Qiongqi Path was an ancient path that ran through a valley. According to legend, the path was where the founder of the QishanWen Sect, Wen Mao, rose to fame in just one battle. Hundreds of years ago, he fought a divine beast for an entirety of eighty-one days, taking its life in the end. The divine beast was the Qiongqi, a divine beast of chaos known to punish the good and encourage the evil, to devour the loyal, the righteous and to award the malicious. Of course, whether the legend was actually true or if it was exaggerated by the succeeding sect leaders of the QishanWen Sect would be impossible to determine.

"Is it true?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"About the beast defeated by your founder?" he added while looking at Wen Rouhan.

"Yes, it is. It's written on a book." Wen Rouhan answered.

"Who wrote it?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"What if it's fake?" he added.

"Our founder is the one who wrote it." said Wen Rouhan.

"If you want a proof, come visit Qishan after this." he added.

"Will there be some wine?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"A lot." Wen Rouhan winked.

Hundreds of years later, this valley had turned from a rift of danger to a scenery of praise and of tourism. After the Sunshot Campaign, the sects divided up the area that the QishanWen Sect used to hold, and Qiongqi Path was taken by the LanlingJin Sect. Originally, all of the tall walls of the valley were carved with life stories of the founder Wen Mao. Now that the LanlingJin Sect had taken over, of course it couldn’t let the QishanWen Sect’s glorious past continue to exist. It was in the middle of reconstruction, meaning that all of the reliefs on both sides would be chiselled down and new ones would be carved. Naturally, in the end, it’d be given a new name that’d emphasize the LanlingJin Sect’s gallantry.

Such a large-scale undertaking would need many laborers for sure. And, as for these laborers, of course there were no better candidates than the Wen Sect’s prisoners of war, who had become homeless dogs after the Sunshot Campaign.

Wen Rouhan scoffed, his eyes were red.

"This time, no one will take Qiongqi Path from us." he said.

"Those who are involve with punishing my people will suffer the same fate." he added.

"Why? Maybe those who punished them were just ordered to do so. Besides, they didn't do anything like that in this life." said Wei Wuxian.

"Oh please don't defend them, a-niang." said Sizhui.

"They were not ordered, they did it on their own." he added.

"Besides, there's no Jin who isn't like that in this life." said Jingyi.

Jin Zixuan and Jin ling gave him a look.

"Except the both of you." said Jingyi.

When the two reached Qiongqi Path, it was already nighttime. Against the dark veil, cold strands of rain quivered in the air. One step after another, Wen Qing followed Wei WuXian closely, trembling as though she was cold not from the outside but from the inside. Wei WuXian had to help her a little every once in a while. Before the valley was a row of shacks built temporarily for the prisoners of war to spend their nights. Leading Wen Qing, Wei WuXian saw an old, bent-over figure from afar. Cloaked in rain, the figure walked slowly, carrying a large flag. When it walked nearer, it became clear that the person carrying the flag was a wobbly old woman. She carried on her back a young toddler who paid attention to nothing but nibbling his fingers, fixed into position by a few cloth rags. The old and the young walked to and fro across the road. The old woman found the flag to be quite difficult to carry. She had to rest after walking for just a few steps, putting down the flag.

"So heartless." said MianMian.

"Why would they do that to the old woman with a toddler?" she asked.

"Granny, a-yuan." Wen Qing mumbled.

"I understand that Wens should be punished but why did they the old and the young?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"Exactly! It's understandable that people on such age doesn't participate in a war and more than that, they can't harm anyone." said Jiang Cheng.

"Just because they have the surname Wen?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"That's so immoral." he said while glaring at the screen.

"I swear, if my future self didn't do anything about this, I will strangle him if we ever met." said Jiang Cheng.

"You don't want me to lose a mother, right?" asked Jingyi.

Jiang Cheng send him a glare.

Seeing this, Wen Qing yelled with red eyes, “Granny! It’s me!”

The old woman probably couldn’t see or hear well. She couldn’t tell by sight or by hearing who the person was. All she knew was that someone approached and shouted something at her. She hastily took up the flag again, her face full of fear, as though she was scared that she’d be found out and scolded.

Wen Qing ran over and grabbed the flag from her, “What is this? What are you doing?”

A large sun, crest of the QishanWen Sect, was painted over the flag. However, it a blood-red cross was plastered on top of it. The flag itself was torn to bits as well. From when the Sunshot Campaign ended until now, countless people were labeled ‘leftover Wen-dogs’. Countless methods were used to torture them too, even called the euphemism ‘self reflection’. Wei WuXian knew it was likely because she was too old and couldn’t be a laborer like the others that the leader here came up with such a way to torment her. She had to carry the Wen Sect’s tattered flag and walk around in self humiliation.

"They don't have any respect or even mercy for the old woman at all." said MianMian.

"They don't have any mercy to anyone, you should say that instead." said Wen Qing.

"Does the Jiang Sect also participate in torturing them?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"Of course not." said Jingyi.

"There are no Wens under the Jiang Sect. Wei-jiujiu and you doesn't like torturing people who didn't even do anything to you." he added.

"You say that like I didn't torture anyone who cultivates demonic path in the future." said Jiang Cheng.

"That's another situation. That is after the first siege." said Jingyi.

"He didn't participate but he didn't stopped it either." said Jiang Cheng.

"A-niang, I really don't know how to explain that to you." said Jingyi.

"I can only say that he has his own reason." he added but Jiang Cheng just scoffed.

Surprised, the old woman first flinched. When she could finally tell who it was, her jaw dropped.

Wen Qing asked, “Granny, where’s A-Ning? Where’s Fourth Uncle and the rest? Where’s A-Ning?!”

The old woman looked at Wei WuXian, standing beside her, and didn’t dare say anything. She only looked in the direction of the valley. Unable to do anything else, Wen Qing sprinted over.

"Wen Ning is probably dead by now." said Jiang Cheng which received a smack from Wei Wuxian.

"What?" he asked.

"Can you please don't say that. They still didn't recover for what is happening and your saying that he's dead." said Wei Wuxian.

"I didn't say anything wrong though. Look at the Grandma's eyes, it's saying everything." said Jiang Cheng.

"It's okay. I already expected that my brother is gone the moment the Jins captured him." said Wen Qing.

"I don't have to hope for something impossible." she added.

Wei Wuxian could only glare at Jiang Cheng.

Torches were set up on both sides of the valley. The flames flickered now and then within the faint strings of rain, but their blaze nonetheless illuminated the hundreds of heavy silhouettes on the path.

The prisoners were all ghastly pale, their steps dragging. They weren’t allowed to use spiritual powers or any other instruments, not only by the LanlingJin Sect’s precautions against them, but also because it had to be punishing. Over a dozen inspectors, bearing black umbrellas, rode on horseback through the rain as they scolded. Wen Qing rushed into the rain, her eyes scanning frantically across every tired, grime-covered face.

One of the inspectors noticed her, raising a hand and shouting, “Where did you come from? Who let you run around here?”

Wen Qing urged, “I’m here to find someone, I’m here to find someone!”

The inspector approached, pulling something from the side of his waist and waving it about, “I don’t care if you’re looking for someone or not— leave! If you don’t…”

"What are you going to do?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"You can't hurt anyone under my watch." he added.

"It won't end up good." said Jiang Cheng.

"Those people will probably do something to Wen-guniang." said Nie Huaisang.

"They can, if they want to die." said Wei Wuxian.

"So Wen Ning isn't there." said Jiang Cheng.

"It couldn't be that he escaped, right?" asked Jin Zixuan.

"It can't be. A-ning won't leave the others alone." said Wen Qing.

"So he's —"

"Don't continue that, Jiang Cheng." said Wei Wuxian.

Wen Qing is holding Wen Ning tightly. Seeing that, Jiang Cheng decided to keep quiet.

At this point, he saw that a black-robed man walked over from behind the young woman. As if his tongue had gotten tied, his voice trailed off.

The young man bore handsome features, but his eyes were rather cold. He couldn’t help but shiver under the gaze. Soon, he realized that the young man wasn’t staring at him, but instead the iron brand that he brandished.

The iron brand within the inspector’s hand was the same kind as what the QishanWen Sect’s servants used. It was only that the shape of the brand at the top was changed from the sun crest to the peony crest.

"You seemed to hate the brand." said Jin Zixuan.

"Maybe because I knew how painful it is." said Wei Wuxian.

"Does all the sect have that kind of brand with different crest?" he asked.

"Maybe." said Nie Huaisang.

"Why?" he asked.

"I don't want to see it. People shouldn't use such thing." said Wei Wuxian.

"Worry not, if we saw one of it, we will use it on Wang Lingjiao." Nie Huaisang grinned.

"On a second thought, I want to use it." Wei Wuxian grinned.

The passed out Wang Lingjiao in the corner shivers unconsciously.

"I didn't remember that she passed out. Is she still alive?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"Because she can't die yet." he added.

"She's still alive, no need to worry." said Wen Xu.

"Good." said the twin prides.

As Wei WuXian took note of this, cold light flashed within his eyes. Many of the inspectors recognized him. They stopped their horses quietly, whispering among each other. Nobody dared stop Wen Qing any longer, and she shouted as she searched, “A-Ning! A-Ning!”

No matter how desolate her voice was, no one answered her. She saw no trace of her brother even after she searched through the entire valley. If Wen Ning were here, he would’ve rushed toward her long ago. Stealthily, the inspectors dismounted their horses. The entire group stared at Wei WuXian, as though hesitating about whether or not to greet him.

"No need to greet me. I hate fake pleasantries anyway." said Wei Wuxian.

"Jiang-gongzi must be right, Wen Ning is gone by now." said a Jin disciples.

"And you'll be the next one." said Wen Rouhan.

Wen Qing rushed over and asked, “Where are the Wen cultivators sent here just a few days ago?”

The people looked at one another. After some dawdling, an inspector who looked quite honest spoke up, his tone friendly, “All of the prisoners here are the Wen Sect’s cultivators. New ones are sent here every day.”

Wen Qing, “It’s my brother, sent here by Jin ZiXun! He… He’s about this tall. He doesn’t talk much, stammers whenever he talks…”

The inspector, “Hey, Maiden, look. There are so many people here. How could we remember if any of them stammers or not?”

Wen Qing stomped her feet in anxiety, “I know he has to be here!”

"If that was me, I would have been frustrated." said MianMian.

"They're clearly lying." she added.

"Do you expect for them to tell the truth?" asked Nie Huaisang.

"But, even if they didn't pay attention to the prisoners, they could still remember someone who stammers since he's the only one." said MianMian.

"Whether they knew him or not, they can't say that to her knowing that they already harmed him." said Jiang Cheng.

The inspector was round and chubby. He gave an obsequiously apologetic grin, “Maiden, don’t worry. Actually, it happens a lot that other sects come to us for cultivators. Maybe somebody else took him during the past few days? When we do roll calls, we’d sometimes find that someone ran away as well…”

Wen Qing, “He wouldn’t have ran away! Granny and the others are all here. My brother wouldn’t have ran away on his own.”

The inspector, “Then, would you like to take your time searching for him? All of the people are here. If you don’t find him, then we can’t do anything about it either.”

"Yeah, all the alive people are there." said Wei Wuxian.

"Exactly! Wen Ning isn't there because he's dead. They can't just leave the corpse around the place." said Jiang Cheng.

"A-ning." Wen Qing mumbled.

"These Jins." said Wen Rouhan as the resentful energy started to surround him.

"Wen Rouhan." Lan Qiren glared.

Suddenly, Wei WuXian spoke up, “All of the people are here?”

As he spoke, all of their faces froze for an instant. The inspector turned toward him, “That’s right.”

Wei WuXian, “Fine. For the time being, I’ll take it that all the living ones are here. Then, what about the rest?”

Wen Qing’s figure wobbled.

The ‘rest’ as compared to the ‘living’ could only be the ‘dead’.

"What must have caused his death?" asked Nie Huaisang.

"Maybe because he tried to defend the others that's why they tortured him to death." said Jiang Cheng.

"Or they just want to kill him." said Wei Wuxian.

"Just because he's a Wen." he added.

"Wen or not, my brother didn't do anything bad." said Wen Qing.

"Just because of our surname." she mumbled.

"A-qing." called Wen Rouhan.

"I understand but, what I don't understand is why no one tried to understand that we didn't kill anyone." she said.

"They are blinded by their hatred." said Sizhui.

The inspectors quickly replied, “That’s not the way to talk. Although it’s all Wen cultivator’s here, we’ve never dared do anything fatal.”

"Didn't dare to do anything fatal yet someone still died." said Wei Wuxian.

"Why are you guys so mad for the Wens?" asked a Jin disciple.

"You don't even know them that much." he added.

"That's because they once saved our life." said Wei Wuxian.

"Besides, those Wens clearly didn't do anything." said Jiang Cheng.

"That's what people failed to understand in the future." said Zizhen.

As though he heard nothing, Wei WuXian took out the flute at his waist. The few prisoners who were beside him, trudging forward, screamed before they threw off the heavy objects on their backs and fled. Within the valley, a large circle of space formed immediately, him in the center.

In truth, the prisoners didn’t recognize Wei WuXian’s face, for the Wen Sect cultivators who ran into Wei WuXian on the battlefield of the Sunshot Campaign only met one end—utter annihilation. Thus, most of the Wen cultivators who recognized his face became fierce corpses in his army, for him to command. However, the flute made of dark wood, decorated with a crimson tassel, and the young man in black who controlled it had already become their nightmares.

From everywhere, people exclaimed, “It’s the ghost flute Chenqing!”

"Just how powerful is that flute?" asked Jin Zixuan.

"You can't measure." said Jin Ling.

"Just by hearing it can make all your hair stand in a second." he added.

"But, it's not that scary." said Jingyi.

"Only if Wei-jiujiu won't use in a dark tone." he added.

"I wonder where Chengqing is now that I am back alive." said Wei Wuxian.

"When I died, did someone took it and use for evil?" he asked.

"It was in good hands for thirteen years, Wei-daijiu." said Jin Ling.

"Who kept it?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"You'll know." said Jingyi.

Wei WuXian put Chenqing to his lips. The shrill sound of the flute first ripped through the night sky and across the curtains of rain with the force of an arrow. Immediately after, its residue echoed through the entire valley. Only one note, and Wei WuXian placed Chenqing back. He stood with his arms hanging down, a cold grin at his lips, letting the drops of rain dampen his hair and clothes.

Soon, someone suddenly spoke, “What’s that sound?”

Yelps of surprise suddenly came from the far side of the crowd. Scrambling, the people soon emptied out an area of the circle with which they surrounded him. In the area stood slantingly around a dozen tattered figures, tall and short, men and women. Some of them gave off the stench of rotting flesh. The one who stood at the front was Wen Ning, whose eyes were still open.

"What the fuck?!" cursed Jiang Cheng.

"Is this where he turned Wen Ning into a fierce corpse?" asked Nie Huaisang.

"Probably." said Jin Zixuan.

"I bet, Wei Wuxian will make him kill all those who hurt him." said Jiang Cheng.

"I wonder how fun that would be." he added.

"Killing isn't fun." Lan Xichen whispered.

"It is." said Jiang Cheng.

"I want to see it." said Wei Wuxian.

"I can already imagine how Wen Ning will strangle them." he smirked.

"Don't mind what my friends are saying." Nie Huaisang said to Wen Ning.

"They're just having their fun." he added.

His face was as pale as wax and his pupils were dilated. The blood at the corner of his lips had already dried into a dark brown. Although his chest didn’t rise and fall at all, it was obvious to see that half of his ribcage had collapsed. Nobody who saw such a scene would think that he was still alive, but Wen Qing still didn’t give up, grabbing for his pulse with trembling hands.

Holding onto him for a few moments, she finally broke into tears.

She’d been both scared and anxious, running as though she was mad, but she was still too late. She couldn’t even see her brother one last time.

Wen Qing was now crying silently, hugged by her brother.

"Who dare do that to him?!" Wen Rouhan raged, voice thundering around the room.

"Fuqin." called Wen Xu as the resentful energy are surrounding the place making some people breath hardly.

Wen Rouhan glanced at the Jins specifically to Jin Zixun.

In a second, he was already standing in front of the man as he lifted him up with his hand on the neck.

"You dumb Jin." he muttered as he choked the man.

Jin Zixun tried so hard to breath until he passed out because of lack of air. Wen Rouhan unsheathed his sword and ready to strike when a blast of energy struck him making him stumble backwards.

'Killing is Forbidden in this place. No one is allowed to take life from anyone, not until the whole show is finished.'

'You can harm, torture, and make them suffer but cannot kill.'

'Once the show is done, you are free to do whatever you want.'

"What the fuck?!" cursed Wen Rouhan.

"That cannot be." he said.

"Then let him suffer." said Jiang Cheng.

"Isn't that more fun?" he added.

Wen Rouhan smirked as he picked Jin Zixun up and tossed him to the wall before sitting back on his seat with a satisfied smile plastered on his face.

"Who might be doing this thing?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"Well find out sooner or later." said Qingheng-jun.

Wen Qing cried as she touched Wen Ning’s ribs, as if she wanted to piece them back together. In vain hopes, she clung onto the nonexistent possibility. Her sweet features were wrung distorted, becoming unsightly, ugly, even. But, when someone was in the deepest of their sorrows, they’d never be able to cry with grace.

In front of the stiff corpse of her only younger brother, not a fragment was left of the pride that she tried so hard to upkeep.

The shock that Wen Qing received was too strong. Finally, she couldn’t hang on any longer and passed out. Standing behind her, Wei WuXian caught her without saying anything, letting her lean onto his chest. He closed his eyes, opening them a short while later, “Who killed him?”

"There's no need to ask." said Nie Huaisang.

"They won't answer it with the truth anyway." he added.

"They will even make a reason with it." said MianMian.

"I won't forgive any of them." said Wen Qing.

"No one could really forgive when something like that happens to them." said Jiang Yanli.

"Wei Wuxian's patience is slowly slipping off." said Jiang Cheng.

"If that was me, I would have whipped them already." he added.

His tone was between hot and cold. It was as if he wasn’t angered, but rather thinking about something. The inspector at the head thought that he still had a chance, answering in denial, “Young Master Wei, you mustn’t say such a thing. We wouldn’t dare kill a single person here. He’s the one who wasn’t careful while working, fell off the valley walls and died.”

Wei WuXian, “Nobody would dare kill a single person? Is that true?”

The inspectors swore in unison, “Absolutely!” “Not a single one!”

Wei WuXian smiled, “Oh. I understand.”

"Understand what?" asked Su She.

"Something you will never." said Jingyi.

"This inspector's reason seems quite impossible." said Jin Zixuan.

"Because it's impossible." said Jiang Cheng.

"Wen Ning could not be that dumb to not be careful while working if that's what they call it and died because his cause of his death is far from falling." he added.

"When you lie, you must be sure that there's no flaw or else other people will find out that you're lying." he continued.

"No wonder, you guys are so good at that." Jingyi mumbled.

"So they're lying?" asked a random cultivator.

Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng gave him a look.

Immediately after, he continued calmly, “It’s because they’re Wen-dogs, and Wen-dogs aren’t people. So even if you killed them, it doesn’t count as having killed people. That’s what you mean, isn’t it?”

This was exactly what the lead inspector was thinking when he said it. With his thoughts read, his complexion paled. Wei WuXian added, “Or did you really think I wouldn’t know how someone died?”

All of the inspectors were speechless. As if they finally realized that the situation wasn’t in their favor, they looked like they were shrinking backward. Wei WuXian maintained his smile, “It’s best if you admit everything honestly. Who’s the one that killed him? Step forward on your own. Or else, I’d prefer killing the wrong people over letting them go. Killing all of you would make sure that no one is let off.”

"Poor them." Jiang Cheng smirked.

"Why does it gave me pleasure when watching a Jin and a Wen suffering?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"Because you hated them." said Sizhui.

"But not all Wens." said Wei Wuxian.

"Only Wen Chao and his followers." he added.

"What about the Jins?" asked Wen Rouhan.

"All of them except my precious nephew, a-ling." answered Wei Wuxian making Jin Zixuan roll his eyes at him.

"But what do you think will happen there?" asked Nie Huaisang.

"Wen Ning is going to squeeze their organs out." laughed Jiang Cheng.

People turned to look at him with unbelievable look.

"So cruel, ChengCheng." said Wei Wuxian.

The group felt their scalps tingle and their blood run cold. The head inspector stammered, “The YunmengJiang Sect and the LanlingJin Sect have been getting along with each other. You mustn’t…”

Hearing this, Wei WuXian glanced at him, his tone amused, “You’re quite brave. Are you threatening me?”

The head inspector hurried, “Of course not, of course not.”

"It's not like I could stop Wei Wuxian." said Jiang Cheng.

"Besides, if those Jins just didn't kill Wen Ning then maybe nothing bad will happen to them." he added.

"That's what they're going to regret." said Wei Wuxian.

Wei WuXian, “Congratulations to you for successfully draining all my patience. Since you don’t want to speak up, let’s let him answer on his own.”

As though it’d been waiting for his words for a long time, Wen Ning’s frozen corpse suddenly moved, raising its head. Before the two nearest inspectors could even scream, each of their throats was clenched by a hand as firm as iron.

"He's not going to really do what Jiang-xiong said, right?" asked Nie Huaisang.

The juniors gave him a look.

"We don't know." they all said.

Expressionless, Wen Ning raised up the two short-legged inspectors high in the air. The empty circle around them grew larger and larger. The head inspector shouted, “Young Master Wei! Young Master Wei! Please go easy on us! Doing this in the heat of the moment would lead to irreversible consequences!”

The rain fell heavier and heavier. Drops of water trickled incessantly down Wei WuXian’s cheeks.

He suddenly spun around, putting his hand on Wen Ning’s shoulder before shouting, “Wen QiongLin!”

"Oh please, I'm waiting." said Wen Rouhan with a grin.

"These Jins' fates will be much worse than the Wens." he laughed.

"I don't care about consequences as long as I gave justice to what happened." said Wei Wuxian.

"Please, don't be so cruel. I can't take it." Nie Huaisang mumbled as he hid behind his brother.

"You can take it." said Nie Mingjue as he forcefully grabbed his little brother back to his seat.

As if a reply, Wen Ning let out a long, thundering roar. The ears of everyone within the valley ached.

Wei WuXian spoke one word at a time, “Whoever caused all of you to be like this, let them meet the same end. I give you the right to do so. Settle everything!”

Hearing this, Wen Ning immediately crashed the two inspectors that he was holding together. Like exploding watermelons, the two heads immediately let out a loud bang, sending red and white flying everywhere.

Nie Huaisang screamed at once along with other cultivators who didn't expected such event.

"Didn't expect that." said Jin Zixuan.

The Jins are full of horror.

"A-ning." Wen Qing mumbled.

"How could my brother be like that?" she asked.

"Because of resentment." said Wen Rouhan.

"He only think of extracting his revenge to those who cause his death." he added.

"He will still came back to what he used to be, right?" asked Wen Qing.

"He will." said Sizhui.

"But, more braver." he added.

The scene was hauntingly grotesque. Screams sounded all throughout the valley. Horses neighed and prisoners fled—it was more than chaotic. Wei WuXian took up Wen Qing in his arms. As if nothing happened, he crossed the panicking crowd and held up the reins of a horse. As he was about to turn around, a slight-figured prisoner called him, “… Mr. Wei.”

Wei WuXian turned to look at him, “What?”

The prisoner’s voice quivered slightly as he pointed in a certain direction, “There’s… There’s a house on that side of the valley. They use it to… lock people inside and beat them up. Anyone who dies would be dragged outside and buried. Some of the people you’re looking for might be over there…”

Wei WuXian, “Thank you.”

"My family members?" asked Wen Qing.

"Mn. Those who are close with you and only follow you." said Sizhui.

"Do you think, Wei-xiong could escape easily?" asked Nie Huaisang.

"Of course he can." said Jingyi.

"No one could stop him anyway." said Zizhen.

"Thank you, Wei Wuxian." said Wen Qing as she stood up preparing to bow.

"Oh no, Qing-jiejie. Don't ever bow to me." said Wei Wuxian.

"Didn't you refused to accept our bow too." he added.

"It's different." said Wen Qing.

"How was it different? It's just the same." said Wei Wuxian with a grin.

"No need to bow. I don't like it." he added.

Wen Qing could only smile at him.

He followed the direction that the person pointed and indeed saw a shed that seemed like it was only temporarily built. Holding Wen Qing in one hand, he kicked the door open. In a corner of the room sat around a dozen people, all of them bruised and bleeding. They flinched from the shock of him kicking the door open so crudely. When a few of them saw Wen Qing, lying in Wei WuXian’s arms, they rushed over, ignoring their heavy injuries, “Maiden Qing!”

One of them seethed, “Who… Who are you? What did you do to Office Leader?”

Wei WuXian, “Nothing. Who are the cultivators under Wen Ning? Cut the nonsense and step out now!”

"There's a lot of Wen people they caught but those are not cultivators." said Wen Rouhan.

"What did they do for them to be treated like that?" he asked.

"You're saying that like you didn't do anything to harm others sect just to show your power." said Sect Leader Yao.

"But, as far as I can remember, I only harm the cultivators." said Wen Rouhan.

"Besides, you guys need a lesson." he added.

"That's not how to give a lesson to those who are under you, Rouhan." said Qingheng-jun.

"Whatever. As long as those Wens are saved then I would be truly thankful to little Wei here." said Wen Rouhan.

"You can thank me with an alcohol." Wei Wuxian grinned.

"Whatever my nephew wants." said Wen Rouhan.

The group stared among themselves, but Wei WuXian had already left, Wen Qing in his arms. They could do nothing but force themselves to follow, helping one another up. As soon as they left the house, before they could even tell what the chaos within the valley was all about, Wei WuXian ordered, “Get the horses. Hurry up!”

A middle-aged man protested, “No, our Young Master Wen Ning…”

Suddenly, a severed head flew across his sight. The people turned around just in time to see Wen Ning crash a corpse the limbs of which were still twitching onto the ground. With bare hands, he grabbed for the internal organs.

Wei WuXian shouted, “Enough!”

Gagging noises could be heard around the room.

"Damn. That's worse than what I had imagined." said Jiang Cheng.

"That's the most cruelest thing I have ever saw in my whole life." said Nie Huaisang.

"I never knew that the Ghost General could be this cruel." said Zizhen.

"Can you guys stop him?" asked Wen Qing.

"That's so unlike my brother." she added.

"He will just stop when it's already enough." said Jiang Cheng.

"Or if Wei Wuxian will stop him." he added.

Low growls came from Wen Ning’s throat, as though he still wasn’t satisfied. Wei WuXian whistled and said again, “Get up!”

Wen Ning could only stand up. Wei WuXian, “What are you waiting for? Mount the horses! Don’t tell me you’re waiting for me to find you swords?”

"No need to look for swords. Just leave." said Jin Zixuan.

"Before other cultivators came." he added.

"Are you worried?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"I will never be." said Jin Zixuan.

One of the group remembered that an elderly was here. He hastened to bring the old woman and the toddler along, helping them onto a horse. Holding the still-unconscious Wen Qing, Wei WuXian himself mounted his horse as well. The dozens of people found a single dozen horses amid the pandemonium. Around two or three people took one horse despite the discomfort. The old woman couldn’t ride one by herself and she had to somehow carry the child with her.

Seeing this, Wei WuXian stretched out his hand, “Give him to me.”

The old woman shook her head many times. The child hugged his granny’s neck tightly as well, on the verge of sliding off. There was an unconcealable fear within the two’s eyes. With a reach, Wei WuXian lifted the child up and tucked him under his arm.

"This kid looks cute." said Wei Wuxian.

"But, granny should not be afraid. I will never harm a child." he added.

"That kid might be really important to her. Yiu grabbing the kid will scare her." said Jiang Cheng.

"The kid is more safe with me." said Wei Wuxian.

"How would she know?" asked Jiang Cheng.

"Ah leave it. I already got the kid anyways." said Wei Wuxian.

The old woman was scared to death, “A-Yuan! A-Yuan!”

Although the child called A-Yuan was still quite young, he already knew fear, but still he didn’t cry. He only continued to nibble at his fingers as he snuck a few glances at Wei WuXian.

Wei WuXian shouted, “We’re going!” His legs struck against the horse’s back and led the group. Around a dozen horses followed behind him, dashing into the night rain.

"Where are they going?" asked Jin Zixuan.

"To the Burial Mound, I guess." said Nie Huaisang.

"Why there?" asked MianMian.

"Because that's where they lived based on what we have watched back at the scene in the Burial Mound." said Nie Huaisang.

"But, why is the kid name's a-yuan?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"Because his name is Wen Yuan." said Sizhui.

"That's you?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"No, I'm Lan Yuan while he is Wen Yuan." said Sizhui.

"You two have the same name." said Jiang Cheng.

"Mn." said Sizhui.

"How did that happened?" asked Wei Wuxian.

"You can ask yourself." said Jin Ling.

"This is making me confuse." said Wei Wuxian.

"You'll find out." said Sizhui with a smile.

_______________________________________

Sorry guys for the late update.

If you guys are also confuse at the last part and wonders why Sizhui said that then I will explain it here.

The a-yuan in the book is Sizhui, that's what we all know.

In this story of mine, Wen Yuan and Lan Yuan are different. Lan Yuan is Wei Wuxian's son while Wen Yuan is Wen Qing's nephew.

The one adopted by Lan Wangji is his own son, Lan Yuan while I'm going to make Wen Yuan live with the Jiangs because Wei Wuxian got to make Jiang Cheng agreed to adopt the child before the siege in the Burial Mound.

I will explain this part more further in the chapter where it is all about Wei Wuxian being pregnant and giving birth.

If you guys are still confused and you are free to ask me questions. I am willing to answer all of it.

Hope you enjoy!