𝔸һһһ, 𝘣ɑ𝘐𝓰𝖊օ𝘣օ𝓰𝑦օ𝒿𝖊օ𝘣𝖊օ𝔯ⅈ𝖓 ｍօvⅈ𝖊 𝓼𝘵ɑ𝔯.
𝔸һһһ, 𝘣𝑦օ𝘐𝘣ⅈｃһⅈ𝓰𝖊𝘵𝒿ⅈ 𝘣𝖊օ𝔯ⅈ𝖓 𝘣ɑｍ.
ɢ𝖊𝗎𝔯ⅈ 𝘣𝖊օ𝘐𝚙𝗎ｍ 𝖊օ𝚙𝒹ɑ𝖊𝒹օ,
ｍ𝖊𝗎𝚔ɑ𝒿ⅈ𝖓𝒹ɑһɑ𝖊𝒹օ,
𝒹ɑ𝓼һⅈ 𝓼ɑ𝔯ɑ𝖓𝓰𝘣ɑ𝒿ⅈ ｍօ𝘵һɑ𝖓𝒹ɑ𝖊𝒹օ.
𝘚һһ, 𝑦𝖊𝓼 Ɩ ɑｍ 𝖓𝗎𝒹𝖊.

Tian Xing was trying her very best to not tense out.

All the Wen supervisory offices were taken down. It was just one final battle with the Wens.

The problem was, Wen Xu had not been killed. Tian Xing didn't know what to think of it.

He was a small side character in the novel. His face was probably never shown either.

That or she doesn't remember his face.

Everyone was preparing for the final attack to the Flame Palace.

All the cultivators had their own gears on and had been on edge.

Wei WuXian, Jiang Cheng, Lan WangJi, Lan XiChen, Jin ZiXuan, Nie MingJue, Lan Qiren, Lan HaoXuan and Jiang FengMian were all on the front lines of the battle. Yu ZiYuan decided to stay at the back ups.

Not because she was any less strong, but because someone strong needed to lead it.

The Jins and Lans were specialised in arrays and barriers. So they took most of the defence duties. While the Jiangs and Nies had been assigned for offence.

Regardless of that, everyone would be fighting in the battle.

Soon, dawn approached. And the day came. The final step of the war.

Tian Xing was worried sick. In the novel, it was because of the Stygian Tiger Amulet that the Wen sect was able to be defeated.

This time, none of that was going to happen. Because Wei WuXian was never thrown into the Burial Mounds. He never became a demonic cultivator and never invented the Stygian Tiger Amulet.

On the contrary, they had better resources. They had more manpower, more politically intelligent people, more strategists and more powerful cultivators than the novel.

The odds were about even. But today they had to.

It was now or never.

Wei WuXian and Lan WangJi polished their swords out and sharpened them. Jiang Cheng wore his heir headpieces, Lan XiChen and Nie MingJue sheathed their swords. Jin ZiXuan's eyes blazed.

Today was the day there would be victory.

_______________________________

Outside the Flame Palace, the soldiers stood, ready. To free themselves from the clutches of Wens, to fight and achieve victory, to have the honour and glory of freedom.

This was it.

The Wens started attacking with a loud battle cry. And the final stage of the war started.

Lan WangJi and Wei WuXian worked together, back to back, slashing opponents one after the other. Blue and red glares danced in the battle wind, as if they had been mates for centuries. How strange that opposite colours blended in so well.

Suibian's red glare intensified. Lan WangJi pulled out his Guqin and gave a sharp blast of spiritual energy, taking out soldiers.

The two father-son Jiangs were like the two sides of the vast sea, one was calm, the other was fierce. Purples flashed in the place they landes their attacks on. Jiang FengMian was as calm as ever, while Jiang Cheng was as aggressive as one can be.

They were truly phenomenal.

On the other side, there was a sparkling duo of the Senior Lan brothers. Lan HaoXuan and Lan Qiren fought with grace, but power. They were both strikingly similar but different in their attacks at the same time. Blue hues were on their sides at all times.

Nie MingJue and Lan XiChen were a duo that were so contrasting but so well put together. With a saber and a sword, strong as ever, they made an excellent collaboration. A deeper green and a lighter green pair of spiritual energy danced around them.

The disciples were all doing everything they could do strike the Wen sect down.

Tian Xing fought with grace and power, Banshui letting out grey hues of spiritual energy, slashed the opponents continuously. Jin ZiXuan joined her, his own sword Suihua glowing, yellow hues dancing around.

"Lady Tian."
"We have come past the point of formalities A-Xuan."

Jin ZiXuan smirked, "True. Then what should I call you?" He asked as he slashed another Wen.
"Xing-jie." Said Tian Xing.

The Wens were losing. Wen Ruohan was getting angrier and angrier.

Nie MingJue roared, "Give up Wen Ruohan! You have lost."

Wen Ruohan laughed like a maniac, "Give up? Huh. Over my dead body."

Just when he was about to start fighting himself, suddenly there was hole in his stomach, blood splashing.

Jin GuangYao had come from behind and stabbed him.

Wen Ruohan looked behind with difficulty, "You traitor..."

Jin GuangYao smiled, a creepy one, "Traitor? No. I am not a traitor. I was never on your side to begin with."

Wen Ruohan's body collapsed on the ground, his last words being, "A spy..."

Dead.

He was gone.

There was a huge battle cry. The Wens had lost.

The remaining Wen soldiers lost their hope with their Sect Leader dead. Those who were still fighting were slashed. The back up disciples came swiftly and captured the remaining Wen soldiers.

Suddenly there was a flash.

And that flash came in front of Jinag Cheng.

Jiang FengMian immediately went alert.

It was Wen Zhuliu. He was about to melt Jiang Cheng's core.

Tian Xing's blood froze over. Wei WuXian's eyes widened in fear and terror.Yu ZiYuan screamed, "A-Cheng!!!!!"

Suddenly, purple robes flared in front of Jiang Cheng. His eyes widened.

Jiang FengMian had taken the blow, his core being melted. He screamed out in pain, something none had seen him ever do.

"UNCLE JIANG!!!"
"FATHER!!!"
"FENGMIAN!!!"

Jiang Cheng took out Sandu and stabbed Wen ZhuLiu instantly in the stomach.

He dropped dead on the spot.

In that instant, Wen Xu held the tip of his sword by Tian Xing nape.

"Don't move. Or you die."

The Wen soldiers were squirming to free themselves, seeing a sliver of chance for victory for them.

Tian Xing sighed.

Wen Xu ordered, "Come with me. I have heard you have been causing enough trouble for our sect. And the rest of you, don't try anything funny. Or there goes her head."

Jiang FengMian had become unconscious with the pain of his golden core being melted, Jiang Cheng clutched his father, crying bitter tears. Wei WuXian had tears of frustration soaking his cheeks. Yu ZiYuan was all but trying to reassure them both but failing miserably.

And now this.

Tian Xing gave all a look that forbade them to move. There was a glint in her eyes.

Wen Xu dragged Tian Xing to the entrance of the Flame Palace. Then he commanded, "Release the sol-"

At that point, there was a view of a flash dragging Wen Xu in. Tian Xing was nowhere.

"What...?" Said Yu ZiYuan.

That was strange. But none have had time to ponder.

The Jiangs put all their remaining spiritual energy on FengMian, Jiang Cheng was wailing, Yu ZiYuan and Wei WuXian were crying silent tears.

Lan HaoXuan was trying his best to help his old friend, giving him spiritual energy.

A few moments later, Jiang FengMian stirred.

"A-Cheng...are you alright?" asked Jiang FengMian. The first thing that came out of his mouth after such an incident was whether his son was safe or not.

Jiang Cheng sobbed, "Yes, yes I am."

"FengMian..." Yu ZiYuan's voice broke.

Yu ZiYuan, for the most part of her life, until recently, had thought her husband favoured Wei WuXian more than his own son.

Her blindness really exceeded even her own expectations.

Jiang Cheng was no better. He always craved for his father's affection. To think this was how his father would prove his love...

Jiang FengMian slowly raised a hand and cupped Jiang Cheng's cheek, his head on Yu ZiYuan's lap, "I am glad...A-Xian...what about you...?"

"I am fine too Uncle Jiang." Said Wei WuXian, his voice hoarse, face tear-streaked.

"Tian Xing... where is she? I saw her before getting unconscious. Everyone else has their cores right?" Asked Jiang FengMian.

"Yes father..." said Jiang Cheng.

Wei WuXian said, "Xing-jie is probably inside with Wen Xu. Something is going on."

"She is probably killing him right now." said Nie MingJue.

Everyone looked at him.

"What? It's true. Have you guys not seen her fight? Clearly she is stronger than Wen Xu. Now that there isn't any threat on her head, of course she can beat him."

What he said made sense.

It was weird to see Nie MingJue think rationally without any rage.

"Let's wait a bit. In the mean time, let's take care of the captured Wen soldiers. WangJi, can you help FengMian along with them? XiChen, MingJue, ZiXuan, come with me." said Lan HaoXuan.

"May I help as well?" came a small voice.

It was Jin GuangYao.

Lan HaoXuan smiled, "Of course."

With that they spread apart in teams.

Wei WuXian spoke, "I will stay with Uncle Jiang."

Jiang Cheng agreed, "Me too."

Yu ZiYuan said with a small smile, "I will go help HaoXuan. Stay here and keep giving him spiritual energy."

With that she left to help the elder Lans.

Lan WangJi held Wei WuXian's trembling hand, "Wei Ying..."

Wei WuXian was shaking violently, he gripped the other's bigger hand for support, "I...I am fine...more over, Uncle Jiang-"

"Mn." said Lan WangJi as he also started to help them.

Jiang Cheng smiled, "Thank you WangJi."

Lan WangJi nodded, "No problem WanYin."

Lan Qiren and Lan XiChen were capturing up Wen soldiers with Nie MingJue and Jin GuangYao when Lan HaoXuan and Yu ZiYuan came in.

"May we help?" said Lan HaoXuan.

Lan XiChen smiled, "You don't have to ask twice."

Lan Qiren looked a few ways before saying, "Where is Tian Xing? Wasn't she at sword point by Wen Xu earlier?"

Yu ZiYuan said with a complicated expression, "Well...she just disappeared. There was a...commotion and then both of them disappeared in thin air. Maybe we need to search for her afterwards. This whole mess."

Lab Qiren shrugged, "I don't think that would be necessary."

Lan HaoXuan smiled, "Why not?"

Lab Queen's expression turned a bit grim, "I think she is a sorceress of some sort. She does some very...strange things."

Yu ZiYuan probed, "Like?"

Lan Qiren's face turned a bit blank, "She..is just strange. She is unhindered and does some things that don't make up any sense. For example, singing songs that... well her voice sounds strong, unlike the ones I have heard. She is not shy to talk about things that are supposed to be taboo topics in the society. I have no idea where she gets the courage to speak that way. It's not necessarily bad. But her ability to insult and enrage people is...rather amazing. This has nothing to do with the current situation of course. But she is just...weird and she will most probably find a way out in her own strange ways."

Yu ZiYuan, "Pffft. Qiren what does that even mean?"

Lan Qiren sighed, "That day, she said that the Lan Clan beats children up in the name of discipline. Of course I was angry about it. But then..."

Yu ZiYuan stopped him. "I can understand the rest. Don't worry."

Lan Qiren sighed again, even more gravely, "I don't think dealing with Wen Xu would be that much of a hassle for her."

Lan HaoXuan laughed awkwardly, "She has a knack for being blunt about things."

He hastily remembered the encounters of a while ago, Tian Xing really had no barriers when she spoke of something. There was not a single filter in her mouth and she was uninhibited in every way possible.

Wei WuXian listened to them quietly.

During the war, she 'played' with several soldiers to the point of being genuinely just cruel and sadistic.

These 'plays' included, making them angry, making them rage, and then give them the beating of their lifetime, tricking them into suicide, or just plainly blackmail them emotionally and mentally.

Her most common line was,
"No one will come to save you."

"𝘋𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘦?"

"𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴? 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴, 𝘴𝘰 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘯𝘦𝘺𝘴. 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘯 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵?"

"𝘏𝘦𝘩𝘦𝘩𝘦𝘩𝘦𝘩𝘦, 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦, 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴?"

"𝘗𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘺𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧, 𝘰𝘳 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘱𝘰𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘵."

"𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘵."

"𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘺. 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩."

"𝘉𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵? 𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭, 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘶𝘯. 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵?"

"𝘋𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘮𝘺 𝘯𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘱 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩? 𝘓𝘦𝘵'𝘴 𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘦?"

"𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘯 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥. 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘰."

"𝘖𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘵. 𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥."

"𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘩, 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦? 𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶? 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 20 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦."

"𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘮 𝘐? 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵? 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘴."

Dealing with Wen Xu alone was child's play for her.

Wei WuXian was a few of the people who had witnessed her doing things like these to Wens. It was strange, because she did these things to only certain Wens. Not all. She would capture some and just torture them to her mind's wish. None really refuted because of course everyone hated the Wens.

But when he saw her smiling ear to ear eerily and talking to a prisoner in hushed whispers, the Wen's face turning increasingly white as a paper, he questioned it out to her.

She was had informed that this particular Wen was abusive towards weak people, especially woman. There were many woman who suffered under his hands.

The prisoner was too scared to refute anything.

He was executed of course. But that encounter made Wei WuXian feel like Tian Xing was a dangerous specimen with no mercy to those who provoked her out, that she was not all sunshine and rainbows.

That there was a deep dark secret about her.

He had only talked about to Lan WangJi about it as he felt uncomfortable to talk about this to anyone else. Lan WangJi assured him up as much as possible.

Besides, whatever dark secrets were buried in her could wait until the war was over.

Wei WuXian had first hand experienced Tian Xing helping him out. So there really was no room for doubts that she was not an evil person.