"Do you really want to go back?"

He thought he already answered that question, why was he asking him again? Mo Xuanyu didn't dare to let his heart hope again. It was enough, he just wanted to rest now and forever.

"I do."

"Alright."

The voice said and Mo Xuanyu closed his eyes to welcome the darkness once again. He knew he wasn't going to heavens. For the people like him even the Subterranean Realm was considered a place of worth. Well who was he to complain, it was his choice after all.

He waited for the screams to consume him once more, to tear his sanity apart, to eat away his throbbing heart but it didn't come. He was still in the place where he was.

"Ah, Master?"

"Yes?"

"Aren't you going to take me back?"

"I just asked you if you want to go back or not? I didn't say I'd take you there. If you really want to go, do it yourself."

"..." Okay that was not what Mo Xuanyu expected.

"Master?"

"Yeah?"

"Aren't you here to take my body so you could come back?"

"I told you it's too short. I hate it when Jiang Cheng gives that satisfied look. He's practically looking down on me." The voice wasn't pleased at all. Wei Wuxian was always the dominant one at everything and now that his height was shorter than Jiang Cheng, he realized how awful it felt to be mocked by one you mocked once. That karma was too much for Yiling Patriarch.

"Then why are you here?"

"I was trying to reach to Wen Ning, but something is wrong him which I'm not quite sure yet." The voice said as if thinking deeply into something. He had reached to Wen Ning before through his dream. It was just a way to remind Nie Huaisang about his part of the deal. And now he couldn't reach him that way. Did something happen to Wen Ning? That would be impossible since he's a fierce corpse.

"That's why you reached me? You need me to provide you with information what about is happening around here? Or do you want me to prepare and array for you?" Mo Xuanyu was demonic cultivator and he could easily prepare an array for his Master if he asked him to, right? Why else would someone like Mo Xuanyu be contacted to? Wasn't he just the worst at everything? Wasn't he the most unfortunate one of all? Even the second chance in life was wasted on someone like him?

"Not really, I was just bored."

"..."

The most difficult task for Mo Xuanyu was indeed to understand Yiling Patriarch. He was nothing like how people described him, Unpredictable like the wind and firm like the waves.

"Don't mind me, you go ahead and do what you were about to do." Wei Wuxian said in the most relaxed voice. Mo Xuanyu almost felt that Yiling Laozou was on vacation.

"Master I don't know how to..." How to kill myself again? He couldn't sacrifice his soul to just anyone. He did summon Yiling Patriarch to execute revenge on his family but deep down he knew that Yiling Patriarch wasn't evil. He could feel it whenever he got to study his scriptures. It was like a child with imaginations. With dreams to change the world and live in it peacefully. If Mo Xuanyu summoned just any dark creature it would bring a lot of disaster, which he rather not causes. Maybe he could sacrifice his soul for Nie Mingjue?

"Don't think of summoning Chifeng-Zun, I just fixed his soul, it's still unstable."

"Master!" as if he read his thoughts.

"Why don't you just live, until it's stable?" The voice suggested.

Mo Xuanyu sighed. Where could he live? In the village that wasn't there? With the mother who didn't spare him to witness her death? Lanling Jin sect where disciples still mocked his name? His mind didn't dare to even think of Qinghe Nie sect. Happiness wasn't meant for him. Living among the screams might be his home.

"Maybe I shouldn't have fixed this place, at least the screams were here."

"Aiya Aiya, Brother Huaisang is really stupid and I come to believe that you are too." Wei Wuxian shrugged his invisible shoulders. Why was he surrounded with idiots? Not minding that he was also one.

"Did you notice the arrays on Unclean Realm?" Wei Wuxian asked.

"Yes."

"What kind of arrays they were? For what purpose?"

"Soul Summoning." Mo Xuanyu never asked Huaisang about those arrays because he thought it wasn't his place to. But he had never seen so many arrays at the same time, he was curious what would Huaisang be doing with that. Or maybe those were his failed attempts at summoning his brother's soul.

"Incorrect."

"That's impossible! I am sure those are soul summoning arrays." Soul summoning arrays were pretty common among cultivators. Normally when souls of ancestors were disturbed, this particular array was used. To ask them how to bring them peace.

"Think again, Disciple."

Mo Xuanyu was a little taken aback with his master calling him that. Wait! The demonic cultivation! The arrays had one extra stroke!

"Soul repelling..." Mo Xuanyu was uncertain.

"Correct. Now tell me who's soul would he be repelling?"

"Not soul, The Guis...."

"Now you get it?"

Nie Huaisang didn't use the arrays to hurt the people but to protect them. He still stole their spiritual energies but it was for their own good. He didn't take a single ounce of it for himself.

"Nie Huaisang was always cheerful, the one who could keep up with my tactics." Wei Wuxian said, reminiscing the past, the time which they spent in the Cloud Recesses. Jiang Cheng, Nie Huaisang and Wei Wuxian, they all were always at the root of trouble. Nonetheless, the time they spent was innocent and precious.

"After the revenge, he just lost himself!" Wei Wuxian elaborated.

Imagine spending a decade of your life, sacrificing your everything with just a single goal in your mind. When that happened, there was nothing left but emptiness in his heart. He got the revenge, but did he get his brother back? What difference did it make in his life? It only added layers of misery upon his shell. That revenge had become a part of his being and without it, he felt useless. Where should he go now? What should he become now?

He set up a proper burial for his Da-ge with the help of skilled cultivators and under the presence of all sect leaders. Jin GuangYao, even after his death, he was embracing his brother. Nie Huaisang thought, that he was obsessive psychopath but even fate seemed to suggest otherwise. He wasn't the one to go against the fate. So, He set up a proper burial for Meng Yao, contrary to other's approval. Jin GuangYao might have been a son of bastard but Meng Yao was his brother who raised him along with his Da-ge and he would forever be grateful for that.

No matter what he did, Nie Huaisang never found peace. He would spend more time at his brother's grave than at his home. He would talk to him, tell him about his disasters but sound of scolding never came, nor the sound of praise.

He would drag his feet along with his miserable fate back to his home only to be indulged by more agony. Nie Zhongsui was his capable right man, he was brother of Nie Zhonghui. But not even once he blamed Nie Mingjue for his brother's death. Instead he wished, he had the honor to die in the same battle field as their late sect Leader. He was also the one who helped Nie Huaisang execute the revenge. So, he was well aware of capabilities of Nie Huaisang. He tried his best to support him and lessen his pain but emptiness was like a void, with the time it only grew big.

I pray that you meet your brother in after life.

And that became his new purpose of life. To make sure, they meet after death.

"That day at his coronation, he would have easily got to see his brother.

But I wasn't going to let him use me again. No one can use Yiling Patriarch." The voice said proudly. Mo Xuanyu was in deep thought, instead of easing his pain, his chest was filled with unwanted emotions again.

"What did you do?"

.

.

.

[Flashback : Nie Huaisang Coronation]

"You've been planning this for a while, huh?" Wei Wuxian said when he looked out of the window to see the big moon. What a wonderful night to summon soul.

"Nothing can't be hidden form you, can it?" Nie Huaisang followed him and also witnessed the beautiful moon. His coronation didn't just happen to be on full moon with coincidence.

"Alright, I will fix your brother's soul but, in the meantime, you fix yourself." Wei Wuxian gave his signature smirk that made Nie Huaisang doubts so many things.

What was he going to do?

"Wei-Xiong! What are you planning to do?" Nie Huaisang saw Wei Wuxian make a cut on his wrist and drew a spiritual array.

"I can't just go in an out of Heavens Realm, I need a little assistance." Wei Wuxian handed him few talismans with oddly strange arrays on them. He had never seen these before.

"What are these for?"

"I'm sure you'll figure out on your own.

One more thing, don't tell Lan Zhan about this. He's going to kill you and me both if he realized what I'm going to do." Wei Wuxian said while laughing. Then he proceeded back to his array formation. When it was completed, he got up and give Nie Huaisang a knowing look.

"I give you one-month Huaisang, see you on the next full moon."

And like that The Yiling Patriarch disappeared, leaving nothing but blood. He didn't seem to understand what happened but he was terrified. Yiling Patriarch was capable of doing anything. When Ghost General, Lan Xichen and Jiang Cheng arrived. He told them everything and showed them the talismans that Wei Wuxian had handed to them. Jiang Cheng snatched those away and read them.

Who else would understand Demonic Cultivation if not Sandu Shengshou? The past 13 years, he too had been gathering demonic cultivators to punish them or was it just another façade he had put on?  Just like how Lan Wangji looked for Wei Wuxian whereever the chao was. Jiang Wanyin also looked for his brother in those cultivators. After all, if Wei Wuxian ever come back, these cultivators would be the first to know. He didn't let go of chengqing even though he wanted to claim back Suibian.

"That idiot!!!" Zidian roared and scared the other two sect leaders. Lan Xichen took the talisman and tried his best to understand the arrays.

"What are these Huaisang?"

"Wei-Xiong gave me these and said, he needed assistance. But I don't know what he meant by that." Nie Huaisang honestly replied.

"He wants us to draw these arrays." Jiang Cheng said monotonously.

"Sect Leader Jiang, would you elaborate?" Lan Xichen asked, looking at the distressed Lotus.

"He's trying to enter the Subterranean Realm, that's where the souls of corpses are."

"And what do you suppose we should do?" Lan Xichen was the least knowledgeable in this regard.

"What else? Help him!" Jiang Cheng sighed. He swore his family was nothing but reckless.

"Our spiritual energy isn't enough." Nie Huaisang said.

"We don't really need spiritual energy, we need to distract the Gui, so he could retrieve Nie Mingjue's soul and come back here in one piece. While not getting sucked in by ourselves." Jiang Cheng was seriously pissed.

"How do we do that?" Lan Xichen asked.

"Blood. The fierce spirits are attracted to blood. For that we might need more help. There is more resentful energy in that Realm than on Earth combined."

One rotten apple can spoil the whole barrel and what if the whole barrel was spoiled?

And so, they proceeded with their attempt to build a portal in the Subterranean Realm. The first array of spiritual energy was drawn to protect everyone. They couldn't risk losing everyone to save just one. The blood array was the bait and they never sacrificed any soul nor did they construct the third array because they weren't summoning Heavens Gate like how they made the juniors to believe.

It was Jiang Cheng's choice. He didn't have it in him to tell Jin Ling that he was putting them all at risk for Wei Wuxian. He still didn't know how the younger felt about him. That's why when Jin Ling called his Jiujiu, he didn't respond, he was ashamed and hurt at the same time.

But what they all didn't expect was, that Wei Wuxian would send back Mo Xuanyu instead of returning.

[Flashback ends]

.

.

.

"So, you brought me back here to help Sang-Xi?"

"No, I brought you back here to punish Huaisang." Wei Wuxian clarified.

"I don't get it. Why?"

Wei Wuxian slapped his imaginary face.

"What is a thing, that is both blessing and a curse?"

"Children?"

"No, Idiot! Love!"

"Oh! So, you want me to..."

"Yeah! Go back to Huaisang and punish him with your love." Wei Wuxian crackled.

"Master, that sounds so disturbing." What a choice to be stuck between the death and shameless.

"Mo XuanYu!"

"Y-yes!" The sudden firm voice, made Xuanyu jolt.

"Prove to Heavens, that your love is stronger than any bond!"

. . .

Jiang Cheng was both worried and furious. He thought he should have broken both Wei Wuxian and Jin Ling's legs before, it would have saved him a lot of trouble. He was sure he would grow old before anyone with anxiety and wrinkles on his face 24/7.

Sandu carried him high and fast, passing through countless destructive sights. Until his eyes fell on a familiar figure.

"Lan Huan!"

Jiang Cheng would always call him either sect leader lan or Zewu jun but now he was calling nor his status or title but his name.

Lan Xichen stopped in his steps; He was surprised to be called that way but he knew that it wasn't attempted as a friendship greeting but a death announcement. He waited for the purple lotus to come near him. When Jiang cheng landed near him, one look in his eyes and his anger dissipated. Why?

Because Lan Xichen was crying?

His eyes were red from the fresh tears and there was clear pain in them. What happened to him? Why was he this anxious? And what was he doing here instead of being in his own sect?

"What happened?" Jiang Cheng couldn't help but ask.

"It's Wangji."

"Lan Wangji? What happened to him? Is he okay?" He wanted to say, is he dead? But that would hurt the older so he rephrased his question.

"I don't know." Lan Xichen shook his head and elaborated everything. Along with his doubt about Wangji giving his shell for Wuxian. He adored Wei Gongzi but he loved his brother more.

Jiang Cheng was torn again. What would the Lans do if Wei Wuxian returned back in Lan Wangji's body? Will they force him to bring back Lan Wangji's soul? But where would Wei Wuxian go then? Mo XuanYu? Would he agree to sacrifice his soul again? What would he (JC) do if Wei Wuxian couldn't come back?

Jiang Cheng found the world around him burning once again. What was happening? Why was everything always a mess? Why can't they let him live in peace?

Unless he doesn't need to live.

Jiang Cheng took a deep breath. He will protect his brother this time, even if he has to offer his own body. He patted Lan Xichen's shoulder to comfort him.

"Lan Wangji will be alright." Despite his inner turmoil, he had to calm the older.

"He's my only brother, Wanyin." Lan Xichen found himself clutching hard to Jiang cheng. Sandu Shengshou let him embrace him while he circled his hand on his back to sooth his pain.

He's my only brother too.

"I promised mother to protect him!"

I promised A-Jie to protect him too.

"He will be alright, trust me. Wei Wuxian would not let a single hair on him get damaged." Jiang Cheng assured him with a smile. At that moment, Lan Xichen felt so secured, like his heart was put to rest in a beautiful cathedra.

Jiang Cheng grabbed his wrist and pulled him to fly along with him. The two headed straight to the Nightless city.

. . .

"Elder Lan, you take rest. I will handle everything." Lan Jingyi ushered Lan Qiren to stay inside his room.

"The Moling Su disciples are still out there, I can not rest in a situation like this!" Lan Qiren retaliated. Or maybe it was Lan Jingyi that Lan Qiren was afraid of. One could never be more careful.

"Elder Lan, do not worry. Trust me."

Yeah...No!

Lan Qiren was forced into his room when Lan Jingyi sealed from outside. He would be getting punishment for that but its not something new. He held the record of most punishments in the cloud recesses and those chicken wings were worth it.

Lan Jingyi gathered every disciple and informed them about the situation. The war that was happening around, the Wen corpses and about Lan Shizui.

"Master Jingyi what do you suggest we should do?" Senior Shizheng asked. He was of the same generation as Senior Wei and the others.

"We let them attack us." Lan Jingyi

"What!!" the disciples said in unison.

Gasp and shock were visible in the air. The doubt was clear, they didn't think that Lan Jingyi was capable of leading disciple. He would take them straight to their deaths.

"Let him finish first!" Senior Shizheng said, giving everyone a look of 'shut up'.

Lan Jingyi took out a piece of paper from within his robes. It was the same scripture they got from Toshokan in Meishan Yu sect. The one they wanted Shizui to confirm.

"We will play this tone." Lan Jingyi declared and Senior Shizheng took the scripture from him to study it. Disciples still had their uncertainties.

"Alright everyone, let prepare for this piece." Senior Shizheng announced and all disciples prepared their instruments.

"Master Jingyi, what would be the effect of it?" Shizheng couldn't help but ask when it was just the two of them.

"I don't know."

"..."

"You surely thought this through?" Now it was Shizheng who was getting worried. Everyone was aware that the least knowledge person in Music was Lan Jingyi. They had never seen him with any instrument.

"Senior Shizheng, As long as Zewu Jun is alive, no harm will come to our sect."

When it came to Lan practices, Lan Jingyi was least interested one but when it came to trust and faith, the was the most devoted one.

All the disciples were standing near the barrier with a formation assigned by Senior Shizheng. They were ready for any consequences that Lan Jingyi might bring.

Lan Jingyi stepped out of the barrier, in front of the Moling Su disciples. The disciples whom he was casually chatting with moments ago, recognized him.

"You- How dare you deceive us?"

"How did I deceive you?" Lan Jingyi said crossing his arms.

"You pretended to be one of us."

"I never once said, I was one of you." Lan Jingyi didn't like when people accused him of things he never done. If he made a mistake, he fully owned it. Otherwise he wouldn't have been able to break the record in getting punishments.

"You-"

Lan Jingyi raised his hand to make everyone go quiet.

"Can we do it quick, I need to go somewhere?"

"You mean to that bastard Wen Yuan." The Moling Su disciples gave a disgusted look. As if they were expecting Lan disciples to stoop low.

"Are you trying to piss me off? Because its working!!" Lan Jingyi said and begun to shout out his frustration.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"

Every one covered their ears to stop this agonizing scream. But it didn't stop instead it was replaced by a beautiful melody. Lan Jingyi was singing!

He was singing from the scripture in his hand and god be the witness, his voice was angelic.

The Moling Su disciples begun to attack. They waved their swords in air and slaughtered the Lan disciples while some carried flares and burnt the place. Just like how it was once burnt before the SunShot campaign.

Except it was all just in their minds, like an illusion they were stuck in it. they didn't know that there were just standing in the same place killing each other instead of Lans.

The Lan disciples were stunned. They never expected someone to sing so beautifully. If it weren't for today, they would never have been able to guess how truly capable The Druzy of Gusu was. One day, If he become the Clan Leader, they would gladly serve him.

The voice he carried put a trance on them all!

. . .

The spiral in reds were beaded to his core, the unfamiliar Hanfu was snaked around his mold. His long sleek hair was no longer in the hold. Like a royalty he was seated on the red throne.

"Shizui!"

Jin Ling recognized the person he longed for so long. He was sitting there quietly with his face bowed down.

"Shizui!" Jin Ling called again but there was no response. He looked so beautiful as if he was meant for that throne.

"Hahaha you came, Sect Leader Jin."

Jin Ling was more than aware of that voice by now. He looked around only to be shocked even more. Wen Ning was also there along with Maiden Luo Qingyang. How could they be captured so easily? Wasn't Ghost General strong?

"Let them go!" Jin Ling ordered when he got the gist of the situation a little better.

"Jin Gongzi, leave!" Wen Ning said. He was surrounded by the Wen Corpses. Maybe that's why he couldn't fight? But why could he hear the clear pain in his voice?

"I'm afraid nobody will leave." Sect Leader Wang Said. Not only him, Sect Leader Yao and Yi Weichun were also there, along with their disciples. Jin Ling was smart enough no understand that they weren't on the same side.

"What did you do to Shizui? Why are you doing this?" Jin Ling asked.

"How about you guess?" Yi Weichun offered.

"I'm not here to talk if you don't want to speak!" Jin Ling said and barged with the Suihua. Yi Weichun quickly blocked his attack with his blade. Jin Ling counterattacked with fairy and kicked him in the stomach while leaping towards Shizui. He hadn't said anything or looked at him at all, Jin Ling was worried.

Yi Weichun sent his talisman and made Jing Ling stumbled and fall.

"Aish..." Jin Ling aimed Suihua at him but it was blocked by Sect Leader Wang. He directed his sword straight at Jin ling but he only felt a warm drop of blood trickled down his cheek.

"Senior Wen!"

"You get A-Yuan, I will handle these."

Jin Ling nodded and staggered his way towards the throne. Luo Qinyang was handling the Wen corpses while fairy was keeping the disciples at bay. How could his (WN) hand bleed, he was a corpse?

Jin Ling reached the throne but before he could touch Lan Shizui he was stopped by a female.

"Master Jin, I advised you to step back."

"Bicao!" How could Jin Ling forget her? She was the one who revealed all the dirty secrets about his Uncle Yao.

"Master Jin, I do not wish to hurt you. Please stand behind." Bicao said feigning the innocent voice.

"Bicao step aside, Because I will hurt you." Jin Lin retaliated.

"Young Master Jin, you're the grandchild of my Late Mistress, I look at you like my own son."

"If you look at me that fondly why don't you just step aside?"

"Master Jin, please understand I had no choice in the matter."

"Now I see, your righteousness only lies with the amount of wage you receive."

Jin Ling hit the nail on its head. She quickly covered her sleeves which revealed the expensive jewelry a mere maid couldn't buy. Jin ling pushed her away and moved toward Shizui when sharp object pierced through his skin.

"Agg..Ngh...What the-"

"I told you to be reasonable, now you have only yourself to blame." Bicao said and kicked Jin Ling away from the throne.

"Jin Gongzi!" Wen Ning himself was having trouble fighting with these cultivators. He didn't know what was happening to his body but there was fact that he could feel severe pain. Fairy jumped at Bicao, biting till she ran behind the throne. Sect Leader Yao came forth and kicked fairy out of the way.

"Fairy!" There was intense pain but he forced himself to get up. Did Shushu felt this way when I stabbed him? Maybe it was Karma? But will the people also get their Karma who bad mouthed his mother and abused him for being orphan? Who was he to say, life was never fair?

Jin Ling dragged his feet towards the throne again. Sect Leader Yao came forth of the throne this time. Wen Ning was having hard time fighting with Yi Weichun and Sect Leader Wang at the same time. He never felt so weak before!

"Sect Leader Yao, may you elaborate why you are doing this?" Jin Ling didn't really care if that person was his enemy or not. But he was among the associated sects of Yunmeng Jiang Sect, something which Jin Ling wouldn't tolerate. It would make sense, how they were able to infiltrate Meishan Yu sect now? Traitor!

"Sect Leader Jin, with all due respect, we just thought it was time for a change. Wen Clan brought destruction upon us, That son of Bastard Yao killed our fellow sects, Lan Clan was hiding a Wen bastard and Nie clan is not capable of a thing while Yunmeg jiang sect was rebuilt by a mere toddler. We no longer trust the Major Sects."

"So you're going to do exactly what you hated about them? Splendid!" Jin Ling said.

"You-" Sect Leader yao couldn't come up with anything to counter it so he unsheathed his blade.

"Sect Leader Jin, join us and we will spare you." Sect Leader Yao tried to bargain.

"And what if I don't? will you kill me then?" Jin Ling said mused, looking at the amount blood that was oozing out of his wound. If these cultivators didn't kill him, his jiujiu certainly would.

"No, but I will kill him." Sect Leader Yao pointed his sword at Wen Yuan. Only then jin Ling realized what they had done to him. The throne was entrenched into his flesh, with the roots sucking out his blood. His face was so pale, like he was alive only on his spiritual energy. They really did use his blood for these corpses!

"Stop!" Jin Ling was furious now. How dare these bastards hurt him like this.

Jin Ling held Suihua and launched it straight to the throne, cutting one of the roots. Before Sect Leader Yao could stop it, he was pierced by the arrow in his heart. Wen Ning, who was kicked hard and fell on the ground found the bow and arrow of little Mianmian. When he was alive, archery was his best skill. He wasn't good with close combats. Yi Weichun and Sect Leader Wang rushed towards the thorn but Luo Qinyang stepped in. Jin Lin immediately got up and ran towards Lan Shuizui.

"Shizui! Shizui!" Jin Ling patted his face, but his skin was cold. He immediately cut the remaining roots but the one connected to his core was stuck. And if he moved him more, Shizui might die for real, because his body was too weak. Jin Ling begun to transfer his spiritual energy to the older. Hoping it would sustain his life force enough to remove the last strap.

"You dare mess with our king!" Yi Weichun launched his swords toward Jin Ling but it was stopped by fairy; who clutched it with her teeth.

Yi Weichun was enraged. The Yao and Wang disciples begun to attack the three. Jin Ling was shielding Shizui with his own body while transferring his spiritual energy to him. Luo Qingyang and Wen Ning were trying their best to defend themselves but they were largely outnumbered. They weren't afraid to die, they had people they wished to protect so they kept on going till last ounce of their strength.

And before they could close their eyes, the attacked stopped. Wen Ning looked around and saw the corpses. The Wen Corpses, which were attacking them before were now protecting them. The cultivators were now surrounded by the corpses.

"Jin Ling..."

Jin ling was holding Lan Shizui in his arms, his own spiritual energy was depleted to a dangerous level. His eyes were closed and he was regulating his breath, not to faint before he could help Shizui get up. And when he heard his voice, he sprung open his eyes.

"S-shizui.."

Lan Shizui raised his hand high to feel the warmth of Jin ling. But he was as cold as him, ready to sleep any instant. He smiled at him through the pain.

"..I'm sorry...for..h-hurting you.." Shizui managed to say.

"I'm sorry too...for not...understanding...your...feelings." Jin Ling managed to reply.

"Jin ling...you can stop now..." Lan Shizui held his hand which was transferring his Qi into him. It was cold.

"I found...this." Jin Ling handed him the long blue cloth which is found on his route to here.

"...My ribbon" 

"..I-I ...threw it... didn't want...them..to touch..." Shizui looked at the ribbon in his hand.

"..will you..hold on to it?" without waiting for his reply, Shizui placed it in his hand, he gave him a weak smile. That was all he could muster.

Wen Ning immediately ran towards him and held him in his embrace. While Luo Qingyang held Jin Ling who fainted.

"This isn't over, my disciples will arrive and you will all be dead." Yi Weichun said laughing. He and his disciples were surrounded by the wen corpses but he had other trick down his sleeves.

"Your disciples will not come, I made sure of that." Wen Ning said with a glare in his eyes.

Let's make it so we don't have to come back here.

And Wen Ning was glad that he made that choice. Back in Yingchuan Wang sect, they used all the talisman that Luo Qingyang had on her and trapped all the disciples.

"What!!" Sect Leader Wang was furious. How did his plan go so wrong? He begun to slaughter the corpses and seeing him, the disciples did the same. But even when they cut them piece by piece, the corpses stayed firm and didn't let them pass.

When it came to love, no one was more Loyal than the Wens.

. . .

Jiang Cheng and Lan Xichen reached the Nightless city only to find a battle ground. Their eyes landed on Wen Ning, who was passing spiritual energy to Wen Yuan.

Spiritual energy?

Great Immortal Baoshao, there's one last thing we ask, and I'm quite certain only you can help with that.

She fulfilled their request! Lan Xichen and Jiang Cheng told Baoshao Sanren about their encounter with Daozhang Xingchen and Daozhang Zichen. When they told about their tragic reunion and farewell, she begun to cry for her disciples.

Why must my children suffer so much?

She agreed to turn Song Lan and Wen Ning back to humans so they wouldn't have to live on resentment anymore. And that was, what that light was about.

Before Lan Xichen could go over to Lan Shizui, Jiang Cheng held his wrist to stop.

"Is Lan Shizui actually a Wen?"

At first lan Xichen looked at Jiang Cheng in a surprise then he gently smiled despite the turmoil in his head. He nodded in confirmation and without any reply went ahead.

That was all the confirmation Jiang Cheng needed. He knew that Lans weren't capable of lying but when they don't want to say something, they just seal their lips. And for once Jiang Cheng was relieved that the older didn't lie to him.

He didn't question why? How? Or anything, he felt the pain in his eyes which proved that wen or not, Lan Xichen loved that boy. Jiang Cheng also knew that It was safer to hide his identity then to reveal it to the world. He was aware what they were capable of doing.

He had been in that position!

He had just wished that instead of Wei Wuxian doing all the things by himself, he should have talked to him first at least. How many people he had to apologize to for Wei Wuxian? He had always been watching his back and he had wished that instead of chasing after him, he could've walked beside him but Wei Wuxian never spared him another glance. Always running ahead of others not stopping for anyone. Those 13 years, he had contemplated on so many possibilities of having worked together with him but all he asked was little chance from his brother. He just wanted his brother to rely on him once, had he done that Jiang Cheng would have opened the Nine Realms just for him. Even after he came to life, he asked Lan Wangji for help. Wei Wuxian relied on him and Jiang Cheng was left in the isolation with nothing but empty promises.

Jiang Cheng looked around to observe, he recognized the Yao disciples. He didn't care, they never cooperated anyway. There were few enemies with grim look on their faces. Jiang Cheng didn't bother. He couldn't find Lan Wangji anywhere. Didn't Lan Xichen say he was heading here?

But where was Jin Ling? Jiang Cheng carefully looked around and saw the Wen Corpses. They were on their side now? He also spotted Bicao with terrified look on her face. Jiang Cheng walked past them and saw a familiar figure.

"Mianmian?" He unconsciously called. Her back was towards him so he wasn't sure. But she appeared to be holding someone.

Jiang Cheng went towards her and million needles stabbed his heart.

"Jin Ling!!"

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

sorry for errors and thank you for reading.