"Do not look so worried, Lady Shen. Your sister will be fine. She will make the Gusu clan proud," Master Wei tries to comfort her as the archery tournament commences.
"Won't she?" Master Wei says to Dumplin as he bounces her playfully on his lap as Lan Zhan looks through a pair of binoculars.
Mimi taps her feet impatiently on the risers, unable to sit still, "I don't think I would be as worried if I didn't know that hundreds of archers were going to be running around the forest shooting arrows at possibly each other."
The clan leader had agreed to participate in the tournament, chaperoning Chen, Lan Sizhui, and Lan Jingyi into the forest. Due to the apparent mistrust of Master Wei by the other clans, Lan Zhan had foregone participating in solidarity. Mimi also suspected that with all the clans gathered that the clan leader's brother wanted to keep a very close eye on his cultivation partner. Lord Qiren had decided to sit amongst the clan leaders who had not agreed to participate. She caught him gesturing excitedly in her direction a couple of times, which made her smile.
"They don't shoot at each other, Mimi," Dumplin says, putting her hands on her hips in an imitating of herself.
How the tables have turned, she thinks ruefully, reaching over and ruffling her sister's hair affectionately.
"You know she looked just like you," Master Wei chortles.
"When do I get to be in the tournament?" Dumplin pouts, staring out at the field.
Lan Zhan sets the binoculars in Mimi's waiting hands and turns to the child solemnly, "When you are taller."
"You will be the talk of our clan for years to come," Master Wei sets the delighted child on his shoulders to give her a better vantage point.
Mimi smiles at the odd threesome and peers through the binoculars. She could not see anything but trees. Setting down the binoculars in frustration, a purple firework erupts into the sky.
Master Wei makes a whooping noise in celebration, "That is undoubtedly Jin Ling."
"How is your nephew?" Mimi asks, carefully handing the binoculars to Dumplin to try.
Dumplin immediately puts them on backward and looks at the sky. Lan Zhan carefully removes the binoculars and shows her how to properly use them.
Master Wei looks at her, surprised, "He is a fine young man. I do wish he would visit more often," he hugs Dumplin to him before setting her back on his shoulders.
She notices how Lan Zhan sweeps his sleeve over his leg to cover that he is squeezing his knee in support.
"Perhaps you will be able to visit with him more while he is here," Mimi suggests.
A succession of white Gusu sect symbols fill the sky, and Mimi beams proudly.
"That means we are going to win for sure!" Master Wei crows, and Dumplin mimics it.
Suddenly a different symbol appears in the sky, and the crowd becomes oddly quiet.
"Master Wei, what is that symbol?" Mimi asks, her heart hammering in her chest.
Lan Zhan is already getting to his feet.
"It means a participant has been injured. They have paused the tournament," Master Wei says, pulling Dumplin off his shoulders and holding her close.
A white stretcher is being pulled from the forest, and seeing a hint of blue, Mimi is already running down the risers, narrowly avoiding smacking into people. Lan Zhan is near her side as they run to the stretcher where the clan leader lay. The ribbon beneath her skin spasms and Mimi feels genuine fear run down her back. And where is Chen?
"The arrow has struck his heart," a medic says, "We dare not touch him."
Mimi aggressively shoves the medic aside and summoning a ball of foxfire, she places it over the clan leader's chest.
"HanGuang Jun, can you help me get him into a sitting position please," Mimi's voice cracks, but she is determined. She refused to go through this again. Realizing her intention, Lan Zhan does as she bids and breaks the tip off the arrow.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart, I'm so sorry," Mimi apologizes before yanking the rest of the arrow out and forcing her foxfire into him.
Enveloping his chest with her foxfire, Mimi strikes his chest with her fist, causing Lan Zhan to jump. The clan leader's heart begins to steadily beat once more, and he begins to breathe at a normal pace. Not taking her hands off him, Mimi searches the crowd for Chen and the boys.
"Uncle Wanji! Uncle Wei! Mimi!" Chen's voice calls from somewhere in the crowd
Chen soon steps out of the crowd with surprisingly Lord Qiren, who has a comforting arm around her. He is followed by Lan Jingyi and Lan Sizhui. Who were pale and looked like they were about to cry.
The clan leader grunts in pain, and Mimi looks down at him. Lan Zhan continued to hold his brother steady as Mimi continues her ministrations.
"Xichen," Lan Zhan whispers, his voice filled with concern.
The clan leader slowly opens his eyes and tries to locate his brother. Mimi growls predatorily at the medics who tried to get closer.
"I . . . think, I'm fine, Wanji," he says faintly staring at Mimi in amazement.
"It struck my heart. I was sure," Lan Xichen says, turning his gaze to her burning hands.
"Who did this?" Lan Zhan says, his voice is cold.
"I didn't see anyone but our group," the clan leader says tiredly before his eyes slip close.
Mimi tugs her hands away, takes the arrow she had just pulled from his chest, and sniffs it. She could smell lavender, cloves, and something particular from the spirit world. Stifling her growl, Mimi memorizes the scent before setting it down. She sniffs the air experimentally and immediately catches the scent. But first.
Nodding at Lan Zhan, who hovers near his brother Mimi says, "He will be fine. When he wakes, tell him I've gone hunting."
The white-cloaked cultivator meets her livid stare and nods.
Ignoring the stares, Mimi wiggles through the crowd and makes her way to Lord Qiren, who is now joined with Master Wei and Dumplin. Dumplin clung to Master Wei tightly, her eyes growing large with fear.
"He is sleeping now, but he will be fine," Mimi says to the group as Chen throws herself in Mimi's arms.
"It happened so fast," Chen cries, "he was too far away, and I couldn't do anything. The medics told me it hit his heart. That there was nothing, we could do."
"Xichen is well?!" Lord Qiren asks, and Mimi nods, taking Dumplin from Master Wei, "See for yourself. He's resting."
As Lord Qiren pieces his way through the crowd, Mimi finds herself being hugged by Lan Jingyi and Lan Sizhui.
"I was sure it hit his heart," Lan Sizhui says, and Mimi returns his hug before hugging Lan Jingyi as well.
"Do either of you remember anything about what happened?" Mimi asks as they let go.
"No, as second eldest Lady Shen said, it happened so fast. We were sure he was gone," Lan Jingyi says.
"I was too far away," Chen pouts.
"It's alright, cubs," Mimi kisses Chen on the head.
"Now, I have to run an errand," Mimi ruffles Chen's hair, "I want you and Dumplin to either stay close to the Gusu clan or go back to the residence, alright?"
"You're going hunting, aren't you?" Chen says knowingly.
"I don't want something like this happening again if I can prevent it now," Mimi nuzzles her sister's nose, "I won't be long. Before dinner."
Sniffing the air, Mimi tracks the creature through the forest, her eyes cold. Sensing something approaching, Mimi lets out a terrifying growl and throws a ball of foxfire. Wei Wuxian yelps as he dodges it.
"Master Wei," Mimi greets, more than a little irritated at the interruption.
"I want to help," Master Wei eyes her warily.
"Why?" Mimi continues to move, knowing the scent could vanish at any time. The spirit who had done this had been clever but also sloppy.
"If Zewu-Jun finds out, we let you go on your own to avenge him. He will have our heads," Master Wei puts his hand over his throat.
"I will put a good word in for you," Mimi takes a left turn following the scent.
"What are you some sort of bloodhound?" Master Wei asks, causing them both to shiver at the thought of a large dog.
"In a sense," Mimi answers.
"It's not just that," Master Wei continues after a period of silence, "I owe Zewu-Jun. He has allowed me to stay at Cloud Recesses with Lan Zhan. Has not . . . judged our relationship. Has defended me to Lord Qiren. Your sisters are quite fun too."
"You are determined to come along, aren't you?" Mimi wonders if she should just turn into a fox and chase him away.
He puts a hand over his heart, "I will not leave your side, Lady Shen."
Trying not to roll her eyes, Mimi continues following the scent. It is getting stronger now.
"I think we are heading towards town," Master Wei murmurs, scanning the forest, "if you don't mind my asking, Lady Shen. How did you heal, Zewu-Jun?"
She is about to say, basic open-heart surgery, but does not, "I patched him up. I am just incredibly lucky to have gotten to him in time."
"So, it did strike his heart," Master Wei appraises the woman, "You didn't. . . bring him back to life?"
"I did not, just restarted his heart," Mimi bends down to sniff at a tree before leaning down to the earth to sniff the dirt.
"Like what you did to my magical core?" he asks quietly, raising an eyebrow at the woman with her nose in the dirt.
"Precisely," Mimi can see the town ahead, her pace increases.
"Zewu-Jun said you used a spirit technique."
Facing him, he flinches a little at the force of her stare, "As long as it works, wouldn't you say it is better to implement a forgotten technique than accept the scenario for what it is?"
"I live my life by my old sects code, 'do the impossible,' but I think 'accept the impossible would be a better interpretation," Master Wei replies.
They stare at each other, assessing, and Mimi realizes that this cultivator had figured her out but had accepted it.
"Let's go, Master Wei. How fast can you run? I promised the girls I would be back before dinner," Mimi takes off at a fast pace, her feet barely touching the ground.
Jumping on his sword, he keeps pace with her. But she is quicker. They were getting closer.
"That is a brothel," Master Wei, eyeing the women demurely fanning themselves.
"And that is an intent barrier," Mimi glares at the invisible barrier, her claws brushing against it, "we either can break it or be invited in."
"Future sister in law, leave it to me. Wait here," tossing a money purse into the air with a happy whistle, the cultivator disappears into the crowd.
After fifteen minutes of trying to subtly break the barrier without being observed, Mimi is approached by a beautiful woman with long brown hair and expensive red robes. Her face is hidden by an expensive silk fan.
"Excuse me," the woman titters, "might I offer you directions to the path of paradise?"
"I am quite fine, ma'am," Mimi squints until a familiar pair of eyes peek over the fan.
"Did I fool you, Lady Shen?" the woman laughs, decorously fluttering the fan before elegantly folding it.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Mimi hisses, taking the fan from Wei Wuxian and smacking him with it on the arm.
"Crossdressing for justice! Don't I make a beautiful woman, future sister in law?" Wei Wuxian coquettishly tossing his long hair behind him.
Mimi wonders where he had acquired the elaborate makeup and decides that she did not want to know.
He tosses a bundle at her, "These should fit you."
"What are these?" Mimi eyes the men's clothing with something like distaste. At least it wasn't his, hopefully.
"Men's clothing. Did you need help putting them on?" he wiggles his fingers toward her, and Mimi smacks his fingers with the fan.
Rolling her eyes, Mimi magics them on to herself, making him jump.
"Where did you put your sword?" Mimi asks, eyeing the tight-fitting robes.
Master Wei puts his hand in front of his face and giggles girlishly, "That is a woman's secret."
Deciding that there were certain things that the world is simply not prepared for, Mimi ignores this and checks out the clothing he had "found" for her.
The trousers were quite comfortable, but the multiple layers were suffocating. The band around Mimi's waist clenches about her frame, obviously meant for someone with a leaner torso. Adjusting her tails in the loose trousers is a trial. But the outer robe covered what she couldn't hide.
"I thought I would never get you in my clothes," Master Wei practically giggles, "I just won a bet!"
Mimi growls as he begins taking coins from the delicate purse in his hand. No wonder the clan leader's brother did not let him out of his sight.
"You stole HanGuang Jun purse?!"
Well, that solved one mystery, Mimi thinks, staring at the elaborate kimono.
"I . . . acquired it."
Before Mimi can speculate out loud how one could acquire such a thing, Master Wei is rubbing dirt under her nose and chin.
"You are far too womanly. You need facial hair," Master Wei quickly removes his fingers before she could bite them off.
"Now, now, we can't have that," Master Wei says in a girlish tone grabbing on to Mimi's arm.
In a more resonant voice, he says, "Just follow my lead. Squeeze my arm three times when you scent out the perpetrator."
Perhaps it would have been simpler breaking down the wards, Mimi thinks as she . . . escorts Master Wei out of the woods. Trying to mimic the clan leader, Mimi straightens her back and puts her free arm behind her.
Master Wei leans his chest towards her as if whispering sweet nothings in her ear, "We just have to catch the lady's attention."
"Ohh, sir, rich man!" Master Wei squeals in his effeminate voice, demurely fanning himself with the silk fan and tossing the sizable purse into the air and catching it.
Mimi felt almost offended as he continues, "I don't know the first thing about spending your money!"
Seeing the purse and eyeing the strange pair speculatively, the women huddle together. They were not going to buy this, Mimi thinks. A woman of considerable beauty steps out of the brothel, the madame? Mimi wonders.
"Please, sir, madame, please rest your weary feet," the woman says merrily, and Master Wei beams at Mimi in an I told you so manner as he pulls her through the barrier.
Catching the scent again, Mimi wants to simply race into the brothel and be done with it.
"My lord is ever so tired of me," Master Wei whines behind his fan as the Madame looks them over with a critical eye.
"What does your lord require?" the madame consoles slyly.
Fluttering his fan as if ardently embarrassed, Master Wei says, "My rich lord wishes to . . ." Master Wei pretends to swoon, "take another into his bed with us!"
Mimi tries not to choke at his words as the madame sympathetically nods, "What sort does he wish?"
Jiggling the money purse, Master Wei brings it to his lips and whines, "I hardly know. I am a simple girl from a simple family. May we look?"
Watching the purse with a predatory look on her face, the madame croons, "But of course," the madame beckons to the stairway, "look around. Get comfortable. There is no rush."
"Thank you, mistress," Master Wei giggles and practically drags Mimi towards the stairs.
When they were out of earshot, Mimi says dryly, "I can't believe that worked."
"Why can't you believe that all my ideas are good ones?" Master Wei resumes his familiar voice, beaming at her. It is slightly alarming.
Not bothering to answer this, Mimi extricates herself from his grip and quickly moves down the hallway, scenting the air. Finally, she comes to the end of the hallway and kicks down the door, immediately immobilizing the figure about to leap from the window with her claws.
"Nice shot!" Master Wei cries, throwing talismans on the doors in the hallways, sealing them shut.
Not hearing him, Mimi steps into the room and growls at the cowering figure.
"Reveal yourself," Mimi summons a ball of foxfire and holds it before her threateningly.
"I don't know what you're talking about," the woman cries, struggling to free herself from Mimi's constrictive bindings.
Master Wei picks up the door and sets it back on its hinges before staring down at the woman, hands over his chest, "I think you better answer my future sister in law when she asks you a question."
"Do you know who I am?" Mimi growls, the foxfire in her hand growing larger.
The woman's neck begins to grow longer, and she hisses at her. Master Wei draws his sword from behind his back.
"I said, reveal yourself," Mimi strikes the creature sharply in the chest with her foxfire, and the woman writhes upon the bed, her neck stretching to preposterous lengths.
"A rokurokubi," Master Wei gasps.
Taking advantage of the situation, Mimi grabs hold of a portion of the woman's neck and drags her on to the floor with her foot on her chest, "Tell me, why did you try to kill the clan leader?"
The woman spits at her. Nonplussed, Mimi uses her hands to put a knot in the woman's neck. Gasping, the woman claws at Mimi's legs, but to no avail.
"What do you have against the Gusu clan?" Master Wei says, leaning against the wall, not fazed by Mimi's more aggressive questioning tactics.
"Answer him," Mimi demands, digging her foot into the woman's burns.
"Why do you betray our kind?" the woman finally answers, baring her teeth.
"I am doing no such thing," Mimi growls savagely.
"By threatening the nag?" the rokurokubi laughs bitterly.
"Are you working with them?" Master Wei demands.
"Just a passing admirer," the rokurokubi winces as Mimi ties another knot in her neck.
"They are killing the innocent," Mimi hisses.
"Why should this bother me?" the rokurokubi laughs evilly, "the fewer cultivators, the better."
"You've signed your death warrant," Mimi says coldly.
Mimi and Master Wei burst into the dining hall. Lord Qiren immediately stands, seemingly the only occupant of the room. Lunch being over.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Lord Qiren shouts as Mimi tosses the rokurokubi into the middle of the room, her claws glowing brightly.
"Lord Qiren," Mimi regally strides into the room, "Master Wei and I have found the would-be assassin of the clan leader."
Slightly disturbed, Lord Qiren looks over the duo before shaking his head, "Lady Shen, this is highly irregular."
"The creature has already confessed," Mimi continues, not fazed as Master Wei stands by her in support, proclaiming, "this is the bow that was used, and the arrows are the exact same as the one our future sister in law pulled from the clan leader's chest."
"Until this is verified, we can lock her in one of the spare rooms," the clan leader says evenly.
Suddenly remembering that she is still dressed in Master Wei's clothing, Mimi wants to crawl under a rock. Keeping her eyes lowered, Mimi tries not to look at the jade twins who had been sitting near the door. Instead of at the head table.
"I can handle her imprisonment, clan leader," Mimi utters, "she is my prey after all."
"Fine," Lord Qiren looks to her and Master Wei before exiting the room in a huff.
Waving her hand, the writhing rokurokubi vanishes, about to appear in Mimi's eldest sister's cavernous dungeons.
"Lan Zhan, don't I look pretty?"
Mimi tries to subtly scrub the makeshift beard and mustache off her face as the silkily clothed Master Wei flounces onto the table before his cultivation partner, grinning like a Cheshire cat.
Lan Zhan gracefully throws Master Wei over his shoulder and leaves the room. Leaving the two of them alone.
"Why don't I help you with that," the clan leader softly chuckles as he steps around the table with a handkerchief.
"Erm, how are you feeling?" Mimi asks as he gently tilts her chin up to look at him.
"Quite well," his eyes are practically sparkling with his barely controlled laughter.
"How is your wound?" Mimi asks as he dabs the handkerchief at the dirt above her lips and around her chin.
Leaning his forehead against hers, he smiles, "I have a feeling I would not be here if it were not for you. And what do I hear when I wake? That you and Master Wei had gone hunting. I knew you would be successful."
The clan leader pulls her to him with a laugh that nearly bends him over, "but I certainly did not expect . . ." he covers his mouth as he laughs into her hair.
"I just healed your heart. You probably shouldn't be laughing like that," Mimi says a little petulantly.
"You did heal my heart," he says gently, before inspecting her clothing more closely. His face freezes, and the laughter dies in his throat, "Are those . . . Master Wei's?"
"I did not realize they were his," Mimi says, more than a little sulky about this.
"Why don't you go and change and meet me at my residence. I would like to hear this story in detail."
Gratefully turning away from him, she is stopped by his hand on her arm.
"Next time, Lady Shen," he chuckles, "if you are looking for men's clothing, why don't you ask me first. I'm sure there might be something more flattering within my closet."
She could not deny him that. Mimi looks him over before turning her nose up and leaving the dining hall.
"It would have taken us a while to get through the barrier, and she was living in a . . ." Mimi looks down at Chen and Dumplin, who were lounging on large bean bag chair pillows playing with a paper fortune teller, "home of pretty women."
Shifting her eyes back to the clan leader who is dutifully laying upon his bed as she checks his wound. She sees nothing but a very familiar scar. Sara had the same spot on her chest. Mimi had kissed it many times. She would never forget the shape of it.
Tearing her eyes away, Mimi once again covers it with a bandage, "My healing powers have done their job."
"What did you do next? I am sure you could have eventually broken through," Lan Xichen responds lightly as he watches her nimble claws fidget with the bandages.
Settling herself further on the bed, Mimi quips, "I figured I would do just that. But Master Wei completely disappears. I wait for about fifteen minutes, and he returns wearing women's clothing."
"Master Wei was dressed like a lady?" Chen asks, and Mimi feels her sister's intrigued eyes staring at her.
Chuckling, the clan leader, grazes his fingers against her forearm, "Master Wei is quite an interesting individual. But do not forget children, your sister was dressed as a man."
As one, her sisters break into giggles, and Mimi glares at the clan leader who stares at her innocently.
"We were trying to find the person who hit the clan leader," Mimi explains to her young sisters,
"I followed her to a house, and we had to sneak in."
"But why did Master Wei dress like a lady?" Dumplin asks curiously, and Mimi sputters a little before she says, "Master Wei does, what Master Wei likes."
"Can we go to the library, Mimi?" Chen asks.
Thinking of all the cultivators running around, Mimi purses her lips.
"They will be fine," the clan leader says comfortingly, and Mimi thinks, that is easy for you to say. Your little sister isn't a fox.
"Alright, just be careful. Listen to your instincts. If someone from another clan starts messing with you, just tell me," Mimi sees the clan leader raise an eyebrow at this.
"Tell us," he corrects, "we will deal with it."
Chen nods, picks up Dumplin, and heads for the door. Mimi smiles down at the clan leader, somewhat amused.
"You didn't explain how you two were able to roam about the 'home of pretty women," Lan Xichen settles back to watch her expectantly.
Biting her lip, Mimi wonders precisely how she should phrase this. Picking up the bowl of loquats that her sisters had abandoned on the floor. Mimi sits cross-legged on the opposite side of the bed by his feet. Buying herself some time, Mimi sticks one of the loquats in her mouth. He nudges her with his foot, and she mutters it quietly.
"I don't believe I heard that," he teases.
Temporarily distracted by his chocolate brown eyes, Mimi slowly tries to explain, "Erm, Master Wei had mentioned to the madam that "I" as the lord, wanted another person," the clan leader's smile goes away. His eyebrows furl, and Mimi has to pause before she says, "in the bed."
"I am not sure I understand," Lan Xichen says, obviously confused.
Feeling like she is giving "the talk," Mimi uncomfortably purses her lips, already sensing he would not like it.
"Three people. In the bed. At the same time," Mimi says quietly.
Mimi can pinpoint precisely when the realization hits the clan leader. The confusion disappears from his face, and he summons his sword.
Putting her legs over his to stop him from hunting down Master Wei, Mimi continues, "He refused to let me go in alone. Adamantly refused. I think that is why he wanted us to dress up. He did not want our identities to be known or reputations tarnished. Despite knowing that I am perfectly capable of defending myself, he was determined to come along. He hunted me down. He kept telling me that he owed you so much and wanted to get me back to you in one piece. He told me this himself," Mimi looks down at her hands, "I was upset when you were hurt."
The clan leader is surprised and settles down. Hesitating, Mimi pulls her legs off his, and on her hands and knees, crawls up to him. Setting her head on his shoulder.
"I suppose I can't refute that," he says, putting his head on top of hers.