Chapter Text
The choice to go visit, read check up on, Nie Huaisang was an easy one. After everything that happened Wei Wuxian didn't trust him enough not to be up to something else. So, they set off towards the Unclean Realm, moving through the countryside until coming up to one of the small villages. Hoping to rest and get something to eat the two stopped at the edge of town where many people were gathered outside a nearby horse stable.
Watching from a distance they could see two people bring out a blanket wrapped body. Judging on the size they would have to guess it was a teenager.
"Such a shame what happened to the poor dear." Spoke a withered voice. Startled they looked to their side where they found a small old woman watching the proceedings with a sad look.
"What happened," Wei Ying asked.
The old woman sighed, "well you see, a little over a year ago, that young girl and her friend had been out in the forest doing whatever kids do these days to entertain themselves. But they got chased by a wild boar, ended up over a cliffside hanging on for dear life. She had one hand gripping that of her friend's arm and the other on the cliff, a hunting party from town had heard them scream and came to save them, but it wasn't enough. Her friend ended up falling, honestly though, I think her friend fell on purpose. The cliffside gave way only moments after she was saved, and if not for her friend letting go, they would have both died." The old woman recalled.
"For a while the girl was inconsolable, survivors' guilt. But she seemed to get better, beginning to heal and move on. But about a month later though she just about woke the whole town up screaming that her friend was in her room. We thought it just a nightmare, something that happens with everyone no matter how much time passed after something like that. But the nightmares got worse, she barely got any sleep and became so jumpy. Flinching at every shadow, even violent at times. She near strangled a courier who was delivering a letter to her father when he made the mistake of startling her." The old woman shook her head.
"But how did she-" Wuxian was about to ask before the old woman cut him off.
"Give me a moment and I'll tell you." She then turned and walked over to a bench nestled under a tree just off the road that still allowed them to see the stable. Sitting down on one end she gestured to them to join her. Wei Wuxian took the opportunity to sit on the other side with Lan Wangji standing next to him.
"Now, where was I? Oh yes, on top of her jumpiness and fear she began to hurt herself. Each morning her parents would find her arms and chest bleeding from scratches, clumps of hair having been pulled out, dark bruises. It seemed in her state she was attacking herself, either in her sleep or from whatever her mind was conjuring up. Gastley injuries they were, deep bruises and cuts deep enough to scar."
"The town began to suspect that she might be haunted. So, we contacted the Nie clan, and they were nice enough to send of some cultivators to help. Though they looked and investigated, nothing turned up, no ghouls or ghosts or zombies. But their presence seemed to sooth something in her and we thought it was finally over, that was a week ago. Today, well, poor little Ming was found hanging from the rafters." She sighed.
"I'm sorry," he said.
She gave a sad smile before patting the top of his hand and standing up, "thank you, but sadly that's the world we live in." With a nod and goodbye, she moved away to follow the other people.
Wei Wuxian made a move to follow before a hand stopped him. "Wei Ying," Turning he looks to Lan Wangji who was staring at him.
"Lan Zhan?"
Wangji glanced towards where the people went. "They should not be disturbed."
Wuxian nodded, "alright, we can stay somewhere else and we still need to reach the Nie anyway," and so they moved on, now adding another sad story to their long list of sad stories.
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Finally getting to the Unclean Relam, they were met and welcomed hesitantly.
"I will inform Sect leader Nie of your arrival." A disciple said.
Wuxian threw a hand out to stop them from walking away, "actually, this visit is sorta a surprise. So how about you lead Hanguang-Jun to sect leader Nie and I will go this way." With that he swiftly turned and left in another direction before either the disciple or his husband could say anything.
He just wanted to see, you see. He hadn't been there in so long and he wanted to see the differences in how everything was run compared to when Nie Mingjue was in charge. From what he could see as he walked along, ignoring stares and dodging any attempts at conversation or stopping him, it looked like it was all pretty much the same, if only a bit less strict. At least, from what he could remember from what felt like a life time ago.
Moving aimlessly along, his attention was caught by a cave that some people were leaving. Stepping inside, he found it to be spacious and open, people mulling about or working on something.
It was clearly man-made by the Nie, which made sense. Having something like this built into the mountain would be helpful in multiple ways. Walking through he didn't see anything all that interesting. Until he saw an area in the back marking off a smaller cave, peering in he could see softly glowing crystals in bedded in the wall and he could hear the sound of water deeper in. The smaller cave didn't seem to have a back wall and just kept going, stepping forward, he was about to enter before being stopped.
"You can't go back there!" A disciple shouted, running up to him before straightening herself out and explaining. "That's a natural cave system we broke through too. We don't know how deep it goes so no one's allowed to investigate alone."
"Really? Doesn't seem dangerous, how long ago did you find it?" He replied.
"A little over a year ago and you would think that, but the first week we found it, one of the youngers went in to explore and he never came back and no matter how deep we went to try and find him, we never did. So, Sect leader had it marked off and now no less than two people are allowed to enter at a time and Nie Zonghui must be told beforehand." She detailed.
He hummed absorbing the information, before smiling at her. "You know, I think I might be a bit lost. Could you escort me to Nie-zongzhu." He asked.
She nodded, "Of course, this way," and began to lead him out.
Looking back over his shoulder, Wei Wuxian made a mental note to check out that cave another time.