The Demon Slaughtering Cave is said to be the place where the Yiling Patriarch did his wicked deeds, eating young children and deflowering young maidens. All obvious lies and just rumours of those wishing to scare others with its tales. The cave was the place of slumber for the demonic cultivator and where he would work on his inventions and talismans, but in no way was he a man like the rumours portray.

He hasn't even kissed a person, except for that one time on Phoenix Mountain, but then again, it was the "strong maiden" who had stolen the kiss. And his first kiss too.

The cave was lit with lanterns, letting one see the piles of paper and junk surrounding the working area. On the other side of the cave, there was the blood pool, filled with water and the blood of people from a war ~ or wars ~ centuries in the past.

But compared to how the cave once was when Wei Ying first was here, with blood, rubble and dust everywhere, it was clean for that place's standards.

Kaitlyn did a one over the place and whistled, "Nice place you got here, love the dark and evil aesthetic." She slow-clapped, "Definitely see why it's called the Demon-Slaughtering Cave." Her eyes lingered on the pool of red.

Wei Ying grinned widely, taking her words as the biggest compliment, while Wen Qing sighed. Wei Ying sat on a makeshift sitting pillow, three others placed around the stone table he and Wen Ning set up not long after the fierce corpse's revival ~ and a certain Lan's visit. Wen Qing and Kaitlyn took their seats just when Wen Ning returned with tea.

Wei Wuxian, "Now then, what secrets are you sharing with us today?"

Wen Ning poured the tea, and placed one before all of them, Kaitlyn took hers with a small "Thank You" before taking a sip. They all took a moment.

Kaitlyn set her cup down, "Now I believe you all remember what I told you on day one yes?"

Wen Qing, "That you're a traveller who knows magic?"

Wei Wuxian, "And one of your inventions transported you here."

Kaitlyn grinned, "Ha, you guys did remember. Most people would have thought what I've said was utter nonsense."

Wen Qing grumbled, "Can't really blame them. We are sceptical."

She nodded at the doctors' words, understanding them, "And that is one of the reasons why I asked you here. So, we can talk, and I can validate my story by showing you." She raised her hand, where a silver chain bracelet jingled and snapped her fingers.

Snap!

The bracelet on her wrist burst into white flames, taking the three by surprise, then it shifted and now in Kaitlyn's hand laid a sword. Its design was different from the ones of their land and seemed to radiate a powerful spiritual presence.

There was a twinkle of mirth in Kaitlyn's brown orbs after witnessing the others' amazed filled eyes, "I'd like to introduce to you my partner, Nulla. Nulla, say hello to my new friends." She released the sword and Wen Qing, Wen Ning and Wei Ying watched in awe as the sword twirled and emitted the sound of small bells. It, the sword named Nulla, floated around to each of them while giving off the sound of bells, like it was talking to them in its own language. "Nulla is my spiritual weapon if that wasn't already obvious, and she is the reason for my sudden appearance in the forest."

Wen Ning, "Your... sword, was the reason Lady Kai?"

Kaitlyn, "Yes. See, I made Nulla years ago, and she was the one that made gates for me. See that gemstone at the end of her hilt? That's what makes her almost one of a kind."

There were literal stars in Wei Ying's eyes as he gazed at the beautiful weapon, his prodigy and inventor mind running over the words Kaitlyn spoke of and the endless questions and ideas he could feel building up. Wei Wuxian, "Incredible! Can you show us!? Please, please, please!"

Seeing Wei Ying's childlike eagerness, Kaitlyn laughed and said a small "Sure why not." She looked to her floating partner by her side, "Nulla, do you want to show them?"

Nulla the sword seemed thrilled at the prospect of demonstrating itself to others, the ringing of bells filled the air in its excitement. The gemstone glowed bright and a shift in the air caught the cultivator's attention, the air above them changed and a blue like a whirlpool appeared, its ripples and hues of different blues enchanting them as it swirls.

They were so enamoured that when something fell out of it, they could only blink dumbly at the round pink object.

Wei Wuxian, "What is-"

"Shit!!" Wide-eyed, Kaitlyn dived for the ball on the table and tossed it back through the whirlpool at lightning speed, "Close! Close! Close! Gate Close!!" When the portal shrunk into nothing, Kaitlyn sighed and melted on the stone table, "That was close."

Alarmed, the tense trio sent worried gazes at each other and Kaitlyn who slowly removed herself from the table, somehow not once disturbed the cups from her sudden actions. Wen Qing, "What was that?!"

Kaitlyn gave a sheepish smile and rubbed that back of her head, "Ah, that was a Glitter Bomb." Confusion was visible on their faces at the foreign name. "I promise it wasn't anything dangerous, but it would have been a... sparkly surprise. And is a real mess to clean."

Nulla twirled and chimed around them merrily. Its bell-like laughter rang around them.

"Nulla has a sense of humour, so she likes to do things like this sometimes." Kaitlyn flicks the sword, "Behave you."

Wen Qing, "I- We-" she couldn't find the right words for what they had just witnessed. She was a doctor, one of the best doctors of her generation, her knowledge only extended to her healing and cultivation. She wasn't a mad genius like Wei Ying, who lived for the impossible. But the woman before them... was like she was the impossible.

Wei Wuxian, "Whoa..."

'Oh no.' Wen Qing knew that look; she didn't like that look. That was the look of a child gaining a new friend, a new partner. It would be a fine look on any other cultivator. 'But not. Wei. Wuxian.'

Kaitlyn clapped her hands together, gaining their attention. With a smile, she took back Nulla and the weapon returned to its previous form in a burst of flames. They chatted and asked Kaitlyn questions after questions (Wei Ying). Kaitlyn tried to be as honest as she could afford without giving great details, Wei Ying pouted. But they understood the unsaid words.

Kaitlyn was a traveller, she's been to many places and seen many things, knows many things, and these things can be very dangerous if spoken or told to the wrong people. They knew that better than anyone.

The Wen siblings looked to the demonic cultivator with sad knowing looks.

"Alright!" Kaitlyn announced after answering Wei Ying's questions, pulled out a leather-wrapped journal and pencil from who knows where "Time to answer some of my questions!"

Her questions started simple, what the year was, what part of China were they living in, their history of cultivation and who are the heads of power. They were able to draw out a map to show and explain to her the details of each major sect and significant clan, along with their history.

"There was the Qishan Wen Sect, but... after the war, nearly all were eliminated. I, Wen Ning, Granny, Uncle four, the others... were all that's left. After the war ended, those with the name 'Wen' were instantly captured and sent to the labour camps and tortured to exhaustion or death." Wen Qing grit her teeth. "If it weren't for Wei Wuxian, we would have all been dead."

The atmosphere grew tense at the remembrance of the past pain. Kaitlyn's brows narrowed. "These sects, why are they not part of the school system?"

Wei Wuxian raised a brow at her question, silver eyes glinted, "The school system hasn't been used for centuries. The only one still using the school-based system is the immortal Baoshan Sanren. But she isolated herself from the cultivating world on her mountain, which no one knows where or how to find it. Except... for maybe my mother. But she is not around anymore."

Kaitlyn gave a small nod of understanding and hummed to herself to process the information. She can tell Wei Ying was not a man to dwell on such things or ask for pity, so she didn't give the common "...I'm Sorry for your loss..." Which the man seems to appreciate. Taking a sip of tea, she seemed to have concluded.

"Wow... all that sucks."

"Pft- hahahaha!!" Wei Ying laughed. Wen Qing rolled her eyes with a sigh and Wen Ning smiled barely.

"Aiya~ Lin KaiTe, I swear to you on this day, that I would die of laughter because of you." Wei Ying breathed out with tears.

"I feel that would be a befitting end for the great Yilling Patriarch, imagine what people will say. 'Lived to be a great and feared cultivator, only to find his end at the hands of his laughter~' It could be in the history books of the most memorable deaths to exist!" Kaitlyn deepened her voice to make a point, causing another roar of laughter from the demonic cultivator.

"Shut up Wei Wuxian!" Shouted Wen Qing once her patience grew thin and slapped the man's head.

Wei Wuxian, "Aiya Wen Qing~ Why must you be so mean to me~!"

The doctor and demonic cultivator then went off track with one lecturing the other. Wen Ning poured more tea for Kaitlyn as they just watched the show, casually chatting to each other as they did. Wen Ning covered some of the left-over details to Kaitlyn as they bonded.

Kaitlyn's eyes widened, "Ah! I almost forgot the most important thing!"

Wen Ning, "What is it, Lady Kai??" The bickering two stopped what they were doing.

Kaitlyn, "I need to know your currency! How am I to repay you all if I don't know what you all use?!"

The three looked to each other, "You don't need to-"

Kaitlyn cut them off without second thoughts, "I have to! Everyone here has been so kind to me, all kindness should be repaid in kind!"

All three fell silent at the declaration so similar to the fallen sect's motto.

Wen Qing giggled and smiled fondly at the now confused traveller, "Alright then, we'll show."

Kaitlyn grinned brightly and nodded.

After a short time, Wen Qing returned with a pouch and laid the contents on the table for Kaitlyn's inspection. They explain to her the value and what it could buy. Kaitlyn picked up each piece, with an assessing eye on the silvers and single gold. The trio simply watched her, wondering what she could be thinking.

"Ok, I think I got a grasp of it now."

"A grasp of what?" Wei Ying could stop but ask.

"You'll see" was all Kaitlyn said before a piece of chalk was suddenly in her hand, making the trio fight with themselves on where it came from, before she was already drawing on the table, "I'll clean this off afterwards..." Kaitlyn quickly said and Wen Qing held her tongue.

Not long, Kaitlyn finished, and Wei Ying looked with sparkling curious eyes.

Wen Ning, "What is this? An array?"

Kaitlyn, "Yes in a way. It's called a Transmutation Circle. This is a form of Alchemy."

Wen Qing's head shot up, "Alchemy?"

Kaitlyn grinned, "Yup, but this is a different area of alchemy. I'm sure the alchemy you know of is the medicinal kind."

Wen Qing, with her brilliant and curious mind, nodded back and shortly gave a summary of the alchemy she knew and studied.

The braided haired woman smiled and nodded to the doctor's knowledge before she began to explain, "What I'm about to do should stay between us, if you are willing to stay silent?" they agreed, "Ok"

Kaitlyn raised her hand where a magic circle glowed in the air. The trio watched, entranced by the display of wordless magic, watching as Kaitlyn reached her hand inside the circle and not a moment later, pulled out a solid silver bar. Mouths hung open and eyes stretched.

Wen Ning, "W- wh- w-!?"

Kaitlyn, "Ah, I'll explain. You see long before, I used to travel with loads of luggage and lost them on the way, so I've been trying to find ways of securing my personal belongings somehow without the need to carry so much with me.-" She reached inside the circle again and pulled out gold, "-I made bags bigger on the inside, coats with the same function but pockets, but in the end, I kept losing either one at some point. But then-'' There were now five gold bars and ten silver bars placed in the transmutation circle, "-I came across the pocket dimension magic. And all I needed was to summon the circle and bada bing bada boom~! No more luggage!"

By this point the trio was too speechless to comprehend the magic users ramble, not that they would have understood, by the end of her tale, Kaitlyn saw that she had enough and banished the magic circle. She noticed the others and had a grin somewhere between sheepish and wildly amused. Pouring more tea for herself and the others, it took a few moments before they gradually took them.

A sip and a blink, Wei Wuxian breathed, "Whoa..."

Kaitlyn laughed and winked playfully, "That's just the beginning~!" was all she said before her hands touched the chalk-drawn circle, and started to glow.