The sun was rising over YunShen Buzhi. I had been awake for several hours. Today my future and the future of the clan would be decided. Uncle and the elders would make their decision. They had one year to find a solution. A year to find a way to deal with my threat.

As far as I was concerned, I had only two options. Stay or leave permanently. This year spent far from the rules of the clan with Baochen, had made me discover things that had always been unknown to me.

During this year, I had learned to laugh and to look at my surroundings differently than through the rigid rules of the Lan clan. Baochen had been a friend to me, maybe a little more... Sometimes I wondered what my life would have been like if a man like him had been my father or my uncle? If he had raised me? He had made me discover who I really was deep inside.

This deep "me" that I was hiding and that my love had begun to bring out. Baochen had made it develop. I finally accepted who I was in all the complexity of the man I was. Today I knew that I was a romantic who could only have one love. I was possessive and jealous, resentful and like many warriors, I could be violent and brutal. All of these traits had always been controlled by Uncle since my father had abandoned my education to him. He had worked hard to destroy any rebellious instincts in me. But he had failed!

I think my very first time was the day I learned that my mother would never open the door to the Jingshi again. I continued to come every month in the hope of seeing her again. Even after I realized that she was not coming back... I didn't want to give up! Uncle must have understood that day.

Yet he gave me all the weapons leading to his failure. I did not have the same character as Brother, who had submitted. It is true that unlike me, he had the responsibility of being the leader of the Lan clan!

The power system of our sect was not the same as the others. The power was divided in two, between the council of elders and the clan chief. The council managed internal decisions and the chief managed political decisions with other clans.

This system had worked for 1,000 years and had always seemed fair.

In a few hours, I was going to confront them. Would they give in or resist. I knew that if they gave in, there would be a demand in return. But I didn't want to make any concessions and I don't think I would. I had nothing to lose anyway.

Baochen had told me that I could stay in Baling. He was easy to talk to. He was a good listener and then ... he was so much like you! Sometimes I felt like I had you by my side when we were together. It's strange, during this past year, I didn't have any nightmares!

In the Jingshi, I hear SiZhui preparing breakfast. He said that I should be in good shape for the test that awaits me.

Last night, after playing my question to the spirits, I had decided to proceed with the maintenance of Lan Yi's sword. I had taken the Qiankun pouch out of my hiding place, the sword was safe inside. I took care of it regularly. The spirit of the sword had to know that it was not forgotten and that someone was taking care of it.

When SiZhui entered, I put the sword next to Wangji. SiZhui, had stopped and looked at him for a long time, frowning.

"Fathers this is not Bichen! "

"No, it's a weapon I have custody of."

My son looked fascinated. His eyes did not leave the weapon for a moment. He walked over and sat down in front of me, still staring at it.

"What is her name, Father? "

"Bai Hua Yong" (pure brave flower)

"She is very beautiful! "He moved his hand forward and brushed his fingertips against the decorations on the guard. The sword began to glow softly surrounded by a bluish aura similar to Bichen's. The aura of Lan! SiZhui was not a Lan by blood! Yet in all likelihood, the sword spirit had accepted him as such!

"In 4 years, if the spirit still agrees, I will present it to you at the passing exam. In the meantime, I will teach you how to use it. This sword is very powerful. It belonged to a cultivator who shared this power. "

"I will know how to prove myself worthy of it Father."

"I don't doubt it for a moment. It's getting late, bedtime is approaching. "

"I'll be going now, Father, I wish you a good night. SiZhui stood up and greeted me. His eyes did not leave the sword until he left the room.

I entered the Jingshi. The table was set and my son was waiting for me next to it. He greeted me. I greeted him back and we sat down. We ate in silence. When we finished, SiZhui asked me.

"Father, what time do you have to go to the orchid room? "

"Now."

"Can I come with you?

"It's best that you stay out of this. What happens today will affect not only our personal lives but also the clan, no matter what decision is made.

I got up and left the Jingshi. On the way, I passed many disciples on their way to the morning reading. The reading had been moved to the library because the orchid room was taken by the council.

I heard murmurs as I passed. I knew that many of the clan members were wondering about my abrupt departure a year earlier. Just as with my "retirement," a story had been made up! The Lan clan, which prided itself on its integrity, had on several occasions invented lies to justify the actions of my part that disturbed them! I was not ashamed of it! They were!

I presented myself at the entrance. A disciple let me in. The 12 Elders of the Council were seated on either side of the center of the room. Brother was seated in the center. Uncle was standing to his right.

I greeted my brother! The others... were indifferent to me.

"Wangji, a year ago you left YunShen Buzhi, telling us that you disagreed with the way we treated you and ran your life. You gave us a year to think and find a solution.

Brother seemed to choose his words very carefully whether it was to spare me or Uncle and the elders.

"After discussing it, it is obvious that both parties are at fault .... "

"Wrongs Brother? Who was judged without listening to him? Who was sentenced to death? Who owes his survival only to his determination? Who was locked up when he was unable to move and unconscious? Who was forced to hide all his life what he really was? Who was prevented from expressing any personal desire? It is the Lan clan and Uncle in particular who made me what I am today! You are the ones responsible for the current situation. Remind me what are the 4 basic rules that young children are reminded of when they are recognized as disciples of the clan? "Be guided by reason, have doubts, speak your mind and be quick-witted" Are you denying me the second and third basic rule? Why do you refuse me the second and third elementary rules? Because I am one of the heirs of the clan? If that is the case, I ask not to be considered as such anymore! "

"Your actions and your current behavior make you unworthy! "exclaimed Uncle!

"Unworthy? I have remained faithful to the rules of the Clan, I have never lied! It is your behavior that forces me to act this way! Who was ashamed to say that I rebelled against your authority and that I was sentenced to forced confinement for 3 years? Who made up a lie when he said that I was in "voluntary retirement"? Who lied when he said that I had taken a vow of silence, instead of saying that I no longer spoke to you because of your behavior towards me? What did you invent to justify my absence during this year? I was on a secret mission for the clan according to what I learned? Isn't lying punishable by our rules? Or do you only apply this concept when it suits you? Why is there a double standard with you? Me, I don't lie and I don't hide! "

The anger I had kept inside me all these years was finally pouring out.

"Uncle, member of the Council, if I am here today it is to know if I stay or if I leave. Know that if I leave, I will not leave alone, my son agrees to leave the clan, if you force us to take this decision! During this year, I have built enough relationships outside the clan to ensure our future in all serenity. Neither he nor I depend on you anymore! If I stay, it will be out of loyalty, not to you or the clan, but to my brother. "

"Lan Wangji, what you are doing is neither more nor less than blackmail! ".

"No Uncle, I have told you the facts. You now know that you have no more leverage over me. If we stay, I demand that you leave us in peace! And that you stop running our lives. "

"You demand!!! "

"Yes I demand! No matter what you planned to do or impose on me, you know my terms. In return, I would continue to hold the role and functions that I have always held and that for the safety of the members of the clan. I will continue to intervene in case of important and complex spiritual problems. Apart from that ... I will manage my life and my son's life as I see fit and give him the education he sees fit to follow! If I leave, no matter what happens to you, it will no longer be my business! ".

There was silence in the room. I could see Uncle clenching his jaws. So were most of the elders. I knew that their opinions must be divided. Brother was not surprised. I had warned him the day before what I was going to say and do. I knew he was on my side.

"Uncle, Council Member, I'll give you until tonight to give me your answer. If I don't have it before dinner, SiZhui and I will leave YunShen Buzhi at sunrise tomorrow and never return."

I bowed to my brother and left the orchid room. The sun was shining. I closed my eyes to enjoy the warmth on my face. My heart felt lighter. I had said what I had been holding in for 10 years! When I opened them again, SiZhui was there. I had to explain to him in detail what had just happened. The wait was starting, the last one...

In the early afternoon, I received a message from my brother with these simple words:

"They surrender! ".

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