"No! Don't hurt them!"

Jiang Cheng woke with a start. Not that he'd slept well to begin with. His dreams had been merciful overall, but still unpleasant.

"Stop! Please!"

He knew that voice.

A cold wooden floor met his feet as he leapt from his bed. He grabbed Sandu from beside the nightstand and without bothering to change from his nightclothes, he charged out into the hallway.

Huaisang's room was next to his. There was no indication that the clamor had woken him.

No matter. He would be of little help anyway.

Jiang Cheng hurried to the next door down: Jin Ling's.

The handle wouldn't turn when he tried it. So, he kicked it open.

Jin Ling yelped and flung his arm into the wall. He scrunched his face in pain, which Jiang Cheng at first attributed to hitting the wall. But then, he noticed Jin Ling's hand drift toward a spot on his torso and he recalled his reaction yesterday when he'd leaned over in the grass as if to stand but never did.

He had lied. Jin Ling had sustained an injury back in Lanling.

But that wasn't the priority right now.

Jiang Cheng looked around.

Jin Ling was still in bed. The room was tidy. There was no sign of a fight except perhaps how tightly the sheets were wound around Jin Ling's limbs.

"Jiujiu, what-?!" Jin Ling yelled. His face was turning red, whether from anger or embarrassment, it was unclear. "Did you break my door down?! What were you thinking?!"

"You were yelling," Jiang Cheng said simply, peeking around behind the door as if he would suddenly discover an enemy. "You were dreaming?"

Jin Ling's flush deepened. "I guess so," he said quietly.

Jiang Cheng stood in the doorway, unsure of what to do. Had Jin Ling been younger, the answer would have been easy. He would have sat with him until he could fall asleep again or offered him something he liked in order to distract him.

But Jin Ling was basically an adult now. And in all honesty, Jiang Cheng had never been good at comforting others.

"Are you hungry?" he asked.

Jin Ling shrugged. "I suppose."

"I can get you something."

"You don't need to buy my meals for me," Jin Ling said.

"What do you want to eat?"

Jin Ling rolled his eyes. But, the corner of his mouth twitched as well, so Jiang Cheng decided against telling him off for his rude behavior.

"Whatever you think I'll like," Jin Ling said.

"So specific."

"So demanding."

"Tch."

Jiang Cheng spun on his heel to head back to his room to get dressed, but when he turned out of Jin Ling's room, he ran smack into someone tall and clothed in white.

"Hanguang-jun, could you-?"

When he looked up, the next bitter words died in his throat.

"Zewu-jun," he said. "Apologies. I didn't see you there."

Another polite smile. "I should be the one to apologize," Lan Xichen said. "I should not have been so close."

Jiang Cheng was going to tell him off for that fake smile that made him so angry, but a question came to mind instead. "Why were you there?"

Lan Xichen averted his gaze, chagrined. "Another apology owed," he said. "I heard Jin Ling as well and I came to help. I… lingered longer than was necessary."

"You were eavesdropping?"

Lan Xichen inclined his head. "Like I said, I owe you another apology. I'm sorry."

"Unbelievable."

He wasn't upset. Actually, he thought it was kind of funny. Very un-Lan-like. Though, had it been Hanguang-jun he'd found eavesdropping outside Jin Ling's room, he would likely have felt differently.

Lan Xichen kept his head down as he stepped aside to allow Jiang Cheng to pass.

"Jiujiu? Who are you talking to?" Jin Ling called from his room.

"Zewu-jun," he replied flatly. "Get ready for the day. We have a lot to do."

For a couple of reasons, their group had decided not to go forward with Huaisang's plan today.

Firstly, Wei Wuxian's injury had flared up last night after the medicine had worn off. He swore it was still a lot better than it had been, but naturally, Lan Wangji would hear nothing of it. He'd insisted that he take at least another day to rest.

Secondly, as Lan Xichen had pointed out to them, they were operating only on assumptions of what a huli jing could and could not do. None of them really knew anything. They would be remiss not to try to research it first.

The plan for today was simple: travel to the Cloud Recesses to search for information about demons.

So, Jiang Cheng didn't know exactly what he meant by saying they had a lot to do today since not all of them would be visiting the library. But he figured getting Jin Ling out of bed was better than leaving him there to stew on whatever nightmare he'd had.

He heard noises in the rooms of Luo Qingyang and the Lan juniors and sped up to get back to his own room before anyone could come out. He didn't want to get caught up in any unnecessary conversations.

Oddly enough, it didn't sound like Lan Xichen had moved.

"Have you eaten already?" Jiang Cheng asked without turning around, fingers hovering above the handle of his door.

"No," Lan Xichen answered.

"Hm. I'll see you downstairs too then."

"…Very…well?"

With that, he let himself back into his room and dressed hastily. He had only just finished fastening Sandu to his belt when he realized with horror that he'd inadvertently ordered Lan Xichen to meet him downstairs.

"Great," he muttered grumpily. "First the innkeeper for the door and now this. Fantastic."

He straightened his back and squared his shoulders. Better to get it over with.

One foot in front of the other with as much determination as he could muster, Jiang Cheng marched down the hall, offering no greeting to Lan Wangji except to return the glare directed at him as they passed one another at the top of the stairs.

Few patrons were awake at this hour, though it was possible that more would make their way downstairs if Jin Ling had woken them. The windows were darkened and the dining area was lit by lanterns.

A very tired-looking server made his way toward Jiang Cheng. "Good morning, sir," he said. "Can I interest you in anything?"

"I need to speak with the innkeeper," Jiang Cheng said.

"May I ask why?"

"To compensate him for damages."

"Damages? To what?"

Jiang Cheng scowled, already frustrated by the number of questions. "I damaged the doorlatch," he said. "May I speak with the innkeeper?"

"Oh, many of the latches don't work well. It may not have been anythi-"

"I assure you that it was my doing. Where is your superior?"

The server seemed flustered by his bluntness and word choice. "He – uh – well, he's asleep, sir."

"Send him to me when he wakes."

"Of course, sir. In the meantime, would you like anything?"

Jiang Cheng was only halfway paying attention to him. He'd caught sight of Lan Xichen seated nearby, gracefully sipping from a steaming cup.

"Sir?"

"What?" he snapped.

The server repeated his offer and Jiang Cheng quickly ordered something for both himself and Jin Ling. He was in a hurry to smooth over his blunder with Lan Xichen before anyone else could come down to bear witness.

He walked to Lan Xichen's table and pointed at the chair across from him. "May-?"

"Please," Lan Xichen answered with a smile that looked suspiciously genuine.

The chair legs screeched loudly against the wooden floor. Jiang Cheng lowered himself into the seat.

"I wanted to say…well…I shouldn't have presumed…um…"

"Presumed that I would be coming down here?" Lan Xichen asked placidly.

"Yes," Jiang Cheng mumbled. "I'm-"

Lan Xichen held up a hand. "Nothing to worry about," he said with a shrug. "I thought it was funny. It's been a long time since anyone has told me to do anything. And I suppose it's only fair after I ordered you around in Jinlintai."

Jiang Cheng felt heat rise in his cheeks. He turned his head to keep Lan Xichen from noticing.

But Lan Xichen was watching him closely, studying him over his cup of tea. This behavior had annoyed Jiang Cheng a lot before, but he was getting used to it.

Lan Xichen had engaged him in several bouts of small talk ever since the Battle of Jinlintai, presumably to prevent any arguments between Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian. Jiang Cheng had considered calling him out on his true motives, but for some reason, he never had. He just played along, answering whatever questions Lan Xichen threw his direction.

This was the look he often gave when he was thinking of something else to say. All Jiang Cheng had to do was suffer through it and eventually the pressure would be lifted.

"Why did you not ask Jin Ling about his night terror?"

Jiang Cheng physically recoiled. "What good would that do?" he asked.

"It could give you insight into his troubles," Lan Xichen said calmly. "You might be better able to protect him from the things that frighten him most."

"Or I could be reminding him of things that he would rather forget."

Lan Xichen's gaze softened. Jiang Cheng hated it.

He began to study him again. But this time, Jiang Cheng was not so patient.

"Don't do that," he said heatedly. "What you do to your brother, don't do that to me."

Lan Xichen tilted his head. "Try to understand you?"

"Yes," Jiang Cheng said. "Don't do that."

Lan Xichen chortled. "Very well, Sect Leader," he said. "You shall remain an enigma to me."

"Good."

Though annoyed that he was clearly poking fun, Jiang Cheng wasn't about to start a fight with Zewu-jun.

Another quiet pause fell between them. And again, it was Lan Xichen who interrupted it.

"I was impressed by how you and Wei Wuxian put together the puzzle pieces for the huli jing yesterday," he said.

"You weren't out there. How do you know what we were talking about?"

"I saw you two from the window," Lan Xichen said. "And then later, Wei Wuxian was sure to give you credit for the information you provided. Does this mean you two are getting along a little better?"

"I wouldn't count on it."

Jiang Cheng's fingers were going numb from gripping the arms of his chair.

"Then, out of curiosity, how did he get you to share?" Lan Xichen asked. "You wouldn't tell me anything and I hope you don't have the same distaste for me that you do him."

"No, I don't – uh-" Jiang Cheng started but was interrupted before he could stammer through a response.

"Lan Zhan! It's too early! Lan Zhan! It's too early for Huaisang and me!"

Wei Wuxian was his usual loud and overdramatic self. Naturally, he caused such a commotion on the stairway that all attention was drawn to him.

Jiang Cheng stiffened when he saw that Wei Wuxian had one arm draped across Huaisang's shoulders, as if they were the closest of friends. Lan Zhan walked behind the pair, looking as stuffy as he normally did.

"How can he act like that?" Jiang Cheng growled under his breath.

Lan Xichen cast him a curious look. Whether he'd heard him or not was unclear.

"You didn't have to wake me, Wei Wuxian," Huaisang grumbled, barely speaking loudly enough to hear.

Wei Wuxian didn't respond except to laugh and continue to pull him along. His laughter was cut short, however, when he caught sight of Jiang Cheng. He made a strange choking noise, cleared his throat, and looked away quickly.

And still, he kept his arm around Huaisang, leading him to a table before finally releasing him and flopping into a seat.

Jiang Cheng couldn't imagine that Wei Wuxian trusted Huaisang after the events of Guanyin Temple. Sure, Jin Guangyao was a liar and not to be trusted at his word, but he'd seen Wei Wuxian's reactions to Jin Guangyao's accusations. He'd thought there was merit to them too. So what was he playing at?

"I've volunteered to go to the Cloud Recesses today," Lan Xichen said.

"What?" Jiang Cheng replied absently, not taking his eyes off of Huaisang and Wei Wuxian as the two Lan juniors pulled up seats to join them.

"We need to know more about how this demon works," Lan Xichen said. "We never decided who would go, so I volunteered. I think there may be information in the Room of Forbidden Books."

"All right…?"

He wasn't entirely certain why Lan Xichen was telling him this. Was he asking permission to go? Was he just letting him know where he would be? Was he-?

"I was wondering if you might be willing to come with me?" Lan Xichen asked. "I think an extra set of eyes would help."

"You want me to come with you?" Jiang Cheng said, dumbfounded. "Why not Lan Wangji or even Huaisang? Or did you already ask them?"

"I haven't asked them," Lan Xichen said evenly. "I'm asking you."

"Why?"

"Do you not wish to go?"

"It's not that. I just-"

They were interrupted by the server and Jin Ling, who both arrived at their table at the same time.

"This one is for you," Jiang Cheng said, passing one of the meals that the server had delivered to Jin Ling.

Jin Ling eyed it for a few moments before asking, "What did you get?"

Jiang Cheng didn't bother to answer. He simply lifted the edge of his bowl so Jin Ling could more easily see inside, fully aware of what was to come next.

"Hmm," Jin Ling said as he peered at it, pretending to deliberate. "Yours looks better. Trade me."

Every time. Jin Ling would always do that – ask for whatever food that Jiang Cheng had gotten for himself. Luckily, they had similar tastes and Jiang Cheng had learned to anticipate this. So, he always picked options that they would both enjoy and would initially give the dish he actually wanted to Jin Ling.

"Brat," he said as he swapped their meals.

"Whatever."

Jin Ling plopped down in the chair beside him, casting an anxious glance at Lan Xichen who was watching the pair of them in amusement.

"Good morning, Zewu-jun," Jin Ling muttered.

"Good morning, Sect Leader," Lan Xichen said.

"Don't feel that you must sit here," Jiang Cheng said to Jin Ling. "You're free to go to your friends."

Jin Ling rolled his eyes and glanced back over his shoulder as the quieter of the Lan boys began to speak. There was something strange in that look, something that Jiang Cheng hoped he'd misinterpreted.

"Trying to send me away?" Jin Ling asked.

Jiang Cheng narrowed his eyes. "Hasn't it been you trying to get rid of me? I'm just giving you permission."

"Only when you're sticking your nose where it doesn't belong," Jin Ling said. "You could ask me to leave if that's what you wanted."

He rose and moved to grab his bowl, but Jiang Cheng caught his hand.

"Don't be dramatic," he said. "Sit."

Jin Ling huffed a sigh and sank back down. Jiang Cheng released him.

"What's the plan for today?" Jin Ling asked.

Lan Xichen folded his hands primly on the table. "I planned to visit the Cloud Recesses to research the huli jing," he said. "And if I interpreted correctly, I believe your uncle will be joining me?"

"Uh yes, sure," Jiang Cheng said.

"All right," Jin Ling replied slowly before addressing Jiang Cheng. "What was it that I needed to do?"

"The rest of you will probably keep moving toward Nightless City," Jiang Cheng said.

Jin Ling pouted. "You made it sound as if there was so much to be done already!"

"I'm sure there will be," Jiang Cheng said, then added- "Don't be like that. It wasn't as if you were going back to sleep anyhow," –when Jin Ling continued to act bitterly.

"Tch."

How was he this insufferable?

Lan Xichen continued to look between the two of them, as if he expected them to say more to one another. When Jin Ling addressed him instead of Jiang Cheng, however, he looked disappointed.

"Have you told the others that you intend to leave today?"

"I wanted to inform as many as possible at one time," Lan Xichen replied. His gaze slid to somewhere just over Jiang Cheng's shoulder. "I was waiting for Advisor Luo and Yu Qingqi, but it seems that wait is over."

Jiang Cheng spun around to see two finely dressed women stop at the bottom of the stairs, hand in hand.

Recognition lit up Yu Qingqi's face, and she began to pull Luo Qingyang toward Jin Ling. Luo Qingyang, however, resisted. She squeezed her wife's hand and gently redirected her toward Wei Wuxian's group. Her eyes were locked on Jiang Cheng, somehow giving him an even colder glare than Lan Wangji had managed.

Lan Xichen rose as they passed, giving no indication that he'd noticed the advisor's hostility.

When Lan Xichen meandered off to speak to the others, Jiang Cheng realized how eager he was to get away from the rest of the group. He was tired of the looks the others gave him. He was tired of how Wei Wuxian acted like he was afraid of him when they both knew all too well whose power was greater. He was even tired of Jin Ling and how he pulled away from him at every turn. Just a few months ago, Jin Ling would have sent up a flare for him when necessary. Now he wanted almost nothing to do with him.

"Jiujiu?"

Jiang Cheng snapped back to attention. Jin Ling had spoken timidly, watching him closely.

"What is it?"

"I – uh-"

Jin Ling fiddled with the cuff of his sleeve. He wouldn't look at him.

"What's wrong?" Jiang Cheng asked.

"I wanted to say sorry for waking you," Jin Ling said. "I know you've been sleeping poorly. I shouldn't have worried you like that."

Jiang Cheng frowned at him.

I'll always worry about you was what Yanli would have said. Or it's my job to worry about you. But Jiang Cheng couldn't bring himself to say something so… cloying.

From Yanli, it would have been comforting and perfectly appropriate. But from him, it would have been silly.

So instead he said, "Did you wake me on purpose?"

"No!"

"Then why apologize?" Jiang Cheng said. "You can't change it and it may very well happen again."

Jin Ling half-winced at his words. "I felt badly about it," he said quietly. "That's all."

"Well, don't," Jiang Cheng said. "Finish your food."

Jin Ling shook his head a tiny amount before doing as he was told. Jiang Cheng felt an uncomfortable weight settle in the pit of his stomach.

Why did you not ask Jin Ling about his night terror? You might be better able to protect him from the things that frighten him most.

"A-Ling?"

Jin Ling looked up expectantly. The question was on the tip of Jiang Cheng's tongue. All he had to do was ask him…

Jin Ling grew more confused the longer it took Jiang Cheng to say anything.

Before either of them could say another word, however, Lan Xichen had returned.

"It's settled," he said brightly, not seeming to realize that he'd interrupted anything. "You and I will go to the Cloud Recesses while the others continue their journey to Nightless City. Whenever you're ready, we can leave."

"Thank you, Zewu-jun," Jiang Cheng said, glancing in Wei Wuxian's direction. Everyone at his table, except Wei Wuxian himself, was looking at Jiang Cheng with varying degrees of dislike. "I'm ready to go now."

Lan Xichen raised his eyebrows at the sight of Jiang Cheng's unfinished meal, but he didn't argue.

"Jiujiu?" Jin Ling said. "Weren't you going to say something to me?"

"It was nothing important," Jiang Cheng replied. He reached into his coin purse and drew out a large sum. "Pay for our food and give the rest to the innkeeper for your door."

"Jiujiu, I can pay for-"

"No need," Jiang Cheng said tersely. "Please take care of this… and take care of yourself until we get back."

"I can take care of myself just fine."

"Tch. I knew you'd say that," Jiang Cheng replied, pushing his bowl away and getting to his feet. "If that's the case, I'd better not come back to hear about your involvement in any other explosions."

Jin Ling huffed but didn't talk back. If Lan Xichen weren't standing right beside them, Jiang Cheng was sure he wouldn't have bothered to hold his tongue.

"It's best if we step outside first," Lan Xichen said.

"Yes, after I've already broken Jin Ling's door, there's no need to do any more damage."

"True," Lan Xichen agreed. "Though I didn't intend my suggestion as a slight to yo-"

"I know, I know. Let's go."

Several pairs of eyes watched them as they made their way to the exit.

For no discernible reason, Jiang Cheng was feeling increasingly antsy as they walked. He kept looking around without really knowing what it was he expected to see.

When he began to suspect that Lan Xichen had noticed his odd behavior, Jiang Cheng did what he could to stop it.

They paused at the edge of the forest. Lan Xichen withdrew paper, brush, and ink and set about drawing. Jiang Cheng watched with rapt attention.

He wasn't drawing the same pattern that Wei Wuxian had demonstrated to them. But his hand moved with confidence across the page, varying the darkness of the stroke without lifting the brush, until it became clear that he was essentially drawing the image of the gate he was trying to summon.

Crack!

Lan Xichen folded up his picture and tucked everything back into the drawstring qiankun pouch he'd retrieved it from.

"Won't your uncle be annoyed if we show up in this manner?" Jiang Cheng yelled over the whirlwind.

Lan Xichen only shook his head and smiled. He motioned for Jiang Cheng to enter the portal first.

Jiang Cheng peered through the opening, frowning when he realized they were going to appear in a bamboo forest. What was Lan Qiren doing out in the middle of nowhere at this time?

But, he didn't ask any questions of Lan Xichen. Jiang Cheng merely stepped over the white sparking edge of the gate and into the cool morning air of the Cloud Recesses.

The portal closed behind them with a whoosh. The leaves settled back down to rest as if they'd been woken too early.

Jiang Cheng looked around for Lan Qiren, but he wasn't there. In fact, he could find no one around them. The main courtyard of the Lan residence was off in the distance, half-hidden in a sea of perpetual mist stained red by the dawning sun. The library pavilion was nearby.

"What? How did you do that?" Jiang Cheng breathed. "You didn't link to a person?"

Lan Xichen smiled. "I did," he said. "But you can picture how far away you would like to appear from them."

Jiang Cheng continued to spin around, as if the more times he did, the more likely he was to find someone next to them.

"But," he said, finally stopping, "you could end up anywhere, couldn't you?"

Lan Xichen made a face. "Yes," he said. "I had to do this a number of times before I realized that it was best to know where your link was before opening a portal."

Jiang Cheng raised his eyebrows.

"My uncle likes scenic overlooks," Lan Xichen said. "Unless you know exactly where you are to end up, the height difference can be… dangerous. So many precipices…"

The image of Lan Xichen appearing somewhere and promptly plummeting several meters suddenly popped into his head. Without thinking, Jiang Cheng snorted loudly.

"Are you laughing at me, Sect Leader?"

Jiang Cheng cleared his throat. "Uh…"

"I'm glad someone will," Lan Xichen said. "I told Wangji about it and he only told me to be more careful."

"Sounds like Lan Wangji."

Lan Xichen nodded. Then, he clapped his hands together. "Shall we head to the library?"

"Sure."

They set off down the hill. Jiang Cheng trailed behind Lan Xichen, who placed his feet easily as if he'd walked out here a million times. But there was no path where they were. It seemed a strange place to go for a stroll.

"I never saw you practicing Huaisang's technique," Jiang Cheng said. "When did you find time to perfect this new variation?"

"At night," Lan Xichen answered simply, stepping over a fallen bamboo stalk.

"You're still not sleeping? I thought you were doing better."

"For a while I was."

Jiang Cheng didn't know how to answer, so he didn't.

They continued along. It was now apparent to him why they weren't flying there. Lan Xichen wouldn't have a reliable flow of qi if he hadn't been taking care of himself.

"Why would you have fallen in the first place?" Jiang Cheng asked to break the silence.

"What?"

"Why would you have walked through the portal if you saw there was nothing beneath?"

"Oh," Lan Xichen said with a chuckle. "I was tired and not paying enough attention."

Jiang Cheng wasn't sure he believed that. But the more he thought about it, the more he realized that Lan Xichen really did look exhausted. He placed his feet deftly, but there was a tremor in his legs that was apparent when Jiang Cheng watched for it.

"How many nights have you gone without sleep?" he asked.

Lan Xichen put a finger on his chin, thinking. "At least two."

"Have you tried-?"

Lan Xichen held up a hand to silence him. "I will be receiving medicine from my uncle today as well," he said. "Please don't worry."

Jiang Cheng was worried anyway but held his tongue. It was a comfort to have someone as powerful as Zewu-jun in their group, but if he was constantly functioning with little to no sleep – and by proxy, low qi – then his skill might not count for much.

They didn't speak again until they reached the library.

The thin branches of the magnolia tree outside swayed gently in the wind. Its green leaves and sparse blossoms brought back old memories for Jiang Cheng, and he found himself forcing his gaze away from it and instead toward the tall doors set into the graceful white walls of the library pavilion.

They stepped inside and were greeted by more stark white walls and sliding doors. The swirling light blue cloud sigil of the Lan Clan was proudly displayed upon snowy banners that hung high above the rows and rows of shelves stacked with books and parcels.

"Where is everyone?" Jiang Cheng asked, looking around at the empty pavilion.

"Teaching or cultivating elsewhere," Lan Xichen said. "We should have the place to ourselves for a good while before my uncle joins us."

"He knows you're coming?"

Lan Xichen nodded. "I told him of my plans last night. He knows to expect us."

Us? Either it was a slip of the tongue or Lan Xichen really had planned to invite him along and his invitation wasn't just an afterthought.

Suddenly, Jiang Cheng was in a better mood.

"Should we look around here or move to the forbidden books first?" he asked.

"We should start with the forbidden books," Lan Xichen said. "I anticipate our search will be most fruitful there."

They lifted a hidden trap door to access the stairway down into the forbidden section of the library. An ignition array lit the lanterns of the darkened room, illuminating another set of bookshelves. But the tomes here were covered with dust and not often opened.

"I don't think I've been here before," Jiang Cheng said, looking around. "Is it organized the same? Where would we-?"

He cut off when he noticed that Lan Xichen had frozen a short distance away. He was staring at a single spot on the shelf in front of them.

Jiang Cheng followed his gaze but was still confused when he figured out that he was staring at a section dedicated to music from Dongying.

Lan Xichen's expression was hard to read. The only thing that was plain to see was that it pained him to look at it.

Jiang Cheng suspected it had something to do with Jin Guangyao, but he kept his thoughts to himself this time. They couldn't afford to have Lan Xichen wreck this room too.

"There is a section for demons," he said, surfacing from his rumination. "This way."

Jiang Cheng followed him down a different row. They passed books on monsters… then ghosts… then non-human demons…

There, positioned between a thick collection about bamboo spirits and a slightly thinner text on demonic cultivation rituals, was a small book with a black cover and a title in silver letters that read 'Huli Jing Omen and Creation'.

"This should be helpful," Lan Xichen said brightly, pulling it down and beginning to flip through the pages. His fingers were shaking. "Let's take this too."

He grabbed the book on demonic rituals and turned to head back the way they'd come.

"Zewu-jun?"

Lan Xichen continued on his way to the staircase, but uttered a little 'hm?' back at Jiang Cheng.

"Are you sure you're all right?"

"Fine!" he called a bit too loudly. "By the end of today, we'll have plenty of information to bring back to the others. This Xue Yang business should be done with before we know it."

Jiang Cheng wasn't convinced as he reached out to pluck a second book whose title clearly contained the words 'huli jing' from the shelf in front of him. Lan Xichen had entirely missed it.

When he turned around, Lan Xichen had already mounted the darkened staircase, wobbling a little as he did. Jiang Cheng sped up to reach him.

"Zewu-jun?"

"Maybe I'm more tired than I thought," said Lan Xichen almost dreamily. "I used too much qi on our portal – oh, sorry, are we calling them 'storm gates' instead? I can't remember."

"The portals cost almost nothing!" Jiang Cheng exclaimed, holding an arm out behind him as a precaution.

"I know."

He swayed again. Jiang Cheng placed a hand on his back to steady him and began to guide him up the stairs.

Lan Xichen gave a breathy laugh. "I meant to thank you before," he said as they neared the landing.

The lanterns behind them were extinguished upon their exit of the array. They were left to navigate the rest of the stairs by the light of the main floor.

"For what?" Jiang Cheng asked.

"For helping me in Jinlintai."

Jiang Cheng frowned, thinking hard. A lot of the battle was a blur, but he didn't recall having to protect Lan Xichen from anything. He was sure that would have been something he would have remembered.

In fact, if anything, Lan Xichen had been the one to help him by delivering food and medicine the next morning.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Jiang Cheng said.

When they had returned to the main floor of the library and the trapdoor to the forbidden room was shut once again, Lan Xichen motioned for Jiang Cheng to stop guiding him.

"The study," Lan Xichen said, laying the two books out on one of the tables.

"The study?" Jiang Cheng repeated as he laid the book that he'd collected beside the other two.

Then it dawned on him.

"Wait," he said, "Jin Guangyao's study?"

Lan Xichen's mouth flattened and he nodded.

"But I was – I didn't-"

"Your method may have been crude," Lan Xichen said, "but it was effective."

"I don't understand."

Lan Xichen looked a little exasperated. "I was denying myself my anger, like you'd said," he explained, kneeling down on one of the white cushions beside the table. "I haven't forgiven Jin Guangyao, as much as I would like to say that I have."

"But…the things I said-"

"-were effective," Lan Xichen said firmly. "I slept better that afternoon than I had in weeks. My qi was fully restored."

Jiang Cheng wanted to be proud of such an accomplishment. The way that Lan Xichen described it made it sound as if Jiang Cheng had acted as a wise mentor, pushing his student toward enlightenment via mysterious means.

But there had been no wisdom in what Jiang Cheng had done. He had acted for selfish reasons to convince himself that he was no less reasonable than anyone else.

He hadn't done it to help Lan Xichen.

"Thank you, Sect Leader," Lan Xichen said, looking up at him with eyes filled with… was that appreciation?

Guilt flooded Jiang Cheng's chest. But, he couldn't bring himself to tell him the real reason why he'd acted the way he had.

"Don't thank-" he started to say, but Lan Xichen interrupted him again.

"Too late," Lan Xichen said. "I've already thanked you. Now please join me."

Jiang Cheng's nails bit sharply into his palms as he walked around the table to kneel across from Lan Xichen. He stared at the book titles in front of him.

"Do you have any preference?" Lan Xichen asked, indicating toward the three books.

"No."

Lan Xichen smiled and passed him the one that Jiang Cheng had brought up.

"Thank you, Zewu-jun," Jiang Cheng muttered.

"No need to thank me either," he said, opening the demonic ritual book. "And no need to use my title. My courtesy name will do."

Jiang Cheng's face warmed.

Tell him that you weren't helping him, a little voice in his head screamed. You think he'll appreciate finding out later like he did with Jin Guangyao?

But, he ignored it and carefully opened the fragile book on the table without offering a single word to Lan Xichen.

He continued to fight with himself internally for a while. Before long, though, he found himself engrossed in his studies.

Just because demons and dark magic were more of Wei Wuxian's area, that didn't mean that Jiang Cheng found it entirely uninteresting. He had to know something about it all if he was going to be a decent cultivator.

"Did you know that in order to transcend to the heavenly realm, a huli jing is supposed to cultivate its energy from nature?" Jiang Cheng asked. "They're not supposed to harm people."

Lan Xichen smiled pleasantly. "I didn't know that," he said. "I'd also had my doubts about the theoretical ritual Wei Wuxian had mentioned, but here it is."

He spun his book around so Jiang Cheng could read it. Sure enough, there on the page he pointed at, it described a ritual involving a great deal of yang energy that would allow a cultivator to take control of a huli jing at the price of their own body.

The page was complete with a gruesome picture of a man whose head had been torn off by a nine-tailed silver fox. The man's glowing hands tightly grasped the fox's forearms, indicating an exchange of power.

"I see," Jiang Cheng said, pushing the book back toward Lan Xichen. "I wonder how Xue Yang knew about that since he's never had access to that part of the library before."

"Since he worked with Jin Guangyao," Lan Xichen said, "he would have technically had access through him. But, there is also the chance that there were copies of this book, or at least copies of some of the information from it, available in other places."

"Maybe."

They settled back into silence to read. Jiang Cheng would interrupt Lan Xichen only to share another interesting factoid. Otherwise, they sat quietly across from one another while the leaves of the magnolia tree outside shifted in the breeze.

Jiang Cheng was enjoying himself to a surprising degree. The books were enlightening, but it was more than that. It was peaceful in the library pavilion, more peaceful than sleeping, and he didn't have to deal with any animosity from the people around him. Lan Xichen was perfectly friendly toward him.

There was also something oddly familiar about seeing Lan Xichen read. It was like there was a memory somewhere in the back of Jiang Cheng's mind that simply refused to surface fully.

Whatever it was, it was a nice kind of nostalgia. It only added to the pleasant tranquility of their studies.

Lan Xichen then spoke to him again, but this time, it wasn't to share something that he'd found.

"I hope that I didn't make you feel as if you'd done something wrong by not asking Jin Ling about his nightmares," he said.

"What?" Jiang Cheng replied, completely caught off guard.

"You know him better than anyone," Lan Xichen said. "I shouldn't have involved myself."

"Oh – um – it's fine."

"I don't think I've ever noticed quite how much you care for him."

Jiang Cheng saw that Lan Xichen was still on the same page that he'd shown him before, with the ritual for controlling a huli jing. When he thought about it, he couldn't recall seeing or hearing him turn pages since then.

"I don't see how that matters…"

"It matters," Lan Xichen said. "I should have noticed."

He really must have been exhausted. He was making no sense.

"Why would you have needed to notice something as trivial as that?"

"I suppose I wouldn't need to," Lan Xichen admitted, "but I feel that I know you better because of it."

So that was what this was. He was trying to convince himself that the person who had inadvertently helped him in Jinlintai was a good person, a truly kind person. How silly!

"Don't delude yourself," Jiang Cheng said with a cold laugh. "I'm sure you knew enough about me before."

Lan Xichen didn't say anything. He simply regarded him sadly for a moment or two before returning to his book.

For all their small talk during the hunt for Xue Yang, Jiang Cheng hadn't learned a single thing about Lan Xichen. It was ridiculous for Lan Xichen to think he could have gained some deep insight about Jiang Cheng from one overheard conversation.

Jiang Cheng wouldn't have thought Lan Xichen to be the type to place such confidence in a person from a single interaction. Surely as a wealthy sect leader, he would have been surrounded by other duplicitous people in his life by now, and not just Jin Guangyao. He should have naturally been more careful about making judgments of character too quickly.

"You're not getting very far, Zew – Lan Xichen," Jiang Cheng commented when he still hadn't turned the page.

Lan Xichen shrugged. "The words are bleeding together in front of me," he said. "It's a wonder that I was able to find this ritual at all."

"You need sleep," Jiang Cheng said, taking the book from him. "I'm sure I could make you angry again if you think it would help."

Lan Xichen laughed loudly. "I'm sure you could!" he said. "Break a table and fall asleep? That's the idea?"

"More or less," Jiang Cheng said. He hadn't been entirely joking when he'd made the offer, but he couldn't stop himself from smiling a little as Lan Xichen continued to laugh.

"Thank you," Lan Xichen said once he'd calmed down, "but my uncle will be bringing medicine to me soon. It's probably best to use your method as a last resort."

"Suit yourself."

He went back to studying while Lan Xichen began to meander around the library. Every now and again, Jiang Cheng would look up to watch him and make sure he wasn't going to trip over something. But all he did was drift from the bookshelves, to the window that looked out at the magnolia tree, and back again.

Jiang Cheng was a little jealous of how ethereal he looked. It was a wonder that people didn't always know who he was as soon as he walked into a room. His mere presence commanded respect and exuded a tranquil power.

"There's a cat out there," Lan Xichen announced as Jiang Cheng turned to the next section of his book.

"How did it get all the way out here into the Cloud Recesses?" he asked without looking up.

"They do sometimes. Wealthy folks travelling in the mountains or sometimes clever strays that have done well fending for themselves in the wild."

Jiang Cheng frowned at the page. "Animals aren't allowed within the walls though, are they?"

"No," Lan Xichen sighed.

Jiang Cheng looked up. He was still staring out the window, presumably watching the cat amble around.

"Should we relocate it?"

"Yes," Lan Xichen said without moving. "It could pose a threat to the rabbits that Wangji keeps on the back mountain."

Despite his words, Lan Xichen rested his chin on his hand and continued to gaze outside.

"Would you rather that I move it?" Jiang Cheng asked, wondering if he had some sort of phobia like Wei Wuxian did with dogs.

"Oh certainly not!" Lan Xichen said. "If you don't mind, I would prefer to be the one to relocate it."

"I don't mind," Jiang Cheng replied, confused. "…do you like cats?"

A wistful smile spread across his lips. "I do," he said quietly. "I like them very much."

This only made Jiang Cheng more confused.

"You're clan leader, you know," he said. "If you wanted a cat, no one could stop you from having one."

"My uncle would not appreciate my lack of respect for tradition."

"Hm."

He'd broken tradition before without any qualms. His full support of Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian's relationship alone went against several Lan teachings.

Jiang Cheng thought a little more, and then said, "It's the rabbits, isn't it? Your brother's rabbits are the real reason."

Lan Xichen fixed him with a look of resignation. "Saw right through that, didn't you?" he said.

"I'm not a fool," Jiang Cheng said simply, looking back down at his book. But he couldn't focus on any of the words. He continued to watch Lan Xichen in his periphery.

"I didn't take you for one."

Lan Xichen propped his elbows up on the sill and leaned against the window – very improper posture for a Lan. Jiang Cheng didn't call him out on it though.

The tall library doors creaked open then and Lan Qiren stepped inside, looking flustered with a leather pouch in hand.

"Shufu," Lan Xichen said.

He bowed to his uncle and then straightened his back, regaining his perfect Lan poise.

"Good afternoon," Jiang Cheng said, rising so that he could bow to him too.

Lan Qiren returned the gesture. "Sect Leader Jiang," he said, "it's good to see you again. Xichen told me that you might accompany him today. Have you two found anything of use?"

"We have," Lan Xichen said. "I think we may be leaving soon actually."

"Is that so?"

Lan Qiren held out the pouch in his hand to his nephew.

"Thank you, Shufu."

He took it and attached it to his belt.

"Please feel free to take whatever materials you two think may be necessary," Lan Qiren said, studying his nephew's face as if hoping to read his mind. Did all the Lans do that? Didn't they realize how weird it was?

"Thank you, sir," Jiang Cheng said. "I don't believe we'll need to take anything with us. The more we bring, the more we have to carry on our travels. I've taken notes on what we might need."

Lan Xichen shifted his weight under his uncle's stern gaze.

"Thank you again, Shufu," he said. "Would you mind returning the books to where they belong? I do think Sect Leader Jiang and I should be on our way now."

"I can put your materials away for you, but must you leave so soon?" Lan Qiren asked, sounding disappointed. "You won't stay for a while?"

"We've already been here for several hours. I'm sure Sect Leader Jiang is eager to get back to the others too."

Both of them looked at him then. Jiang Cheng stiffened.

He wasn't sure whether he should lie and agree with Lan Xichen, who very clearly wanted to leave for some reason. Or if he should be honest and say that the choice was up to them because he had nowhere else that he needed to be.

Lan Xichen's dark eyes pierced his flesh. His face pleaded with him.

Lying to Lan Qiren wouldn't be that bad. And he owed Lan Xichen for having not shared the truth with him about why he'd done what he had in Jinlintai.

"Jin Ling has been… out of sorts," Jiang Cheng said. "I'm sorry to shorten your reunion."

"Is he well?" Lan Qiren asked. He seemed genuinely concerned. "I heard of the battle in Jinlintai. Did he sustain significant injury?"

"No, nothing like that. Nothing we haven't mended, at least."

"Ah." There was understanding in that single sound. "I have given more than enough suan zao ren to Xichen. Please feel free to take some for Sect Leader Jin as well. It should help him sleep."

"Thank you."

They exchanged farewells and Lan Xichen hurried to push open the door. When he set about scanning the ground, Jiang Cheng assumed he was looking for the cat he'd seen earlier.

"Sect Leader Jiang," Lan Qiren said, calling Jiang Cheng back before he could exit too. "May I have a moment of your time?"

"Of course," Jiang Cheng said.

Lan Qiren wrung his hands together. He seemed to be choosing his words carefully.

Outside, Lan Xichen had located the cat and gone off to collect it. Jiang Cheng watched him through the window.

"My nephew has an exceptional cultivation base," Lan Qiren said.

"…I know this," said Jiang Cheng, confused as to why he was telling him.

"He is unwell."

"I am also aware of this," Jiang Cheng answered, even more confused than before.

Lan Qiren sighed. "It's more than his insomnia," he said. "He was deeply wounded by Jin Guangyao. He has not had an adequate amount of time to heal. I fear he may act erratically."

He paused. Jiang Cheng gave him time to continue. It was strange to hear his old teacher speak to him in this candid manner.

"For the most part, I expect that Wangji will look out for him," Lan Qiren said. "But Wangji was similarly wounded by Wei Wuxian's passing those many years ago, and I worry whether he will be able to prioritize Xichen like I hope he will."

"I see," Jiang Cheng said. He knew where the conversation was going, but he couldn't fully understand why.

"I wouldn't normally resort to this, and I don't believe you know him well," Lan Qiren went on. "It is easy to overlook the weaknesses of those perceived to be strong. I know you have priorities of your own. But I would ask you and the others with you to keep an eye on my nephew regardless."

After everything that had happened with Jin Guangyao, he was perplexed as to why Lan Qiren would ask him, someone who barely knew either him or his nephew, to watch over Lan Xichen. The Lans were too trusting for their own good.

"I will watch him to the best of my ability," Jiang Cheng said, inclining his head.

Lan Qiren mirrored him and said, "Don't let him forget his responsibilities as clan leader."

He recalled then some of the things Lan Xichen had said while he tore apart the study in Jinlintai. Jiang Cheng bristled at Lan Qiren's words.

"I'm old," Lan Qiren explained. "I need Xichen to heal and return to his duties as swiftly as possible."

Jiang Cheng glanced outside and noticed that Lan Xichen was nowhere to be seen. He frowned.

"I see," Jiang Cheng said. "I will do what I can."

"Thank you."

They parted ways after that, leaving Jiang Cheng to track down Lan Xichen on his own.

He decided to go in the direction he'd last seen him heading, which was also the way from which they had come.

There was a long line of cultivators making their way toward the library. But Jiang Cheng avoided all of them, stepping off the path and into the mist-covered wilds of the Cloud Recesses.

Thankfully it didn't take long for him to find Lan Xichen. He was sitting in the grass, back against a bamboo stalk with a ragged black cat in his arms. Somehow, he looked ten years younger cradling that little creature.

"That animal looks ill," Jiang Cheng said, coming to a halt beside him.

Lan Xichen and the cat both looked up at him. Jiang Cheng wondered if he'd used cultivation to pacify the creature so that it wouldn't try to jump away from him. Or maybe Lan Xichen's presence was just that calming.

"There is a woman in the town at the foot of the mountain," Lan Xichen said. "She runs a shop that sells companions and provides care to them."

"You want to bring the cat there?"

"I do," he said. "Would you accompany me?"

At first, it seemed ridiculous that he would go to such lengths for an animal. But then Jiang Cheng remembered how he'd gone out of his way to keep Fairy safe on the journey to the Unclean Realm, and he supposed he was in no position to judge.

He sighed and shook his head to conceal any fleeting expression that may have crossed his face.

"That's all right," Lan Xichen said lightly. "Do you have the supplies to transport yourself back to the others or do you need to take some of mine?"

"What?"

Lan Xichen tilted his head. "Did you not decline my request?"

"I didn't decline," Jiang Cheng said.

"Oh!"

Lan Xichen began to fumble around, trying to stand without setting the cat down. The cat gave a low meow to make its annoyance known.

"This would be much easier if I had more energy left," Lan Xichen lamented.

Jiang Cheng took the not-so-subtle hint and pressed his palm against Lan Xichen's shoulder, channeling some of his spiritual energy into him.

"Thank you, Sect Leader," Lan Xichen said, getting to his feet easily with his newfound strength.

"No need to thank me," Jiang Cheng said. "You should have enough to fly too."

Lan Xichen nodded.

It was going to be a dangerous journey for him on foot or by flight with his unsteadiness. But Jiang Cheng planned to keep his word and would make sure that the future Lan Sect leader didn't injure himself on the descent down the mountain.

"Stay low," Jiang Cheng said as Lan Xichen used more qi to hover Shuoyue. "I suggest we fly above the forest but no higher."

"As you command, Sect Leader."

"I gave no command."

"I know."

Lan Xichen held the cat close in his arms and stepped onto Shuoyue. Jiang Cheng mirrored him on Sandu.

They flew together over the bamboo forest. Jiang Cheng stayed behind Lan Xichen to keep an eye on him, but he was shockingly steady the whole way.

He waited outside as Lan Xichen brought the cat in to the shopkeeper. The town at the base of the mountain was indeed small. There was no inn and there were few places in which to dine. Though Jiang Cheng was getting hungry, he figured it would be better to wait until they could rejoin the rest of their group as they would probably find a better establishment.

The wooden door of the dilapidated animal shop slid open as Lan Xichen emerged.

"Thank you for humoring me," he said with a smile that didn't touch his eyes.

"What did I tell you about that?"

Lan Xichen motioned for Jiang Cheng to follow him. "Tell me about what?" he asked. "Thanking you?"

"No."

"Ah. My face."

Jiang Cheng said nothing.

"Force of habit, I suppose," Lan Xichen said. "I don't mean anything by it."

Yes, I know, Jiang Cheng thought to himself. That's exactly the problem.

They left the town behind them and strolled into the surrounding wilderness a short distance before they stopped and Lan Xichen passed him a slip of paper.

"Let's go back," he said.

"As you command," Jiang Cheng replied.

Lan Xichen chuckled as he handed him a brush and ink as well.

"It will be safest if you don't try what I did," he said. "Just use the regular portal technique since we don't know where they are."

"I know that," Jiang Cheng answered testily.

He sat down on the ground, concentrated on memories of Jin Ling, and drew squiggles through the circles on the page.

The storm gate opened in front of them and Lan Xichen stepped through first, leaving Jiang Cheng to collect his materials and scramble after him.

"What's wrong with using transportation talismans?!" Jin Ling screamed, arm shielding his face. "I hate this new technique!"

The storm dissipated as soon as Jiang Cheng had joined them and allowed the portal to collapse behind him.

"We can't travel as far," Jiang Cheng said in answer to his nephew. "It uses more energy. It sends up a giant signal of our location each time. Should I go on?"

" Can you go on?" Jin Ling asked snidely.

"There are wards against it."

"All right, fine! Stop it."

Jiang Cheng smirked. Internally he was grateful. He had indeed been running short on issues about transportation talismans.

The Lan boys that Jin Ling brought with him everywhere had sidled away upon Jiang Cheng's arrival. They stood beside Wen Ning now.

The other five had all paused and were staring at Lan Xichen and Jiang Cheng expectantly.

"Where are we?" Lan Xichen asked, looking around and seeming unperturbed by their staring.

"Several li past the border of the Qishan region," Lan Wangji answered him.

"We must be getting close to Nightless City," Lan Xichen said happily, joining the five adults at the head of their group.

Jiang Cheng considered walking with Jin Ling instead, but when he looked over and saw that his nephew had floated back over to his friends and Wen Ning, he decided against it.

Jiang Cheng picked up his pace and joined Lan Xichen at the front, positioning himself such that he was standing next to him and no one else.

"You were gone for a long time," Lan Wangji said to his brother. "Did you find anything useful?"

"Yes," said Lan Xichen. "Admittedly, Sect Leader Jiang did most of the work. Would you like to share what we found?"

All eyes turned to Jiang Cheng. The juniors and Wen Ning noticed a shift in conversation and sped up to join them.

"I can," Jiang Cheng said hesitantly.

It was awkward at first to go through all of the things he'd already shared with Lan Xichen. But as the group grew more interested in what he'd learned and as Lan Xichen continued to encourage him to share more, the task became bearable.

He told them that huli jing were usually simple to kill and easily dispatched by regular spiritual weapons as well as dogs but could reach incredible speeds that made them difficult to catch. He explained further that they were meant to feed off of nature's qi to ascend to the heavenly realm and that those that did not were preferentially drawn to men due to their greater proportion of yang energy. This last tidbit caused Luo Qingyang and Yu Qingqi to exchange self-satisfied looks.

He also grudgingly confirmed that most of Wei Wuxian's previous assumptions about what a normal huli jing could and could not do were correct. Huli jing that had become powerful enough, though, could indeed speak.

When he told them that a huli jing needed permission to steal spiritual energy from a person, Luo Qingyang interrupted him.

"They need permission?" she repeated incredulously. "How does any man get killed by one if she has to ask first?"

"They don't necessarily have to ask outright," Lan Xichen said. "They could use illusions to trick someone into offering their qi willingly. But most huli jing don't have an in-depth knowledge of the human mind. Their illusions are usually basic in design."

"So it's also worth noting," Wei Wuxian piped up, "that this is a demonic cultivator with a huli jing body. He should have most, if not all of the powers he would have had as a human plus the power associated with being a demon."

"Yes," Lan Xichen agreed. "So it is safest to assume that Xue Yang can easily acquire qi by coercing permission from others."

Huaisang flicked his fan open, seeming nervous. Jiang Cheng was feeling a little uneasy himself.

"With enough power," Jiang Cheng said, "they can make more believable illusions, even to the point of being able to cause physical harm."

"Pardon my interruption, Sect Leader," Yu Qingqi said, "but out of curiosity, do we know what happens to a huli jing that does not take its energy from nature and feeds on humans instead?"

"I don't know," Jiang Cheng admitted. "I looked for an answer to that, but found nothing except that a huli jing can live as long as it can maintain its energy needs."

"So if Xue Yang can continue to kill people with ease, he could live for an eternity," Lan Xichen summarized.

Huaisang fanned himself rapidly. Jin Ling and the Lan juniors looked pale.

"He's had plenty of time to kill people and amass power," Wei Wuxian said. "There's definitely something bad waiting for us in Nightless City."

"He might not have had the extra time he needed to finish his plans there," Lan Xichen said. "We didn't all double back to help Jin Ling in Lanling."

"Yes and we've traveled mostly on foot to avoid being seen as easily and because not all of us can fly by sword," Wei Wuxian replied. "He probably had the time he needed regardless. I've been able to feel something in the air for the last few li and it's only getting stronger."

"Already?" squeaked Huaisang. "We've got a long way to go to reach Nightless City!"

"Not as long as you think," Wei Wuxian said.

Huaisang's voice became very weak and shaky. Jiang Cheng resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

"Are you sure you all want me along?" Huaisang asked. "I really won't be of use to you. I can't fight."

"But we love your company!" Wei Wuxian exclaimed, throwing his arm around Huaisang's shoulders like he had that morning. "Don't try to sneak out now! You'll miss all the fun!"

Jiang Cheng's eyes widened. Was there a threat in his tone? Maybe Wei Wuxian had been suspicious of Huaisang all along, just like Jiang Cheng was.

"I'll end up getting someone hurt," Huaisang insisted. "I'll just be in the way."

Yu Qingqi spoke up then before Wei Wuxian could say anything.

"I know how it feels," she said, "to feel like you can't help. But there's a lot you can do, especially since you've got a golden core. I haven't even reached that level yet and I'm still able to help."

She was trying to be kind, but Yu Qingqi had misunderstood why Huaisang was complaining. He wasn't sad that he couldn't help them more. He simply wanted an excuse to get out of what was looking like a very dangerous mission.

"Thank you," Huaisang said, cheeks pink. "That's nice of you to say."

"Besides," Wei Wuxian said, "I'm feeling much better today, so tomorrow, we can try what you suggested before and see if that'll help us."

Everyone knew he was talking about the plan to bait the huli jing. And after hearing all the information that Jiang Cheng had brought back for them, it seemed that everyone was a little more confident in it.

Everyone except one…

"Yeah, we'll see," Huaisang said quietly.

Jiang Cheng narrowed his eyes at him. Wei Wuxian's eyebrow flicked upward briefly.

"Was that all you had to share, Sect Leader Jiang?" Luo Qingyang asked icily.

"Those were the important parts, yes," he said.

"Great."

The rest of their travel for the day was largely uneventful. There were a few corpses that came across their path, but no more than usual.

Surprisingly, Wei Wuxian chose to use his sword rather than his flute to help dispatch them. Although others seemed confused by this, no one commented on it.

They reached the next inn shortly before nightfall. As the evening dragged on, a sense of anticipation grew among them.

Jiang Cheng already knew tomorrow was going to be a disaster, one way or the other.