Her Beliefs
Wuxian was glad she could still come in, because she has a Golden Core.
Thanks to her hard work and genius combined, her Golden Core's cultivational base was 'unusually high' for a girl her age. She was a talent they keep an eye on.
However, she wasn't as orthodox when called to recite.
She flat out admitted her ideas are 'out of the box' as she was orphaned young before she got further into her studies she was way left behind all she had was how to develop her cultivation, and her mother's books about Talisman and Tool-Making.
So her answers were never 'what's expected of any disciple'.
Though she has...shocking answers once in a while. But while she has logic and reason, her teacher would tell her, 'Please don't practice any further using Resentful Energy, we have no idea how you'll end up later as it can and will overwhelm you. Its best to stay on the safe side.' and she was made to go for a Cleansing Session.
At least she takes her studies seriously.
It was like, 'she was trying to catch up'.
But she needs work in swordsmanship. She lacked the physique, as well as physical conditioning needed.
'Why didn't you train when you were young?'
'...pardon my language, but its no thanks to asshole slave traders and a bad timing...while I was burying my parents.' her teacher choked at both language and those words definitely explained enough. 'It took me a while to legally free myself while keeping my parents' qiankun bags hidden.'
That definitely explained her lacking.
Her sword is currently her father's sword, Fashi(oathbound). It was a sword meant for speed and swift fighting style because her father was formerly from Yunmeng Jiang. Her mother's sword Xiaoyao(free and unfettered) is too strong for her as spirit swords grow with their wielders. And she could wield their swords because she was their child thus was allowed by her parents to wield them as heirlooms if anything happened. She also possessed her father's Clarity Bell and wears it alongside the Jade Token of the sect.
But the size of the sword was meant for a tall male who was a six footer while she was 5'3. The sword was too long for her she had to modify her technique. Her mother's sword was fit for a girl of her height, but too strong for her. She needed more power before she can wield it.
Well, with her practicing the firm style of Lan Sect, she was 'very fast and moves like a whip', as opposed to the firm rigidity of the sect and learns quick. Her talent was incredible that she can catch up to her peers that the thing she actually needs to work on, was her 'frail physique'. She was physically weak, as a result of her days as a slave...
...she was medically checked as a precaution. There's only one type of slave a female can be, while men have many more uses as slaves.
'You're pure...how'd you keep it?' for one of Wuxian's situation, that, was a miracle. A shocking miracle.
'By winning a lottery and bought my freedom before Virginity Auction Sale.' Wuxian deadpanned, causing the Lan Doctors to choke in horror at what she just said. 'I finished the rest of my term as an accountant since before cultivating enough to come here. Lan Sect and Jin Sect thankfully lets girls be disciples but Jin Sect is dangerous for me.' she would gripe. 'I'd like my purity intact, thanks.' the lady doctors cringed. Jin Guangshan's reputation is famous indeed, and not in a good way. Yes, Lan Sect is safer for this girl who valued her purity and herself enough that she wanted her dignity intact.
She only wanted her 'Mr. Right' to have 'her clean body' and it would take an effort to find Mr. Right among Johns. Besides, cultivators live long and stay young longer, she has all time in the world to find her Mr. Right and have the happy married life her parents had.
She'd fit in well in the clan with a mindset like that, worth the forehead ribbon she wears.
xxx
Life continued for her in the sect.
She was treated well here, her only complaint being the lousy food and thousands of rules, but she'll endure till graduation day.
During classes, she dissected these rules like she would a frog with logic, asking what can and can't be done due to loopholes she's found, leaving her teacher baffled and dumbfounded as the rules aren't as firm as she thought...
Her grades every month were high, until one day, almost two years into the sect, an adult barged into her classroom.
'All disciples must evacuate! Immediately!' he cried. 'The Wen Clan has come to attack!'
'What?!'
She was thus taken into the caves where disciples must hide while the clan deal with the mess. They won't let students get into trouble.
The recesses were burned.
Once the Wens are gone, only then were they allowed back out by the dismayed elders.
'We will have to work to rebuild the sect.' said Lan Qiren. 'Classes and training will be on hold.'
Clean-up operations occurred hence.
They prioritized Residences, the Cafeteria and the Infirmary. Supplies were brought in so everyone can settle down. Everything else can wait as lodging, food and medicine is top priority.
The paradise world of the mountains were lost. Nothing but charred gardens and buildings remained.
The hell is going on in the cultivation world now? Why did the Wen Clan attack the Lan Clan?
Something's going on and Wuxian didn't like it.
She went down to Gusu to buy paper and cinnabar to make homemade cinnabar ink as some cinnabar ink in the market is stupid dye sometimes that makes talismans worthless, unable to absorb qi to power up the spell inscribed onto it. Lots of it to begin making talismans in her room when there's no jobs to be done. Cleaning clutter to demolishing a building beyond saving...and the only one excused from all the work was Lan Wangji whose leg was broken by Wen Xu for defying his command to burn the Library Pavilion. How domineering!
She went to the infirmary to talk to the nurses.
'Do you guys know what's going on? I think being a latecomer I'm the only one un-informed of going-ons.' said Wuxian. 'No Gossiping in the Recesses, but I want a free card just this once. I don't want to get caught knowing nothing.' she said. 'I couldn't ask anyone else. They formed tight cliques recently and might rebuke me for what wasn't my fault in the first place like, not knowing anything. When I applied here, I thought things were peaceful.'
'Given when you applied that's understandable.' said one of the nurses. 'The Wens have been overbearing and domineering as of late. Unreasonable demands, taking things by force, conquering with force with trumped-up charges, they can run amuck with tyranny!'
'They can do this because nobody can retaliate.' said another. 'Because Core-Melting Hand Zhao Zhuliu joined them and took on the name Wen Zhuliu! For a cultivator, our cores are our lives! Nobody wants to deal with him...'
'And as a result, everyone became meek, and this allowed the Wens to run amok unimpeded...huh?' Wuxian frowned thoughtfully. This didn't sound good. BECAUSE everyone valued their cores, they feared the attack dog called Wen Zhuliu, further emboldening the Wen Clan.
'Not only that, there's too many of them and only 900 members up here, including you.' said another. 'Their sect is the size of a city. That arrogant name called Nightless City isn't for show...too many people joined them. Either out of fear, survival or a good excuse to be criminals themselves with protection from a prominent clan! If only someone is stronger than that Wen Zhuliu and took him down, everyone will stop being meek, but who'd do that for those who can't? Nobody!'
'Any idea what triggered the attack on the Lans?' Wuxian piped up.
The nurses have a deep thought.
'Er, the Archery competition maybe?'
'Who won in what order?'
'Young master Xichen, Jin Zixuan, and young master Wangji, then Jiang Cheng and in that order...none of the Wens did well.' said second nurse. 'Due to our handstand training, we Lans excel in archery by being capable of drawing formidable bows with heavy drawing weights. This way. no matter the wind, our arrows will soar unimpeded and hit our mark, powered up by the bowstrings.'
'...if the Jin Sect was attacked after this, the petty motive could very well be the competition results.' Wuxian sighed wryly. 'This is ridiculous. This is basically a raid on trumped-up charges as an excuse to assert dominance and superiority. Who made them sad excuses for enforcers? With everyone's attitudes, it gave them more power and worst of all, cores are our lives and they know it. Nobody wants years of effort to be torn apart and rendered powerless. Wen Zhuliu joining them...he basically became their enabler as tyrannical criminals on a power-high. All they have to do is threaten us with Wen Zhuliu and we be submissive bitches while they do whatever they want so that guy absolutely must die.'
'That's the thing...if only there's a way out...' a nurse sighed.
'Er, the Lans weren't robbed, right?'
'The elders aren't talking for obvious reasons.'
'That might be for the best...' Wuxian agreed. 'I just wonder what's next. If war is imminent, I hope the sect makes an exception on the No Killing Rule for once because hey, family, friends and home always come first. Would rules give you back the precious things you lost? Those three things must always come first for anyone. If the Wens waged war here fully-aware of rules they can exploit to finish this Sect off...I hope this clan prefers their families first over rules or I may have to risk expulsion to do the right thing because no one here will.'
'Wei Wuxian you can't be serious! Being expelled from the Lan Sect will have you nowhere to go since only two sects accept female disciples and your education is not complete yet! And you once said you'd rather stay uneducated than go to Jin Sect!'
'Well, if it comes to that then it can't be helped.' Wuxian said wryly, standing up to leave. 'Besides, I'm a Rogue to begin with from a family of Rogue Cultivators. My mother would tell me to do the right thing so my heart is free of troubles caused by nagging consciences caused by what-ifs. Because we should protect what's important to us first. What is lost...can never be regained back. Think on it.' and she left.
The nurses warily looked at one bed with curtains sealed shut.
They weren't sure the second young master in it is awake...
xxx
'...why are you asking about that girl, Wangji?' Qiren asked his nephew who came to see him while still injured, but got around by sword flying to avoid aggravating his leg.
'...the nurses and that girl weren't quiet when talking.' said Wangji as he revealed what he overheard.
Qiren looked deeply concerned with what went on in the infirmary.
'What will we do if it ever happens?'
'...I need to think about that and talk with our clansmen should such a thing happen.' said Qiren solemnly as his brother Qingheng-Jun was severely injured in the attack that he was comatose and unable to be moved from his residence. 'I know her parents but much of the influence on that girl is her mother's. Her father is very much like you, a man of few words and acts based on trust so Cangse's the one speaking for both of them. It helps she knows her husband well.'
That was to Wangji's surprise.
'For now focus on your recovery. We don't know what happens next. Hopefully by then, you're fully-healed.'
xxx
A month after the attack?
There's an overbearing 'imperial command' that orders twenty junior disciples, including one member of the main family, to attend indoctrination in Qishan. Since the male disciples left, Wuxian left a note in classroom by sneaking out to watch over Lan Wangji on the sly and far away so if trouble happens, she would whisk him back to Cloud Recesses.
Not only that, Qingheng-Jun succumbed to his injuries and died, that the entire sect wore plain white of mourning.
Yup, her teacher and Lan Qiren ain't happy that she left without permission but at least Wangji would be alright, even with a broken leg...
Clad in black spying outfit, she followed the group everywhere...and sneaking medicine to Lan Wangji and a large steamed bun every night.
'I know Lans are vegetarian but you need meat, too.' she would tell him. 'How will that leg heal then? Muscles thrive on meat, you know.'
So yes, she managed to keep this secret.
But on one night...she was able to sneak poison into Wen Zhuliu's tent. She figured which side he sleeps, so she cut open a hole, lowered string and carefully poured poison so it flows into the string and into his slightly-open mouth, as much as she could get away with...but when he woke up and screamed in agony, she fled, satisfied.
And so...
Because Wen Zhuliu screamed loud enough to wake the dead, everyone woke up while the girls remained inside for their modesties.
'Wen Zhuliu! What happened?!' Wen Chao demanded as he burst into the man's tent...before screaming himself.
'Young master, what happened?!'
'Somebody poisoned Wen Zhuliu! He's frothing at the mouth!'
Lan Wangji had an inkling WHO and he has proof...
Not only that, she jumped into the fray, and killed as many Wens as she could. Nobody else can do a thing, as their swords are confiscated...
'Go. This farce of a camp is over.' she said, taking out a qiankun bag and took out a sword. 'Whose sword name I call, owner get. Lingdai?'
'T-that's mine...' somebody squeaked, coming to get his sword.
'Suihua?'
'Oh!' Jin Zixuan quickly went forward...soon, everyone has their swords back, and the woman vanished using a Talisman. They all went home by sword flight by sect, actually glad this farce of a camp is over...
They all had a lot to say at home.
xxx
'I see...while you do mean well, leaving without permission has consequences.' said Lan Qiren sternly, looking at Wuxian who knelt on one knee respectfully.
'This one is aware and accepts.'
At least she knows, he thought wryly.
'Clean the urinals for three weeks and after that, laundry duty for another three weeks. And you cannot use your father's sword in public as everyone will be on the lookout after that. Dismissed.' Wuxian left his office.
She had come back reporting and actually expects punishment for leaving without permission to watch over Wangji and assassinate the Wens present, but primary target was Wen Zhuliu so the clans need not fear the Wens any longer with their guard dog gone.
In a way, Qiren was relieved and they can finally act without fear any more.
The thought shames him a little, that they're afraid of the Wens because of what one man can do to their life's work...damn that Wen Ruohan, how'd he get the loyalty of a man like him anyhow?!
Days later, the Lan disciples came back, having quite the tale of their camp...and how it ended.
After they reported to Lan Qiren, Wangji stayed behind.
'...where is she?' Wangji asked his uncle. 'She was there, sneaking me food while the Wens only gave us barely enough to move.' yes they hunted and fished, but the Wens took the lion's share while they only had barely anything!
'Punished by cleaning the urinals for three weeks for leaving without permission...my punishment is easy because she did us all a great service, and she was the only person out of all sects willing to rid us of Core-Melting Hand when even Sect Leaders older than she fear him. It brings this old man great shame in his heart that a child did what we should have done.' he said in sheer vexation. 'Now there is no reason to fear the Wen Sect any longer.' he said. 'Only we two, will know the identity of the killer. Wei Wuxian also cannot be publicly seen using her father's sword any longer as well, so I will have to commission her one. People will now look for the wielder of Fashi, her father's sword. Only her teachers and the two of us knows.'
xxx
In no time flat, gossip spread about Wen Zhuliu's death as are the deaths of Wen Chao and his woman's. Wen Zhuliu was poisoned to death somehow, while the rest were killed by sword.
The girl wielded a sword called Fashi. A black and white slender sword too long for her to wield because she was short, but wielded with expertise and moved like 'a whirlwind whip'.
A female assassin clad in black came at night to kill the Wens, and return the taken swords to the exploited hostages.
The mystery killer was called Heixuanfeng-Nu. She was clearly very young.
And this, is what bothered Jiang Fengmian in Lotus Pier as in his office, he looked outside his window in deep thought.
"Fashi...and a girl." he thought as his son described what happened in the Indoctrination Camp. "It can only be her!"
His late friend and former crush had a daughter together. Wei Wuxian.
He wondered how she lived as he never found her no matter how he tried! Thus he doted on his daughter Yanli as what may have happened to Wei Wuxian, he did not want to happen to his own daughter who is two years older than her.
End result, he was stricter on her so she 'can survive anything' as while boys gets simply beaten or killed if they attract the wrong attention, girls 'have it way worse that death is preferable' and trained his son to be strong as to not lose what he deems important to himself.
She did not excel in womanly arts, but instead excelled in physical form, survival skills and medicine, after learning language and mathematics.
That actually came in handy when he was asked about his daughter's education that she appealed as wife as she would not be useless, if danger came to the family as she can protect the children while husband deals with enemies. His son was raised in how to be a Sect Leader without being a pushover as older Sect Leaders tend to throw 'age' as weight around to enforce their wills on Sects with younger leaders, claiming, '-we're more experienced than you, so listen to your elders!'
Example was Nie Mingjue. Too bad for those Minor Sects, he was very strong willed with a fierce temper.
xxx
'Eh? Xiansheng's gonna give me a sword?' Wuxian did a double-take after coming out of her dorms, fresh from the baths after cleaning a urinal. While she was dressed in casual clothes, her hair is clearly towel-dried and worn loose. She was usually in disciple's uniform and white ribbon.
'Mm.' Wangji told her. 'Your sword is too famous now. Go see shufu in office after class tomorrow for your sword's name and abilities you want your sword to have.'
'Oh, OK. I'll thank xiansheng tomorrow.' said Wuxian gratefully with a cheerful smile.
'...will you really...go far for what you believe in?' Wangji asked her. She blinked at his question before smiling softly. She wondered what made that question outta the blue, but answered him.
'Yeah. A life with no regrets means a life of freedom and a clean conscience. Never weighed down by guilt or grudges. My parents lived their lives like that and taught me that lesson so we lived a life of freedom. My name pretty much enforces that in a way.'
'Wuxian...one who does not envy.' Wangji recited as he recalled how her name is written in paper.
'See?' Wuxian grinned. 'Envy is the root of all the crap in society. Sects are no saints themselves either. Leave the recesses, disguise as a peasant and observe the world. You'll see why I got this name from my parents. They don't want me to be just as evil as them as envy makes people have evil thoughts to take from others what they are jealous of them from having. Murder. Being framed for crimes or tricks. A lot of drama going on...understand the world. And make your own conclusion from there.'
xxx
Next day, after classes...
'Humm...I gave a lot of thought last night.' said Wuxian, giving a list to Lan Qiren. 'This is what I want my sword to have and the name.' Qiren took the paper from her. 'As for the sword catalogue regarding handle and guard...I'm not picky as long as it looks cute while not hindering my movement...'
'Very well...but!' Qiren twitched, pointing at the name of the sword. 'Explain this!' he said, slightly annoyed, causing Wuxian to laugh.
'Heeheehee...' Wuxian forced herself to get sober. 'Well that's exactly what I am! A stray cat!' she chuckled. 'I go where I want to go and do as I please and I don't care for society's opinion.' she said. 'That's what stray cats do!'
'Honestly, just like your mother...' Qiren sighed in a 'so done with this' manner. 'You will graduate from Guest Lectures soon. What will you do after?'
'Well, do what my parents did. I just can't see myself marrying any time soon since I believe in waiting for the right man. I refuse to make the same mistake as most people...passion and true love are two entirely different things but sadly people mistake passion for true love or falling in love simply because the other is good-looking. Relationships like that don't last long as do badly-matched engagements. We cultivators live long anyway so I have all time in the world!'
As Wuxian left his office, Lan Qiren watched her go.
"Bad times are coming...you'd best be alright then." he thought worriedly.
And two months later, Wuxian graduated from her courses, thus now a recognized adult Cultivator.
Wuxian went back to the Burial Mounds to cultivate some more and pouring as much energy as she can to cultivate her sword to catch up to her level, nearly emptying her core into it while replenishing her energy at the same time and increasing her level.
A sword that's as strong as it's owner obeys its owner, even self-sealing to prevent others from using it unless ordered otherwise. That is what spirit weapons do. Not only that, by gaining strength from their owners, their sharpness and durability increases as well as what they CAN cut increases. But during friendly spars, can be blunted at will.
By the time she left the Burial Mounds, six months passed by, and she began cleaning up Jingchu Region from Yiling eastwards.
She would steal from, kill Slave Traders and free captured people in that order while handing out a tael of silver so they can go home, and handle spiritual problems most Sects don't bother with as most cultivators these days are fame-oriented. Because she's wealthy through blood money, she simply asks 'free room and food' at local inns.
She uses her 'other identity' by night, while being herself during the day.
She also asks around for news.
Apparently, since Wen Chao was killed by Heixuanfeng-Nu, the wielder of the black sword Fashi, the Wens got more proactive in their domineering campaign, but without Wen Zhuliu, nobody's taking bullshit anymore and now fight back, with varied results. That, and there are people who knew of her parents and their swords thus because their death is known, Heixuanfeng-Nu is possibly their unknown daughter as nobody can wield someone else's spirit weapons unless allowed to by owner.
However, nobody knows the name of the daughter.
Only Lan Qiren does and he's staying quiet. Lan Wangji also knows as he talked to his uncle regarding what he's hearing lately thus kept quiet too. She'll be a trouble-magnet if word gets out of her face, the identity of the Killer of Wen Chao and Core-Melting Hand.
Stronger clans persevere, weaker clans perished with little to no survivors.
And Lan Xichen is recruiting around that by the time she reaches Lotus Pier that was rebuilding, this was her first encounter with Jiang Fengmian and Jiang Cheng who recognized her as cultivator by her aura and how white her skin was.
'Young miss, are you doing something at the moment?' Jiang Cheng asked her.
'I'm going where my compass points me at.' said Wuxian, taking out her creation, Compass of Evil that was pointing her at the east. 'I ended up here for my quarry.'
'That is...'
'My personal tool, Compass of Evil. See the needle?' Wuxian asked him as the needle is wrapped in thin Resentful Energy. 'It will detect spirits or monsters. The thinner the energy on the needle the weaker. But the thicker to the point of being as thick as a finger, that's a monster I can't fight without companions so I call for help with a flare. I would know if I'm near or far if my compass also feels hot. Hot if closer but cold if I'm far. The heat level won't hurt me.' her flare symbol is a blood-red cat during the day, and a white cat during the night for visibility purposes.
'That's really handy! Errr wait, we got off-topic.' Jiang Cheng coughed awkwardly. 'We'd like to ask you to join us for the Sunshot Campaign.' he asked her. 'Nie-zongzhu is leading it so while we do invite around, the actual sign-up is at Qinghe.'
'I see...I'm hearing rumors lately myself.' said Wuxian. 'For now I'm handling spiritual or supernatural cases because nobody's paying attention to them any more. I will come to Qinghe Nie to sign up and aid whatever clan I come across, but our people come first.'
'Alright, as long as we have one more hand.' that was fine with Jiang Cheng. 'What is maiden's name?' he also wisely did NOT comment on her white clothes.
'This one is called Wei Wuxian.' Jiang Fengmian's eyes bulged from behind his son before composing himself. This girl, is THEIR daughter?! She has Changze's silver eyes, while resembling her mother more, but she has her father's fuller lips as well. She was beautiful and her skin is almost like snow, a testament to her strength. She also wore nothing but white, a sign of mourning, he thinks that she's mourning her parents for years. 'An honor to meet you, Jiang-gongzi.' Wuxian greeted respectfully. 'I have to get going now to see my latest quarry.' and she politely dismissed herself, following her compass.
'Oh, we'll follow for a while and watch how you handle things.' said Jiang Fengmian.
'If you say so...'