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He stood in front of the Saber Hall. His lips were pressed together tightly, and his eyes were slightly squinted. This was the final puzzle piece, the period of years of planning, plotting and leading his go pieces to their appropriate squares. Even if this didn’t pan out like he wanted, he had still reached his goal. But this last thing… It would be justice.
Jin Guangyao’s schemes had been revealed to the world, and he had been captured in the Guanyin Temple after he tried to use the restored Yin Tiger Tally. He’d tried to talk his way out of it, to be allowed to escape, but the only one who had seemed to even consider that had been Lan Xichen. And in the end, he had not given in.
After that there had been a very long discussion amongst the sect about what should be done about it. Some people advocated for his death, some thought lifelong imprisonment would be more suited to the situation. It had dragged on for hours, and gotten absolutely nowhere. Then, in the middle of this cacophony, an unexpected party spoke up.
“Give him over to the Nie Sect, and let us handle his execution as a compensation for the death of my brother.”
The hall had quieted as everyone turned their heads to look at Nie Huaisang where he stood straight backed and with a challenge in his eyes. In that moment, nothing seemed to be left of the infamous “Headshaker” of Qinghe. Instead there was a determined Sect leader that demanded blood.
While a few complaints slowly arose, no one questioned that it was Nie Huaisang’s right to deliver the punishment as revenge for Nie Mingjue’s death, and in the end, that is what was decided.
So now, Nie Huaisang walked through the narrow corridors of the Nie Saber Hall, on his way to get the last piece. He got to one of the coffin rooms, and without hesitation walked up to one of the stone coffins. With surprising strength he pushed the lid open.
There she was. Baxia.
Nie Huaisang held onto the coffin's rough edges as he leaned over the saber.
“Hello, old friend,” he whispered to it. “Would you allow me to wield you, just this once? I know I am not your master, but I can give you the chance to kill his murderer.”
He reached out, a slight tremble to his hand. The Nie sabers were made for one master, and one alone. No one else could use them. So when he gripped the handle he was fully prepared for the backlash, but nothing happened. Well no, not nothing. An electric thrill went up his arm, like the saber was excited for the opportunity to avenge her wielder.
Nie Huaisang smiled.
~*~
A lot of people had gathered in the Unclean Realm. This affair was regarded as a sectarian matter now, but far more people than just the Nie Sect were curious about how this would go, and the Nie Sect Leader had made it clear that he would welcome whoever wished to witness this.
“Do you think he will do it himself?”
“No way! He’ll probably get one of his senior disciples to do it. Or a proper executioner.”
“Will it happen at all, do you think? He is a bit soft-hearted…”
“Yeah, it wouldn’t surprise me if he doesn’t go through with it at all!”
Then, suddenly, people in the audience were hushing one another, and gazes turned to the chavot. Nie Huaisang walked up on it, and a collective gasp went through the Nie disciples and some of the cultivators from other sects as they saw the saber at his side. Barely anyone had ever seen Nie Huaisang wield any saber, and there was no mistaking this one in particular. Baxia was about as famous as Nie Mingjue himself had been, and at least the Nie disciples knew that she would never allow anyone else to handle her. Yet, here was Nie Huaisang, their do-nothing leader who always seemed to brush away any troubles that came his way, standing tall with a hand languidly resting on Baxia’s hilt.
After Nie Huaisang made his entrance, Jin Guangyao was led out. He was still in his yellow and gold robes, though they were now dirty enough to look almost gray. A linen sack was threaded over his head, his arms tied behind his back. He was pushed down in a kneeling position in front of a low bench.
Nie Huaisang stepped forward, gripped the sack and ripped it off. He wanted Jin Guangyao to see him, and know how he’d looked past him all those years while Nie Huaisang plotted his demise.
Jin Guangyao blinked at the sharp light, and slowly his tired eyes focused on Nie Huaisang.
“A- A-Sang,” he pleaded, his voice hoarse and raspy. “Please…”
The audience assumed that this somehow must have angered the Nie Sect Leader as his expression hardened. He took out Baxia, made sure that Jin Guangyao saw the weapon that would take his life. Jin Guangyao’s eyes widened at the sight. Nie Huaisang raised the saber, the blade glistening in the early morning sun, and swung down.
No one would thereafter call the Nie Sect Leader weak, soft, or lesser than his brother. No one would see him as unworthy of his title.
No one saw when afterwards, Nie Huaisang threw up behind a bush in the garden.