Fateful Turn

Koi Tower

In the Golden Pavilion on Koi Tower sat over fifty sect leaders from sects of all sizes. Jin Guangshan sat in his embellished seat as the group entered the hall. His eyes roved over each of the figures until they landed on Wei Wuxian. His expression darkened slightly as his eyes lingered over the man in black robe, but he forced himself to keep smiling to the others. Jin Zixuan was away, while Jin Zixun didn't have enough experience, so Jin Guangyao was the only one who stood beside him. In the front row sat sect leaders and famed cultivators. Nie Mingjue was among them. All of their expressions were solemn. The next row sat sect leaders of lesser importance.

"Sect Leader Jin, we are here to discuss on the incident that happened in the Qiongqi Pass." Lan Xichen said after giving his polite greeting.

"Oh, yes, well. We do have to talk about that, don't we?" Jin Guangshan nodded. He then brought the incident up, "Many inspectors were all killed and several others were injured that night. Around fifty of the remaining Wen Sect members escaped. Care to explain, Sect Leader Lan?"

Lan Xichen remained calm as he answered, "The inspectors killed innocent people without cause in cold blood. They were punished by their own victims."

"And that's just karma." Wei Wuxian added.

Loud gasps echoed around the room as Jin Guangshan turned his angry gaze at Wei Wuxian. "Karma, you said? They were just doing their jobs as inspectors." The older man glared at him.

"So, killing the innocents are in their job description?" Wei Wuxian shot back. "Wow, what a righteous thing to do, huh?"

Jin Guangshan clenched his fists tightly, trying his best to keep his composure. "There must be a reason why they killed those Wen-dogs! And besides, all the Wens are guilty and killing them would be a favor to the world!" A vein bulged in the Chief Cultivator's forehead.

"You have a real twisted sense of justice, Sect Leader Jin." Wei Wuxian sneered, shaking his head. "I am afraid for the young generations to come if this is what you condone as the Chief Cultivator."

Jin Guangshan looked ready to explode with rage. He was about to say something when Lan Qiren put out his main question before things escalated, "Sect Leader Jin, why were there Spirit Lure Flag plugged into the corpses in the camp?"

"Qiren-xiong, I don't have any idea on why are you asking me that." Jin Guangshan replied with a frown.

Wei Wuxian, once again, scoffed at his answer. "Sect Leader Jin, playing dumb is very unbecoming of you."

Jin Guangshan clenched his fists as he snapped, "Wei Wuxian! How dare you insult me like that?!"

Wei Wuxian rolled his eyes. "How can it be insult when it's the truth?" He rebutted, crossing his arms in front of his chest defiantly.

Jiang Cheng cleared his throat, pulling Wei Wuxian back to prevent him saying anything else that might start a war right there and then. "Sect Leader Jin, we have witnessed how the corpses were in person. That flags could only meant wicked practice. So, please elaborate."

Looking at the situation was turning sour, Jin Guangyao stepped forward with a pleasant smile gracing his lips. "Sect Leader Jiang, what happened in Qiongqi Pass only reached our knowledge after that night. What the guards had done were their own prerogatives and had nothing to do with my father. We have many guards, you see, and we can't keep an eye on each and every one of them." He rationalized, "If they decided to act against our clan's rules, how could we have stopped them when they were far away?"

Lan Xichen took a deep breath and walked up to Jin Guangyao. "That's not what the guards told us." He paused to look at his sworn brother with a hint of disappointment in his eyes, "They said they did it under orders."

"They were obviously lying." Jin Guangshan waved his hand dismissively. He turned sharply to Wei Wuxian. "And who created the Spirit Lure Flags at the first place? Isn't that you, Wei Wuxian?" He accused, pointing his finger at him. "Thanks to your demonic cultivation, some of my disciples have turned to that unorthodox and evil practices!"

Lan Wangji frowned, his brows furrowing together, "Sect Leader Jin, why are you shifting the blame to my husband?" He asked with firm voice. He continued with a stern expression, "The issue here was how your disciples used those flags inappropriately and how you allowed them to kill the innocents. As a sect leader, you should know what has been going on under your rule."

Everyone froze as soon as Lan Wangji finished his sentence. The usually quiet and reserved Second Jade of Gusu Lan was surprisingly outspoken today and disregarding the usual courteousness that he normally displayed.

Wei Wuxian, however, doubling over in laughter a few second later. He slapped Lan Wangji on the back gently and looked at his husband affectionately, "Hanguang-jun, you are really adorable! I never thought that you can speak that way."

"I will speak for your honor, Wei Ying." Lan Wangji replied earnestly.

Lan Qiren coughed harshly and Jiang Cheng clicked his tongue. The newlyweds really had no sense of shame in flaunting their love and affections towards each other.

"Lan Wangji, are you trying to humiliate me? Do you realize how disrespectful your words are?" Jin Guangshan asked through gritted teeth.

"Respect is earned, Sect Leader Jin." Lan Wangji replied bluntly with an impassive face, earning murmurs of shock of his blatantness across the hall.

Wei Wuxian couldn't help but laugh again. "That's right, Lan Zhan! That's right!" He agreed, wiping away tears from his eyes.

"You!! How dare you?!" Jin Guangshan roared, standing abruptly from his seat.

Lan Qiren gave the couple a warning look, "Quiet down. We are here for serious business." He told them off under his breath.

Wei Wuxian obliged to the old man's order and muffled his laughter as he leaned slightly against his husband whose hand curled around his waist like a silent declaration of support in all matters, regardless. 

"Sect Leader Jin, I believe Wangji does not mean to say those as insults." Lan Xichen intervened diplomatically. "As for my brother-in-law, he invented those flags for a good purpose. And the issue is, that your guards murdered innocent people and used those flags in wicked manners. We just want a clarification on this matter before anything else."

The tension in the room was thick. The other sect leaders whispered among themselves, exchanging glances as they tried to determine which side was the right side.

"This... is outrageous!" Jin Guangshan slammed his hand against the table. "I will not for this slander!" He stood up from his seat furiously. "Where is your evidence?" he demanded.

"You want evidence?" Wei Wuxian's voice reverberated through the grand hall, cutting through the tension like a blade. His eyes gleamed with determination as he stared directly at Jin Guangshan. "How about I call upon the souls of those who had been killed unjustly?" With these words he pulled out his flute from his waist band.

Jin Guangshan paled significantly. "You....You're...you're bluffing!" He sputtered out.

Wei Wuxian laughed again. "Oh, I am sorry. Do you really want to test me?" He said before raising the flute to his mouth challengingly. The crowd gasped collectively, alarmed at the turn of event.

Jin Guangshan visibly wilted at that, "You!" He seethed. He turned to Lan Xichen, "Sect Leader Lan, if you insist of letting this person to insult me in my own domain like this, I'm afraid that this discussion is over."

"This discussion is far from over." Nie Mingjue spoke up from his seat. Everyone immediately turned towards him. "You are the Chief Cultivator, Sect Leader Jin. And if there is that kind of evil practice happened in your territory as claimed, is it not appropriate for us to investigate it further?"

Jin Guangshan's expression darkened as he realized that three prominent sects are openly standing up against him now.