Setting Things Right

Reunions And Revelations

(a/n: I don't know how to write reunions, I'm sorry.)

The room erupted in chaos as five people stepped out of the light. As far as everyone knew, these people were dead and had been for more than a decade. Jiang Wanyin couldn't calm his heart as he stared at his family. His family was alive and breathing and here. He ran into Jiang Yanli's open arms and felt tears run down his cheeks.

"...Jiejie...?"

"Hello, A-Cheng..." she whispered with a smile. Madam Yu and Jiang Fengmian stood behind the siblings, softly smiling at the two. Jiang Wanyin lifted his head and wiped away his tears before speaking.

"A-Niang? A-Diē?"

"A-Cheng. You've grown so strong! I... I'm sorry you had to take over my responsibilities at such an age..."

Jiang Cheng shook his head slowly. After all, it was not his father's fault that the Wens had attacked. It was- No, I'm not going to think about him! He just wanted to savor this moment. Unfortunately, the peacock would not allow him such happiness.

"Ah... Jiang Cheng... How have you been?" Jin Zixuan coughed. He did not want to interrupt the family, but he didn't want to be left out. If he were not already dead, Jiang Cheng might have been angry at the man, but in the height of his ecstasy, he decided to let it pass.

"A-Niang... A-Diē...?" the Jiang family froze at the sound of the shaky voice that had called out. Jin Ling crept closer from where he had been standing with the Lans. "Jiujiu, are those...?"

"Come here, A-Ling." Jiang Yanli looked between her brother and son, eyes widening in surprise.

"A-Ling?" Zixuan and Yanli practically sprinted to hold their son in their arms. "A-Ling! A-Ling! You've gotten so big!" Yanli cried.

"A-Niang!" Jin Ling grabbed at his mother, finding comfort in her grasp, a solace he had thought he would never feel.

"Ai, A-Ling, you've grown up so fast without us!" Jin Zixuan smiled as he embraced his son before turning to Jian Cheng. He mouthed a small 'thank you' to the other man. After all, A- Cheng had raised his only son. He had been there when A-Ling's parents couldn't. Jiang Cheng clicked his tongue and looked away. If his parents noticed the little smile on his face, they would never mention it.

Most of the other cultivators turned away from the touching scene, feeling as though they were witnessing something they shouldn't be. Sect Leader Nie Huaisang, on the other hand, was crying a bit too loudly for them to ignore.

The 'Headshaker' could not have cared less about them as he stared at his Da-Ge. He did not care whether it was childish as he clung to Nie Mingjue. All that mattered was that his brother was with him after all these years.

Nie Mingjue shook his head fondly as he comforted his brother. He was saddened that Nie Huaisang had to take his place as sect leader so early, but he also felt the urge to remind the younger one that people were watching and that he was setting a terrible example to the juniors. However, as he looked down at Huaisang's tear-stained face, he thought, I suppose that can wait for later.

It took perhaps a half hour for both reunions to finish, and the rest of the hour was spent calming down the other sects and getting everyone seated on the big, plush chairs that littered the room. Just as the sect leaders planned to call for the System, a young Lan piped up from the front. "Hey, I hate to be *that guy*, but weren't there supposed to be six people?"

Sounds of agreement were heard all around, but the sects did not need to search for long. A deep chuckle emanated from the shadows as chills crept down the cultivators' backs.

"I was wondering when you all were going to notice!"

Then, much to everyone's horror, the nightmare that was Wen Ruohan stepped out from the dark.

"YOU!" someone screamed as swords were unsheathed and pointed towards the threat, ready to attack. Wen Ruohan held his hands up in mock surrender.

"Woah now, is that how you show respect to the dead?"

"What respect do you deserve?" Madam Yu snarled. "You killed thousands of our people, yet you have the nerve to ask for respect?"

"My people were killed as well, or did you forget? Don't worry. You have nothing to worry about! I already tried ruling you all once and failed. And if you haven't noticed, I'm not exactly in a position to take over again."

The juniors all observed the scene, not believing their luck. A quiet voice whispered in the background. "I don't think they remember that since the books say they were, y'know... dead."

Shizui elbowed his friend. "Jingyi, not the time."

[System loading. Everyone, please be seated according to the chart illustrated on the wall. Seats have been arranged to ensure little to no violence, and swords will be taken until further notice. Any who disagree or try to escape will be failures.]

Immediately, the System had them all seated within an incense of time.

[Certain subjects may be removed according to behavior. The Jin sect has not been included in the viewing due to circumstances. Please watch the wall.]

"Excuse me, if you could be so kind as to tell us what we will be viewing?" Jiang Yanli questioned.

[Loading. Loading. Title found. The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation.]

And with that, everyone screamed bloody murder.

(a/n: I tried, ok? Also, the seating arrangement is basically: Row 1- Junior trio, Jiang family, Twin Jades and Lan Qiren, the Nie brothers. Behind them is everyone else. Wen Ruohan is essentially omnipresent.)