Dust & Gold

58

The day of the trial has arrived. Wangji and Wuxian met with Lan Xichen and Lan Qiren, and Baoshan before they made their way to the throne room of the Wen Sect palace. When they arrived, they realized that the public was kept away, so this will be a private affair. Wuxian was actually a bit more relieved to know this. He did get nervous again upon seeing the four Jiang's, Sect Leader Jiang, his wife, and their two children.

"Sect Leader Wen, is there a reason for all this nonsense?" Madam Yi asked, angrily, "you ambushed our home and killed our people. What does this brat have anything to do with us? I thought we settled everything?"

"First, it was only a matter of time before I went after your family. You conspired with the Jin Sect and are raising forces against me. Taking you, lessens your chances of success. And second, Wei Wuxian is here because some new evidence has come to light," Sect Leader Wen said and turned to Wei Wuxian and his group, "I am guessing you got this curse handled?"

"Yes, thanks to my grandmother's guidance I have been cured," Wuxian said.

"Good," Sect Leaders Wen said, "it was said in the letter that you agreed to go through empathy once more for us to show evidence Sect Leader Jiang's involvement in this?"

"I am, but if he just admits it, it would save us some time. Either way, I am okay to do empathy," Wuxian said.

"I do not know what you are talking about," Sect Leader Jiang said, "why would I harm you?"

"To control me," Wuxian told him, "but that stopped working when I went to Gusu."

"You should be thankful we took you in, you bastard!" Madam Yu said.

"Silence," Sect Leader Wen demanded, "conduct empathy."

Under Baoshan's help, Wuxian's memories were shared. Only to show the point where sect Leader Jiang fed Wuxian the curse and then the fire that nearly killed him not long ago.

"That fire, I see you survived," Sect Leader Wen said.

"Yes, and during a session of empathy, Baoshan and my husband found a Jin hiding nearby. We also suspected that the Jiang family was involved but we have no proof. We have been targeted by Jin disciples and Jiang disciples for helping defend innocent Wen civilians," Wuxian explained.

"You are the ones helping my people?" Sect Leader Wen asked.

"Yes," Wuxian replied.

"There are some of my people who do not cultivate but still hold my name and live in my territory. They are the ones most targeted and affected. I was told some people were helping. I thank you for that," Sect Leaded Wen said and turned to the Jiangs, "I saw in empathy that you gave Wei Wuxian the curse. You denied it but now we have evidence that you did."

"Father, why?" Jiang Yanli asked.

"He did not cause trouble and he stayed with us, did he not?" Sect Leaded Jiang pointed out.

"By manipulating him!" Zewu Jun stepped in, "I remember when you came out to Cloud Recesses when we first discovered this curse. You denied everything and even told Wei Ying that he was a poor representation of his parents. Yet you have gaslit him to this point and basically forced him to do things for you out of fear of being thrown out!"

Sect Leader Wen sighed, "your son is still young, but you are not fit to run a sect. You will be sentenced to lose your cultivation base and the Jiang Sect will cease to exist. Your children will be forced to live in exile and live as outcasts. They have to bear the consequences of your actions."

"Please spare our children," Sect Leader Jiang said.

"We can offer refuge for the two Jiang heirs," Zewu Jun said.

"I refuse," Jiang Cheng said, "I will live in exile with my parents. Someone has to protect them now they neither of them can cultivate."

"If it's alright, I will take the offer," Jiang Yanli said.

"Actually, she can come with me," Baoshan said, "I might have something for her."

"Very well," Sect Leader Wen said, "As for Wei Wuxian, I was going to take the land that the Jiang sect sat on to expand bit if you wish to use it to create a new place of your own, build a new sect, I will be happy to offer it to you."

Wuxian looked at Wangji and smiled, "I think we will take it," Wuxian said, "any members you have, even if they are elders or do not cultivate, we can take them and give them a safe space to stay while the Jin sect is being dealt with."

"I will allow it," Sect Leader Wen said.

After everything, Wuxian and Wangji went to Lotus Pier. Baoshan sent some people to help clean the place. Even some people from the Lan Sect had offered them assistance. The two kept the lotus as their motif but changed their color. It was simple black and white with red and silver accents. The lotus was no longer purple, but white, to signify that the sect is new and now purified of any kind of hatred.

As for the Jin Sect, they were dealt with easily. Jin Zixuan managed to get his father to step down from being leader and took over the position. He even took Jiang Yanli as his wife as it was already planned beforehand. He was actually happy with the arrangement.

Jin Zixuan also managed to deal with his illegitimate brother Jin Guangyao. Knowing that it was him who targeted Wuxian and nearly killed him by setting his home on fire. Let's just say, Jin Guangyao wasn't heard from again.

As for Wuxian and Wangji, after a few years, the new and improved Lotus Pier has been thriving. It was a sect but it was more of a place of refuge for elders and young people who needed a home. It has become more of a homeless shelter than a sect but it still had members of a sect and disciples to help defend its people.

They were allies with the Lan Sect because of Wuxian and Wangji's marriage, but they were also friends with the Wen Sect and helped them improve in ways that would benefit everyone.

Baoshan has helped Wuxian with the sect by offering protection. She kept hidden most of the time as she always did, but she would always be willing to help her grandson with whatever he needed.

As for Wuxian and Wangji, they were living happily and had finally got the peace they have longed for. All their sufferings turned to dust and they now lived as if they were in a valley of gold.

The End