It was like any other day in the Cloud Recesses. Sizhui, only seventeen years old, was with the rabbits and with his dear sworn brothers, Jin Ling, Lan Jingyi, and Ouyang Zizhen. In the distance he could hear his papa, Wei Wuxian making a ruckus among the Gusu Lan cultivators, while his father, Lan Wangji was doing his usual duties for his sect. Sizhui was petting a gray bunny with pink eyes. His friends were talking among each other. Sizhui couldn't help and smile. Ever since he turned seventeen a couple of months ago, he told his friends the truth about his heritage. Even though he expected the worst, but to his surprised, they accepted him. Lan Jingyi speculated that Sizhui was a Wen ever since at the Second Siege of the Burial Mounds when Granny Wen tried to give him the toy she made. Ouyang Zizhen didn't care since this reveal didn't change Sizhui of who he is. Jin Ling sympathized with Sizhui, albeit his usual not showing he cared, but he did called him an idiot for not trusting them with this information. His friends even went as far as to pay their respects to his family and thanked them for protecting and hiding him. Overall, everything was going well.

"So...Senior Wei is going to attend the meeting with Hanguang-jun?" Ouyang Zizhen asked. "That's new."

Sizhui nodded. "Senior Wei insisted. It must be very important. We all know he only goes to meetings he thinks it's important."

"It's so quiet, though!" Lan Jingyi whined.

"Oh shut up!" Jin Ling huffed. "You're being noisy."

"Whatever, Young Mistress Jin," Lan Jingyi smirked.

Jin Ling glared at him. "I told you stop calling me that!"

The two argued causing some of the rabbits to scurry off. Sizhui sighed, while Ouyang Zizhen just chuckled. However, Sizhui couldn't get this strange gut feeling he has been having. Ever since he told his friends that he was a Wen, something just didn't felt right. Sizhui, at first thought it was him, but he was sure it was just the anxiety when he told them.

"I still don't get why you have to go, Sizhui," Jingyi said.

Sizhui chuckled. "Well, Zewu-jun wants to teach me to be the next sect leader, so it made sense why I have to come along."

Jingyi smirked. "If you became sect leader, that means you can get rid some of those rules. Some of them are stupid."

"Blame, Senior Wei," Zizhen pointed out.

The four sighed at the thought of more rules being placed. After a few more minutes of mindless chatting, Sizhui and his friends went over to the hall where the meeting was taking place. Everyone had to separate and be with their own sects, except for Jingyi who stood by Hanguang-jun and Senior Wei. Sizhui, on the other hand was standing to Zewu-jun. He and his uncle bowed to those who were attending. As Sect Leader Jiang approached them, Sizhui bowed and greeted the sect leader. When he stopped bowing, Sizhui noticed the sect leader was glaring at him with his piercing blue eyes. It was the eyes he had seen before when he was a child, the eyes of hatred.

Sizhui tried to remain calm as he could. In the corner of his eyes, he could see his friends were worried and wondering why Jin Ling's uncle would give him that kind of glare. From what Jin Ling told them last year, it was easy to tell what his uncle was feeling through his eyes. It was rare of him to show emotion through his facial expressions, even Senior Wei agreed too.

Soon, everyone seated down. Sizhui sat next to Hanguang-jun and Senior Wei. In the middle of the hall were the Sects and Chief Cultivator Nie. Like always, the Chief Cultivator was using his fan. Each Sect talked about what was happening to their sects and updating on recent events. Sizhui tried to paid attention as the best as he could, but for some reason he couldn't help and felt someone was eyeing at him. He glanced in the corner of his eyes to his fathers', who looked a bit wary as well. At the window, Sizhui could see Uncle Ning too.

Then Sect Leader Jiang stood up. He told what's going on with his sect. After he spoke, he turned to Sizhui. For some reason, Sizhui felt a chill flew up his spine. The sect leader pointed at him.

"I've discovered that this boy is a Wen," he declared.

It felt like there was a pin dropped. Senior Wei looked like he was ready to fight, but Hanguang-jun held his hand tightly. Sizhui noticed Zewu-jun looked very murderous, even Granduncle Qiren too. Jin Ling looked shocked on what he just heard. He relaxed and put a hand on his father's sword. Sizhui never saw his uncles looked like that before. He looked over to Chief Cultivator Nie. Like his family, he too was shocked about this. Sizhui wondered if Chief Cultivator Nie already knew about his heritage.

"Do you have proof, Sect Leader Jiang?" Chief Cultivator Nie asked.

Sect Leader Jiang scoffed. "Of course I do! I heard that Wen-dog told my nephew and his friends that he is a Wen and they all just accepted it as if they forgotten what the Wens did to us! Ask that Wen-dog! He knows full well that lying is forbidden in the Cloud Recesses. Ask him!"

Chief Cultivator Nie sighed and turned to Sizhui. "Lan Sizhui, is this true? Are you really a Wen?"

The only thing Sizhui could do was to stay silent. There were many times in his life that Sizhui wasn't sure what to do, but was able to figured it out. However with this situation, he completely doesn't know what to do. He knew he couldn't lie. Sizhui knew all of the rules of Gusu Lan Sect. He knew them by heart, just like any other Lan. Even though he was a Wen, but he is still a Lan.

"A-Yuan doesn't need to answer you," Senior Wei stood up.

Usually in these meetings, Granduncle Qiren would scold Senior Wei, but to everyone's surprised, he didn't. Hanguang-jun nodded, agreeing with his husband. Sizhui clenched his fists. He knew it was his fault. He thought he was careful to tell his friends his heritage, but he didn't expected Sect Leader Jiang to eavesdrop on him.

With a sigh, Sizhui stood up, looking directly at Chief Cultivator Nie. Senior Wei was about to say something, but Sizhui just gave him one of his smiles, which caused his papa to have tears in his eyes. Sizhui hated this. He really did, but he has no choice, but to confess.

"Yes, I was." Sizhui answered.

Chief Cultivator Nie nodded. "I see and from my calculations, you were about around three years old among the Wen Remnants, correct?"

"Yes."

"Sect Leader Jiang, what do you really gain from this?" Chief Cultivator Nie questioned. "The boy had no connection to his culture. He is a full fledge Lan, despite his blood and former surname, he is a Lan."

Sect Leader Jiang laughed. "Had anyone of you forget who is related to him? That Wen-dog has Wen Ning to teach him the ways of the Qishan Wen Sect. He taught him how to fight like a Wen! They even paid respects for the Wens. That boy is more of a Wen-dog than everyone thinks. I'm sure he's planning to revive Qishan the Wen Sect! Everyone had suffered enough from the Wen Sect, do we need more?"

Everyone was silent of the thought of the Wen Sect reviving, while others were uncertain if they should punish someone who was born on the wrong place and time. Sizhui tried to think of a plan to assured everyone that he had no intention of reviving his former sect, but how? Shouldn't his mindset and clothes he was wearing enough? Shouldn't his relations to the Lan Sect was justified?

"Sect Leader Jiang," Zewu-jun stood up. "Sizhui was only a toddler at the time. A civilian."

"A civilian among demonic cultivators," Sect Leader Jiang smirked. "Who knows what those Wen-dog Remnants taught him before you Lans converted him."

Eyes widened, Sizhui clenched his fists. He knew right away Sect Leader Jiang was lying. He saw the Wen Remnants were just civilians full of the elderly and children. No cultivators. The only cultivator was Wen Qing. Yes, Sizhui ended up being a talented cultivator, but at the time, he was just a civilian as well. He had no future knowledge that he was going to be a cultivator.

"The Wen Remnants weren't demonic cultivator!" Sizhui exclaimed. "They were civilians! They were only the elderly and children! Those who participate at the Siege of the Burial Mounds, did no one noticed?"

Then there were silence. Many of the sect leaders were now looking back as if they remember something. Sect Leader Jiang's nostrils flares. He glared at Sizhui with pure hatred in his eyes.

"Lies!" Sect Leader Jiang shouted. "The boy lies! Did I ever lie to any of you! We all saw the Wen Remnants, didn't we? They were all demonic cultivators!"

"I'm not lying! That is the truth! You know that!"

"I don't know nothing, except all of the Wen Remnants were demonic cultivators!"

"That's enough," Hanguang-jun stood up. "Sect Leader Jiang, Sizhui has nothing to do with you."

"Does he?" Sect Leader Jiang raised a brow. "I see even the great Hanguang-jun forgot the law the Emperor made. The law stated that all family members associated by what their family member has done shall be executed. That has always been the law and may I remind all of you that it's not the first time a family of sects as well as servants were eliminated. That Wen-dog these Lans are harboring is a fugitive in the eyes of the law and of the Emperor. His sect hurt my sect and killed my parents. He needs to face the injustice his sect has caused. Lan Sizhui is guilty by association! With him still living is a direct insult of those who had lost their lives! He needs to obey the law and be put to death!"

Then everyone muttered among each other. Some discussed how they should handled this, while others want nothing to do with it and wanted to leave Sizhui alone. Sizhui glanced at his family, who were trying to figure out how to get passed through the law. Sizhui stared over at Chief Cultivator Nie. He had his fan covering his face, but Sizhui could tell by his eyes, he too was trying to figure out how to solve this. Sizhui wondered why Chief Cultivator Nie would care about him. Sizhui pursed his lips. He knew one day the world would find out he was a Wen. He never expected that it was this soon.

"We'll do a vote," Chief Cultivator Nie announced.

"A vote?!" one of a minor sect questioned. "Why a vote?"

Chief Cultivator Nie sighed. "It seems not everyone agrees with this. When the vote is finalized, those who voted will punish Lan Sizhui accordingly before his execution, while those who didn't, would not be involved. Those who vote for Lan Yuan, courtesy name Lan Sizhui shall be executed, please raise a hand."

At once, half of the sects raised their hand, while the other half didn't. Obviously, the Jin Sect and the Ouyang Sect were on his side. Chief Cultivator Nie didn't vote either, which surprised Sizhui. For all of his life, Sizhui onlu met Cultivator Chief Nie once and that was it. Sizhui glanced at Sect Leader Jiang who wasn't raising his hand. As everyone stared at him, Sect Leader Jiang raised his hand. Sect Leader Jiang looked at Sizhui and smirked. For once, Sizhui wanted to run over there and beat the living crap of that sect leader. In the corner of his eyes, he could see Jin Ling fumed as well as Senior Wei.

"Uncle how could you do this?!" Jin Ling shouted.

Sect Leader Jiang sighed. "It's for everyone's own good A-Ling."

"Th-Then it has been finalized," Chief Cultivator Nie said.

"I would also like to be the one who authorized his execution," Sect Leader Jiang said. "After all, the Wen Sect were the ones who attacked Yunmeng Jiang Sect fist."

"Uncle!" Jin Ling cried, while Senior Wei shouted. "Jiang Cheng!"

The Lans who were at the meeting stood up, but Sizhui held out his hand, causing everyone to stop. He only give them a slight glance and everyone sat down. Sighing, Sizhui looked at Sect Leader Jiang. As much as Sizhui really wanted to loose his patience and beat the living hell out of the sect leader, but he knew he won't do that. There were some things that Sizhui couldn't go against. Even though he tried to do the right thing and stay by his morals, no matter how much he viewed the world was gray, he couldn't go against it. Besides, if he did beat Sect Leader Jiang in every way, that would be something the sect leader would wanted and to prove that Sizhui was like the Wens.

"So be it," Sizhui spoke coldly.

Sizhui could've swore everyone shivered at the tone of his voice. Without another word, Sizhui walked out of the hall. He didn't even give another glance. As he let out a sigh, his whole mind was trying to processed what just happened.

He was going to die.

Just like his family before him. Was death Sizhui's fate? Was he someone who could never escape death? Shaking his head, Sizhui pushed those thoughts away. No, it was something out of his control. The law is the law. No matter how much the emperor lets the sects do their own politics, but just like everyone else, they had to follow the law made by the emperor.

By the time Sizhui got to his house, he started packing. Sizhui wasn't sure if he needed to pack, but he did. As he was packing, he heard the door slid open and many footsteps were heading to his direction. Sizhui made a painful smile to himself. He knew who they were and he didn't need to turn around to tell who it was. It was very obvious anyway.

"Sizhui...are you really doing this?" Lan Jingyi asked.

"A-Yuan, I'm sure Hanguang-jun and I will figure something out," Senior Wei said. "I'm sure we can have Nie Huaisang to talk to the emperor about it."

"You better stop packing, Sizhui!" Jin Ling demanded.

"Enough, all of you," Sizhui finally spoke.

Everyone became quiet as Sizhui turned. He had already finished packing. All he need to do was to find out which sect he should go to receive his punishment. Sizhui could see tears forming in his families eyes, while his friends were really crying.

"I know you all meant well, but be serious," Sizhui said. "Since when has going to the emperor would solve everything? Everyone in China knows what the Wens did and it left a deep wound that would never go away. Some may forgive, but others won't and left a grudge against anyone who is a Wen. I know I was raised as a Lan, but my blood is still a Wen and that is something that would never change. How could this be fix with the deed is already been done?"

"So you're just going to accept this?!" Senior Wei exclaimed. "A-Yuan, think reasonably!"

Sizhui scoffed. "I am, Senior Wei."

"Sizhui, your papa and I will figure this out," Hanguang-jun said. "Even your uncle and granduncle too."

Sizhui narrowed his eyes. As much as he wanted to have hope in this situation, for some reason, he had a gut feeling that it wouldn't get any better. Sizhui was making sure he was holding back his tears. He knew he could be vulnerable around this family and friends, but a part of him just had enough. He had enough what happened back there. Everything was beyond his control.

Then Sizhui walked passed his family and friends as he headed out of the door, but stopped. Uncle Ning was there. The two stared at each other in silence. Sizhui narrowed his eyes, finally calming down. Tears were forming in his eyes as he ran up to his uncle and hugged him. Uncle Ning held him and stroke his hair, rocking him a bit. Sizhui couldn't help it and smiled as he remember his uncle used to do that whenever he couldn't sleep and having nightmares. Then Sizhui felt more arms wrapped around him. He knew right away it was his family. As they let go, Sizhui looked at his family and friends one more time and walked away without looking back.

~OoO~

Sizhui flinched when Zidian slashed at him. Visible scars were on his body from the pervious sect leaders. Each month, Sizhui spent with a sect leader who voted for his death and punished for what they deemed fit. All of them basically tortured and starved him. Only giving him pieces of food so he could survive until his execution. However, no matter how much Sizhui was tortured, he still kept his composure just like his father. Sizhui's arms and legs were chained up as Sect Leader Jiang kept slashing at him like a madman. Sizhui wasn't sure why he wasn't reacting this much. Maybe it was because he was used to the pain or maybe it was because he expected Sect Leader Jiang to use Zidian anyway. Whatever the reason was, Sizhui just went with it.

"You filthy Wen-dog!" Sect Leader Jiang yelled. "Scream! I said scream!"

Sect Leader Jiang whipped Zidian at him again and Sizhui screamed. Smirking, the sect leader kept whipping him. Soon when Sect Leader Jiang stopped, breathing heavily. Zidian changed back into a ring. He unchained Sizhui and put a chain around his neck. Sect Leader Jiang yanked him and punched him across the face, causing Sizhui's nose to bleed. The sect leader kept punching him everywhere he could hit. His eyes, nose, mouth, chest, groin, and anywhere that could hurt him.

"Are you going to fight back, Wen-dog?!" Sect Leader Jiang said. "Or are you too proud of a Lan to do that? You're just like that great Hanguang-jun!"

The way he said great was in a venomous tone. As Sizhui fell onto the ground, Sect Leader Jiang started kicking him like a piece of meat. As much as Sizhui really wanted to beat the living hell out of Sect Leader Jiang, but he couldn't. The sect leader was his superior and authority. Someone he has to respect and not insulted.

"You must be more like Wei Wuxian, then," Sect Leader Jiang growled. "Trying to play hero and trying to do the right thing! Tsk, you're so much like them it's disgusting! Everything about you, Lan Sizhui is disguising!"

After a few more beatings, Sect Leader Jiang finally stopped. The sect leader wiped the seat off of his forehead and gripped the chain as he yanked Sizhui, causing him to followed the sect leader out of the torture room. When they got to his office, Sizhui had to sit outside, while Sect Leader Jiang was doing some paperwork. The chain was tied to a pillar where Sizhui couldn't escape. Even though Sizhui wasn't allow to escape, but of course the sect leader had to make precautions.

Sighing, Sizhui could only look at the beauty of Lotus Pier. Despite how much Sizhui hated Sect Leader Jiang, the only thing good was the beauty of his home. Sizhui wouldn't mind staying in Lotus Pier if the owner of the home wasn't a complete asshole who holds grudges like no tomorrow.

As Sizhui was looking aimlessly at the view, he noticed something in the corner of his eyes. There was a turtle walking up to him. Three baby turtles to be exact. All three of them were pulling a small bag. Sizhui glanced around. No one was around. Quickly, he scurried over to the babies as quietly as he could. When he got to them, they stopped and looked at him. Sizhui quickly thanked them and opened the bag. He blinked a few times. In the bag were lotus seeds. Slowly, a smile spread across Sizhui's face. He could feel tears forming in his eyes. It had been months since he received any kindness from someone.

Sizhui bowed to the baby turtles and ate the seeds. He didn't care if some of the seeds were partially eaten and were covered with turtle saliva. This was the first time in forever he had gotten a proper meal. While he ate, he handed each of the baby turtles his lotus seeds. The smallest turtle chirped and ate the seed like no tomorrow, while the others just ate, ignoring their sibling's ravish appetite. Sizhui giggled and continued to eat. When he was done, he quickly hid the bag in the water by putting a rock over it. As he glanced at the baby turtles, he bowed to them again.

"Thank you," he whispered. "You three should go, before Sect Leader Jiang sees you. Let me help you."

As Sizhui gently scooped up the baby turtles, all three turtles nuzzled against his hand. Sizhui scooted over to the water. When he was about to put the turtles where they belong, the door burst opened, causing Sizhui to flinched. His face turned pale as he looked back. Sect Leader Jiang glared at him. As his blue eyes landed on the baby turtles, he made a look of disgust. For the first time in Sizhui's life, he felt scared. Not of Sect Leader Jiang, but scared for the baby turtles. He was defenseless. He didn't have his sword on him. The only thing he could use to fight back was his fists and legs, but sadly, those were chained up as well.

"What the hell are you doing, Wen-dog?!" Sect Leader Jiang barked.

Sizhui gulped. "I-I was just putting these baby turtles back in the water."

Then there was an agonizing silence. Sect Leader Jiang walked up to Sizhui and snatched the baby turtles from his grasped. The sect leader stared at the turtles and turned his hand as he dropped them down. Gasping, Sizhui tried to reach for the babies, but Zidian wrapped itself around him. When the baby turtles landed, Sect Leader Jiang stopped his foot on them. Eyes widened, tears dripped down from Sizhui's cheeks as he heard a horrible crunching sound. It sounded like as if someone was stepping on an egg. The fragments of the baby turtles' soul floated and Sizhui grabbed the souls, cradling it to his chest. He sobbed into a complete mess.

"Qi Fengwu!" Sect Leader Jiang called.

A servant ran over to Sect Leader Jiang and bowed. Sect Leader Jiang pulled his bloody shoe away, revealing the bloodied baby turtles. Qi Fengwu turned pale. She looked like she wanted to gag. Sect Leader Jiang grabbed the baby turtles and put them in her hands.

"Make some turtle soup," he said. "and feed it to that Wen-dog."

Gulping, Qi Fengwu nodded. "Y-Yes S-Sec Leader J-Jiang."

Right away, Qi Fengwu speed walk away and when she turned to a corner, Sizhui could hear her running. Sizhui felt like he wanted to throw up. He wanted to smash Sect Leader Jiang's face just like he did to the baby turtles. As Sizhui wiped his tears, he glared up at the sect leader.

"Why did you do that?!" Sizhui cried. "They didn't do anything wrong!"

"Anything you touch, deserves to die," Sect Leader Jiang said. "It doesn't matter if those disgusting turtles were from my land. You tainted them, they die!" As Sect Leader Jiang headed back to his office, he stopped. "Oh and Sizhui, I do hope you like turtle soup. If you don't eat it, I'll force you."

"What do you really get out of this Sect Leader Jiang?!" Sizhui demanded. "You know the truth about the Wen Remnants. Why do all of this?"

Suddenly, Sect Leader Jiang grabbed a fistful of his hair. "You ruin my life, so I ruin yours. It's your fault you were born into the Wen Sect. You deserve this. I don't give a shit that you were a toddler at the time. I would've still kill you anyway, but you got away. I still remembered you. With you out of the way, I can finally live in peace that everyone from the Qishan Wen Sect is gone."

Sizhui paled as Sect Leader Jiang let go of his hair and went inside, shutting the door behind him. Sizhui gnashed his teeth. He could't believed what he just heard. This ma was so obsessed with revenge to a point where he wanted everyone from the Wen Sect, despite being innocent, sent to death. Sizhui sobbed as he looked at the soul fragments. As he peered into the memories of the baby turtles, he cried even more. The babies were only a few days old. Sizhui cried some more as he fell onto his side, burying his hands into his face.

~OoO~

After a month with Sect Leader Jiang, Sizhui was back in the Cloud Recesses, but he was in the dungeons. Sizhui didn't care if he was in the dungeons, he was happy that he was back home, despite his execution was coming up soon. From what he learned that Hanguang-jun and Senior Wei did tried and begged the emperor to let him free, but he wouldn't allow it. Chief Cultivator Nie wanted his wounds to heal and back to health before his death day. Aside from that, Sizhui was treated nicely again and talking to his friends and family whenever they got a chance to visit. Overall, Sizhui didn't mind being secluded for most of the day. He got to read some of his favorite romance books and there was a rat that would come by from time to time and keep him company. It was odd at first, but Sizhui felt comfort by the rat.

While Sizhui was reading with the rat laying next to him, he heard someone was walking to his cell. Sizhui knew it wasn't time to eat yet, but he had a hunch that they were giving him a snack or something. As Sizhui lowered his book, he was staring face to face with Chief Cultivator Nie. Right away, Sizhui bowed to his superior.

"Lan Sizhui, do we mind if we talk?" Chief Cultivator Nie asked. "I brought some snacks."

Sizhui nodded. "Yes, Cultivator Chief Nie."

Smiling, Cultivator Chief Nie took out a key and unlock it. Sizhui blinked a few times. As much as he wanted to asked how Chief Cultivator Nie got the key, but he was sure someone let him borrowed it. Chief Cultivator Nie sat next to him, taking out a basket of snacks and sweets. He handed Sizhui a bean bun, which Sizhui happily took it and ate it. Sizhui could tell it was a black bean bun, which was one of the common desserts in the Nie Sect. Sizhui never tried it before, but it taste very good.

"Do you like it?" Chief Cultivator Nie asked.

Sizhui smiled. "It's very delicious! Thank you."

Chief Cultivator Nie chuckled. "I'm glad."

As Sizhui finished his dessert, he asked. "May this disciple ask why are you here?"

As much as Sizhui didn't mind Chief Cultivator Nie visited him, but out of his friends and family, the Chief Cultivator himself paid him a visit, which was something Sizhui never expected. Chief Cultivator Nie paused. His eyes softened and patted Sizhui's head, stroking his hair. The way he was stroking his hair was very soft and gentle.

"You really do look like him," Chief Cultivator Nie said. "except your eyes. They're like hers'."

Sizhui's eyes widened. The only time someone would tell him about his birth parents was Uncle Ning. From what his uncle told him that was he looked exactly like his father, except his eyes that were like his mother. Uncle Ning also told him that his father's personality was similar to Wen Qing, while his mother's was just like Sizhui's, except that his mother had a temper and his father was always too patient with everyone.

"You know my birth parents?" Sizhui asked.

Sighing, Chief Cultivator Nie nodded. "Yes. Wen Yang and Li Meiyu. I'm sure Wen Ning told you that your father was a Wen by blood and a servant. He had low cultivation skills. Your mother on the other hand was a very powerful cultivator. I met your father when I was studying at the Cloud Recesses at the time."

Sizhui gasped. "Really? How did you two meet?"

"I met him in the library," Chief Cultivator Nie simply answered. "Your Wen Yang love painting and so do I. So we bonded over our love for art. He was the same age as Zewu-jun at the time. I even helped him court your mother too. After my studies, we kept in contact. I never got the chance to go to his wedding because I had to go to the Qishan training camp. Then when the Sunshot Campaign happened, your father was the first to warn me before the Wens came to my home. Wen Yang broke into my home and warned me. He and Li Meiyu disguised themselves as guards. At first I didn't want to leave because of my brother. However, when my brother wanted to sent me to the Cloud Recesses, I had no choice, but to go. Wen Yang and Li Meiyu escort me by disguising themselves as guards. When they were taking me to safety, he told me about you, Sizhui. Wen Yang was happy you were born, but sadden that you were born at the time of war. He asked me that if anything happens to him, I'll take care of you. I promised that. Then one day...they just died. I don't know how it happened, but they did. After they died, I tried to find a way to have you live with me. I was personally going to to get you myself before Wei Wuxian came. I was happy that you were safe at the Burial Mounds. I was planning to tell Wei Wuxian about my promise and lie to my brother that you are my son from another woman, but...I was too late. Jiang Wanyin led the siege and I thought you died. I had no idea you were alive and raised by Hanguang-jun. I'm thankful that he found and raise you."

As Sizhui heard everything that Chief Cultivator Nie was telling him, he noticed how fond he was talking about his parents, especially his father. Sizhui couldn't help, but sympathized with Chief Cultivator Nie.

"You love my father, didn't you?" Sizhui guessed.

Chief Cultivator Nie blinked a few times and chuckled as he put a fan to his face. "Yes, I do."

"I'm sorry," Sizhui apologized.

"There's no need to apologize, Lan Sizhui. I knew your father didn't feel the same and I accepted that. I'm just upset that I couldn't protect you like I promised."

Sizhui placed a hand on Chief Cultivator Nie's shoulder. "I think my father would be proud. I know not everything went to plan, except justice for your brother's murder, but at the end, you did try to help me. I think my parents knew that my life would end short. That's why they wanted you or anyone to raise me long enough to know how loved I was. Thank you, Chief Cultivator Nie for keeping my father's promise until the end."

Tears formed in Chief Cultivator Nie's eyes as he embraced Sizhui. Chuckling, Sizhui hugged back, holding back his tears. After minute or two, the chief cultivator let go and stroke Sizhui's hair.

"Thank you, A-Yuan," Chief Cultivator Nie said.

Sizhui shook his head. "No, thank you for having tea and sweets with me. I wish we could do this more."

"So do I."

As the two stood up, Sizhui bowed and Chief Cultivator Nie did the same, but when the chief cultivator bowed, he bowed lower than Sizhui, which surprised him. With a smile, Chief Cultivator Nie left his cell. Sighing, Sizhui sat back down as he processed everything that just happened. As he was thinking, he noticed a rat was pulling his worn out blanket to him. Smiling, Sizhui took the blanket and petted the rat's head.

"Thank you, kind friend," Sizhui said.

~OoO~

The day of Sizhui's execution was the day he last saw his family and friends. Despite how much his whole body hurts, he didn't care how much pain he was in. His love ones matters the most. His fathers and friends personally saw him themselves. They each gave him a hug. Sizhui held them tightly as he could. He held back his tears, but he couldn't. He let out his tears as he wept.

"Sizhui...A-Yuan," Jin Ling sobbed as he handed him an object that was wrapped with cloth. "It's from the three of us."

Blinking a few times, Sizhui took the cloth, unwrapping it. He couldn't help and smiled. In his hand was a butterfly. Half of the wings had the colors that represent his friends and himself. The left wing had the colors gold and dark blue, while the right wing had the colors green and light blue. The butterfly was decorated with jewels that Sizhui was sure that Jin Ling provided. Smiling, he gave his sworn brothers a hug,

"Thank you," Sizhui wiped his tears. "Thank you so much!"

"It was Zizhen's idea," Jin Ling sniffed.

Sizhui chuckled. He hadn't laughed like this for months. The soft, but loud laugh echoed through the dungeons. Then his laughter died down as he stared at Hanguang-jun, Senior Wei, Uncle Ning, Jingyi, Jin Ling, and Ouyang Zizhen.

"There's something I want all of you guys to promise me something." Sizhui finally said.

"Anything for you my little radish," Senior Wei said.

"All of you, live long and well," Sizhui smiled. "Achieve immortality, live the life you wanted, and be my eyes to see the world evolves."

Hanguang-jun pursed his lips. "A-Yuan..."

Sizhui took his father's hand. "I mean it! Please!"

Senior Wei cradled his head. "We will, we will."

His friends agreed too as they hugged him once more. They all stayed like this for at least ten minutes. When they finished, Granduncle Qiran walked over to them. Despite his strict demeanor, his eyes were red and puffy. Sizhui let go of his parents and friends as he walked up to his great uncle. He waited for his uncle to tie the chains on his wrist, but instead, Granduncle Qiran enveloped him into a hug. Sizhui gasped and blinked a few times. His eyes softened as he slowly brought his arms around his granduncle.

"I'm so sorry, A-Yuan," Granduncle Qiran muttered.

"It's fine," Sizhui said. "You all tried your best. I'll never blame anyone who tried to help me."

Then Zewu-jun walked over to them and hugged them as well. He too, muttered his apologies. All of the memories Sizhui had with his uncle and granduncle flowed back into his mind as he remembered how much they love him. Even the memory of how Granduncle Qiran did let him get away with little lies because they weren't that big of a deal and the time where he helped Zewu-jun with his garden.

As they let go, Sizhui hugged Uncle Ning. His uncle was a sobbing mess. Sizhui held his uncle as long as he could. He felt bad how his uncle had to watch the only living Wen, his young nephew had to die. Sizhui was aware from what Uncle Ning told him, his uncle and his parents were very close.

"A-Yuan," Uncle Ning cried. "My A-Yuan!"

"It's okay Uncle Ning," Sizhui said. "I'll be fine."

When they broke apart, a Lan cultivator walked up to Sizhui, with chains. Sizhui turned to his family and friends. With one last smile, he bowed to them. They all bowed back, lower than the usual bow. Sizhui turned to the cultivator, who was also bowing to him too. After that, the cultivator tied his wrists with chains.

With a deep breath, Sizhui walked out of the dungeons. From left to right, he saw all of the cultivators were watching him. Some were muttering among each other. While others were shouting insults at him. He didn't know what they were talking about, but he didn't care. Sizhui quickly glanced at the Lan cultivators who were trying to hold back their emotions, except for the younger ones, who were in a crying mess.

When Sizhui got to the middle of Cloud Recesses, he saw there was a stack of wood. Sizhui gulped. He remembered Uncle Ning told him how Aunt Qing died. It looks like he'll be experiencing how she died too. As the cultivator tied Sizhui's hands behind his back, the Jiang cultivators took the stack of wood and pressed it against him. After they set up the wood, the Jiang cultivators went back to their sect leader. Some looked back with worry.

Then Sect Leader Jiang stood in front of him as everyone went quiet with a torch in hand. He took a quick glance at Sizhui and sneered with a giddy look across his face. As much as Sizhui wished he could've fight back, but he was just done. He was done with everything that happened.

"We are gather here for the execution of Lan Yuan, courtesy name, Lan Sizhui," Sect Leader Jiang said. "Lan Sizhui, have committed treason and is being executed for the sins of the Qishan Wen Sect and for bearing the Wen name. You deceived all of the cultivation world that you're a Lan, but lied. You had tarnished the Lan name for taking you in and be Hanguang-jun's ward. Like your surname, you had tarnished everything you touched." Then Sect Leader Jiang bent over, covered his mouth, and whispered into his ear. "This is what you get. You deserve this. No one will know the real truth of the Wen Remnants. No one will miss you. You're just a waste of space."

Sizhui glared at Sect Leader Jiang. Of all the things he knew about Sect Leader Jiang, Sizhui finally saw that Jiang Wanyin was just a miserable pathetic man who is bitter with his life and how he couldn't get over the past. If only Sizhui could say all of those things he wanted to say, he wouldn't hesitate, but in the cultivation world, he couldn't. If only the times were different.

Then Sect Leader Jiang threw the torch on the pyre. The flames erupted as everyone gasped. Sizhui stared through the flames. Everyone was watching him with horror looks in their eyes, not just those who didn't want him to die, but everyone. It was like as if it sunk into them that they were literally killing a child. However, the one person who didn't felt any remorse was Sect Leader Jiang, who seemed pleased about this. He had his arms crossed and his head held high, looking down at him with a smirk.

Hanguang-jun was embracing Senior Wei, while Jingyi was sobbing, Jin Ling was looking away, Ouyang Zizhen was burring his face in his hands, and Uncle Ning was crying and had to be restrained. Sizhui clenched the butterfly toy until he could feel his skin bled. He didn't want to die. He wanted to live. He wanted to achieve immortality and live with his friends and family forever. He wanted to see how the world will grow and prosper! He wanted to find love and have kids, but he knew that dream would never happened. Sizhui knew that all of the efforts that Hanguang-jun, Senior Wei, Chief Cultivator Nie, the Lans, the Wen Remnants, and Uncle Ning for keeping him alive were fruitless, but at least he knew he was loved.

Closing his eyes, Sizhui spoke one last time. "Oh, the heavenly palace of the Jade Emperor, I give you my life."e heavenly palace of the Jade Emperor, I give you my life."