26. Spring To Winter: Part One

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It was the last day of the night hunts around Gusu for the young cultivators this year, and most of the juniors had returned within the first few days, others on later dates. At this point as they prepared to set back to the cloud recesses, only one group was missing - Nie Yuèrú and Wen Jinghua's group.

Nie Yifeng stood with his arms crossed around his chest as he glared at the door, tapping his foot on the ground ceaselessly. Though he was clearly concerned about his sister, whenever anyone tried telling him she'd be fine he ignored them - according to him, he didn't worry about her at all.

"Uncle" Lan Ruxue walked into the reception hall of the inn they were staying at and greeted Lan WangJi with a bow. The two seemed to have silent conversation before she nodded and walked out of the place.

Wen Yuexuan was still around - he had been the entire week - as she left he bowed to Hanguang-Jun before gleefully following behind her while skipping in his steps.

Nie Yifeng was getting stressed, he realised this was visible, but didn't acknowledge it. He was about to leave the inn when someone grabbed his hand forcing him to stop in his tracks. "Hey.." the person greeted and he looked back to see who it was - it was Lan Jingyi smiling widely at him.

Yifeng sighed, relaxing a bit when seeing the younger boy. He smiled back at him before he greeted, "Second young master Lan*" he greeted back whil bowing his head slightly, seeing as his hand was still caught on the other's unwavering grip.

Lan Jingyi, "young master Nie*" Lan Jingyi greeted once again while still holding the older's hand by the wrist tightly with nonintention of letting go. Wei Yuexin and Ouyang Xinghua were standing next to Nie Yifeng this entire time, yet after watching how awakwardly the two greeted each other the two girls exchanged a look before excusing themselves and leaving Yifeng alone with the Lan.

Everyone was still standing with their roomates, yet now Yifeng was awkwardly standing with the younger Lan brother who still held his wrist. After a few minutes, noticing people were starting to give them looks, he politely removed the boy's hand from his own without looking at him. "What is the matter, second young master Lan?" He asked curiously and the boy seemed to be startled by the question as he fumbled a bit with his words before looking at the boy in the eyes.

Just as he seemed to have figured what to say the main door burst open. In came Nie Yuèrú and Lan Ruxue, the younger girl had a man in her right arm who she held by the colar while the Lan girl seemed to be trying to mediate the said man who was fighting to get out of her grip, to no avail; many were surprised he fought so much and didn't manage to escape the young girl's one-handed hold.

Upon walking up to Lan Wangji, Yuèrú threw the man on the ground. She bowed respectfully and spoke, "Hanguang-Jun, this one apologizes for delaying our return" she spoke politely before standing straight, Lan Wangji nodded an acknowledgement to their greeting.

"It seems you sent my group to something that should be delt with by authorities, not cultivators" she spoke with a smirk before shooting the man who attempted to stand a threatening glare. Seeing his sister's behaviour, Nie Yifeng groaned before hiding his face in his hands,  walking away shortly after, forgetting about the Lan boy.

Lan Jingyi wanted to follow him, but Sizhui came to his side and topped him from moving by holding his forearm. Now the two stood closer to all the other Lan disciples, around Lan Wangji. And Though he looked betrayed, Jingyi had no option but to remain in place, since all the Lans were here.

Lan Wangji didn't speak, but he seemed to ask her to elaborate. Nie Yuèrú was growing impatient waiting for the man to say something, so Lan Ruxue got closer to the pair  to remedy and bowed to her uncle before speaking, "This man is head of an organ trafficking scam - they have families pay huge amounts for none-functional organs which they harvest out of corpses, hence the sudden tomb digging case in Hangxiang" she explained to the man all the Nie hier had told her before standing up straight. Wangji nodded in understanding before turning to one of the older disciples he had brought along with Ruxue and Yuexuan.

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