The Unclean Realm was quieter than usual, not even the sound of sabers could be heard. 

Nie Huaisang was going through scrolls of documents.  Mo Xuanyu was sitting on the farthest corner eyeing Sang-Xi from time to time. 

The Atmosphere was certainly not a comfortable one.

After all the confession was quite bold. It took everything in him (MXY) to calm his racing heart. It was beating so fast that he was sure Sang-Xi could hear it. Mo Xuanyu's face gave the Radiant Red tint. And by each passing beat it got more saturated. Even the Cadmium Red looked desaturated in comparison.

Without looking up from his desk, Nie Huaisang called him out, "Mo-Xiong."

the  sudden call made him jump as his elbow hit the color vial and it dropped all over the floor. why the brown was teasing him so much?

"W-what is it Sang-Xi?" Mo Xuanyu was bashful. 

"Did you prepare the Array?" 

The Array? right.

"No! I tried different scriptures but It isn't working." Mo XuanYu was calm now. He was reminded of his purpose, to bring back Nie Mingjue. 

Nie Huaisang's declaration of Marriage was just a part of it?  Mo Xuanyu laughed at himself for thinking that he held same kind of place in his heart like how he held in his. 

I must not forget my purpose of being here. With a soft smile and closed eyes he reminded himself. 

"I think... it's Yiling Laozu. He's stopping  me from forming the array. Maybe we are missing something?" 

upon no response from Nie Huaisang he continued,

"Do not worry Sang-Xi, I will bring back your brother."

                                                                             . . .

It's been more than a week and Lan Wangji was still unconscious. From time to time, he would have  nightmares and panic attacks no medics knew the cause. They didn't know what really happened and how long he will stay like that.

it was agonizing for Lan Qiren to see his nephew in such a state. He felt that It was just yesterday when he took Lan Wangji under his wings and raised him. He hated Wei Wuxian for corrupting his nephew but if it took Wei Wuxian to heal him, he was willing to accept him. 

Love was agonizing!

.

.

.

[Flashback : Lan Qiren and Qingheng-Jun]

"Qiren, I have found my significant other." Qingheng Jun was standing at the edge of the mountain. His daze was fixed on the horizon. His snowy robes fluttered against the wind giving a sensation of isolation.

"Which sect does she belong to da-Xiong?" Lan Qiren stood there waiting for his reply. After breathing into the sky Qingheng Jun replied.

"She's just an ordinary woman."

Lan Qiren was shocked,
"Da-Xiong, you're a sect leader. You must choose your partner with consideration."

When Qingheng-Jun didn't reply, Lan Qiren added,
"Da-Xiong, think carefully. It's a matter of your life."

"Indeed Qiren, it's a matter of my life."

"The elders won't agree to it, why must you be unreasonable now da-xiong? "

Qingheng-Jun finally looked his way ,closing the distance between the two, he said

"There's no reason, Qiren. I simply Love her."

[Flashback ends]

.

.

.

Lan Jingyi was guarding the Jingshi. The cultivation world didn't know about Yiling Patriarch's disappearance  but they did suspect few things. 

One of them being Lan Wangji adopting an orphan from streets, they didn't know who it was nor his  surname. But it did raise some flags against Gusu Sect.

Lan Qiren stepped inside the Jingshi and told Lan Jingyi to guard the entrance. Luckily he did.He saw Jin Ling ascending the Suihua. Jin Ling rushed to Cloud Recesses to search for Wen Yuan. 

"Where is Shizui?" Sect leader jin asked without catching his breath.

"And greetings to you as well, Sect leader Jin." Lan Jingyi formally teased him. 

"Where is Shizui? " Jin Ling asked again. it clearly looked like he wanted to discuss something urgent but that's exactly why Lan Jingyi was teasing him and wasting his time.

Before the both idiots could strangle each other the calm Lan appeared from behind,

"What's the matter Sect Leader Jin?" Wen Ning just dropped him off from their wild detour. 

"Shizui!" Jin ling followed the voice and almost bounced at the Lan. 

"Calm down, Sect Leader Jin lets go inside and talk." Lan  Shizui invited him inside the cloud recesses as he took down the barrier. After reporting to Lan Qiren they all went inside the library pavilion to talk to Jin Ling. Jin Ling looked scared and nervous.

"So What happened, Sect leader Jin?" Lan Shizui was formal. 

Jin Ling blurted out, "Shizui, Marry me!" 

"What?" the twin Druzy said.

"Marry me Shizui! You are a Wen by Ancestry and to change that you have to marry me."

After the conversation between Qin Cangye and Nie Huaisang. Jin ling learnt how it was taboo to change one's origin. 

Origin is fate!

Jin Ling was right, and the threat was even more now that Yi Weichun and Yingchuan Wang sect knew about his origins. The world still hated Wens and Wen Yuan haven't even begun his goal to change the image of Yiling Wens. If they were to disclose his origins , what would they do to him? 

"I do understand what you're trying to say but what makes you think that  I would marry you?" Lan Shizui was precise and direct.

"I-I Love You! thats why."

Jin Ling who had been harboring feelings towards Lan Shizui for a while decided to confess.

Twin Druzy were shook. Out of all 4, Jin Ling was the one they least suspected to fell in love. 

"Lanling sect will protect you!" Jin Ling was embarrassed but he was determined to protect the warmth he had found.

Lan Shizui snapped,

"Yes! you're right! the Lanling sect will protect a Wen!" 

"Those LanLing sects disciples who enslaved my family, tortured them to death and turned uncle Wen into fierce corpse!" 

"Shizui.. what are you saying?" Jin Ling couldn't believe what he was hearing.

But Lan Shizui remembered now. It was too painful to forget. How under Jin Zixun's command the Lanling disciples put them through hell and for what? their surname? 

He remembered every little incident now, how Granny was forced to shame her sect. How Uncle fourth was forced to work while starving. How Wen Qing was not allowed to heal them and how They killed Wen Ning. They thrust the spirit attracting flag in him and let the spirits devour his soul. Had the same method be  used by Yiling Patriarch for a good cause they would have labelled him a threat while they can do whatever they want?  And on top of that, they lied to the world and made Wens more notorious! What was the difference between Lanling and Qishan Wen then? Both Misused their powers in name of Justice while Wens were punished and Lanlings were praised? 

"Do you know out of all the sects I despise Lanling sect the most." Lan Shizui was hysterical, he had enough of insults, enough of nonsense and enough of his origins being tarnish like that.

"Shizui that's all in the past, didn't we agree to move on?" This time it was Lan Jingyi who called out.

with the daggers locked at Jin ling, Lan Shizui said.

" Right! you accused my dad for killing your parents and I can't blame your sect for killing mine? " 

Lan Shizui stomped out of the library pavilion. Leaving the two in shock.

--------------------------------------------

Sorry for Grammatical  errors and thank  you for reading.

Continuation ch: 31