Chapter Text
— Chapter 18: you can aim for my heart, go for blood —
“I told you to watch over him!”
Xichen stops the attendant, hand on the man’s arm, before he can interrupt the discussion. Lan Qiren’s attendant looks back at him with horror for the act of breaking a rule, for being an accomplice to a sect leader breaking the rules.
Xichen gestures at him to leave, to turn a blind eye and allow Xichen this.
The man agrees to it despite the very reluctant grimace he has on his lips.
“But Qiren ,” an elder counters. “Just look at the state of him. If anything, he looks like he's been lovesick since Jin Guangyao died.”
“Lo—” Qiren sputters. “You will not utter those words again if you have any damn respect left for this clan.”
“He’s acting like a madman, his behaviour is erratic and gods — if only you saw how he glared at everyone during council meetings. Glared ! He is not the sect leader we raised.”
“He is the sect leader we raised. It is only fair to wonder how he hasn’t lost it a long time ago when we dropped the position of sect leader onto his head and told him to stand tall!” Lan Qiren argues.
“No one else had a choice. Our entire cultivation world is made of sect leaders who have been through hard times. He isn’t special.” Another councilman says.
“And he withstood the pressure with the help of his friends. Is that so difficult to accept? All of us have had someone we would confide in. If he struggles now, can’t you find it in yourself to understand that? When all of us had been equally hopeless at the start of the Sunshot Campaign, complaining day after day, do you remember who sat through it all without even a word of displeasure, who never once asked us to go easy on him? And we threw everything at him just because we could!”
“He is the sect leader!”
“And a good one at that! You wanted a kind, benevolent leader who cares for the people, then now you fault him for caring?”
Xichen can almost imagine the triumphant look that his uncle sports when the rest of the room drowns in silence. The image of his uncle coming to his defence in front of the elders, possibly glaring down on them, is more difficult to conjure up, but how he wishes could see it with his own eyes.
He knows he shouldn’t be swayed by the indirect praises but it is the only good thing he’s heard in a long while. Well, that and—
Xichen forces the breath out of his lungs and wills himself to calm down.
“He’ll be here soon, and I urge you to listen to him.”
“Do you really think we have any right to go against the Jins? Who knows what secrets they know of Xichen.”
“What are you saying?”
“We have no idea what Xichen did in Jinlintai, all we know is how frequently he went there and if they were to bring up anything controversial, how would we go to his defence?”
They wouldn’t be entirely wrong.
They were two men who spent a lot of time alone. Two young men in the atrocities of war when he had heard the news of the Yunmeng massacre and Meng Yao had been gentle. It was his first kiss and Meng Yao had been kind enough to never mention it again.
“Enough.” Lan Qiren bellows. “Xichen has made his decision. That is all we need to follow the words of Gusu Lan’s Sect Leader.”
Qiren has never had to outright force his nephews into the path he wishes for them. He was always strict on them, but it was never particularly hard to have them obey his words. It was never hard until now.
He recalls reading Xichen’s letter with a shudder each time. Truly, it is a memory he wishes to wash himself of. The phrasing of it had been so particularly similar. Almost like Xichen had read the letter his father had penned as he exiled himself to seclusion. He had been so close to burning the letter and pretending he never got it. To some extent, that is what he did.
In a way, it was a selfish decision to keep that letter away from any other eyes. But Qiren knows, it had been mostly out of fear and shame and whatever complicated feelings that had bloomed in him as he raised the two boys day after day, year after year.
But regardless of how his selfish actions will change their relationship, Qiren will not allow it. He will not allow a repeat of history.
;
It’s a peculiar feeling to realise how much he has forgotten. It is the moment when he reaches the top of the long series of stairs that he notices that those memories of his sworn brother feels so far away - like they lived in another lifetime.
He has been so busy with sect duties, swamped with issues after issues, demanded at meetings after meetings, that even though those memories lingered at the back of his mind, he couldn’t spare much of his energy on them.
It is absolute betrayal, Xichen agrees when he hears Meng Yao’s voice in his head.
How could you forget me?
How could you?
How dare you?
Xichen pinches his lips tightly as he nears Jin Rulan, ordering himself to fix his expression before he comes face to face with the boy.
He bows gracefully despite how fragrance in the air hits him and fills him with such memories and nostalgia that it is momentarily blinding. He utters all the greetings he has rehearsed, feeling a strange emptiness where his heart is. Silence fills his chest now, it’s numb and hollow and bitter on his tongue.
Jin Rulan greets him with pleasant, respectful words. But Xichen’s gaze drifts towards the direction of the ancestral halls. Towards the courtyard he has sat countless of times, with a familiar face smiling back at him. He can almost tangibly hear the soft laughter of his sworn brother, but it morphs into the sinister laughter he heard that night and he flinches.
“Zewu-jun?”
Jin Rulan looks terrified. In those downturned lips, those harshly pinched brows, those deep, round eyes, Jin Ling looks terrifyingly worried. And suddenly, all Xichen sees is Jiang Wanyin.
Xichen stretches his lips into a thin line. “Do you mind if I— have a moment to rest before the banquet begins?”
“Of course not, Zewu-jun. Take as long as you need. The banquet is set to begin at sunset, I will have someone notify you then. In the meantime, you may rest or head to the northern hall as that’s where the other guests are hosted with refreshments. If you need anything else—“
“Thank you, Sect Leader Jin.” Xichen says hurriedly with another bow. He can feel his chest straining to pull in a breath, he fears for what the brewing discomfort may unleash.
He is escorted to his usual room, four walls that once upon a time brought him familiarity. Now it makes him nauseous, chest filled with sticky discomfort.
;
It did not take Jiang Cheng long to figure out that Jin Ling already knows. It would explain his absence, his lack of letters. And that is why Jiang Cheng sent a letter first.
Explain yourself.
Jin Ling knew who it was from even with the plain envelope and the lack of a signature, hidden in between a stack of letters inbound from Gusu region.
The annual conference was approaching and unless his uncle wished to cause trouble, he would not come to Lanling to demand a reply from Jin Ling.
So Jin Ling stayed silent on the matter. Until Jiang Cheng arrives for the discussion conference with a deep-set scowl and a temper that Jin Ling knows he will find tough to appease.
“You do not have to worry about them.”
“Them being your paternal relatives ?”
“They do not want the position.”
“And you believe them?”
“ Yes .” Jin Ling grits out and matches his uncle’s glare with a glare of his own. It only lasts a second before it wanes away under Jiang Cheng’s unchallenged, piercing gaze. “Not all of them are the same,” Jin Ling says defeatedly. “They offered to help.”
“They will not help.” Jiang Cheng says definitely.
“They will!”
“You—” Jiang Cheng huffs a short, bitter laugh. “Well, I suppose you have found your place, haven’t you? If I had known that I am not needed here, I wouldn’t have bothered coming.”
“ Jiujiu !” Jin Ling protests. “I do not mean that, you know that .”
“Do I?” Jiang Cheng scoffs. It’s not like he hasn’t heard the news, not like he hasn’t seen it with his own eyes when he goes on night hunts right where Jin Ling is said to be.
“Yes!” Jin Ling counters. “And— If at this point you do not know, then—! Then—! How can you not know?!”
“Stop whining, you are not a child.” Jiang Cheng snarls.
“No, I am not.” Jin Ling steels his stance, but his voice is of a pouty child desperate for his uncle’s approval. “Which is why I had made my decisions. And if you just listen to me, then you’d understand.”
;
See, the thing about seclusion is it takes away the biggest variable, the people factor. The people that judge and speak unkind words, seem to know how to slither its way into Xichen’s deepest insecurities and poke .
Xichen pauses outside one of the many doors, the voices reaching his ears with ease.
“Do you think he really didn’t know?”
“He’s Zewu-jun, for god’s sake. Arguably the most talented cultivator, do you really think he was that daft?”
“Maybe he knew and didn’t care.”
“Nie Huaisang would be much easier to manipulate than Chifeng-zun. Jin Guangyao could have wanted to sink his hands into Qinghe Nie.”
“Or maybe, Lan Xichen had intentions to do the same.”
One scoffs, “What? Isn’t his sect enough? What could he possibly want from Qinghe Nie?”
“Gusu Lan may be influential and rich but their brute force is nothing compared to Qinghe Nie.”
“All major sects are always looking to expand, it isn’t a surprise. Even now we’re forced to watch our backs as the power shifts between them.”
“Hmph, even now, if Lanling Jin and Yunmeng Jiang join hands, we are all finished.”
“Would Jiang Wanyin really bow to the Jins?”
“It is more likely that the Jins will have to bow to him, given that their sect leader is the man’s nephew.”
“ Huh? ” Another exclaims. “ Would that make Jiang Wanyin the most influential cultivator?”
“Just hearing that sends shivers down my spine. He isn’t known for being generous, we really are finished if he rules over Lanling.”
“From what I heard, the Jins are absolutely terrified of losing their territory.”
“Can you blame them? There isn’t a single commodity that that man doesn’t have his hands on. He’s accusing them of being greedy but he should take a look in the mirror.”
“Then aren’t we only delaying the inevitable? At this point, it seems like he’s the only one of the major sects who is paying attention and tilting the scale to his advantage.”
“I think even Gusu Lan Sect will have to concede to him.”
“Do you think they would support Sandu Shengshou?”
“Do they have a choice? Major sects always stick with their own. Unless they want to start a war.”
“Didn’t you hear that Zewu-jun’s first visit after seclusion was to Lotus Pier?”
“Who’s to say Sect Leader Jiang isn’t pulling the same trick on Zewu-jun? For all we know, he must have been garnering Zewu-jun’s benevolence the same way Jin Guangyao did."
He knows not to listen, they’re pointless words after all. They will not cut unless he lets them.
“But do you think Zewu-jun will trust another snake like Jin Guangyao? Sect Leader Jiang has a lot to gain if the Jins’ control falls to him. If Zewu-jun can’t see through his intentions, he really must be some sort of foolish idiot?”
The genuineness of those words actually pushes a laugh through his chest. Fortunately, he stops it before it can escape his throat.
Foolish idiot.
He thinks perhaps they might not be wrong about that.
It would explain his carelessness, it would rid him of the guilt.
It wasn’t carelessness or ignorance, he was just being an idiot.
Xichen huffs and retreats, but his first disciple steps forward instead.
“He Shihong.” Xichen reprimands with a suppressed sigh.
“But Zewu-jun.” the man counters.
“We will return to the guest quarters and wait until the banquet begins.”
The man glances past Xichen’s shoulder with a frown, exchanging a brief look with his peers. “As you wish, sect leader.” He obeys with a bow.
Xichen starts to step away, moving down the corridor towards his assigned quarters. But something itches in him and he just—
“I will head this way. You may rest in the meantime.” He shuts down any resistance with a curt smile and a final look.
They file away dutifully and Xichen hurries along the long ballway until he finds the rooms he has dearly missed. Despite everything, all the good memories, all the sweet glimpses of their friendship plays itself as he strolls down towards the east courtyard. He had spent many days conversing with his friend in one of the gazebos in the area. He had spent many days comfortably heading straight to the large balcony where the sun rose beautifully whenever he visited. He ha—
“Do you not understand the gravity of the situation?” Jiang Cheng hisses. “I told you to be alert!” His voice goes louder into a yell, leaving Xichen shaken by its force. The door is open by half an arm’s length. And through the crack, he spots the unmistakable striking violet of Yunmeng Jiang and the golden shimmer of Lanling Jin.
“Sect Leader-” a Jiang disciple, among the group gathered at the door, speaks out.
“Get out, it is not your place here,” is the response he receives.
“ Jiujiu , I told you , you cannot be the one to raise these issues!”
“Then you will ask this of Zewu-jun, a man who is your senior? Are you that ungrateful?”
“Lanling Jin wouldn’t dare to —”
“So you will use him too? Condemn him to the same fate again?!”
“Sect Leader, please—!” The disciple interjects firmly. “We need to be discreet.”
Jiang Cheng grits his teeth, turning to him with a sneer. “Is it not your job to ensure that?”
“ Jiujiu! ”
“It is final.” Jiang Cheng bellows. “You will tell Zewu-jun to withdraw his —”
“I will not.”
The group of disciples turn and retreat as their gaze lands on him. The one standing at the front of it all, Song Junjie, the second-in-command officer of Yunmeng Jiang, bows first.
His bow allows space for Jiang Cheng’s eyes to find Xichen.
Of course.
Of - fucking - course.
Jiang Cheng shifts to glare at his disciples, his piercing gaze slices through the thick air with a simple furrow of his brows. They retreat further in an instant, bowing with apology. They know better than to interrupt him, but it is not exactly their authority to stop another sect leader from doing so.
Xichen can’t help the frown on his lips as he moves to the doorway of one of Meng Yao’s rooms. There used to be beautiful canvases and vases and a large collection of gifts from the people of Lanling. Now it’s empty and dusty and made to witness arguments that may tear apart the entire cultivation world.
“It would be wise if you did.” Jiang Cheng challenges.
“Is it not your intention to raise those issues too? What difference would it make if I speak instead?” Xichen questions.
“It was already discussed in our meeting in Cloud Recesses and you agreed. I do not see a reason to change the plans.”
“With all due respect, I had agreed with Sect Leader Jin before we had our meeting. So unless Sect Leader Jin asks for it, I intend to follow through with my word.”
Jin Ling makes a desperate noise and steps between them. “My apologies, Sect Leader Lan. The discourse is between my uncle and I.”
“You do not need to apologise.” Zewu-jun says with a slight nod, softening at the mature tone of the younger man’s voice.
“There was an attempt on Jin Ling’s life.” Jiang Cheng voices without tact.
“What?” Xichen breaths out instantly.
“ Jiujiu !”
“We intercepted a letter during a night hunt, it depicted Jin Ling’s movements.”
“Nothing happened!”
“It would have if we hadn’t stopped it.” Jiang Cheng states.
“We do not have any proof. None of it indicates that there was a plan in motion.” Jin Ling counters.
“And what do you think is the purpose of them monitoring your whereabouts? Do you think the intention was to host a party?” Jiang Cheng admonishes.
“When was this?” Xichen asks with growing dread.
“3 months after Jin Ling was made sect leader.”
“Do you know who it was?”
“We found a group of unknown men. They took their own lives before we could gather information. 4 of them.”
Xichen swallows thickly as words elude him.
“Why would they do that if there wasn’t an intention as severe as the assassination of a sect leader?” Jiang Cheng questions. “If something of that sort happens again, will you be responsible?”
Jiang Cheng tells himself to not look triumphant when he catches Xichen’s gaze wavering.
No, of course not. The possibility of such a thing must be obliterated before the responsibility of it can even be blamed on anyone.
“ Jiujiu ,” Jin Ling interrupts again.
Jiang Cheng casts a stern look in the direction of his nephew, who retreats with pinched lips.
“Even so,” Xichen speaks, “It does not change my decision. I intend to speak at the discussion conference as discussed.”
Jiang Chengs huffs, “And what use would that be? You would sully your name, put yourself on the line and with that, your sect as well.”
The words deter Xichen’s determination a fair bit. Because yes, there’s the issue of his sect too. He knows the damage his reputation would take but he isn’t quite sure that he can protect his sect with whatever’s left of his reputation.
“My decision is made regardless.” He bows and makes his exit swiftly, refusing any more resistance.
In the end, the best option is to stay in his room. Xichen paces the limited space, breath uneven as turmoil overwhelms him. Xichen runs his fingers over Liebing safely tucked in his belt, tracing the smooth edges of the marble with a sigh. He paces over and over until he is interrupted with a knock against his door.
“The banquet is about to start. We should take our places.”
The banquet begins with a flurry of familiar faces, all smiling brightly as they come over to wish him well, to tell him of their news, to goad him into visits which he knows will lead to him solving their problems. Usually he would, but right now, he has nothing to offer of himself.
When Jin Ling’s arrival is announced, the chatter among the invitees dulls and the hall rises to greet him. Jin Ling raises his arms and bows in kind as he makes his way to the main table.
Xichen bows in kind, and at the same time watches the room to see how the other sect leaders react to the young sect leader. He doesn’t even know that he’s staring - admiring the way Jiang Wanyin subtly smirks at Jin Ling’s entrance - until Jiang Wanyin meets his eyes. He looks away quickly, then regrets, then looks to Jiang Wanyin once more. Those striking eyes watch him intensely, piercing his soul despite the couple of tables between them. He nods and offers a thin smile, which Jiang Wanyin doesn’t respond to other than a slight raise of his brows.
Xichen returns his attention to the centre of the room, bowing in tandem with the rest of the room - among sect leaders who are willing to acknowledge Jin Rulan’s place and those who refuse - before they are invited to sit. Xichen watches the row of attendants around Jin Rulan, and the few councilmen who would cater to him. He recognises them - low-key, amicable men since Jin Guangshan’s time.
It does not take long until the room is filled with the scent of a large variety of food, of alcohol bottles being popped open and poured. It is a banquet hosted by the Jins as is famously known, with unrestrained splurges and all the fancies one can offer. Jin Ling is sitting at the main table, smiling thinly as performers are led down the hall and offered as entertainment while the crowd grows louder with intoxication. Xichen sighs as he rises from his seat and runs over a list in his head of sect leaders he’s due to meet — time to do his homework.
;
“Sect Leader Jiang is here to see you.”
Xichen pauses from where he’s writing a short message to his brother. “Just a minute,” he says as he swiftly finishes his sentence. It is the morning of the archery competition and his disciples will be arriving soon. He rolls up the scroll and ties a knot, muttering an enchantment over it before he heads to the door. He opens the door, acknowledges Jiang Wanyin with a nod and steps aside for him to enter.
But along with Jiang Cheng, another attendant enters.
Xichen frowns, shifting on his feet for a moment before he recalls the scroll in his hand. “Make sure this gets to Wangji.” He tells his disciple. The man nods and Xichen closes the door with a sigh. He turns back to the curious sight of Jiang Wanyin and his attendant, fussing around the table in the centre of the room. Jiang Wanyin nods towards his attendant and the man quickly excuses himself.
Xichen tilts his head at the strange items on his table. But he has more pressing matters to speak of.
“We need to keep some distance between us.” Xichen says as he walks towards the other man. “Best to not make it obvious that we are working together. Some sect leaders are already speculating.”
“Well, that is expected, isn’t it? There are always some sort of rumours.” Jiang Cheng says with minimal concern. “Did they say anything in particular?”
Xichen pauses, realising now how out of practice he is. Did they say anything in particular?
“They are simply talking about how your sect has grown substantially and remains as one of the major sects. I believe the Jin Council is also worried about that as well as your increasing presence in Lanling.”
“Let them,” Jiang Cheng says. “It should keep them on their toes to know I’m watching.”
Xichen opens his mouth and closes it, but then loses to the urge to keep his thoughts to himself anyway. “I do not think something so severe should be taken lightly.”
Jiang Cheng regards him for a moment, then moves his attention to the items on the table, opening them one by one.”Yes, you are right. But there is no chance that I will back off, and there is an even lesser chance that they can do anything about it. So perhaps, it is best to treat it lightly.”
Xichen lips part to counter but he frowns instead at what Jiang Cheng reveals to him.
“These aren’t Lanling’s food.”
Jiang Cheng acknowledges with a grunt, no explanation whatsoever.
“These are Yunmeng’s dishes.” Xichen adds belatedly. “Why did you—”
The whiff of the prepared food hits him and he doesn’t need an answer.
“Sect Leader Jiang,” Xichen sighs. “You didn’t have to do this.”
“I thought you would prefer to eat before the competition,” Jiang Wanyin disregards his words. “Seeing as how your mealtimes are usually earlier.”
Xichen swallows, his mind is telling him to refuse but his stomach is suddenly twisting with hunger.
“You really didn’t have to,” Xichen says but he’s pulling up a chair and gesturing to Jiang Cheng to sit.
“It’s no trouble.” Jiang Cheng says through subtly curved lips.
“These are for us?”
“No, this serving is for you.”
“And yours?”
“I can eat in the hall.” The discontent is visible on his face as though Jiang Wanyin does not even try to hide it.
Xichen lets out a small chuckle, relaxing a fair bit at the way Jiang Cheng looks so young , “You’ve never liked their food.” He says with a head tilt. “You’re picky.”
Jiang Cheng scoffs and narrows his eyes at Xichen. “What would you know,” Jiang Cheng says, “Compared to Gusu’s meals, Lanling’s food must be a treat.”
“Hmm, I don’t know,” Xichen says with a slight shrug, teasing, “I always found the cuisine a little too much to the sweet side.”
Jiang Cheng rolls his eyes animatedly and nods, “It is always too sweet, it makes me gag .”
Xichen chuckles and just like that, Jiang Cheng realises he had agreed without even knowing.
Xichen picks up the utensils and splits up the meal with flawless control of his chopsticks, without making any sound louder than a tap.
It’s weird, Jiang Cheng thinks. He hasn’t shared a meal in a long time. Not like this.
Even though it isn’t the time to leisurely draw out their meal, Xichen feels the urge eat away at him as he dreads to leave this comfort for a room full of scrutinising eyes.
“Thank you,” he says between bites, eyes trained on his chopsticks instead of the obvious way Jiang Wanyin moves to look at him.
There is a short exhale from Jiang Cheng before he speaks. “You have said that many times now. It is enough.”
Xichen nods, despite his disagreement. It is never enough.
“And I apologise.” Jiang Wanyin adds. “About yesterday.”
Xichen pauses, moving his gaze to find Jiang Wanyin’s face. It is soft, a tender expression that shows his worries. Xichen can’t help the way his stomach churns. “Why didn’t you tell me? About the attempt on Jin Rulan’s life?” He asks quietly.
“It was speculation. I didn’t have any leads and there didn’t seem to be any development after that, so —” Jiang Cheng shakes his head with defeat. “It didn’t feel necessary to let you know despite how much I feared that something might happen.”
“I could have hel—”
Jiang Wanyin interrupts firmly, “You would have blamed yourself.” Xichen’s eyebrows pinch and Jiang Cheng shrugs, “You would have put yourself out there to protect him and I didn’t want that. The same way I do not think it is a good idea for you to challenge the Jins’ council tomorrow.”
“I have to do it.” Xichen states firmly.
“Why?” Jiang Cheng frowns with discontent. “Because you feel responsible for it?”
“Because I do not want to stay silent out of peace preservation.” Xichen sighs. “Because staying silent has served me poorly.”
Jiang Cheng falls quiet for a while, considering Xichen’s words - and the way he looks so —
“Have you discussed this with your sect?” Jiang Cheng asks.
Xichen, “Yes.”
“Do they agree?”
Xichen pauses for a moment, his gaze falls away. “I am the sect leader, they have to agree.” It is as though he’s trying to convince himself too.
Jiang Cheng suppresses a sigh. He does not agree but he will have to concede.
“Will Senior Lan be attending tomorrow?” Jiang Cheng asks instead.
“Yes,” Xichen nods. “He will arrive later today.”
“And Hanguang-jun?”
Xichen pauses, amusement finding its way through his solemn mood. “No, he’s been tasked to stay back and look after the rest of the students and Wei Wuxian.”
Jiang Cheng narrows his eyes at the intentional mention of Wei Wuxian. It’s not like he was asking about him . Not in so many words anyway.
“Lan Sizhui and Lan Jingyi will be accompanying Senior Lan today, along with a few disciples for the archery competition.”
Jiang Cheng scoffs. “I know someone who will be happy to see them.”
Xichen smiles. “Me too.”
They are not wrong. Jin Rulan only barely conceals his excitement as he meets them out in the courtyard.
It must be strange, Xichen thinks, for them to meet again after so many changes in their lives. But they fall into their conversations like no time has passed at all. Xichen watches and cherishes the wild look they get in their eyes as they catch up, smiling at the unrestrained joy that bubbles out of them with laughter.
;
It is another day of itching under every inch of his skin. Xichen grinds his teeth at the chatter that fills the courtyard, at the sight of sect leaders mingling and enjoying the archery competition. His mind drifts to the idea of fleeing to his room just for a moment of peace. But he cannot possibly do that, not with his uncle by his side. So he sits still and quiet, letting the day pass as the itch wreaks havoc below his skin. He is nothing if not a man who knows how to conceal his feelings.
It doesn’t take long for the Jin council to find him. It’s the first moment he gets alone and immediately there is a knock on his door. He only wanted a moment of quiet away from the loud hall of junior disciples and sect leaders having a feast to celebrate the end of the competition - it somehow still feels too soon for loud celebrations to fill the halls. But he has sauntered right into the trap of the group of councilmen at his door.
The words that leave the mouth of one of the Jin councilmen is exactly what he expects.
“The thing is… we have heard rumours. Of the leader of Yunmeng Jiang plotting against us.”
“Rumours…” Xichen echoes, his lips stretched into a thin line. “It is not a reliable source.”
“Then is this?” The man pulls out a pile of rolled up paper from his robes and smooths it out on the table. “Every incident in Lanling in the past 9 months, more than half of them depict Yunmeng Jiang disciples at the site, more often than not in common clothes. Is that not proof of his involvement in Lanling?”
“Perhaps you will need to ask him.”
“Him?” A scoff. “And what will he gain from admitting to it?”
“Still, your issue is with the Yunmeng Jiang sect. It is hardly appropriate for me to question another sect leader in a matter that does not concern me.”
“Who do you suggest we go to, if not to another sect leader of his standing?”
Xichen feels his lips twitch into a slight smile, one corner curving as he digests those words.
“Then you should consider the fact that I am not of his standing. You will have to find another candidate.”
The man shakes his head in disagreement. “You are the most suitable to talk him into respecting sect diplomacy. You have connections to him that no other sect leader has. And he respects you, Zewu-jun. If there’s anyone he would listen to—”
“That’s where you’re wrong. Gusu Lan Sect has never interfered in Yunmeng Jiang Sect’s matters, that is why our alliance is peaceful. I cannot in good judgement do this, especially not on your behalf.”
“But if you could approach him personally, then perhaps—”
“Personally?” Xichen tries his best to not scoff at the sheer absurdity of it. “I’m sure you know Sect Leader Jiang does not mix personal with business. And personally , we do not have much of a relationship.”
On second thought, maybe he should have told his disciples to stay close. On second thought, maybe he should have sent a representative to this conference in his place and avoided putting on the face of a brave man.
“If there is nothing else, would you excuse me? I came here to refresh myself swiftly and return to the banquet.”
“Sir, I know you do not owe us anything. But the mess we’re in, it’s— we cannot fix it without your help. If people see that you are willing to work with us, they would reconsider the cold shoulder they’ve been giving us. It would stop Jiang Wanyin from plotting against us.”
Xichen’s pinched brows give way for a tugging tension in his forehead, one that spreads to his temples as his gaze finds its target and sharpens.
“There’s nothing I can do about this mess you’re in. If anything, I’m in it myself. If you wanted my help, you should have come to me before all of this, before all of that happened .”
“Sir, how could we have come to you back then? When Lianfang-zun was right next to you?”
“You let him— helped him, carried out horrifying acts, did unspeakable things, and now you want me to fix it? After I’ve been made a fool?”
“But sir—”
“I cannot help you. Even if I wanted to, my association to A-Yao and the Jin council has stripped me of any integrity. Who would believe me now if I were to take your side? I’ve been proven to be nothing more than a pawn.”
“If we had come to you then, would you have believed us? Over your own sworn brother?”
“It would have given me cause to investigate, it would have at least raised a doubt.”
“A doubt?” the man says with a twisted tone. “Zewu-jun, with all due respect, can you really claim ignorance as someone as close to him as you?”
“Excuse me?”
“You knew all of this political and personal motives, you advised him on it. Can you really say you did not know the intentions behind his actions?”
“He was your sect leader, can you ?” Xichen challenges.
“His personal affairs have always been managed in a way that it steered clear of our council. If we had no reason to look into his matters, could we really have helped? But you, Zewu-jun, as his friend—”
“I never knew.”
“A friendship close enough to be sworn, obviously should have carried weight.”
“I never knew. ”
“To have him do such horrendous things and not see—”
“ I never knew any of it. ” Xichen almost shouts. But the man is unphased.
“If we were to look into sect records, the frequency of your visits, it is quite a number, isn’t it?”
“What would that even prove? Many sects visit each other, it is hardly anything to spark—”
“And the letters, well, those— those are rather interesting, wouldn’t you say?”
“Are you threatening me?” Xichen has the urge to laugh.
“For a man of your calibre,” the councilman drawls. “To be fooled, not just once but by many, many lies.”
“I—”
“I think the public can agree that you are a smart man, Zewu-jun. Don’t you think they would wonder how you could have been oblivious to it? Or if you really were?”
“What are you getting at?” Xichen hisses.
“The tragic tale of three sworn brothers.” His voice twists to lilt melodically. “Only for one to survive.”
Xichen knows he shouldn’t be afraid, he knows the truth after all. But fear creeps in regardless.
“And your brothers were prominent political figures.” The man says, gaze wandering off as his eyes glint in the candlelight. “Wouldn’t the tale of a power-hungry Zewu-jun be all the more enticing?”
Xichen laughs, a sinister tone he never knew he had. “How many things do you plan on accusing me with? At least decide before you come to threaten me.”
“It could be any of this. Take your pick, Zewu-jun. Any of this will ensure your clan will suffer for it. See if this council has anything left to lose.”
Xichen pauses as the words sink in a little heavier than he realises. No, they do not have much to lose. In fact it would be beneficial for them to drag anyone down with them. Especially one of the major sects.
“If you refuse to support us then it can only mean that you support Jiang Wanyin, and you too, wish to see the Jin council fall. That you wish to take out another enemy. It is difficult to not wonder why both your sworn brothers—”
Xichen has his hands fisted into the man’s collar before he can even take a breath.
“Don’t—” he grits out, eyes wide with horror. “Don’t defile their memories like that. How— how dare you ?” his hands shake and his voice is rough, like an echo of gravel scraping the ground.
“The honourable Zewu-jun plotting the murder of his brothers would be a tale the world would soak up with absolute delight,” the man says, eyes lighting up with vile glee. “The Gusu Lan Sect has been sitting on the mantle of purity for too long, hasn’t they? What do you think the public would say to this? How fast do you think it will take for them to turn on you?”
“They know better than that. They know better than to listen to snakes like you.” Xichen bites back.
“It wouldn’t take long for them to connect the dots. To, at the very least, doubt the intentions of Gusu Lan.To start wondering if Zewu-jun has yet another plot to destabilise the cultivation world. If Zewu-jun is just a pawn or is playing an active part in Sandu Shengshou’s appetite for power. And all of their questions will be answered with the fact that Zewu-jun would agree to such a cruel act towards the Jin council.”
Xichen shoves the man away. “To call for your resignation is nothing cruel. If anything—”
“Resignation?” The man exclaims with a bitter chuckle. “Pardon me, Zewu-jun, but it is not resignation that you have agreed to. It is an execution, of me, of a portion of the council. It is the demotion of our bloodline to commoners, leaving us out in the streets for anyone to come for us. And knowing Jiang Wanyin, this is just the beginning. When the entire council is executed, what will happen to Lanling Jin? Can it survive that? Or will Jiang Wanyin claim victory over us and finally rule over the cultivation world.”
“ Execution? ”