Jiang Cheng hadn't slept. After Jin Ling had lost consciousness, he'd brought him back to the inn and laid him down in bed. He then stayed up to watch over him all night.

For the first hour or two after their return, Wei Wuxian would periodically knock on the door to ask if he was all right. Jiang Cheng had accepted Suihua from Jingyi but would not allow anyone to enter the room.

When Jiang Cheng yelled at him for disturbing them for the fifth time, Wei Wuxian had finally fallen silent. Very likely, he'd given up and had gone to bed.

It was late morning now, and Jin Ling still had not stirred. Jiang Cheng was getting increasingly worried with each passing moment.

He lightly traced Jin Ling's brow with the pad of his thumb. When awake, his features carried the fierceness of his grandmother and the pride of his father. But at rest and relaxed, he looked so very much like his mother.

As Jiang Cheng restarted the pattern he had traced, Jin Ling's lip twitched. Jiang Cheng quickly placed his hand on the edge of the bed.

"A-Ling," he said sternly, "it's time to wake up."

"Mmm."

Jin Ling made a face and then turned his head away from Jiang Cheng and continued to sleep.

"A-Ling, if you don't wake, I'll need to fetch Hanguang-jun. You don't want that, do you?"

But Jin Ling didn't respond. Even his fear of Lan Wangji wasn't enough to rouse him.

"Do I need to tell you to sleep?" Jiang Cheng murmured. "Maybe you'd wake if you thought I wanted you to do just the opposite."

He recalled a much younger Jin Ling, perhaps five years old at the time, who'd screamed and stomped his foot and thrown such a tantrum that Jiang Cheng nearly went insane with the effort of trying to rein in control of him. And all because Jiang Cheng had told him he was leaving on a mission and Jin Ling needed to stay at Jinlintai for a while instead.

Jin Ling had fought so hard not to go to bed and Jiang Cheng had fought just as hard to put him to bed. The two of them wound up asleep on the floor come morning. Jiang Cheng even ended up delegating the mission to someone else so Jin Ling could stay with him in Lotus Pier for a few more days.

But he figured commanding Jin Ling to sleep now wouldn't have much effect. He was injured. Things were different.

Jiang Cheng sighed and got to his feet.

He would indeed go find someone to help him, but he would sooner ask the Headshaker, Huaisang, for assistance than stoop so low as to request it of Lan Wangji.

He hadn't even turned around yet when a knock on the door stopped him. Jiang Cheng's fingers curled.

"What did I tell you?" he said hotly. "Knock one more time and I'll break your-"

"I'm sorry to disturb you, Sect Leader," came Lan Xichen's voice through the door. "I wanted to be sure you didn't need anything. I can leave you and Jin Ling to rest."

Jiang Cheng pinched the bridge of his nose. "No," he said, mortified that he'd almost threatened to break Zewu-jun's legs. "I thought you were Wei Wuxian. Please come in."

Lan Xichen opened the door and smiled politely at him. The melancholy normally interwoven with whatever other emotion that crossed his face was now overwhelming. His smile bore no hint of joy.

Jiang Cheng supposed it made sense after what had happened to him last night. He only hoped that Lan Xichen could recover soon.

"I had hoped you didn't know it was me," Lan Xichen said, walking across the room and stopping a respectable distance away from Jin Ling's sick bed. "There was a chance," he went on, "that you knew who it was and wanted nothing more to do with me after my behavior last night. I put you in an awkward position forcing you to look after me. I am very sorry."

Jiang Cheng raised an eyebrow. " You didn't force me to do anything," he said, recalling Lan Wangji's failure to watch over his own brother. "What do you remember of it anyhow?"

"Alas, not much," Lan Xichen said with a heavy sigh. "Tell me honestly, did I offend you or anyone else?"

Jiang Cheng felt the corner of his mouth twitch. "Aside from the scene you made with one of the other patrons, you were just more energetic than usual. I probably offended you more than you did me."

Lan Xichen nodded solemnly. His expression was as grave as if Jiang Cheng had told him he'd gone on a drunken murder spree.

"It's fine," Jiang Cheng said, turning his attention back to Jin Ling. He sat down on the edge of the bed again. "The man picked a fight with you, not the other way around."

"I fought someone?"

Jiang Cheng shook his head. "No, I fought someone," he said. "You ended up defending him from me."

"I'm very confused."

"I suggest you stop fretting about it then."

"Very well."

Jiang Cheng pressed the back of his hand against Jin Ling's forehead and cheeks. He didn't feel feverish.

"Would you like me to take a look at him?" Lan Xichen asked.

Jiang Cheng nodded and stood to move aside, but Lan Xichen motioned for him to sit back down.

"You should stay with him," he said. "I don't need a lot of room. I only need his arm."

Jiang Cheng flipped the covers back. He frowned at the numerous bite wounds on Jin Ling's shoulder and near his wrist. It wasn't as if he hadn't noticed them last night when they'd treated him for corpse poisoning, but he hated to look at them. It was another reminder of how difficult it had become to keep Jin Ling safe.

Lan Xichen gingerly lifted Jin Ling's arm and closed his eyes. Jiang Cheng had already checked his nephew's meridians and found them to be unstable but not broken. Beyond that, however, he wasn't sure what to do. Healing was not his strong suit.

"He has a serious head injury," Lan Xichen said without opening his eyes or releasing Jin Ling. "He needs to rest for several days."

Jiang Cheng exhaled. "He will recover, then?"

"I think so," Lan Xichen replied. "It would be best if he were to return to Jinlintai. Exertion of his body and mind will hinder his recovery, if not cause permanent damage."

"Great," said Jiang Cheng, pinching the bridge of his nose again. "He'll never agree to that."

"I know."

Lan Xichen furrowed his brow and looked off in the distance, apparently thinking hard. Jiang Cheng, too, wracked his brain for a solution.

"Luo Qingyang."

"Advisor Luo."

"What?"

"I'm sorry?"

They had spoken at the same time, dissolving their conversation into a jumbled mess. Jiang Cheng felt his face grow hot, though he didn't understand why. It was a simple mistake. There was no reason to be so embarrassed. And yet, his stomach had tied itself into knots.

Lan Xichen watched him for a moment to make sure they wouldn't speak at the same time again. Jiang Cheng gestured for him to say his piece.

If he wasn't mistaken, Lan Xichen was a little pink too.

"I think that perhaps Advisor Luo may be in the best position to convince him to return home," he said. "Was that what you said too?"

Jiang Cheng nodded.

He looked over at Jin Ling again, and the knots in his stomach wound ever tighter. How was he supposed to keep such a hot-headed boy out of trouble? Now that he was a sect leader, it was damned near impossible. He wondered idly if Yanli would have fared better.

She would have.

Jiang Cheng stood abruptly and made his way to the door. As he passed Lan Xichen, he noticed him reach out as if to grab his shoulder to stop him from leaving, but he hesitated.

Was it a sudden recollection of some Lan etiquette that gave him pause, or did he remember that he'd promised not to touch him without explicit permission?

Jiang Cheng halted midstride.

How much did he remember from last night?

"I can speak with Jin Ling's advisor," Lan Xichen said, awkwardly replacing his hand by his side. "You should be here in case he wakes."

Jiang Cheng narrowed his eyes. "You don't trust me to talk to her, do you?"

"Come now, Sect Leader," said Lan Xichen, looking flustered. "Don't invent words that I didn't say."

"So that isn't the reason you want to speak with Luo Qingyang instead?"

Lan Xichen gave him a sheepish smile. "It's not the only reason," he said. "I also meant what I said. You should be here with Jin Ling."

Jiang Cheng wanted to be angry but he wasn't. Oddly, he was amused.

It reminded him of the time both he and Lan Xichen had stood before the other clan leaders and asked them to join the Sunshot Campaign. Back then, he'd needed Lan Xichen to make his message more palatable too. It was becoming a pattern.

"I admit it, though," Lan Xichen said, inclining his head, "I do think Advisor Luo may be slightly more receptive to the message if she hears it from me. Not that I think she would not do whatever she thought to be in Jin Ling's best interest anyway."

Jiang Cheng smirked. "I can't argue," he said dryly. "You'll let me know what she says?"

"Of course."

Before Lan Xichen could leave, Jiang Cheng spoke up again. "Is there anything you can do for Jin Ling?" he asked.

"Nothing significant," Lan Xichen said sorrowfully. "I can try to steady his meridians, but the fix would be very temporary and unlikely to help very much in the long term."

He could heal broken bones with a dissolved elixir, but fixing Jin Ling's head was beyond the scope of Lan medicine? It was annoying, but he figured that Lan Xichen knew his own limits better than he did.

He supposed, too, that any sort of tampering with the mind might be trickier than piecing bone together.

"Insignificant is better than nothing," Jiang Cheng said. "No matter how we try to convince him, Jin Ling is unlikely to take any advice that results in his exclusion from this mission. Anything you can do to try to help him would be appreciated."

"Very well."

Lan Xichen began to approach Jin Ling, but Jiang Cheng stopped him. "How have you slept?" he asked. "Are you well enough to do this?"

"I understand your concern for your nephew," Lan Xichen answered evenly, "but please rest assured that I would not have offered my help if I was not confident that I would, at the very least, cause no further harm to him."

Jiang Cheng nodded and turned away. He considered at first returning to his seat on the edge of the bed but found that he couldn't sit still. Although Lan Xichen had assured him that he could steady Jin Ling's meridians, Jiang Cheng kept worrying anyway.

What if he was so tired that he was delusional and only thought he could do it? What if he was just so desperate to repay Jiang Cheng for perceived debts that he was willing to offer things that he couldn't actually do?

But he couldn't voice these concerns. They were insulting and this was Zewu-jun.

"If this medicine causes you distress, I don't need to use it," Lan Xichen said.

He was watching him, Jin Ling's arm held gently in his hands. It was only when he'd spoken that Jiang Cheng noticed how agitated and jerky his own movements were as he paced around the room.

"Like I said," Lan Xichen went on, "I don't think it will be of much help to him anyway."

"No. Do it," Jiang Cheng said curtly. "I have to do everything I can."

Lan Xichen regarded him quietly for a beat and then nodded. "This shouldn't take long."

He closed his eyes. A soft warm glow emanated from his center and began to radiate to the rest of him. Jiang Cheng could sense it more than he could see it. The glow spread from Lan Xichen and then up Jin Ling's arm to envelop him as well.

Jiang Cheng was rooted in place, unable to look away though he wanted to. His heart was in his throat. Jin Ling had to be all right. He had to be.

As Lan Xichen had promised, the procedure was over with quickly. The glow between the two of them faded. Lan Xichen opened his eyes and offered a wan smile.

"He probably feels a little better for now," he said, "but it won't last. When he returns to Jinlintai, he could have his doctors continue the treatment. It would be too exhausting for one person to-"

"Jiujiu?"

Jin Ling slowly opened his eyes. Jiang Cheng rushed to his side, kneeling down next to the bed and pressing his fingers against his wrist to check his meridians himself. Indeed, there was a more even flow of qi.

"I will leave you two to speak in private," Lan Xichen said.

He bowed to both of them and crossed the room.

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

Lan Xichen glanced back at him, hand outstretched toward the door.

"I thought I said that you needn't use my title."

"Uh, thank you, Lan Xichen?"

The corner of his mouth twitched. And then, Lan Xichen turned and let himself out of their room. Jiang Cheng could have sworn he saw him shake his head a little bit, as if still unsatisfied with the name used to address him.

Did he remember that he'd asked Jiang Cheng to call him 'Xichen'? Did he still want him to do that?

The rustling of blankets returned his attention to Jin Ling, who tried and failed to sit upright. His arms shook under his weight. His face turned a pale green. And with a sigh, he lowered himself back down, wincing as he did so.

"I feel awful," Jin Ling said.

"Is that so?" Jiang Cheng asked bitterly. "Maybe you should think a little harder about the consequences of your actions before putting yourself in dangerous situations in the future."

Jin Ling scowled at him, but even that seemed to cause him pain. He grimaced and closed his eyes.

"No, no you don't!" Jiang Cheng snapped. He loudly hit the wooden frame of the bed, startling Jin Ling awake again.

"What was that for?!"

"You can't be drifting off like that," Jiang Cheng said. "You've slept more than enough. It's time that you have something to eat."

"I'm not hungry," Jin Ling said, still looking a little green.

"Well get up and walk around outside then. You can't lie here all day."

"Every time I move, it feels like my head is going to break apart," Jin Ling whined. "I don't want to get up."

"I don't care," Jiang Cheng said, using one hand to grab Jin Ling's arm to pull him up and the other to guide him with slight pressure on his back. "You need to walk around."

Once Jin Ling was sitting upright, he slumped over his knees and pressed his knuckles against his forehead. Jiang Cheng concealed his worry behind a stern look.

Jin Ling glanced up at him and groaned before putting his hands up to his face again.

"What did I do now?" he asked.

"You continue to make things impossible for me."

Jiang Cheng could sense his eye roll, though he couldn't see it.

"Because I don't bow to your every whim?" Jin Ling asked.

"Because you don't heed me at all," Jiang Cheng replied crossly.

"How many times do I have to remind you that I make my own decisions now?"

"I didn't mean heed me as a guardian," Jiang Cheng said. "You listen to me less than you listen to anyone else."

Jin Ling sighed and finally removed his hands from his face completely. "Can we not discuss this?"

He looked miserable. So, Jiang Cheng nodded curtly and stood. He offered his hand to Jin Ling and was surprised when he accepted.

"I don't know about this," he said, knees wobbling as he stood.

Jiang Cheng said nothing, allowing Jin Ling to move at his own speed. As he began to walk around more, the stiffness in his shoulders and back eased.

"I've changed my mind," he said after doing a couple of loops around the room. "I am hungry."

"Let's go."

Jiang Cheng allowed Jin Ling to lead the way. It was slow going to reach the dining area, but when they did, they were assaulted by the cacophony that was their own group. Wei Wuxian and Huaisang were locked in a heated debate, and everyone else had chosen one side or the other.

There were no other patrons in the dining area. A couple of servers were standing off to one side, looking uncomfortable.

"Leaving sooner will get this done with sooner!" the louder of the two Lan disciples yelled at Wei Wuxian.

"You haven't seen him," Wei Wuxian replied. "He's not ready to go anywhere. He needs to rest. I can put stronger anti-demon talismans around this place."

"Er-ge has already been attacked by Xue Yang," Huaisang said, speaking in an uncharacteristically firm tone. "Your talismans did nothing. There's no guarantee that new ones would work either. We need to keep moving. Someone can stay here with Sect Leader Jin if necessary, but the rest of us should keep going."

Wei Wuxian folded his arms. "Why are you suddenly so eager to run toward the danger?" he asked. "Haven't you been begging us to let you out of this?"

Luo Qingyang opened her mouth to speak, but Lan Xichen beat her to it.

"Please, everyone calm down," he said benevolently. "We can't make a decision without the other two. There is no sense fighting now."

Wei Wuxian's gaze quickly found Jin Ling and Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng suspected that he'd been aware of them the whole time.

"Isn't there?" Wei Wuxian asked Lan Xichen. "They're right here. We can settle this."

Lan Xichen and everyone else turned to look at them expectantly.

Jiang Cheng didn't need to hear Jin Ling's quiet 'oh no' to know that he needed to stop the conversation before it could even begin. Jin Ling had been markedly unsteady ever since they'd entered the noisy room. This was doing nothing to help him.

"We're not settling anything," Jiang Cheng said coolly, placing a hand on Jin Ling's shoulder to help him keep his balance. "We're here to eat and then return upstairs. Until we finish that, I'd ask that the rest of you keep quiet."

When Lan Wangji inclined his head rather than glare at Jiang Cheng as he usually did, the energy in the room shifted. Everyone was perfectly quiet as Jin Ling sat down and Jiang Cheng spoke with one of the servers.

The others started talking softly amongst themselves while the two of them waited at their table for their meal. Jin Ling was looking unwell again. He put his head in his hands and didn't even acknowledge his Lan friends who were watching him with concern.

The quiet one, Lan Sizhui, had recovered from his wounds fairly easily. He, too, had received a blow to the head that rendered him unconscious, but his injury seemed to be less serious.

When their food arrived, Jin Ling picked at it and took a few bites. Jiang Cheng supposed he couldn't ask for much more than that.

It was only after they'd received their meals that anyone addressed them.

Lan Xichen made his way toward their table and stood beside an empty seat.

"May I?" he asked.

Jiang Cheng motioned for him to sit down and he did. As he lowered himself into the chair, his eyes focused on Jin Ling and a tiny crease formed between his eyebrows.

"Luo Qingyang is in agreement with my proposal," Lan Xichen said.

"What proposal?" Jin Ling asked without looking up from his food, which he continued to push around his plate.

"She will discuss it with you later," said Jiang Cheng. "Eat."

Jin Ling groaned and rested his head on his hand.

"If you would allow it, Sect Leader Jin," Lan Xichen said, leaning toward him a little, "I could calm your meridians again. That will help with the pain for a while."

Jiang Cheng cocked an eyebrow. "Do you really have the qi necessary to keep doing this?"

Lan Xichen smiled politely. "I appreciate your concern," he said, "but please don't worry. I have enough to spare."

Jiang Cheng didn't like the idea of Lan Xichen expending more energy on Jin Ling's behalf. It was kind of him to offer, but he had his own things to worry about. Jin Ling was ultimately Jiang Cheng's responsibility.

"Anything to stop this pounding in my head," Jin Ling said.

"I need your arm."

Jin Ling held out one of his wrists and Lan Xichen took it. Like he'd done earlier, a glow wound its way from his core, up Jin Ling's arm, and throughout his body.

As soon as Lan Xichen released him, Jin Ling let out a sigh and sat up straighter. Jiang Cheng hadn't realized just how much tension he'd been carrying. Jin Ling's skin also returned to a more normal hue.

"Thank you, Zewu-jun," he breathed.

Lan Xichen inclined his head, offering only the ghost of a smile. Jiang Cheng didn't bother to tell him off. He figured that if he waited a little longer, Lan Xichen was going to run out of the energy required to fake politeness.

"Eat while you can," Jiang Cheng said.

Jin Ling looked annoyed by his nagging but he did return to his meal, finishing it so quickly that Jiang Cheng wondered if Lan Xichen had somehow fixed his head completely.

However, after Jin Ling exchanged a few words with the Lan juniors, assuring them that he was fine and would speak with them at length later, the stiffness in his shoulders had returned and he became reluctant to turn his head.

"The rest of us were discussing what to do from here," Lan Xichen said, speaking quietly.

He cast a couple furtive glances in the direction of the rest of the group, who were all sitting or standing near Wei Wuxian and exchanging words here and there.

"I gathered that," Jiang Cheng said gruffly.

He watched Jin Ling bury his head in his hands again. Lan Xichen's fix hadn't lasted long.

"I want to keep going," Jin Ling said, voice muffled.

Lan Xichen regarded him almost fondly. "Before you make such a decision, perhaps it would be wise to speak with your advisor," he said.

Jin Ling looked up, eyes narrowed in suspicion. "What did you propose to her?"

Lan Xichen shook his head. "It's better that the two of you talk," he said. "It will mean more if it comes from her."

Jin Ling's face contorted with anger and then switched to pain. "I don't feel like talking to anyone," he said. "We should just keep moving."

"I can heal you again if-"

"Why don't you teach me to do it?" Jiang Cheng suggested as Lan Xichen began to hold out his hand for Jin Ling's arm.

Lan Xichen chuckled lightly. "It's no matter to do it once more, I assure you."

"Yes," Jiang Cheng said, annoyed, "and how many more times would you say that?"

Lan Xichen looked to Jin Ling, but Jin Ling had put his head back in his hands and didn't notice him.

"Very well," Lan Xichen said, the corners of his mouth curling upward slightly. "I can teach you if you would like to learn. It is a simple process."

"Great."

"Take my arm."

Jiang Cheng simply stared at Lan Xichen's arm as he offered it to him. It was one thing to carry him when he was drunk and needed to get back inside, or even to put a hand on his shoulder to channel qi. It was different to touch him now for some reason. He was Zewu-jun. It seemed almost a crime to touch him.

Stark white fabric stared up at him, emanating an aura that made Jiang Cheng want to scoot his chair away from the perfect jade hand before him.

He could feel Jin Ling's eyes suddenly upon him, watching with anticipation.

"It's all right," Lan Xichen said as if he could hear the thoughts bouncing around inside Jiang Cheng's head. "You will have to take my arm if I am to teach you. Unless you would prefer that I offer a leg instead?"

"Of course not," Jiang Cheng said, a bit more harshly than he'd intended.

"Oh good," Lan Xichen said, giving no indication that he was offended. "I would prefer not to put my foot up on the table if I can avoid it."

He was teasing him. But Jiang Cheng was too anxious to be entertained or frustrated by it.

He took his arm, careful to grab over his sleeve instead of touching his skin, and awaited further instruction. He was very aware of how sweaty his hands had become.

For a brief moment, it felt like Lan Xichen tried to pull away from him. But when Jiang Cheng opened his fingers to release him, he didn't move again.

Lan Xichen looked up at him and Jiang Cheng fought the instinct to avert his gaze.

There's nothing strange about this, he told himself. He's teaching you how to help Jin Ling. That's all.

"Now close your eyes," Lan Xichen said, studying him.

Reluctantly, Jiang Cheng did so. He was left to wonder if Lan Xichen was still looking at him like that or if he had finally looked away.

"It's a lot like giving qi to another," he heard Lan Xichen say. "Except that you will use a little more speed to correct the flow of my meridians."

Had he changed the way he was talking, or had his voice always been so deep and calming?

Jiang Cheng frowned, eyes still closed. "You don't need a correction, though," he said. "Won't that harm you?"

"No," said Lan Xichen. "Because I am in alignment, you won't change the flow except to perhaps speed it up a little. It won't hurt me."

Jiang Cheng nodded and focused on channeling his qi through his palm.

"More than that," Lan Xichen said. "The more speed you can put behind it, the longer the meridians will maintain a proper flow."

He furrowed his brow and tried harder. Yet again, Lan Xichen told him that he hadn't done it correctly.

On his sixth time, he was growing fed up with failure. Jiang Cheng opened his eyes to find Lan Xichen watching him with a neutral expression. There was no judgement on his face, but that didn't matter. He'd said that it was a simple method, and even so, Jiang Cheng couldn't seem to get it right.

"Do you want to rest for a moment?" Lan Xichen asked.

"No. I'm not tired."

"All right," Lan Xichen said calmly. "I think you are trying to push qi to me."

"You said it needed to move faster!"

"I did," Lan Xichen concurred. "Try shrinking the channel. It will naturally flow faster that way."

Jiang Cheng closed his eyes and took a deep breath in an effort to clear his mind. Then, he did as Lan Xichen had instructed, creating a channel between them that was half the size of the ones he'd made before.

"Perfect!" Lan Xichen commended. "That's it!"

Jiang Cheng grinned and opened his eyes again. Lan Xichen was smiling back at him, his eyes soft and genuine. He opened his mouth to say something and at the same time, brought his free hand up and clamped down loosely over Jiang Cheng's wrist.

Before Lan Xichen could utter a single word of praise, Jiang Cheng had wrenched his arm free and pushed his own chair back forcefully. The loud screech of wood scraping against wood drew the attention of their group. Several sets of eyes watched them as Jiang Cheng stood abruptly from his seat.

"Have I offended you?" Lan Xichen asked quietly, apparently trying not to be overheard by the others.

"No, I-"

Jiang Cheng saw Jin Ling. His mouth was agape. He was looking at him as if he'd lost his mind.

What did he know? What right did Jin Ling have to look at him that way?

"I'm fine," Jiang Cheng said. "I realized I need to look for something upstairs. Thank you for teaching me."

"Jiujiu, wait," Jin Ling said, standing shakily. "I'm coming with you."

Jiang Cheng dropped his shoulders. Had he really been about to turn around and run upstairs without his injured nephew? What was wrong with him?

"All right."

Jiang Cheng walked around and helped Jin Ling out of his seat, half-lifting him to do so. If Jin Ling didn't take Luo Qingyang's advice to return to Jinlintai, Jiang Cheng was going to knock him out and carry him there himself. He was in no condition to help them in Qishan.

Sensing eyes still upon them, Jiang Cheng looked up to glare at anyone who gave so much as a hint of taunting toward Jin Ling.

It was then that he met Wei Wuxian's gaze.

He was unexpectedly solemn. There was a tightness around the corners of his eyes and lips. But, he was looking directly at Jiang Cheng, not Jin Ling. That expression – whatever it was – was meant for him.

"If you have something to say," Jiang Cheng growled at him, "just say it."

But, Wei Wuxian remained silent. He dropped his gaze to the floor, staring at his feet instead, face unchanged.

Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes and pulled Jin Ling along toward the stairs.

"Shouldn't we at least decide what we're doing next?" called the louder Lan boy.

Jiang Cheng turned around in time to see the other Lan junior nudge him and signal for him to be quiet.

"Do whatever you want," Jiang Cheng spat. "It shouldn't be too difficult. You have Wei Wuxian with you, the master of carrying out whatever ill-conceived plan crosses his mind."

Wei Wuxian fidgeted but didn't look up nor argue.

"Jiujiu…" Jin Ling said, quietly imploring Jiang Cheng to be less combative.

That was certainly rich coming from him.

"Mind your step," Jiang Cheng said.

"Mhm."

If they had been slow coming down the stairs before, they were hardly moving now. Jin Ling had to stop twice to keep from being sick. As much as Jiang Cheng wanted to be away from the scrutiny of the others, he couldn't very well push his nephew up the stairs.

"Jiujiu?" Jin Ling said once they were at last in the hallway and out of earshot from anyone else.

"Hm?"

Jiang Cheng was surprised he could talk at all given how ill he looked.

"Can we agree not to fight about what happened last night?"

"Agree not to fight?" Jiang Cheng repeated, bewildered. "Have we been fighting?"

"No," he said, "but that's just because I'm… like this. We're going to fight when I'm better."

"Yes. Yes, we are," Jiang Cheng said curtly.

"Can we agree not to?"

That was odd. Jin Ling lived to argue. Every. Little. Thing. It was always a battle, always a challenge. Now he wanted to forgo it? Exactly how hard did he hit his head?

"That depends," Jiang Cheng said. "Does this mean you won't do that again? Or are you only trying to avoid getting yelled at?"

Jin Ling didn't bristle like he'd expected he would. He looked exhausted.

He helped him back into their room and watched as Jin Ling lowered himself gingerly onto his own bed.

"Fine," Jiang Cheng huffed, feeling a pang of pity in his chest as his nephew clutched at his forehead again. "You escape reprimand this once. I'll chalk up your actions to an emotional outburst and leave it at that."

Jin Ling made a face, but overall, he looked relieved.

"Thank you, Jiujiu," he said as Jiang Cheng knelt down on one of the cushions near their table.

"That is," Jiang Cheng added, "unless you decide to reopen the topic – be that verbally or through future action."

"Fine."

"Good."

Jin Ling turned over on his side, away from Jiang Cheng.

He considered offering to steady his meridians like Lan Xichen had done, but it seemed that Jin Ling didn't want much to do with him despite the fact that he'd been so desperate to accompany him upstairs.

No matter.

Jiang Cheng gazed out the window just in time to see a cat wind its way around a stone lantern outside.

"Jiujiu?" Jin Ling said hesitantly, without turning around.

"Hm."

"Why did you never marry?"

Jiang Cheng froze. A familiar, uncomfortable feeling stirred in the pit of his core.

"That's a strange question to ask, don't you think?" Jiang Cheng said in a voice he hardly recognized as his own.

He couldn't see Jin Ling's face, but he could see him brace himself.

"I don't mean anything by it," Jin Ling said hurriedly. "I only ask because, well, some day soon, I'm going to be expected to marry too."

"And what? You want to know how I got out of it?"

"No, I…"

"You what? What is this about?"

Jin Ling rolled over to look at him, his face both puzzled and fearful.

"I'm not asking because I want to avoid it for myself," he said.

"Good," Jiang Cheng replied. "You are still expected to marry, regardless of what I do."

"Yes, I know that," Jin Ling snapped. He pressed his hand against his head.

"And I'll have you know," Jiang Cheng went on, "that I fully intend to marry once I find someone worthy of adopting the Jiang name."

Some of the frustration in Jin Ling's expression was replaced with intrigue.

"How will you – uh – know that you've found the right person?" he asked.

Comprehension dawned on Jiang Cheng. This was not an interrogation.

He cleared his throat.

"What do you mean by that?" he asked, even though he felt that he already knew what his nephew was trying to ask him.

Jin Ling squirmed under the pressure of having to clarify. "I mean – um – how would you – you know – how would you know that she was the right one for you to be with?"

"I think that's something for you to figure out," Jiang Cheng said. "You should know what you need. Think up some criteria and go from there. No reason to make things complicated."

Jin Ling looked surprised. "A list of criteria?" he questioned. "Wouldn't it be more of… I don't know… a feeling?"

Jiang Cheng nearly laughed aloud. "Are you conflating love with marriage?"

Jin Ling turned a brilliant shade of red. "Well I don't know!" he said. "Shouldn't you find a good match with someone you also like?"

With that question, Jiang Cheng did laugh. Jin Ling looked very angry and very embarrassed.

"Why are you making fun of me?!" he demanded.

"It's hard not to," Jiang Cheng said. "I'm not sure that mark on your forehead is doing you any good. Do you have any intellect in that skull of yours?"

"Hey!"

"Tell me, then: when was the last time you knew anyone who'd married because they liked each other?"

Jin Ling folded his arms and said triumphantly, "Wei Wuxian and Hanguang-jun did."

A faint glow of violet emanated from Jiang Cheng's hand, but he was barely aware of it. Jin Ling shrank down on the bed.

"They don't run a sect! Of course those two can do whatever they want! When has Wei Wuxian acted any differently? Is that really who you want to model your life after?"

Jin Ling made himself even smaller but met Jiang Cheng's gaze before asking his next question.

"What about my parents, then?" he said. "Is it true what everyone said about them? That they didn't care for each other? That my father hated my mother?"

The fire in Jiang Cheng's chest snuffed out like a candle. He leaned back and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"That's not what I meant," he said tiredly. "When it comes to marriage, you need to do the responsible thing and prioritize finding a good match over your own feelings. That's all."

Jin Ling didn't back down. "Why aren't you answering me?" he asked fiercely.

Jiang Cheng stood and smoothed the front of his robes. Jin Ling watched him closely.

"Luo Qingyang has something to discuss with you," Jiang Cheng said, turning his back on his nephew. "I'll go find her so that the two of you can talk."

He heard Jin Ling click his tongue behind him.

"The past is all you ever talk about," Jin Ling said. "Any time you yell at me, there's always some example that you use to put me in my place. But you never tell me anything. Not really. And as soon as I mention my mother, you're suddenly all out of words. You and Wei Wuxian both. The only people who could tell me about her won't say a damned thing!"

"Don't compare me to him," Jiang Cheng said.

"Then tell me!" Jin Ling insisted. "Or was my mother really such a disappointment to you that you refuse to speak of her?"

Zidian crackled on his index finger. Jiang Cheng whirled around. He glared down at Jin Ling, who glared right back up at him.

"Don't you ever speak about your mother that way," Jiang Cheng hissed. The ferocity of Jin Ling's gaze faltered minutely.

"Your mother was not a disappointment," Jiang Cheng said. "She was the greatest person I have ever known. I didn't deserve to call her 'sister'. So, I will not hear you besmirch her name just to get an answer from me."

"I understand. I just-"

"You don't understand!" Jiang Cheng yelled. "If you did, you would have never spoken as you did!"

"Jiujiu, I-"

"I don't want to hear it!" he said sharply. "Speak to Luo Qingyang. Tell me what you decide."

He marched to the door. Without looking back, he stepped out into the hall and threw it shut behind him.

Jiang Cheng was absolutely seething. His fingers shook.

Since when had that boy spoken ill of his mother? What had gotten into him lately?

"Screaming again, are we?" came a drawling voice from near the staircase.

Jiang Cheng looked up to see Luo Qingyang standing on the landing. Her arms were crossed and her lips were pressed tightly together. Her presence didn't help to calm his temper in the slightest.

"Am I to presume that you're here to propose that Jin Ling return home?" Jiang Cheng asked through gritted teeth.

"I am," she said coolly. "And am I to presume that you excused yourself without raising a hand to your nephew?"

Oh, she really was trying him, wasn't she?

"Mind your tongue," Jiang Cheng hissed, "or there will be consequences."

Luo Qingyang laughed wryly and walked toward him without a trace of fear.

"We've done this little dance before, Sect Leader," she said. "But keep making your idle threats if they make you feel better."

She didn't ask him to move aside. She simply stepped into his space, forcing him to shift out of her way so that she could open the door.

Luo Qingyang paused before going inside.

"Unlike myself," she said, "Zewu-jun was worried about you after you left so hastily. Perhaps you should put his mind at ease… or perhaps not since you seem incapable of going more than half a day without shouting at someone."

Jiang Cheng opened his mouth to retort, but she'd already closed the door in his face.

He stared at it, debating whether or not he should follow her in. After all, it was his room.

But the more he thought about it, the more he realized that he had no good retaliation. So, he headed for the stairs, deciding that he would join the discussion about whether they should stay another night at the inn or move to the next one.

He'd taken no more than a few steps down before he could hear the voices of their group.

"If Jin Ling is staying with us, then I vote we stay here again," said Lan Xichen.

"But the huli jing-!"

"I know it's a risk," Lan Xichen said, cutting off the Lan junior who'd spoken up. "But I think as long as we're on our guard tonight, we should be able to keep any unwanted visitors out."

"The huli jing knows we're here! If it gets in again, Jin Ling won't be able to defend himself."

Jiang Cheng stepped quietly onto the landing.

Everyone was in the same places they'd been before. It was still only their party present in the dining area.

"He won't be alone," Lan Xichen assured the loud Lan, Lan Jingyi. "His uncle is staying with him and the rest of us are nearby."

"I don't like it," said Lan Jingyi huffily.

"Neither do I," Jiang Cheng said, stepping out of the shadow of the stairwell.

Everyone except for Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji seemed surprised that he was there. Even Yu Qingqi raised her eyebrows, though she should have known that her wife had already gone upstairs to speak with Jin Ling. She was a fool if she'd thought that Luo Qingyang and Jiang Cheng could stay in one room together for that long with only Jin Ling as a buffer between them.

But he didn't dwell on Yu Qingqi. It was Lan Xichen that he was curious about.

Jiang Cheng watched him as he turned around and fixed him with a look of mellow scrutiny before inclining his head to him. Jiang Cheng returned the gesture, surprised that Luo Qingyang had apparently told him the truth. It seemed Lan Xichen had been oddly concerned about him. Otherwise, why would he have studied him for so long upon his return?

"You are against remaining here for tonight?" Lan Xichen asked.

Behind him, Jiang Cheng noticed Wei Wuxian's exasperated look.

"It's like he said-" Jiang Cheng indicated toward Lan Jingyi, "-the huli jing knows exactly where we are. We should move regardless of what decision Jin Ling makes."

"What would keep the huli jing from following us to another location?" Lan Wangji asked, his tone bordering on resentful.

"And what would stop it from attacking us here again?" Jiang Cheng replied. "At least if we keep going, we're that much closer to being done with all of this."

It was at that moment that Jin Ling's voice drifted down the stairs.

"WHY DO ALL OF YOU KEEP DOING THIS?! I'M NOT GOING HOME!"

The inn staff exchanged looks with one another but said nothing as they continued to flit around Jiang Cheng and the rest of the traveling party. They didn't seem to be doing much except trying to occupy themselves.

There was the sound of a door slamming followed by several loud footsteps. Soon enough, Jin Ling stood at the foot of the stairs. Luo Qingyang paused behind him, her hand outstretched over his shoulder as if to persuade him to follow her back up to the second floor.

Jin Ling glared directly at Jiang Cheng. "You put her up to that, didn't you?!" he demanded.

"No," Jiang Cheng answered tersely. "You think your advisor and I spend our free time plotting behind your back?"

"Then why-?"

"It was me, actually," said Lan Xichen. He was neither timid nor aggressive when he spoke. Simply honest.

Jin Ling became very small very fast. Angry as he was, he wouldn't dare to yell at Zewu-jun.

"I don't – I would prefer that you speak to me yourself if you have a concern," Jin Ling said, squaring his shoulders and trying hard not to seem afraid of Lan Xichen.

Lan Xichen regarded him sadly. "I take it that you will not be returning to Jinlintai?"

Jin Ling opened his mouth to answer, but Luo Qingyang cut him off.

"I believe his exact words were 'drag me back there if you dare'."

"All right," Jiang Cheng said darkly as he stepped forward. "I'll need either you or your wife to open a storm gate for me, but I can handle him on my own."

Jin Ling backed up against his advisor in his attempt to escape. When she didn't move aside for him, he shot an expectant look over his shoulder at her. Luo Qingyang merely shrugged at him and remained where she was.

"Respectfully, Sect Leader Jiang," came the voice of Lan Sizhui.

Jiang Cheng whipped around, ready to tell him off for interfering. The boy bowed deeply to him.

"I agree that Jin Ling would do well to return home and rest." The look of betrayal on Jin Ling's face worked in the Lan's favor. Jiang Cheng was listening a little more openly now. "However," the boy went on, "what is to keep him from making another storm gate to come back? He can link to almost half of us, yourself included, Sect Leader."

Jin Ling's betrayal turned to smugness.

Loathe as he was to admit it, Lan Sizhui had a point. Jiang Cheng could take his nephew back to Jinlintai, but as soon as he was gone, the brat would surely return to them.

It wasn't as if they could remove all paper from Jinlintai. Jin Ling was the master there. None of them, except perhaps Luo Qingyang, held any power in Lanling. He would order his people to let him go, and then he would be back with them.

Jiang Cheng folded his arms and narrowed his eyes at his nephew. "So you won't go back to Lanling," he said to him.

Jin Ling folded his arms to mirror him. "No, I won't."

Wei Wuxian strolled over then. Jin Ling eyed him apprehensively as he paused by his shoulder and gave him an impish smile.

"What use do you think you'll be to us in this condition?" Wei Wuxian asked.

Before Jin Ling could answer, Wei Wuxian reached up, placed two fingers against his temple, and pushed with what seemed a mild amount of pressure. Jin Ling cried out and grabbed the railing for support.

"What's wrong with you?!" he screamed.

"Mind yourself, Wei Wuxian!" Jiang Cheng growled.

Wei Wuxian ignored them both. He put his hands on his hips and looked expectantly at Jin Ling.

"Well?" he said. "What use will you be? I barely touched you."

"I don't care," said Jin Ling firmly. "I'm not leaving."

"Jingyi and I can accompany you to Jinlintai," offered Lan Sizhui. "I don't think it's a good idea for you to continue on like this."

"Hey!" said Lan Jingyi. "Don't speak for me, Sizhui!"

Jin Ling studied Lan Sizhui with a strange expression before shaking his head. "I'm fine," he insisted. "I'm coming with."

Wei Wuxian reached up toward Jin Ling's head again, but this time he was ready for it and swatted him away.

Huaisang spoke up then. "If we're letting people go home now…"

Both Jiang Cheng and Wei Wuxian interrupted him before he could finish what he was going to say.

"Go then if you're so desperate to be away from this," said Jiang Cheng.

"You're staying, whether you like it or not," said Wei Wuxian.

Huaisang flicked open his fan and looked to Lan Xichen for support, but Lan Xichen was paying him no attention. He was watching the youths with a mixture of warmth and concern on his face.

"Will you not consider it?" Lan Xichen asked Jin Ling.

Surprisingly, Jin Ling looked a little ashamed. He cast his gaze to the floor, but when he spoke, it was with the same fierceness as before.

"I will not."

"Very well," said Huaisang with a sad sigh. "I think that has been decided. Shall we get on with deciding what to do next? Are we moving or not?"

Jiang Cheng frowned. Huaisang had given up on abandoning them awfully quickly. Did he think that Wei Wuxian outranked anyone else present? Did he really think that he couldn't just leave if he wanted to?

"We should go," said Lan Jingyi. "Zewu-jun was attacked... sort of. Jin Ling was attacked… sort of. We were almost overwhelmed by corpses. We can't stay here again."

"The corpses will be worse the closer we get to Nightless City," said Wei Wuxian.

"And you wouldn't have been overwhelmed by corpses if you three hadn't decided to go out hunting last night," Jiang Cheng said testily.

Lan Sizhui bowed his head. Lan Jingyi, however, squared his shoulders.

"At least we were trying to help the people here! The people that you-!"

Lan Sizhui grabbed Lan Jingyi's arm. "Don't," he warned softly.

But Jiang Cheng already knew what he'd been about to say.

"These people never asked for my help," he said in a low dangerous tone.

"I apologize, Sect Leader," said Lan Sizhui, bowing deeply to him again.

Jiang Cheng sneered at him. "And why should you be the one to apologize?" he asked before fixing Lan Jingyi with a cold stare.

But Lan Jingyi just put his hands on his hips and stood his ground.

That is, until Lan Wangji cleared his throat and gave him a stern look. Then he was all sheepish apologies.

"I'm sorry, Sect Leader Jiang," he said, bowing almost mockingly low. "I forgot myself."

Jiang Cheng's blood was boiling, but what was he going to do? Make a scene in front of everyone else when the boy had indeed apologized to him.

No. He would seem the unreasonable one.

His eyes flicked to Lan Xichen, who was watching them silently, expression neutral… or was it? Was there a tiny amount of disappointment there? And if so, at whom was it directed?

Jiang Cheng clicked his tongue against his teeth.

"Let's take a vote," Wei Wuxian said once it was clear the argument had been resolved. "Those who want to continue onward, raise your hand."

Jin Ling's and Huaisang's hands shot up. Lan Jingyi's followed not too long after.

Jiang Cheng thought hard. If Jin Ling was coming with them, he needed to consider his health. He looked stronger now than he had, but Jiang Cheng knew that he was probably faking it and would collapse as soon as he was out of sight of the others.

But was it really safer for him if they stayed here? Like they'd discussed, Xue Yang definitely knew where they were now. No matter what, Jin Ling wasn't going to be safe.

God, he hated the stubbornness of that boy!

Jiang Cheng began to raise his hand too, but as he did so, he noticed Lan Xichen watching him closely. Once his hand was fully raised, Lan Xichen copied him.

Jiang Cheng gave him a confused look, but Lan Xichen gave no explanation. He merely smiled at him.

Luo Qingyang was beside herself.

"Have you lost your mind?!" she shouted at Jiang Cheng when he'd put his arm down again. "Jin Ling is not well! You know that! Why would you push him like this?!"

"It's not safe here!" Jiang Cheng yelled back at her. "We need to move and hope that demon doesn't find us so easily again!"

"But there's-!"

"Excuse me?"

The group turned as one to address the meek voice that had interrupted Luo Qingyang.

It was the innkeeper. He stood beside Lan Wangji, wringing his hands and looking around before settling on the face that was the least intimidating and still within his rights to assume might hold some status in their group – Lan Xichen.

"We appreciate your business. Really, we do!" he said. "Times have been hard with the fog that lies over Qishan. But, if you wouldn't mind taking your fight outside, I think the staff would appreciate it. We've all been rather jumpy as of late."

Only then was Jiang Cheng aware of the inn staff gathered in the far corner of the room. They were practically cowering where they stood.

What was going on in this town? Was all of this really the power of one huli jing?

"Of course," Lan Xichen said pleasantly. "Allow me to apologize for any trouble we might have caused you."

The innkeeper wiped sweat off his brow with the back of his hand but waved away Lan Xichen's apology as if he wasn't distressed in the slightest.

"You are no trouble at all!" he said. "Thank you for your understanding."

He sidled away.

"What a peculiar man," Wei Wuxian said as soon as the innkeeper was out of earshot.

"Mn," said Lan Wangji.

They all filed out the front door to stand under the awning. Luo Qingyang did not reengage Jiang Cheng in argument, but she did put a great deal of space between the two of them.

Jiang Cheng watched Jin Ling shield himself from the sunlight and wondered if he'd made the right call. It really would have been annoying to have to admit to Luo Qingyang that she'd been right and he'd been wrong.

Jiang Cheng redirected his gaze to Lan Xichen, who was very focused on the table where he and Jiang Cheng had sat the night before. The corners of his mouth were turned upward very slightly, but his brow was crinkled as if it was a painful thing to lay eyes on that table.

"We have ourselves a tie," Wei Wuxian announced.

Jiang Cheng looked away from Lan Xichen.

"What about Wen Qionglin?" asked Lan Sizhui. "He should have a say."

It seemed a little absurd to him that a corpse would vote in such matters, but Jiang Cheng said nothing. Wen Ning had protected both him and Jin Ling in Guanyin Temple. If the corpse wanted to have a say, Jiang Cheng wasn't going to be the one to stop him… under one condition.

"Exactly what I was going to suggest," Wei Wuxian said brightly. He clapped the Lan boy on the shoulder like a proud father might his son.

Jiang Cheng glanced at Jin Ling. He also seemed a little concerned by Lan Sizhui's proposal.

"I take no issue with his suggestion," Jiang Cheng said, addressing Wei Wuxian. "I take no issue with it so long as Wen Ning is not told anyone else's decision."

Wei Wuxian's eyebrows shot up… and then drew downward.

"He deserves to know all the facts, at least," he said. "He should know Jin Ling's condition and everything that happened last night when he was away."

"Fine," Jiang Cheng said shortly. "But you won't be the one to explain it to him."

Wei Wuxian put his hands on his hips. "That seems unfair since it was pretty obvious that Zewu-jun specifically voted to support you."

Jiang Cheng was surprised. He knew that Lan Xichen, for some reason, had matched his vote on purpose, but he hadn't expected that anyone else would have noticed.

He knew he needed to say something and say it quickly. Otherwise, Wei Wuxian was going to win their argument.

"Oh yes," Jiang Cheng said angrily, "and you don't have anyone who might have made their decision based on what you wanted."

Wei Wuxian scowled, but his gaze shifted toward Lan Wangji. His scowl became an almost questioning look. Then, he burst out laughing.

Jiang Cheng looked around for any sort of explanation, but everyone else seemed just as bewildered as he felt. Everyone except Lan Wangji, who was, oddly enough, glaring at Wei Wuxian.

The Sunshot Campaign was the last time that Jiang Cheng could remember him looking at Wei Wuxian in such a way. There must have been something very offensive about his laughter, but Jiang Cheng wasn't sure if he should feel offended as well.

"Why did you copy him anyhow?" Wei Wuxian asked Lan Xichen through fits of giggles.

Lan Xichen replied casually, "I thought if anyone was going to make a decision for Jin Ling's sake, it would be him."

The day was getting stranger and stranger. Wei Wuxian redoubled his laughter. Jiang Cheng's stomach twisted uncomfortably.

"Should you not have been thinking of yourself?" Jiang Cheng asked. "You… what happened to you was…"

Lan Xichen smiled sadly at him. "I can protect myself," he said. "I am more concerned about Jin Ling."

"Hey!" Jin Ling piped up. "I can protect myself too!"

Lan Xichen inclined his head to him. "My apologies," he said. "I don't mean to offend you."

"All right!" Wei Wuxian called, clapping his hands together loudly and startling a family walking down the road in front of the inn. "If I can't explain events to Wen Ning, I think that Zewu-jun should do it."

"Me?" Lan Xichen said, puzzled. "But I voted against you."

"Yes," Wei Wuxian said with a slight frown, "but you didn't feel strongly one way or the other. You let someone else decide for you. So, you should be the one to talk to Wen Ning."

Lan Sizhui and Lan Wangji seemed uncertain. Luo Qingyang and her wife seemed annoyed. All others were disinterested.

"I can do that," Lan Xichen said slowly. "As long as no one else sees an issue with it."

No one else did.

And so, Wei Wuxian and Lan Xichen went off to find Wen Ning since Wei Wuxian refused to call him with Chenqing. Everyone else stayed put and awkwardly tried to find ways to occupy themselves in the meantime.

"Are you all right?" Jiang Cheng heard Lan Sizhui ask Jin Ling.

"I'm fine," Jin Ling said quickly.

He looked around to see if anyone else was listening, but the others had started to chat among themselves. His quick survey didn't reveal to him that Jiang Cheng was paying attention. Jiang Cheng knew how to be discreet when he needed to be.

"Jingyi and I," Lan Sizhui said, "our offer to you still stands. If you don't want to go back alone, we'll come with you."

Jin Ling rolled his eyes and then reached out to clutch the railing for support. "I don't think Jingyi agreed to these terms," he said, sounding winded.

"I do," Lan Jingyi said, moving to stand beside his Lan companion. "I mean, I was annoyed at first, but seeing you like this, I agree with Sizhui."

"You would come back to Jinlintai with me? I thought you both wanted to protect Wei Wuxian?"

It was getting hard to hear the three of them over everyone else's conversations. Jiang Cheng moved forward a little.

"Of course we want to protect Wei Wuxian," Lan Sizhui said. "But we want to protect you too. If having us leave the mission too would encourage you to leave, we'll do it."

"Difficult as it may be to believe," Lan Jingyi said, "and despite how frustrating you can be, I still consider you to be my friend."

"Neither of you make any sense," Jin Ling mumbled

He had spoken too quietly for Jiang Cheng to hear him, but he could read his lips well enough.

"Have we changed your mind?" asked Lan Jingyi jokingly.

"No."

"Didn't think so."

Lan Sizhui placed a hand on Jin Ling's shoulder. "If you do change your mind, we will go with you," he said. "At any point. Say the word and we'll go."

Though he was glad to see that Jin Ling had made such staunch friends, an uneasiness crept into Jiang Cheng's heart. The way they talked to each other…

But Jiang Cheng didn't have time to dwell on it.

Wen Ning, Wei Wuxian, and Lan Xichen returned to them then. Everyone stopped their conversations immediately and looked up.

"I've filled Wen Ning in on the details of last night," said Lan Xichen as he moved away to find a spot to stand beside his brother. "I am not sure if he's made a decision yet."

All eyes were suddenly on Wen Ning. He became very twitchy and shaky. It seemed that even in death, Wen Ning did not do well under pressure.

"I – I have made a decision, Zewu-jun," he said.

"That's great!" Wei Wuxian said encouragingly. "As long as you agree with me, that is!"

When Wen Ning responded poorly to his joke, Wei Wuxian spluttered out a thousand clumsy words of inspiration.

Jiang Cheng fought hard to keep his face neutral. He could feel Lan Xichen's eyes upon him, and for some reason, he was worried about disappointing him by overreacting to Wen Ning's decision.

"Go ahead and tell us," Wei Wuxian said. "Whenever you're ready."

Wen Ning clasped his hands together in front of himself and rocked on the balls of his feet. To see such a bashful fierce corpse bordered on the comical.

Still, Jiang Cheng kept his face neutral.

"I have decided," said Wen Ning after a few moments had passed, "that I am in favor of moving on from this place. We may succeed in shaking the huli jing if we're careful. This choice is also the one that will hurry all of this along and get us back to our lives the quickest."

Wei Wuxian had looked like he was going to interrupt him. He had one hand partially raised in front of himself and his chin was tilted upward the way it often did when he had readied a particularly funny retort for someone.

But at Wen Ning's last words, Wei Wuxian lowered his hand and dropped his head. He seemed upset, but Jiang Cheng didn't understand why.

Regardless, it was obvious that he was no longer going to argue with Wen Ning.

Huaisang flicked open his fan with a thwack. "That settles it," he said, the lower half of his face concealed behind painted vines and flowers. "We're going."