Work Text:
Footsteps echo along the empty hallway
What is your name? Yes you.
Enter _
Hanguang-Jun needs your help. There is a vile corruption that needs to be purged. You, the reader must finish the story so that it can be cleansed. Will you help him?
>Yes_ >No
Good.
At the end of the hallway there is a man in chains. His eyes are blank.He raises a hand0 and then with a flurry of fists he attacks Hanguang-Jun. Hanguang-Jun matches him stroke for stroke. His opponent is quick and fierce as he was made, but raw power is barely enough to make him equal Hanguang-Jun’s refined skill and intellect. Hanguang-Jun launches a talisman at the Ghost General and the explosion forces them to break apart. They stand there for a minute, regarding each other. The Ghost General tilts his head and stands aside. Hanguang-Jun sweeps past him and steps into the array.
The room falls away to be replaced by the transportation nexus. It is a black space with a few points of glowing light in the centre.
Where will you go first?
Yunmeng? Gusu? Lanling? Y̧͓̯͒̑͊ĩ͙ḷ͘i̱̻̒̓ṋ̆͑͢ğ͓̝̙̆̐̋͢?
You think Hanguang-Jun should go to Yunmeng first. There he will have to free the beautiful lotus lakes from the tyrannical rule of Sandu Shengshou.
Hanguang-Jun lands on the wooden dock without a sound. The sole occupant of the dock looks up. It’s an older woman, squatting next to a basket filled with lotus flowers. In another basket she has lotus pods.
Do you approach
>Yes _ >No
Hanguang-Jun walks up to her. Up close her figure looks more squat and rounded, her eyes farther apart.
“Buy or sell?” she croaks.
Hanguang-Jun tries again.
She repeats, “Buy or sell?” She offers a lotus seed, her hand mostly hidden by her sleeve.
Hanguang-Jun bites into it but has to spit it out. It’s rotten all the way through.
Someone laughs behind him. He turns to see the Headshaker, most of his face is hidden behind a fan. The fan he’s holding now is painted in purple and gold, it depicts a beautiful scene of figures riding in a boat along the lotus lakes.There’s a mask peeking out from what the fan doesn’t cover.
“Hello Hanguang-Jun! It’s a fine day for it, isn’t it?” the Headshaker laughs.
Hanguang-Jun inclines his head.
“The locals don’t seem to be in a very friendly mood today, then again it appears they’re taking more and more after the master of Lotus Pier.” The Headshaker flutters his fan without anything more of his face being revealed.
“Oh no don’t give me that look,” he says to Hanguang-Jun’s furrowed brows, “I couldn’t possibly be of any use to your exalted self! I have no idea how one would get into Lotus Pier or how to defeat Sandu Shengshou. You’ll have to test the walls yourself for weaknesses.”
A raised eyebrow. The Headshaker ducks his head, appearing bashful.
“Now now, I can’t just give everything away. Sandu Shengshou and I are old school friends after all. While I remember you used to report the three of us and get us in unimaginable amounts of trouble.”
The Headshaker turns his face towards the river.
“Oh how times change,” he muses.
How will Hanguang-Jun convince The Headshaker to help him?
>Talk to him >Give an item_
Hanguang-Jun clears his throat. He reaches into his qiankun pouch and places the item he retrieves into the Headshaker’s hand.
You have given the Headshaker the severed head of a bird.
The Headshaker looks at it for a moment, before tucking the bird’s head away on his person.
“You haven’t brought a weapon Hanguang-Jun,” The Headshaker cocks his head, “I really wouldn’t know what you could use to fight against Sandu Shengshou but I hear that there’s something of yours you can find in the halls of Lotus Pier if you know where to look.”
Hanguang-Jun turns and walks away from the Headshaker. You think he watches Hanguang Jun go.
The denizens of Lotus Pier move around Hanguang Jun, hunched over and silent. A place like this should be full of voices and activity but there is an oiliness in the air that settles over everything. It parts only for Hanguang-Jun in his brilliant white.
It is around the sides he finds it. The walls are all heavily guarded, but further to the back Hanguang-Jun finds an opening as he wades through the lotuses. There is an old, abandoned pier hidden behind plants and overgrown with moss. When he follows it it leads him into an abandoned section of the complex.
There are marks of violence all over, but the furniture has been set right after and the buildings carefully repaired until they would remain standing. It looks like someone had a tantrum here and regretted it. It does mean that it’s easier to break into the buildings and see what might have been left behind.
There is one building that has been more carefully repaired than the others. There is a series of warding talismans around the doors and windows, preventing anything from getting in, or out. Hanguang-Jun places one finger at the top of the crack of the door and slides down, releasing a concentrated stream of spiritual energy. It cuts through the talismans and the door creaks open.
The walls and furniture had more marks of abuse than outside; there are strange burns in feather like patterns that are scorched deep into the wood. The bed headboard has been the subject of a particular amount of vitriol, it’s covered in burns and slashes. Hanguang-Jun runs his fingers along one slash; it goes right through one childish carving of two stick figures kissing.
The same hand he runs along the air above the bed, concentrating his spiritual energy. Someone has hidden something here.
Hanguang-Jun has found Wangji!
Equip?
>Yes_ >No
Hanguang-Jun has equipped Wangji.
And just in time too! As he rounds the corner he runs into a group of Jiang cultivators. One points a webbed hand at him and screams. They are on him in a moment. Hanguang-Jun strums Wangji and a wave of spiritual energy pushes the Jiang cultivators back. Before they can recover he whips them with Wangji’s strings. Nothing remains of them but stinking piles of meat.
Sandu Shengshou’s strategy for repelling him lies in his confidence in the cultivators he has trained. There is a series of planned ambushes along his way to the Lotus Throne. Each team is cleanly and dispassionately sliced to ribbons
Sandu Shengshou has his back to Hanguang-Jun when he enters the throne room.
“Hanguang-Jun you dare” he grits out. Hanguang-Jun doesn’t say anything, nor launch an attack with Wangji or his talismans. This is perfect to incense Sandu Shengshou.
“The prestigious Second of Lan disgraces the halls of Lotus Pier with his very presence,” Sandu Shengshou turns in a rage. Unlike his cultivators the signs of corruption are not as putrid or as prevalent. A smattering of purple scales across his face, some more can be seen on the back of his hands when he flicks his sleeves to sit on the throne.
“YunmengJiang does not, and will not cede to the will of Hanguang-Jun, do you understand?”
Hanguang-Jun raises Wangji. He places his fingers on the strings.
“Your arrogance will be paid in kind,” Sandu Shengshou promises darkly, and launches himself at Hanguang-Jun.
Wangji blocks the first strike before Hanguang-Jun sends a wave of energy as a counterattack though. Sandu Shengshou is able to counter this strike more easily than his cultivators could; he cuts through it with Zidian before launching another attack. The electricity crackles over his chin and sparks off his sharp teeth.
It is harder to handle Sandu Shengshou than it was his followers. The dual attack of whip and sword requires constant attention. He uses Wangji to block his attacks before contouring. Sandu Shengshou has an interesting way of counterattacking Lan Wangji’s battle songs: he simply makes more noise. The clash and clang of their battle is enough to disrupt the efficacy of Hanguang-Jun’s more subtle attacks. The constant yelling is also quite disruptive.
“Tired Hanguang-Jun? You are in my domain, I will show you once and for all who is superior and who is inferior!”
No matter what Sandu Shengshou attempts to taunt Hanguang-Jun with, he does not respond. Sandu Shengshou gets angrier, and sloppier.
“Your disrespect will be paid in kind!” Sandu Shengshou yells as he strikes.
His impulsiveness leaves him open. The Chord Assasination technique catches him around the neck and hangs him from the very rafters he defended.
“You piece of shit Hanguang-Jun” he manages to choke out.
Sandu Shengshou was harder to defeat than his cultivators, but not by much.
Yunmeng is purified. Hanguang-Jun returns to the nexus.
A cry rings out, cutting through the miasma.
“He- he- he-” the voice chokes itself in its grief.
Gentle hands wipe at his tears. “What’s wrong dear?”
“Grumpy Uncle he-!”
He’s picked up and rocked. A kiss is placed on the top of his head.
“You and I will be alright little radish.”
With Wangji returned Hanguang-Jun is in a much better position combat wise. The options he has are Gusu and Lanling. If he had obtained Bichen he would have an edge in Lanling, the Jin cultivators swordwork is no match for him but with just Wangji he’s unable to take down their ruler easily. Gusu however...
Hanguang-Jun hesitates.
GusuLan cultivators are trained in musical cultivation so they’ll be best able to counteract Hanguang-Jun. However, none of them match Hanguang-Jun’s skill. There is no cultivator on his level in Gusu.
Will Hanguang-Jun take the risk?
>Yes_ No
Very well then, Hanguang-Jun steps in the portal to Gusu.
The Cloud Recesses is before him. It has changed somewhat since the last time he was here. The library is three times as big, while the surrounding areas look decrepit and abandoned.
Below the mountain Hanguang-Jun can just see the remains of Caiyi Town.
The barrier around the Cloud Recesses stands as strong as ever. One can only enter if they have a special jade token.
Check Inventory?
Nope no jade tokens. Hanguang-Jun is out of luck there. He walks around the perimeter of the Cloud Recesses, but, unlike the YunmengJiang cultivators, the GusuLan cultivators maintained their walls. There weren’t any lucky cracks or abandoned gates. There was however a sign stuck to the tree.
Read the sign
>Yes_ >No
The sign says, “We Welcome All Visitors To See The Amazing Propagating Bunnies Of The Cloud Recesses”
What’s that all about you wonder? Well the bunny meadow is right outside the back gate, and Hanguang-Jun is already halfway there.
There’s another sign at the meadow.
“Find The Special Bunny! Win A Prize!”
The bunny shouldn’t be too hard to find. They all immediately flock to Hanguang-Jun. They must think he has treats for them. He allows the rabbits to nibble at the bottom of his robes as he looks to see if any of them have anything that would indicate they’re the special rabbit. The rabbits range from white to grey to brown and come in a variety of sizes, but none of them are obviously the special bunny the sign poster was talking about.
At the edge of the carpet of rabbits Hanguang-Jun sees a strange movement. Amongst the lighter coloured fur a dark stain moves. A small black bunny is trying to hop through and get Hanguang-Jun’s attention. A red ribbon is tied around his neck and there’s something swinging from it.
The bunnies scatter as Hanguang-Jun steps forward, except for the black one. They don’t come closer or run away. It wiggles its butt and turns it’s head, to see if Hanguang Jun is following, before it takes off.
A chase then. Bunnies are prey animals so he won’t be able to just chase down the bunny - he’ll have to outsmart it. He pretends to give chase for a while, to see it’s behaviour. It never leaves the clearing or tries to hide. When Lan Wangji stays still the bunny neither comes close nor moves away. There is a small copse of trees in the corner of the clearing. The roots are a tangled mess and have mixed with the rocks and dirt. At first appearance something like a bunny should be able to get through, but there are so many obstacles even if a little rabbit could get through it wouldn't be quick enough to escape. Carefully, Hanguang-Jun corrals the bunny towards the trap.
As predicted the bunny doesn’t realise it is trapped until their only escape routes are past Hanguang-Jun or through the roots. The bunny tries to jump through and ends up stuck. Hanguang-Jun takes the bunny into his hands and turns it onto its belly. It is not a bunny of flesh and blood but a construct powered by spiritual energy. From the ribbon around its neck hangs a jade token
You have found a Cloud Recesses Entry Token!
Hanguang-Jun discards the bunny on the ground and heads to the back gate.
The inside of the Cloud Recesses is as silent as his memory. A few GusuLan cultivators pass by him, but unlike the YunmengJiang cultivators they don’t bother with Hanguang-Jun. They do their best to ignore him as they go along their tasks.One of them looks at him faintly disapprovingly as he enters the library but that’s the extent of their resistance.
The cultivators apparently had good reason to ignore Hanguang-Jun, the entire library is covered under a massive maze array. He attempts to climb the stairs to a higher level but never makes any progress. No matter what approach Hanguang-Jun takes he’s always returned to the room he started in.
“Brings back memories doesn’t it?” the Headshaker says. He’s lounging at one of the low tables, scroll spread in front of him he’s definitely not reading. He’s changed fans. This one depicts a lonely mountain surrounded by clouds, a dragon is curled around the mountain. Hanguang-Jun doesn’t bother to ask him how he got inside.
“Uh-uh Hanguang-Jun you already know that all my information comes at a price. I’ve worked so hard to achieve it after all. What can you give me to tell you how to navigate the library?”
Hanguang-Jun considers for a moment. He selects carefully from his qiankun pouch.
You have given the Headshaker a prosthetic finger!
“Ah collecting on a debt this time I see, very well then,” the Headshaker tucks the finger somewhere about his person. “Navigating the maze array is simple, all you have to do is concentrate on what you most want to find. Let the thought of it and only it fill your mind you will get to where you’re looking for.”
The Headshaker closes his fan with a snap, revealing the full expanse of his mask. In contrast to the elaborate painting on his fan, his mask is mostly blank with a mouth and eyes drawn on. He points with his fan to the door, “I believe someone is waiting for you in any case so you should be able to make some progress.”
Hanguang-Jun’s fist tightens behind his back. He turns his back on the Headshaker and walks towards the door. This time the interminable stairs feel like they’re actually taking him somewhere.
He stops as soon as he enters the next room. The way it’s set up, the exact placement and titles of the books on the table and the ones stacked on the table below- only one person would dare.
“Brother,” the voice is dripping with relief. A figure comes out of the side of the room. Zewu-Jun reaches his skeletal hands out, red palms dripping onto the floor. The blue feathers around his neck tremble in excitement and his permanent grin gets a little wider. Translucent tears build up on the ends of his lashes and Hanguang-Jun can see Zewu-Jun’s eyes move behind his sewn-shut lids.
“I heard your footsteps as you came up the stairs. I told Uncle you would return one day,” his whole body trembles as he walks towards Hanguang-Jun, “I’m so glad you’ve decided to stop this nonsense and-”
The first note that rings out from Wangji stops Zewu-Jun in his tracks.
“Didi,” his brother’s tone is mournful, “After all I’ve done for you? After the allowances I’ve given you? I always made sure you had a way to return home so just come home!” More tears leave red streaks down Zewu-Jun’s face, “It’s him isn’t it, he’s still influencing you.”
In a flash Liebing is in Zewu-Jun’s hands. “We should calm down brother, emotions are heading high. Here, let me play something for you.”
Before Zewu-Jun can blow a note Hanguang-Jun strikes, snapping at where Zewu-Jun just was. For a man so frail he can really move quite quickly. Note for note, strike for strike, they match each other. Frustrated, Zewu-Jun brings out his sword, Shuoyue, but even with that he only manages to fight his brother to a standstill. They break apart, panting. Zewu-Jun regards his brother from the other side of the room.
“I am disappointed in you Wangji,” Zewu-Jun decides, “Perhaps uncle can talk some sense into you.” He draws himself up and stalks out of the room.
Hanguang-Jun follows out the same door and he’s faced, once again, by an interminable series of stairs.
Well there’s nowhere to go but up.
And up and up and up. After a while Hanguang-Jun comes to a shelf. A book has been put out clearly for him to read.
Read the book
>Yes_ >No
Hanguang-Jun reads the book but from the look in his eyes you can tell he’s not happy about it. It’s the story of Lan An the founder of GusuLan. The book speaks about his youth in the temple, before he left and founded the clan and the rules they’ve maintained over generations,and his later return to the temple. Hanguang-Jun notes an important detail has been left out.
He drops the book on the floor and resumes his climb. At a point he comes to a balcony he must cross to access the next flight of stairs. He pauses regarding the valley below. Resentful spirits and fierce corpses ring the bottom of the mountain. Wards and talismans repel them as the attempt to ascend. Hanguang-Jun takes a deep breath. The mountain breeze only carries the scent of cold and snow.
Eventually, by sheer perseverance, they will be able to climb the mountain.
Hanguang-Jun turns and climbs again until he reaches another room. A table has been set out and a scroll left out for him to read
Read the scroll
>Yes_ >No
Hanguang-Jun turns to continue the ascent.
Read the scroll
>Yes_ >No
He glares at the scroll as he reads. It’s a scroll of the GusuLan rules, in his own handwriting. A few rules are visible at first glance.
ARROGANCE IS FORBIDDEN
BE A FILIAL CHILD
REJECT THE CROOKED PATH
DO NOT FALL TO EVIL
Hanguang-Jun releases a blast of spiritual energy at the table, reducing the paper to shreds and the table to splinters.
The detour is not wholly unproductive. The energy released breaks another seal. There floating in the room in Hanguang-Jun’s sword Bichen. He takes it in hand and grips tightly.
He resumes his climb.
His Uncle has his back to him at the top of the tower. His fists are tightly clenched behind his back, posture ramrod straight.
“Have you decided to abandon your foolish quest and retake your rightful place in this family? Alongside myself and your brother?”
The sound of Bichen sliding in its sheath is Hanguang-Jun’s answer.
Uncle snorts. “You were always a stubborn wilful child, your brother was always the more pliable of the two of you. Virtue and vice.”
His head raises slightly. “Very well then fight me. Show me your commitment to this path.”
Bichen’s strike is blocked by Uncle’s arm. The sleeve falls to reveal his arm has turned from flesh and blood to the same stone of the mountain. He has quite literally become the foundation of the sect.
How dramatic.
Even in his transformed state Uncle is still a formidable foe. Each blow of his has the strength of the earth itself behind it. But his new state also makes him much slower. Hanguang-Jun can see Uncle’s attacks from a mile away. Hanguang-Jun speeds up his attacks forcing Uncle to go on the defensive, to respond to his movements instead of the other way around. Uncle’s robes dip open lower and Hanguang-Jun sees his weakness, a small fissure on his chest.
He makes his opening and takes it, forcing his sword into the crack into Uncle’s heart and twisting. The light dims in his eyes, he drops to the floor with a thud when Hanguang-Jun removes his sword.
Before he returns to the nexus he uses Bichen to slash a message onto the roof.
“Uphold the value of justice,” he writes, “Shoulder the burden of morality.”
He returns to the nexus.
The child tugs at his black robes. “Gege another one is gone,”
“It’s okay, little radish I’m prepared.”
“I’m scared”
“That’s okay, I’m brave enough for both of us.”
Lanling is blinding as Hanguang-Jun steps through the nexus. Unlike the dour atmosphere of Lotus Pier or the silence of Cloud Recesses. Avian humanoids strut around in jewel bright colours through the perfumed air. The Jin Clan revels in its corruption. Not for long, Hanguang-Jun strides to the steps of Koi Tower.
And is promptly blocked by two guards.
“No-one enters without the cinnabar mark,” one of the guards says, ruffling his feathers. Hanguang-Jun is tempted to just fight his way through but it would be counterproductive to his purposes to start such a big fight. He needs to find another way to get in.
As he walks away from the stairs something catches his eye. A paper construct bird flies down and drops a letter in his hand.
Read the letter
>Yes_ >No
“Hanguang-Jun. Congratulations on regaining both of your weapons. Unfortunately I am unable to join you in Lanling at the moment. The relationship between myself and the leader of Lanling is... fraught shall we say. Don’t worry! I’ll help you get into Lanling just as well. Follow my little bird to one of my associates and, provided you give the right item, he’ll help you get into Koi Tower.”
Hanguang-Jun has to lengthen his strides to catch up with the bird, it's already down the street. He follows it to an alleyway. It taps on the door three times before dissipating. A masked figure opens the door and nods Hanguang-Jun inside.
Murmurs fill the room as more masked persons sit, drink and converse. No one takes note of Hanguang-Jun as he walks past. In fact they take special care not to look at him as he walks past, masked faces turned to the gloom. There is one figure that does look at him, a small creature hunched in the corner. He is not masked like the others, his face is painted white and red.
“Do you- you want to get into Koi Tower?” the figure says, staring around chest height. He continues without waiting for a response, “The Headshaker said I can’t help you without proof that you know him.”
What proof could the Headshaker be looking for?
Hanguang-Jun reaches into his sleeve and pulls out a tattered mess of paper that might have been a book in another life. He places it on the table
“Oh wow! This is or was clearly a high class erotica book! Even in this state the Headshaker would want it in his collection,” the figure carefully tucks it away in his cloak. He motions for Hanguang-Jun to bend down. A finger brushes against his forehead.
“There, Koi Tower is yours to explore,” he says as Hanguang-Jun straighens. His pinky is stained red.
The guards part as Hanguang-Jun strides towards them, the simple application of the cinnabar assuring them he is of LanlingJin and to afford him all the rights and privileges that entails.
Glamour Hall glows as if from within, a dull throbbing light which would blind another, weaker cultivator. The sycophants who stalk the halls pretend that the light doesn’t affect them but all their eyes are slitted against the light. Mildly blind, they bump into each other. Lan Wangji ignores them as he makes his way to the main hall. Many LanlingJin cultivators are seated there, shifting nervously in their seats.
“Sit quickly!” one of them hisses at him, “You were almost late!”
Hanguang-Jun sits and casts his gaze towards the throne.
“It’s exciting isn’t it?” the cultivator next to him continues, “Lianfang-Zun has been putting off hearing out applications for months. I’m here to request a promotion, what about you gongzi?” the cultivator continues without waiting for a response, “You’re new to the sect I can tell, has someone been bullying you? Don’t worry, just keep your head down and work hard. Lianfang-Zun rewards those who are loyal to him.”
There’s a susurration among the flock. The cultivator’s eyes bulge and they point with one talon, “Here he comes!”
A man in gray robes walks into the hall, his skin is chalky and he leaves a trail of white dust as he walks. The excitement of the assembly doesn’t die down even when no-one follows the man inside. He turns to the hall once he reaches the throne.
“Lianfang-Zun is unfortunately unable to meet with you all today. He will attempt another meeting in three days' time.” The man exits.
The complaints wait until the man is gone. “And I had my case all prepared,” the cultivator next to him screeches, “I thought at least I would get to see him and learn what he looked like.”
The cultivator plumps up his feathers irritatedly, “Don’t act surprised, you probably haven’t seen him either. He’s just so busy with his watchtower project he doesn’t have much time to meet with people. And I was looking forward to getting my promotion.”
They stand up, “You’re right, I’m going to go to the Fragrant Palace and make my case directly.”
Follow him?
>Yes_ >No
Hanguang-Jun follows the cultivator as he stomps out of the hall. The angry muttering starts strong but gets weaker and more unsure the closer they get to Lianfang-Zun’s rooms. They stop suddenly outside the door. They twitch, not looking at Hanguang-Jun
“Actually I think it might be best if you talk to him first,” they chirrup nervously, “Since you’re new and all. He’s supposed to be kind to newcomers.”
They jerk their head, “Well I should leave you to it,” and scurries off.
Hanguang-Jun doesn’t watch them go. He opens the door to Lianfung-zun’s rooms and enters. There is someone pacing behind the screen.
“Why won’t he calm down,” Zewu-Jun mutters, “The music should work, A-Yao promised he’d seen improvements.”
Hanguang-Jun destroys the screen with one swipe. To his credit Zewu-Jun doesn’t flinch. He just turns and gives his brother a tight smile. Well tight for him.
“Brother there you are. I should have known you would find your way here sooner or later,” he says, “I suppose you are looking for A-Yao now. I regret to inform you that he is unable to see you now, but perhaps you and I can talk over your grievances?”
He only just manages to get Shuoyue up to block the attack.
“I’m serious brother,” he says, matching him blow for blow, “I’m starting to get annoyed with your childish behaviour.”
He reaches for Liebing but Hanguang-Jun is ready this time. He distracts Zewu-Jun with a talisman and takes advantage of the opening to slice through Liebing with Bichen. The arc of his swing catches Zewu-Jun in the chest. He flies back and coughs up blood. There’s the hint of something else poking out of his mouth.
Hanguang-Jun doubles the intensity of his attacks. His brother is unable to keep up and takes injury after injury. With each blow the thing in his mouth becomes more apparent, like it’s trying to escape the damaged body.
Zewu-Jun kneels, using Shuoyue to hold himself up.The thing is almost out of his mouth now
“Fine,” a voice that is not Zewu-Jun’s says, “You can have an audience with Lianfang-zun,”
Zewu-Jun’s mouth opens and opens. A face emerges, then shoulders and a neck.
Lianfang-Zun shucks off his brother’s skin like an old pair of robes that doesn’t suit.
“Greeting Lan er-gongzi. I am sorry your visit to Koi Tower had to be so short.”
Hanguang-Jun is already turning. Lianfang-Zun’s accomplice explodes in a burst of chalk. Out of the corner of his eye Hanguang-Jun sees Lianfang-Zun reach for his stomach. The string wraps around his neck but Hanguang-Jun has already raised his hand to block the string from tightening. He rips the string out of Lianfang-Zun’s hands as he turns and stabs him in the chest.
Liangfang-Zun’s face twists in rage at being bested. “Fine, go on then, you see if you can calm him down.” Hanguang-Jun leaves the body lying on the floor, next to its vacated host.
The surface of the mirror on the other side of the toom ripples like water. When Hanguang-Jun touches it, his hand goes right through. The cold goes through his skin like needles.
On the other side there’s a huge empty room. Well, not quite empty. A hulking figure walks in circles, dragging his blade behind him. Black veins crawl up the side of his neck, the noise he makes are grunts and growls. At the sound of Hanguang-Jun’s footsteps he turns and his gaze locks on him.
Well you’ve found Chifeng-Zun.
Whatever they've done to Chifeng-Zun he’s far too powerful for Hanguang-Jun to fight. He dispels Wangji’s attack easily. If they traded blows with their blades it would probably shatter Hanguang-Jun’s arm.
Hanguan-Jun retreats down the halls of Koi Tower. The sounds of destruction follow in his wake as Chifeng-Zun chases after him. He manages to get out of the building and down the stairs without Chifeng-Zun catching him. There’s a roar as Hanguang-Jun reaches the bottom of the stairs.
Chifeng-Zun’s head emerges from the roof. In his rage and bloodlust he’s grown to an enormous size. His arms are trapped in the wreckage; he struggles and growls trying to reach Hanguang-Jun, but he’s clearly exhausted.
Perfect.
Hanguang-Jun jumps in the air and slashes at Chifeng-Zun. He lands and Chifeng-Zun’s head drops behind him.
The bird emerges out of nowhere. It settles on Chifeng-Zun’s brow and begins singing a mournful tune. The sound echoes around the courtyard as Hanguang-jun returns to the nexus.
The sound of a dizi drifts through the air. Two figures stand side by side.
“Gege the towers are falling.”
The playing stops. His companion stares into the distance and says nothing. A hand runs through his hair to reassure him.
The last area is still inaccessible. There’s no point in returning to where he’s already cleansed, so Hanguang-Jun returns to where he came from. The Ghost General has disappeared...but there is something different about this place.
Hanguang-Jun heard silence, as if someone was trying very carefully not to make any noise. As he walks around the area there is one tile that feels different than the others.
Interact with the tile?
>Yes_ >No
He stamps down once on the tile and the floor folds away into a set of stairs. At the bottom is a young woman in white and red robes, she backs away from him slowly. Her eyes dart from side to side but they only exit is past him. She can either accept her fate or take her chances.
What will you do?
>Leave_ >Fight
She takes her chances. She feints to the left and then attacks to the right. She gets the closest out of any other opponent. Her needles scratch Hanguang-Jun’s neck. Blood even wells from the scratches. Too bad she is more a doctor than a fighter. Hanguang-Jun grabs her wrist and stabs her in the chest.
“A-Ning,” she coughs before her eyes close.
You understand right? She attacked first.
The Headshaker is waiting for him at the top of the stairs. He looks somber. This time, his fan is blank.
“Perhaps in the end, it’s for the best,” he says. He sounds like he’s trying to convince himself.
Hanguang-Jun’s hand tightens around the Burial Mounds token he took off her body. He nods.
The very air feels like it is against Hanguang-Jun’s arrival in the Burial Mounds. The blood red miasma thicker, the stench more foul. Still he has the token, the wards must part for him. There are whispers all around him as he walks; the dead spread the alarm.
He does not see Him approach, only hears him. The dizi music builds as His soldiers do. There are hundreds of them. All of them are incredibly powerful fierce corpses, practically dripping in resentment. It is clear he has advanced in the time Hanguang-Jun has been away.
But so has Hanguang-Jun. Swathes of corpses are cut down by Wangji and Bichen. There are always more to take their place, crawling over the bodies of their fallen comrades. Hanguang-Jun jumps in the air to try to spot his target. It is then he discovers the complex maze array. On the ground it is less apparent, the fierce corpses act as a distraction. In the air it means he cannot find his way even from his high vantage point, the air makes the landscape shift and shimmer under his eyes.
Hanguang-Jun takes to the ground instead. He pushes back the corpses with his spiritual energy as he lands. He sends that same energy through the earth, through the vials and seams of the rock, looking for the array’s anchor. He finds it quickly, he would know that energy anywhere. Now he fights with purpose, pushing his way towards the front. He can feel the energy with every step he takes. It’s a beacon now that he’s found it.
Another slash, another strike of the Chord Assasination technique and there He is in front of him.
Wei Ying’s eyes are closed as he plays the dizi. Around him corpses rise and are sent forth in a never ending wave. There is a furrow in his brow as he concentrates. Red energy pours out of him; the light highlights the sharp rise of his cheekbones and the hollows of his face, the beautifully melancholic picture he portrays.
Chenqing blocks Bichen when Hanguang-Jun strikes. He presses on, every strike is another note that Wei Ying isn’t playing.
“Lan Wangji!” Wei Ying says and it feels like a benediction.
“Wei Ying,” Hanguang-Jun says as he just misses a strike to the heart, “Your unorthodox cultivation has introduced a corruption into this land. I have come to cleanse the Burial Mounds.”
Wei Ying laughs like a lightning strike. “I didn’t not influence any clan leaders nor bend anyone to my will. I have sought to fight corruption the same as you.”
“You have tried to live with the corruption, not eradicate it!”
“You would harm your own son? The child who made us,” Wei Ying tries to make it an accusation but his whole body trembles in denial.
“I would protect him and you from the horror that would otherwise come about.”
The shock leaves Wei Ying vulnerable. He reaches towards Hanguang-Jun, as if his touch could restore his senses. Bichen slides cleanly through Wei Ying’s heart.
Hanguang-Jun holds him in his arms as Wei Ying bleeds out. His blood stains Hanguang-Jun’s white robes as he presses his nose into Wei Ying’s neck. Wei Ying clutches at his robes as if he doesn’t know whether to hit him, push him away, or hold on.
“Lan Zhan, A-Yuan,” Wei Ying’s voice shakes, “He’s the image of you,”
Hanguang-Jun’s hands tighten, “I will save him from that as well.”
It is with the gentlest hands that Hanguang-Jun lowers Wei Ying’s body to the earth.
When he steps to the cave he is transported-
-to a snow day with the air so crisp it cuts his lungs with every breath. He is waiting for his mother to open the door like he has for so long. Nothing but his faith has carried him so long, faith and his devotion. She will open the door she must. Brother and Uncle have already come. They have made sure he has been warmed and watered, but this is his vigil to keep. He has to wait until the door is opened.
Except does he have to? The rule was if he was good he could see his mother. He’d wait until she’d opened the door but the rule hadn’t said he couldn’t open it himself.
His legs trembled a bit as he stood, he almost wanted to fall back down in the snow. Instead he makes himself get there step by step. Fear grips him as he reaches the door. What if this was wrong? But he had to try.
The room is cold and empty as he slides open the door. No, not empty. What he’s mistaken for a sheet thrown over some furniture shakes. The fabric is too heavy, too high a quality to be a simple sheet.
The mound turns and he’s face to face with his father. His eyes are rimmed red and there are scratch marks on his face and neck. They look at each other for a moment, breath hanging in the air.
His father lunges. He trips out of reach and scrambles. But his legs are too weak and too little to escape he’s going to catch him he’s going to-
Uncle steps between him and his father. There’s a furious exchange of whispers and then his father returns to his mother’s rooms, closing the door hard behind him.
Uncle turns to see him lying on the ground and kneels to carefully lift him in his arms and carry him back to his rooms. Brother holds his hand as he lays in bed ill for the next few days,
One thought burns through his mind the entire time: his father was trying to kill him.
Hanguang-Jun would have fallen to his knees if not for years of tenacity binding his spine upright. A fine, final trap Wei Ying set for him. The vision was meant to dissuade him from his purpose by trying to make parallels between his past and his present. He knows the truth though, for the corruption to end he has to make the most difficult decision of his life. He grieves, but it will not stop him.
A-Yuan sits in a blanket at the back of the cave, holding his paper butterfly and staring at his father. His precious boy. The one who made them a family with his dreams.
“Where’s diedie?” A-Yuan looks like he wants to back away but there’s nowhere to hide.
What should Hanguang-Jun do?
>Save A-Yuan >Spare A-Yuan_
Hanguang-Jun raises Bichen. He will not have his son suffer as he’d done.
He’s supposed to listen to you.
What should Hanguang-Jun do?
>Save A-Yuan >Spare A-Yuan_
His blade falls.
Nonononononononononononono
So fixed is he on his son it’s a shock when someone stops his blade. The Ghost General blocks A-Yuan from Hanguang-Jun’s view.
You don’t know what to do. You thought he was supposed to listen to you.
He said he was going to cleanse the cultivation realm? You don’t even know what cleansing sounds like. How would you know what he was playing?
This is all your fault. Hanguang-Jun may have caused the destruction but at every turn you enabled him.
You did this.
Will you prevent this final act of horror and fight with Wen Ning? Or will you see this journey through to its bitterest end?
>Fight with Hanguang-Jun >Fight with Wen Ning_
Cognizance and awareness had been returned to Wen Ning just in time and yet all too late. A-Yuan cowers behind him as the jade creature stares at him. The sounds coming out of his mouth could almost sound like music.
Wen Ning can remember the time he almost trusted A-Yuan with him. At least like this A-Yuan wouldn’t associate this creature with the man he once called father. Tremors run up and down the beast’s frame. Perhaps all the fighting he had done had weakened him.
Well the only way to finish this was to fight. Wen Ning goes on the offensive. Hanguang-Jun manages to block him, but he’s slower now, sloppier. There’s only a matter of time before he makes a fatal mistake. The first one he makes is when Wen Ning is able to knock Wangji out of Hanguang-Jun’s hands. The second is when he tries to go for his spiritual weapon, instead of continuing on the attack. Once again, Wen Ning rids the cultivation realm of one of its promising young masters by putting a fist through his back.
Wen Ning leaves Hanguang-Jun where he falls and goes to pick up A-Yuan. He’s so quiet in Wen Ning’s arms. The scale of events is too much for him to process at once. Wen Ning hugs him tighter. He has lost so much but the least Wen Ning can do it is that he is taken care of and allowed to become his own person, free from the baggage of his past. He casts an eye to Wangji, he already picked up Chenqing outside. It wouldn’t hurt for him to have a memento of his parents, especially if they were two first class spiritual weapons.
It is sad that in the end such brilliant hopes and dreams turned to such violent ends. All that is left is ash, and the bodies to be buried
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