This is why she hated any gatherings with all the sects.

Everytime they gathered, something would always happen that had the potential to start another war, which Xuemi really hoped wouldn't happen.

At least half of the sects had already left, so they couldn't see the spectacle.

On the other hand, the four main sects were all present. So this was definitely not favourable either.

Politics.

Ugh.

She no longer blamed herself for such thoughts, as she believed them wholly warranted. Especially now.

Apparently, Wei Wuxian used Paper Metamorphosis to enter Jin Zixun's chambers. In his chambers, there was a secret room, in which Wei Wuxian found Chifeng-zun's head.

Apparently.

Okay, yes, Xuemi believed him. Jin Zixun had never been a good person in her eyes, and she had no trouble believing Wei Wuxian over him. She will never admit it though. (She has many things she will never admit, but no one needs to know that.)

As it stood, she ran- yes, ran, screw the rules!- with Xichen, Wangji, Wuxian and Jin Ling by her side. Well, the last one was trying to stop them, but still.

They made it to Jin Zixun's private chambers. Wei Wuxian immediately shouted for Jin Zixun to open the door, even though Jin Ling made it between them and the chamber. Other Jin disciples surrounded them from behind, swords unsheathed.

The commotion also drew Jin Guangshan. He stormed up to them. "Lan-zongzhu! What is the meaning of this?!"

Wei Wuxian barked out a laugh. "Jin-zongzhu, you're here just in time. A little later, and you would have missed the play in Jin Zixun's hidden chamber."

Jin Zixun slammed open his doors. "Mo Xuanyu. You dared to return to Carp Tower, and we didn't say anything. But now, you dare try to force your way into my hidden chamber? What's so special about it? The Lan Clan has the forbidden library only clan members are allowed in. Should we force our way into that one?"

"It is well known that the forbidden library hides only the Lan clan books. If you want, you may go down and check to see that is true, although we would need to wipe your memory of any texts read." Xuemi replied. "However, your hidden chamber has drawn our concern."

Jin Zixun sneered. "Where does this concern come from, pray tell?"

"A reliable source." Wangji said.

"A reliable source." Zixun mocked. "And what did this 'reliable source' tell you? Which item in my hidden chamber is of interest to you?"

"What is going on here?!"

Jiang Wanyin and Nie Huaisang came running as well, which complicated matters a tad bit. Nie Huaisang is Nie Mingjue's brother, after all, and Jiang Wanyin looks like he wants to murder Wei Wuxian.

"Replying to Sect Heir Jin, Chifeng-zun's head." Wei Wuxian said bluntly.

Silence. Nie Huaisang grew very pale.

Jin Guangshan nervously laughed. "Now, there's a reasonable explanation as to why this is. You see…"

"If there's an explanation, I would like to hear it." Lan Xichen said coldly. "I would like to hear as to why the Jin Sect has the former Nie Sect Leader's head, and why it separated it from its body. I would also like to hear why the Nie Sect or me, as his sworn brother, weren't informed."

Jiang Wanyin's eyes narrowed. "Chifeng-zun's body? Where is it?"

"We found it in Yi City." Wei Wuxian said easily.

"I was unaware that Chifeng-zun's body would be of any concern to you, Sect Leader Jin. Please forgive this one for her misunderstanding." Xuemi bowed, but there was no respect in it.

"Yes, apologize to the Chief Cultivator for your impudence!"

The new voice was none other than Su She, the Sect Leader of the Moling Su Sect. With an ugly smirk, he walked up to the four cultivators that were running earlier. "Bai-guniang, don't you think that this doesn't respect the Jin Clan?"

"Su-zongzhu, don't you think you're a bit thick-skinned to talk to me about respect?" she shot back.

Su Minshan flushed. "You-!"

Xuemi turned to him, eyes cold. "What you did, you yourself know very well."

The glaring competition lasted for a few more seconds before Jin Guangshan broke it. "Bai-guniang, it is correct that Chifeng-zun's head is in Jin Zixun's chamber. However, it was because the Jin Sect was worried that Chifeng-zun would blame them for his death, and thus, we separated his body so that he wouldn't turn into a resentful corpse."

"That did good for you." Wei Wuxian spat. "Since when was it the Jin Sect's turn to interfere in the Nie Sect's internal matters? Chifeng-zun was the Nie Sect Leader. Surely the problem of his resentful energy was to be dealt with the Nie Sect?"

"Jin-zongzhu." Lan Xichen cut in. "Some months ago, the juniors of our sect went to Mo village for a night hunt. Although they brought back the sword spirit of Baxia, the night hunt itself didn't go very well, and four members of the Mo family were killed. Baxia killed only because it was trying to get back to its master. Why wasn't Baxia with Chifeng-zun?"

Jin Guangshan's face became shifty as he floundered for excuses. "There is a reason for all of these." He said quickly.

Then, his eyes lit up, in a very, very bad way.

"But, there is something else that, I believe, would certainly be much more urgent than this matter."

"What?" Jiang Wanyin snapped, patience wearing thin.

"The Yiling Patriarch stands among us." He eyed the masked cultivator.

Wei Wuxian froze. Jiang Wanyin wasn't surprised, but he was mildly panicked.

So he does care for Wei Wuxian.

Wangji's grip tightened on Bichen. Jin Ling looked at "Mo Xuanyu" in horror. Jin Zixun's eyes narrowed at him. The Jin disciples all turned their sword point at Wei Wuxian.

Realizing that he had no other choice, Wei Wuxian held up a hand. The infamous sword flew from inside Jin Zixun's room, into his waiting hand, and he unsheathed it.

Suibian.

Taking the hint, Wangji quickly grabbed his hand and flew off, landing right at the edge of the enormous staircase of Jinlintai. They began to race each other down the stairs, but only made it halfway before the other Jin disciples, waiting at the bottom, made their way up, along with the ones behind them completing the encirclement.

Two hundred against two.

Wei Wuxian pushed Wangji away, in a vain attempt to protect him.

Xichen, Xuemi, Wanyin, Huaisang, Jin Zixun and Jin Guangshan approached the top of the stairs as well. Su She followed, snorting. "Wei Wuxian, do you think it's still useful to keep the mask on, now?"

Wei Wuxian seemed to object at first, but then he faded into calm resignation as he undid the ribbon and let the mask fall. This time, there was a thud, and it was absolutely appropriate.

There were gasps from some Jin disciples old enough to remember his face. Others startled, but only because their elders did as well.

Jin Zixun walked closer. "Wei Wuxian, you really were sneaky this time. You managed to fool the cultivation world. Even Hanguang-jun!"

At this moment, four juniors came running. Qingxue made it to her father's side. Zewu-jun? What's going on?

Jiang Rui and Jiang Hui seemed to realize. "Wei Wuxian…" They breathed out. Sizhui stared at the blade in Wei Wuxian's hands, and paled as well.

Wei Wuxian put on a fake proud face. "Yes, exactly! I fooled him!"

"Untrue."

The word, though quiet, rang out in the night. Xichen closed his eyes and sighed deeply.

Wei Wuxian grabbed Wangji's hand and whispered something to him, but then Wangji asked a question. "Do you remember the question you asked me, back in Cloud Recesses?"

Did you really believe me, back then?

Wei Wuxian's lips parted in realization, then he gave a chuckle. By some mutual understanding, the two of them rearranged themselves, back to back.

"Fight, or no?"

"Useless words." Wangji muttered.

"Fight!"

The battle started. Two hundred against two, but these two were the Yiling Patriarch and the Second Jade of Gusu. Xuemi nearly leapt into the fray several times when Wangji was in danger, but Xichen held her back.

We can't help them.

Yet.

True to his word, the pair indeed needed no help. Whenever Wei Wuxian's sword forms left an opening, Wangji covered it for him. When Wangji's back was unprotected, Wei Wuxian positioned himself in front of it.

Suibian and Bichen clashed with dozens of nameless blades. Their sword glares flashed as they took out row after row of disciples. Soon enough, they found an opportunity, and flew past the other disciples, to the bottom of the stairs.

Their escape was going great. Until…

"A-Ling!" Wushan called out.

"Jin Ling! What are you doing?" Wenxin yelled.

The Jin cultivator had flown down to the bottom, blocking the duo's path. He leveled Suihua at Wei Wuxian. "You are Wei Ying, Wei Wuxian?"

Wei Wuxian furrowed his brows. "Jin Ling, I'll explain to you some other time, okay?"

He walked forward again, but stopped as he felt a cold blade pierce the same spot stabbed seventeen years ago.

Suihua drew Wei Wuxian's blood, just like Sandu had.

Jiang Wanyin gave a start when he realized the similarities. Wenxin and Wushan gave cries of horror. Qingxue started signing frantically, too fast for even Sizhui to interpret. Lan Xichen gasped as Wangji forced Jin Ling out of their way and grabbed Wei Wuxian, fleeing.

Jin Ling stared at the bloodstained sword, unsure of how to feel.

Satisfied with his revenge?

Disappointed that he only stabbed his gut?

Remorseful over hurting the man that saved them?

Suihua clattered to the ground, eerily similar to the sound back then, when the same sword landed outside Burial Mounds, after its former master's death.

Sizhui was not liking this.

These flashes of memories, these taunts of his childhood- all of it. Frankly, it was painful.

If there was one thing (other than Qingxue) that Sizhui was sensitive about, it was his past. He cursed whatever god was holding his memories just out of reach.

Sizhui was by no means impulsive. He was well known; Lan Sizhui, first young master of his generation, the epitome of righteousness, the one all looked up to. But at the moment, he couldn't care for any of that.

He would throw his reputation away and burn it to ashes if it meant that he could grasp those locked away memories.

With a twitch of his fingers, his sword Yunhua flew out of its sheath and hovered beside his feet. He stepped on and flew off, ignoring Zewu-jun's calls and the twins desperately trying to chase after him.

Despite his momentary impulsiveness, Lan Sizhui was still very much the first young master of his generation. His speed was fast, but it wasn't fast enough to catch up with Hanguang-jun. His fellow juniors' voices faded away, but there was still the sound of one sword, close behind him.

He pushed the thought away and clung on those shreds of memories, pushing himself to go faster, and faster, chasing after Hanguang-jun.

Father, do you know my past?

Can you tell me anything?

He needed to know.

Unfortunately, soon, Hanguang-jun masked their trail. Sizhui lost it, and touched down in a clearing, unsure of where to go.

The sword behind him landed as well.

"Sizhui?"

His head whipped around. Qingxue's hair was all over the place from flying after him, but her appearance was enough to distract him. Distract him enough so that he lost even those slivers of images.

With a roar of frustration, Yunhua came down at Qingxue, who dodged nimbly and picked up her own sword, Bingyun. The two of them began to duel.

Rather, Sizhui was attacking and Qingxue blocked, allowing him to vent.

It went on for some time. Yunhua's blade clashed against Bingyun, held above Qingxue's head. Angry tears began to leak out of Sizhui's eyes, but he forced them down.

A Lan does not need to cry. Grieving in excess is forbidden.

But he grieved. He grieved for the people he didn't know, for the family he lost before he was found by Hanguang-jun. He grieved because he just didn't know.

He had no idea how Nie Huaisang was able to stand not knowing anything.

"A-Yuan?" Qingxue said, tentatively.

Yunhua slid down Bingyun slowly, and fell to the ground when Sizhui dropped it. He fell on his knees, hugging himself.

Plitter, platter. Rain began pouring down on the two of them, and neither made a move to go to find shelter. It was convenient for Sizhui, because he couldn't hold in those tears again. The rain washed his face clean even as it was tainted over and over again with sadness.

Qingxue did not know how to comfort someone physically, but a hug seemed like a good start.

Sizhui stiffened at the touch, not used to it. (Unbeknownst to both of them, this was playing out so similarly to their seniors' interactions, a cruel twist of fate.) She held him as he cried.

"Grieving in excess is forbidden, but that doesn't mean one can't grieve at all." Qingxue whispered softly.

It just made him bawl harder, but later, when the two of them make their way back to Carp Tower, drenched and tired, they would both find that a weight had been lifted off their chests.

Letting one's emotions out does help, Qingxue mused.