Disclaimer: I do not own the characters and art used in the story. OOC and AU.
Assurance
The main hall was shrouded in heavy silence. First, Wei Wuxian walked away, talking the Yin Hufu with him, then one camp of prisoners disappeared. During routine inspections, guards at Qiongqi Path were found dead with their throats slit and no traces of the struggle. It looked like a perfect ambush. Some tried to blame the demonic cultivator, suggesting he took revenge on Jin Clan for shaming him. Fortunately, a Young Master Nie convinced them otherwise.
"Da-Gege, they can't possibly think that one person could do it? It's ridiculous," he said with a loud and exaggerated voice. "He could get one or two before rest started to fight back, not the whole camp. Besides, why would the person who killed the most enemies during war liberate the camp? It doesn't make sense."
"Young Master Nie is right," Luo Qingyang said after a long awkward silence. "Wei Wuxian may be strong, but he is just one person who doesn't even carry a blade. No one had seen him since the hunt on the Phoenix Mountain, while the camp was discovered barely a few days ago."
Nie Huaisang hid his amused smirk behind the fan, leaving large confused eyes for others to see. He never expected Lanling Jin's negligence to work in their favour, leaving several weeks' gap between the two events. What worried him was Jin Guangyao's annoyed expression he tried to cover with his picture-perfect fake smile. He was always slimy and suspicious, but since the Sunshot campaign, this impression increased.
Guangyao worked too hard to anger Wei Wuxian under the disguise of a shy and lowly cultivator. Another reason was his brother. Asked about camps, Nie Mingjue answered that Jin locked Wen Cultivators participating in the war. When he pursued the topic, Minguje snapped and told him to ask Meng Yao about it since he supervised camps. Among the survivors, Wei Ying and Wen Qing saved was only one cultivator, who didn't even carry a sword. Someone was lying to other leaders, but why? Huaisang promised himself to assign more men to watch him.
"Sect Leader Jiang, how can you not know where your head disciple is?"
His jaw tightened, and Zidian sparked dangerously on his finger. "Former head disciple," he hissed.
"Right, right," Sect Leader Yao pipped in. "He was forced to leave the sect by Miss Jiang after creating another mess. It's probably for the best."
Luo Qingyang accused them of hypocrisy and lack of appreciation for the person who saved them from Wen Ruohan. She argued that the cultivation method does not matter if one's heart is pure. Unfortunately, sect leaders made fun of her and questioned her motives. Angry beyond imagination, Mianmian threw her sect robes on the floor and walked away.
Huaisang glanced at Lan Wangji's pale and tired face. There were rumours he spent last month searching for someone under the pretence of night hunts. He would even visit remote villages and areas just to return empty-handed. 'Now you care? Where were you when Wei-Xiong needed you? I will make you suffer, bastard.'
He stepped out to get some fresh air. It has been a month without news from Wei Wuxian and Wen Remnants. Huaisang could only hope they crossed the mountains safely. Did they manage to find a place to settle? It was expected that news would be delayed, but it didn't stop him from worrying.
"Thank you for what you did there, Young Master Nie. Wei Wuxian saved me in my time of need. I'm embarrassed I couldn't return the favour," a gentle female voice spoke beside him.
Nie Huaisang looked at her with a gentle smile, giving her a glimpse of his true face. "I will make sure he knows it."
"Thank you," she replied with a respectful bow. "I pray for his safety. Goodbye, Young Master Nie."
