Author Notes: Hello again, everyone! Enjoy this next chapter :)
Beta: JeanGirl
- Chapter Start -
Paperman!Wei Ying flew as fast as he could in the direction of the guestrooms. Nie HuaiSang getting Sect Leader Nie's help was good, as was Jiang Cheng informing the Lans. In fact, the more people knew about this, the better.
It wasn't Wei Ying's usual style of doing things, but who did he have to call on in the past?
He flew out in the open, in a straight line instead of sticking to the roofs and walls. It was risky since he was vulnerable in this form, but he didn't have a choice. He didn't know what was going on, but he knew Jin GuangYao's life was in danger. He didn't even know why he cared, but he did.
Maybe it was because he knew what it was like to have no one to turn to for support, like when he had chosen to help the Wen survivors.
Maybe it was because he too, had faced suspicion and distrust from everyone, even Lan Zhan, when he started carrying Chenqing instead of Suibian.
Maybe it was just what Jiang Cheng called his 'hero complex' acting up again, meddling in things he shouldn't.
But now, Wei Ying had the support of so many influential people - Lan Zhan, Master Lan, ZeWu Jun, Jiang Cheng, even Sect Leader Nie.
Who did Jin GuangYao have apart from maybe ZeWu Jun who had seemed concerned for his well-being?
Spotting the two long buildings up ahead, Paperman!Wei Ying flew even faster. Then the door of their room at the far end opened and Lan Zhan stepped out, followed by ZeWu Jun and Jiang Cheng.
Paperman!Wei Ying would have raised his eyebrows if he had any. Despite the short time that had passed, both the Twin Jades were fully dressed, forehead ribbon in place and hair done up. He swooped under the roof of the walkway as they strode towards him.
"Wei WuXian!" Jiang Cheng exclaimed by way of greeting or explanation. Probably both.
"Wei Ying?" Lan Zhan's eyes widened a bit and then softened as he held out a hand, palm up. Paperman!Wei Ying sped up, covered the last twenty feet, and collapsed face down on his palm. "Wei Ying, are you alright?"
Paperman!Wei Ying jumped up and nodded, turning sideways to point behind him.
"He can't talk in this form," Jiang Cheng explained and frowned at Paperman!Wei Ying. "Get back to your body first."
Paperman!Wei Ying shook his head and pointed again.
"I don't know paperman language!" Jiang Cheng snapped.
"Wait. This is Jin GuangYao's handwriting." ZeWu Jun held up a paper which had a few scrawled words on it. "Is he in trouble?"
Paperman!Wei Ying nodded and pointed again, trying to convey as much urgency as he could.
"Is he in danger?" ZeWu Jun asked next.
Paperman!Wei Ying nodded again, jumping up and down in Lan Zhan's palm.
"A-Yao," ZeWu Jun whispered, his face turning pale. Then he turned to Jiang Cheng.
"Sect Leader Jiang, please go with WuXian and WangJi. Since HuaiSang is fetching Da-ge, I will wait for them here."
The door opened again and Master Lan poked his head out, forehead ribbon missing and long hair tumbling over his shoulders.
"What is going on?" He demanded. "Is that Jin ZiXun troubling our WuXian again?"
Wei Ying suffered a disconcerting moment when he didn't know whether to blush or laugh at Jiang Cheng's appalled expression as he mouthed 'our WuXian'?
"Please go now," ZeWu Jun repeated before turning to Master Lan. "I will explain everything, uncle."
- o -
It wasn't until they had left the guestrooms behind them that Wei Ying realised something else - he had no idea where Sect Leader Jin's rooms were. He smacked his head with one hand, causing both Lan Zhan and Jiang Cheng to stop and stare at him, one in surprise, the other in growing suspicion.
"Wei WuXian, don't tell me you don't know where-"
The door behind them opened and someone stepped out.
"HanGuang Jun? Sect Leader Jiang?"
They turned around, Lan Zhan's hand still outstretched.
Jin ZiXuan stood before a building that was adorned all over with red decorations and cutouts of auspicious words. He had on a loose sleeping robe, the vermilion mark was missing from his forehead, and his hair looked like someone had run their fingers through it. Repeatedly.
Paperman!Wei Ying and Jiang Cheng exchanged looks, the latter's face turning red with mortification.
"What's going on?" Jin ZiXuan demanded. Then he grimaced and peeped inside the door before closing it quietly.
"What's going on?" He repeated in a low voice which he tried to make polite. "Can I help you? Where're you all-"
He broke off and frowned at Paperman!Wei Ying who waved at him.
"I told you to get back to your body first!" Jiang Cheng hissed at his brother before turning to ZiXuan.
"Jin ZiXuan, please excuse us. We're looking for Jin GuangYao. We believe he may be in danger."
ZiXuan glared at him and took a step forward. He was barefoot.
"Danger? If this is nothing more than the liquor talking-"
Paperman!Wei Ying shook his head so hard he almost lost his balance.
"Wei Ying!" Lan Zhan's fingers curled into a protective half fist.
"That's Wei WuXian?!"
"Shh!" Jiang Cheng darted a glance at the closed door.
"How dare you-"
"Master Jin," Lan Zhan finally spoke up. "Two female servants brought liquor to our room not too long ago. Then a note written by Jin GuangYao was slipped under our door, warning us not to drink said liquor."
ZiXuan opened and closed his mouth again. Then he gathered himself.
"Right. Where is he now?"
"That's what we'd like to know," Jiang Cheng said in a dry voice, glaring at Paperman!Wei Ying who took a step back and promptly bounced off of Lan Zhan's thumb.
Then inspiration struck.
Paperman!Wei Ying pointed at ZiXuan's chest and moved his hand up until he was pointing at his head.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Jiang Cheng glared at him.
Paperman!Wei Ying repeated the gesture and then ZiXuan's eyes widened.
"My father? He's with my father now?"
Paperman!Wei Ying nodded and gave a little jump.
"Isn't he still at the feast?"
Paperman!Wei Ying shook his head.
"Then he should be in his rooms."
"I know where that is," Jiang Cheng said. "The four Sect Leaders met earlier this evening outside his rooms."
"Please go ahead. I'll get dressed and catch up with you all," ZiXuan said. When he turned to open his door, the loose neckline of his robe slipped and Paperman!Wei Ying saw something that would have made his eyebrows shoot up if he had any.
"Gah!" Jiang Cheng grimaced as he turned away. It looked like he too, had seen the same darkening mark on the Peacock's fair skin.
- o -
They had only covered a short distance when ZiXuan caught up with them, hair still down, but wearing a proper robe and shoes. He took the lead, utilising several shortcuts until they came to what had to be the very heart of Koi Tower, a large courtyard with a beautiful garden, and an elaborate building labeled Fragrance Hall.
"Master Jin," greeted one of the two guards, looking surprised to see the four of them.
"Is Sect Leader Jin in there?"
"Yes, but-"
"Let us pass."
Looking confused, the guards stood aside. ZiXuan took a deep breath and gave Lan Zhan and Jiang Cheng a measured look before going in. Wei Ying's respect for him rose, knowing he was risking his father's regard just on their words alone.
There was no one in the large, lavishly decorated hall, but ZiXuan didn't hesitate. Holding a finger to his lips, he took them down a long, carpeted corridor on the right. One of the double doors at the end was slightly ajar and they could hear familiar voices coming from inside.
"GuangYao, I trusted you. Why did you have to warn them?" It was Jin GuangShan.
"Father, I didn't!"
"You were seen."
"By me." Xue Yang's voice floated out.
"I can't believe it. Betrayed by my own flesh and blood." Jin GuangShan sounded sorrowful.
"Father, I've been loyal to you," Jin GuangYao protested. "I did everything you asked. ZiXuan's wedding, it was perfect."
"Was it?" There was an edge to Jin GuangShan's voice. "How can it be perfect when I was embarrassed by ZiXun's outburst?"
"B-but... how was I to know he'd make a fuss?" Jin GuangYao sounded like he couldn't believe he was being blamed for this.
"Not only ZiXun, but that righteous Lan QiRen as well." Jin GuangShan's voice hardened.
"But surely that wasn't my fault."
"You were the one who added the Yiling Patriarch's name to the list of guests. You welcomed him here."
"But ZiXuan told me to add his name," Jin GuangYao protested.
"Because of your doing, ZiXun created a ruckus and I lost face. At my own son's wedding."
"Father, please... that wasn't my fault," Jin GuangYao sounded close to tears.
"Poor GuangYao," Xue Yang said with a laugh. "Someone with your background will always be blamed when something goes wrong."
"Now, XueYang," Jin GuangShan said. "Perhaps I shouldn't lay all the blame at his feet... but he did warn the Lans."
"Father, please!"
"Two bottles of liquor wasted. Thanks to your warning, Wei WuXian won't die tonight."
Paperman!Wei Ying might have been crushed by Lan Zhan's fist if he hadn't hopped up to his wrist. He ran up the white clad arm to the shoulder and leaned in to pat a remorseful Lan Zhan on the cheek.
"But he's Young Madam Jin's brother," Jin GuangYao protested. "She'd be heartbroken if anything happened to him."
"She has ZiXuan." Jin GuangShan's voice was dismissive. "This matter must never come to light. Luckily I have one more bottle. XueYang, fetch it for me."
"Of course, Sect Leader Jin."
"Father? Wait, what-"
There were the sounds of a scuffle and what sounded like a punch being thrown.
"I am not your father. XueYang, pour GuangYao a cup."
"Father, please, what're you-"
"It would be my pleasure, Sect Leader Jin."
Those standing outside the doors exchanged looks of alarm and rage.
"Absolute obedience. Unquestioning loyalty. Were those too much to ask for?"
"Father, no, please!" Jin GuangYao's voice shook. "I did everything you asked!"
"Enough!" Face like a thundercloud, ZiXuan stepped forward and flung open the doors. They stared at the sight before them.
Jin GuangYao was kneeling on the carpet, hands tied behind his back, his face white and streaked with tears. Blood was trickling down the side of his mouth. XueYang stood in front of him, holding a cup to his lips and an open bottle in his other hand. Jin GuangShan was looking down at the two of them with a look of grim satisfaction on his face.
- Chapter End -
A/N: Thank you for reading! Please leave a review if you enjoyed this chapter :)
