Rebound

30

Wuxian and Wangji were waiting for Nie Huaisang. They went to a different location as it was where Nie Huaisang said he'd meet them there. Though, when Wangji wrote the letter, he made it seem like he was his brother. Nie Huaisang said he has a spot he goes to that no one knows about. When Huaisang arrived he was surprised to see it was Wangji and Wuxian instead of Xichen.

"Hanguang Jun, Wei-Xiong, you two are alive and okay?" He said surprised.

"I am alive," Wuxian said, "we did not mean to lie in the letter but we needed you to come talk to us."

"I am actually glad it's you," Huaisang said.

Wuxian smiled, "the room has a ward around it so no one else can hear anything," he said, "we have been away for several years training. I did nearly die but Lan Zhan found me and saved me. He kept me safe. In the meantime we heard of things happening while we were away...including your brother...which I am sorry for your loss."

Nie Huaisang nodded and sat down with them, "you have to know I don't think he died from a Qi Deviation. I was there when he died. He looked like he was going insane. He was dazed, hallucinating, he was bleeding from the seven qiqiao *(seven holes of the face: ears, eyes, nose and mouth.), and Meng Yao was there too. I saw the smile on his face like he was happy about it. It was when he noticed I was there he started to pretend. I then started to look further in to Meng Yao, had people follow him secretly. He was the one who killed his father, hiring prostitutes and I spoke to one. She said that even if he was dead they had to keep going until they were told to stop. She said Xue Yang was there. Everything that has happened was under Meng Yao, and I think he is the reason for your demise too, I just don't have proof."

Wangji and Wuxian listened attentively. Nie Huaisang was distraught and in pain. Wuxian moved to sit by him and began to comfort him, "Lan Zhan and I were starting to piece together some things on that. Lan Zhan told me that it was Meng Yao who suggested that Lan Zhan should send me the invitation to my nephew's party. Meng Yao knew that if it was from Lan Zhan I'd come. The ambush was set up somehow. There was no resentment there and Lan Zhan ran empathy, he said there was a second flute that altered Chenqing, it happened again at Nightless City when my Shijie died. And when we heard of your brother and how his body was mysteriously missing, we knew something was wrong."

"So you will help me?" Huaisang asked.

"Of course," Wuxian said, "we also think Zewu Jun is in danger hanging around Meng Yao too much."

"Zewu Jun taught Meng Yao songs from the Lan Sect," Huaisang told them, "I always thought they don't share this information with people outside of the sect."

"They don't," Wangji said, "it's against the rules, only once you marry can you share that music to your partner. Him and Meng Yao are not married."

"No, but I think Meng Yao had something to do with everything," Huaisang said, "he even made friends with Su She. Su She runs the new sect that copies the Lan Sect."

"It would make sense if Meng Yao allied with them, to use them for their music cultivation. They have knowledge of the Lan Sect Music scores," Wuxian said.

"We will have to tell Shufu, especially if they play scores wrong. It can cause harm to other cultivators if not played properly," Wangji said.

Wuxian nodded, "we will do what we can to help," Wuxian said, "but we want to remain discreet. So far everyone still thinks I am dead, even if Meng Yao tries to say I am not, we can say he is lying for now. It will help expose him further. Lan Zhan and I can help from behind the scenes until we have all the proof we need. We can even look further into that new sect. Also, people believe Hanguang Jun left the cultivation world, right, so let's keep others in that mindset. It might bring out more people involved."

"Alright, if you want to go after Xue Yang first, I heard he has something going on in Yi City," Huaisang said, "I have people spying on Su She, Xue Yang, and Meng Yao. Xue Yang has learned to control corpses...I think he has a Yin Hu Fu even though you destroyed yours."

"There was still a Yin shard missing when they were all destroyed. Xue Yang was the only one who could have known where it was," Wuxian said, "he may have his own Yin Hu Fu, but it will never work like the original. Plus, with my new training, I do not need the Yin Hu Fu to control corpses, I am stronger than it."

"New training?" Huaisang asked, "Wei-Xiong, can I ask...what happened to you? I never doubted you, I knew you wanted to do the right thing. I never use my saber but they never questioned me. You stopped using your sword and everyone thought the world was ending."

Wuxian laughed, "I gave it up because I didn't have a golden core anymore," he explained, "but Lan Zhan and I found my grandmother and she helped us achieve immortality. We can fight anything and we are immune to Meng Yao's tricks. I am a master of Yin energy and Yang energy. I am the true master of demonic cultivation. No one can take it from me again. But I can take it from them."

"I am sorry," Huaisang said, "as long as you're okay now."

"I am," Wuxian said, "do you have a place Lan Zhan and I could lay low until we make our next move? If we go to Yi City, we need to prepare for that."

"You can stay here, it's furnished and has food and supplies for you," he said, "no one knows of this place other than me and my Da-ge."

"Did your brother bring anyone here?" Wuxian asked.

"No, just me," Huaisang said, "you two will be safe here. I can have some of my people stationed nearby."

"Thank you, and we will keep in touch," Wuxian said.