Time Reversal

38. The Time Travel Talisman, Part 2

Three days passed and disciples from many sects were still pulling body parts out of the rubble. Wei Ying was still wearing bandages on his right foot from where a stake had pierced it, and his right forearm was encased in a splint. His own left hip was throbbing in pain from where it had popped out of its socket when the explosion sent him flying through the pavilion's wall and he landed poorly. But the Healers deemed them all well enough to leave the infirmary. Jiang Yanli had kindly placed a cushion out for him.

Jin Zixuan was hosting a lunch and a discussion in his private courtyard. The new sect leader started the conversation. "The totals this morning were one hundred twelve dead and sixteen still unaccounted for."

The entire Qishan Wen delegation, except for one, had perished. As did half of the Yunmeng Jiang, the Lanling Jin, a few of the Qinghe Nie, and one from Gusu Lan. It was almost as if there was an age cutoff; those over a certain age believed Wen Ruohan and so stayed. Those younger than that believed Wei Ying and so ran or flew out of the building as fast as they could.

"At least it's over," Nie Mingjue sounded very satisfied even though one cheek was still wrapped in bandages from where it had been ripped open.

"Over?" Surprisingly, it was the new Yunmeng Jiang sect leader, Jiang Wanyin, who almost yelled the question.

"Yes, over. The assassination target is dead. It's over," Nie Mingjue sounded as if he was telling a very obvious truth to a resisting child.

"We know no such thing." Jiang Wanyin's face was firm. "What do we really know? I know for a fact that Wei Ying has never created a time traveling talisman. Because if he had, he would have either shared it with me or pranked me with it!"

Nie Huaisang snickered. "I would have passed my classes with the best scores at Yunshen Buzhichu, too. Wei Xiong would have shared it with me and I would have taken each exam, and then time traveled with the correct answers to retake them and get perfect scores."

"I didn't write them," Wei Ying insisted while the Nie sect leader muttered something about studying harder so as to not need to cheat.

Then louder, "Who wrote them is not as important as who they killed!" Nie Mingjue was glaring at his younger brother.

"Wrong." Jiang Wanyin looked smug under his overly pale complexion. His left arm was still splinted, shoulder to wrist, and wrapped tightly against infection. All three arm bones had broken through the skin when he was tossed around in the explosion. "I've been thinking while laid up in bed the last few days... " He started ticking off on his right fingers. "We know Wei Wuxian didn't write the talismans. We know they are not talismans one can buy on any street corner or from just any sect because none of us recognize them. We know they are made by someone whose knowledge of talisman theory exceeds Wei Wuxian's because he still doesn't recognize some of its parts." With three fingers held up, he stared down at everyone in the courtyard. "How many people do we know have a stronger talisman theory base than Wei Wuxian does? Anyone?"

He could see understanding and fear almost literally arising on his companions' faces. Someone unknown to the sects knows more about talismans than Wei Ying? How? Who? One of his students? He immediately dismissed that thought. Someone with extensive knowledge of talismans wouldn't have taken his husband's classes. Whoever it is... he's been hiding his skill.

Jiang Wanyin nodded, although no one had spoken. "So. An unknown cultivator created the talisman. For himself? For another person? We don't know that. We do know that someone wanted the talisman to be set off here in Jinling Tai." Jin Zixuan opened his mouth, but Jiang Wanyin shushed him with a look. "Pretend I'm Wen Ruohan and someone just gave me a time traveling talisman so I can go back and save my sons from dying. Obviously I want my sons to be alive again. They're fucking idiots and I hate them, but they're my fucking idiot sons. Why would I wait until I get to Jinling Tai to set it off? Why wouldn't I try to time travel immediately?"