Promise and Betrayal: A Mo Dao Zu Shi (the Untamed) Story

Chapter 6

The day breaks sunny and brisk. I had fitful rest, the prophecies of today ricocheting through my thoughts. They would not afford me sleep until early this morning. I rise, breathing in the dawn air. It is cold and clear, as good a day for battle as I would like.

The others rise as well. Lan Zhan awoke before me, I see, and the others filter from their rooms one by one. Once we are gathered at our communal table, I catch Lan Zhan's eye for confirmation of his prediction yesterday. He blinks, a noncommittal response. Only the day will tell whether he is right or wrong.

Wei Ying voices similar concerns to the group--Lan Zhan must have prophesied to him as well. Jiang Cheng scoffs.

"A hunch?" he asks, dubious. "As much as I trust you, Wei Wuxian, I don't trust your instincts. If a battle were to happen today, when? Where? Who? There are no threats in the Unclean Realm."

Lan Zhan stands. "Not yet," he says before he exits, his eyes flashing. Wei Ying looks after him, side-eyeing his friend.

"That was cryptic," he says, pouting. "And also really ominous."

"What Lan Zhan said last night," I say, changing the subject. "How did he know?"

"The Wen Clan has been mobilizing their army," Wei Ying explains. "It would only be logical for them to use their forces in an attack."

I tilt my head. "And he thinks they will attack the Unclean Realm."

He nods. Jiang Cheng says nothing, only eyes both of us. I wonder if he notices our newfound familiarity.

"We should alert Clan Leader Nie," I suggest.

Wei Ying and I rise. I shoulder my swords, not bothering to cover them with a cloak today. I am among friends and allies, for now. And should I be among enemies, easily accessible swords are better than concealed ones.

Jiang Cheng sighs, grudgingly rising. "I guess preparing for nothing is better than being unprepared for something," he says.

We rush to the war room, alerting the guards we encounter along the way the reason of our passage and our haste. They dash off to inform others, who will spread the word to the city. If it is a false alarm, it is on us. If it is not, Lan Zhan's instincts will have served us well.

"Clan Leader Nie!" Wei Ying shouts as we skid to a stop in the war room. Hastily, we bow, then rush to the table. Lan Zhan is already there, arms braced on the edge. "We have news."

"I know," he says. "But do you have definitive evidence? Huanguang Jun only referenced intuition and stars"

"We have reasoning," Wei Ying says. "Think—where would the Wen Clan attack first? Somewhere close to home. Somewhere, where if they lose, they can retreat easily with minimal losses. They would attack Qinghe. At the base of Qishan."

The clan leader strokes his chin. "You make a persuading argument," he says. "But would they not try to attack an easier target? The Nie Clan's prowess in battle is known."

"They may," Wei Ying says. "But they may have something personal to attend to here." Wei Ying eyes me. It would appear word of my confrontation with Wen Chao has spread far wide. Clan Leader Nie follows his gaze.

"They would attack a city because of the presence of a single man?"

I step forward. "They are fickle. Wen Chao, the younger of the heirs, has already experienced my twin swords. His men were humiliated, as was he. I have made a personal enemy of him. I doubt he would attack an entire city because of me, but considering his personal vendetta and the potential strategic advantage of the city, it would seem a logical chain of events."