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Zizhen was extremely excited. The Cloud Recesses was holding the first lecture series in years and he was invited. He held the invitation tightly as he walked up many stairs with the other disciples from his sect who would be going. His father and mother had both reminisced about their time at the lectures, they had met and fallen in love there. It sounded so romantic.
He was also excited that he was going to be able to see his friends from the other clans. Of course, Lan Sizhui and Lan Jingyi would be there, and he even had a letter from Jin Ling stating he was attending as well. They were going to have so much fun!
He finally made it to the top where the gate was and found that Lan Jingyi was one of the people on duty. He waved as he drew close.
“I greet the Lan Sect,” he said with a bow and then brandished the invitation. “The Ouyang Sect has come for the lectures here is the invitation.”
“Welcome to the Ouyang Sect.” the main guard said returning the bow. Lan Jingyi hopped over and grabbed the invitation.
“Well, it looks real. I’ll take them to the guest quarters.” He said to the other guards. They agreed and he led Zizhen and his people into the Cloud Recesses.
Lan Jingyi updated him on all of the items that needed to be known. It was not gossip. He told him that Lan Sizhui was back from this trip with the Ghost General. Jin Ling, though technically the Jin Sect Leader had a regent in his great aunt who had come back after Jin Gaungyao’s death from her exile in a holding at the edge of Jin territory. She remarkably was not like the other Jin and was not working closely with Jiang Zongzhu to teach Jin Ling how to really take care of a Sect and their territory.
He also let it be known that Wei Wuxian had not come back from his roaming of the countryside but was sending letters to the Chief Cultivator. Everyone thought he might be an agent for the Chief Cultivator to let him know what was happening in the world with out the Sect politics getting in the way.
Zizhen was just glad that all his friends were together for the lectures. He also thought he would like to meet someone here like his parents had met each other, the place was ripe for romance.
****
Lan Sizhui knelt at the desk facing the classroom. He was taking on the responsibility of teaching assistant to Xiansheng Lan Qiren, same as Uncle Xichen had performed during the lectures where his fathers had first met. He was glad that he was able to join the lectures this way since he was soon to be considered an adult. This way he was able to spend time with his friends who had joined the lectures.
He looked out over the students as Shifu went over the different types of yaogui. Jin Ling looked to be paying attention but Ouyang Zizhen was gazing over at one of the young women at the lectures and Jingyi looked like he might fall asleep. Jingyi was going to end up punished again if he didn’t start paying attention.
As he idly listened to Shifu and gazed around the classroom one of Hanguang Jun’s aides came in from the back and came toward the front and then waited to be acknowledged by Shifu.
He finished and then nodded to the aide who approached the desk between where he and Shifu sat.
“Shifu, a message from the Chief Cultivator.” The aide said with a bow and handed over the scroll he had been carrying.
Lan Qiren looked it over and then handed it to him. The missive was an invitation from the Chief Cultivator for the students to join in the large night hunt that was needed in the old He lands. The restless dead were breaking out of the containments that Xue Yang and Jin Guangyao had put up after the had destroyed the sect to keep people from finding out what had happened.
This was an emergency, and they would need all the help they could get. All Sects were sending as many people as possible but the more involved the better since they needed to cover the whole He Sect holdings. They did not want them to turn into another Burial Mounds.
Shifu looked at him questioningly obviously asking his opinion. He nodded his head once. All the disciples who were attending the lectures now had experience and would be able to help.
“The Chief Cultivator has invited you to participate in a Night Hunt to the He Sect Holdings. You will join many other cultivators in calming the many restless resentful spirits from the massacre that happened 10 years ago.
“Use the new information that you have learned these last few months and remember to listen to your elders. You are dismissed for the rest of the day and will leave tomorrow morning. Make sure you pack just the essentials of what you’ll need.” He stood and the students did as well. They bowed to Shifu and he returned it and they all headed out of the Lanshi.
As the other students left chattering in excitement Jin Ling, Ouyang Zizhen and Jingyi came up to the front of the room to join him as he straightened up the desk.
“This is because of them isn’t it,” Jin Ling grumbled crossing his arms. “One mess that was left behind get cleaned up and then another one shows up. My great aunt is probably throwing a fit right now.”
“This is the He Sect Massacre that is causing the problems,” Sizhui said apologetically and did not mention it was the Jin who had ordered it done.
“Which was done on the behest of Xiaoshu by Xue Yang no doubt.” Jin Ling sighed and shook his head.
“Well, we will be bringing them peace now,” Ouyang Zizhen said clasping Jin Ling’s shoulder.
“Too bad they ended up dead in the first place,” Jingyi said putting his foot in his mouth.
“Lan Jingyi,” Jin Ling growled. “You should break the no running rule now.” He started towards Jingyi and having at least a couple of braincells Jingyi took off running, Jin Ling following.
“Shall we go make sure they don’t kill each other?” Ouyang Zizhen asked.
“We should, we all still need to pack yet.” He sighed and the 2 of them followed their friends.
****
“I don’t think this is quite what they thought we would deal with when they sent us to help,” Lan Jingyi said as they ran through the forest.
“No, I don’t think they thought that if the array was broken it would unleash actual demons.” Jin Ling yelled.
“I knew it would be bad to be anywhere near the Yao Sect. I just knew it.” Lan Jingyi added.
“We must not blame the other cultivators for a mistake.” Lan Sizhui seemed to be trying to keep them calm, Zizhen didn’t think that was going to work. If he had any breath left, he’d be screaming.
“It’s always the Yao Sect’s fault A-Yuan,” broke in a voice from up in a tree. They all slowed down and looked up and there was Wei Qianbei sitting on a branch twirling Chenqing.
“Wei Shushu,” Jin Ling shouted pointing at him. “What are you doing here?”
“Aya, Jin Ling. The Chief Cultivator called for help so of course I answered,” he said as he jumped down from the branch and came to stand in front of them. He was gazing firmly behind them in such a way that Zizhen had to look to see if the demons were right there.
“Wei Qianbei,” Lan Sizhui said with a bow. “There are demons who we were escaping from, it seems they were let loose when a holding array was broken.
“A-Yuan I’m hurt. Call me Xian Gege. Sometimes you just need to take care of things yourself. I knew this would happen when all these cultivators were called in.” He sighed and continued to be intent on their surroundings. “Anyways they are not demons not really. I thought you were all at the Cloud Recesses Lecture. What are they teaching you kids these days?”
Zizhen blushed because they really didn’t know what had been released but it had been extremely powerful so the yells of demons from the older more knowledgeable cultivators had seemed reasonable.
“Do you know what they are Wei Qianbei?” he asked hopefully.
“Think about it children, Xue Yang and a small group of fierce corpses came to destroy the He 10 years ago. Now normally this would not have been possible by one man and some corpses, but he had some yin iron and they also came at the ceremony for the youngest girl’s ascent to womanhood.”
“Oh, they didn’t have as many guards since it would have been a festival but one only within the clan for her since she was not the eldest child.” Mused Lan Sizhui.
“My A-Yuan so smart,” Wei Qianbei gushed. “Does anyone remember what makes the worst hungry ghosts?”
“Brides murdered on their wedding,” put in Jin Ling.
“That’s right as far as is taught but the whole of it is when anyone but especially women are killed in horrendous ways on what should be happy days for them. That is why bride ghosts are so vicious along with women who die in childbirth and even women who are pregnant.” He began to pace around them twirling Chenqing still.
“This was a whole sect full of people who were supposed to be experiencing a wonderful, happy occasion and instead they were murdered in the worst ways possible. After a few were killed their corpses were used to kill their family members. A girl on the cusp of womanhood was torn apart by the corpses of her own family. This caused extremely strong hungry ghosts.
“They were also suppressed incorrectly, in such a way that they would attract and gain resentful energy. So, no these are not demons, but they might as well be with how powerful they are. Luckily though they can be taken care of the way you would any resentful soul it just takes more work.”
Wei Qianbei suddenly bit his finger and drew a talisman in the air and the 4 of them were behind a barrier. Just as it went up the resentful spirits swirled out of the trees and came toward them.
“Xian Gege,” Lan Sizhui shouted, reaching for Wei Qianbei who was on the outside of the barrier.
“Don’t worry A-Yuan. I’ll keep you all safe. You may all want to try any distance liberation spells you may know.” And he raised Chenqing to his lips and began to play.
Lan Sizhui pulled his guqin out and Jingyi brought out his Xiao. Zizhen brought out the Ouyang beads and began chanting as Jin Ling threw out talismans. They continued like this for what seemed like hours. Wei Qianbei playing an unsettling tune at times and sometimes peaceful melody, Lan Sizhui and Lan Jingyi playing Rest, Jin Ling throwing out talismans and he was using the beads. It did seem to be liberating the spirits. He was optimistic that they would prevail.
He was worried because except for Wei Qianbei, who looked fine, they were getting tired. Jin Ling had run out of talismans and was gripping his sword tightly. The Lans looked like they were tiring from playing rest constantly. He had gotten incredibly low on spiritual energy from the bead chants.
The spirits had thinned out but there were still several especially horrible ones that were following Wei Qianbei as he moved through the trees around them. Then as if falling from the moon a figure in white came down before them.
“Wei Ying,” called out Hanguang Jun as he pulled out his guqin. He immediately turned toward him not stopping his playing and gave him a nod and suddenly they were playing a duet. It was the most amazing thing he had ever seen or heard. They somehow managed to liberate the last of the spirits that before had been the most vicious.
“Hanguang Jun,” called out the Lans together. As the two cultivators finished the liberation and released them from the barrier they were behind.
He looked them over and gave a nod. Zizhen slumped in exhaustion. This had been the longest night ever.
“Lan Zhan, you came and rescued me,” Wei Qianbei said as he draped himself over Hanguang Jun.
“Hey what about us,” Jin Ling said going over and nudging at Wei Qianbei.
“Oh Jin Ling, you were behind one of my barriers, you would have been fine even if I had died. My barriers are first rate.”
“No more dying,” Hanguang Jun admonished and seemed to move closer to Wei Qianbei.
“Of course not Lan Zhan,” he said with a smile. Zizhen sighed, it was so romantic. Now if they could just finally get married it would be perfect.
“Well, I’m ready to get out of the woods,” Lan Jingyi grumbled.
“I think we should just leave you here,” said Jin Ling sticking his tongue out at him.
“Maybe you instead young mistress,” he answered sticking his tongue out in retaliation.
“You two,” Sizhui said with a roll of his eyes.
“All of you let us go,” broke in Hanguang Jun.
They headed out of the woods and back to the main camp. Zizhen decided he was really glad he got to go to the lecture series at the Cloud Recesses. Not only had his parents found each other there but Hanguang Jun and Wei Qianbei as well. He should really go over and talk to Tang Yaling and maybe he could have what they did as well.