After the end starts a new beginning

The encounter

"The bartender at the tavern said that they heard a weird sound coming from here. Do you think it might be one of those new creatures?"

"They're just spiritual beasts that have accidentally gone out of their natural habitat. There is no way that there are suddenly new beasts!"

Two Nie disciplines are talking while on a night hunt for a beast that's been harassing a village lately. There are many rumors that beasts are spotted that have never been seen before and because of that there are cultivators that refuse to help unless they know exactly what their target is.

"Are there even any witnesses of that thing?"

"One, and it's the village chief himself. He was out at the lake over there to night fish when he saw a huge silhouet and a loud noise. He already got complains about the noise, but he only agreed to ask for help when he saw it for himself."

"I'm still doubting. The chief seemed kinda old, maybe his sight is just getting worse."

"You'd be lucky if you can still see once you're old. Your eyesight is already going down despite being so young."

"Hey that's not true-"

"Quiet."

The other shut his mouth. Once he did, he noticed the faint sound of something rattling. The disciplines keep their hands ready on their sabers, and walk towards the sound.

The rattling keeps getting louder, untill it suddenly stops. The disciplines stop as well, to avoid the creature hearing them walk if it hasn't already noticed them.

There was no sound anywhere. Not even the sound of crickets or the wind, just nothing. One of them opend their mouth to say something to the other, but once he did he heard no sound.

It was alarming and the discipline grabbed his friends arm to go back, but once he turned around there was a giant shadow before him that he never heard approaching. And then he heard it again, the rattling sound. But it's much louder.

And it was the last thing both of them ever heard.

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The streets of Caiyi Town are busy today. Seeing that it's nice weather and Caiyi Town is rising in popularity as a tourist place, that's to be expected.

Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji are walking side by side, staying close to each other. Both relaxed now that they're almost back at the Cloud Recess.

"Lan Zhan look! Isn't that that book that your brother was talking about last time?"

"Hm"

"Maybe we should buy it for him as compensation for being away longer then intended. We said we would be away for two weeks, yet it turned into five."

"We could not have known that the weather would be so severe that we couldn't travel. Brother will understand."

"Still, he sounded so worried in his letters. The guilt will swallow me whole if I don't do something."

Lan Wangji didn't say another word and bought the book. He gave it to Wei Wuxian, so he can give it to Lan Xichen later.

"Thanks Lan Zhan"

Wei Wuxian gives Lan Wangji a quick peck on the lips and links his arms with him. Even though it feels like the sun is trying to boil them alive, neither of them can afford to let go of the other.

The hustle and bustle seemed to only get worse the further into town they walked. Merchants are shouting to promote their business and some even come up to them to try and sell them something. Luckily, none of them are badly drawn posters of the Yiling Patriarch.