Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Twilight was falling. Mist swirled lazily over the road leading directly to the gates of Cloud Recesses, creeping under low bushes, winding between the roots of trees that clung to the surrounding rocks. The sun was already hiding behind the peaks, gilding the leaves and flowers, gliding across the surface of the murmuring stream, playing on the slick stones, stirring them into an unexpected glow. The sky was covered in crimson, sparkling with oranges and pinks, dimming in a way that should awaken a strange nostalgia in people's hearts. 

Apart from the murmur of the stream, which rushed incessantly ahead, and the few trebles of the night birds beginning their evening concerts, the surroundings seemed to be quiet. It was still too cold for the cicadas to wake, and though some dreamed of hearing them, their voice didn't reach here, while the rest of the nocturnal creatures seemed to keep quiet. They didn't get too close to Gusu Lan's mansion, knowing that they wouldn't get past its walls anyway.

The evening bell announcing the end of the day hasn't rung yet, allowing the cultivators gathered in Cloud Recesses to finish their classes in peace. However, it was already blissfully quiet here: conversations were carried out in hushed voices, training had been completed long ago, and most of the children living here had been put to sleep earlier. Although Gusu Lan's residence was now filled with cultivators from all sorts of sects, everyone was able to respect the rules here, finding them unexpectedly soothing.

They had lost their homes, their lands, their friends and loved ones, and most of their sect members, but they had no intention of giving up. In fact, they had little choice, for if they strayed outside the safe haven that was Gusu Lan's territory, they would certainly be executed for participating in the Sunshot Campaign. If not by Wen Ruohan's men, they would most certainly be taken to be judged in the Carp Tower, which would be an even worse scenario. 

Jin Guangshan's betrayal hurt the most. He had withdrawn his men, brought his son home almost by force, locking him up in the Carp Tower for many months like a prisoner of war, and now enjoyed the favor of the Qishan Wen Sect, which reigned over the desolate and destroyed lands that the other smaller and larger sects used to control. He became their loyal vassal, while remaining in the Carp Tower with all its splendor, gold, and opportunities, making peace with an enemy that ultimately proved to have more strength than anyone could have suspected.

Of course, Jin Guangshan's betrayal couldn't have been the result of his whim, a single impulsive decision, and everyone guessed that the man had been in discussions with Wen Ruohan for a long time, trying to find the best way out of the situation he was in for himself. Moreover, a good portion of the cultivators suspected that the Sect Leader Jin was well aware of the ambush Nie Mingjue had fallen into, but had simply looked away, hiding behind one of his fans, already preparing for a political revolt.

The power, influence and opportunities that stretched before him were clearly more important to him than human lives. Other sects didn't matter to him. The only thing he cared for was his own splendor, which he intended to achieve at any possible cost. From the beginning of the Sunshot Campaign, everyone knew that it was the Lanling Jin Sect that posed the greatest threat, tottering about, agreeing to military activities but never really getting involved. Only Jin Zixuan showed that he knew what a just cause was, and made himself known as a young, capable commander who was willing to follow the other Sunshot Campaign leaders straight into the fire.

Those who were left alive still looked at each other uncertainly. Jin Guangshan's betrayal hurt terribly, but it also raised fears that soon the members of the other sects would also decide to surrender and allow Wen Ruohan to pass judgment on them. It was true that hope hadn't yet faded, that they were still hoping to break free from the tyrant's yoke and remove him from power, but with each passing day, the fervor seemed to simply fall away. 

There were also moments of uncertainty, when patrols hadn't return for a long time, and there were weepy nights when it turned out that they had lost after all and one of Qishan Wen's attacks had been successful, and they had to bury more people who had died for their cause. It wasn't a regular war anymore, it was an annoying game played by Wen Ruohan, who did everything to lower their morale, playing with their insecurities, their fears, fueling them at every turn, preparing lazily like a cat to attack prey that has nowhere to run anyway.

This evening was also full of tension, though not for everyone. Most weren't at all aware that Lady Jiang had left the walls of Cloud Recesses along with several cultivators shortly before noon and hadn't returned until now. Very few people really knew about what the woman was doing, about her trips to the surrounding towns and villages, and Jiang Wanyin preferred to keep it that way. After Lanling Jin's betrayal, he trusted virtually no one, choosing his words carefully and observing the people around him closely to catch their false movements and gestures as soon as possible.

He let his sister wander her own paths, knowing full well that with her gentleness and her warm persistence, she was able to win over many people. Jiang Cheng wasn't surprised that she brought with her not only the information they needed, but also the gifts that enabled them to continue to function. He didn't know how Jiang Yanli managed to do it all, what spells she used to make itinerant merchants trust her to bring them the news they needed, what words she used to tickle the egos of local vendors to get at least a little more food, but his admiration for his sister grew every time she returned from her little excursions. 

She always told them about the rumors in the area, shared the comments she had heard at the fair, and with time she also began to bring short notes from the people who spied for them in the lands under Qishan Wen and Lanling Jin. It was undeniable that she was exposing herself by this action as much as her brother, who without a moment's hesitation went into battle whenever they learned of approaching enemy patrols. However, she wasn't going to remain passive, she wasn't going to just sit locked safely behind the walls of Cloud Recesses, although of course she did a lot of work there as well, helping to prepare reinforcements and taking care of the wounded.

Jiang Yanli's courage made her brother terrified, causing him to clench his jaws with all his might, causing him to wander all over the Gusu Lan residence as if he were a wild animal that had been captured and forced to live in confinement. A distinct vertical wrinkle was painted between his eyebrows, and disturbing flashes appeared in his bright eyes as he moved his fingers over Zidian, feeling his heart beating harder and harder. Wei Wuxian had assured him repeatedly that Jiang Yanli would be fine, that they had chosen the best people to wander with her and protect her, but all these words seemed more and more hollow to the Sect Leader Jiang as dusk fell.

The dense bushes on the bank of the stream rustled violently as a frightened bird emerged from between its branches, loudly announcing its displeasure, and Jiang Wanyin twitched violently, almost immediately preparing to attack. He breathed deeply, closing his eyelids, feeling perfectly how tight his muscles were, then raised his hand to run his fingertips over his forehead. He wasn't able to sit quietly behind the walls of Cloud Recesses any longer, he wasn't able to just wait, doing absolutely nothing, feeling as if the air was saturated with thick, biting smoke.

Ever since the massacre at the Lotus Pier, this scent had accompanied him whenever he felt that something bad was happening, whenever his fears crawled to the surface and took possession of his heart, whenever his fears whispered lies directly into his ears. As soon as he gave them access to his heart, as soon as he let them win over his rationality, he began to tremble all over, and his ears were filled with the roar of burning, cracking beams, the scream of pain, suffering and agony, and he felt the metallic taste of blood on the tip of his tongue. He was already facing the familiar humming in his ears and the tightness in his throat that he tried to ignore.

"Wanyin."

Lan Xichen's voice was gentle, filled with warmth, yet also a hint of firmness. For a long moment, Zewu-Jun had been watching the younger man, who had slipped unnoticed outside the walls of Cloud Recesses and was now hiding in the shadow of a spreading magnolia tree leaning dangerously towards the stream. Its branches were densely covered with flowers in full bloom, casting a deep shadow over Jiang Wanyin, who clearly didn't want anyone to notice him. He hid in the twilight, avoiding the last rays of the setting sun, letting the branches shield him from other people's gazes.

"It's late," muttered Sect Leader Jiang, supporting himself more firmly against the trunk and turning his head away as Lan Xichen approached him, bending down to sneak under the spreading branches of the magnolia.

"Lady Jiang sometimes returns after dusk," Zewu-Jun remarked calmly.

Jiang Wanyin snorted in annoyance, wrinkling his eyebrows even harder, but he shifted slightly, making room for the senior leader, who also leaned against the tree trunk, right next to him. They were touching shoulders now, and Jiang Cheng could perfectly feel the warmth of his body, which in some strange way could give a sense of security. So did the ordinary presence of Lan Xichen, who clearly had no intention of allowing the younger man to make any sudden movements that they would all regret later.

"If anything had happened, it would have been reported to us by now, Wanyin," Zewu-Jun noted quietly after a long moment of silence.

"If anyone survived," replied Jiang Cheng sharply.

He looked directly into the other leader's dark eyes. He saw in them the gentleness that Lan Xichen had nevertheless not given up, but there was also a firmness hidden there and something that could safely be called determination. After they had managed to rescue Nie Mingjue with difficulty and escape from Nightless City, Zewu-Jun had changed noticeably. 

His heart hardened slightly, and his judgment became more confident and sharper, though he certainly never intended to be a ruthless man who would move into a losing battle. He would, however, grow into a good leader who was able to keep them all in line and guard what was still left of them.

It wasn't much, and every day they realized it really painfully. They had something to eat and something to wear, but for a long time everything had been meager and poor. This could be seen even in their simple clothes, on which it would be difficult to look for elegant decorations, not to mention that the colors that distinguished their sects had long ago disappeared. 

Jiang Wanyin had nothing but Zidian to clearly define his position, and while it wasn't something he bothered with, he was well aware of how they presented themselves in the eyes of others.

They were a bunch of runaway, hungry mutts trying to live against the odds. They ate what they could get their hands on while trying to survive, training more cultivators, slowly reclaiming more acres of land while trying to keep the people around them safe. There were days when they doubted what they were doing, and despair looked into their eyes with a quiet giggle of contentment, waiting for them to finally break and let it triumph over their dead bodies. 

"If you set out to search now, you'll most likely pass each other on the way," Lan Xichen observed calmly, returning his gaze and silently accepting his remark. "If something alarming really happened, I'm sure one of them would have used a flare. Let's wait a bit longer. Ouyang Xin is supposed to go on a night hunting trip soon. If necessary he will definitely follow Lady Jiang's footsteps. If you set off without thinking, driven by emotion, you won't find her."

"You wouldn't be so calm if it was about your brother," growled Jiang Cheng, turning his head abruptly and clenching his hands into fists.

"No, you are probably right, Wanyin, however, I believe you would have stopped me from making the wrong move," Zewu-Jun replied, shaking his head slightly.

The younger leader smiled bitterly under his breath as he gazed at the waters of the swiftly flowing stream that trickled past them, constantly murmuring on the stones smoothed over the years. Its quiet music, however, did nothing to calm Jiang Wanyin, who felt his heart beating hard, feeling like saying he would do the exact opposite. He realized now that his decision to walk straight into the arms of his enemies was irrational, a folly that he would never repeat, but he had wanted to save his foster brother at that moment, and nothing else mattered at that moment.

Jiang Cheng knew that now he was also ready to jump into the fire, without asking for anything, without waiting for explanations, just to do something to save Jiang Yanli. He wasn't sure if anything bad had happened to her, but her delayed return was making him tremble indescribably, pushing him to crazy actions that didn't make the slightest bit of sense. Even more so, now that he and Lan Xichen were considered the leaders of what remained of the Sunshot Campaign. 

He couldn't act irrationally, couldn't run freely where he wanted, couldn't risk his life recklessly, even if it was his loved ones who were to be endangered. His sister kept telling him that with his stubbornness and his drive for victory, he had become one of the symbols of this war, a sign of hope that all wasn't yet lost. She constantly exhorted him to appease his heart's anger and follow his reason, and he only nodded, knowing that Jiang Yanli was right.

He couldn't help it, however, that now he was unable to sit still, that he was trembling with uncertainty, and his imagination kept giving him worst-case scenarios. It didn't take long for him to lift his hand and run his fingertips over his own chest, over the scars that hid under the fabric of his robes. He knew what the members of Qishan Wen were capable of, and the state Nie Mingjue was currently in only confirmed it. Wen Ruohan didn't even need Wen Zhuliu to largely break one of the greatest cultivators of their time. How little, then, would it take to destroy Jiang Yanli?

"I know you're scared," Lan Huan said softly, not looking at him, not wanting to embarrass him unnecessarily.

"Nie Huaisang also left the walls of Cloud Recesses," growled Sect Leader Jiang. "And where is he now? Is he alive, or is he now the one in Nightless City?" 

"You can't think about it like that, Wanyin. Don't try to tell yourself some things," his companion replied immediately and shook his head slightly, then breathed deeply. "I believe that Young Master Nie is safe. If he was captured, we would have known about it long ago, Wen Ruohan would have done anything to make Nie Mingjue suffer, to make him die in bitterness and terrible pain, and we are both well aware of that," he added further, glancing surreptitiously at Jiang Cheng, seeing the latter clenching his fingers on the robes on his chest.

Lan Xichen didn't know what exactly had happened to the younger man. Neither he nor Wei Wuxian wanted to talk about it, they didn't mention what their escape from the Lotus Pier had been like, they didn't go back to those days, and the other cultivators respected their choice, accepting that it was Jiang Fengmian and Madam Yu's last will that the two of them simply run away, saving their lives. It was undeniable that Jiang Wanyin had suffered grievous wounds in the massacre of his sect, and although he had come out of it mostly healed, something had changed.

Sect Leader Lan was well aware of how much this matter tormented his younger brother, how much he wanted to understand what had led to Wei Wuxian disappearing for so long, eventually reaching for demonic cultivation. He would be lying if he said that it didn't intrigue him, as well, if he said that he didn't want to know what had happened to these two and why their relationship with each other had become so difficult. Of course, Master Wei was clearly being influenced by the spirits he claimed to control, but even so, Lan Xichen had a feeling that there was something else behind it all. Words that hadn't been spoken by either party.

"That was supposed to comfort me?" snarled Jiang Wanyin and looked at the older man again. "I know, I know I can't, but there's nothing we can do, we're stuck, and they attack us when they want to, like rabid mutts that bite a man for fun, running away when you take a swing at them."

"We're still alive," Lan Huan replied, though a shadow of bitterness could be felt in his voice. "And we are safe here, Wanyin. I disapprove of Master Wei's methods, and you know that I have tried many times to get him to change his ways, but I have to appreciate what he has done for us. The barriers he has put up are indeed difficult to overcome."

Jiang Cheng clenched his teeth very tightly, which didn't escape his companion's attention, nor did the grimace of anger that flashed across his slightly parted lips. That wasn't all, however, and Lan Xichen was well aware of that, for as soon as the younger leader looked at him again, he could see the pain in his gaze, which the man was unable to hide after all. Jiang Wanyin raised his hand to comb through his hair in exasperation, then shook his head slightly.

"I know I should forbid him," he said quietly. "But he's not listening to me. I don't even know if he realizes how much he's letting demonic cultivation consume him. You've seen how he acts towards my sister, how gentle he is with her, as if he doesn't want to hurt her. With me, he doesn't pretend anything."

"Just because you are his leader doesn't yet cause Master Wei to obey you without blinking an eye. He has always been incredibly independent and has broken every rule he knows. I don't expect you to be able to control him, and I know how much heart you put into convincing him to try the healing methods Uncle and Wangji are offering him, though," Lan Xichen replied at once and shook his head slightly, suddenly feeling an incredibly strong urge to raise his hand and press his palm to his companion's cheek.

His heart pounded harder as he became fully aware of that thought, and he felt his ears redden slightly as he realized how wrong that was. Lately, though, he hadn't been in control of these feelings that were coming up more and more often, this desire to help Jiang Cheng, this desire to show him that he was beside him and could rely on him if he needed it. He had no idea where all these crazy gusts of heart were coming from, but lately they were becoming really unbearable, such as that moment when he really struggled to stop himself from taking a step to get right in front of Jiang Wanyin.

"He should. He needs to listen to what I have to say," growled the younger leader sharply, realizing how desperate he sounded at the moment, and hid his face in his hands for a moment. "My sister doesn't listen to me either. I asked her not to go too far away, to limit her visits to the villages after all, and now I don't even know what's going on with her."

Lan Xichen lifted his hand abruptly and put his palm on his shoulder, clasping his fingers gently, trying at least in this way to give him some comfort, to show that he was absolutely not alone in this. He understood his bitterness, his fatigue and dissatisfaction, he knew what it looked like, he knew what all these feelings tasted like, because he had also been through it himself. The older cultivators sometimes questioned his decisions, pressured him, trying to force something on him, as if they assumed that he was too young to understand some intricacies of leadership.

However, that wasn't all that he and Jiang Cheng had in common. Lan Wangji also repeatedly had his own opinions and, hiding behind beautiful explanations, disagreed with his brother, ultimately doing what he wanted most of the time. He followed Wei Wuxian's lead, resembling a moth that lunged at a flame, and Zewu-Jun kept finding excuses for his behavior, acquiescing to it as long as his brother acted for their mutual good. It wasn't actually a solution, though.

"They are fighting in their own way, trying to do everything that will be good for us," Lan Huan said, smiling bitterly.

For a moment they simply stared at each other, carefully watching every change in each other's faces, every twitch of muscle, every wrinkle, every furrowed brow, every tightly hidden grimace of pain that they couldn't share with anyone. A truly enormous burden rested on their shoulders that seemed to grow with each passing day. They were responsible for all these people gathered in Cloud Recesses, and most of them were constantly giving them more worries, requiring them to be reasonable and accurate in their decisions.

"I know," Jiang Cheng said quietly, crinkling his eyebrows tightly, and took a deeper breath, enjoying the man's presence, his closeness, and the support he tried to give him.

They moved at virtually the same moment. The crunch of stones on the path leading to Gusu Lan's residence was clear and surprisingly loud in the silence of the evening. They didn't even realize when the sun hid behind the nearest hills and darkness engulfed them, hiding them from the gazes of others. Neither did they feel the chill that grew with the rising fog, which now entwined itself greedily around their legs, creeping slowly upward as if it intended to consume the whole world. They stood too close together to actually begin to freeze, and the branches surrounding them rather tightly gave them the false sense of security and seclusion they needed. 

Jiang Cheng pulled his companion by the sleeve of his smooth gray robe that had long since replaced the pristine white, not wanting those approaching to realize too soon that they weren't alone here. The younger leader almost forced Lan Xichen to lean back against the trunk of the magnolia again, and then squatted down, so he could see the path better, while feeling his nervousness begin to force his heart to run much faster. 

He realized that it was really almost impossible for anyone to manage to break through the protective barriers without breaching them in such a way that they would react immediately, but he also knew that Qishan Wen and Lanling Jin had no shortage of capable cultivators.

When they finally caught sight of the people approaching them, Lan Xichen held his breath, feeling as if his heart had stopped for a moment. A warning hiss reached his ears, and a moment later, he noticed out of the corner of his eye the purple glow that Zidian threw off. Jiang Cheng's reaction didn't surprise him in the slightest, he himself felt uncertainty and anger that almost grabbed at his throat with all his might as soon as he realized that Lanling Jin members were among those approaching. 

Their golden robes stood out quite clearly against the remaining gray, and the elegant ornaments of some of them clearly indicated their high statutes in the sect. It also didn't take too long for the two young leaders to recognize Jin Zixuan as one of the men.

Jiang Wanyin's movement was so fast that Lan Xichen didn't even have time to realize what was actually happening. The younger man leaped forward, nearly breaking several branches of a magnificent magnolia tree on the way, and stopped on the path, while Zidian uncoiled violently, spewing sparks all around. The spirit weapon seemed to hiss like a rabid snake, clearly preparing to strike a blow, only waiting for its master to make a move, who stared furiously at the approaching men who, upon seeing him, immediately stopped.

Zewu-Jun followed him as quickly as possible, hoping that there wouldn't be any unnecessary bloodshed for a while. He spotted their own envoys between the wanderers, as well as Jiang Yanli, who very gently placed her hand on Jin Zixuan's hand, stopping him from making any movement, and looked somewhat defiantly at her brother. Jiang Wanyin snarled under his breath, clenching his fingers tighter on Zidian, which almost seemed to break free from his tether, and a decidedly unpleasant glint ignited in his eyes.

Lan Xichen understood his fury, his fears, but he still disapproved of rash action. Probably for that very reason, he stood so as to partially obscure the path of attack, recognizing that he would take the first blow himself if necessary. He also understood that the younger leader wasn't going to speak, flipping the words on the tip of his tongue, ready to lash out at his own sister's stupidity, something he would regret a hundred times later.

"Lady Jiang, then," said Sect Leader Lan calmly, still maintaining his composure, but it was clear that he would immediately reach for his weapon if necessary. "Would you care to explain to us what Master Jin and the other members of Lanling Jin are doing here?"

Jiang Yanli smiled softly, then let go of Jin Zixuan's sleeve and took a few steps forward, with just a flick of her hand, ordering him to stay put. She knew, of course, that the young man had a lot to answer for, that he too should explain his presence in Gusu Lan's lands, but she was the one who had brought him here, along with all of his companions, who were surprisingly humbled as they waited for events to unfold.

There were a few men who weren't much older than Lanling Jin's heir, but Lan Xichen also noticed a senior who was probably his uncle's age, and a young woman who was watching the area closely. None of them seemed to have any hostile intentions, but that could only be an illusion, as Zewu-Jun was well aware. Nevertheless, he tried to believe that everyone gathered here not only had a good reason to be here, but also had the purest of intentions.

"Lan Xichen" Lady Jiang said calmly, bowing to him, then turned to her brother to give him his due honors as well. "Jiang Wanyin" she added quietly, treating the man as if he were a sect leader, not a member of her family whom she would try to persuade to do anything.

She glanced towards Jin Zixuan and the people accompanying him some more, as if to make sure that those people were behaving properly, and then took a deeper breath. She measured the gaze of her bright eyes on her brother, who was still allowing Zidian to make ominous grunts, suggesting that one wrong move would cost the assembled people heavy wounds. 

Lady Jiang saw his anger, she saw his uncertainty, and she also saw perfectly that he was looking at her as if to tell her that she had disappointed his expectations and hopes. This wasn't something pleasant, and although Jiang Yanli felt an icy prick in her heart, she endured his gaze. She didn't cringe, she didn't let out a mindless sob, she didn't curl up inside herself and try to run away, although she felt a shadow of fear standing in front of her angry brother. Facing her leader.

"It is Jin Zixuan who had been giving me most of the information regarding what was going on in Lanling Jin's lands for several months now," the woman finally said. "We met when, while seeking refuge from a group of cultivators from Qishan Wen, I fled to one of the border villages. He was the one who hid me, as well as the people accompanying me, and didn't allow any harm to come to us."

The look in Jiang Cheng's clouded eyes hardened, became almost icy cold, and a bitter smile twitched at the corner of his mouth. Jiang Yanli would be lying if she said that it didn't affect her, that it didn't hurt her losing the shadow of trust that her brother had placed in her until now, but she couldn't help it. If only she had confessed to them earlier that she was secretly being courted by Jin Zixuan, they probably would have decided to put a stop to it, not wanting to expose themselves to potential losses.

Lady Jiang had never considered herself important enough to be seen as any kind of bargaining chip, but she was also aware that her brother would be willing to make crazy decisions if she were captured. Nor was she naive enough to assume that Jiang Cheng had any confidence in Jin Zixuan. She was almost certain that the young leader doubted the Lanling Jin heir's supposed imprisonment by his own father. They had never been fond of each other, and things had gotten worse since her engagement had been broken off.

She was also convinced that Lan Xichen wouldn't approve of her meeting with the enemy after all. Yes, Jin Zixuan had been recalled from the front lines at the last moment, against his will, and it was known that he had confronted his father's emissaries, but that didn't change anything in his position. At that time it was still believed that Jin Guangshan wasn't going to sacrifice his heir for a better cause, but later a long shadow fell over Lanling Jin, and the Sunshot Campaign cultivators finally turned their backs on the collaborators. 

"I realized from the beginning how dangerous these meetings and talks were, and that's why I didn't want to talk about anything. I was convinced that you wouldn't allow them, and we needed not only information, but also money and food, which is no secret," Jiang Yanli said calmly as the two leaders remained silent, apparently expecting her to elaborate on her statement. 

"Lady Jiang, I hope you realize your reckless behavior?" asked Lan Xichen just as gently, taking the brunt of this conversation, aware of the anger Jiang Wanyin was now burning with.

"I realize the risks I took," Jiang Yanli replied simply.

She didn't even flinch when the air beside her was cut by Zidian, flitting somewhere behind her back, whooshing skywards and emitting warning hisses, clearly indicating that another wrong move wouldn't be redeemed with just a warning. Jiang Wanyin's patience had its limits, and each successive word, each successive explanation, strained it more and more, leading him to the point where a small move on Jin Zixuan's part almost fully revealed his anger.

"I never thought you would be blinded by a ridiculous feeling," growled Jiang Cheng throatily.

There was no doubt that this remark hit Jiang Yanli with astonishing force, but the woman only smiled gently and raised her head slightly, as if she intended to show that she was willing to defend her own opinion. She understood very well that the young leaders might have a lot to reproach her for, that they might be afraid of where her loyalty actually lay, but still she didn't want to run away, bury her head in the sand and repent as if she had made an unforgivable mistake. She also knew that she shouldn't be angry with her brother, who said the most hurtful words in anger, but she couldn't help the fact that her pained heart suddenly started beating surprisingly hard.

She hoped that Jin Zixuan understood the warning her brother had given him, for she didn't want them to start fighting to the death here, especially since she could already see the cultivators approaching from the gates, seeming very concerned. Jiang Yanli breathed deeply, closing her eyes for a moment, and then looked again at Lan Xichen, who was certainly more calm at the moment.

"I realize that my action is risky to say the least, but I have thought carefully about what I have done. I am well aware of what you are going to accuse me of, that you probably think this is another ambush laid for us, but I cannot agree with that," she spoke up again. 

"Why, Lady Jiang?" asked Zewu-Jun, glancing over her shoulder at the Lanling Jin cultivators with whom the woman wandered the villages.

"Give me even one reason why I should listen to them," growled Jiang Wanyin, with a flick of his wrist, stopping the people heading towards them in their tracks.

"All the information Jin Zixuan gave me agreed with what we already knew, and if something was unclear, I tried to clarify it as soon as possible. It was with the money I received from him that I was able to buy the right amount of herbs and food needed to feed all those people in our custody," she replied calmly yet firmly.

Jiang Wanyin snorted, clenching his teeth for a moment, feeling that every next word he spoke would be drenched in venom. He didn't think his sister had done the right thing, she had clearly let down his trust and he could feel the anger almost boiling inside him at the moment, but the last thing he needed was additional strife among the allies under the banners of the Sunshot Campaign.

"The only person you don't trust is actually me, don't judge Lady Jiang too harshly," Jin Zixuan said without moving so as not to provoke Jiang Wanyin into another attack. "I’m willing to provide explanations and share everything I know with you. I didn't come here because that was my father's wish, but because I have supported your actions all this time. My men and I will lay down our weapons, we are prepared for anything you ask of us."

"Let us, Master Jin, be the one to pass judgment," Lan Xichen said.

He had to agree with the young man that he was indeed the greater threat. He was with only a few armed men in enemy territory, right at the gate of their headquarters, seemingly humble and willing to make concessions, yet still attempting to dictate the terms on which he would talk to them. Under other circumstances Lan Huan would probably have found his behavior and words commendable, the fact that he had taken Jiang Yanli to his defense was certainly significant. Now, however, the two of them were balancing dangerously over the precipice.

At the same time, Sect Leader Lan had to admit that he was impressed by the calmness and humility of the Lanling Jin members who had come here with their heir. Although he could see a shadow of uncertainty, irritation, and at times even anger on their faces, no one spoke up, no one moved, clearly waiting for the commands to be given to them. In the past, Lan Xichen would have immediately taken this as a clear sign of goodwill on their part, but after what he had experienced, he tried not to trust people right away just because he wanted to see good in them and listened carefully to their amiable words.

Zewu-Jun looked at Jiang Wanyin, who had been silent for a long while, measuring the gathering with the gaze of clouded eyes that seemed to be burning with fury at the moment. A crooked, ironic smile wandered on his lips, clearly indicating his attitude towards this whole matter. It was also hard not to notice his heavily furrowed brows, or that proud lift of his head that caused his loosely tangled hair to rock violently over his shoulders. 

Zidian twisted again with a quiet chuckle, settling quietly on his master's finger, after which he seemed to twist a moment longer, like a snake seeking a resting place. Its glow faded slowly, like a flame dimming in the wind, to plunge the young man into twilight, hiding the gleam in his bright eyes in the darkness. There was something of resignation in that gesture, but at the same time something that clearly showed the goodwill of the young leader, who despite everything didn't allow his fury to carry him to places of no return. Lan Xichen knew full well, however, that there was also a shadow of disappointment hidden in Jiang Wanyin's behavior.

"You will lay down your weapons and be escorted to the Main Hall," Sect Leader Jiang said, then turned to the cultivators who were silently waiting for their instructions. "Summon the other leaders there immediately, Lan Qiren, Lan Wangji, and Wei Wuxian. Escort my sister and her companions to her room. They are to wait for me there."

It was obvious to Jiang Cheng that sending the Lanling Jin people away from Gusu Lan at this point was actually suicide. They were too close to the entrance of Cloud Recesses to not realise what additional protective barriers had been put on the estate. They also knew how to sneak undetected through the shields that Wei Wuxian had deployed after Jiang Yanli’s help, and they also undoubtedly knew what route could be taken to approach the Sunshot Campaign's headquarters undetected. 

No matter what they intended to do with them, they couldn't let them go. That Jiang Wanyin didn't trust Jin Zixuan, his fine words and assurances, was one thing. But he didn't know at all how the other leaders would approach the matter, how Nie Mingjue and Lan Qiren would react to it, it was hard for him to say what the whole council might ultimately demand, and yet they counted on their vote. He himself wasn't inclined to accept the newcomers wandering freely around Cloud Recesses.

A strange silence fell, suffused with a tension that couldn't be escaped in any way. Jiang Yanli bowed deeply, humbly accepting her brother's orders, though she immediately sent a gentle smile to the men who accompanied her on the expeditions, apparently wanting to reassure them. After all, she was the one who made the decision in the end, she was the one who decided that she was going to trust Jin Zixuan and meet with him again to see if he would actually be willing to help them. 

She was fully aware that she might walk straight into a trap, but she wasn't about to give up on the chance that had been accidentally given to them. She knew that, although Master Jin was a somewhat self-confident man, convinced of his own strength, abilities and capabilities, his heart was on the right side. He was dedicated to their cause, willing to fight and sacrifice for the sake of other people's well-being, so she trusted that despite everything. The time spent back in the Carp Tower wouldn't have completely destroyed the seed of goodness that had been planted in his heart. Nor did she heed what had once divided them, for it was irrelevant to the cause of the entire Sunshot Campaign.

The sand and gravel crackled quietly under their boots, drowning out the murmur of the stream, and the calls of the fowl and the nocturnal game fell abruptly silent, as if the whole world realized that something bad was happening. The darkness that surrounded them thickened rapidly, bringing darkness out from between the rocky hills, allowing the mist to mingle with it in a tight embrace. It became not only cold, but damp, the smell of wet earth hitting them quite unexpectedly as a more violent gust of wind blew. 

Under these conditions, the quiet clang of weapons being passed around without a word seemed to grow into a rumble of thunder. Even their breathing was too loud and heavy, and the movements of most cultivators were surprisingly sharp. Their bodies were tense, ready for the fight that apparently both sides expected in this situation. No one spoke, no one protested, and in absolute silence, all the people gathered headed towards the gates of Gusu Lan's residence, which were now open. One of the cultivators moved forward to summon the other sect leaders for this late night, completely unexpected meeting.

Jiang Wanyin still didn't know what he should think about all this. He felt strangely betrayed, and at the same time, he got the impression that he should be proud of his sister, of her thoughtfulness and resourcefulness, which had certainly improved their situation many times over in these troubled times. The man also didn't believe that Jiang Yanli would be willing to give Jin Zixuan any information about their predicament - she wasn't a fool after all = and although she dreamed of ending the war and thus living a peaceful life, she knew full well that she couldn't achieve that through betrayal. 

He snarled as much as furiously under his breath and stumbled down one of the low steps that were now sinking into the fog. In his reverie, he paid little attention to where he was actually going, simply walking ahead at the side of Lan Xichen, who reflexively grabbed his arm and held him up, looking at him intently. There was a shadow of concern in his dark eyes, but also something like hidden anger, which he nevertheless didn't want to pour out on everyone around him.

"You need to be more careful," Zewu-Jun said calmly.

"Now for sure," parried Jiang Wanyin at this, glancing towards the escorted group moving away from Lanling Jin.

"You don't believe in Master Jin's goodwill?" asked Sect Leader Lan then, looking at his companion carefully.

The younger man remained silent for another long moment, watching the cultivators moving away and listening to the increasing noise, indicating that minor sect leaders were coming from different corners of Cloud Recesses. For a moment, they even thought they heard Wei Wuxian's loud laughter, but they didn't move. 

Jiang Wanyin raised his hand to rub his tired eyes, wondering how he could put into words what he was feeling at that moment, knowing full well that this tangle of thoughts and emotions couldn't be put into words.

Sect Leader Jiang took a step back, supporting his back against the cold stone wall in which the steps they had stopped on were carved, and then shifted the leaves of the climbing plant in his fingers over the rough stones. The fog around them grew thicker and thicker, winding higher and higher, like clouds that for some reason had fallen to the ground and now engulfed everything in their path. It seemed like a shroud into which one could fall and forget about everything that was happening around, fall into oblivion from which there was no way back.

"No," Jiang Wanyin finally said, looking at the older man again. "His father is devious and always looking to benefit himself without caring about other people. We all know that he has spoiled him and put on airs forever. Do you believe that damned Peacock knows what true dedication to a cause is?"

"I don't want to make rash judgments," Lan Xichen replied, shaking his head slightly and putting his hands behind his back. "I don't trust him or his men, but I also don't suspect Lady Jiang of being completely blinded by emotion."

"My sister has obviously gone mad," growled Jiang Cheng in exasperation, and he put his arms across his chest, shaking his head, and a not-so-pleasant glint appeared in his bright eyes.

"Let's hear them out before we finally pass judgment," Zewu-Jun asked calmly, though his posture clearly indicated that he didn't intend to accept any protest at the moment.

Sect Leader Jiang sighed quietly to nod, then moved away from the stone wall and, wading through the dense fog, headed towards the Main Hall again,, without uttering another word. He knew full well that Lan Xichen wouldn't let the matter go so easily and wouldn't allow anyone to hurl accusations at Jin Zixuan, nor did he intend to allow him to rush to judgment or react to what was happening overly emotionally. They knew each other well enough for Jiang Cheng to know that his friend was trying to calm him down, call him to order, and remind him that he should be guided primarily by reason and not by the gusts of his heart.

They couldn't allow themselves to make any mistakes, any wrong moves that could lead to discontent or even rebellion among the remnants of the allied sects. That they were trusted enough to lead the Sunshot Campaign after what had happened to Nie Mingjue was both surprising and incredibly difficult. Now that they had to operate underground, where they had to build a spy network and rely on the information they gained, when they couldn't simply move more risers on the maps indicating the positions of their troops and every day seemed like a challenge.

Lan Xichen stopped outside the Main Hall for a moment as a murmur of conversation reached him, increasing with each passing moment. Some voices were raised, it looked like most of those gathered didn't have the slightest desire to have any discussions with Lanling Jin members, and they could expect that eventually someone would reach for a weapon. Zewu-Jun breathed deeply, feeling the fatigue that had almost settled a weight on his shoulders, but he shook his head and then crossed the threshold of the Main Hall, following Jiang Wanyin, who only clenched his teeth tightly.

Their appearance cut off all discussions almost immediately, and only Wei Wuxian still threw his somewhat ironic but certainly quite venomous words at Jin Zixuan. They had never been fond of each other, but the subsequent events that put the Lanling Jin heir in a worse and worse light only added fuel to the fire, causing the two of them to have only harsh words for each other. 

Nevertheless, a single glance from Jiang Wanyin was enough for his foster brother to fall silent, merely smiling coquettishly at the corner of his mouth and twisting Chenqing in his fingers, whose ornate tassels were constantly flapping against his chest.

The two young leaders took a seat on the raised platform where they always sat during gatherings together with Nie Mingjue, but the latter was missing. Lan Xichen looked somewhat uncertainly toward his brother, as if to ask him if his friend intended to appear, and Lan Wangji merely nodded affirmatively. 

"Sect Leader Lan," Wang Jin spoke up. "What are they doing here?"

The short man with the penetrating gaze of green eyes rose from his seat and, slipping his hands into the sleeves of his wide robe, walked a little closer to the platform. He passed by the silent members of the Lanling Jin who waited motionless in the middle of the Main Hall, seeming as if they had been put under Lan's silent spell, unable to utter a single word in their defense. 

Sect Leader Wang was undoubtedly nervous, but it was hard to tell that there was even a shadow of fear or uncertainty in this small, muscular man. Rather, it was anger laced with a combativeness that couldn't be denied.

"Jin Zixuan will explain it to us himself," Jiang Wanyin said while looking at the older man, who was far from humbly bending his neck before him. "First, however, Sect Leader Nie will join us."

The mention of Nie Mingjue slightly cooled the anger of the other gathered leaders, and most of them exchanged hurried glances, which brought a smile to Wei Wuxian's face. Even now that Sect Leader Nie was in a rather deplorable state, exhausted, without his weapons or much hope that his brother would still be found, he was inspiring fear among the other cultivators. 

They felt respect for him, just as they did for Lan Qiren, and although he wasn't much older than Jiang Wanyin and Lan Xichen, he was the one who seemed much more trustworthy. Of course, this didn't mean that the younger two commanders were completely disregarded, but there were times when the older leaders tried to force their will on them. They also tested their patience at times.

The silence that had fallen in the Main Hall was broken by heavy footsteps, and a moment later, Nie Mingjue appeared in the pavilion, sweeping around everyone with a tired look in his gray-green eyes and heading to his seat by Lan Xichen's side. He fidgeted visibly as he passed the members of Lanling Jin, snotting under his breath as he looked at the heir of that sect, but he did nothing more. He wasn't going to throw himself at anyone's throat, he wasn't going to tear anyone apart on the spot. He had come here to listen to an explanation of the situation at hand.

Wang Jin folded his arms across his chest, clearly waiting for an explanation, and was the only one of the few more focused on the Lanling Jin members than the three leaders sitting on the dais. The gazes of most of those gathered were constantly flitting towards Nie Mingjue, who had aged considerably, and the hollow yawning right sleeve of his robe filled almost everyone with fear, sometimes even a shade of disgust. However, one look at him was enough to make the gathered people refocus on the object of this meeting.

"Lady Jiang brought Jin Zixuan and his men to Gusu Lan's lands," Lan Xichen finally said calmly. "We have already heard part of her explanation, but it isn't enough."

The leaders of the other sects exchanged puzzled glances, and Nie Mingjue leaned over slightly, so he could look at Jiang Wanyin, but only smiled cynically at him. In turn, Wei Wuxian rose from his seat to walk closer to the three leaders, standing as close to his foster brother as possible, completely ignoring his exasperated admonition.

"Shijie brought this Peacock here? After all, that's impossible!" hissed Wei Ying, looking towards Jin Zixuan.

"Wei Wuxian," growled Jiang Cheng in reply. "Sit down. I saw my sister bring in Master Jin and his men, and I also heard with my own ears her words and assurance that he was the source of much of the information, money, and other gifts that have come to Cloud Recesses recently."

The older man raised his eyebrows slightly, apparently preparing to throw in some comments, but then Lan Wangji spoke up and merely asked him to take his seat. At the same moment, an uproar also rose as the assembled men finally understood what had just been said and one by one began to demand further explanations as well as due punishment for Jiang Yanli for her - at least - reckless behavior. 

"Her punishment won't pass her by." These shouts were cut off sharply by Jiang Wanyin, covering Zidian with his left hand, clenching his teeth tightly in the process. "Nor the accompanying cultivators."

"You can't be serious," snorted Wei Wuxian, who was still standing by him.

"Sit down, or I'll administer a few blows with the discipline whip for you too," hissed Jiang Cheng.

The atmosphere grew thicker with each passing moment, and those gathered looked at Sect Leader Jiang with displeasure, as if the presence of Lanling Jin members in Cloud Recesses was solely his fault. The young man's attention didn't escape the hastily exchanged words, which were tried to be spoken so quietly that they wouldn't reach his ears. He only smiled bitterly at this, biting his cheek from the inside and raised his head rather proudly, not intending to give the assembled people even a shadow of satisfaction.

"I think I don't need to remind you that the mistake of the moment becomes the concern of a lifetime," Lan Qiren spoke up calmly.

The older man had been silent up to this point, all the while carefully observing those gathered, nodding slightly at some of their remarks and simply waiting to see what would happen. He didn't intend to take on the role of leader, he didn't intend to lead this meeting because that belonged to his elder nephew and Jiang Wanyin and Nie Mingjue. Nevertheless, he assumed that after all, he, as the eldest of the assembled, would be the one the others would listen to most quickly.

They didn't need any more bickering now, they didn't need any more hurling of insults at each other, much less in the presence of Lanling Jin members, and his calm remark caused those gathered to fall silent, acknowledging his point. Lan Qiren could see perfectly well their sharp glances, their furrowed brows, or the fingers they drummed against their own thighs, but he wasn't going to pay them any attention, though in many cases he was willing to admit that the men behaved worse than most of his juvenile students.

"Then, Master Jin, would you like to explain to us what brought you to the lands of Gusu Lan?" asked Lan Xichen, seemingly completely calm, but his gaze was hard and incredibly attentive.

Jin Zixuan bowed, and then looked once more around the gathering, trying with all his might to keep his cool. He had already come close to exploding a few times, saying a few words too many, uttering a remark that would cost him more than it was worth. When the men demanded punishment for Jiang Yanli, he had to dig his fingernails firmly into the skin of the inside of his palm to avoid throwing a few sharp, biting remarks towards the leaders. Perhaps if he had been here alone, he would have allowed himself to show his teeth, but besides him, there were people who came to the lands of Gusu Lan who trusted him, who still believed in the cause of the Sunshot Campaign, and he couldn't let them down.

"After my father recalled me to the Carp Tower, I was placed in confinement so that I wouldn't even attempt to return to the battlefield. Before it was finally decided that I could be released, many months passed, and the situation changed dramatically. As soon as I was allowed to leave the Carp Tower, I began to look for opportunities to approach Gusu Lan's lands, hoping to spread the message of my support for the Sunshot Campaign's cause," Jin Zixuan finally said, wetting his chapped lips with the tip of his tongue.

A murmur swept through the gathering, but no one dared to voice their opinion out loud anymore. At least for the time being, as long as the heir to Lanling Jin didn't say anything specific, didn't hint at what he expected or intended to achieve by coming down to Cloud Recesses. His support for their cause wasn't worth much at this stage, and the few cultivators who came with him certainly couldn't tip the balance in their favor. 

"I met Lady Jiang in a border town when, fleeing from a Wen patrol. She and her companions left your relatively safe lands, and I offered her refuge. I didn't expect to meet her, but I asked her to reappear in the same town again. I intended by this time to obtain for her not only valuable information, but also money, which I suspected you lacked."

Jiang Wanyin furrowed his brows at this remark while feeling his heart beating hard. He wondered how much his sister had kept from him so far, and feared every next word Jin Zixuan spoke. He looked at him almost as if he were a demon who could surprise him at any time, using tricks that the young leader didn't know. 

"As time went on, I tried to take only trusted people with me so that I could give Lady Jiang as many things, money and all the information we could gather as possible. Recently, however, my father has begun to question my frequent trips to the borders and I suspect he has begun to figure out that things aren't going his way," Jin Zixuan admitted. "I wouldn't have made the decision to leave had it not been for the recent decisions that were made behind my back that prevented me from continuing to support the Sunshot Campaign cause in secret."

Someone snickered at the young man's statement, the remark about his cowardice also reached him, and Jin Zixuan closed his eyes for a moment, feeling perfectly well that he was blushing violently. He knew that this was what his arrival at Cloud Recesses might look like. Jiang Yanli had warned him that the leaders would probably be completely hostile and even if they decided to listen to him, it certainly wouldn't go as he wished. 

He tried not to think of it as a humiliation, tried not to act like the spoiled brat he was after all, but it was incredibly difficult, standing motionless, putting up with the behavior of others without a word of complaint and explaining his every move. Jin Zixuan also clenched his teeth tightly as the remarks about Jiang Yanli, the words regarding her stupidity and naivety, the surprised exclamations regarding how far the woman was going outside the walls of the mansion rang through him. 

Jin Zixuan didn't quite understand where the astonishment of the leaders was coming from as they started asking questions about how their meeting happened, how it was even possible, and why it was actually her he was giving all the supposed gifts to. Not to mention that most of the gathered people looked at the young leaders with distrust, silently asking them if they knew about all this and allowed it.

"What decisions?" asked Nie Mingjue rather sharply, thus silencing the murmur of conversation.

"Father informed me that Wen Ruohan had chosen Wen Qing as his heir, to whom he had decided to betroth me, and send me back to Nightless City so that I wouldn't cause any more problems," Jin Zixuan said at this through clenched teeth, and then looked at the tips of his own shoes.

"Wen Qing?" repeated Wei Wuxian in disbelief.

Jiang Wanyin looked at Lan Xichen as if to ask him if he knew anything about this. After all, he was the one who had an informant in Nightless City who gave him all the relevant news, so something like this couldn't escape his attention. However, the older man shook his head slightly, only whispering that he hadn't received any letter for a long time, so he had no basis for Jin Zixuan's claim to be a lie in advance. However, he also didn't intend to give him unfounded faith, just like his assurances regarding his dedication to the Sunshot Campaign's cause. 

"Are you going to take his word for it?" asked Nie Mingjue, leaning slightly toward them and supporting himself on the table with his left hand as if to catch his balance.

Despite all the fatigue that was clearly painted on the man's face, his gaze was attentive and sharp. He wasn't going to make decisions for Lan Xichen and Jiang Wanyin, but he also wasn't going to let them do something stupid, driven by a good heart or excessive rage. He had had time to learn that neither path was entirely the right one, and now, whenever he could, he would do his best to continue to watch over the fate of the Sunshot Campaign, trusting that the two younger men could handle the burden that had been placed upon them.

"I won't believe a word of it," Sect Leader Fu finally said, shaking his head slightly, and several of those gathered agreed with him.

"We should send them back to Lanling Jin lands as soon as possible!" stated Sect Leader Yao.

"Just to let everyone know exactly what Cloud Recesses looks like now, what security measures have been put in place, and how many people we have here?" asked Jiang Wanyin sardonically after he had already shaken his head in denial at Nie Mingjue's question.

"They should take the same medicine that Wen Ruohan uses on our people," Sect Leader Wang said quietly, and the room fell silent for a moment.

Everyone was well aware that Sect Leader Wen was a ruthless man who loved to play with captives. Ever since he had lost both of his sons and one of his best men, his sadistic inclinations had become even more apparent, and the revenge he took on each captured cultivator was excruciatingly painful. It was known that if someone ended up in Nightless City out of their own will, they would never leave, which was why so many people withdrew from helping members of the Sunshot Campaign. 

Therefore, the remark made by Wang Jin was out of place to say the least and froze the blood in the veins of the others gathered, only leading Wei Wuxian to laugh. The young man looked at Sect Leader Wang with a shadow of pity, only to immediately ask him if he realized what he was ranting about, and when cries were raised at such treatment of someone high up, Wei Ying only laughed louder.

"You want to be like Wen Ruohan, then join him, Wang Jin, unless you're afraid you're going to die before you can even think about it," Wei Ying added still a bit bored, and then he felt someone pulling him towards himself and was abruptly seated between Lan Wangji and Lan Qiren.

"We're not going to kill anyone." Jiang Wanyin raised his hand in exasperation to rub his temples, and everyone could perfectly see the purple glow that surrounded Zidian at this moment. 

"Dungeon," Nie Mingjue said firmly and looked around the assembled people as if to see what those people thought of it.

"We need more information so we can make a fair judgment," added Lan Qiren, who was now sitting with his eyes closed and running his fingers over his chin in thought. "I would also like to know Lady Jiang's position on this matter. I trust that you will address this issue, Sect Leader Jiang?"

Jiang Cheng nodded as a sign that this was exactly what he planned to do, and then for a while he simply listened in silence to what the other leaders had to say. In the end, they all agreed that it would indeed be most prudent to lock the Lanling Jin members away in seclusion, with no opportunity to talk, let alone have a chance to pass on any information about what was going on anywhere. The decision was made to strip them of exactly everything they possessed to ensure that they wouldn't be able to smuggle even a single talisman into the prison, and their weapons were to be deposited in the vault.

Wang Jin seemed somewhat unhappy with this turn of events, but in the end, he too admitted that his remark had been overly harsh and certainly hasty, though it was hard to say what had led him to that conclusion. If Lan Xichen had to guess, he would have to conclude that probably the biggest influence on the man was the remark made by Wei Wuxian, which worried Zewu-Jun incredibly. Jiang Cheng's foster brother's condition seemed to be getting worse every day, and they couldn't be sure at what point he was saying something serious and when he was resorting to his impromptu, utterly bizarre jokes. 

In the end, therefore, the Lanling Jin members were escorted away by the designated cultivators, while the leaders began to disperse to their rooms, reminding Jiang Wanyin that they hoped to have Lady Jiang's matter finally resolved by morning. The young man didn't comment on this in any way, merely glancing at those leaving, wondering how he should handle this next duty that had been unexpectedly placed on his shoulders.

* * * 

Jiang Yanli sat quietly at a low table on which everything she owned was piled. She had her hands folded on her thighs and had thrown her outer robe over her shoulders to ward off the chill that had crept into her room that evening. She seemed to be in complete control, fully concentrating on her thoughts, on the words she intended to offer her brother whenever he came to speak with her. There was undoubtedly a shadow of pride in her attitude that couldn't be missed.

She lifted her gaze to the door as soon as she heard the approaching footsteps and breathed deeply, closing her eyes for a moment, realizing that the accompanying cultivators were incredibly edgy. They had known all along that by acceding to Lady Jiang's request they were putting nooses around their necks, but they knew just as well that if they just reported what was going on outside the secure walls of Gusu Lan's residence, they would lose quite a valuable source of all sorts of resources and information. They were also able to observe the Lanling Jin members who sometimes accompanied Jin Zixuan, which they considered to be just as important as the very news he brought.

However, things were starting to look completely different when it came to finally coming face to face with the undoubtedly enraged Sect Leader Jiang. Zewu-Jun wasn't happy about what had happened either, they didn't have the slightest doubt about it, but even so, it was Jiang Wanyin's anger that seemed far worse to them at this moment. Therefore, it was no wonder that as soon as the man entered the room, everyone gathered bowed deeply to him without even daring to look at him.

Jiang Cheng paused in the doorway for a moment, looking first at his sister, then at the men he had hitherto trusted, before finally sweeping his pale eyes along the walls of the small, simple room. In the semi-darkness that now prevailed inside, it was difficult to see the delicate paintings that depicted distant lands and impassable mountains where exactly anything could hide. The room seemed strangely empty, cold, as if no one inhabited it, and not even the objects arranged on the coffee table or the parchments rolled up on the floor near the bed changed that.

"Why?" asked Jiang Wanyin at last, and, sliding the door shut behind him, he put his arms across his chest.

"I saw it as an opportunity I couldn't pass up," Jiang Yanli said quietly. "From the very beginning, I was aware of the danger of these meetings, and I also reckoned with the possibility of falling into a trap."

"Yet you chose to see that complacent Peacock," growled her younger brother, smiling crookedly at her.

"If Master Jin wanted to gain the publicity and praise of his father and Sect Leader Wen, he would have taken me to the Carp Tower without a moment's hesitation. Contrary to what you think, Jin Zixuan isn't a fool and realizes how much I mean to you, and my imprisonment would almost be tipping the scales in their favor," the woman replied, clenching her hands into fists, fumbling with the fabric of her robe in the process, but other than that, she didn't move, still standing in the same place, just as proud as before.

"Since Jin Zixuan is as smart as you claim, he could just as easily come to the conclusion that it would be a good idea to convince you to be his friend. Approach you, give you all the information that didn't really matter much to them, lead you to eat out of his hand," the young leader immediately pointed out to her.

The others gathered were silent, not knowing if they should interfere in this sibling's exchange of words. Some of them felt obligated to defend Lady Jiang, but they knew that the woman absolutely didn't wish for it, and it wasn't difficult to see the fury that was raging in Jiang Wanyin's heart at this moment. 

The man undoubtedly felt cheated, betrayed, and had probably lost the trust he had placed in them, which wasn't at all surprising. There were no words to quell his anger at the moment, no explanation that would fully reach him, nothing that could stop him from inflicting punishment.

That they were about to face the consequences of their actions was obvious to them from the very beginning. They weren't naive enough to believe that they would be able to keep these secret meetings secret forever. They expected that sooner or later, the truth would come out. 

Only the most delicate among them believed that the goods and money that had been acquired by the members of the Sunshot Campaign would be able to cool the anger of the leaders. However, the anger burned like molten metal, and the disappointment in their eyes was more painful than even the sharpest weapons.

"That's why I had everything he relayed to me checked by our other informants. If something he talked about matched what I had already heard about, I would pass the news on to you right away," Jiang Yanli said, breathing a little deeper and closing her eyes again for a moment, as if to say that this conversation was making her incredibly tired. 

"You didn't blindly follow what he slipped under your nose, congratulations," Sect Leader Jiang stated decidedly bitingly. 

"I also never told him about what is happening here in the lands of Gusu Lan. I never disclosed what state we were in, what we needed, what we lacked, I never mentioned a single word about what morale was like," the woman continued, trying not to react to her brother's behavior, fully aware that she had failed his trust. "It wouldn't be any easier for Jin Zixuan to take me before Sect Leader Jin, or even directly to Nightless City. If you think about it, you'll understand that his actions have clearly indicated a desire to help me from the beginning."

"Help?" growled Jiang Cheng, and Zidian snapped quietly, glowing violently with a purple radiance. "You do realize that your meeting could have been a perfectly choreographed performance?"

Jiang Yanli breathed deeply as she saw exactly where her brother's thoughts were going, then nodded as a sign that she was taking this into consideration as well. She wasn't going to defend Jin Zixuan with a stubbornness that had no basis, and, contrary to what Jiang Cheng had accused her of, she wasn't the least bit blinded by emotion. Lady Jiang knew that all her life she had given the impression of being weak as well as incapable of having an opinion of her own, that all her life her parents had subconsciously instilled in her brother as well as Wei Wuxian that they had to take care of her, that they had to protect her, and she didn't know how she was going to forbid them from doing so. 

She didn't feel at all as weak as a leaf carried by the wind, and by participating in the Sunshot Campaign, having the opportunity to observe political games and sometimes even deliberations, she became convinced that she wasn't just a weak shadow unable to make a proper assessment of the situation she was in. Jiang Yanli understood that full trust towards the Lanling Jin heir was impossible, not only because of his current situation, but also because of his past actions and absolute complacency. 

If that weren't enough, it was obvious that his being near the borders with the lands under Gusu Lan's authority was suspicious, to say the least. Perhaps if it wasn't for the fact that the Lanling Jin members who accompanied him were incredibly tense and constantly encouraged him to move away as quickly as possible to the region that was entrusted to their care, Jiang Yanli wouldn't have chosen to meet him again. Of course, the people accompanying Jin Zixuan didn't need to be privy to the task given to the heir of their sect, but this was leading to too many problems and potential misunderstandings that could happen with Qishan Wen's first patrol.

"If this were to be the way to get into Cloud Recesses, it would be incredibly complex and overly complicated. It would rely heavily on luck and would force Jin Zixuan to constantly stay near our borders without informing the other members of his sect," Jiang Yanli finally said as she shifted the ornate string that held the bell in her fingers. "Not to mention completely that it would lead to the simple conclusion that Lanling Jin and Qishan Wen are aware that I wander from village to village every now and then, as well as having full awareness of what I'm feeling."

Jiang Wanyin clenched his teeth tightly, restraining himself from another growl at his sister, while wrinkling his brows, feeling that he should at least pause for a moment at the rage that raged in the depths of his heart. Lan Xichen had constantly told him that anger wouldn't win, that he should listen carefully to what others were saying, while cautioning him against making decisions immediately after hearing explanations. He also tried to teach him not to be influenced by other people, to always consider what both sides of a conflict were saying, and right now Jiang Cheng had the opportunity to try to apply all this advice.

His bright gaze slid over the cultivators gathered in the room as he twisted Zidian on his finger, trying to focus on something other than the mindless anger he felt. He was burning unmercifully with this broken trust, this uncertainty over what his sister intended, yet he felt like he was able to understand her point of view. Moreover, he was able to agree with Jin Zixuan - he was the one he didn't trust in the slightest, constantly brooding over how he had been dismissed from the battlefield and hadn't, in his opinion, done enough to rejoin them in the decisive moments.

"I was the one who told them to keep quiet," Sect Leader Jiang's elder sister said calmly, glancing at him again. "It wasn't a request on my part, and although I didn't oblige anyone to keep secrets by threatening penalties for insubordination, apparently I was persuasive enough that no one wanted to report what I was doing."

The cultivators gathered behind her back moved, exchanging glances, but none of them intended to speak at this moment. They were aware of the position they were in and didn't intend to further anger any of the Jiang siblings, fully aware that any move they made at this moment could be considered wrong. Neither man had counted on their trespasses being forgiven, on escaping the punishment that Sect Leader Jiang intended to inflict upon them, but they had managed to come to terms with it in fact, which of course didn't mean that they didn't fear what might happen.

"You," Jiang Wanyin finally said, pointing with his chin at the man who stood closest to him. "How did you first meet Jin Zixuan?"

The cultivator raised his gaze uncertainly before bowing humbly to Sect Leader Jiang and stepped forward, nearly dropping a few trinkets from the table. He felt his heart beating hard as he didn't know what to expect, but he knew that any moment of hesitation and wandering around the subject could prove to be fatal for him. He, therefore, drew a breath, and, glancing at the tips of the young leader's boots, began to tell the story.

"It was that day when one of Wen's patrols ventured into Gusu Lan's lands, and Master Wei set out with Hanguang-Jun rather quickly to deal with them. We were quite far from Cloud Recesses then, and the enemy cut off our retreat,” the man began thus, moistening his lips with the tip of his tongue after a moment. "We knew they were closing in on us, so together with the villagers in the village where we were staying, we moved into the forest. I suspect that, despite everything, at that point we panicked and headed even further until we reached the outskirts of the town, from where it was difficult to turn back without drawing attention to ourselves."

"We were crossing the main street of the town when we realized that the Wen patrol had decided to stop here and appeared in the town right behind us," Jiang Yanli added calmly, but her brother silenced her with a mere raise of his hand.

"Yes, as Lady Jiang says, the members of Qishan Wen appeared in the town actually right after them, we couldn't just start running away because we would draw undue attention to ourselves. That's when we spotted Master Jin, and he immediately recognized Lady Jiang, and we found ourselves in an incredibly difficult position," the man continued, still glancing somewhat timorously towards the woman, then focusing fully on Sect Leader Jiang. "At that time, we didn't yet know that Master Jin wasn't supposed to be there either, but he was the one who took us to a small inn off to the side, where he told us to sit at one of the tables and just wait."

"To everyone?" asked Jiang Wanyin quietly, then smiled crookedly as the man cast a hurried glance at Jiang Yanli. 

"What other reason could Jin Guangshan's son have for being in such a place?" the woman asked calmly, looking fearlessly at her younger brother. "That seemed like the most logical explanation if the Wen patrol decided to show up at this inn, after all."

"You mean to tell me that you spent time locked in a room alone with him every time?" growled Jiang Cheng. "Exposing yourself to literally everything?"

"Perhaps you know a better way to hide the true intentions of two people meeting in a place forgotten by most of the world, but I unfortunately haven't found a better solution," Jiang Yanli replied, shaking her head slightly and clenching her fingers tightly on the bell, which at least temporarily calmed her down. 

Jiang Cheng clenched his hand into a fist and then obscured it with the fingers of the other, trying to stop himself from using Zidian at this moment. Anger seemed to burst him from within, dictating his reactions that he would later regret, which would later be reproached, pointing out his extreme incompetence. He wasn't a Sect Leader Nie, whose vehemence wasn't only widely known but for some reason also respected, and he actually had to be careful about what he did, keeping in mind that his every move was carefully watched by the other cultivators.

"Flogging. And confinement," he finally said through clenched teeth, looking intently at the assembled men, and then closed his eyes for a moment before looking at his sister again. "You, Lady Jiang, are facing seclusion. You cannot leave this room from now on, and if I find out that you tried to contact Jin Zixuan, believe me, you will face a much worse punishment."

"It will be as you wish," Jiang Yanli replied, humbly bowing her head.

The men behind her bowed deeply, realizing that the punishment meted out to them wasn't as high as one might have suspected. Behind Jiang Wanyin's words, however, was a warning that only a blind man with no concept of war, of betrayal, and of trust would miss. They knew they had failed their leaders, but seeing no other way out of the situation, they followed Lady Jiang's instructions, realizing how much good her meetings with Jin Zixuan would do. However, no one expected that the man would eventually decide to appear in person at Cloud Recesses.

"To the training yard," Jiang Cheng said further, nodding slightly towards the door behind his back, and watched as the men left the room to head to the indicated location under the escort of the cultivators waiting outside.

When they were alone, the siblings faced each other with a wary gaze, silent for a long moment. Neither of them moved, made any particular gesture, or ran to pleas or threats that would have been completely understandable at the moment. Jiang Yanli could see her brother's anger melting away, turning into exhaustion, into a sense of loneliness, into a sense of abandonment that spilled over his shoulders with increasing force. 

He was tired of his loved ones ignoring his requests and commands, of repeatedly doing things against his will, hiding behind the general good. Jiang Cheng realized that his sister really wanted to do the right thing, that she wanted to help them, but in truth she had just let the fox slip between the chickens and nothing could change that. She had trusted Jin Zixuan, his goodwill, his beautiful words, everything he had tried to tell her for so long, while destroying the trust her own brother had placed in her. 

Jiang Wanyin didn't know at all how he would have reacted if she had immediately admitted that she had met with the Lanling Jin heir, but he was sure that things would have been completely different then. He couldn't be sure that he wouldn't immediately order his sister to stay at the Gusu Lan residence for a long time, but at the same time, he couldn't rule out that after talking to Lan Xichen and Nie Mingjue, they wouldn't think they should take a risk and send Jiang Yanli to another meeting with Jin Zixuan. However, at that time, there would be no hidden chords plucked from other melodies.

"I never thought I'd be disappointed in you," Jiang Cheng finally said quietly, glancing at the small objects lying on the coffee table, then turned and left the room.

He didn't want to continue talking to the woman, he didn't have the strength for it, he couldn't even concentrate on her gentle explanations and further assurances that she was doing all this with their future in mind. On the other hand, he had the impression that Jiang Yanli knew perfectly well when she should keep quiet, and now no further words could change the situation they were in. 

Jiang Wanyin closed the door behind him, still keeping his hands on it for a moment, before taking a deep breath and turning to face the two Yunmeng Jiang alumni, whom he had commanded to keep an eye on his sister and make sure she didn't go anywhere or pass on any news to anyone.

The young leader needed silence, needed seclusion, a place where he could simply be alone with his thoughts, which now refused to let go in any way. He felt that his sister's actions hadn't only destroyed their trust in each other, but had also cast a long shadow over his competence, abilities and capabilities. Not to mention completely that surely this event would soon lead to the other cultivators gradually losing his hearing, sidelining him, and perhaps, in time, leading to a revolt that would finally put an end to the Sunshot Campaign. 

He stopped rather abruptly on the narrow path between the simple houses they had erected in one of Cloud Recesses' former gardens, listening for a moment to the murmur of conversation coming to him. 

In the past, Gusu Lan's residence had been peaceful and empty, with plenty of space and places to stop and think, but now every free space was filled with new houses and spacious tents that had to accommodate their people. Some of them lived in the higher areas of the mountain, some were left with only the valley outside the main walls of Cloud Recesses, but even so, virtually no one complained. From time to time there were shouts of discontent, quiet cries, or discussions of their lost homes, but most knew that this was almost a blatant incitement to rebellion, so it was no wonder that the mood was quickly eased in an effort to breathe new hope into the assembled people. 

However, Jiang Cheng had serious doubts whether they would still be able to do anything at all after tonight, or whether the Sunshot Campaign's survivors would scatter into the world, looking for a place where they could live in peace.

He clenched his teeth tightly, then took a deep breath and headed up the narrow path leading to Cold Spring, knowing that it was the only place in all of Cloud Recesses where he could truly be alone, where nothing would reach him, where no one would demand attentions or even a single kind word from him. He needed this seclusion, this escape from others, to soothe his anger and growing grief. As a leader, he couldn't afford to let unnecessary emotions consume him to the point where he was unable to make sound decisions. 

He quickened his stride and soon disappeared among the overgrown bushes that covered the slick, narrow steps running down the rocky wall. Only the quiet rustling of moving branches betrayed his presence.