Archive of Our Own

"So... Deer huh?" Muses Bai Ming at Wei Wuxian as the newly altered Cultivator joins them after being released from the Healing Hall. "Guess so." Replies the thirteen year old to the seventeen year old.

"Well, at least it's not a goat or sheep." Which is known for being common for those of farming families. "Or even that of a boar!" Comments Li Wing to Bai Ming's left as Wei Wuxian settles to the right of the seventeen year old.

"Shh!" Hushes Cong Jun, who then looks about the room, half expecting sighting a certain Young Master. "Oh hush yourself, Junjun!" Li Wing counters. "Young Master Jiang isn't going to be showing up anytime soon, not when his transformation is still occurring."

"Not like anyone here is like our Wei Wuxian, huh? Only needing three days to finish!" Continues Li Wing, who gives the thirteen year old a playful grin. "Wasn't your father the one with the body of a deer? While your mother was that of a horse?"

"So I've been told." Wei Wuxian states as the younger shifts his weight, trying to get comfortable with his new body. "I wouldn't have minded something as common as a horse." Admits the younger Cultivator.

"Makes you wonder if horse would have been... Ah, it doesn't matter, right? It's not like Maiden Jiang seems interested in progressing her Cultivation to this point." Bai Ming muses after swallowing but before putting another portion into his mouth.

Other then Wei Wuxian, who's body is that of a Tibetan red deer, the two of the three do have the body of horse while Bai Ming's lower half is cow, or as most call it, an ox. Which Bai Ming is still rather self conscious of, given that a dark coated ox is considered a feature of the Nie Sect in the way that a yellow dun horse body is a feature of the Jiang Sect's family or yak for the Wen Sect. For all that the Jiang Sect is willing to recruit Disciples from anywhere, when someone ends up with a body similar enough to one of the other Sects, they do get gather pointed looks and musing about what relations, if any, their parents or grandparents had to lead to such a result.

"I'd say sheep for her." Comments Li Wing a bit more softly while sneaking glances towards Wei Wuxian. After all, for some reason, the younger Cultivator is overly fond of Maiden Jiang and is quick to defend her honor.

Wei Wuxian doesn't seem to have heard, being a touch busy finding himself eating the newly arrived meal, which is fit for someone who just finish having gone through the transformation. "Maybe, but she's kind of similar with Sect Leader Jiang, so maybe not." Finally has Cong Jun joining their conversation.

"It hardly matters, you know?" Comments Li Wing. "Maiden Jiang isn't interested in much in the end. Not even the typical Arts that a good Gentry Lady is suppose to be proficient in."

And she's to be the future Madam Jin? Bai Ming can't see how that will work out for either Maiden Jiang or for the Jin Sect as a whole. "The workings of the Gentry isn't for us to understand." He states in hopes of ending that particular topic as he, too, doesn't want to accidentally set off Wei Wuxian.

"So... Did you get a glimpse of our Young Master?" Inquires Li Wing to Wei Wuxian as the other's appetite slows down and it's clear that the other's focus isn't on his food. This seems to cause the younger to realize that they were still at the table.

"Ah, more heard but, well..." Wei Wuxian trails off and it seems that he's not comfortable about sharing anything about what's going on with Jiang Cheng's transformation, soon to be Jiang Wanyin once he's done with it and can leave the Healing Hall. "It's not confirmed but... the initial tests suggest the hooves will be split."

"Boar!" Crows Li Wing and Bai Ming can't say he'd be surprised if that's the animal that their Young Master ends up sporting. Cong Jun sighs just as someone comes around to switch out some of Wei Wuxian's empty plates and bowls.

"Well, Madam Yu's mother also had boar for a body." Admits Wei Wuxian and they nod, the Yu Sect is rather new, not even having been around for a century yet, so, there's not any real animal associated with the Sect. The former Sect Leader Yu had an exotic body of a Tian Shan ibex while the founder simply possessed the body of a horse. The current Sect Leader, Madam Yu's brother, the animal being a takin. As of yet, Sect Leader Yu isn't married as of yet, so the current heir apparent is a cousin of his, Yu Guiren, who's animal body being a long-tailed goral.

"Well, with patience, we'll see who's right and who isn't." Bai Ming states and his fellow older Cultivators snort while Wei Wuxian pipes in, "Well, I'm sure there's going to be some sore pockets when it comes about."

"Which brings up my winnings, right Li-shixiong?" The younger member of the table inquires in a very sweet tone and even Bai Ming was a bit puzzled over what kind of bet did Li Wing allow Wei Wuxian to place. "I believe you gave me a one in three for deer and since the bet was a tael of silver... Well, I expect my tael by dinner today, ok?"

Snorting as Li Wing's muttering, Bai Ming shakes his head while Cong Jun asks, "Well, other then deer and horse, what was the third?"

"Anything but!" Chimes in Wei Wuxian and all Bai Ming could think, Of course.

Jiang Yunru isn't sure what to make of her distant cousins, the Young Master Jiang, Jiang Wanyin, and Maiden Jiang, Jiang Yanli. She's been part of the Yunmeng Jiang Sect for two months now and while she's come to understand that when her Cultivation progresses for far, she'd end up having her legs replaced with the body of an animal and that means she'd be out from under her parents deciding who she'll marry. Which was a plus in her books, given that her father had been trying to set up something with someone who'll be in their thirties by the time she'd be mature enough to be married off, on top of the fact that the man is suppose to have two concubines along with a wife already.

Which is why she doesn't get why neither of the pair seem to be putting any real effort into Cultivating? After all, Young Master Jiang ended up being a disgrace, what with only getting his legs changed but not being powerful enough to get an actual boar body. Just a set of hairy legs with split hooves but bare thighs and no tail. Which is a similar state that the Second Young Master Wen is in plus some cousin of Young Master Jin. Which, according to records, means that they need to put more effort into their Cultivation to overcome this disgrace, which there are records of people being able to do so.

After all, Wei Wuxian is well read and has been more then happy to help out Jiang Yunru and the other new Disciples. So, of course Jiang Yunru trusts his opinion, particularly given that the other spent plenty of time in the library coming up with training that should help her cousin in progressing in correcting his Cultivation and gaining a proper body of an animal, although bets seem to remain on boar being her cousin's animal, which is the animal that his mother, who'd title should be Madam Jiang but is going by Madam Yu, for, some reason that nobody is willing to talk about.

As Jiang Yunru comes to the end of the forms, Wei Wuxian gives her a nod of approval before moving to help Ning Kang with his stance. As she begins again, Jiang Yunru notices her other cousin, Maiden Jiang pass the training field with a servant carrying a bundle. Jiang Yunru isn't sure why Maiden Jiang isn't taking her Cultivation training serious, particularly given she's to be Madam Jin upon marrying Young Master Jin, who is a Cultivator himself and has the body of an argali.

And there's a basic lesson that she'd been taught, that most get taught Jiang Yunru is sure, is that Cultivators don't marry mortals. Given that lack of transformation, that should mean that her cousin, Maiden Jiang, is a mortal. For all that she'd been born to a Immortal Gentry family and thus, should she really be marrying Young Master Jin?

"A-Ru." A gentle voice calls out, bringing her back to where she is and what she should be doing. "Sorry, shixiong."

"It's fine." Wei Wuxian says with a sigh and it's then that she notices that she's hardly the only one who'd been watching Maiden Jiang. "I guess now is as good a time for a break." There's plenty of cheers of approval over that suggestion.

As Jiang Yunru begins to walk to sit upon one of the benches, she watches as Wei Wuxian, her shixiong, begin to approach where Maiden Jiang is, the tail only twitching once during the walk. Most of the Disciples do end up with horse bodies, she herself is hoping for a dun horse body to prove that she is indeed a descendant of the Founder of the Yunmeng Jiang Sect! That she isn't wasting her time trying to be a Cultivation, that she is a Cultivator.

"I think I'm going to end up a sheep." Jiang Yunru hears Ning Kang say in a dispassionate way. "Well, given my great uncle was a Cultivator and his animal was a kiang! So, who knows, I might end up with a donkey or a wild ass for mine! After all, family does count for something, right?" Cai Xueman pipes in.

"Shouldn't you want something more... graceful?" Asks An Chi while Ning Kang nods in agreement. "Like a deer? Like Wei-shixiong's animal?"

"I'd just be happy with anything, you know? Just as long as I'm proper." Pipes up their fifth, Liu Duyi and that does cause them all to become rather silent as they know that it's a touchy subject, given the state of her infamous cousin, Young Master Jiang.

"Three impropers in a single generation." Cai Xueman mutters softly and what's unsaid is fairly clear. Given how ominous the number four has.

"How sure are we that there isn't a fourth?" Wonders Liu Duyi and they all seem to send him looks of disapproval at the same time. "What? I'm just saying that given how disgraceful it is, there might be a fourth, just not among the Great Sects." He states in his own defense and, well, Jiang Yunru wonders if she isn't the only one to feel a shiver go down her spine.

"Well, word is that doesn't the Young Master Nie have weak Cultivation? Like Maiden Jiang?" An Chi states and continues, "Well, given how Sect Leader Nie is, maybe it won't be long before Young Master Nie tries but ends up improper due to it and that would make it five, then."

The dread does clear up a bit at that though. Sure, it would be bad for such to happen but it would, at least, ward off the effects of four improper Cultivators existing at once. "Your Jiang character is the same as the Sect's Jiang, right?" Pipes in Cai Xueman, looking at her.

Jiang Yunru blinks before nodding. "Yea, I'm actually a distant cousin to the current Sect Leader." It goes without saying to include Sect Leader's kids also being related to her or her to them. "A younger brother of a previous Sect Leader got married to a Rogue Cultivator and none of their kids were interested in Cultivating. They were my great-grandparents and my parents wanted me tested to see if I could Cultivate."

That her father had hoped Jiang Yunru did not have the talent was it for her alone to know, well, likely it'll never come up once things have settled with her Cultivation progressing properly. But the looks she got from the other four clearly sport their surprise to learn such a thing. "So, you're hoping for the typical horse for yourself?" Asks An Chi and she nods.

"It'll be strange if there isn't a Jiang with that dun horse body in the Sect, you know?" Jiang Yunru says and the others blink. "I mean, Night Hunting is dangerous and, well, Sect Leader does go out on them during his touring of his territory. So, you never know if something might come up, I mean, that's what I got considering Wei-shixiong's mother is supposedly famous and yet, she died on one."

"Oh really? How so?" Asks Ning Kang.

"Her master was the famous Immortal, Baoshan Sanren! And Wei-shixiong's mother's name even shared a character as her master, Cangse Sanren." Jiang Yunru had been curious about why the Madam of the Sect was so incised over this particular dead Cultivator, never mind the relationship between Sect Leader Jiang and this dead woman.

"And his father? He was a member of the Sect before leaving and marrying Cangse Sanren." Jiang Yunru continues to share information about Wei Wuxian's parents. "His name is Wei Changze and he'd been a good friend of Sect Leader Jiang, back when they were young, even getting to study at the Cloud Recesses with him!"

"So... his mother was a deer?" Asks Liu Duyi and she shakes her head, "Nope, she'd been a horse."

"So, Wei Changze was the deer?" Asks Ning Kang and Jiang Yunru nods her head. "Yip! Got a look at a picture back when I was getting tested and his deer wasn't that of a Tibetan red deer but a Sichuan deer. I could tell due to the almost black coat that the painting had."

"Of course, Sect Leader Jiang hides the painting." Jiang Yunru continues on to explain about why they likely hadn't seen it. "Actually, you might need to keep silent about the pair as it might set off the Mistress of Lotus Pier, due to her still comparing herself to Cangse Sanren, even though she's been dead for so many years now."

"What, really?" Cai Xueman exclaims before any of the others could recover from this bit of information. "Yea, really. And given she's due to return, well, there's likely going to be a scene signalling her presence."

"And if you don't believe me, then you can ask our shixiongs and shijies or just the servants." Jiang Yunru suggests and it's clear that the thought of some Madam of a Great Sect could act so was rather hard for them to believe, but then, they joined the Sect a few days after the suppose to be Madam Jiang left to go out Night Hunting with her handmaidens.

"Also, while you haven't seen Young Master Jiang as of yet. Just so you know, he's suppose to take after his mother in both looks and personality." Jiang Yunru adds and would be happy never needing to interact with her cousin at all.

Not long after, Wei Wuxian approaches them and tells them that their break is over. They get up off the benches and walk back to the middle of the training yard. As they finish their warm ups and begin to do the same, they hear the beginnings of a yelling scene near the gates.

"Madam Yu is back." Wei Wuxian mutters and its clear to her that he isn't happy about this. Jiang Yunru might not have the Cultivation to hear the yelling clearly like their shixiong's mood is going down and there's even a wince at one point.

"Ah, should we stop? Training?" Asks Ning Kang.

Jiang Yunru is sure that there's a slight flinch before Wei Wuxian pulls himself together. "That should be for the best." Their elder says, it's clear that the tone is fake and Jiang Yunru feels bad for him.

"We'll see you tomorrow?" She asks and Wei Wuxian gets a sober look as he merely waves them off. Jiang Yunru isn't the only one unhappy about the lack of assurance but there isn't much they could do.

"He'll be here tomorrow for training, right?" Asks Cai Xueman.

Sadly, it wasn't Wei Wuxian who was waiting for them at the training ground the next afternoon and while Bai Ming wasn't a bad teacher, he wasn't able to answer their inquiring concerning their previous instructor. It wouldn't be long before they would learn about the 'punishment' that their shixiong was ordered to undergo due to the lack of progress concerning Young Master Jiang's Cultivation.

It wouldn't be until three weeks later before Wei Wuxian returns to overseeing their training. Although he did look pale and wane, it wasn't long before that fades. It's their first experience with the Sect's Madam and they never met her face to face, which Jiang Yunru is happy about.

By the time they were here for a year, they had also encountered Young Master Jiang and it takes the others sometime to recall what she'd informed them about this mother and son pair but they seem to vow that they'd do what they could to never come face to face with the Madam of the Sect.

"Who's that?" Shang Xiulan inquires to her aunt, Lan Dongmei, nodding towards the Cultivator with the deer body. "Oh, him? That's the Head Disciple of the Yunmeng Jiang Sect, Wei Wuxian." Her aunt says and she feels her tail flicker rapidly behind her as she recalls the various stories she'd heard about the Jiang Cultivator.

"That's him? How come he isn't third on the list?" Shang Xiulan asks as she tries to calm herself down, although her tail is a tell, given her animal is that of a common muntjac.

Her aunt chuckles and her horse tail swishes in almost rhythm with the soft laughter. "Oh, well, don't you know? The Lanling Jin Sect are rather known for their wealth." Remarks her aunt and she stomps a back hind hoof in a bit of annoyance.

"Should he even be listed? Given he's engaged to the daughter of Sect Leader Jiang?" For the life of her, Shang Xiulan can't recall anything overly positive about said Maiden Jiang. "And does it really count? She never underwent the transformation due to her lack of Cultivation." Even if one ignores what has become of Young Master Jiang, at least he tried to press for the transformation then not try at all.

"Ah." Her aunt then shrugs her shoulders. "I doubt that it'll go through, I've heard that many matchmakers are rather ominous about the match and for that very reason. They are ill matched, in body, mind, and spirit."

"Then why hasn't it been called off?" Inquires her younger sister, who's not yet eleven and Shang Xiulan had forgotten her, given she's standing near her instead of sitting upon her back. "A-Yin, it's likely politics and you know how frustrating that is, right?" Shang Xiulan says to her little sister.

"Ack, politics. How come that isn't outlawed?" Shang Suyin whines and both aunt and niece chuckle at the youngest's statement.

"You'd need to do politics just to do that." Shang Xiulan explains to her sister. "And yes, that's stupid but not everything can ever be simple."

Shang Xiulan looks away and then about but the Jiang's Head Disciple is already gone. Letting out a soft sigh, the topic changes to her sharing what rumors she'd heard while helping their aunt collect what plants and seeds can be found around Cloud Recesses for this season. It's as Shang Xiulan escorts her sister back to her dorms when Shang Suyin comes to a bit of a stop.

"Ah, just curious but, the Jiang Sect is the one with that Young Master?" Shang Xiulan winces a bit at how bluntly asked that comes across, particularly given how they might be caught gossiping. "Well, it's true that Young Master Jiang couldn't transform correctly."

"So, he's in attendance for the lectures this year?" Her sister asks and Shang Xiulan gives a bit of a nod of yes. "Then... does that mean... he's attending classes? That anyone can see him?"

"Yes, the only way for one to correct such an appearance is to sort out their Cultivation." Shang Xiulan explains. "It's hoped that a change in scenery will help Young Master Jiang break through his current troubles." Which is unlikely given what little I've heard about him from Nie Huaisang's complaints when we were meeting up for book meetings.

"Anyway, you know the rule." Shang Xiulan reminds her sister, who gives her a bit of a blank look. "Which one? The one on the wall or the one among family?"

"Both." And her sister huffs but nods in understanding. Shang Xiulan is sure to glance around as they continue on, glad that they hadn't gotten caught.

"So, how did it go, Shixiong?" Inquires Bai Ming to Head Disciple Wei as the younger arrives at the inn. There's a clear look of despair for a second before the look is covered up.

"Nothing new besides getting to meet the famous Wen Qing." The other comes over to join them at the table, after being sure to check the various tables. "It turns out that little Wen I found was her younger brother!"

It's not long before his table mates go through the usual routine while Bai Ming considers the whole issue that's been on going for these past few years since the issue of Young Master Jiang's incomplete transformation. In his humble opinion, it wasn't fair to hold his shidi turned shixiong accountable for what's lacking with Young Master Jiang's Cultivation base, that he couldn't complete his transformation.

It's not like Maiden Jiang ever pressed forward in her own training. Then again, she likely would end up in the same state as Young Master Jiang at best, dead at the worst. Bai Ming thinks to himself as he drinks from his cup while there's a lively discussion going on among his fellow Disciples.

Within Bai Ming's own mind, there's this thought that, perhaps, it's a sign from the Heavens themselves that Jiang Wanyin shouldn't inherit Yunmeng Jiang Sect. There's been word of some changes to the other two Cultivators with the same problem, that Second Young Master Wen's feet had finally gotten split hooves and the tail is no longer naked. Same goes for that cousin of Young Master Jin, only it was more that a coat of fur had finally sprouted to cover the legs with the legs beginning to look more proper in appearance, no hooves as of yet but compared to the lack of changes going on with Young Master Jiang, the two are clearly trying to fix their Cultivation.

The Wens have Wen Qing while the Jins have money to spend in finding aids. Bai Ming reminds himself. Sect Leader Jiang is leaving it up to Wei-shixiong to help while Madam Yu is busy snapping at both for lack of advancement and if not for her absence from Lotus Pier, I'd worry for Wei-shixiong's life as I suspect that it wouldn't take much before Madam Yu finds some reason to execute him.

Looking down into his cup, Bai Ming feels a touch helpless over how things are going with his shidi turned shixiong. Feeling a nudge in his side, he blinks rapidly as he comes out of his thoughts to turn in that direction. "So?"

"So what?" Bai Ming asks curiously, it's clear he's been hundreds of Li away mentally, for all that his body is presence at the table. "What kind of woman are you looking for to marry?" Li Wing asks with a swish thud of his tail across the floor.

"Now, why would I do a silly thing like that?" Bai Ming states in a casual tone. "When I know for a fact that you lot will nit pick at it or find something to mock over this or that." He downs the remains of his cup while they good naturally try to persuade him into letting them know.

While Bai Ming might feel like going along with it, he glances at Head Disciple Wei and he just feels exhausted, drained. "Anyway, perhaps that's enough for the night? We should get some sleep, given there's still activities happening tomorrow." He states and the others grumble but they do finish off their drinks.

They each contribute to the paying of the meal before they head off to their rooms. Bai Ming pats his shidi turned shixiong on a shoulder in a comforting manner. "Just because Sect Leader and the Madam are set to hold you responsible, doesn't mean that you are." He informs his shixiong.

"Thanks, shidi." Wei Wuxian states with a slightly weak smile. "Night."

"Night, shixiong." Bai Ming returns, giving that shoulder a slight squeeze in comfort before heading on to his own room. And thus, he gets ready for bed and puts the situation surrounding Young Master Jiang and Wei-Shixiong out of his thoughts, sleep claiming him a bit after he gets himself situated upon the mattress.

That the Madam of the Sect is cursing everyone and everything, well, with the exception of herself since she woke near dawn. The woman not one bit happy about how Lotus Pier got taken. Then again, is she ever satisfied? Jiang Yunru wonders as she tries to get comfortable, regardless of her bindings.

Jiang Yunru still recalls how Madam Yu screamed at them to go in for killing the invading Wens instead of hindering and knocking out, which is traditional warfare when Sects get into fights with one another. It hardly seemed to matter to Madam Yu, as Heaven's Punishment kept striking her as she attempts to kill her opponents, same went for her handmaidens to some extent. Given the nature of said phenomenon, it was only a matter of time before she fell, from exhaustion or by someone taking advantage of her increasing unstable sense of balance.

Not that she saw how Wen Zhuliu got in close to Madam Yu, him with his livid musk deer body allowing him to dart in to land a solid blow, temporarily shorting out Madam Yu's Golden Core, which on top of Heaven's Punishment, knocked her out cold. She dimly recalls her Wei-Shixiong shouting for them all to surrender; to put down their weapons. What little she can recall has most to do with bright flashes and thunder instead of the fighting itself.

Not that Jiang Yunru herself had needed such an order, given how she'd been given quite the blow to her head and hadn't been in much of a condition to resist getting bound up near the beginning and was only just starting to recover from the ringing in her ears and her vision swimming about. She kind of recalls hearing him repeating himself a lot. Of shouts from the Wens for the handmaidens of Madam Yu to stand down.

As a young Wen Cultivator attended to her is when Sect Leader Jiang arrive with his group of Disciples. The whole incident was fairly short, although her older relative did demand to know the hows and whys of the Wens' actions. Not that it mattered. Jiang Yunru muses to herself. Not when the Lans of Gusu Lan Sect did nothing to warrant getting their Sect burnt down.

With everyone securely bound, the Wens were left overnight out in the open as there were too many of them to move, never mind that there wasn't any holding buildings within Lotus Pier. So, other then simple blankets being put on them, the Wens left them be, and Jiang Yunru had a hard time getting comfortable enough to get a good night's rest.

And now that it's dawn, she and the others can't help but stare at the appearance of the Jiang siblings just approaching from the still open gates of Lotus Pier. And Jiang Yunru just feels so... empty and defeated at the very sight of the pair. What was the point then, of sending them off if they'd just, you know, just walk back the Lotus Pier near dawn of the next day? Jiang Yunru doubts she's the only one who's feeling a wide array of emotions at the sight of the pair of dumb-asses.

"Mother! Father!" Jiang Wanyin cries out and rushes towards the now silent Madam Yu, who's likely silent by sheer dumbfoundedness of what's going on before her. "Those damn Wen-dogs!"

"This can't be happening." Mutters one of her shidi. "It is, sadly." Murmurs one of her shimei.

"Jiang Cheng!" Cries out Jiang Yanli once she's next to her younger brother. "We need to go!" There's tugging on Jiang Wanyin's sleeve but the other shakes off his older sister's hands.

"Look around for something to cut the bindings!" Snaps Jiang Wanyin, glaring at said older sister. "Don't worry, we'll get you out of this!"

As Jiang Yanli begins to wander around, begging for one of the Disciples to tell her where to find a knife or sword, there's cries of, "Intruders! Intruders!"

"Run you brats! Get out of here!" Madam Yu finally recovers and snaps at the two. "I ordered you two to head for Mieshan Yu! What are you two doing back here?" Her shouts louder at the pair.

"But... We're here to get you out of here!" Jiang explains and Jiang Yunru glances toward the nearest building as a group of four Wen Disciples come charging out, with lassos already preparing to be sent to tie them up.

It's rather comedic scene that plays out as the pair do try to run but the Wens are faster and they have the advantage of having something ranged. The group of four spilt into pairs to pursue one of the two siblings. A scream comes from Jiang Yanli as the rope gets around her upper body and she's unbalanced, landing on the ground while Madam Yu sprouts out meaningless threats at the Wens.

As for Jiang Wanyin, it's near the same time, with an uplifted leg getting snatched while the second manages to land over the head. There's clear thrashing from both Sect Leader Jiang and Madam Yu along with worried cries of "Jiang Cheng!"

The pair are carried back into the building by the four Wens. It's a given what's going to happen to the pair, well, at least to her. Jiang Yunru doesn't participate in the various conversations going on. Those that weren't near to see what happened getting told of what just transpired.

All the while, Madam Yu is causing a scene, attempting to wiggle hop towards the building while cursing out not just the Wens but Sect Leader Jiang and Wei-Shixiong for being useless, when Wei-Shixiong wasn't any where close to the scene with Sect Leader Jiang being a bit far from where Madam Yu had been when the pair arrived.

The Wens are more active now and a few come to check on them. It's not long before Madam Yu to direct her ire at one of them in particular. Thus earning a beating from the Wens, who then drag her back to near where she'd been last night. Some of that group heads for the walls and the rest into the building.

And it's half a shi chen of waiting before a simple breakfast occurs with them all getting a cup of Congee that they drink directly from the serving Wen's hands. It's not much but it does help with the beginnings of a gnawing hunger. Jiang Yunru suspects that they were all rather sore and would love to be able to get unbound.

The Wen in charge of the invasion shows up, the look of the uniform shows his ranking within the Qishan Wen Sect, which is rather high, which isn't that surprising. "The intruding Jiang have met with Wen Zhuliu." The Wen states near where Madam Yu is, the voice is clear as many of done their best to be quiet.

"Currently, Jiang Wanyin is experiencing his body reverting back to that of a mortal while Jiang Yanli is out cold for now." The Wen explains with a clear smirk upon his face, given there's likely some Wen Cultivators that likely got some serious injuries due to Madam Yu and her handmaidens, it's understandable why he's getting enjoyment from Madam Yu's reaction to the news.

"The pair are now condemned to mortal-dom and shall never be able to regain their former level of Cultivation." And Jiang Yunru finds this news to be of some interest as she wonders if he's telling the truth or not. "Well, it hardly matters, given there's a proper Jiang Cultivator among your Sect, well, other then yourself."

Jiang Yunru does her best to not react when various gazes land upon her. She keeps her head held high, after all, it's true. She managed to get the dun horse body that is suppose to set someone related to the founder of the Yunmeng Jiang Sect apart from other members.

Did it cause her to be targeted by Madam Yu? Yes, but Wei-Shixiong always did his best to attract Madam Yu's attention from her. It's how Jiang Yunru began her studies of Medicine, to tend to the injuries her Shixiong got on her behalf. And yet, she still feels proud of all her efforts paying off in the body she got, that there's still proper Jiangs in the next generation asides from her cousins.

"Best remember that we have your children, Madam Jiang." The Wen continues as he looks down at Madam Yu. "If you wish for them to continue receiving care, you best control your temper and consider your words far more carefully."

With that hidden threat, the Wen Disciple begins to walk away. A bit later, one by one, the Wens help one of her martial family get up and attend to personal needs before being brought back, although not all of them getting tied up once they are brought back. When it's her turn, Jiang Yunru is glad for various reasons, on in particular has to do with Madam Yu glaring at her and making snide remarks.

"Does she ever stop?" Asks on the Wen Disciples keeping her company as she finishes up redressing herself. It takes Jiang Yunru a few seconds to realise that the Wen Disciple is talking about Madam Yu.

"Ah, no. You'd either need that Silent Spell I've heard that the Lans are in possession of or gagged to keep her from speaking." Jiang Yunru admits, was it disrespectful to state that? Yes but as she's the target at this point, Jiang Yunru would love for Madam Yu to stop. "That's if you want her wide awake."

"How tiring." The other Disciple states with a dry tone as they leave the room. The pair sport a goat and a horse respectfully. "Well, either way, she's scheduled to be taken last. Particularly after her two servants of hers get to go before her." The first speaker remarks and Jiang Yunru hums in understanding.

"I doubt you'll try anything but, well..." The first Wen, the goat body, shrugs and Jiang Yunru does understand. "It's fine, I'm just surprised that you're not retying us all up once we are escorted back out."

The two seem to get what she meant and as she exits out of the building, she's back at the spot and Jiang Yunru doesn't make things difficult for the pair as they tie her up. One of her shimei get selected and then it's a shidi, it goes on and on with Wei Wuxian being the first notable person of importance getting pick before those older Cultivators are escorted off to deal with such things.

Sect Leader is fourth last and then one of the handmaidens gets selected as third last. It's been a rather long day but everyone can sense the tension that's beginning to become more and more pronounce as Madam Yu struggles with her temper. It's clear that news has spread about what's about to occur.

And yet, there's nothing Madam Yu can do besides explode with verbal venom the moment that it's clear that it's the other maid who's going to be allowed to deal with body functions before the Madam of the Jiang Sect. "This is intolerable! I am the Mistress of Lotus Pier! I have waited long enough and yet you still refuse to give me my due?! You think my maids are more important then I?!"

The woman tries to stand, even bound up as her legs are along with her arms. The tail of Madam Yu's boar body is wagging with the woman's fury. "Third Lady..." Her Sect Leader tries to soothe the situation only for the woman to turn on him with a sharp head turn plus some look that Jiang Yunru images as being loathing.

Jiang Yunru just doesn't get how it was that her cousin of a Sect Leader could let this woman run rampant over not just the Disciples of the Sect but also with himself. She doesn't bother to pay the scene and words any real mind, her head turned towards the building, she thinks there might have been someone standing near the door but there isn't one now. Feeling second hand embarrassment and shame at the actions of Jiang Fengmian and his wife, namely Madam Yu, as was clear that Madam Yu's temper and pride was taken into consideration when deciding to go through with this minor power play.

Thus, a clear showing at the lack of control Madam Yu has, particularly given that the Wens could easily decide to bring out either of her cousins and do plenty of things, like cut their hair or whip them to death as neither of the two are proper Cultivators. Thus, killing them wouldn't cause Heaven's Punishment to be invoke in anyway. One would think she would have considered the current situation concerning my cousins, her children. Jiang Yunru thinks as that Wen from this morning arrives with Jiang Wanyin, who's unconscious and without wearing his Jiang Sect robes, it's just the inner robes covering his whole body, in particular it's the sight of her cousin's mortal legs that really hit home the fact that, her cousin no longer possesses a Golden Core.

There's a howl of outrage and even more struggling going on from Madam Yu. Jiang Yunru watches as the three approach near the spot where Madam Yu is. There's a gesture and it's not long before Madam Yu gets a few blows before one of those who were about to take the second handmaid surges forth with something, that something turns out to be a gag. This gag gets shoved over the head before fitted upon Madam Yu, this gag is rather special as it is one that covers her lower mouth as well as a bit of her nose.

Something seems to flare upon the cloth gag and Jiang Yunru muses that it's the Wen Sect's answer to the Lan infamous Silent Spell. The way Madam Yu tries to get the gag off while her legs kick about. "My Lady!" Her Sect Leader shouts out and tries to get close but the original Wens prevent it, moving to ensure he doesn't wiggle in that direct any more.

"It seems that it's true. You don't really have the right skills to be a proper Madam of a Great Sect." Remarks the important Wen Cultivator after making a hand sign, which seems to cause the cloth of the gag to dim.

Madam Yu's legs stop kicking about along with her trying to get the gag off. "There's so many rumors going on about you, Madam Jiang and we now know how much truth there is concerning your treatment of your husband's Head Disciple." The Wen continues to speak and Jiang Yunru isn't the only one who likely flinched or looked down in shame at the mention of Wei-Shixiong's treatment.

"Whipping a Disciple with a Spiritual Tool is a rather extreme punishment after all." The Wen remarks and continues easily, after a bit. "The use of which, among majority of the Sect, tend to be for severe crimes, namely betrayal, before expulsion from the Sect."

"How shameless is the Jiang Sect? How can a Sect Leader allow their Head Disciple to be whipped so with such a Spiritual Tool that is Zidian without following through with expulsion from the Sect?" Jiang Yunru tries to shift her weight as she feels guilt over those times she'd seen that happen.

"How thick faced Sect Leader Jiang is to continue to allow that same Disciple to continue being named Head Disciple when never given the respect and protection such a post entitles that Disciple to!" The Wen makes a motion with a hand and her cousin gets put down but the pair keep their hands upon the shoulders, keep Jiang Wanyin's upper body up.

"It seems that Jiang Sect seems to think Head Disciple equals whipping boy!" The Wen glances towards her Sect Leader. "Well! The Wen Sect are of the opinion that the Jiang Sect have it backwards, whipping the successful and proper while rewarding the incompetency and improper is far too much!"

"For ever whip mark upon Wei Wuxian's body, we're going to give former Heir, Jiang Wanyin, two strikes." The Wen declares. "And given that Zidian was used, a Disciple Whip shall be used as a stand in."

And the Wen does a rear turn while a Wen Cultivator sporting a common ram's body seemingly appears behind the pair holding Jiang Wanyin, in his possession is one of the few Discipline Whips belonging to the Jiang Sect. As the important Wen along with the Wens who'd been about to take the second handmaiden away begin to head for the building. Those were the ones that were going a touch slower, almost expecting to be given orders to continue about their previous business.

"No... You can't... You'll kill him!" Sect Leader Jiang states and everyone knows that even with a Golden Core, the Discipline Whip injuries are troublesome to heal properly.

"Your wife should have thought out her actions before she resumed her previous course of behavior." The Wen with the common ram's body sums up while the Wen Leader continues on without seemingly hearing anything. The Wen tests out the whip's balance a few times while her cousin slumps in defeat.

Jiang Yunru doesn't look away as the whipping begins. There's a few of her shijie and shimei who whimper or cry out after a blow. From her shixiong and shidi, there's a few who bow their heads down that she sees out of the corner of her eyes. Yet Jiang Yunru finds that her ability to feel seems to have escaped her and so, she just watches as the under robes of her cousin become bloody rags and blood begins to drip to the ground, slowly becoming a puddle.

Wei Wuxian isn't sure how he ended up getting put under Wen Qing's command as since the day Jiang Wanyin was whipped to death, he'd found it hard to care about his situation and surroundings. He had known the Wens had been interested in his back but hadn't realised why they'd pay his whip marks any mind until Wen Bingwen's announcement. The punishment of his shidi and the Heir of Jiang Sect coming to pass simply due to Madam Yu's inability to control her anger and pride.

"It's not your fault, Young Master Wei." Wen Qionglin, Wen Qing's younger brother, pipes in from across from him. While his gaze is upon the open book before him, his attention wasn't upon the contents anymore.

"I know! I know..." Wei Wuxian had a debt to the Jiang family and he couldn't do anything to prevent what happened. He knows it's Madam Yu's own inability to control herself that caused Jiang Wanyin to die, but it doesn't feel like it, given that the number of whips given had to deal with the number upon his own back.

"I know it here." Wei Wuxian taps his temple before adding, "But not here." He holds his hand over where his heart is.

It's been two months since the fall of Jiang Sect and there's an engagement going on between Jiang Yunru and Wen Qionglin, as Jiang Yunru's horse body shows her clear relation to the founder of the Jiang Sect along with her blood relation to Uncle Jiang, who also has the classical look of the Jiang family. As Jiang Yanli no longer possesses the capacity to Cultivate, thus, the only woman left with clear blood connections to the founder is his shimei. Thus Jiang Yunru is the only one who could be used to join the Jiang Sect and the Wen Sect together.

For a few weeks, Wei Wuxian had been suspicious of Wen Qionglin's nature but once he's been reassured, well, he'd felt adrift as he isn't incline to give his all to the Wen Sect. Yet, he can't really bring himself to think of himself as a member of the Jiang Sect given the responses of Madam Yu but also Jiang Yanli. While Uncle Jiang doesn't blame him over anything that had happened, that wasn't the same for the remaining two Jiang family members.

Jiang Yanli held it as his fault for not having the Sect fight longer or for not escaping to help them in getting them to safety. Then she held it against him for allowing the Wens to see his whipped back. It hurts, the kind shijie thinking that if they hadn't seen his back, they wouldn't have gotten the idea of whipping Jiang Cheng, never mind to death due to doubling the number they saw upon his back. It's a massive emotional blow and he's surprised he's still alive from having his beloved shijie hating and blaming him for what Wen Bingwen did to punish Madam Yu.

As for Madam Yu, well, it's clear that she's just doing what she always did. It's worse this time as there's no coming back from having Jiang Cheng dying viva Discipline Whips. That the shidi he grew up with and though he'd be serving as his second in command for a time was dead.

Wei Wuxian had been held responsible for Jiang Cheng for so long that he doesn't know what to do with himself without Jiang Cheng around. It's like a huge part of his life is just... gone and there's this empty space that's just there. He knows that he couldn't Cultivate for Jiang Cheng, that every Cultivator is responsible for their own progression or lack of progress. Yet, Madam Yu and to some extent, he's sure, Uncle Jiang and shijie, did and that weighed upon him, thus he couldn't help but feel responsible.

I'm such a mess... Wei Wuxian admits to himself as he tries to work out his emotions and thoughts. "Young Master Wei should learn to forgive himself for not already being a god." Wen Qionglin stammers out in a firm sounding tone.

"Eh?" He isn't sure what to make of that statement and it must have shown. "Young Master Wei can only be held accountable for his own actions." Continues the Wen sitting across from him. "As Young Master Wei isn't a god, his power is limited to that of his own Cultivation on top of that."

The fierce look upon Wen Qionglin's face also sports a hint of earnest and for Wei Wuxian, it finally comes to him that, in the end, truly, the past is the past. And that, while he can't fully get over what has happened nor how his relations with the Jiang family seem to be gone, it doesn't mean that he has stopped being alive. It just means that his life has been altered, not unlike when he'd been kicked out of the inn and told that his parents were most likely dead.

Life isn't going to stop because of a little hardship nor emotional distress. What he had with the Jiang family... It wasn't perfect, likely wasn't right, but it had been all he had up to that point. Now, Wei Wuxian is again at a loss but he isn't a child nor is he powerless.

"I think..." He pauses before stating a bit more firmly, "I will be fine."

"I just need a bit of time to allow myself to mourn properly what needs to be mourned but, in the end, things will get better." Wei Wuxian states, it's acknowledging that he does have something to be sad about but also a promise that he won't loose sight of the fact that, he's got a future. It might not be the one he thought he'd be living but it's one nonetheless.

Wen Qionglin studies him before nodding. And Wei Wuxian feels like he's able to breath a bit more easily, that some weight or tension isn't in him. It takes him a bit to focus on pushing the matters to the side, it's hard, admittedly but he manages to and begins to read the book that's before him. "One day at a time." He states, it's something that he'd say to Jiang Cheng, back when he'd been doing his best to lighten his shidi's mood over the lack of any major progress or a backslide.

One day at a time. Wei Wuxian promises himself.