he’d remember him if their paths crossed one day.

Like now Wei Wuxian even with an image of a young Su Minshan right in front of him couldn’t even remember him.

“Who are you?” He asked ironically, blinking at the flushed man again.

Whispers began in the Hall, both young and old cultivators pointed at the man in the Hall and on the moving image.

“Isn’t that Sect Leader of Moling Su?” A junior cultivator of Yueyang Chang wondered as his marital brothers and sisters nodded.

“I heard he was a talented cultivator in Gusu Lan,” A disciple from a Minor Sect said.

“Don’t you thinks its odd Gusu Lan and Moling Su have the same principals except for the three thousand rules,” Madam Rong mused, her husband’s Sect, Anping Rong, was on the northern part of the Cultivation World.

“Sister Sects?” Beside her Madam Yao, quietly and naive woman, wondered behind her sleeve.

The Lan’s could only watch and seethed silently at all the remarks made, whether they were true or false, it irked deeply.

How could they forget their fallen brothers and sisters?

How could they forgive the man who let the Wen Sect into their home?

How could they mourn the death on the innocent elders and children the Wen’s mercilessly killed?

How could they face their fallen Sect Leader who died protecting the Clan that wrongful sent him and their Madam to seclusion?

‘Do not be angry nor hold resentment,’ Lan Qiren thought, his sight unexpectedly falling on the Immortal, who cocked her head to the side and stared at him glee and a cruel smile.

Next to Yueyang Chang, a group of disciples from Dishan Zhao said, “So he was a Gusu Lan disciple, right, shijie?”  A hand on his chin while his older marital sister, a more experienced cultivator rolled her eyes.

“He was an outer disciple of Gusu Lan,” she told, and leaned on her Da–shijie while the girl stroked her hair, the girl sighed softly and the Head Disciple of Dishan Zhao continued.

“He was kicked out of Cloud Recesses, yet a lot of people don’t know that,” she whispered.

The disciples saluted and profusely thanked their Young Master.

Lan Wangji nodded while his brother ordered. “Pull up the nets.”

As they did, there was nothing.

Lan Xichen face momentarily hardened. “There should be water ghouls. Why?” He breathed, his hand tightly holding his sword.

‘Master,’ Wei Wuxian’s core whispered. ‘Master.’

The Hall waited, knowing, anticipating something big.

Wei Wuxian looked around the ominous calm waters and he said. “Lan Zhan, it seems odd, don’t you think?”

Jiang Wanyin tensed his eyes closing for a moment in frustration.

“He was always the first on your mind, wasn’t he, Wei Wuxian?” He muttered as he dripped Sandu.

Then a vortex of water shout out only to dive again, it created a harsh sea of merciless waters, again and again the long cylinder shaped creature made it impossible to escape.

The cultivators in the Hall screamed to the top of their lungs as they watched the rapid growing water abyss reach for the sky.

“Run!” Elder Jiang Heqing ordered, the man standing from his sit only for his gaze to fall on the image and the other shellshocked leaders had the same orders on the tip of their tongues.

“This is bad,” Lan Xichen said, his hair blowing in the wind wildly. “This is a water abyss!”

The closest boat to the water abyss were shattered, the five Young Masters could only watch as the disciples of Gusu Lan  were spirally in the resentful creature. 

Wei Wuxian along with Jiang Wanyin were the first to attack the creature following with the two Lan brothers and Young Master Jin, slashes of sipirtual no matter how many they sent did nothing to spot the monster, moving more boldly with a loud roar and sent a shiver down the cultivators in Pageantry Hall spine.

Once the Gusu Lan Cultivators were dropped by the water abyss they began to swim.

Su She quickly swan to the closest boat and gripped on the wooden body for dear life. The Young Masters on top their blades  circled the water abyss as Lan Xichen gave them their orders and the group dispersed.

“Our priority is to save lives,” Lan Xichen young voice echoed in the Hall.

Nothing could describe the thrilling feeling of watching capable young man ride their sword with such confidence and ease in the middle on such a dangerous scenario, water drenched the robes, wet hair wiping in the wind, bold turned and  dodged were perfectly executed by the boys countless times in such tight life threatening way they ones present watching couldn’t help but stay silent.

Then someone cursed and the black hair strings came back, it attacked the groups of two and three trying to throw them into the water but the Young Masters were much faster. Wei Wuxian quickly dived in to the water only to pull a sharp turn in the last second narrowly missing the water.

The junior cultivators cheered, smiling happily as Wei Wuxian moved like the was born to fly, nothing could stop him  even the creature chasing him.

His golden core sang happily at the sudden thrill of danger while Wei Wuxian couldn’t stop from smiling, he did a number to back flips just because he could yet his face hardened when his golden core picked up something… someone.

‘Master not safe,’ his core warned and it made Baoshan Sanren and Xiao Xingchen freeze.

Wei Wuxian speeded up, only to find right in front of him a disciple of Gusu Lan, without think he knew what to do.

‘Don’t Master. Don’t!’

Wei Wuxian ignored the voice inside his head and grabbed Su She by the back of his robes as the creature instantly destroyed the boat the boy was holding on to.

Wei Wuxian golden core cried, ‘No, don’t want! I want potentials!’ It whined and it complete deconcentrated him.

“You should have listened,” Xiao Xingchen said turning to his martial nephew, trying to make it sound less harsh.

“Why is it opposed to saving that man?” Wen Qing asked.

Xiao Xingchen turned to the prodigy doctor while the Wen Remnants and others listened as he answered. “His golden core senses something we by human design can’t.”

Wei Wuxian growled, gripping his cargo tighter as his core yelled at him to throw the useless weight to the water and feed the hungry fish.

Wei Wuxian sighed slowly, he really should have listened to his core at that time. ‘I should’ve listened to all it’s warnings,’ he thought quietly.

Yet the Head Disciples of Yunmeng Jiang was still fast, his face tight in concentration and relying on pure instincts to find the right path and not get caught. But his hold on Su She was causing a cramp on his arm, his body sending more spiritual energy to it and his blade. 

‘I can’t.’  He sounded desperate and as if actually contemplating on letting the man go.

“Wei Wuxian, I’m here!” Jiang Cheng yelled and Wei Wuxian snapped in his brother’s direction with wide eyes. Jiang Wanyin was fly towards, for a moment Wei Wuxian could only stare, only for a fun smile to spread on his lips as his eyes flashed silver.

Baoshan Sanren leaned forward, critical eyes analyzing the past.

“Jiang Cheng,” he breathed, his tone hopeful as if he could relay on the boy.

Everyone was hyper focused, not a second wasted even for blinking as they watched Wei Wuxian vibrate happily in anticipating to get closer to Jiang Wanyin.

Wei Wuxian flew, going higher and higher, his hand stretched to the sky as rays of lights pecked for the clouds like a blessing from the heavens.

“He’s going to made!”

“Yeah, Wei–gongzi!”

“He’s so close!”

Everything moved slower in those couple of seconds and the image focused on their hands, skin to skin just a second away as the imaged focused on Wei Wuxian bright smile until the water abyss saw a chance, black strings quickly closed in on Wei Wuxian, fingers barely grazing when the water abyss pulled him under.

“WEI WUXIAN!”

“No!” The Hall shouted, listening to Wei Wuxian scream as it dragged him deep into the water.

The resentful energy spiked.

The Hall started to breath slowly, whooshes of water distorted their senses and the blurry image didn’t help either.

‘Master,’ his core spoke softly. ‘

‘It’s oka y ,’ the voice sounded far.

Wei Wuxian sunk deeper into the water while the black hair strings returned.

‘Nothing will harm the Bl-’ the voice was cut off as the thing entered his mouth and resentful energy began to circle his meridians.

The Sects could barely pay attention as they began to shiver if it was from the dropping temperature or the resentful energy was up to interpretation, yet severely eyes fell on the Immortal Family, Xiao Xingchen was fine, little A–Yuan was shielded by an untouchable Baoshan Sanren and Wei Wuxian, the Yiling Patriarch, he looked dangerous with wisp of resentful energy trying to grain his attention, his hand rose to touch it, and simply began to play with it like it was nothing his eyes glowing silver the entire time.

But it appeared the entire higher level was incased in a barrier of sorts as none of them were affected by the resentful energy.

Xiao Xingchen chuckled and the Immortal glanced at her youngest disciple.

“The risk of being around resentful energy in such a vulnerable state is dangerous,” she told, her hand inclosed itself in the air and pulled as if she was tugging something. “The young and innocent outside this barrier will be safe,” she shared her eyes drifting to the countless number of children and infants in the Hall.

Wei Wuxian eyes slowly opened, silver barely making out the silhouette of Su She until he was pulled into the darkness, his hand raising as if to stop it, but he was cocooned, his eyes slowly closed again as the creature pulled the young man into the center of the water abyss.

He began to hear voices… his voice.

“Spiritual energy is energy, resentful energy is also energy.”

Lan Qiren cursed, fisting his robes. Nie Mingjue and the rest of the Qinghe Nie weren’t doing better as many minute the majority of them would enter Qi deprivation.

“Why can’t resentful energy be use as well?” Wei Wuxian asked.

His body was floating almost lifelessly.

Lan Wangji inhaled sharply, the Wen siblings, Nie Huaisang, and Meng Yao froze.

“We can cultivate it, the spots brimming with it  wouldn’t be forbidden areas anymore!”

Wei Wuxian eyes fluttered softly, muttering. “Resentful energy.” His arm rose poetically.

‘ Child, ’ The energy rasped slowly, an ancient voice enveloped him.

The cultivators were shaking in fear as many began to cry.

‘To early?’ It questioned.

The Immortal and Xiao Xingchen, as well as the ghosts eyes lit up.

“Wei Wuxian!” A distorted voice echoed.

“Wei Wuxian!” The voice started to fade.

“Wei Wuxian!” Jiang Cheng yelled clearly. 

Then the pressure of the resentful energy disappeared.

The guest present could barely sit when the scene moved closer to the boy in black and red robes, silver eye glowing beautiful in the dark water when Wei Wuxian saw…white.

A white ribbon.

Then a hand and a hard tug.

Wei Wuxian gasped a huge breath, coughing several times as Lan Wangji dripped the front of his robes securely.

“Lan Zhan,” he said pleadingly. “Why do you grab my collar while saving me?” He questioned.”I’m almost out of air.”

“I dislike physical contact with others,” Lan Wangji explained coldly, his eyes forward not even paying attention to Wei Wuxian discolored face.

Lan Wangji could only watch his zhiji in pain and his old cold personality that pierced him more than the sharpest blades of a thousand swords as Wei Wuxian uttered.

“We’re already close,” he muttered, for the first time in his life he sounded small and uncertain, his eyes never leaving Lan Wangji’s while smiling sadly. “I’m not just another person to you, right?”

Xiao Xingchen paused, his golden core waiting for the answer many wanted to hear yet.

“We’re not close,” he answered indifferently.

The youngest disciple of Celestial Mountain shoulders dropped as did the Wen siblings and Remnants, even Meng Yao seemed puzzled yet accepted Lan Wangji harsh answer.

It was a great blow to Lan Wangji, even immortality wouldn’t give him the courage to look at Wei Wuxian, he bowed his head in shame as tears prickled in his tears. ‘I shouldn’t have said that.’

Wei Wuxian stayed silent, if his golden core had made an appearance, they would’ve only hear shattering and a mournful cry.

Only little A–Yuan saw his great grandmother carefully wiping the corner of her eye, she couldn’t even smile at the boy only hugged him tighter. There were times she pitied her line, the devotion and immense loyalty in their veins only brought pain.

The Hall was silent as the image changed to the last moments of light, a golden sky with beautiful yellow clouds.

The Hall couldn’t speak as a Young Master Wei stared at his reflecting in the water, mind troubled by all the events he encountered. Nothing came to mind while the nonexistent Yiling Patriarch focused on the palm of his hand, images flashing to the water abyss and the resentful energy, his last interaction with Lan Wangji was quickly dismissed by the rest in favour of forgetting the feeling of resentful energy.

Even in the image the Young Masters were silent, dwelling.

Caiyi town port was destroyed.

“Xiongzhang, the water abyss hasn’t been purged,” the perfect Lan disciple said.

Making the Lan Sect flinch and Lan Wangji tense yet it was unnoticed by others.

“I’m afraid the town will still suffer.”

“It’s to difficult to purge,” Lan Xichen answered. Xiao Xingchen shock his head. “Our only option is to seal it in Biling Lake temporarily until uncle and the Elders return. Then we can make a new plan.”

Wei Wuxian was focused ahead when Suibian was placed in front of him.“Here,” Jiang Cheng said. “I brought back your sword.”  Wei Wuxian quickly grabbed it was Suibian hummed in his arms happily to be back together. “What were you thinking about? Jiang Cheng asked.

“Nothing, just the water abyss,” Wei Wuxian answered, throwing a rocking into the water as it skipped three times. “It must have taken many deaths to create such a powerful creature with periodic human sacrifices so it wouldn’t wreak havoc. But in order for a region of water to spawn it, it must be plagued with many drownings or ship recs to accumulate such vast amounts of resentful energy. The townsfolk here can swim, so how could a water abyss be created here?”

“Indeed,” Lan Xichen baritone voice said. 

“It must have come from somewhere,” Wei Wuxian mused.

And Lan Xichen faced forward with hard eyes.

The Sun…

“Qishan Wen,” Wei Wuxian voiced.

They all ignored the hundreds of insults everyone had heard. Yet it didn’t surprise anyone as Wei Wuxian called out the injustice even in the stepping stones that lead to the beginning of the Sunshot Campaign.

Even if the others faked how much they knew.

Even when the Young Sect Heir of Yunmeng Jiang scolded him for his words.

The mode lightened when the young lady Wei Wuxian saved threw him a basket of loquats, Jiang Cheng bowed in thanks as Wei Wuxian winked at the fair maiden and shameless began to flirt with her. The girl even flirted back and Wei Wuxian martial began to scold him, when Wei Wuxian started to tease Lan Wangji with how handsome he was and the jie–jie’s agreeing, it only fueled more teasing on Wei Wuxian part and his core happily teased Lan Wangji too. In the image it even made Lan Xichen smile as his brother refused the basket of loquats and teach Wei Wuxian to speak in the Gusu dialect.

Lan Wangji refused him.

Rain poured lightly, the entirety of Cloud Recesses covered in a fog because of the high altitude.

“The Waterborne Abyss,” Lan Wangji read softly in the dimly lit room of his study. “Is formed by resentful energy from a watercourse. Once full-fledged, it is extremely hard to exorcise. The body of water has to be drained, emptied completely  then exposed under the sun for 3 to 5 years. Only then can it be eradicated, it is not a task for common cultivators,” he finished only for his core to pulse and a second later from the corner of his eye he saw the quick shadow of a man.

The rain was still pouring, it was excellent cover as Wei Wuxian, smoothly moved undetected from the patrolling disciples while carrying for jars of Emperor Smile.

Said disciples he avoided paled as Lan Qiren tsked in annoyance.

“I think the boys need to distress,” An Elder from Meishan Yu wisely said.

“A cup wouldn’t hurt at all,” The Eldest Elder of Dishan Zhao mentioned politely.

“Nonsense,” An Elder from Gusu Lan countered, his face pinched as he said harshly. “It is forbidden in Cloud Recesses to drink alcohol.

“Stop there,” Lan Wangji ordered and Wei Wuxian listened.

With an umbrella covering him form the rain, Lan Wangji stood in the middle of the courtyard he walked closer while Wei Wuxian stared dumbfounded at the boy then quickly hid the jars of wine, but Lan Wangji had already seen him.

“Lan Zhan,” Wei Wuxian said hesitantly with an airy smile. “What a coincidence.”

“Go,” Lan Wangji breathed and Wei Wuxian sighed in relief.

The Elder of Gusu Lan and Grandmaster Lan glared at the image.

“Take your punishment.” He ordered.

The Elders sighed in relief and openly scoffed, of course the Second Jade of Lan wouldn’t be easily corrupted.

“It is to be expected of Hanguang-jun, he who has always followed our rules strictly since he could walk,” An Elder shared.

“Come on, we’re already close, Lan Zhan!” Wei Wuxian reasoned to deaf ears. “Just let it slide.”

The unsheathing of a sword was Wei Wuxian only warning received as Lan Wangji lunged at him. His strikes if they were directed at another would certainly kill someone but not Wei Wuxian, his steps were chaotically in a graceful way, hair wiping in the rain environment like a fish in water, the same could he said to Lan Wangji, pursuing his prey passionately with an umbrella to shield him from the continues large rain drops.

Every encounter was intense and it showed. Lan Wangji hand stretched to brag Wei Wuxian only for the boy to dodge every attempt, Wei Wuxian’s golden core was thrilled playing this game of cat and mouse.

“I assure you there won’t be a next time!” He expressed backing up quickly as he continued. “You’re so persistent,” he growled, dodging the boy, quickly spines and sharp turns Wei Wuxian evaded Lan Wangji’s arms even when the Lan wanted to knock him down with a kick his arms instinctively landed on the tile of the roof and and kicked him square in the chest and affectively making Wei Wuxian drop a jar of wine.

Wei Wuxian tried to bargain with the Head of Disciplinary.

Nie Huaisang laughed loudly much to the surprise of all.

He turned to Wei Wuxian, fanning himself as he said. “Wei–xiong you really shouldn’t have tried to–” he froze when his eyes landed to the man.

It was that expression again… face blank of any emotions, it was as if his soul left his body, alive but dead inside with his grey eyes continuously glowing a red and silver hue. The Hall couldn’t even question him when him when the Wei Wuxian in the image threw himself onto Lan Wangji, holding his waist firmly as the fell over the wall.

The Hall was silent as Lan Qiren sighed and stroked his goatee. “I remember this day,” he told, his eyes analyzing Wei Wuxian who flinched. “I regret on expelling you,” he hissed as Lan Wangji glared openly at his uncle. Etiquette be damned as Lan Qiren continued unremorsely. “None of this would have happened if you had just stayed away from  Lan Wangji as he asked numerous times.” Lan Xichen stared at the man in horror and the Hall looked at the everyone but Wei Wuxian. “He would have never been punished!”

The image changed to Wei Wuxian being forcefully being brought to his knees, his core screamed, raging at the disrespect that pleased both the Immortal and his martial uncle.

‘The Blood of Yin does not kneel to those weaker than themselves,’ Xiao Xingchen thought.

But before the punishment even begun, before Wei Wuxian could get a word out, Grandmaster Lan was already scolding him.

“Wei Wuxian!” He said harshly. “You haven’t even finished your previous punishment when you have already broken our rules again.  Here you are causing trouble and disturbance.”

Wei Wuxian face fell.

“Grandmaster Lan aren’t you being to harsh on the boy, he was a guest disciple, it is common sense that outsider wouldn’t know all the rules of Gusu Lan.” Nie Mingjue argued, his large arms folded in front of his chest.

“Are you trying to ruin Cloud Recesses?”

Tears felt Jiang Yanli eyes before she even noticed she was crying, his words way to close to home for her… to them. She hugged her baby tighter, she didn’t dare look at her brother and even less think of looking at her A–Xian.

Wei Wuxian fisted his robes tightly as he bowed his head even more. The on slaughter of emotions was to much, that was when the image changed to show a bright and powerful core.

The Hall was speechless, gaping at the golden core of Wei Wuxian, whispers rose as Jiang Wanyin had to bite his tongue to not explode when his chest began to hurt. ‘Intense emotions will hurt you,’ he recalled his Head Healer telling him months ago. Yet Jiang Wanyin felt the pain grow in intensity more so when the showing started.

The whispers broke when they saw Wei Wuxian core blink a golden light, it was strange the way the light flickered. That when they saw flashes of traumatic events of Wei Wuxian’s life, they froze, it was like his golden core was reliving them.

Xiao Xingchen paled and breathing coming out in large puffs, hand fisting his robe above his heart.

Every instant of abuse Wei Wuxian faced, his golden core now discovered why it happened, a justification to why people hurt him, hurt it.

‘I,’ the core breathed slowly, wisps of coldness entered the cultivators bones. ‘I am destruction.’  The flickering continued as a piece of Wei Wuxian shattered, he wanted to run, to hide and never show his face to the world again.

Lan Wangji shook his head, to him Wei Wuxian was the opposite of destruction, he was a creator, a genius with unlimited potential.

“Don’t think that just because your the son of Cangse Sanren–” Lan Qiren cut himself off as Wei Wuxian lifted his head, his eyes for a moment shining, his core was strangely repaying itself little by little, as if the boy had a reason to continue.

Beside the Grandmaster, Lan Xichen glanced at the man while Lan Qiren stared at Wei Wuxian hesitantly.

“Grandmaster, did you know my mother?” Wei Wuxian asked in a small stutter. Lan Qiren nervously looked everywhere but the kneeling disciple as he flicked his long sleeves behind him. Lan Xichen bowed his head as Wei Wuxian continued. “Grandmaste–”

“Shut up!” He ordered, his eyes piercing Wei Wuxian as his core cowered.

Many of the Clans gazed at the Lan Clan in surprise, not expecting the bitter outburst of the poise Grandmaster of Gusu Lan.

“Xiao–gongzi?” Wen Qing called as the man was hunched over himself. His breathing sounded labored and as Wen Qing checked his meridians the color on her face disappeared. The Immortal was quickly by their side and handed A–Yuan to Wen Ning, she hugged Xiao Xingchen like a child, soothing him with gently caresses as she reached for him.

“Everything is fine, A–Chen,” she said but the viciously shook his head. “It has passed, all will be well.” Tears flowed from Xiao Xingchen eyes, fisting his Grandmaster’s robes as he sobbed harder.

“What’s happening to him?” Meng Yao questioned.

“His core is in distress because of My Lord’s core.” His voice was loud, booming in the Hall as every cultivator stared at the ghost man. “What you are all seeing is the beginning of what is called seeding, it can happens in any stage of life, however in the Empire it never grows more as it is dealt with when discovered. The youngest is in pain because of this. We, the people of Yin can’t really comprehend and process when a Young Blood begins to seed, it hurts us not being able to help and heal the line who as blessed us greatly. Those closest to the Blood often blame themselves,” Zi Mo ended, standing behind Wei Wuxian.

“Is there a cure?” Wen Qing questioned, placing a wet towel on Xiao Xingchen forehead.

“Reaching,” Baoshan Sanren whispered, her eyes locked into Wen Qing. “They need to reach so Xiao Xingchen understands that A–Ying’s okay, his core needs conformations that he’s in no pain only than can A–Chen relax.” The doctor looked down with crinkled brows, if Xiao Xingchen were to reach for Wei Wuxian his body would go into shook. Wen Qing was positive only the Immortal knew of Wei Wuxian absent core, would it kill the man if he knew?

Baoshan Sanren had calmed down the man enough for him to seem high on the most potent drugs Wen Qing had once access to.

“Empress,” He whispered, red rimmed eyes longing staring her grey ones. “Why must you suffer?” He asked, curling himself more into the immortal woman, she gently shook her head.

“The Heavens will correct their mistakes, we will not suffer eternally,” she cautioned, her finger massaging his hair as he stood, his eyes landed on Wei Wuxian, he didn’t dare reach. One because of the disrespect intrusion he’d force upon his young highness. And two, he wasn’t of the soundest of mind as of now, it would be to risky.

He simply wanted to smile at his marital nephew to let him know everything was fine, his lips wobbled uncontrollably to force a smile as he looked at Wei Wuxian, but the man looked dead as he stared at the images of the past while the Sects argued.

“You provoked his highness at his lowest!” An Elder of Dishan Zhao fumed.

“How dare you silent the Blood of Yin, Lan Qiren,” Sect Leader Zhao scolded. “And punish him unjustly!” He pointed at the floating crystal as the penalization continued.

“You made him beg to not punish the Second Jade when the Second Jade wasn’t even involved,” Sect Leader Ouyang glowered, slamming his hand on the table as his young son began to cry. “You dared involve him just because he was friends with the boy!”

“You preached his punishment was fair when you gave him 300 strikes!” Elder Jiang Heqing shouted. “While you gave the others 50 strikes. What do you call that, hypocrite?”

“I wasn’t even involved!” Sect Leader Jiang countered as he glared at his Elder, but they all ignored him.

“One things for certain, Gusu Lan would punish a disciple without proper backing as it’s already proven with how you treated former Sect Heir Jiang, now Sect Leader and Sect Heir Nie, the younger brother of Sect Leader Nie, who’s sworn brother to Sect Leader Lan and Jin Guangyao.” He eyes drifted to stared one by one to every member present in Pageantry Hall. “It seems Gusu Lan isn’t far behind from Yunmeng Jiang,” Sect Leader He noted, his eyes sharp on the entire Lan Sect.

Lan Wangji tried to be unbiased what his Clan did was unfair, unjust, a contradiction to what their Sect says they stand for, he just hated when it came from He Qiangming.

The Hall was silent after that comment.

They could all only watch as Wei Wuxian’s and Lan Wangji’s punishment continued neither of the boys made a sound but with each strike the bitter words of Yu Ziyuan echoed in his ears.

He was nothing.

He was a servant.

He had no place.

He was chaos.

He was loud.

Everything was his fault.

Seeds… more seeds even if they were small and harmless they wouldn’t be for long.

Lan Xichen sigh when the crystal didn’t show Lan Qiren criticizing Wei Wuxian when he and his friends were behind a bush eavesdropping another blessing or curse that wasn’t shown was the scene of him quite literally – suggestively sending Young Master Wei to the Cold Pond to heal when his younger brother was there.

The Cold Pond was only mean for the cultivators of Gusu Lan, he didn’t think about the time when he invited Nie Mingjue. He had just suffered the lost of his father, the New Sect Leader of Qinghe Nie just wanted a way out of the Unclean Realm, that morning before even the Lan’s rose Nie Mingjue arrived with a sleeping Nie Huaisang on his back, he had flown for an entire day without rest and it showed.

His body rocked back and forth before he collapsed at the entrance of Cloud Recesses, by that time his younger brother had woken up and begged Lan Xichen to not send a message to their Elders when the Head Healer discovered that Nie Mingjue was sick.

They stayed in Cloud Recesses for 43 days and seven hours, close to eight hours if Nie Mingjue remembers his favorite robes he forgot, Lan Xichen wasn’t really sure. In Hanshi Nie Mingjue had a small humble office, it was close to Lan Xichen’s and even if they were friends for many years Lan Xichen believe their relationship shifted that year and it did.

They became sworn brothers.

It made Lan Xichen extremely happy even if they rules were breathing down his neck like a remainder of his excessiveness but for the first time in the First Jades life he didn’t care, but.

He wished Nie Mingjue, his Da–ge, his A–Jue... spoke of that day in the Cold Pond.

The evening in Cloud Recesses were beautiful and many of the cultivators agreed, the cover of dense vegetation with a cloudless sky was the fantasy of many novel writes as the moon reflected romantically on the water of the Cold Pond. In the middle of the water was a young Lan Wangji, his back faced the image.

The people present face grew flush as they noticed the boy was naked. Many of the young maidens and junior disciples averted their eyes with red cheeks. The adult although uncomfortable realized he was wearing underpants and with the mist and his long black hair they could only see the forming scars on his back.

“Lan Zhan!” Wei Wuxian happy voice ranged throughout the vicinity, calmly Lan Wangji turned his lips forming a frown and eyebrows pinched only to shield his face a second later to stop water from splashing on his face. Wei Wuxian had throwing himself into the Pond.

“Da–shixiong loves doing that when we go swimming!” An older boy says to his junior as excommunicated disciples and Elders smiled happily and muttered utmost themselves in the different Sects they ended up in.

“It’s cold in here!” He rubed his hands aggressively on his arms trying to find some warmth but nothing. Wei Wuxian shivered, he hated the cold.

“How did you get in here?” Lan Wangji questioned.

He smiled, answering with a breathless Zewu–jun that irked Lan Wangji in a way he couldn’t possible imagine, the jealous he felt was something he never experienced and in a dark part of Lan Wangji he wanted to po–

“Why are you moving closer?” He was snapped back to reality when he felt the ripples of water moving towards him.

“Seems warmer on your side,” he answered smoothly as Lan Wangji looked scared.

‘Don’t come any closer,’ he thought his voice hissing in his mind while he said in a low tone. “No, it’s not.”

“Aiyo, Lan Zhan it’s not very nice to hide away and heal in a secret place without telling me.” They were a meter away from each other, face to face, sculpted chests exposed to the entire Hall, however because they were facing each other the cultivators for the first time without torn fabric, blood, peeling skin with puss out of the way they could actually see the damage Wei Wuxian body had.

“Oh Dear Heavenly Officials!” A Sect Madam exclaimed as Wen Qing shut her eyes. Yes it was bad but compared to the scars Wei Wuxian now carries, she stuttered, nothing could compare yet as a doctor she knew pain was pain and her brother and suffered greatly.

Nie Huaisang eyes widened while Meng Yao froze, mouth open wide that a fly could do circles in his mouth and escape alive. The Wen Remnants stayed unbelievably silent the ocassionly glance at their A–Ying with Uncle Four since an incident with the Water Abyss began to drink several bottles of wine.

The same reacting was made when Lan Wangji turned.

“I'm not here to heal, but cultivate.”

Wei Wuxian eyes immediately went to his counterparts back, red deep cuts inflamed but slowly lessening because of the cols water and Lan Wangji powerful golden.

“You might be rigid, cold, and suppressed, oh– and boring.”

The Lan glared at the description with some disciples of various sects nodding along while bolder cultivators laughed, Lan Wangji was silent, he wasn’t embarrassed but it did hurt a thin bit until Wei Wuxian’s golden core began to speak.

‘Talented, well educated, powerful core, beautiful light, happy, protective,’ his core than whine. ‘Want, want candidate!’

‘Of course you wanted him,’ Jiang Wanyin growled in his mind.

“But I changed my mind after our fight that ended with a draw,” Wei Wuxian paused with a smile, his core humming happily. “I, Wei Wuxian, approve and want to be your friend.” He presented Suibian by its guard, Wei Wuxian expected Lan Wangji to pull the sword and say they were friends but that didn’t happen.

“Unnecessary,” he told coldly not even looking Wei Wuxian’s way.

The guest on the platform glance pitifully at Lan Wangji’s way while the female ghosts looked sympathetic and Zi Mo faced hardened, he clearly since the moment Lan Wangji came disliked him.

A Senior from Tingshan He smiled. “The rumors say that the Second Young Master of Lan and the Former Head Disciple of Jiang hated each other since they started studying together in Cloud Recesses and it prevailed even in Sunshot Campaign,” he told to the Hall his gaze moving to the image as he continued. “We can all see how the Second Master of Lan constantly rejects Master Wei’s hand.

Many nodded as Jiang Wanyin laughed loudly while his sister stared at him like he was a strange. She knew– they both knew how much pain Lan Wangji and even Jin Zixuan inflicted in their relationship, the ladder was always the reason the brother constantly fought in the past, Jiang Yang knew it was because her brother was jealous, everything about the man made her Sect Leader brother envies and Jiang Wanyin never failed to mention how Lan Wangji hated him and never cared for him no matter how many times Wei Wuxian said the man was his equal.

“But is that even true?” A Senior female cultivator of Dishan Zhao questioned. “From what we are seeing so far the Blood of Yin has a special spot for Second Young Master Lan.”

“But does he?” Jiang Wanyin sneered, his purple eyes landed on Lan Wangji who was staring at him with piercing golden. “You, his claimed zhiji, wanted to punish him and drag him back to Cloud Recesses because of his cultivation path when he saved all the Cultivation World.”

“Is this true?” The Immortal asked.

Lan Wangji flinched as the entire Hall froze.

Not even in her wildest of dreams did Baoshan Sanren imagine she’d see her zhiji in her grandson’s past nor did she expect Lan Yi to be in seclusion in the Cold Pond.

She was just as beautiful as he remembered her, the day they took her from her arms. It was the saddest much painful day of her life. She noticed that many of the thing she was wearing were gifts she gave even the guqin on the low wooden table. When she appeared it made the Hall gasp in wonder while the Lan Sect praised their ancestor to the upmost limit until an Elder gentle said that Lan Yi would scold them for their excessive praise. Baoshan Sanren scolded, she knew her A–Yi well and the woman born while only 50 rules in her lifetime loved to be praised and spoiled by her.

Baoshan Sanren left the paradise of her mind when the Lan Sect began to gasp in outrage.

Lan Qiren stood with a bang and pointed at Wei Wuxian. “How dare you corrupt my nephew into tying his forehead ribbon on your wrist!”

Lan Wangji stood and responded back sharply. “He didn’t make me, it was my choice!” And for the first time Baoshan Sanren, the Immortal of Celestial Mountain, the Survivor of the Fall of Yin saw the glowing silver eyes on someone not of the Blood of Yin. There was only one explanation, a Blessed.

Her eyes snapped at the image of Lan Wangji tying their wrist together and presenting themselves to her Lan Yi, watching in eerily silence as both cores without knowing reached for each other, recognizing their soulmate.

“No,” she breathed in disbelief, she didn’t know when she stood from the throne, walking to the edge of the stairs.

“The Blood of Yin and the Blood of Lan, I knew this story quite well,” she said, looking at the two boys.

Outside of the cave, many disciples both guest and Lan’s began to shout both Lan Wangji’s and Wei Wuxian’s name, searching for them.

Inside the cave. Lan Wangji was the first to bow and Wei Wuxian silently followed.

“Lan Zhan, courtesy name, Wangji. Second Heir and descendant of Gusu Lan greets Former Sect Leader, Grandmaster and Highness of Gusu Lan.” He kowtowed will Wei Wuxian stared at Lan Wangji.

‘Bow, Master.’ His core insisted but Wei Wuxian ignored it in favor of saying.

“She’s the one. The only female Sect Leader Gusu Lan has ever had, the Creator of the Chords Assassination Technique! Lan Yi,” he breathed as he stared at her in disbelief. Lan Wangji glanced at him in annoyance and pushed him to bow.

Lan Yi golden eyes flashed silver when Wei Wuxian kowtowed, even she, the Blessed of the Imperial Empress, knew deep in her bones that the next in line the successor to her reach shouldn’t bow at her then her eyes landed on the ribbon tied to both the young men’s wrist and she understood.

“Wei Ying, courtesy name, Wuxian. Head Disciple of the Yunmeng Jiang, greets Highness of Gusu Lan!” He bowed and Lan Yi paused.

‘Yunmeng Jiang? Head Disciple?’ She thought then did the unthinkable, she reached for the boy, she did it was gently as possible, asked permission from his core before she fully unraveled the boy’s story. ’He has none of A–Yu’s spiritual energy,’ It made her golden core whine and whimper. ‘He had only spiritual signatures of his parents, A–Se and another’s. The trauma the boy has faced.’ She felt tears in her eyes as he boy– no Wei Ying… A–Ying. Would her beloved allow her to call him that? Rose from his bow with a smile, a smile that reminder her of her A–Yu.

For Baoshan everything that happened became a blur until Lan Yi uttered.

“My biggest mistake was allowing them to drag me to this place and I paid the price.” Her eyes shifted to Lan Wangji. “And my descendants too. They opposed us because of our power and the new age we were building, the perfect path for our children.”

The two Young Masters stayed silent, not truly understanding.

“It must be destiny that you are here today,” she said in a tone of wonder.

“Highness?” Wei Wuxian questioned.

“More than a thousand years ago, in a land full of cultivators, was the Empire of Yin. The were Founders and Creators of Cultivation.”

The listened intently at her story.

“It started with a woman, the First Cultivator, her name was Yin Xian. She was blessed by the Heavens and with her gift she shared it with mortals selflessly as time passed with her teachings spreading far and wide, the people she taught build an Empire in her name and made her Empress. She discovered that certain people were more compatible with others and over time she discovered reaching it can be both romantic and unromantic. Ultimately she found her Reach and settled down, her Empire grew, her people cultivated and found happiness, allies were close and her line was secured.”

“Until?” Wei Wuxian questioned and Lan Yi smiled sadly.

“Previously the other Empresses discovered that one could reach immortality much quicker with their soulmate cutting the path to ascension by half or sometimes more. The Blood of Yin is by succession an only female line, however when a male of the line is beyond expectation and has no female competitors he’s a candidate for Emperor, such was the case for Yin Gulou. The first ever Emperor in the History of Yin. Many of the Empresses and Imperial Royal Family members were Immortals or at one point at the cusp of immortality. But you see because of Yin Gulou being the Emperor, he was to bear the children of Yin even if his reach was a woman.”

“How was he to do that?” Lan Wangji questioned.

“With his cultivation and that of his reach or wait for them to be Immortal so they could change their corporal form and Yin Gulou could bear their children.”

“But why?”

“It is an unshakable, undeniable truth that a baby stays in their mother’s womb for nine months, correct?” He questioned the two.

They nodded.

“Many can deny their sire to not being their sire, but a bearer who can question them?”

Meng Yao was quiet as he thought. 'Am I more of my mother's son then my father's son?'

“It the most powerful way to secure a lineage of Royalty, women!” Wei Wuxian exclaimed.

“It indeed is!” Lan Yi said happily before she frowned. “Emperor Yin Gulou had many children, none of them he cultivated but instead his reach did. His court and the people of Yin were outraged however the Emperor stated he didn’t want to wait because of that of his wedding night the entire court with his most trusted official watched as he consummated his marriage and the couple quite enjoyed it. However because the Empress Consort was young Yin Gulou waited for her to mature, but from just that night she fell pregnant. To the court, the official and the people of Yin, the Empress Consort was blessed and nine months later she gave birth to a baby girl, Yin Taoyu, her Imperial Royal Highness, the Princess of the glorious Empire of Yin, the future Sun of Yin. She was cemented in history as the daughter of Two Powerful and Obsessed Royals who loved each other so much they made Taoyu the night of their marriage, none dare to deny her birthright as her other sibling were born in the same way. The court quite enjoyed watching the Emperor make love to their Empress in the middle of a discussion. But to make a long story short, Yin Taoyu several brothers and sisters weren’t happy that she was the next in line, they fought and in the battle many bloodline disappeared, both loyal and disloyal, others were banished. In the end, Yin Taoyu on the day of her coronation as Empress buried her parents, all of her siblings, friends, loyal Bloodlines who were the pillars of Yin, and many enemies. That day she ascended and became a goddess.” Lan Yi smiled.

“Baoshan Sanren was her new name.”

“Baoshan Sanren?  The Immortal of Celestial Mountain? She's my mother's grandmaster!" Wei Wuxian stated, taking a step forward he asked. "You know Baoshan Sanren?”

“Baoshan Sanren is very dear to me, I hold her close to my heart, always on my mind, but I failed her.”

A tear escaped from her eye.

“Why would you say that?” The boy questioned.

Lan Yi cried as she spoke. “I should have never listened to the Elders, never return to Could Recesses. When I arrived I was locked in my old room.” The image show how Lan Wangji cringed at took a step forward and shielded Wei Wuxian, he made Lan Yi smile sadly. “I was to marry a man and to take on my Sect Leader and wifely duties in seclusion,” she told and everyone paled at the underlying meaning of performing her wifely duties. “A daughter and son I birthed, Lan Tao and Lan Yu.”

She paused, deep in thought until she said. “You are both here for a reason, no matter the circumstances that brought you here. I, Lan Yi, Blessed of the Empress of Yin give you to my blessing. May the path you walk be eternal without flaw.” 

Her energy faded and the only thing left was her guqin.

Silence.

No one moved… everyone was silent.

No one, not even Lan Wangji expected the Immortal to snap her head in his direction, silver eyes raging with killing intent. The intensity of such a glare made Lan Wangji who had no experience with the concept of Reaching or the so called Call made him choke on his saliva while his golden eyes began to glow silver.

It only made the Immortal angrier.

“How dare you bind yourself to my grandson, a mere potential! Do you know the gravity of this?” She questioned until she huffed and snapped and her eyes grew in intensity. “Be respectful to your junior. Be compassionate. Don’t be of two minds. Destroy your five poisons,” she recited to the Second Jade and the Lan Clan stilled.

“Immortal Baoshan my nephew did nothing. The– these are my sins,” Lan Qiren argued.

“Silence!” she ordered as everyone flinched or tensed. “I am not stupid nor arrogant to believe that the Second Master of Lan is guilty to receive my harsh words but nonetheless he has received them. Now Sect Leader Lan, I just disciplined an innocence disciple, a sect heir in front of everyone, what will you do to me?” she asked, looking throughout the hall, all cowering when her silver eyes landed on them. “Nothing… you will do nothing because all of you are spineless cowards that follows the dog who barks the loudest.”

Baoshan Sanren laughed cruelly. “Not only do you project your insecurities onto my grandson, savagely insult him and order harsher punishments on him then the rest. You dare silent him,” she said calmly and Lan Qiren paled.

Baoshan Sanren exhaled gradually, jaw tense. “Your truth is a lie you fabricated to justify your actions against my grandson. You hate my grandson because of the truth his mother told you long ago, your rules are a way to maintain your rotten heart, every character a shield to justify your action since those same rules made you lose everything you loved. It pleases me greatly that the entire line of Gusu Lan suffers for you have wronged me and my line since long ago.”

Then without a word Baoshan stormed off with Xiao Xingchen following closely behind her, they said nothing at they walked, any servant or guard they saw fled from her, spiritual energy leaking, her hair moved like roaring waved, yet her body was clear as the blue sky.

Once they arrived at her room, a jar of wine waited for her on the table, her spirit servants poured a cup to the brim, but Baoshan Sanren ignored them, taking the jar in her shaking hand and chugged the wine like a thirsty beast. This continued with the next jar and next one until losing count, finally, daringly Xiao Xingchen said.

“This isn’t terrible, Master, as you make it out to be.”

Her glowing eyes bore into him. “I haven’t even said a word until now, child,” she exhaled, moving the jar in a continuous circle with the palm of her hand.

Her silences spoke more than any words she could say even after the scene she made, but Baoshan Sanren was and would forevermore be a prideful woman, the heart she wore on her sleeve were for a select few, rarer as each century passed by.

“Would you prefer he be with another?” he asked. “This union was blessed by the Empress Consort,” he whispered the words that would lead to a territory few dared to cross.

The Immortal frowned, her breathing becoming deeper with each inhale and exhale.

“And you believe I will just accept it because it’s her blessing?” she challenged, glaring at him.

He bowed his head, the room tense before Baoshan Sanren laughed loudly tears in her eyes.

“They wouldn’t have wanted him if he was a nobody,” she choked, standing as tears fell, her body matching the rise of her emotions as she continued her voice growing louder. “They wouldn’t allow such a match if he was truly a servant. They wouldn’t have coveted his power if A–Ying didn’t have someone behind to defend him. His intelligence, his gift wouldn’t have been exploited if he actually had guardians who cared for his wellbeing. His existence wouldn’t have stained their line if they known he is from a great line. They–” her voice cracked, dull eyes intensely watching him as he shed tears of his own. “They are not worth, Xiao Xingchen. They are brainless, lustful, greedy, savages with never ending hunger to destroy what isn’t there’s.”

“No,” She answered firmly. “May the Nine Heavens rain fire on my Empire, I will not regret it if it ensures my grandson’s safety. Even A–Yi’s blessing won’t change the fact I despise this world.”