The Child of Demonic Cultivation

Family Affair -12

WC: 1071

"Sect Leader Jin," Wei Wuxian said, "you said that the Yin Tiger Tally has been completely destroyed. Can you show me the pieces?"

"Wei-gongzi," Jin Guangyao answered, "the restored parts are not the original, after all. There's a limit to how many times it can be used. It's already useless now. Besides, you know best just how heavy that thing is with malevolent energy. Do you think I'd carry around useless scraps that would only serve to invite calamity upon me?"

"I don't know about that," Wei Wuxian said. "What if you're able to find another Xue Yang?"

"Another...Xue Yang?" Lan Tian mumbled back in their dazed state. The corpses too retuned to their moaning and other activities almost simultaneously.

"Er-ge," Jin Guangyao pleaded, "everything I've said is the truth."

His words were earnest and sincere, and he had indeed treated Lan Xichen with courtesy and respect ever since he had taken him captive. Unable to bring himself to cut ties wit him on the spot, Lan Xichen could only sigh.

"Sect Leader Jin, as I said when you obstinately insisted on creating the havoc at the Burial Mounds, there is no need for you to call me 'er-ge' again."

"The recent incident at the Burial Mounds was a grave error; I behaved like a man possessed," Jin Guangyao siad. "But it is no longer possible for me to turn back."

"What do you mean by that?" Lan Xichen asked.

Lan Wangji frowned slightly and said in a frosty tone, "Xiongzhang, do not speak to him too much."

"Sect Leader Lan, do you still remember what you told Sect Leader Jiang?" Wei Wuxian reminded him as well. "Do not speak to him too much."

Everyone knew Jin Guangyao's most deadly weapon was his tongue, but the knowledge that there might be more to the story couldn't help but draw in Lan Xichen. That was all that Jin Guangyao needed to latch on to.

He dropped his voice and said quietly, "I received a letter."

"What kind of letter?" Lan Xichen asked.

"A threatening letter," Jin Guangyao said. "It mentioned...those incidents, and that they would be made public in seven days. It stated that I must either take the initiative to confess and apologize for my crimes, or...wait for death to claim me."

The others understood now, Jin Guangyao had decided that rather than to fall from grace and end up getting mocked and overthrown by the other cultivation clans he might as well make the first move. Even if his secret was exposed the other clans would be too weak to raise a hand against him when the time came.

Unfortunately, it was an unlucky year for him. Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji had ruined his plans. The clan juniors didn't help either.

"Even so," Lan Xichen said, "you cannot simply resign yourself to continuing the evil you started, seeking to murder people outright! If you act this way..."

"The Tiger Tally... what if its not... gone?" Lan Tian asked Jin Ling as their body shook.

He rubbed circles on Lan Tian's back, "I'm sure there's nothing to worry about. Even if...something does happen, we have Wei-gongzi, your dad, my Uncle. Bottom line is we'll be fine."

Lan Tian shook their head slowly, "I don't think so, not this time."

"Go and deal with things over there. I will handle this side," Lan Xichen said.

Lan Wangji heard Su She's furious cry and walked over. Wei Wuxian had his own reasons for wanting to hear Lan Xichen's side of the story.

Lan Wangji stood by Jin Ling and Lan Tian glancing down at them.

"We're...they're okay Hanguang-jun, just a little riled up." Jin Ling assured Lan Wangji.

Between the two of them, they got Lan Tian on his feet and helped him over to a nearby wall. "Go." held Lan Tian in his arms as they leaned against the wall.

Jin Ling stumbled over to watch Su She who was still causing a ruckus.

"Are you okay?" Lan Wangji asked Lan Tian, brushing his fingers through their tangled hair.

Their voice waivered a bit as they spoke, "I don't think so." Lan Tian brought one hand close to their face and tried to steady it, "I feel like theirs something resentful and evil inside me, and its like ever since the empathy its been over taking me slowly. I feel like my whole body is becoming corrupt and I don't want it to ruin what I have now. I don't want it to ruin everything, but I'm so scared."

Lan Wangji stood trying to grasp his thoughts around everything Lan Tian said. In the process he began examining the room, it seemed that the corpse's furious moans began to turn fearful and meek. He glanced back at Lan Tian as their frail body shook in his arms. It almost seemed like the corpses were crying with them. Almost as if now that Lan Tian had seen their past, the corpses are feeling and seeing Lan Tian's present.

He choked down his thoughts before embracing Lan Tian tighter, "It's okay, we'll get Wei Wuxian to look at you when this is all over." He took a deep breath before continuing, "Just stick with Jin Ling for now. You seem happier when you're together. You are perfectly capable of taking care of each other."

Lan Tian nodded as Lan Wangji released them as he moved towards Jin Ling.

Lan Wangji spoke in a quiet firm tone before continuing past Jin Ling, "Keep them safe."

Jin Ling nodded before running back to Lan Tian and embracing them.

Lan Wangji felt a small tug in his stomach as he watched the two juniors. A memory of when him and Wei Ying were stuck in the turtle cave rose to the forefront of his mind. Silently he began to wonder, if only he was a little more forward and confident when he was young, could that have been him. If only he and Wei Ying had understood each other back then, would they have spent so much time apart? Would they have been able to raise Lan Sizhui and Lan Tian together, as a family? Would it have made a difference?

He shook his head dismissing such thoughts. It didn't matter now anyways, he had Wei Ying, finally. Maybe the four of them could spend some time together before the children went on their own paths. Or it could just be more foolish thoughts. He'd cherish whatever time they had left together, every morning, day and night. He'd show his love and appreciation for what he always wanted everyday.