Chapter Text
The shrill sound of a dizi surrounded Lotus Pier, followed by the growls and inhumane noises of fierce corpses.
“What… what is this?!” Jiang Cheng saw how those fierce corpses started attacking the Wens, dead Wen disciples. He stood there, frozen in place. Even his mother just watched with confusion and horror as the Wens were mauled until they were nothing but another fierce corpse controlled to attack their fellow sect brothers and sisters.
Jiang Cheng wished for the death of those damned Wen dogs, wished for the head of Wen Ruohan for sending his disciples in Lotus Pier for a massacre. But this, this was just… No matter, Jiang Cheng shouldn’t care how those Wens die, their deaths were brought upon by their master.
“Jiang Cheng.” The call of his mother took him out of his stupor. Even after witnessing an unprecedent and brutal attack, there are things that shall be settled. “The fight isn’t over.”
Yu Ziyuan walked amidst the massacre. A massacre against the Wens and fought her way to reach Wen Zhuliu. The second heir of Qishan Wen crouched cowardly behind the Core Melting Hand, with his arms around his head as futile attempt to protect himself, while his bitch whimpered pathetically, pushing Wen disciples on her front to save herself against the fierce corpses.
“A dog will always be loyal to its master, eh?” Wen Zhuliu’s eyes turned on her for a moment before fighting another bunch of their dead disciples trying to kill their heir. “Violet Spider.”
Yu Ziyuan felt a smirk forming on her lips as she watched him struggle. “I believe we still have unfinished business, Wen Zhuliu.” With that, she whipped Zidian toward him. Wen Zhuliu avoided the spiritual tool immediately, resulting with the second heir flying a few meters away because of the attack from Zidian.
“Young Master!”
Jiang Cheng tsked, seeing that useless Wen Chao calling desperately for their servant when a few fierce corpses turned their attention on him after his mother made him fly. If the situation wasn’t so dire right now, he would have let out a bark of laughter, alas, it was not.
He turned around, thrusting Sandu forward when he felt someone approaching.
The horrifying music the dizi makes continued playing in the background, with the crows flying above them as if waiting for a prey to attack. At the corner of his eyes, he saw a black robed man standing on one of the higher roofs in Lotus Pier, overlooking the massacre beneath him. The fire burned even brighter.
“San-niang!” The frantic voice of Jiang Fengmian filled the burnt and blood-stained halls of Lotus Pier. A servant nearby bowed at the sect leader. “Where’s A-Cheng? San-niang?” Jiang Fengmian could not explain the nervousness and fear that overcame him at having learned that their sect was attacked, with only his wife and son in charged.
Stepping his foot at Lotus Pier, dead bodies of Jiang and Wen disciples filled the area. He immediately searched for any familiar bodies, there weren’t many Jiang disciples who had passed, but the thought of not being able see any of the cultivators he trained himself sent a pang of disappointment in himself as a sect leader, still, he searched the bodies, hoping no one was his San-niang’s or A-Cheng’s. He reached the main halls, where a few servants and disciples were cleaning after the mess.
“Where are they?!” Jiang Fengmian wished he could control himself better, but he couldn’t, not when, not when his family was hurt, or in grave danger, not when his sect was attacked and these people could have died.
“Sect Leader Jiang, the madam and young master are in the infirmary room.” He gave a quick nod at the disciple and immediately ran to look for his family.
“He deserves it, Niang!”
“Still! You couldn’t just stand there and laugh at him! Because you won’t be laughing anymore if someone suddenly stabbed you!”
“It was funny!”
“Jiang Cheng!”
The door of the infirmary room suddenly bursts open, revealing the panting and worried sect leader.
“Fengmian-“ Whatever Yu Ziyuan was supposed to say was cut off when Jiang Fengmian threw himself at them. Madam Yu steadied her feet, Jiang Cheng supporting his parents’ weight, while Yu Ziyuan’s right palm moved to rest on Jiang Fengmian’s back. “What-what are you doing?” The answer she received was a tighter hug, almost making her breathless.
“I was worried. I’m sorry.”
Madam Yu was not a person that was easily flustered, but this, her husband was never affectionate. She knew, and he made it obvious, that his heart was owned by someone else. So, this, why…?
She could feel Fengmian let out a shaky breath, burying his face on her shoulder.
Jiang Cheng stood there awkwardly, his face flushed with how much his father is being, ah, well, soft toward them, enveloping them in a warm hug. This is a first time. No matter how awkward it is for him, this is the first time since he was a child that he received a hug from his father.
“I have a lot to tell the both of you.”
“Cultivators, we have gathered here today because of the Wen Clan’s continuous gathering of power by oppressing smaller sects, and the recent burning of Cloud Recesses in Gusu led by his first heir, and the failed massacre of Lotus Pier led by the second heir and the Core Melting Hand.”
“What about the demonic cultivator?!”
Whispers from the disciples and even sect leaders filled the halls as Sect Leader Yao reminded everyone just how the Jiangs survived the supposed massacre.
Lan Xichen let out a sigh, the demonic cultivator may have helped the Jiangs, but practicing this cultivation will cause a mess and demands for the imprisonment of said demonic cultivator, or even framing the Jiangs, seeing as how a very powerful person helped them during a time in need, might as well go and accuse them of knowing this demonic cultivator personally, which will lead to the sects demanding the Jiangs to be put in a trial, completely ignoring Wen Ruohan because they couldn’t possible go against him.
He shook his head lightly, his eyes straying to the Jiangs. Sect Leader Jiang, Madam Yu and Young Master Jiang are here, and basing from their expressions, they know such a thing would be possible. He can see Young Master Jiang’s furrowed eyebrows, much like his mother’s, and his clenched fists that is threatening to break the low table in front of him. His eyes are sharp, glaring at Sect Leader Yao as if questioning why he had to remind everyone of the demonic cultivator.
Lan Xichen cleared his throat, averting his eyes when he realized he’s staring too much, it was the same time he caught his brother’s eyes, the obvious question showing on his face.
“Please, cultivators, I understand the need to know more about this demonic cultivator, but we are here to discuss about Wen Ruohan’s tyranny. We cannot let him continue this act, otherwise it would be just a short amount of time before he’s ruling the entire cultivation world.”
“Hmp.” Everyone turned to look at the Nie clan’s side where the source of the sound came from, Nie Mingjue rolled his eyes out of annoyance. That damned sect leader. “Demonic cultivator or not, as long as he will help us get rid of those damned Wen dogs, who cares!” Everyone knew of his hatred against Wen Ruohan. No one dared to contradict his statement, if they feared another sect leader other than Wen Ruohan, it was Nie Mingjue. They do not want to be the cause and center of the man’s annoyance. Except for Sect Leader Yao.
Sect Leader Yao stood up. “Sect Leader Nie Mingjue! Demonic cultivation is one of the evils that we, cultivators, should stand up against! They are all up to no good! Harming the common people, would you really let your anger harm the ones we vowed to protect?!”
“You!”
“Ah! Da-ge!”
Nie Huaisang scrambled up, trying to stop his older brother from stomping toward Sect Leader Yao and knocking the man off his feet. But, alas, he is just one man compared to his brother. Nie Mingjue reached Sect Leader Yao and grabbed the man on the collar of his robes. Sect Leader Yao swallowed, suddenly nervous with Sect Leader Nie towering over him and appearing as if he wanted to murder him.
“How dare you!” Nie Mingjue’s eyes were murderous. “That Wen Ruohan, isn’t he a cultivator, too?! How dare he break the vow we, cultivators made in the sake of gaining power?! If a demonic cultivator who helped the Jiangs threatens you, and ignore the real threat to everyone just because you chose to stay loyal to the man who promised you power, then wouldn’t you be better off as a dog licking his master’s feet?!”
Lan Xichen looked around helplessly. Along the many sects and cultivators, the Lan Sect stands for their righteousness, for the want to be good, to do good. They are one of the many. However, among these cultivators who proudly declare to everyone that they stand and fight for the greater good, who would stand upright and keep their word?
Wei Wuxian let out a sigh.
“Tsk, that Sect Leader Yao is really a pain in the ass.” He looked over at Jiang Cheng from the window of the inn, holding a bottle of wine. “How did the meeting turn out?”
“Because of Sect Leader Nie’s murderous tendencies and Sect Leader Lan’s coaxing, he managed to convince everyone in the end.” He shrugged. Suddenly, Jiang Cheng looked at him from his slouched form while reading the plans Wei Wuxian had written in advance. “You.”
“What.”
“When are you going to show your face to Lan Wangji? I swear, every time I see that guy, the ‘I miss Wei Ying’ is practically written on his forehead. Don’t pout.”
Wei Wuxian glared. “At the right time.”
“And when is that? You wouldn’t even show yourself to me if I hadn’t saw you that night!”
“I had things to do!”
“Like what? Drinking stolen Emperor’s Smile by the window and sighing while looking at the stars? Ew! You’re exactly like Lan Wangji! It’s disgusting!”
“Excuse me, I never did that!”
“You were doing exactly that moments ago!”
Wei Wuxian frowned. I did not! Stupid Jiang Cheng.
He touched the ribbon tied on his wrists.
“And that!”
“What?!”
“Why do you have Lan Wangji’s forehead ribbon?!”
“How do you even know it’s Lan Zhan’s?!”
“Maybe because he’s the only Lan who doesn’t wear his forehead ribbon! What, are you going to marry him after this stupid war ends?!”
“What, why would I?!”
“What.” Jiang Cheng was wearing that funny expression on his face again, the one limited only to Wei Wuxian. He grinned.
“Are you being serious or are you joking?”
“What do you mean?” He asked, genuinely confused.
“The Lan’s forehead ribbon represents restraint, Wei Wuxian! The only ones who can touch it are their families and fated pairs! Giving one’s forehead ribbon to someone is literally their way of proposing!”
“What!”