Ch 48
(A/N This chapter was one of the hardest I have written so far and has gone on longer than I planned so I have split it into two. Therefore the end will not make much sense until you read next weeks as well)
Before anyone could do more than simply stare in disbelief at the now open path up the mountain, they noticed two figures walking slowly down. Completely unhurried, the two strolled downwards chatting to each other as if unaware they were in the middle of a potential battlefield. Jin GuangYao opened his mouth to speak again, but only got a few syllables out before people started shouting over him.
'Sect Leader!'
'Jin Zixuan!
'ZeWu Jun'
Almost as a crowd they pushed forwards, ignoring the fact that they were pouring into the enemy territory on mass, just trying to reach the two men still strolling towards them. When Lan XiChen and Jin ZiXuan reached the mob running towards them they stopped speaking to each other and faced the group. Everyone looked across between concerned and completely dumbstruck that they where there at all. The two men nodded to each other and Jin Zixuan separated to find his Sect. Lan XiChen stood facing the whole group alone as he cleared his throat, raising a hand to silence the many questions that where tumbling over each other while being aimed at him.
'I know you all must have questions' He began as firmly as he could while still keeping a tone of understanding in his voice. 'Believe me things will be made clear if you follow me and Sect Leader Jin.'
He nodded over to Jin Zixuan, who was whispering something in one of his disciple's ears before straightening up to nod to the rest in acknowledgement. As if on cue the murmurs began again, could they trust people who had been captured by the YiLing Patriarch; why were they still alive; where was Lan QiRen; was Wei WuXian really powerful enough to control two Sect Leaders? XiChen just waited a few moments for the murmurs and uncertainty to run through the group before clearing his throat again to get everyone's attention.
'I know you are all wondering if you can trust myself and Sect Leader Jin right now. But I ask you to think. It is a long walk from where Wei WuXian resides to here and we were not gone long. Do you really think he could have subdued both of us in such a short time and sent us down here? Plus my Uncle was with us also!….Wei WuXian maybe powerful but he is not powerful enough to overpower two Sect leaders and an Elder within a matter of seconds.' He waited for his words to sink in before nodding towards the path the two men had just walked down. 'if you want answers to your questions then please follow me.'
With that he simply turned and began walking back up the path. Some Sects followed immediately, some with great reluctance only after they noticed Jin Zixuan had remained behind to accompany the stragglers, his own Sect had been amongst the first to follow. As Lan XiChen had said it was at least a fifteen minute walk up narrow, winding paths until they reached the entrance to Wei WuXian's camp. They all could have gotten lost many times over without the guides. None of them however where prepared for the sight that greeted them when marched through that entrance.
They had expected a mound of bodies, the dead cultivators remains from the fire ward. They had expected Wei WuXian doing some kind of demonic ritual to increase his power, after all the ward was so much more powerful than he was capable of last time he must have increased his power somehow. They were expecting a lot of things, but not what they saw. Wei Ying stood in the middle of the clearing, outlined by the still black ruins of the cave he so very nearly lost his life in. To his side, but a slight step back stood Lan Zhan, his hand resting on a sheathed Bichen and his face holding that normal ice cold expression. What caused a few strokes and headaches amongst the group though was behind the two a group of about a dozen cultivators stood, from all Sects, talking pleasantly to each other and looking very much alive. Next to them stood Lan QiRen who stood between three men knelt, bound and gagged on the ground. The whole situation seemed surreal. These where the same men who had been seen by so many being burned to death while trying to break the ward, yet here they were standing by the very same man looking as relaxed as if they were stood in their own Sects. Just as the murmurs began to rise once again through the gathered cultivators both Lan Zhan and Lan XiChen raised their hands almost in unison. Lan XiChen's gesture was obviously for silence, the same way it had been outside, but Lan Zhan simply flicked his wrist and a dome of power descended around the clearing.
A chorus of voices rose at the ward. It cut them off completely from the outside, yet somehow didn't seem dangerous. Yet Lan Zhan simply ignored them and Lan XiChen stood with his hand in the same position asking for silence. After a few moments of commotion the group seemed to realise they would get nothing by shouting and slowly fell silent.
'Many thanks for your patience' Lan XiChen began, lowering his arm 'I know it must be a great shock for you but believe me there are good reasons for all you see around you. Firstly I need to make it cleat that Wei WuXian never returned to Demonic cultivation, or betrayed either the Lan or YuMeng Sects. This was simply an act that was required in order provide bait…..for everything else I will try to explain clearly.'
Lan XiChen looked over his shoulder just as Lan QiRen picked up one of the men from the floor. The man didn't struggle but neither did he look at anything but the ground. He couldn't have spoken if had tried but it became clear that he was making no attempt to communicate. Bringing the man forward Lan QiRen made no effort to speak to the group of Sects who seemed to be more puzzled by the moment, instead he simply held the man up by his shoulder and nodded to his eldest nephew while ignoring everyone else.
'We have know for some time that there was a spy in the Lan Sect. Information meant to be kept secret, amongst certain members of the Sect only was somehow leaking out. Also rumours where leaking into to Gusu faster than they otherwise would have been, and all those rumours where aimed at undermining the reputation and coherence of my Sect. This man was found out to be the spy, but I am sorry to say that it didn't end there, there were many spies found in the high Sects.'
People began looking around incredulous, eyes darting back and fourth between one Sect an another as if by some miracle they would spot a spy they couldn't ten minutes ago. Some people shifted under harsh gazes while other turned away. Swords got unsheathed and aimed at random people who seemed to be acting oddly. Just when it seemed it would turn nasty one man shouted up.
'Your lying! You want us to turn on each other, this is your plan all along!'
Wei Ying scoffed and made to move forwards but Lan Zhan grabbed his hand keeping him in place. Jin Zixuan had now joined the men at the front facing the crowd with a look on his face that didn't bode well for anyone challenging him. However before Lan XiChen could speak up against the accusation a voice thundered from behind him.
'The Lan do not lie!' came QiRen's voice in a rumble just short of thunder. Most of the men present had been taught by him at some point and knew this particular tone of voice was one used by a teacher to a very annoying and stupid student. They also knew that the only way you avoided that voice was to shut up and hoped he didn't look at you. It didn't take more than a few seconds for the crowd to quieten once again, However Lan QiRen was not finished with his speech. 'The Lan do no lie…...and the Lan do not betray the correct way of protecting the innocent' QiRen spoke again, his voice more normal in volume but still as sharp as a whip crack. 'This person…' he dropped the disciple unceremoniously on the floor. 'Is no longer of our Sect, has never understood what it means to be Lan. They worked together with a person who wished to undermine all our Sects, destroy what we all stand for, all for his own greed. Such a man does not deserve to be called a cultivator.' He paused as if daring anyone to speak. 'You have all come here blaming Wei WuXian for the deaths of your disciples….' he waved at the small group still stood to one side. 'THESE disciples who look very alive to me! It is clear you came here on a rumour. You originally wanted to kill the same boy for falsehoods and rumours, yet you are calling MY SECT liars.'
Most of those gathered looked at the floor unable to argue with the truth that the men were very much alive. Some stared at Lan QiRen, then over to Wei Ying, then back again, obviously unable to make sense of what was happening. Lan XiChen felt a hand on one of his shoulders as he stood watching the astonished crowd. Looking behind him he saw Wei Ying stepping forwards, and with a little nod in acknowledgement stepped back to his brother-in-law's left, Wanji of course ever present on his right.
'I'm sorry for misleading everyone.' Wei Ying spoke into the silence. 'As you can see no one was hurt by my ward. It was simply an illusion, a transport talisman built into a normal ward that transported them here. They have been well cared for since then. However it was the only way we could get disciples from each Sect alone and find out exactly what is going on. What Master Lan says is right, someone is trying to make you fight one another but that someone is not me.'
Jin ZiXuan nodded for the second bound man to be bought forwards, unlike the first he glared defiantly at everyone despite being unable to speak. Jin ZiXuan himself spoke confidently.
'This man was one of my most trusted disciples. Yet here he stands as a traitor! He betrayed me and yet I wouldn't have worked it out if not for the Lan and Wei Ying. This was a sacrifice for all of them but one necessary to keep all Sects safe not just their own, secrets forced on them by their own traitor in their midst. I ask that you listen before you pass judgment.'
Many people nodded to each other before facing the front again. One man from the back shouting the question they all wanted to know the answer to but where too unsure to ask.
'If not Wei WuXian, who is responsible for all this?'
The same deathly silence descended as the Sects waited, looking at the five men in front for a response.