Past and Present

Chapter 34- Meeting

  "Sect Leader Xue, it is nice to see you again," Wangji said, bowing.
   "Likewise, Hanguang Jun," Xue Yang bowed back. He turned to the crowd and said, "I hope you all don't mind that I brought someone else with me this time."
   He stepped to the side and let Xingchen walk in with Yue and Chenxing next to him.
   "Brother Xiao!" Wei Ying exclaimed.
    "A-Ying," Xingchen replied with a smile. Wei Ying ran up to the man and hugged him tightly.
   "I thought you were gone!" Wei Ying said as he pulled away from the embrace.
    "I was, but I ended up coming back to life for some reason," Xingchen chuckled and bowed to the crowd. "It is a pleasure meeting you all, I am Xingchen."
"Pleasure meeting you too," Xichen said, "I have heard a lot of you."
"I hope it isn't a bother that I'm here," Xingchen said, "but if it is I will gladly take my leave."
"Of course not!" Wei Ying exclaimed, "You're my uncle, why would you be of any nuisance."
Xingchen chuckled softly at the man, "Alright, we shall do as a-Ying says from now on."
"Yeah!" Wei Ying smiled smugly, "Listen to me!"
Xingchen shook his head softly, "Same as always, aren't you?"
Chenxing and Yue were standing next to him with smiles on their faces. Yue saw Changming and rushed over, "There you are! I was looking all over for you!"
"Hello Young Master Xue," Changming bowed.
"What did I say? Just call me Yue," the boy replied.
"Alright," Changming said.
"Chenxing!" A booming voice said. Chenxing sighed and turned away from the sound.
Yue heard the voice and smiled, "Shanghai!" He ran over to the male and hugged him, "How are you?"
Shanghai beamed, "I'm great!"
Xingchen smiled at the interaction and looked at Chenxing who was watching them with longing eyes, "Angel, why don't you go and greet him while I talk to Hanguang Jun?"
"Yes Mama," Chenxing fanned himself slowly and walked over to his brother. He bowed, "Young Master Jin, nice seeing you again."
"I told you to call me Shanghai," the male pouted.
"It's improper," Chenxing insisted.
Jin Ling, who was standing next to them shook his head, "Jingyi calls me 'young mistress' there is nothing more improper than that."
Yue laughed loudly, "I mean is he lying?"
"You-!" Jin Ling stepped forward but Chenxing stepped in front of him.
"Please calm down," he said, "I don't want a fight breaking out."
"Then tell him to not say that!" Jin Ling exclaimed.
"Young mistress! There you are!" It was Jingyi.
Jin Ling's face turned red in anger, and the veins in his forehead popped.
"Jingyi, what did I say?" This time Shizui spoke.
"But Shizui!" Jingyi whined.
"Jin Ling, I'm sorry again," Shizui said as he arrived.
"It's fine," Jin Ling raised his head and puffed his chest out pridefully.
   Shizui smiled and turned to Chenxing, "How are Young Master Xue?"
  "I've been good, thanks for asking," Chenxing said. He and Shizui talked for a while before being interrupted by Shanghai.
"Shizui, do you want to drink a bit?" The boy asked, "Jingyi said that you're a good drinker."
Shizui sighed, "I really shouldn't."
"Come on! Don't be a so stiff, we aren't in Gusu," Jingyi said.
"Fine," Shizui said. He turned to Chenxing, "Please forgive me for leaving, I'll be right back."
"No worries, I should be getting ready to meet a few more people," Chenxing walked away to his parents who were talking with a few people.
"Ah, speaking of which," Xue Yang said, "this is our son Chenxing."
The boy bowed, "Nice to meet you."
The man bowed back, "Nice to meet you too, I'm Nie Huaisang."
"Clan Leader Nie?" Chenxing said.
"Yes, but please just call me Uncle Nie," the man said, awkwardly fanning himself.
"Alright," Chenxing said smiling. He saw a Jiang Cheng stand up, "Looks like the meeting is about to begin."
"Everyone, thank you all for coming," he said, "I have an announcement to make." He gestured for Jin Ling to walk over, "My nephew, Jin Ling, and I have decided to let him take over as position of clan leader."
Everyone began chatting with their neighbors.
Jiang Cheng cleared his throat, "We have gone through the ceremonies and have decided to announce these news to everyone. Now I would like for Clan Leader Jin to take over and talk about today's problems."
He went and sat down while Jin Ling stood at front, with everyone's eyes on him. He swallowed hard, "Thank you everyone for coming, I know it must've been a long journey. I am here today to announce what has been going in Lanling the past weeks.
"We have had several puppet attacks and have seen multiple spirits in town and here. Up to now we have done a good job at getting rid of them but they keep reappearing. Has anyone else had these problems?"
Several people nodded, except Xue Yang and Xichen. This didn't go unnoticed by Jin Ling.
"Clan Leader Xue, have you not had these problems?" He asked.
"No," Xue Yang admitted.
"Neither have we, especially after our last meeting at Gusu," Xichen said.
"What if it is someone who is allies with them?" A man asked.
"Possibly, why else would they not be attacking them specifically," another man agreed.
Jin Ling nodded, "Clan Leader Xue, is there anyone else, that you know, who has a piece of the Yin Iron. I feel like that might be related to it."
"Up to now, only Wei Wuxian, Wen Ruohan, and I have had it," Xue Yang said. "Unless someone knows our tricks and how to use their own energy to control the puppets and spirits."
"Do you have any suspicions of who it could be?" Jin Ling asked.
"None," he replied.
"Alright," Jin Ling nodded, "thank you."
Xue Yang nodded back and sat back down, letting Jin Ling continue talking.
"Clan Leader Lan, you said that you haven't been attacked as well," Jin Ling said, turning to Xichen.
"Correct," the man said.
"Do you have any suspicions of who it could be?"
"I don't either, I don't believe anyone in Gusu would betray us."
"Good," Jin Ling said, "anyone else have a suspicion of someone?" Everyone stayed silent, "Alright, that is all." He stepped down and everyone started talking.
Jin Ling sighed in relief when he was out of everyone's view. Shizui smiled, "You did great, Clan Leader Jin," he bowed at the boy.
"No need to do that!" Jin Ling exclaimed, waving his hands.
Shizui giggled, "Alright."