The quiet murmurs exploded into a cacophony of voices. Sect leaders, and disciples, speaking over one another until the banquet hall was filled with unintelligible noise. There were small snippets that Luo Qingyang could pick out. Outraged gasps. At least one particularly loud voice demanded to know who this person was. Luo Qingyang made sure to keep her breaths steady despite her nerves.
She had seceded from her sect. She had seceded from her sect. Luo Qingyang carefully breathed through the panic. Nie Huaisang had warned her it might be necessary, but some part of her hadn't really thought she would need to follow through with it. Sure, she wasn't an inner disciple, but she was still one of the best disciples in her sect. She had brought more contributions to the war than even her sect leader. Luo Qingyang thought her sect would back her up. It stung to learn that their support ended as soon as it became inconvenient for them.
"A rogue cultivator has even less right to demand the attention of the gathered sect leaders. Not to mention the preposterous claim that you are bringing in Sandu Shengshou's killer, when multiple witnesses clearly saw that it was Wei Wuxian who cut Sect Leader Jiang down." Jin Guangshan said with narrowed eyes.
Luo Qingyang's eyes narrowed slightly. Sure, it looked like Wei Wuxian had been the one to kill Jiang Wanyin. The mirrors and notes in her qiankun pouch suggested otherwise. Luo Qingyang tensed as she saw movement out of the corner of her eye. Jin Guangyao had motioned several guards to step forward, presumably to escort Luo Qingyang from the hall. Luo Qingyang had barely opened her mouth to make her case when Yanli spoke.
"I wish to hear what Luo Qingyang has to say." Yanli's voice carried through the room. The guards that had begun to step forward hesitated and Luo Qingyang allowed her gaze to turn to the woman dressed in lavender and white.
Luo Qingyang hadn't seen Yanli since this all started. She'd had no chance to talk to her before interrupting this conference. No chance to share what she had found with her privately. She hadn't been able to stand by Yanli's side while she grieved over her little brother's corpse. Instead, Luo Qingyang had been gathering evidence. Then figuring out what to do with that evidence. Then, as much as Luo Qingyang wanted to go to Yanli to discuss what she had found, she had known that taking it to Nie Huaisang was the wiser choice.
"Jiang-guniang, I understand your feelings, but to entertain Luo-guniang at present would be inappropriate. She has entered the hall of a great sect during an official gathering, interrupting the proceedings with baseless accusations. It is kind of you to hear her out. Especially since she is a cultivator who has defected from her sect rather than obey her sect leader. But, to allow this to continue sets a terrible precedent." Jin Guangyao said in a soft, pitying tone.
Luo Qingyang wanted to punch him. Not just because she was disturbingly aware of what he had been doing to Wei Wuxian and Nuan-er. Any one who talked down to Yanli like she was ignorant, deserved to be punched.
"Lianfeng-zun, I will address you with respect, please do me the same courtesy." Yanli replied in a soft tone.
Luo Qingyang suppressed a smirk. There was ice under those gentle words. Yanli spoke quietly not because she could not speak louder, but because it forced others to quiet down if they wanted to hear what she said. Luo Qingyang doubted anyone else noticed anything off in Yanli's voice. She was known to be kind and gentle. They didn't understand Yanli had steel in her spine. They didn't know she could hide knives under gentle words.
"I beg your pardon Jiang-guniang. I meant no disrespect. I only wished to caution you from behavior which could be seen as improper." Jin Guangyao's brow furrowed gently with innocent confusion.
YOU ARE READING
Backlash Part 2
FanfictionThis picks up where Backlash Part 1 left off, the banquet in Nightless city at the end of the war. Wei Wuxian and Wen Qing were sent back in time. With their knowledge and their loved ones they have managed to alter the events of the war. The Suns...