Messed up love

Chapter 39- Banquet

Wei Ying was walking with Wangji, Xue Yang, and Xingchen in the forest when they saw people running.
   They all stopped and saw a man, who seemed to be from the Jin Clan, leading a group of people. The Jin Clan were shooting arrows at the others.
    There was only a woman left with her child. The leader raised his bow and shot the arrow, but it was blocked by a blue light.
    Xue Yang and Xingchen went down to the path, Wangji and Wei Ying following.
   The leader chuckled, "It's Second Young Master Lan. I don't know why Second Young Master Lan would want to help these remaining evils of the Wen Clan."
    Wei Ying narrowed his eyes, "These are women, children, and old men. Are they also evil?"
    "It's the clan leader's orders," the man scoffed, "that anyone who has concerns with the Yin Iron should not be alive." Wei Ying raised his flute slightly until Xingchen held his arm, and shook his head.
    The man continued, "Clan Leader Nie and Clan Leader Lan also agreed. Does the Jiang Clan have any questions?" He laughed and walked away.
    Xingchen sighed, "I'm afraid there will be more resentful spirits in Qishan. I'm afraid what is needed now is the music Requiescat." He turned to Wangji who nodded and sat down.
    Wangji took out his guqin and began playing a soft, soothing tone. Wei Ying took out his flute and lifted it to his lips, playing a soft melody along with Wangji's.
   The music flew through the air and calmed the sound of the wind added an extra note. Xingchen smiled softly at the sound and Xue Yang stayed still, not showing any emotion.
    Their minds were calm and they assumed the spirits were too. So they stopped after a while and walked away.
   
   It was nighttime and there a banquet at the mansion. Xingchen and Xue Yang agreed to go with the Jiang Clan for now, since they didn't belong to any clan.
   They arrived and all bowed. "Clan Leader Jin," Jiang Cheng greeted.
   "Clan Leader Jiang is young and promising," the older man said, "after the Sunshot Campaign, you succeeded the clan leader. Congratulations. When will the succession ceremony be held?"
    "Thanks, Clan Leader Jin," Jiang Cheng said with a smile, "I am still in mourning, so it's not appropriate to hold it."
    Clan Leader Jin sighed, "Oh, right. I am a close friend of Fengmian Jiang, after the departure in Gusu, I never thought it would be the departure between life and death." He stepped forward and placed a hand on Jiang Cheng's shoulder.
    "Zewu Jun and Hanguang Jun have arrived!" A voice called out.
    The Jiang Clan stepped to the side and let the Lan Clan take their place. The Lan Clan bowed to Sect Leader Jiang and Jin Guangyao, before bowing to the Jiang Clan.
    "Congratulations, Clan Leader Jiang," Xichen said, "I believe that in the leadership of Clan Leader Jiang, Lotus Pier will surely revive to protect the people of Yunmeng."
    "You flatter me," Jiang Cheng said, "in the future I'd like to receive your guidance."
    Xichen nodded with a smile, while Wei Ying and Wangji locked eyes.
   "Red Blade Master has arrived!" The man called again.
  The Lan Clan moved to the other side and let the Nie Clan stand in the middle, "Clan Leader Jin," Mingjue said, before bowing with the rest of his clan.
   They bowed to the Lan Clan and the Jiang Clan. "Sect Leader Nie," Sect Leader Jin said, "why are you so late? All the gentry families are waiting for you."
    Mingjue looked at Guangyao who looked down, "Red Blade Master, please have a seat."
   "A-Yao," Xichen said, "you have to forget it. Now that you two are sworn allies, you should call him Sect Leader Nie."
   "Yes, Clan Leader Lan, thank you for the reminder," Guangyao said. He turned to Mingjue, "Clan Leader Nie, please," he gestured to the chair.
    The said man looked at the big chair in disgust, "Clan Leader Jin, what do you mean?"
   Clan Leader Jin looked at the chair before turning back at the man, "Clan Leader Nie, please have a seat so we can begin the banquet."
    "Clan Leader Jin," he said, "everybody, although we're holding the banquet in Nightless City, I will never sit in that seat."
    Clan Leader Jin laughed, "Clan Leader Nie, no wonder you are respected by many clans. The blame would be on me, I'm too careless. We'll rearrange our seats. Clan Leader Nie, please have a seat."
    "Please," Mingjue said. He walked to their new seats and the Lan Clan went the opposite way. 
   "Young Master Wei," Guangyao said, Xue Yang stayed behind with his friend. They all bowed to each other, "Young Master Wei, what did you want to say to me just now?"
   "Me?" Wei Ying asked.
   "Yes, you seemed to want to say something to me when we were greeting each other," Guangyao said.
    Wei Ying and Xue Yang looked at each other, He is surely tactful and can pay attention to all aspects. "Nothing, its just that the weapon you held seemed to he a flexible saber," Wei Ying said, "when you killed Wen Ruohan in the Sunshot Campaign. Why doesn't Young Master Jin carry it today?"
    "Young Master Wei, I'm sorry to have made a show," Guangyao said, "it's just the first thing I could find. Later, I found it was a sinister. Then, I threw it away."
    Wei Ying laughed, "I see."
    "Please," Guangyao said, gesturing to their seats.
    "Please," the two friends responded. They all went to their seats and Wei Ying picked up a jar of alcohol. Xue Yang looked at him confused and followed him outside.
    Wei Ying sat down on the stairs and began drinking from the jar, while Xue Yang stood next to him.
   Wangji came outside with Xingchen after a while and Xue Yang noticed, "It's you two."
   "Lan Zhan," Wei Ying said, "how about playing Absterge?"
  "I'm learning a new score," Wangji said.
   Wei Ying scoffed, "You haven't given up, have you? You are really...stubborn." He laughed.
   They heard people yelling and Clan Leader Jin talking.
   "There he goes again," Xue Yang muttered.
   "Be quiet," Xingchen said, "I want to hear what he has to say."
   "-to show my respect to you!" The man said.
   "Oh you shouldn't have!"
    "Thank you Clan Leader Jin!"
   "Everyone, please sit down," the man said after a while. "Everyone, I have always been concerned about something. It was inappropriate for me to mention it before because of the campaign. Now the disturbance has been suppressed and I have no worries anymore.
   "Luckily, all of you are here today, so I hope everyone can be a witness. As you all know, Clan Leader Jiang Fengmian and I were as close as brothers. And my wife and Madam Yu were also as close as sisters. My son, Zixuan, has been engaged to Lady Jiang since their childhood."
    "Not this again," Wei Ying groaned.
    "He's always been like that," Xue Yang said, "just stand up to him and he'll hate you so be careful".
   "Clan Leader Jiang, what is your opinion?" the man asked.
    "Clan Leader Jiang, this is a good thing. Just say yes," Clan Leader Yao said.
    "Yes, it's a good thing."
    "A good thing indeed."
    Everyone looked at Jiang Cheng who looked down in thought. He heard a voice and turned around, "Clan Leader Jin, we appreciate your kindness." It was Wei Ying and Xue Yang, the two bowed and Wei Ying continued, "Clan Leader Jin, marriage is a lifelong matter. I assume you should ask my sister first, rather than asking Jiang Cheng directly. Do you agre Jiang Cheng?"
   "Wei Wuxian, our clan leader is talking to Clan Leader Jiang," a man said. It was the leader of the group who was shooting the Wen Clan. "How dare you interrupt them?"
   "Well, you can ask Jiang Cheng yourself," Xue Yang snapped.
    Jiang Cheng stood up, "Clan Leader Jin, this shouldn't be decided between two clans. When my father was still alive, he had the same thought. Anyway, we should leave the decision to my sister. It shouldn't be meddled by others."
   Clan Leader Jin laughed, "You're right. As for this, we should listen to Lady Jiang's opinion."