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Chapter Text

Wei Wuxian was dead. And not metaphorically dead, but dead-dead.
He wasn't angry about it. It happens to everyone.
Even immortals die, it's just way more rare.

The real problem is: he's bored. Very bored.
He's floating in a dark space. Well, he supposes he's floating. He can't see anything.
He might be laid flat on his back...or upside down. He has no clue...he has not felt a tangible thing beside himself since he popped up in this strange space.

He has tried to sit and succeeded, he did not feel a surface under his ass though!
He started walking, nothing under his feet. He swam too...he might have moved or staid in the same place.
No way to know. He didn't feel any resistance, he would say there is no air, or water, or anything but he's breathing. Well, his upper chest moves like when he was alive.
He's a bit scared to interrupt it, even as an experiment.

There is absolutely no sound to be heard, the dead s' complaints had stopped when he died. Which is a good thing, but there is no sound at all...
He can't see, he can't hear not even himself, he tried. He had licked his fingers to verify if he had lost his sense of taste but they do not have any spice on them so he can't know for sure.
They do not any aroma either. His sense of smell seems to be non-existent too
The only sense he is sure of, is the touchy one. He feels his hands when he claps them together, still no sound though.

It is a weirdly weird situation and, he is not panicking but, there is nothing to apply his mind to. It's not good. At all!
He tries to recall things before his death but all he is remembering is someone repeating "I love you!".
A very nice voice with the nicest perfume... It can't be his mother as it is clearly a man's voice, his father?
How could he remember his dad's voice once dead but not when he was alive?

This is stres---boring!
He has never be so lonely, even as a street boy. There was always people around, they chased him and yelled but... Life is lively.
Not death!
He has nothing to study, no mischief to create, no-one to joke with...he is miserable.
Maybe he will have paper money burn for him and it will show...something...anything...
Well, it's not like he expects someone to be sad over his death, beside Wen Yuan maybe, if he had survived.
He hopes his little radish has been found and taken care of.
It was so sweet to see him attached to Lan Zhan's leg! Lan Zhan...will he know he had died?
Is he going to try to speak to his soul? Why would he? He wish he could speak to Lan Zhan, he misses him so much... His one and only friend.
He wishes him a good life.
He does have regrets.

At the beginning he was quite surprised he was not welcome by his parents, his real parents that is.
He can easily survive (figuratively) without Mme Yu and Jiang Fengmian in the after life.
He had time to recognise neither of them had treated him like a family member. None of the Jiangs did, not even his beloved Shije.
She tried to be as kind as she could but it was doom from the start, not an easy fit with the expectations that had be imposed upon him by her parents. At least she has done her best, unlike Jiang Wanying, that son of a Viper!

He should really concentrate his thoughts on something else...something useful. Or that could have been useful at some point.

How could he have neutralise Zidian...that's a good research, no application in the near future, but still.
The whip should not be destroyed, it is misused not a corrupted Spiritual Weapon in itself.
Its main purpose is to exorcise a living body from a squatter, or the other way around...? It it should not be use in any other case. Not as a punishment tool for sure...
Only its master can control it. Unless there is another way...? If it were infected with a bit of Yin energy and Wei Wuxian controls that specific energy?
Can he control it? Is this that simple...Will it not be expelled as a foreign energy?
Hummm...he might have to be around all the time which is not ideal...
Can he give it more conscientiousness? Like as much needed to refuse to arm the innocents?
Is Zidian a righteous weapon?

The weapon is not the problem, Jiang Wanying is. That's the thing.
He whips without discernment; he should be stop! But how? It 's synchronised with him, could it return the lash if the person is non possessed?
That's a good lead...
No Yin energy but a curse?
No, a talisman? Unpractical.... An enchantment?
Yes! There it is...an enchantment. It's been a while since he used magic but.
But he can't test it because he is dead!
What a bummer!

He could also ask his Golden Core, he never tried it before but it was his. Could he order it to allow Jiang Spiritual Tools to be used only in necessary cases?
Is his former Golden Core angry with him? He has given him so freely, he was so foolish about the situation.
He has been warned by Wen Qing, he should have listen more carefully.
He misses her so much. She was way harsher than Jiang Yanli but so much more impactful in comparison.
And loving.
Like Wen Yin.
They're dead too, aren't they? He would have liked to avenge them. He did not succeed to protect them...

Can he cry in this space? He wanna cry right now! And if that flashing light could stop to blink faster and faster that would be also nice!
WHAT?
There's a light and and it rushes towards him rapidly, what's goING OOON?

Is that a dark alley?
It stinks like one!

Chapter Text

Wei Wuxian finds himself, once again, in a dark alley...

First of all: the lack of originality, really!

Second of all: why? How?
Cool.

So, he has recovered his sense of smell, unfortunately! It stinks as much as he remembers.

And his hearing too apparently...
Sniffles, he hears sniffles... he's not the one sniffling!
There is a sniveller somewhere ahead of him!

Not alone any more!!!!

As he moves forwards to see who is sniffling so sadly, he identifies a child form crouched on the ground, their arms around their upper body.
There is a little child, alone, in a dark stinky alley, near sunset!
No... Don't they learn?

He approaches the little radish as slowly as he can, not wanting to scare him, and asks softly: "Hey, little one, are you lost?"
But no reaction comes from the child, they doesn't seem to have heard him, at all.
Normally, the street kid tends to be skittish and registers quickly when someone is around as a survival mechanism...

Wei Wuxian is very intrigued.
He continues his way towards the little lump on the ground and reiterates in the calmest voice: " Are you lost? Have you any parents or relatives around here?"
It sounds creepy to his own ears but what to do?

He clearly sees the kid shivering under their torn but not to dirty clothes, he mustn’t have been outside for too long. Small relief.
A few days at most.
Wei Wuxian remembers being in way worst rags when Jiang Fengmian finally found him and brought him to Lotus Piers. Taller too.
He is not able to evaluate their physical state tough.
They haven't turn around, they may have an hearing problem.

His next move is to make a physical contact very carefully, he lowers his right hand on their shoulder with the lightest pressure, not to scare them too much.
It goes through the little body!
No!
The child is already a dead one...
There is a reaction tough... The child moves, leans slightly towards his hand as if they are reaching for something.
Wei Wuxian hears: "warmth" mumbled. Which weird!
Ghosts don't feel temperature.
They do not need warmth, they're dead.
He didn't need it in the dark void he had been before.
The weather doesn't justify this need too, it's not cold here nor hot either...

Oh Shit! He is the ghost, isn't he?
Shit! Shit! Shit!
Wait, wait...
Ghost can alter temperature around them....

Thinking of it, he does have recovered his previous lost senses but can't have any physical contact.
The non coporal one is himself.
How unlucky, to think he came back as a ghost...
Not even reincarnated, what a shame!

Focus!
Focus!
There is a cold abandoned child beside him, to whom he's able to provide warmth.
That's so cool!
Almost, there's kid out alone... Do not forget.
But he doesn't cover the whole little body, he needs to expand his form...
But how?
He never thought about it before, how one expands themself as a ghost?

The child shudders more, differently, they became anxious.
They try to step back into the alley without making a sound when Wei Wuxian hears the menacing growls...

DOGS! There are dogs, he needs to flee! Quickly!
STOP! Think!
He's dead, they can't do anything to him.

BUT THE CHILD!
Unconsciously he raises from his crouch and puffs his chest and, starts to scowl at the hideous beasts.
His eyes begin to glow a sick red colour, creating a menacing figure to impress.
Dark energy begins to gather around him without his knowledge.

The dogs, unlike humans, see him properly and scram as fast as they can.
They don't even bark.

As a result, the child is completely surrounded by his expanded ghost form, their trembles stop after a short while.
More calm and feeling strangely protected from the cold.
A little proud to have scared the strayed beasts. How could they know?

Their little stomach growls loudly, "nothing today too..." Wuxian hears as the sun goes down.
He's besides himself.
He doesn't know how to provide food as a ghost!
What can he do?
He needs to find a solution for tomorrow at the very least!

For now, he has to protect and keep the kid warm.
It's going to be a long night...
He vows to help the child as much as he's going to be able to. He'll find a solution.

Wei Wuxian sings a lullaby even if his charge can't hear him.
He has to save them, some how.

"...'ng 'z alon...ow..." they mutters sleeply.

Chapter Text

Upon awakening, the child wonders how to find some food. He doesn't want to leave the warm space he is in...
But the warmth's leaving him, he gets up hurriedly, scared to loose it for good, only to find it a step ahead of him.
It stopped, like freezes for a whole minute.

Wei Wuxian is utterly shocked to see his own little face searching for him. It is him from his earliest days on the street.
Same clothes, not too thin yet.
Why is it him? Who did this?
Little him has a very anxious look right now so he needs to act and, think about this situation later!

Wei Ying is surrounded by the warmth once again.
He decides to call it Mr HotBubble while he explores the width of it.
As it moves once again, he follows, not knowing what is going to happen, but hopeful for the first day since his parents have disappeared.

Wei Wuxian appreciates little him curiosity as he seems to measure of the space in which he can be protected from the cold in this early morning.
He's dragging him by the riverside and wonders along the way, how to communicate the fact that he has to clean himself.
This point resolves itself when he notices the youngling beginning to wash his face happily. His parents raised him well he remembers.
He tugs their bounds to a safer area where the kid can undress and have a proper bath, as he surrounds him with more warmth than previously. The water is cold and, the temperature does not encourage the activity after all.

As they return to Yilling, little Wei steps out of his protection and goes towards the Burials Mound. Wei Wuxian is absolutely helpless, he doesn't have a way to make him change his course. Scared, he scans their surroundings for any danger when he notices the fruits bearing trees down the path. A-Ying has found himself some food.
The Yiling Patriarch, Terror of the Cultivation World, lets a sight of relief escaped his non corporal lips...

After a copious breakfast, the child still doesn't turn back on his track and, he walks further towards the cursed area, his pockets full of fruits. Wei Wuxian is still very nervous about his choice but decided to scout out the area, may be there is something else, once again.
And there it is: a little cabin at the edge of the woods.
He hadn't gotten this far out of town in his previous life.
He's a smart little kid this one!

The state of the shelter shows it has been abandoned for a while but can still provide some protection from the weather and, it is a place to store the few items the child had in his pockets. And the food.
It is a far more better option that sleeping on the outside, at night, in a dark allay for sure!
Robbery is the main concern though.
Wei Wuxian wonders if he could ask for help of fellow ghosts in his present state and, he calls upon the red Lady. She had been very helpful in his past life...

"Master!" he hears "you have returned!
Significantly more dead it appears?
What happened?"
"Hello estimed Lady. Yes, I am dead and indeed, in need of your kind help. No! Not for me..." he answers quickly as she prepares herself in an obvious defensive stance. Claws out.
"Well, it is for me but not this... one...look at the child."
"Oh! That's you...You look so squishy!" she marvels while smiling with all her sharp teeth."
"Could you protect his shelter from any intrusion when we're gone?"
"No, no I can't. But fear not, I absolutely know who would be delighted to do so...
Wait and see!" she answers as she flies away swiftly.

Wei Wuxian is a bit disappointed as he had hoped for her to agree.
Ultimately he decides to trust her and, "wait and see" what her solution is.
Women are so much more pragmatic in the end.

All the while, little Wei tries to clean his new shelter and then organise the very few possessions he still has.
It takes barely any time, so he decides to practise the movements his parents had taught him since he was able to stand up by himself.
It gets him warm and, it gives him back some confidence he lacked in this past few days.
With his newly acquired peace of mind, he lists out loud :" I have somewhere to sleep, fruits to eat, water at my disposition... Not to bad.
Mr HotBubble is still here too?"
Wei Wuxian laughs at the nickname and, he surrounds the young child once again, as a confirmation.
"Cool!!! Thank you mister." grins a-Ying reassured.

From afar, the red Lady reappears with several other ghosts.
"Master! I have found many helpers! They will protect the area when you and I will have to follow your little young self on his errands..."
That why she wouldn't do it herself! He understands now. As helpful as ever!
"Each one of them has their own speciality as ghosts. They're going to do their best for the both of you."
"Why? I thank all of you very much but, I have nothing to offer you in exchange..." he replies embarrassed.
"None of that! You are both Ours!" answers another ghost.
Most of them nod in confirmation, the others are just looking at the child with utter fondness.

"Err??? Mr HotBubble?" asks his younger self " there are new things in my space, there are not mine.
They appeared out of nowhere, I don't know how... Is this normal?"
Wei Wuxian, after a short while, notices the new blanket and maybe a basket or two with undefined things inside. The ghosts smile.
He surrounds Wei Ying as to confirm but it's not an ideal way to answer.
"Hummm, say: you agree on my left side and disagree on my right side? Is that okay? Yes?"
Wei Wuxian positions himself on the left side, he covers entirely half of his younger version's body.
"Okay, okay... thank you sir Bubble! I am so glad to have someone to talk to... I feel so much better now!"
He bows deeply out of gratitude, not sure in which direction his benefactor is.
Wei Wuxian smiles fondly at the display.

He knows for a fact that not everything will go this smoothly but he is glad he could offer hope to himself and, also himself (?)
It's going to be complicated to think about it, isn't it?
Well for now, he has to make sure the little one is well appreciated by the town folks because the Jiangs will come at some point and, this version of him should not be left without supervision in their care.

"Do you think if I provide help to the townspeople, they could exchange it for food, Mr HotBubble?"
Wei Wuxian covers only the left arm as an answer.
"Oh!? Not every one?"
Complete cover of the left side this time.
"Ok... So I'm going to try my best to help the nice ones!"
This time only the top of his head feel the warmth as if he is been petted.
Both of them smiled contentedly.

Chapter Text

In the next few weeks of Wuxian's arrival, Ying campaigns the little town.
He helps everyone and remembers those who are ungrateful to him. He manages quickly to have regulars customers with his natural adorableness and inner willpower.
He's able to have a couple of paid errands commissioned each day.
There are messages to be delivered, fruits to be arranged at the stalls market, clothes to be hang outside to dry or to fold with the ladies after...
All of this coated in an eternal radiant bright smile.
His work is enough to buy him food, the necessities to be clean and, presentable at all time.
He chats with everyone, as much as a youngster can.

The blacksmith's shop becomes rapidly is privileged spot when he's not around town doing his little gigs.
The fire fascinates him, like every other young child. The forge sparkles hypnotically.
Also, it's a warm place and winter is on its way. He gains his frequent access by carrying beverages from the kitchen to the forge when the craftsman is thirsty.
The wife takes a liking to him and keeps him as a vegetables peeler, an important task!
The middle age couple is utterly charmed by the little industrious boy.
They came to care and are scared to let him go back out each night, alone in the dark even if he, himself, is quite confident about his own safety. With reasons.
Nonetheless they quickly offer him to stay at their house throughout winter and he accepts, his little hut is his home but, it will not protect him very much during the coldest nights. It's not really waterproof too...
They do not ask him to leave when spring arrives. He's settled.

After a couple of years, they simply adopt him with his explicit consent, he's already seven and wildly appreciated in the whole neighbourhood. The magistrate was very serious when he asked for his approval, he made sure the lovely brat knew what his adoption would imply in the long term. What his filial duties would be going on.
His late parents tablets are introduced to his new family and homed in the ancestral cabinet. They're as revered as any other ancestors in the house. He still goes regularly to his cabin, the ghosts continue to scare the wild animals and the violent humans, everywhere.
Wei Wuxian is so glad for him.
They still communicate, not by touch but via the warmth he can apply to his skin, it's a subtle guiding and a constant reminder that Ying is protected and cared for, at all times.

His younger self is happy and loved.
His physical development has no comparison with his own. He is taller than he could ever have been at this age, way more muscular too.
The Golden Core appeared six months ago, due to the continuation of the exercises he previously learned with his biological parents. He can't use it to heal or to fight, he has no way to be properly trained in town, but it's an operative one.
And he has his caring adoptive parents!
Their bond is genuine, he loves be of help too each of them, they love to take care of him in return.
All things Wuxian wasn't able to achieve at that same time.
Wei Wuxian is very proud of his nine years old counterpart, he might be slightly envious but not jealous in the least.

During his errands he has learned to read all by himself.
Well, in the beginning he just associates the pictograms with the goods or objects he was asked to carry, or organise... But over time the townsfolk explained him how to properly decipher the hanzi.
This has opened a brand new world to his vast curiosity, counting is a necessity but reading is a pleasure. He excels in both.
There is no class where he can go to be educated properly like he would in a clan, he still has about two hours of teaching every day by many different adults: craftsmen, various shop owners and their accountants, public writers or legal officers and, he learns general history through the eldest when he visits them for deliveries or simple companionship. His friends are mostly adults, a lot of street children did not survive or have disappeared since he has been thrown out the tavern, such a long time ago.

At nine, he knows how to prepare the forge for a day's work - minus managing the fireplace, he's not allowed to get close yet - and how to clean everything night too. He helps, not every day though and never alone, its the blacksmith and he's bonding time. They chat and the new father teach him his secret along the way. As a result he's able to explain the many steps required to forge a sword, a knife or anything that can be craft really.
He just no authorised to practise yet, the forger is very strict on this point!

The whole community is aware the boy has some kind of magic power like the flying ones, he is a good candidate for the Clans and someday he is going to be spotted and leave. They are expecting him to be recruited by a passing cultivator, they do not anticipate Jiang Fengmian to try to claim him like he is his property.

Wei Wuxian is amazed as the townsfolk and the adoptive parents oppose firmly the supposed uncle.
They object that the child is not alone in life, not let fending for himself for five years... They stress that his search might have been a tad long for a genuine interest in his wellbeing...
The best friend's son story doesn't managed to convince anyone of his right over a-Ying's life.
As it's quite an event that a cultivator from his status has a prolong discussion with an humble artisan, the neighbours gather more and more around the forge.

Jiang Fengmian is frustrated.

---------------------------------

It becomes quite impossible for the Sect leader to maintain his claim to be given the little Wei.
Unfortunately for him, someone must have alert the maire of his behaviour as he comes hurriedly, he seems to have been thoroughly coached on his insistence.
The Clan Leader is quickly reduced to negotiate a proper disciple contract with the adoptive parents, helped by the legal knowledge of the town magistrate. This one takes a particular interest in the case as he was the one who finalised the adoption.

Meanwhile Ghost Wei is amused to witness Jiang Fengmian changing his previous behaviour: going from ordering to negotiate with people who have the child best interest... At no point, the officer permits him to simply take the boy. He's been reminded it would be the equivalent of a kidnapping and have be reported to the empire... Which Jiang Fengmian obviously rather not to.
To avoid any problems, future appointments are made, legal contract is to be established and it takes time...

A few weeks later during the negotiations Jiang Fengmian tries again to hog Wei Ying as his personal ward, which is promptly refused. His contract isn't approved either. He doesn't dare to offer money to the adoptive parents but huge wads of money are seen by the witnesses.
Their frowns convince him to refrain himself, he is quite irritated by their behaviour, he wishes they were more greedy. It's spoiling his mood.
He faulty assumed the parents had taken the child to make him some sort of a life servant not their legitimate child. He hadn't anticipate he would be well taken care of : physically, psychologicly and emotionally.
He finds it very unlucky!
There is no way he could apply his initial plan to make the young Wei totally indebted to the Jiang family now. His loyalty will always be divided at best.
He came to collect the brat to late, he is apparently well integrated in the tight community, self sufficient, smart and aware of his inner power... He still hopes he will find a way to groom him as a shield for his son, eventually...
For now, he has to sign papers that regulate the treatment the young boy will receive in Lotus Piers: no corporal punishment without his parents explicit consent, the fact that he is to be lodged with the other outer disciples and not in the Jiang's quarter as he had generously offered, the number of outfits he'll be granted, the gages he'll perceive during his apprenticeship, the periodicity of his visits back home...
Everything comes in the way of the indoctrination he had thought of.
"If only he had stayed a street orphan..." thinks the "benevolent" uncle.
The only raison he is still taking in the young boy is that both his biological parents were two exceptional cultivators from whom he clearly had inherited from.

Even without training, his Golden Core is more developed than any other kids his age, a-Cheng and a- Li are not going able to compete with him now, nor later in life.

His wife is not going to be happy when she's going to discover his parentage...
"Maybe Zidian will succeed to keep him obedient." He hopes.

Chapter Text

Jiang Fengmian has found a way to have the young Wei for himself.
Or so he thought.
There is a concoction known to erase memories, one of his great-uncle had talked to him about, as an example to not follow but whatever...
But nothing goes as planned and it bothers him.
More than anything.
How could this child not begin to forget his life outside of Lotus Piers?
And his adoptive parents?
It's been three months already! The drugs should have affected him too...
See, all the other orphans, from the guards unit, lost theirs memories within a month, maximum.
They are all fed the same way, with the same herbs mixture but Wei Ying doesn't react to it.
He goes visiting his adoptive parents every three weeks, Fengmian was surprised when he saw the young boy on leave for the third time.
He had expected him to only remember to be an orphan rescued by the Jiang Zongzhu to whom, in return, he'd devoted his entire life. Unlike his father.
Nothing else. What was wrong with that?
The child is not accepting any special treatment since his arrival, he is not becoming fast friend with a-Cheng, is not getting attached to a-Li...nothing is going Jiang Fengmian's way!

His last conversation with Jiang Daifu makes him regret to not have collected the child earlier, once again.
His dantian is very well developed for his age.
While a-Ying is not yet able to use it properly, it has put some protections in place, by itself.
The boy was seen eating mildly intoxicating foods without any repercussion, it could be he has developed an anti poisoning system...at nine!
How? Also, why?

Moreover, this little brat has started to notice a few of his companions had memory issues...
He is heard to constantly remind them of their past and, he is encouraging them to use their visiting rights...
They are beginning to remember their previous life, a couple of them already went to visit prior acquaintances.
This is a disaster...
How could they stay strictly loyal to the Jiangs Clan if they have any kind of relationships outside?
The criteria for this particular militia is being an orphan for a reason!

Wei Ying had been left alone for a long period to be sure he would be grateful beyond reason to the Jiangs, not to find himself a new family! And build a support system!
This is a nightmare!

Now, the disciples have reported their conditions to the healers, everything has been discovered.
Not his own involvement but the decoction added to their meal plans.
Right now, he is supposed to conduct an investigation on the deliberate poisoning of the juniors and, to alert the other clans in case it's some sort of attack from the Wen on their youth...ridiculous!
He could have concealed the information if some of the elders weren't in his office when he was notified of the problem.
Of course they gracefully offered to split the task between themselves...to help him.
Everything is conspiracy against him.

From now on, all disciples are going to have regular assessments to make sure none of them forget their knowledge while they're out on a night hunts...
Isn't it fantastic?
There's no use for him to try to find another solution and make the children forget anything about their past...
This was all a waste of his time and money.

And his son tried...his son has been going to the kitchen to requisition some of the mixture: he was sure “It was a supplement for Fuqin's favourite disciples. Why wouldn't he be allowed to have some of it? Wasn't he the rightful heir?” he screamed envy spread all over his face...

Since Wei Ying's arrival his life has turned to be an every day trial.

And his Wife isn't even in Lotus Piers to create a scandal that would make everyone focus on something else!

He can't even begin with Her!

She hasn't be able to discover Wei Ying involvement in the sect for three entire months...
Well, first of all, She's barely present from a couple of hours to a few days every other week but, what the heck!
She hates Cangse Sanren and he has her unique eyes...and his true father's features.

Obviously, he did not inform Her of his enrolment, he wants Her to be truly shocked out of Her mind.
Enough to use Her wicked whip on him in an enraged state, it would be qualified as a simple mistake without prejudice as She hasn't not read his contract, nor signed it.
It would instil a necessary fear into that brat.

Also, there would not be required to refer to anything if that pest had forgotten everything in the first place!
His pay would have been sent to his adoptive parents until his sixteenth birthday, a small sacrifice.
And then nothing, he would have had no support and no money, totally unable to quit Lotus Piers unlike his treacherous father!

To be for real, if Wei Changse and Cangse Sanren did accept his solution, he would not be in this difficult situation, where he has to create conditions for his son to get the most powerful cultivator as a shield!
A-Ying would have been a Jiang from birth, if not biologically, he could have bore his name.
But, no!
They wanted to be married together and be exclusive to each other!
The good it had done them: they're dead.
And right now, their son is not even attached to his family as he found other parents to take care of him!
OF course their offspring has to be powerful and not easily manipulated like any other child his age.
The stress they had put him through...

At least he excels in every aspect of the education provided to him, small consolation. Well that was the goal but.
Even without any real foundations for the more academic lessons, he absorbs any knowledge his teachers deem essential like it's his mother's milk.
His tall strong body gives him advantages in sword practice, he trains far more longer than anyone else too.
He's often seen meditating.
At least he has been taught the value of hard working.
All the seniors have nothing but good things to gush about him.

Unfortunately, it doesn't help his son in the slightest, they're not in the same class: a-Cheng doesn't have a Golden Core to begin with, not in even a spark of one...
He is so disappointed, he had the perfect plan, each single time.

--------------------

Wei Ying have to say this last three months have been eventful.
A lot of new people to meet, a lot of children to be around.
He's kind of happy about it.
Earlier there was something strange happening: some of his new companions, they were forgetting their past constantly... He had to force them to visit their friends outside Lotus Piers, the ones who had helped them in the first place. Very strange...
His adoptive parents recommended him to talk about it with the affected disciples.
He had to explain what he noticed to the Jiang healers too.
They were impressed by something but he has not find what it was, yet.
Their meals changed suddenly since.
Something in the food maybe? The whole taste changed.
Well, everyone is okay now, so no need to dwell on this.

There are something more bizarre happening around Lotus Piers but he can't talk about it.

Mr HotBubbles had disappeared for two days, in his first week here...he was desperate.
He cried both nights and on the third morning Mr HB was all around him, like a giant warm hug: head to toes.
He cried a little, slightly reassured and THEN another, well he might admit their are ghosts at this point, he's nine not a child any more....
So he felt another warmth to his left cheek, for the first time!
He recoiled but Mr HB's warmth peted rapidly his left cheek too.
“Is it a friend, Mr HotBubbles? ” he has asked tentatively.
The warmth came back on his left side.
“Are you leaving me?” his voice can't hide his anxiousness but a pat came urgently on his right side.
That was a real relief, he wasn't abandoned, again.
“You have thing to do and another Mr Bubbles is going to stay beside me?” Left side.
Ok! He can deal with that.
“Are you the same?” a light contact on the right side.
“Mrs HotBubbles?” light pat on the left, one more pronounced on the right.
So “Mrs is okay but you're not married, a friend?” He felt two warm different touches on his left side.
“How I am going to call you? Mrs NiceFriend?” he tried tentatively.
The new warmth stayed a long time on his left cheek.
“Thank you to the both of you for explaining this to me.” He had smiled while adding “Maybe next time tell me when you go? Maybe...touch my shoulder on one side and tap the other one for the number of days? Is it possible?”
Immediately, a tap was felt on his left shoulder and some taps happened the other side. “a whole week?” he had screamed in distress.
A few caress on his right cheeks, the same amount on the right shoulder happened, very quickly.
“ Oh, was it just a test” his whole left side had become warm.

He mas managed to get used to the new Mrs Nice Friend, who over a little time has been renamed Mrs LifeSaver.
She had alarmed him against an attack made by a few older disciples who were slightly drunk. The prank they planned could have been very hurtful.

Mrs LF is around him at all time, even when Mr HB is present.
She might have been with them before, he should enquire someday.

So, in the end his new life is nice.
He has a lot of living friends, two probably non-living friends here. His adoptive parents and their community at home. He learns and practises a lot. So far it's nice.

The Jiang family is weird though.

The Sect Leader offers him to live them in their private quarters regularly, Jiang Yanli is treating him like a little brother (???) and, Jiang Cheng scolds him each time they're meeting.
In the end he refuses the first, is very properly polite to the second and, simply ignores the last one, within the boundaries of his status: what's going on with them? It's not easy but he's sure it will be beneficial in the long term. A hunch.

He hasn't met the Jiang Madam though.
Everyone is scared of her, she isn't well liked too...
She has been at Lotus Piers a few times since his arrival but he is not allowed to face her.
His two less than alive friends redirect him each time he is in her vicinity.
He had wondered why they insisted he changed itinerary quite a number of times, when, in the end, he managed to recognise her weird energy by himself.
That one belongs to a quite angry and powerful adult whom path he should really not cross.
As he trusts his invisible friends, he makes himself scarce when her arrival is reported to the Jiang disciples.
Because, yes, there is an announcement.
The whole atmosphere changes quickly when it's done.
It's like all joy has died at once, no more running, no more jokes...it's kinda of a "brrr...." feeling. So, for now, he hides.
His adoptive parents taught him to not throw himself in front of danger if there is no need to. They're smart, he is very lucky to have them.

Chapter Text

Wei Ying doesn't understand what just happened.
Everyone is looking at him with baffled eyes, he's done nothing!
The Madam had to be rushed to the healers though. It's not his fault so why is he yelled at by the Jiang heir?
Jiang Fengmian is currently starring at him, mouth slacked open since the event. Shouldn't he be by his wife side at the moment?
At least Mr HB's warmth is surrounding him.

Mme Yu had just arrived in Lotus Piers when she noticed a traumatic reminder of her past.
“How that slut's spawn made his way in Her territory?” She wonders angrily.
Without a thinking in her head, she stomps directly to the brat, Zidian crackling at her side.
“He's going to feel every beat of my wrath!” Unbeknownst to her, she's expressing this last part aloud.

Zidian flies towards her victim with alacrity, full of his mistress' righteousness and stops.

The bystanders all witness the energy retracting through the length of the whip at the same speed it had been deployed. The spiritual weapon lays down on the training grounds while its Qi energy sparkles are doubling back. The exit point becomes the Violet Spider's wrist.
She fells down on her ass, she wasn't prepared for the massive recoil.
Then the smell of burning flesh begins to float around. Her maids finally rush to her as she's passing out.

The crowd is a bit slower to react but they all begin to applause in unison!
The two Jiangs leave the scene urgently under this manifestation, dumbfounded and pretty scared by the overwhelming cheerful response of Mme Yu's debacle.

Wei Wuxian smiles brightly towards the Red Lady as she rushes to inspect the younger one. Reassured by the result, she lets her contentment show via a toothy grin.
“I was right!” he says “It wouldn't hurt him if it understands its primer goal... I was sure of it!”
“Sure enough?” She replies mockingly “ you were scared out of your damned mind for a whole week young man!”
“Well, it had to work, and it did, didn't it?”
“What would you have done if it didn't? Let him be whipped by that bitch to her heart content?” she can’t help but ask.
“No!” he retorts immediately “ I would have whisked him away but yeah...there was a slight risk... I can't protect my little self from everything, I just promised he and I to do my best. Also, she would have died on the spot after the first successful strike.”
“Yeah, I know. And I swear I will destroy her soul the moment she dies.”

He had been correct to wonder in the void, the weapon is a righteous one. It had took him weeks to be able to approach the spirit residing within it, without been attacked. Which confirmed that there was a conscientiousness operating inside. Additional weeks to create not a language but a way to converse with it.
He spent days to train and, quite frankly educate, the weapon.
There had been trials, not all of them successful.
It learns avidly in the end and, it grieved over those it had hurt by its ignorance.
Now, Zidian was a lot more powerful than it had been before but no more under the will of its owner. It couldn't be used against its own principles: exorcise evils.

The backlash had not been expected though...
He's not really sorry about it, it spiced the day.

In the infirmary, the daifus are transferring huge amounts of Qi energy into their Lady's system, all the while trying to find a method capable of taking Zidian of her wrist.
It has fused with her burnt flesh and bones.
They do not have any idea beside chopping above it.
What they are sure of is the pain is going to be reactivate each time she tries to strike with it.
It could worsen if the whip's energy reverses once more.

Meanwhile, Jiang Fengmian is alone in his chamber, still wondering why his perfect plan has derailed some much! He can't even begin to process the trauma of seeing his Wife's failure.
The knock on his door brings him back to the present.
“ a-Die shouldn't you be by a-Niang's side right now?” his son asks.
A-Cheng is still visibly chocked, he might need some help but Fengmian doesn't know to whom his child is close to.
Well, he'll find by himself, he's a Jiang!
“Later” he answers “ She's surely unconscious right now, there is no need.
From now on, you and your sister will have to train a lot more. Your mother failed to control Her weapon, one of you will have to wield it shortly. Go and inform a-Li quickly.”

Jiang Cheng exists the room swiftly, eyes prickling with tears.
His sister is not in Lotus Piers at the moment, he has to send a letter to his grand-mother to inform her.
Jiejie has a weak Golden Core, she will not be suitable to govern over Zidian.
He needs to built his Golden Core as soon as possible and, when time comes he will avenge his mother.

Chapter Text

Wei Wuxian knew Jiang Cheng would forget their invitation to the lecture like he had done the first time. The sole difference is the Jiang heir has to fetch it himself, he has been promoted the Head disciple.
Wuxian chose to oppose Wei Ying's nomination which had surprised the young one but he was so used to obey his ethereal friends, he didn't even object. When Wei Ying publicly declined the offer from Jiang Fengmian, it had been obvious to everyone the Wei disciple was, indeed, the best of them all.
His talent put him on par with the senior disciples, but his humility was praised. Mme Yu was enraged by the offer and by Wei Ying refusal, yelling “you think of yourself too good to be a good servant for our Sect! How dare you refuse the honour?” Zidian began to crackle and she stopped quickly, visibly in pain.
And that was it. No burden bestowed upon his younger self shoulders.

Mme Yu had a rude awakening after her accident, without Zidian she didn't keep the same level of power within the Sect and outside of it. She can't make it obey her will to this day but also, it hurts her every-time it powers up.
And she's only able to do it through rage and ire which she has a lot of. So, she’s been less and less prone to let her temperament flares, unless it's regards Wei Ying.
She has been asked many time to relinquish the weapon but she stubbornly refuses and continues to suffer. Her pride makes her keep it even if it costs her days of recovery when she uses it during night hunts, and only against resentful entities Zidian agrees to obliterate.
Otherwise, she's left with excruciating pain and no result at all. The other clan joke regularly at the Madam's disability to her face as she only has her spineless husband as her shield.
Wuxian rejoices each single time it happens, small revenges.

Needless to say, Lotus Piers, while one of the five majors sect, has lost a lot of his prestige throughout the years. Neither of their Sect Leaders instil any sort of respect, their heir is the Head Disciple but not their best one, he is too hot headed to be a good example. He's lack of diplomacy which left him alone during meetings with the other heirs.
Wei Wuxian finally reckons it was his qualities that had made Lotus Piers shine in his youth. He didn't owe them, they owed him almost everything: their reputation of excellency, the respect of the various merchants he spent time with and, most of their diplomacy alliances during the war...

In the meantime, Wei Ying flourishes. He's a fined renowned cultivator, the teenager develops far beyond his previous incarnation as he's not subjected to the same level of repression.
He has friends within and out of the clan, his talents dazzle in each competitions he's allowed to participate in.
Until now he only met the Nie and the Jin.
Mme Yu tried to stifle his popularity by gossiping about him, it resulted in a strong friendship with the Nie heir and an open invite to the Jin Clan by Mme Jin herself.

Jiang Fengmian enrages over these because it gives the young Wei a complete freedom from the clan, he's still had not find a manner to indebted him to them.
His proficiency in creating new talismans and a large variety of arrays is an important source of the Jiang's wealth at this point in time, less than if he had succeeded to negotiate a better contract over the sells of those; a substantial income nonetheless.
If only his foster family was more idiotic and didn't ask to read the agreement he had prepared before the signing... And now the Lan are going to be aware of him... It's a curse. He tried to discourage the little pest with no avail.
At least he sent an awful report on his behaviour and capacities to Lan Qiren who hated his mother, that should do the trick, hopefully.

Wei Ying doesn't understand why he has never been invited along to visit the Lan or why Jiang Fengmian refuses to let him go to the Wen's games. But this is the Lan's lectures so he's bound to meet everyone, which he is excited about. So this is a pretty happy and content Wei Ying who enters the Gusu Lan grounds.

Lan Qiren is pissed the first time he sees him and his radiant smile. Too much memories.
He contains himself knowing his peace is going to be short lived by the wreck that boy is going to inflect, just like his mother had.
He sends his youngest nephew to follow him at all times, ordering him to not let pass any unruly behaviour. It will be a short time before he disobeys one of the three thousands rules, he might not have learnt them yet...”
On the bright side, it won't be long before he will be expelled!” thinks the Lan Laoshi.

The ghost that have guarded Wei Ying during the journey are not admitted into the ground Sect, only Wuxian can go through the gates, none of them know why. They decide to camp outside the barrier, all around and wait. They do not have any clue why they feel compelled to, they just can't willed themselves to turn back.

So, while Jiang Cheng had to circle back to the inn he left the carton, the other disciples are invited to enter the premisses.
When he finally arrives there is no-one to let him check-in, the gates are properly sealed for the night and he has to sleep in the open.
In the early morning, he is overly pissed and wins his first round of punishments. He is tired and famished which doesn't phase the second Lan heir when he's heard insulting the guards. He has been assigned to run five times around the compound plus copying two times the rules of Conduct.
This reflects badly on the Jiang Clan.
Wei Wuxian laughs witnessing his distraught: the Jiang heir can't ask anyone to endure his punishments in his stead. There is a Lan disciple supervising him all along, he has been watched during his run too. Not for the first time, Jiang Wanying wishes to have a trusty second in command, some-one who could iron these difficult interactions for him. More so when he qualified for more copies of the three thousands rules because he was caught insulting Lan Wangi by his older brother, the rightful heir...

“Only one last year” he thinks “I will be strong enough in one year to overwhelm Zidian's stubbornness, probably, two at the maximum. It will become my weapon and I will take my revenge on each one of them! The world will pay its offences to me and muqin.
Well, it could be mine if she really wanted but she's irrational, what good it does to her to keep a weapon like that? She can't subdue it. Fuqin didn't succeed in forcing her to deliver it to me either...
I am not the one who shames our Clan, they're inept Sect Leaders. The both of them! " he reassures himself.
"All they do, day and night, is arguing about that Wei disciple: his importance for Lotus Piers and how to conduct themselves around him.
But I am out of their jurisdiction right now, I do not need Zidian to make him regret to have joined our clan. He will bow to my will, I am not as weak as they are!”

The next day, during the first morning class, Lan Qiren recites each and every rules engraved in the Wall to the new students. During his lecture, his sight is mostly fixed on the Wei son. He is waiting for him to disrupt the lesson. Hours passed, the students begin to be less and less motivated.
The cursed disciple doesn't move, he sits properly at his desk, doesn't talk to the others, it raises his suspicion.
Lan Qiren has nothing to complain about so: “ Wuxian!” he barks “ can you not look dead and list all of the resentful creatures one might encounter during a night hunt?”
He grows more furious when he reckons the answer is flawless. “there is nothing to be proud of!” he scolds unjustly.
Wei Ying feels is right side becoming warmer as he's prepared to defend himself to this very peculiar Laoshi. Instead, he bows deeply and sits.
“I never said I was finishe...” Lan Qiren's mouth shuts itself audibly. It hasn't happened to him since he became a full disciple.
He's visibly in shock too.

Lan Wangi rushes to his uncle's side, who's not able to break the spell that has been violently applied on him.
He looks towards the Wei youngster accusingly but everyone in the room is aware that this particular spell is known by the Lan inner circle only.
No outsider was taught it in the last eon and the teenager just arrived the day before.
He somehow will be eligible for punishment if Uncle look is to be trusted but Lan Wangi doesn't comprehend on what grounds...

Fortunately, some Lans go fetch Lan Xichen to help with Shufu while he assigned multiple copies of the Rules of Property to the unfortunate Jiang disciple.
He just declares the punishment but can't list the reason why or, which rules have been broken.
He is more surprised when it's accepted without a fuss, it is not an ethical situation.
Lan Wangi feels ashamed at this abuse of power he participates in.

Wei Wuxian does not compute! He had tried the spell on the Jiangs multiple times before, it is not so unique that no-one can learn it, contrary to the Lan's belief.
It's very simple in fact, but hadn't work since now. He was sure it was due partly because he is dead.
But apparently not. He can't understand the difference so he methodically use Lan Qiren's condition as an experiment and reapplies it every six hours on the dot via different means.

It takes two full days for Lan Qiren to manage to speak freely again. So he goes immediately in search of the Wei daemon, to witness which vandalism he is desecrated his Sect with.

Chapter Text

Lan Qiren is currently being scold by one of his elders.
It has been a while since he had to.
Although furious, he has to admit he is in the wrong.
On his quest to prove the world that child should be sent back to Lotus Piers, he urged to the meditation field as soon as he has been able to talk again.
The area is very calm and quite large for the students' benefit.
That's where he barged like a buffalo, yelling at Wei Ying who was moving, slowly, while all the others were sat down in the proper lotus pose.
Except his designed target, everyone lost their focus, which is bad, exiting a meditation session should always be handle with the utmost care. He had to help the laoshi to calm the youngest ones who were left deeply unsettled by his commotion.
Young Wei did not even register his presence or the chaos around him.

His elder had taken him further from the area when they succeeded to calm everyone down and "Lan Qiren! How could you act so violently during my class?" he was asked unceremoniously " What gave you the right?"
"Wei-gongzi is a disturbance! He was the only one acting up and frolicking around..."
"Is that what you saw? Really? All the students were perturbed by your loud and unwelcome tantrum, he is the sole boy who staid in a profound state of meditation and still is in!"
"He is not in the proper stance..." Qiren tries to argue.
"Are you the guide in this class? Are you the master? His meditation practice has my benediction! And don't raise yoir voice against your Elder!
He asked me in advance, very politely if he could do it this way as it's more efficient for him and I gladly accepted.
Have you any counterargument? Or any expertise in this particular field?
He also agreed upon my request to show his very own technic to those who wish to learn.
He accepted to have a complete review of it before beginning to be certain it would not arm any other disciples...
Do you have a once of his humility, Lan Qiren?"
" I..no...I was wrong Lan Laoshi." He concedes with a low bow.
" Come to see me tomorrow morning, before breakfast with your punishment completed!
You know the one?”
“I know, Laoshi, and I fully accept your judgement...”
Lan Qiren notes Wei Ying is still in deep meditation, calm and composed, while he exits the area.
His youngest nephew turns his eyes towards him, he feels reprimanded once more.
“ Of course you do!” said his Elder returning to his last student, he needs to get the Jiang disciple out of his session.

Well, he might have been wrong on his first try but today is the very beginning of the talismans and arrays classes, surely Cangse Saren's son is fated to cause chaos and mayhem.
It can't be helped.
He refrains himself to barge and yell, these laoshi are also his elders but very strict. They aren't against physical punishments, even for the more accomplished disciples, they do not care for ranks and titles either.
He needs to be more subtle.. .
As he approaches, he spots few elders, more than necessary in his opinion, in an animated discussion with the culprit.
“What has he done already?” he asked during a pause in the exchange.
“He discovered holes in the shield around Cloud Recesses. We're wondering if it's better to rebuilt them completely over patching them...” answers the oldest one “He's not sure either”
“That ch... child found holes? Are you serious? How?” Lan Qiren asks incredulously.
“He explained to us he had felt rabbits ghosts haunting the land, found where they came from as it is where they aimed to go. Quite a story!
We wouldn't have believed him if he didn't create a talisman that made them shiny.”
”They were trying to go into Lan Yi's cave, which he couldn’t have any knowledge about...” adds another Senior.
“Lan Wangi helped with communication, they obviously did not speak but conveyed the sentiment they all had family inside to whom they wished to say they goodbye before finally quitting this plan of existence... It was so emotional!”
“It worked?” exclaimed Qiren, visibly shocked by their report."You all witnessed this? Maybe it was an illusion he created."
“It did! This young disciple is a living treasure... And don't be an idiot how could he have survived in the cave?” the last elder comments.
All of them return to their original discussion about Gusu Lan security system, ignoring him.
He knows he will have the result of their collective reflection later, so he strolls back to his office, once again disturbed in his belief in Wei Ying's bad behaviour...
Nothing happened as he had predicted and he is pondering: he might have some prejudice towards that boy in his heart.

Days go by, living Lan Qiren on the edge. He doesn't know what to think any-more.
There are no report of Cangse's child misbehaving in a more outlandish manner that any other disciples when Lan Xichen and the Lan Sword-master come to his office.
It was programmed and he welcomes the interruption to his own turmoil.
As the day before was the evaluation of the oldest disciples, they make their report with a practical efficiency. The briefing is long and boring as expected until they evoke Lan Wangi and Wei Ying's duel.
Apparently they were heavenly matched.
Wangi is obviously powerful with perfects technics, highly capable to adapt his rhythm to his adversary. Lan Qiren had already witnessed his nephew and nods in satisfaction.
The young Wei is described as graceful and swift, using his inner agility to avoid the blows aimed at him but still able to apply blunt force when needed.
At this moment, he regrets to have been strictly forbidden to witness them on the field. He is still monitored closely by the elders who have chosen to act as a buffer between him and whom he identifies as a problematic child.
And honestly, with days going on, he recognises that the teenager seems less difficult than his own temper... He's on the verge to admit to be unjust. But feels cheated by fate.
In the end, he imposes himself some seclusion time to clarify his spirit.
Not every thing he has done is in alignment to the Lan Clan rules...

So, the next day, the disciples are surprised to witness Lan Xichen conducting the lesson in Lan Qiren stead. They are told he will be in seclusion for two whole days, which is quite unprecedented.

During this time, Lan Qiren rereads Jiang Fengmian's letter where he describes the youngster as a constant source of frictions within his sect, his behaviour being borderline inappropriate towards his wife, diminishing his son's value at each event and, so and so.
He wonders why he keeps him if he's the source of all of their problems. And then, he begins to notice the discrepancy from what's has been written and what he had witnessed or had been reported.
He feels guilt for the first time in a long time.
He believed everything written by the Jiang Leader because he was stuck on the last prank the youngster's mother had performed on him.
This was a light vengeance from her as she saved him but he never accepted to be rescued by a rogue cultivator and didn't act with the reconnaissance and grace as he should have displayed.
Also he had been an asshole and put those she loved in danger during that fateful night. It was all his fault.
He had been called out and didn't learn from it but, formed resentment.
He is truly shameful...
As a punishment, he begins to write down each story he's able to remember about Wei Ying's parents, which is quite a lot.
He does not iron his unflattering behaviour, he does not refrain himself to stress and praise them as excessively talented, courageous and generous young cultivators.
It certainly is not enough in regards of his own offences but there is another part to his self imposed punishment.
He needs to atone properly.

Upon his return in class, a week later (he took the time), he publicly apologises to Wei Ying and offers his memoirs as reparations with all due humility. He notices tears gathering the young one's eyes (and the sheer fury in the Jiang heir's)

“Wei Ying” he finally declares ”each and every one of your teachers are absolutely delighted to have you as their student, except me.
I did not like the essay you have submitted, this is not what I expect from you.
This is not challenging, not showing your thinking process, it's just a well written regurgitation of what you have been fed until now.
I aim to change that as it's partially my fault.
Therefore, I decided you are to have private lessons with me each and every day until the end of these lectures. You are to be a part of a very exclusive class comprised with only the best students, as Lan Wangi is.”
If he expected his new private student to redden under the flattery, he would have been frustrated as the Wei child looks back at him, head high “ Lan laoshi, I am honoured to be tutored by you.
This is a great honour and I vow to not fail you.”
He simply sits down after a low bow.
He didn't minimise his elder's behaviour but didn't dwell on it either.
He acted like a mature cultivator, once again Lan Qiren is humbled (and ashamed but in a good way)
“I know child, this is what I should have done from the start” and procedes with the day's lesson.

Lan Wangi looks right into his uncle's eyes, a thank in his.
He has not talked to him about his feelings on the unjust comportment he had previously displayed but his face always expressed subtly his profound displeasure. Now, he only shows contentment, Lan Wangi shows how proud he is on the way the issue has been resolved.

After the end of the lecture, both Lan and Wei hear a violent altercation outside the classroom.

Chapter Text

The first thing Lan Qiren sees outside is two clan heirs on the ground, battling like toddlers in their once pristine white outfit. Those one prevent them to knock the other out too violently as there is too much fabrics in their way...
The second hand embarrassment is noticeable on the faces of the other disciples surrounding the pair.

Qiren is already annoyed when he hears a clamour on the right side as a more disturbing scene develops before his own eyes.

An outsider from the Nie clan lays on the floor shrieking in pain while no-one is around him.
That disciple seems to exude demonic energy from all parts of his body.
Everyone stop trying to separate the battered heirs as they notice the incredible spectacle. No-one alive should be able to use this sort of demonic energy within the compound's arrays.
Most of the Lan disciples begin to react by pointing their swords towards the screaming boy only to be stop as they hear their Lan heir yelling: “Stop! He's a friend!”
“Explain!” orders Qiren while himself wielding and pointing his own sword.
“This one is Meng Yao. I don't know what happened Uncle. He has been here for a few days with Nie Huaisang. I asked him to stay a little until Nie-er get accustom to the new environment...”

Wei Wuxian is fully pissed and enraged at that boy.
He doesn't know why. But he hates that guy from the bottom of his soul. He unleashed his power against him without even thinking about it!
And the black energy interacted with the youngling... How odd!
He should really think about it but all he wishes is to tear that monster's limbs apart, to crush his devilish soul: to kill him.
He has to stop!
Wuxian stops, ashamed, he never has been so much out of control without any prior provocation.
That's when he finally registers the guqins.
He has always known Lan Xichen commonly plays Calm when things gets heated but the one who really reaches his consciousness is Lan Zhan's. The play doesn't offer him Peace but succeeds in cooling him down sufficiently to regain his wits enough to let go of his fury.
Still he hates that Nie guy.
He animalistically does.
“No killing in Gusu Lan” he hears from his past, and he obeys.

If there are many ways to skin a rat, there are a few other places he can enumerate where it can be done.
Time and place and all that stuff, he just needs to remember why first. He's not an irrational killer ghost after all, he has duties to fulfil. So the how will need to be strategise first.
Oh well! He's dead, he can wait a few hours...

Lan Qiren admires his nephews' works while wondering the process that permitted the demonic energy to manifest inside the perimeter of the compound. It should be impossible and it's concerning....
His commands get barked without his notice: the boy is to be rushed to the healers for an assessment. He still gives a secret sign while in deep thoughts, urging the disciples to “put that one far away from others and under a strict surveillance” even if he sure the healers would be informed of the specifics of the incident even before seeing their patient.
No gossiping is more a suggestion in this case...

Meng Yao is directed to a medical hut near the exit which guard has been double, just for him. A doctor rushes to him, under the strict order to immobilised the young man by any means necessaries, except murder.
Which, in Lan terms could signify torture, bodily maiming and, psychologic terror.
Only if needed.

The youngster is scared to his feeble core. He did not expect this horrible outcome. He only wished to establish a few strong connections with some powerful cultivators who could help him in his time of needs, which are going to happen as he wants to reach his goals: being the most revered man in his lifetimeandall eternity.
Lan Xichen was a wise option: a gullible pawn imbued with tremendous qi power and soon to be the head of Gusu Lan Clan.
He has no idea of what happened there and...how he 's going to fix the mistake he hasn't even made!
Of course, he 's going to play the victim successfully but he needs to seduce way more allies more quickly to be able to go on his quest now...
What a bummer!

“Nie Zongzhu will take care of the issue.” declares Lan Qiren later in the day.
We will send that secretary back to him as soon as his recovery is certain and he'll never be allowed nearby any of our cultivators for as long as he's alive.
Lan Xichen doesn't protest. He had thought he could, as an act of generosity, his birth's circumstances be ignored, and for his own karma, be his friend.
He can't justify the visible demonic practise.
“As you say: he will.” the heir confirms in agreement. After all here are so many other people he could take care of...

A few weeks later... 

“Would you mind explain yourself once again?” demands Lan Qiren to the couple of Nie in front of him.
“As you wish Lan Master.
We have been task by our Zongzhu to accompany Yao while he was returning to the Unclean Realm. But he was killed along the way...”
“How could it be?”Weren't you asked to protect him? Did you failed spectacularly?”
“Not really...we didn't have to protect him, we were ordered to to make sure he could be presented to our leader.
Which we did.
Mostly.” answers the older Nie cultivator.
“He was not very alive: that's all.” His shidi adds.
“How?” enquires Lan Xichen.
“So, we began to journey when we felt we shouldn't be to close to Meng Yao for our mutual safety!”
“He was exuding demonic energy again?”
“No! No! Nothing like that at all...Otherwise we could have executed him on sight.
Orders, you know...
But no, he was just his usual insufferable self. He tried to play games with our minds, thinking we wouldn't notice. We kinda grew upset and tired so our sabres began to call for blood, if you know what I mean.”
“You left him alone...” Lan Qiren acknowledges to advance the plot.
“Yeah, kind of. We could not more than 30 feet apart. As I said mutual protection: us from his tongue, him from our weapons...
When we tried to reach back, about 10 minutes later, we only find his left thumb on the grass. His pale complexion had attracted both our gazes!”
“Quite an unsettling sight to come to but the ear was way stranger...
Any-one can loose a body part on a trip but I have not, in all my years, found a very well razor cut ear...”
“That was a first for me too...” stressed the youngest.
“It's unusual for sure. Even more to notice such a peculiar thing I may say...” interrupts Lan heir.
“Well...our little monster, sorry : master, slip of the tongue, you know. He always encourages us to report back to him everything that had stood out of the ordinary for us.”
“ A tiny cunning one, he is...”
“Nie Huaisang!?” claim both Lan in unisson?
“ Oh yes! Never underestimate him good lords. He will probably will never be a strong physical cultivator but we do not have witnessed him lost in a long while against anyone, even his powerful brother.”
“I personally think he believes life is a long-term strategic game. He and Meng Yao have, or had, a lot in common in the brain area. The main difference is our little monster does not hurt people without valid reasons. And these follow the strict Nie code of conduct.”
“So Meng Yao...” Lan Qiren once again interrupts.
“Hugh...We found a third piece of him, and then all of the others on our way forward to our clan. We couldn't guess what could have attacked him. We were convinced he was pretty dead or about to be soon...”
“And you just left...” wispers Lan Xichen incredulously
“Yep!” confirms the oldest “If he did not win over what chopped him, we probably wouldn't have survived too.
It reeked of sheer power, fury and hatred. I don't know how to explain.
The Nie Clan doesn't need to loose more disciples, even if he never was...you understand!
Also we did not rush to our walls' protection, we followed at a distance the path drawn by the bits we collected along the way. About an hour in, we thought we could be certain he was definitely dead and we were almost right.”
“I'd like to stress we took a very good care of each morsel we were able to find. We did not get everything though, nevertheless we handle them carefully as they were oozing black energy. But, it's not like the energy came from them, more that it had been used to rip them from the whole body. With clean cuts.
Gruesome!”
'Yeah! That's right. I kinda of think this is why we manage to stubble upon his head partially, but not completely, dead. It had been impaled on a slim dread tree trunk. You know theses trees that couldn't reach the sun and die in their first years. They could have been mighty but were unsuccessful... I find them so sad for the loss of potential...
Well, he looked out us, straight at us, it even tried to make his creepy smile while only horror was seen his eyes.”
"Did you tried to keep him alive?” questioned Lan Xichen naively.
“How could we...?”
“ We puked on sight! It was horrific!” They answer at the same time

They both take a moment, closing their own living eyes and taking long breaths to calm themselves down, they had not been affected by that leech's death but horror is horror..
A couple of minutes pass in complete silence before the oldest narrates again: "We had to clean it.
We've done it in the nearest stream as we did not manages to completely avoid it...” he closes his eyes again.
"Until that moment, it wasn't real-real...much more like a gruesome unwanted treasure hunt, sort of...and quite frankly, none of us was remotely bothered by his death but.”
”It is a personal revenge. It looks like a very violent and thought through vendetta. I can not imagine what he had done to this or those persons.
I sincerely believe that it will not going to be done to any other human being. It was his fate and his only...
But whatever executed it is still absolutely dangerous! The power needed, coupled with the swiftness of it terrorise me at night and during the day...” the young Nie confesses while his older companion nods by his side.

“After we explained all of what we were confronted with, our young master suggested his brother to inform your clan too.
And he should have sent you a spirit missive for mental health treatment...” the oldest wispers.
“Indeed he did! You'll be accompanied to your quarters soon, they should be ready by now...
Have some rest. Thank you for your report.” Lan Qiren reassures them.
He would have like to ask a few more questions but realises a bit lately they absolutely deserve rest for the next few months, at a minimum.
Maybe he could suggest them to write their ordeal in their healing process...later.
He has recorded everything in his mind and Lan Xichen should have done the same. That should be enough for now.
He takes time to send his condolences to the Nie Clan for their loss.
He admits he, himself, feels relieved by Meng Yao's death, he did not appreciate his closeness to his older nephew, he doesn't know why though...
While he hadn't anything against the lad, he truly despised him and had wished for him to disappear from his sight permanently.
The constant fake smile on his face did not help at all.
Still “It's might be a little to harsh?” he wonders on his ways to his abode.

His mind goes right to the interview Jiang Wanying asked from him this very morning. The boy has a slightly better behaviour since the end of his shared punishment, maybe he'll show true remorse about his violent attack?