Unrestrained Heart

Chapter 5

The reports coming in are troubling to say the least. Wen Rouhan is beginning to openly move against the smaller clans. Three clans had already fallen to his forces. So called Overwatch Offices begin appearing in towns and villages, each one run by Wen officials. Any small insult to or questioning of a Wen official or clan member is considered rebellion and punished swiftly and harshly.

Night hunts were also now strictly regulated by the Wens. The other clans are required to ask permission of the Wens before taking on even the smallest of spirits or fierce corpses even in their own territory.

All clan alliances, be it sworn brotherhood, cultivation partners, or marriages also had to be approved by the Wens. Even travel and messages between the clans are prohibited. The other four large clans and many of the smaller ones began to quietly speak of opposing the Wens. It wouldn't be an easy undertaking, because of the Wen Clan's vast size and strong cultivation powers. They would be dangerous enemies.

All the clan leaders turned their attention to the upcoming Grand Symposium. Every year a different clan hosts the grand symposium. Last year it was hosted by the Nie clan. That had been while Wei Wuxian had been studying at the Cloud Recesses, before even sending students to other cultivation clans to study had been forbidden.

This year it's being hosted by the Wen Clan of Qishan. Despite the growing animosity between the clans for now the five clans are still considered allies and will be attending.

Wei Wuxian sits in Lan Wangji's lap playing with the end of his headband ribbon. Ever since the alpha had told him the meaning of the ribbon, he takes special pleasure in wrapping it around his fingers and sliding his hands along the material. Since he is the one of the few people who can do this, it gives him a sense of both that the alpha is his and that he belongs to the alpha.

"Have you finished packing for Qishan?" Jiang Cheng asks as soon as he comes into the room. He tries his best to ignore the way Wei Wuxian is clinging to the alpha.

"Lan Zhan packed for me." Wei Wuxian says happily.

Jiang Cheng rolls his eyes at this, "You spoil him." He tells Lan Wangji.

"Yes," Lan Wangji says simply.

"Remember, once we leave Lotus Pier you can't act so familiar with each other," Jiang Fengmian reminds them as they prepare to leave.

"Why can't we just announce our betrothal to the world now?" Wei Wuxian whines. He wants to tell the world that Lan Wangji belongs to him. As long as the betrothal was made before the new rules were put into place, it should still be recognized. "Everyone knows about senior sister's betrothal."

"That's precisely why we have to be cautious. If word gets out that the Jiang Clan is making ties with two prominent clans, it could cause trouble. These are dangerous times." Jiang Fengmian says. "The Wen clan is growing more powerful by the day and there are rumors that Wen Rouhan is practicing dark cultivation."

Wei Wuxian glances up at Lan Wangji. They both know it's not just rumors. That not only is the Wen clan using resentful energy, but they are sacrificing human lives to create it. The darkest and most dangerous of the cultivation paths.

"We'll be good," Wei Wuxian promises.

Jiang Cheng gives a disbelieving humph at this. "That will be a first."

As soon as they arrive in Qishan it's obvious that the Wen Clan has decided to use the symposium as a show of power. Even at the opening banquet instead of having the five clans seated as equals, Wen Rouhan has sat himself above the others on a dais.

Wei Wuxian hears other clan leaders grumbling about this, although not even Nie Mingjue dares to protest very loudly. He leaves them to their politics and decides to look around. Lan Wangji and Lan Xichen are across the hall, but he's supposed to be pretending that they aren't that close, they aren't even telling the cultivation partner story today, so he nods his head their way and walks towards the archery range.