Chapter Text
The everlasting peaks arch over the landscape, as swirling mists and ghostly white clouds surround the mountains and hills. Yun Weishan walks her way through them with set determination to keep the eyes of Wufeng off of her while successfully reuniting with her sister. The journey through the vast hills and forests to Lixi Town was quiet beneath the late afternoon sky. With each step she takes she meets the earth, softly pressing against it, the only signs of her passing was the slight rustle of her silk hanfu. It flowed like a ribbon of moonlight spilled upon the earth, flowing with dignified grace. Autumn had slowly begun. The wind drifted through the bamboo grooves, the tall and lean stalks brushed together lightly. Leaves rustled, winds hushed together their little voices followed her. However only one thought stirred something inside her.
Her sister.
For years, she had wondered how her sister was doing, the memory of that face lived with her preserved like a painting sealed beneath the many layers of lacquer. The same eyes, features and yet they felt so different.
And now she was here. Infront of a decent sized house. It wooden door was closed with it being chipped over time. A thin lantern hung beside it, swaying in the flow of the wind, bending in surrender to the breeze.
Weishan paused at the gate.
The silence within felt bizarre, it was too still and watchful. The air felt heavier and opaque pressing against her penetrating her skin as she felt something studying her every move.
Her hand lingered over the door and she slowly pushed it open. The wood creaked softly. Inside the sunlight slipped through the windows in golden strands, scattering across the floorboards creating a soft glow.
Yun Weishan stilled as she saw her sister there, in front of her, in the centre of the room staring into the mirror. Her sisters back was turned and her long hair spilled down like ink a harsh contrast with her pale robe.
For a moment Yun Wieshan breath staggered as she called out for her. “Meimei…” she murmmerd. The word felt so fragile on her tongue she never knew this day would come so soon. However the girl didn’t reply immediately, her shoulders trembled slightly as she slowly turned and met Weishan’s gaze as if it was her own as tears slowly crept in her eyes. Her lips parted softly but no words could escape.
Yup Weishan stepped forward as each footstep echoed against the hardwood floor. “Meimei…. it’s me”
Still no reply.
Instead her twins sisters breathing changed. At first it was subtle, a small hitch in the rhythm of her chest. Then slowly it was followed by another, then another, her breathing grew deeper scraping against her throat like broken glass.
Weishan frowned slightly, noticing something was wrong. The air all of a sudden heavy and suffocating. Weishan felt a prickling sensation on her skin, her hair standing up on the back of her neck as she followed her sister’s gaze past her shoulder, towards the shadows. One figure stepped forward. His black robes emerging from the darkness like a ghost rising from its grave.
Weishan didn’t move, her muscles in her shoulders tightened and her jaw clenched hard, realising that this was all a trap. Wufeng knew she would come to look for her sister all of a sudden Yun Weishan felt so lost and angry at herself how could she be so careless and ignorant.
Her sister, Yun Xi, breathing has now become more frantic. Each inhale shattered against her fragile body. Wrapped in fear like a child who got lost.
Weishan’s heart clenched. “So…” she said quietly, her voice was calm, too calm for someone hiding her inner turmoil. “What do you want” her voice laced with hate. The man chuckled quietly “Straightforward as always, Yu Weishan.” His voice amused like he was greeting an old friend rather than a traitor. “After all this time, even when we treated you so well, you chose the Gong Family….over us ?” he continued “You’ve grown soft after living among the gongs”. His gaze drifted to Yun Xi. Her sister trembled in fear as she made a small sound “Jiejie”. Yup Weishan’s eyes flickered towards her the sight of her sister filled with fear priced through her composure like a blade, her eyes scanning her sister as she notices the faint bruises on her wrist. The man followed her gaze “Ah.” his sick smile deepened “So you noticed.” He chuckled “She is after all quite…..delicate”. Her sister flinched out of instinct. Yun Wieshan was slowly losing her patience stating her stance louder “What do you want.” Her voice colder than before.
The man wasted no time “ We offer you a choice”
Weishan’s gaze hardened “A choice?”
“Yes”. “Return to Wufeng......and your sister remains safe.”
Silence crashed the room.
He continues to gesture lazily towards the fragile girl kneeling on the floor. “If you refuse then she will take your place”
Yup Weishan was miserably at a loss, all her life dreaming for freedom made her realise the brutality that such a dream couldn’t come true so easily. For long moment at last Yun Weishan lowered her gaze and stated “My lord.”
Her sister’s heads snapped up “JIEJIE—“
Yup Weishan continued calmly.
“If returning to Wufeng ensures her safety,” she said bowing her head slightly “then this unworthy one shall obey”
The man smiled, clearly pleased.
“A wise decision indeed”
Behind her lowered gaze, something in Yun Weishan’s eyes shifted. Hatred filled her deep within her chest. Something awakened in her, she would let them believe she had surrendered, letting them believe their leash around her neck had tightened once more. She swore to herself that the moment she stepped back into Wufeng, she would tear it down piece by piece until it was nothing but ruins.